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There are 25 ways of submitting to Mslexia

Appearing in Mslexia is one of the best ways to get onto the publishing ladder. It’s a notch on your writer’s CV, something to mention in grant applications, and a way to be seen by agents and editors on the lookout for new talent. 

'If someone submits a poetry manuscript to me with Mslexia in the acknowledgements I always sit up and take notice' Neil Astley, Bloodaxe Books

There are 25 ways to submit, from a four-line poem to a 3,000-word lead article, from a 300-word bedtime story to a 700-word memoir performance piece – so there’s bound to be something to suit your kind of writing. Including big-name commissions and as-yet-undiscovered newcomers, we publish over 60 women in every issue.

We’ve done our best to describe what we’re looking for, but nothing beats seeing actual examples in print. So consider buying a sample copy of the magazine before you submit. Every reader of Mslexia is a potential contributor – and vice versa.

'My story in Mslexia was the launch pad that got me my agent' Susan Davis

Current closing dates

Deadline for submission slots for Issue 105: 6 January 2025

Explore

Fiction

There are currently seven ways to submit fiction to Mslexia, from a 100-word flash in response to a visual prompt, to 2,200-word broadcast-length short story on our latest theme.

Poetry

There are currently five ways to submit poetry to Mslexia, including our topical themed ‘Poet Laureate’ slot and our ‘Poems for the Planet’ series curated by Climate Writer Linda France.

Nonfiction

There are currently eight ways to submit your life writing to Mslexia, including how you’re writing despite a personal challenge, what you’re blogging about, and Mslexia Moths anecdotes for performance.

Pitch Mslexia

Mslexia welcomes article and interview proposals at any time and we normally commission magazine articles in December, March, June and September.

Fun

And just to prove there’s more to writing than grit and grammar, there are currently three ways to submit fun stuff to Mslexia. Our limerick slot has closed, but our appetite for daftness continues.

What Happened Next?

For many of our writers, being published in Mslexia or longlisted in one of our competitions, turned out to be the next step on a journey with a happy ending.

Submissions Policy

Mslexia is staffed mainly by writers and we treat your work with the same respect we would wish for our own writing. Submissions are assessed by authors, agents and tutors at the top of their professions.

My story in Mslexia was the launch pad that got me my agent.

Susan Davis

If someone submits a poetry manuscript to me with Mslexia in the acknowledgements I always sit up and take notice.

Neil Astley, Bloodaxe Books
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