Logo Duotrope®

An Important Announcement
We are excited to announce the long-awaited Duotrope community! Create your profile, high five your fellow creators, and journey along Rejection Road.

Hide this announcement

Learn More

River Styx Magazine

See other projects related to this listing.

About

For half a century, River Styx has cultivated contemporary literary arts in St. Louis and beyond through its magazine and community programs. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Whereas many literary magazines are affiliated with a university (and thus receives financial support from the university), River Styx is an independent publisher supported by small grants, in-kind donations, and sales of the print magazine.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. (Note: About 8% of magazines always charge fees.)
The fee is USD $5 (above average for magazines that charge).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 1975

Publication Medium & Frequency

Print Publication Print Publication
Published 2 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy
105 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Regular Speed
River Styx Magazine's overall average response time is within a normal range for magazines.
More Challenging
River Styx Magazine's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines.
More Responsive
River Styx Magazine's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.
Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Short Story: 1,000 - 1,500 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Short Story: 1,500 to 7,500 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

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

Payment:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $40-$100 per piece, depending on length.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Essay: Up to 500 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Essay: 500 - 3,000 words.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 500 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Narrative Nonfiction: 500 - 3,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

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

Payment:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $40-$100 per piece, depending on length.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed

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.

Payment:

Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) to Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $25 per page, up to $100.

Submissions:

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

Collapse section Visual Art Temp Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Artwork: Up to 12 pieces.

Art Media:

Open to all/most Art Media.

Art Styles:

Open to all/most Art Styles.

Topics:

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

Payment:

Semi-pro payment (US$10-49 per piece) Semi-pro payment. Details: USD $25 per piece, up to $100.

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.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for River Styx Magazine

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Bluesky @riverstyxmag.bsky.social
Instagram @riverstyxmag
X (Twitter) @riverstyxmag

Support this Publisher:
Make a Donation

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

River Styx 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 34 reports from 34 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
13 min | 53.1 mean avg | 52.0 median | 144 max days (30.6 std dev)
Responses
97.06 %
Acceptances:
2.94 % of submissions accepted (45.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 2.94 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here.
Rejections:
94.12 % (54.3 avg. days per rejection) | 6.3 % personal, 75.0 % form, 18.8 % unspecified
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals
2.94 % (27.0 avg. days per withdrawal)

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 150 days.
Do not query on the status of your submission before 150 days have passed.
The most common submission fee paid: USD $5.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 12 Feb 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 13 Nov 2025.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 03:10 UTC (6 hours, 7 minutes ago).

Work submitted here was also submitted to...

This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!

Members accepted here also had work accepted by...

This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today!

Your Submissions

This section is available to subscribers only. Join today!

Founders Award High School Poetry Contest DNQ  Charges fees for all submissions
The River Styx Contest  Charges fees for all submissions
River Styx International Poetry Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
River Styx Microfiction Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
River Styx Online  Charges fees for all submissions

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: 05 Sep 2026

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

Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy.

Accept All Cookies

Allow Essential Cookies Only