For our Halloween contest, we are charging a $5 fee. You can enter multiple stories, but you must pay a separate fee for each story.
Submissions Guidelines
Submissions Guidelines
Okie Modern is a biannual literary journal dedicated to exhibiting the best of Oklahoma writing. We publish work about Oklahoma or work created by writers and artists from Oklahoma. Our aim is to create a venue for Oklahoma literature and art. In doing so we hope to build community among Oklahoma creators and spark further literary and artistic development in the state. We platform Oklahoma literature and art, making it available and accessible to all.
While we emphasize work from writers who were born, raised, worked in, or who consider themselves to be connected to the state, we also accept work from creators who do not have a direct connection to the state, but whose writing in some way features Oklahoma.
Outside of our literary and artistic publications, Okie Modern also hosts a blog about Oklahoma literature and arts history. We accept pitches and full pieces.
Send us your Oklahoma creations!
We are currently open for submissions for our third issue which is set to be published in winter of 2027.
We regret to say that at this time, we are not a paying publication, but we hope to become one in the future.
Simultaneous submissions accepted!
Policies & Statements
Inclusion Statement: We are committed to platforming writing by marginalised or underrepresented creators. We welcome submissions by creators of color; indigenous creators; rural creators; creators who are working class or on low incomes; incarcerated creators; queer, transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming creators; creators with disabilities; and creators whose voice is otherwise underrepresented and underpublished.
AI Statement: We do not publish any works created in full or in part with LLM technology. If we notice AI in any submission, we will automatically reject that work. We reserve the right to withdraw acceptances from any work found to be AI-generated, even after publication.
Payment: We regret to say that at this time, we are not a paying publication, but we hope to become one in the future.
Content Warnings: Okie Modern is committed to making reading an emotionally safe experience. Starting from September 2026 on, we are implementing a policy of content warnings. We reserve the right to include content warnings on writing and art which includes:
Suicide
Rape, sexual assault
Racism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, etc.
Physical assault
Murder
Self harm
Serious depictions of grief
Medical issues, miscarriage, body horror
Child abuse or death
Animal abuse or death
The decision of when and where to include content warnings ultimately belongs to the editor-in-chief and managing editor. Okie Modern will strive for consistent application of this policy but recognizes that there may be exceptions.
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Please submit a packet of 1-5 poems for submission. We don’t have a preference for style or mode.
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Give us your fiction! We love strong characters and engaging plots. We love humor and/or heart. Give us what you’ve got! We also accept experimental and genre fiction. If we like it, we’ll publish it. 5,000 word limit. 1,000 for flash.
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We seek creative nonfiction including lyric essays, personal essays, memoir, and literary journalism. If it’s about Oklahoma, all the better! 5,000 word limit.
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Did you create something and are unsure what it is? Is it art? Prose-curious? Poetry-ambiguous? We’ll still look at it! 5,000 word limit.
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Are you an artist from Oklahoma? A photographer with some great photos of Oklahoma? Send it our way! Up to 5 images at a time.
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We are looking for pitches (up to 500 words) and finished articles (up to 3,500 words, though longer will be considered) about Oklahoma literature and culture. We love academic writing, but we prefer articles written in approachable language. Accessibility is our value! We want stories about your favorite unknown Oklahoma poet. We want to hear about the underground photographer living in the panhandle. We want you to dive into the Oklahoma archives. If you’ve got a story about Oklahoma arts, literature, and culture, send us your pitches or your articles.
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We accept reviews of books about Oklahoma or by Oklahoma authors.
We also accept interviews with Oklahoma authors.
There is no deadline for these submissions! Send ‘em when you got ‘em!
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Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide individualized feedback on your submissions. We will send you notice if your work is accepted to the magazine or if we have to pass on it. We appreciate you trusting us with your writing and art!
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We aim to respond to all submissions within 15 days after the end of the submission period.
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Our magazine has a regional focus. If you aren't from Oklahoma you can still submit, but your work must be connected to Oklahoma.
For example:
You live in Illinois but wrote a banger story about an oilman in Oklahoma. Send it!
You live in the UK but you wrote a fascinating lyric essay about Oklahoma in the American imagination. SUBMIT!
You're a New Yorker but you love writing cowboy poetry. Give us a try!
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If you're from Oklahoma, you can submit any work regardless of its content.
We consider writing by Oklahomans to be “Oklahoma Writing.”
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If your piece gets accepted elsewhere or if for any reason you want to withdraw your submission, you can do so by emailing us at okiemodern@gmail.com
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You are welcome to simultaneously submit your work to other magazines, just let us know if you’ve been accepted elsewhere.
You are also welcome to submit pieces to multiple categories (poetry, art, and prose). We ask that you limit yourself to one piece per submissions category per submissions period.