Literary Journal

Passager

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About the magazine

Passager is a literary press and journal founded in 1990 with a mission to bring the creative work of older writers to a wider audience. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the organization publishes two issues of its journal annually—a spring issue featuring poetry and a fall issue featuring fiction and memoir—as well as an annual poetry chapbook contest and full-length poetry book contest. Its founding ethos is rooted in the belief that literary excellence is not the province of youth alone; Passager seeks to celebrate the voices, perspectives, and craft of writers aged 50 and over, offering a vital counterpoint to a publishing culture often fixated on emerging talent.

Editorial focus

Passager journal publishes two issues per year, featuring poetry and prose by writers over fifty—a poetry contest issue, and an issue featuring poetry, short fiction, and memoir/personal essay. Our mission is to bring attention to the work of older writers, encourage the imagination in the later stages of life, and to create beautiful and welcoming publications.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodFeb 15 to Apr 15

Reading feeYes

PaymentContributor copies only

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Passager accepts submissions for its journal during specific reading periods, typically from January to March for the spring poetry issue and from July to September for the fall fiction/memoir issue. Submissions are open to writers aged 50 and older; include a cover letter stating your age. For the annual poetry chapbook contest (usually deadline in June) and the full-length poetry book contest (usually deadline in November), follow the guidelines on the website carefully, including entry fees and manuscript length. Editors appreciate poems and prose that are accessible, well-crafted, and resonant with lived experience. Simultaneous submissions are accepted with prompt notification of acceptance elsewhere. Response times can be slow (several months), so patience is advised. Always review a recent issue to understand the aesthetic before submitting.

Read the journal first or look online at our samples. Tell us about yourself in your cover letter and why you selected Passager . We’re more interested in you as a person rather than a list of publications and awards.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

3 listed

ClosedDeadline · 2026-01-30

Henry Morgenthau III First Book Poetry Prize

ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

2027 Passager Winter Issue

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OpenDeadline · 2027-02-15

Passager — Submissions

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Past issues

2 items

Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

Proof of Life by Kathy O'Fallon, book cover

Preview cover

Issue 80 cover