Kestrel A Journal of Literature and Art

About

A journal, devoted to the arts, Kestrel takes its name from the family of small falcons found throughout the world; the word 'kestrel' derives from the sound of the falcon's distinctive cry. Kestrel publishes fiction, poetry, translations, and creative nonfiction by established and emerging writers. We have published work from the U.S., Canada, Ireland, France, Haiti, etc. and are especially happy to publish work by West Virginian and Appalachian writers.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, and they do not offer monetary payment for accepted submissions. (Note: About 8% of magazines always charge fees.)
The fee range is USD $2 to $3 (below average to average for magazines that charge).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 1993

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Unknown publication frequency
Print Publication Print Publication: Published 2 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

310 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Slower: Kestrel's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
More Approachable: Kestrel's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines.
More Responsive: Kestrel's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.

Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Open Fee-based

Kestrel is open to any genre of short fiction that questions assumptions and moves us to reconsider everyday life. We enjoy stories with believable plots, developed characters, consistent points-of-view, vivid and symbolic settings, true dialogue, and thought-provoking themes, though we also enjoy experimental writing that makes new the expected conventions.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment Provides free copy/copies No monetary payment. Provides free copy/copies.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Nonfiction Open Fee-based

Creative non-fiction, memoir, literary essay are preferred. Subject matter may vary but attention to writing as craft and art is paramount; the attention to diction, syntax, detail should delight and surprise. We appreciate writing that makes a subject's complexity understandable and its familiarity new. We expect non-fiction to be non-fiction.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Review: No specific word count limits known.
Essay: Up to 5,000 words.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Critical, Experimental, Literary, Personal.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Literature/Books: Theory/Analysis/Criticism.
Memoir.
Place/Regions: Specific region.

Payment:

No monetary payment Provides free copy/copies No monetary payment. Provides free copy/copies.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed

Attention to craft is crucial but we are open to all forms/genres of poetry and prose that is believable and thought-provoking, that makes new the expected conventions.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; 3 - 5 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Experimental poetry, Formal verse, Free verse, Hybrid form.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment Provides free copy/copies No monetary payment. Provides free copy/copies.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Visual Art Open Fee-based

Submissions to Kestrel may be made in any medium. We publish full-color and black and white images.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Artwork: Up to 10 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 Provides free copy/copies No monetary payment. Provides free copy/copies.

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.

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Kestrel 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 project ranks among the Most Personable Poetry Publishers in our database.

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Accuracy

We have received 56 reports from 52 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

1 min | 202.7 mean avg | 239.5 median | 365 max days (248.9 std dev)

Responses

82.15 %

Acceptances:

14.29 % of submissions accepted (191.3 avg. days per acceptance) | 15.38 % of submitters accepted

Rejections:

67.86 % (206.1 avg. days per rejection) | 71.1 % personal, 15.8 % form, 13.2 % unspecified

Non-Responses

0.00 %

Lost/Returned:

Never Responded:

Withdrawals

17.86 % (181.8 avg. days per withdrawal)

Pending

24 responses are pending (1 min | 124.0 mean avg | 121.0 median | 513 max days waiting | 222.9 std dev) from 23 different members

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 09 Aug 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 13 May 2026.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 08:30 UTC (1 hour, 32 minutes ago).

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Before Submitting

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Dates

Last Updated: 13 Aug 2026

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