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Literary Journal

Pithead Chapel

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#97 Overall · 47.5 ptsTier 3
Journals & literary magazines3 open opportunities listed

About the magazine

Pithead Chapel is an online literary journal founded in 2012, named after the iconic pithead chapel that stands as a symbol of the coal mining heritage in the Upper Midwest. The journal emerged from a desire to create a space for raw, honest storytelling that reflects the grit and resilience of working-class communities. Its mission is to publish compelling fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry that often explores themes of labor, identity, and the human condition, with a particular emphasis on voices that might otherwise go unheard in the literary landscape.

Editorial focus

Pithead Chapel is looking for engaging stories told in honest voices. Most of all, they want to feel something. They want to reach the last word and immediately crave more. They want your work to leave a brilliant bruise.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
PaymentNo payment
Response timeLess than 3 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Writers should approach Pithead Chapel with a clear understanding of its aesthetic: it favors stories and essays that are grounded in real life, with a strong sense of place and voice. Avoid overly experimental or abstract work; instead, focus on narrative clarity and emotional truth. For the Larry Brown Short Story Award, submit stories that embody Brown's legacy of raw, unflinching portrayals of Southern and working-class life. Always read the journal first to gauge fit, and adhere strictly to submission guidelines, including word limits and formatting.

Pithead Chapel accepts art, literary fiction, nonfiction, and prose poetry up to 4,000 words. Sorry, we don’t publish genre pieces (e.g. science fiction, horror, fantasy, and romance). We are interested in personal/contemplative, memoir, lyric, and narrative essays. The essays, like the fictional stories, can be short-shorts (flash) or long. All we ask is that the work is polished, well-written. Please read the guidelines on our site before submitting.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

3 listed
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01

Pithead Chapel — The Larry Brown Short Story Award

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OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01

Pithead Chapel — The Larry Brown Short Story Award for BIPOC writers only

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Pithead Chapel — Submissions

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Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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