Navy Pen

About

Navy Pen was founded on a simple belief: good writing deserves to be read. We are not here to gatekeep or mimic the exclusivity of traditional publishing. Instead, we open the door.
Our editors read every submission with care, looking for urgency, originality, and voice rather than credentials. We value the rough edges as much as the polish—because every writer is in the process of becoming.
Whether it's an essay, a poem, or a story, our goal is to showcase work that lingers—pieces that make you pause, reconsider, or feel less alone.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 2025

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

4 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Collapse section Fiction Open

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 10 October 2026* (approx. 34 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

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

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Other: May vary.

Theme:

Noise (10 Oct 2026*)

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

Dates:

Open to nonfiction submissions through 10 October 2026* (approx. 34 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Essay: Up to 3,000 words.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 3,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Other: May vary.

Theme:

Noise (10 Oct 2026*)

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Poetry Open

Dates:

Open to poetry submissions through 10 October 2026* (approx. 34 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

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

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Other: May vary.

Theme:

Noise (10 Oct 2026*)

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

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

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.

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Social:
Instagram @navypenlit

Support this Publisher:
Purchase Issue(s)

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

Navy Pen 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 not received any complete reports within the past 12 months.

Pending

4 responses are pending (12 min | 19.0 mean avg | 19.5 median | 25 max days waiting | 5.9 std dev) from 4 different members

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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: 14 Aug 2026

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