The best literary magazines that you should read


They say everyone has one book in them, and while we don’t necessarily buy this, it’s clear that writing is something that interests a lot of people. Since the rags to rich success story of J.K. Rowling, and the increased spotlight for George R.R. Martin, successful writers have become akin to rock stars in the modern world. If you harbor aspirations of being a writer, you need to know about the industry, and about other writers.

That means reading a lot of different types of books until you settle on a favorite genre. But, you also need to make sure you read plenty of literary magazines as well. These give you a feel for the industry and show you the national and global scope of the literary world. We have compiled a list of some of the best literary magazines on the market, all of which will help you understand the world of writing a little better.

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The best literary magazines that you should read

The White Review

This London-based publication looks fantastic, with a striking cover and dust jacket. The issues of this stunning magazine are packed full of incredible storytelling and sensational artwork from all over the world. The magazine is well put together, expertly edited, and you can tell the editors have a real love of the written word and the world of writing. The only drawback is that it’s a quarterly magazine, so you can’t enjoy its brilliance every month. But, aside from that, this is one of the best choices on the market right now.

Oxford American

Based out of Arkansas since the early 2000s, this is the magazine to go for if you want to enjoy a real Southern vibe. Oxford American has dedicated itself over the years to showcasing the very best of Southern writing and fiction. This is the sort of magazine we would love to be published in, and the writing is rich and atmospheric, containing themes tied to the American Deep South. It’s an excellent magazine to get if you want to learn about how to write in a specific way, or about a specific place.

Ecotone

A more unique choice here, Ecotone is a themed magazine, based on geography and the landscape. If you have a particular interest or passion for this, as well as writing, you will find everything you could crave in here. Wonderfully illustrated, and containing writing across all genres, this is a magazine you could read cover to cover in one sitting. It’s also the ideal magazine to take on the move with you and will feel perfectly suited to outdoor reading.

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The best literary magazines that you should read

Poetry Magazine

In this age of social media and eBook publishing, it seems like everyone wants to write books, and nobody has an interest in poetry anymore. That’s why it’s so great to find a magazine dedicated solely to the craft of poetry. This mag features the best of contemporary, independent poetry, and lets you really get immersed and understand why you fell in love with poetry in the first place. You can buy an entire yearly subscription for as little as $35 – so this magazine is an absolute must!

This is just a selection of some of the best literary magazines currently on the market. They will allow you to get a good feel for what the industry is like, and read some of the local writing from different areas around the world. These quirky and unique magazines are the sort we would love to be published in, so they all get a thumbs up from us.

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