Literary Journal

World Literature Today

Open now

Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed

About the magazine

Founded in 1927 at the University of Oklahoma as Books Abroad, World Literature Today is one of the oldest continuously published literary periodicals in the United States. Its founding ethos was to foster international understanding through the exchange of literary works, a mission that continues today under the University of Oklahoma’s Neustadt family endowment. The magazine publishes essays, interviews, poetry, fiction, and book reviews from around the globe, with a particular emphasis on works in translation and underrepresented voices. Its core mission is to promote cultural dialogue by presenting literature that might otherwise remain inaccessible to English-language readers.

Editorial focus

World Literature Today is the University of Oklahoma’s award-winning magazine of international literature and culture, founded in 1927. The editors welcome submissions on contemporary literary and cultural topics addressing any geographic region or language area. By “contemporary,” the editors mean that their main focus is on the current literary scene—namely, authors who have been active in the 1990s and 2000s. The bulk of the coverage consists of essays, book reviews, fiction, poetry, and interviews.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodDec 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentContributor copies only

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsNo

Unsolicited submissionsYes

WLT accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays, as well as book reviews, primarily from established and emerging writers. While the magazine does not charge reading fees, it receives a high volume of submissions and response times can be lengthy. Writers should familiarize themselves with recent issues to understand the magazine’s global and translation-focused scope. Submissions are typically accepted via Submittable, and simultaneous submissions are allowed, though immediate notification of acceptance elsewhere is appreciated. For book reviews, query first with a brief proposal. Non-English works must be accompanied by an English translation.

We do not generally accept unsolicited poetry or fiction for publication. In terms of creative writing, we especially value translations from other languages but will equally consider work written originally in English. For critical studies of contemporary authors, literary topics, or cultural trends, our preference is for “essays” written in the tradition of clear and lively discussion intended for a broad audience, with a minimum of scholarly apparatus. Please include in your email or cover letter a brief explanation of how your essay would engage or enlarge our notion of world literature in the early 21st century. Prospective contributors are encouraged to consult recent issues of WLT for examples of our preferred style of writing.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

1 listed

OpenDeadline · 2026-12-01