Literary Journal

Oyster River Pages

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Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed

About the magazine

Oyster River Pages is an independent literary and arts journal founded in 2017 with the conviction that creative work should be accessible to all. Its name evokes the brackish, tidal spaces where fresh and salt water meet—a metaphor for the journal's interest in writing and art that thrives at the edges of genre, identity, and experience. The journal publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art, with a particular commitment to amplifying voices that have been historically underrepresented in literary publishing. Each issue is curated with an eye toward work that is formally adventurous yet emotionally resonant, and the journal maintains a strong online presence that prioritizes readability and discoverability over flash.

Editorial focus

ORP publishes voices that speak to what it means to be alive in this world. The editors look for language and stories and images that move them out of themselves and into other spaces, as well as writers and artists who bring balance and diversity to historical institutions of power. They are committed to disseminating the voices of those who need to and must be heard—Brown and Black voices, Queer voices, decentered and marginalized voices whose words and images transcend ignorance and prejudice to reveal the nuanced, resilient, connective power of humanity.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to May 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Before submitting, read at least one full issue online to understand the journal's aesthetic range and editorial preferences. Oyster River Pages values work that demonstrates a clear voice and a sense of risk, but it also appreciates craft and revision. Follow the submission guidelines precisely: use the online portal, include a brief cover letter with your pronouns and any relevant context, and submit only during open reading periods. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify the editors immediately if your work is placed elsewhere. The journal does not charge submission fees, but it also does not offer payment—contributors receive a digital copy and the opportunity to be part of a supportive literary community. Response times can be slow, so patience is advised; if you haven't heard back in six months, a polite query is acceptable.

We look for language and stories and images that move us out of ourselves and into other spaces. We actively seek to publish those who bring balance and diversity to historical institutions of power. Please see the general guidelines for each genre. (Work that is unfinished, unproofed, or otherwise not compliant with the guidelines gives our editors existential angst.) Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please contact us immediately if your work is picked up elsewhere. We request first serial rights, after which all rights revert to the author or artist. We do not reprint previously published work.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

2 listed

ClosedDeadline · 2026-10-01