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!
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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. 6000 word limit. 1000 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! 6000 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! 6000 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 3500 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 to 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 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.