Fickle Muses

Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (September 2016). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

Fickle Muses is an online journal of poetry, fiction and art engaged with myth and legend. We feature a poet or fiction writer each week, accompanied by featured artwork. New features are posted on Sundays. Fiction and poetry submissions should creatively incorporate myth or legend, for example by retelling ancient myths in the context of the contemporary world, reimagining characters and events within earlier contexts, evoking mythologies underlying speculative genres, or otherwise cultivating new growth from our mythic roots.

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Published 52 x per year

Collapse section Fiction Closed

Stories that creatively incorporate myth or legend (e.g. stories which combine contemporary or historical settings with mythic elements; fantasy which consciously evokes its mythic roots) are welcome.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General Subgenres: Cross-Genre, Fabulism, Historical, Magic Realism, Slipstream, Urban, Women's Fiction
Fantasy Subgenres: Contemporary, Cross-Genre, Dark Fantasy, Fabulism, Historical, Light Fantasy, Magic Realism, Retrofuturism, Science Fantasy, Shapeshifter, Shared World, Slipstream, Urban Fantasy, Weird/New Weird

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.
Novel Excerpt: No specific word count limits known.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Humorous, Literary, Mainstream, Quirky, Satirical, Transgressive.

Topics:

Folklore/Mythology: General, Ancient mythologies.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Electronic submissions.
Reprints: Reprints are allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Closed

Poems that creatively incorporate myth or legend (e.g. by retelling ancient myths or exploring myth in the context of the contemporary world) are welcome.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Lengths:

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

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Humorous, Literary, Mainstream, Quirky, Satirical, Transgressive.

Topics:

Folklore/Mythology: General, Ancient mythologies.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Electronic submissions.
Reprints: Reprints are allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

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Fickle Muses 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.

This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months.

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Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

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: 22 May 2026