In this month’s Litmag Roadmap, we’re staying in New England, heading over to the Diamond State: Delaware. Check out a few of the literary markets our first state has to offer below!
Delaware is a state you don’t want to underestimate. From a distance, the Delaware literary scene gives off an oddly chill and supportive vibe: no one is trying too hard or doing too much but it’s clear they love each other’s writing and keep their lit mags coming. At just under 100 miles long, could this be a place that—gasp—knows its limits, accepts them, and works with them? Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we could all learn a thing or two about how artists can make the best out of limited space and resources. Let the Delaware writers show you how:
Delmarva Review
The first word you need to learn about the Delaware writing community is the term “Delmarva,” which refers to the Delmarva Peninsula—a coastal delta shared by Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia—and often an adjective of endearment paired with the region’s people, i.e. “Delmarva writers.” Delmarva Review is dedicated to celebrating this special area, but open to writers near and far. They publish one dense issue a year, with a (free!) submission window open in the spring.
Broadkill Review
Broadkill Review’s claim to fame is being one of the first PDF literary journals in America, but they’re better known in the community for being a tight-knit group of hardworking, passionate volunteers who love making sure good work gets shared with others. Submissions are currently open for their 18th (!) Annual Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, but they’re still looking for short fiction, flash fiction, book reviews, and ten-minute and one-act plays for their journal.
The Cicada’s Cry
Not exactly a “lit mag” in the traditional sense per say but made the list because of being so dang cool. This haiku poetry micro-zine (yes, you read that right) mails hard copies to subscribers four times a year with cool stamps, stickers, and envelopes—the old school stuff that hits a soft spot with many of us writers and/or snail mail fanatics—and publishes a digital Halloween version annually, as well. They’re seeking submissions for a special COVID-19 edition through the end of June, so submit to “Delaware’s Smallest Magazine” today!
Dreamstreets
Did you know there’s a “Delaware Diaspora”? I did not until I learned about Dreamstreets, a lit mag welcoming submissions from anyone who’s lived in Delaware as well as current Delawareans. If that demographic is you, they’re currently open to poetry and fiction through June 30, 2020 for their fall issue—they publish both a Spring and Autumn edition each year. Bonus: their Web 1.0 website plus their 40-years-and-going commitment to “not publish anything fascist, racist, or sexist” put this little gem ahead of the curve on social change.