Random Sample Review

About

A random sample is a statistical tool, a method by which elements of a population can be selected and closely examined, an unbiased process that allows a subset to represent the larger community. This is Random Sample’s measure of success, although we care more about the qualitative than the quantitative. We seek to survey the most promising literary fields in order to find unique voices of the global nation, the individuals who observe, who feel, who encounter, who think, and, most importantly, who write. The sort of people who have either stumbled on or carefully collected data about human life and society and can report back to the rest of us in a meaningful and emotive way. Our primary aim as an online literary journal is accessibility and experimentalism: we want work that yields truth, in its many forms, and speaks on behalf of the experience of the body politic. We want the random, the real, the raw, the honest. Overall, we want work that is decidedly and unabashedly human.

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Published 2 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

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Statistics Synopsis

Slower: Random Sample Review's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
More Approachable: Random Sample Review's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines.
More Responsive: Random Sample Review'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:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Short Story: 1,000 - 7,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are 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:

Essay: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Essay: 1,000 - 7,000 words.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Narrative Nonfiction: 1,000 - 7,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are 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:

General

Lengths:

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

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms, including: Hybrid form, Visual poetry.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are 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 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 No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are 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.

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Random Sample Review 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 14 reports from 14 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

25 min | 140.5 mean avg | 128.0 median | 199 max days (507.8 std dev)

Responses

71.43 %

Acceptances:

28.57 % of submissions accepted (136.8 avg. days per acceptance) | 28.57 % of submitters accepted

Rejections:

42.86 % (170.0 avg. days per rejection) | 16.7 % personal, 50.0 % form, 33.3 % unspecified

Non-Responses

0.00 %

Lost/Returned:

Never Responded:

Withdrawals

28.57 % (71.3 avg. days per withdrawal)

Pending

7 responses are pending (32 min | 84.6 mean avg | 101.0 median | 107 max days waiting | 28.9 std dev) from 6 different members

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 180 days. (14.3 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 180 days.)
Do not query on the status of your submission before 180 days have passed.
Most recent response reported was received on 17 Feb 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 20 Oct 2025.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:59 UTC (less than a minute ago).

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Your Submissions

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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: 09 Sep 2026

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