Literary Journal

The Astorian

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About the magazine

The Astorian is an independent literary journal founded in 2019 with the aim of publishing writing that is at once formally adventurous and emotionally resonant. Operating without institutional affiliation, it has built a reputation for curating prose, poetry, and essays that resist easy categorization, often favoring work that sits at the intersection of the lyrical and the critical. The journal’s ethos is rooted in a belief that literature should remain a site of inquiry and discomfort, not merely confirmation. Each issue is thoughtfully assembled, with an emphasis on voices that are emerging or under-recognized alongside more established writers.

Submitting your work

Reading periodVaries

Before submitting, read at least one full issue to understand the journal’s aesthetic range—it favors work that is precise, surprising, and unafraid of difficulty. The Astorian charges no reading fees and pays contributors, but response times can be lengthy; simultaneous submissions are accepted, though prompt notification of acceptance elsewhere is expected. Cover letters should be brief and focused on the work itself, not on credentials. Prose submissions should not exceed 5,000 words; poetry packets may include up to five poems. The editors appreciate writing that engages with form as meaning, not ornament.