Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed
About the magazine
Exacting Clam is a small press and literary journal founded in 2019 by a collective of writers and artists seeking a home for work that resists easy categorization. Rooted in the ethos of the independent publishing tradition, it prioritizes formal invention, intellectual rigor, and a certain stubbornness of vision over marketability. The press publishes a biannual journal, standalone books, and an online supplement, with a focus on hybrid texts, translations, and cross-genre work that challenges conventional boundaries. Its mission is to foster a community of readers and writers who value precision, curiosity, and the unglamorous labor of making art that matters.
Editorial focus
The Exacting Clam is a quarterly magazine of arts and ideas, brought to you by Sagging Meniscus Press.
PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation
Submitting your work
Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
PaymentContributor copies only
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes
Before submitting, read at least one full issue of the journal or a recent book to understand the aesthetic. The editors value work that is formally adventurous, emotionally precise, and free of cliché. Cover letters should be brief and focused on the work itself, not on credentials. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify promptly if the work is placed elsewhere. Response times vary; patience is expected. Do not query about status before three months have passed. Most importantly, trust the work: the Clam is not looking for pitches, but for finished pieces that surprise and unsettle in equal measure.