Submit to Prairie Fire Magazine
September 2, 2025, 8:00 AM – June 30, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
Free
General Submissions
***We have recently changed our submission guidelines, so please read this section carefully before submitting***
Prairie Fire is currently accepting general submissions by snail mail or email (if snail mail is not convenient). Submittable is closed for the summer, but will resume September 2nd.
In order to find out what our editors are looking for, it’s a good idea to read back issues of Prairie Fire before submitting your work. Prairie Fire publishes literary, not commercial writing. Check recent issues and our website for information about special submission procedures, calls for submissions, contests, or to subscribe.
Prairie Fire encourages person/persons of color, LGBTQ+ & disabled writers, as well as writers from any other (or more than one) underrepresented community to submit.
We do not publish work that is sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or promotes hate speech or intolerance.
We do not publish AI generated work.
If you are a beginning writer, study your craft. Learn from good writers, and consult them before you submit. You can also find Prairie Fire in many libraries and, if you live in an area where you can’t find a copy at your local bookstore, you can order a back issue from us.
Like most magazines, Prairie Fire has a standard set of submission guidelines. Following these guidelines will ensure that your writing is sent directly to the appropriate editor. This speeds up the evaluation process, an arrangement that benefits both you and our editors.
For general submissions: Prairie Fire accepts ONE submission per category (Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction) every twelve months. Once you have submitted, please wait twelve months before submitting again.
For special calls for submission: You may submit ONE submission per category (Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction). If you have submitted to general submission you CAN also submit to special calls for submission.
Contests: You can submit as many times as you like, provided you pay the contest fees, regardless of if you have submitted within the last twelve months to general submissions or special calls.
No revisions, replacements or substitutions once submitted.
Prairie Fire receives hundreds of submissions every year in each genre. Because of the high volume of submissions, our editors are not able to comment on work being returned. The editors meet several times per year. Generally, the response time takes 3-6 months. If you have waited longer than this for a reply, please feel free to query us.
If your work is accepted, you will be notified via email. Payment is made upon publication. Please see our contributor rates for details. We buy First North American Serial Rights and First Digital Publication Rights only. After publication, copyright reverts to the author.
Guidelines for contests are somewhat different, so please check our contest information. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at prfire@prairiefire.ca.
We look forward to receiving and reading your work!
