Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listedJapan
About the magazine
Cabbage Patch is a literary magazine founded on the belief that writing thrives in the margins, where the unpolished and the peculiar are given room to breathe. Established as a digital-first publication, it has cultivated a reputation for embracing work that resists easy categorization—texts that are formally restless, emotionally raw, or quietly strange. The magazine's ethos is rooted in a commitment to accessibility and experimentation, offering a platform for emerging and underrepresented voices alongside more established writers. Its editorial eye favors the idiosyncratic over the trend-driven, seeking writing that feels necessary rather than merely competent. Over time, Cabbage Patch has become a gathering place for readers and writers who value sincerity over irony and risk over polish. The magazine operates with a lean, hands-on editorial approach, often engaging directly with contributors to refine work without imposing a house style. While its name suggests a certain homespun modesty, the publication's ambitions are serious: to foster a community where literary craft is honed through generous, rigorous attention.
Editorial focus
Cabbage Patch is a little internet corner for strange and honest things: poetry, essays, fiction, fragments, strange hybrid things, photos, images. Reprints welcome.
PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation
Submitting your work
Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
PaymentNo payment
Response timeLess than 3 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes
Before submitting, read at least one full issue to gauge the magazine's range and sensibility. Cabbage Patch favors work that takes formal or emotional risks, so avoid pieces that feel like safe workshop products. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify promptly if your work is placed elsewhere. Cover letters should be brief and free of flattery; the editors care most about the writing itself. Expect a response time of several weeks to a few months, and do not query before the stated reading period ends. If rejected, consider that a near-miss may be a sign to revise and resubmit in a future window.
We don’t mind if it’s not perfect, we love it if it’s from first-time writers, we love it if it’s “not the right format” for grown-up lit mags. We probably mind if it’s politically charged, excessively sexual or violent. We are petrified of life as it is.