Literary Journal

Mudlark: An Electronic Journal of Poetry and Poetics

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About the magazine

Mudlark: An Electronic Journal of Poetry and Poetics is a pioneering online literary journal founded in 1997 by poet and scholar William Slaughter at the University of North Florida. As one of the first electronic journals dedicated to poetry and poetics, Mudlark embraced the digital medium to publish innovative work that might not find a home in print venues. Its founding ethos is rooted in the belief that poetry thrives in diverse forms and that the internet offers a vital space for experimental, cross-genre, and critically engaged writing. Over the years, Mudlark has maintained a commitment to presenting poetry in conversation with poetics—the theoretical and reflective discourse surrounding the art—often featuring single-author chapbooks, collaborative works, and translations. The journal’s name evokes the figure of the mudlark, one who scavenges along riverbanks for treasures; similarly, Mudlark seeks out gems of poetic expression that might otherwise be overlooked by mainstream publishing.

Editorial focus

The poem is the thing at Mudlark and the essay about it. As their full name suggests, they will consider accomplished work that locates itself anywhere on the spectrum of contemporary practice. They want poems, but they want essays, too, that make them read poems (and write them?) differently somehow. Although they are not innocent, they do imagine themselves capable of surprise.

Poetry

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response timeLess than 3 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Mudlark primarily publishes solicited work, but unsolicited submissions are occasionally considered. Poets are advised to familiarize themselves with the journal’s aesthetic—favoring intellectually ambitious, formally inventive, and critically aware poetry—before querying. Because the journal often features single-author collections, prospective contributors should have a substantial body of work (e.g., a chapbook-length manuscript) rather than isolated poems. Submissions should be sent electronically, and simultaneous submissions are typically discouraged. Given the journal’s academic affiliation, patience with response times is recommended. For current guidelines, consult the University of North Florida’s English department website or recent issues of Mudlark.

To submit or not to submit? Take a good look at Mudlark. Spend some time with it. Find out what chaps, posters, and flashes are. Read the submission guidelines. Then make your decision. The work of hobbyists and lobbyists is not for Mudlark. Because our reporting time is short (no less than a day, no more than a month) we prefer not to receive multiple submissions. But if you insist, we will consider them, asking only that you inform us of the fact, upfront, and withdraw poems immediately that are accepted elsewhere.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

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OpenDeadline · 2026-11-05