Literary Journal

Kitchen Table Quarterly

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About the magazine

Kitchen Table Quarterly is a literary and arts journal founded on the conviction that meaningful cultural work often emerges from the domestic, the conversational, and the unassuming. Established in 2018 by a collective of writers and artists, it takes its name from the kitchen table as a site of intimate exchange—where ideas are tested, stories are shared, and hierarchies flatten. The journal publishes poetry, short fiction, essays, and visual art that prioritize voice, risk, and emotional precision over trend or spectacle. Its core mission is to sustain a space where emerging and underrepresented artists can be read alongside established figures without the usual gatekeeping theatrics.

Editorial focus

Kitchen Table Quarterly amplifies work that lays history bare—cultural, political, medical, sexual, etc.—and explores the ways in which they interact to form who people are. The editors are looking for work that spills secrets and wipes the dust off of old memories. Here, they contend with history’s complexity and its shortcomings. At KTQ , their mission is to explore the personal within the historical; as such,theye are committed to lifting the voices of those whose histories have been lessened, altered, or outright denied.

PoetryCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodMar 1 to Apr 1

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Read at least two recent issues before submitting; the journal favors work that feels spoken rather than performed. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify promptly if placed elsewhere. Include a brief cover letter that states your connection to the work, not just your publication history. Expect response times of 4–8 weeks; query only after 10 weeks. There are no fees for general submissions, and fee waivers are available for marginalized writers upon request.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

1 listed

OpenDeadline · 2027-03-01