We seek poetry, prose, and visual art that cracks the egg.

That means work with arresting emotional impact that’s achieved not by contrived figurative language, but that surprises while serving a larger purpose. Send us your work that is authentic without being performative, that’s experimental without being pretentious, and speaks to the humanity in all of us. Challenging genres and pushing boundaries is great fun, but we look for writing that’s inviting and accessible for an everyday reader. Get fancy, get weird, have fun—but do it with purpose!

When reviewing submissions, we break down what we are searching for into three main qualities:

• Candor: We love to publish work from writers that are unafraid to take an honest look at themselves. This kind of vulnerability creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that is irresistible. Bonus points for a bit of humor; we love to laugh. 

• Intellectual curiosity: We like to think of writing as not only an artifact, but as an act of intellectual exploration. We are drawn to pieces that allow you to feel as if you are part of the journey. We look for work that surprises us with moments of insight or levity. These submissions are often organic in form and content. 

• Neo-Romantic themes: We publish a lot of prose and poetry in which writers connect to the world around them through astute observations and concrete images. There is something powerful about finding meaning and beauty in the mundane. 

For more about what we look for when we publish, read this interview with Editor-in-Chief Savannah Anderson.

Abraxas Review nominates exceptional work from each issue for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net anthologies. Nominated pieces are selected by our editorial team based on literary merit, innovation, and lasting impact. Contributors will be notified if their work is nominated.

See additional submission requirements in the menu below.

Submissions are open between September 1 – November 30, 2026.

NOTE: We may close the reading period early by genre if we reach a cap.

We also open outside our normal submission window for special folios of flash and poetry. the best way to stay informed about open windows is to subscribe to our newsletter (scroll below enter your email) or follow us on social. ​

At Abraxas Review, we prefer humans to AI. We do not accept submissions that are generated by artificial intelligence. If AI is used as an editing tool, we do ask that authors to disclose and explain its use in their cover letter.

We accept simultaneous submissions. Of course, please withdraw your work immediately if accepted elsewhere. If you are withdrawing your entire submission, please log in to your Submittable account and click “withdraw.” If you are withdrawing only a part of your poetry or art submission, please add a note to your submission advising which piece(s) you are withdrawing. 

We do not accept emailed submissions, multiple submissions (submitting again to the same or another category before getting a response), or anything that has previously appeared in print or online (including on your personal blog or website, artwork excepted).

We acquire First North American Serial Rights (FNASR) upon acceptance and retain exclusive rights to your accepted piece for 90 days after publication. Should you choose to reprint the piece in the future, please mention that your piece was originally published in Abraxas Review.

We currently do not pay, but are working toward a sustainable model and will announce this change.