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Literary Journal

Kestrel

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About the magazine

Kestrel, based at Fairmont State University, is a literary journal with a longstanding commitment to publishing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that balances craft with accessibility. Founded in 1994, it has maintained a steady presence in the small-press ecosystem, favoring work that is attentive to language and narrative without sacrificing emotional clarity. The journal's ethos is rooted in the belief that serious literature can also be inviting, and its pages reflect a range of voices from emerging writers alongside more established figures.

Editorial focus

Kestrel publishes fiction, poetry, poetry in translation, and creative nonfiction by established and emerging writers. They also publish reviews, including of “Wrongfully Neglected” work. The editors are especially happy to publish work by West Virginia and Appalachian writers. Kestrel features visual art in each issue.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeYes
PaymentContributor copies only
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Writers should submit polished work that demonstrates a clear command of form and a genuine emotional or intellectual stake. Kestrel favors poems and prose that are engaging on first read yet reward rereading. Familiarize yourself with recent issues to gauge tone; simultaneous submissions are typically accepted, but notify promptly if work is placed elsewhere. Follow the journal's submission windows and guidelines closely, as response times can vary.

Do not send additional work before receiving our response to your first submission, and please submit no more than once a year. You can send three to five poems; prose up to 5,000 words. Query first for reviews; we typically review books by Kestrel contributors only.

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Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

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