Journals & literary magazines5 open opportunities listed
About the magazine
Permafrost is the literary journal of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, founded in 1978 and named for the persistent frozen ground that underlies much of Alaska. From its inception, the magazine has sought to publish work that is attuned to the extremes of the northern environment—not merely as subject matter but as a formal and ethical pressure. Its pages have long balanced poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction with an openness to hybrid and experimental modes, reflecting a conviction that literature can be both rigorous and responsive to place. Over four decades, Permafrost has maintained a distinct identity within the American literary landscape: it is neither a regional showcase nor a purely academic review, but a journal that takes the particular seriously while resisting provincialism. The magazine’s commitment to emerging and established voices alike has made it a durable venue for writing that engages with landscape, isolation, survival, and the more-than-human world, without reducing those themes to mere scenery.
Editorial focus
Permafrost , the farthest north literary journal for writing and the arts, publishes original work in all genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid. They publish two issues annually, one print and one online. Their journal also includes interviews with prominent authors, original artwork, and reviews. Permafrost is affiliated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the UAF MFA Program.
PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction
Submitting your work
Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeYes
PaymentContributor copies only
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes
Permafrost accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, typically through its online submission manager during reading periods announced on its website. Writers should familiarize themselves with recent issues to understand the journal’s aesthetic range, which favors work that is vivid, precise, and unafraid of silence or difficulty. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted with prompt notification of acceptance elsewhere. Given the journal’s association with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, submissions that engage with northern landscapes, climate, and isolation are welcome, but the editors prioritize craft and originality over thematic fit. Response times can be slow during the academic year, so patience is advised; a brief, professional cover letter is sufficient.