El Portal Literary Journal

About

Eastern New Mexico University’s literary magazine, El Portal, offers a unique venue for the work of writers, artists and photographers.
Though founded in 1939 as the creative forum for the students, faculty, and staff of Eastern New Mexico University, it was Dr. Jack Williamson who gave us the name El Portal, along with his vision to showcase the region through art. Since then, we hold a soft spot for the West, but our eclectic tastes make us open to everything. Our mission is in our name: El Portal is the door. We open our doors to poetry and fiction, photography and art, non-fiction and flash works as we strive to share works that transgress boundaries, straddle borders, and most importantly, move us.
ENMU students, national, and international writers are welcome to submit their original, previously unpublished short stories, creative nonfiction, poetry, photography and art.

Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 1939

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Published 2 x per year
Print Publication Print Publication: Published 2 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

52 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Slower: El Portal Literary Journal's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
Normal Acceptance: El Portal Literary Journal's overall acceptance rate is within a normal range for magazines.
More Responsive: El Portal Literary Journal's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.

Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Open

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Open to all/most Genres, including:
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres
Western Open to all/most Subgenres

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 4,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

Dates:

Open to nonfiction submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 4,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Open

Dates:

Open to poetry submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Open to all/most Genres, including:
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres
Western Open to all/most Subgenres

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Up to 5 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Visual Art Open

Dates:

Open to visual art submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Artwork: Up to 5 pieces.

Art Media:

Open to all/most Art Media.

Art Styles:

Open to all/most Art Styles.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Image.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for El Portal Literary Journal

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For the Editor(s):
Request Interview
Duosuma Submission Manager
Link to Duotrope

El Portal Literary Journal Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:

Group by submission

Include outliers

Accuracy

We have received 11 reports from 11 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

61 min | 100.2 mean avg | 101.0 median | 153 max days (27.0 std dev)

Responses

90.91 %

Acceptances:

9.09 % of submissions accepted (61.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 9.09 % of submitters accepted

Rejections:

81.82 % (107.6 avg. days per rejection) | 0.0 % personal, 77.8 % form, 22.2 % unspecified

Non-Responses

0.00 %

Lost/Returned:

Never Responded:

Withdrawals

9.09 % (62.0 avg. days per withdrawal)

Pending

12 responses are pending (6 min | 60.3 mean avg | 64.0 median | 103 max days waiting | 117.8 std dev) from 12 different members

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 120 days. (18.2 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 120 days.)
Most recent response reported was received on 08 Dec 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Oct 2025.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 04:30 UTC (5 hours, 17 minutes ago).

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Your Submissions

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Before Submitting

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Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 03 Sep 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.