Writer’s Guidelines:
subTerrain publishes original fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and commentary three times a year. Submissions must be previously unpublished material. (Note maximum number of submissions per issue in General Guidelines below.)
subTerrain welcomes submissions from both emerging and established authors. We are happy to consider work from all corners of the identity spectrum, including works by underrepresented writers, including but not limited to writers who are Indigenous, of colour, immigrants, women, LGBTQI+, low-income, no-income, and writers with disabilities. Submitters are welcome to state demographics such as race, age, gender, etc. in their cover letter if they so choose.
2026 Themes:
SPRING, #103 {GENERAL ISSUE}
This issue will be a general issue featuring fiction, poetry, commentary, and creative nonfiction, plus the runners-up and honourable mentions from our 2025 Lush Triumphant Literary Awards.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN JANUARY 8 :: CLOSE: JANUARY 22
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SUMMER/FALL, #104 {GUILT}
“Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can, and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.” — Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Guilt can manifest in many ways: some from relatively benign actions, put upon us by society; others from “immoral” actions we regret. Either way, guilt is a heavy burden, so let the pages of subTerrain shoulder the load. Wrack your brain to remember those moments that have flooded you with guilt — and then put them on paper and send them to us!
SUBMISSIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 2 :: CLOSE: MARCH 15
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WINTER, #105 {GENERAL ISSUE}
This issue will be a general issue featuring fiction, poetry, commentary, and creative nonfiction, plus the winning entries in our 2026 Lush Triumphant Literary Awards, as well as excerpts from forthcoming releases from Canadian indie presses.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN JUNE 12 :: CLOSE: AUGUST 7
Submit via Submittable at the "Submit online" link below. If submitting via snail mail, please identify on the envelope the theme issue for which you are submitting.
Feel free to interpret these themes in unique and unusual ways.
All other regular submission guidelines still apply, as below.
Our Lush Triumphant Literary Awards will be open January 23rd-May 15th 2026.
General Guidelines:
The following are some general guidelines (as always, we suggest READING an issue of the magazine to see what we're all about).
Submissions must be previously unpublished and be:
typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 paper (no disks or e-mail submissions please)
Fiction: a maximum of 3,000 words. (max. 3 submissions per issue)
Poetry: Poetry should be single-spaced with stanza breaks.
Creative Non-Fiction: a maximum of 4,000 words. (max. 2 submissions per issue)
Commentary (social or otherwise): a maximum of 4000 words. (max. 2 submissions per issue)
Photography & Illustration: we only accept solicited art and photography. Please forward us a link to your work;
Those submissions not accompanied by a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) will not be considered or returned. Submissions from outside Canada: It has come to our attention that IRCs are no longer available in the U.S. Submitters from outside Canada: please DO NOT SEND RETURN ENVELOPES WITH U.S. STAMPS -- WE CANNOT USE U.S. POSTAGE TO MAIL FROM CANADA! Please include your email address with your submission and we will respond via email.
Please do not send submissions via email.
Payment rates for published submissions:
Poetry: $50 per poem
Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500.)
Mail hard copy submissions to:
subTerrain Magazine
P.O. Box 3008, Station Terminal
Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5
CANADA
TEL: (604) 876-8009
EMAIL: subter@portal.ca