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Rejected Lit Magazine

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About

Rejected Lit Magazine is a literary journal created and edited by poets who are dedicated to celebrating the ongoing cycle of rejection integral to crafting poetry. Our name is a both a tongue-in-cheek reference to the rejection that we all face as poets at times, and a celebration of how fantastic work can, and often does, shine even with the threat of rejection looming overhead.

We are immense fans of the work put out by poets such as Natalie Diaz, Ocean Vuong, Ángel García, Terrance Hayes, Bianca Stone, Eduardo Corral, Danez Smith, Ilya Kaminsky, and Tracy K. Smith, just to name a few. Rejected Lit strives to create and publish work that is not only in conversation with these powerhouse writers but that also continues their legacy of honest, brutal, and chilling work.

Send us your best; prepare for the worst; we'll see you somewhere in between.

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

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 2021

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown publication frequency

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

Statistics Synopsis

Slower
Rejected Lit Magazine's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
More Challenging
Rejected Lit Magazine's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines.
Less Responsive
Rejected Lit Magazine's overall rate of non-response is higher than most magazines.

Expand section Fiction Closed

Expand section Nonfiction Closed

Collapse section Poetry Open

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

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

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms, including: Experimental poetry.

Styles:

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

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) Semi-pro payment. Details: USD $30 per group of poems.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Unknown.
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.

Rejected Lit Magazine 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:
Accuracy
We have received 13 reports from 13 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
46 min | 258.7 mean avg | 286.0 median | 478 max days (144.6 std dev)
Responses
38.46 %
Acceptances:
0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet.
Rejections:
38.46 % (182.6 avg. days per rejection) | 40.0 % personal, 40.0 % form, 20.0 % unspecified
Non-Responses
30.77 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
30.77 % (427.5 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded)
Withdrawals
30.77 % (186.8 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
14 responses are pending (27 min | 287.2 mean avg | 301.0 median | 472 max days waiting | 190.5 std dev) from 13 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

Most recent response reported was received on 16 Jun 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 12 Dec 2025.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 02:30 UTC (7 hours, 16 minutes ago).

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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: 23 Jun 2026

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

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