Fiction
There are currently seven ways to submit fiction to Mslexia, from a 100-word flash in response to an alphabetical prompt, to 2,200-word short story on our latest theme.
Mslexia Showcase
Twice a year we invite leading authors to select from submissions of short fiction and poetry on a particular theme for the Showcase section of Mslexia magazine. Our curator-judges have included Hilary Mantel, Carol Ann Duffy, Val McDermid, Kate Mosse, Jackie Kay, Pascale Petit, Linda Grant and many more.
Stories must be no longer than 2,200 words and poems up to 40 lines and we pay for every piece we publish. There is no lower word or line limit. You may send up to four poems and/or up to two stories on any one theme. Please ensure your name does not appear on the work itself.
Theme for Issue 106: Snakes
Deadline: 10 March 2025
Theme for Issue 107: Blue
Deadline: 9 June 2025
Salon Showcase (Salon Subscribers only)
A new quarterly feature on the Mslexia blog exclusively for Salon members. Please send micro fictions (up to 100 words) and short stories (up to 1,000 words) inspired by an alphabet prompt. Theme: B
Deadline: 6 January 2025
Mslexia Issue 105
The World’s Wife
A 500-word fictional prose monologue in the voice of the wife, mistress, sister, daughter, mother of a famous real or fictional person. We’re inviting strong voice pieces suitable for both page or performance. Please give your piece a title that explains the relationship, e.g. ‘Ophelia, fiancée of Hamlet’; ‘Melania, wife of Donald Trump’.
Flash Challenge (Subscriber Only)
Judged by award-winning author Meg Pokrass. Please send stories up to 250 words that tell a complete story. You must be a print, or digital, subscriber to Mslexia in order to submit. Theme for 105: electric blanket
You must be a print, or digital, subscribe to Mslexia in order to submit.
Bedtime Story
A submission slot for short stories intended to be read aloud to a child at bedtime. They can be on any subject, but no more than 250 words in length.
Perfect Pitch (Subscriber Only)
Do you have a novel or memoir ready for submission? Are you wrestling with how to describe it to an agent or editor? Submit your draft pitch letter for possible inclusion in Mslexia, along with detailed feedback from experienced literary agent Catherine Cho.
Your letter should be no more than 300 words in length, and should include the following information:
- two-sentence overview of the book (including its genre and one or more comparative title/s)
- brief summary of the plot/contents
- two sentences about you
You must be a print, or digital subscriber to Mslexia in order to submit.
Deadline for inclusion in Issue 105 of Mslexia: 6 January 2025
Unsure about eligibility, formatting, or what happens to your work after you submit? Visit our Submissions Policy page.
How to Submit
Submitting online
To submit, complete the form below this section and upload your submission document.
Submitting by post
Alternatively, send your entry by post to:
Mslexia
PO Box 656
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1PZ
Please include your address, phone number and email on a separate cover sheet, along with the title of the work you are submitting. All submissions are judged anonymously, so please ensure your name does not appear on the submitted work itself.
Submit your work
