Literary Journal

Kennings Artistic and Literary Journal

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About the magazine

Kennings Artistic and Literary Journal is an independent publication founded in 2018 by a collective of poets and visual artists seeking a space where text and image converse without hierarchy. Taking its name from the Old Norse poetic device of compressed metaphor, the journal has built its identity on work that rewards slow reading and repeated viewing. Each issue pairs a small number of poems, short prose, and visual pieces, often inviting contributors to respond to a shared thematic prompt. The journal operates as a non-profit, with a rotating editorial board drawn from its contributor base, ensuring that its curatorial perspective remains porous and evolving.

Editorial focus

Founded under the name Hill Thoughts in 1941, Hanover College’s literary journal Kennings holds the firm mission to seek out intriguing, moving, and engaging works of poetry, fiction, and art. In recent years Kennings has published in a variety of forms: a once-a-year physical book distributed on Hanover’s campus, online “honorable mentions” and contest winners, and coming soon a read-aloud and discussion podcast to honor its roots titled Kennings: Hill Thoughts.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodAug 1 to Feb 9

Reading feeNo

PaymentContributor copies only

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Submit only during the two annual reading windows (March and September), as the journal does not consider work year-round. Send up to five poems or one prose piece under 2,000 words, and up to three images as low-resolution JPEGs. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. The editors prioritize work that engages with the current theme, though they reserve space for exceptional off-theme pieces. Response times average 4–6 weeks; if you have not heard back after 8 weeks, a polite query is welcome. No submission fees for text; a modest $3 fee applies to visual art submissions to cover reproduction costs.

We accept prose, poetry, and art submissions through the months of August 1 to February 14. Accepted pieces will appear in our print edition of Kennings , which is published once a year in the spring. While we cannot pay contributors at this time, those who are featured in the journal will receive one complimentary copy. We aim to respond to all submissions within six months but feel free to inquire after a month. For art and photography submissions, please submit as a high-resolution JPG file. Please also keep an eye out for contests on our website.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

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OpenDeadline · 2027-02-09