Submissions are closed until October 1, 2026.
We are so excited to read your submission! At Wandering Lights, we welcome writing of all forms. We do firmly encourage submitters to consider Eve Sedgwick’s idea of reparative reading, which approaches reading and writing from a perspective of hope and love. Whatever your subject, look at it through a lens of redemptive storytelling. A great example is Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Zuko, who began one way but proved to have more depth than what viewers expected. We do not ask for rose-tinted, artificially happy stories. What we do ask for is acknowledgement of the darkness in our world through the persistent lens of hope.
Submission Guidelines
Wandering Lights is an online magazine that publishes literature, art, and photography biannually. At this time, we are not a paying market. Please view guidelines below.
We are looking for previously unpublished work (simultaneous submissions are okay!) across a variety of genres: fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.), ekphrastic works, thriller, mystery, creative essays, and more! We accept poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and other short-form fiction. Contributors can submit up to five pieces in the following categories:
- Poetry: up to five poems per submission
- Prose: up to three pieces per submission, maximum of 1,000 words each
- Art: up to five pieces per submission
We do accept multiple submissions across different categories but ask that you still submit no more than five pieces total: for example, three poems and two flash fiction pieces. We ask that contributors only submit once per submission period.
Check out our Masthead page and prior issues to get a better idea about what we believe makes a poem, story, or work of art strong for publication.
- Think of it like this: If it sounds like a sermon or reads like a daily devotional, it probably will not be accepted for publication. We love biblical themes and allusions, but focus on telling a strong story and let your imagery do the work. That said, your submission does not need to be Christian-based.
- As for language, we’re not anti-swear word. A well-placed one can pack a punch! But if it feels extra or doesn’t earn its keep, it’s better to skip it. Too much profanity can distract from an otherwise great piece of writing.
- Please also refrain from submitting anything overly vulgar—sexually or violently—as it doesn’t align with the tone of what we hope to publish.
At the moment, we are not accepting long-form content such as novellas or novel manuscripts. We also do not accept work that promotes hate speech, plagiarism, defamation, or content that condones violence against others. Submissions found in violation will be withdrawn.
By submitting, contributors affirm that all work is their own original creation and has not been plagiarized, generated without disclosure,
or published elsewhere (unless clearly stated). This includes AI-produced work. Contributors are also responsible for properly citing any quotes or other referenced material.
Every submission should include a 3rd-person bio (50 words max).
We ask that written pieces only be submitted in Word Doc/Docx (not PDF) format. Rather than attaching multiple files, please combine all pieces into one attachment.
Please title your Word document as follows: (Specify Your Genres) Submission (Specify Year). Example: “Poetry and Photography Submission 2026.”
Art/photography submissions should be submitted as a direct image file at a minimum of 300 PPI.
Prose submissions should include the word count (1,000 words or less).
Submission Schedule
Wandering Lights hosts two submission periods per year and publishes biannually in March and September.
To be considered for Issue 3, please submit between October 1, 2026, and December 1, 2026. Issue 3 will be published on March 1, 2027.
To be considered for Issue 4, please submit between April 1, 2027, and June 1, 2027. Issue 4 will be published on September 1, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
We do consider simultaneous submissions sent to multiple magazines, but if your work is accepted elsewhere, we kindly ask that you email us as soon as possible so that we can withdraw the piece.
Can I submit both fiction and poetry?
We do accept mixed submissions across different genres but ask that you still submit no more than five pieces total. (For example: three poems, one flash fiction piece, and one photo/work of art.) Please submit all pieces in Word Doc/Docx (not PDF) format. Rather than attaching multiple files, please combine all pieces into one attachment.
When can I expect to hear back from you?
We read every word submitted with careful consideration and respond to each submission. You can expect to hear back from us within a month after the current submission period closes. If you haven’t heard back after this point, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Please be advised that in some cases, our email address has been said to go to junk/spam mail.
By submitting to our magazine, you are granting Wandering Lights first serial rights to publish and archive your work at wanderinglightsmag.com. After first publication, all rights revert back to the author. If you publish your work elsewhere after Wandering Lights’s initial publication, we request that acknowledgement be given to Wandering Lights as the original publisher.
We withhold the right to reject or dismiss any literary or art content that does not align with the values of Wandering Lights Literary Magazine, which are stated in our guidelines and mission statement.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].