Shadowplay

We list other projects with similar titles. Please check that you report any submissions under the correct listing.

About

Shadowplay seeks work that dances in liminal spaces, that illuminates the pieces of our world which otherwise go unseen. Send us your light and your dark.
An annual print literary journal designed and edited by graduate students at the University of Arkansas - Monticello, Shadowplay welcomes submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. We accept all artistic voices, and diversity is welcomed; we also nominate for the Pushcart Prize. Shadowplay is available through bookstores, online retailers, libraries, and academic institutions.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 2023

Publication Medium & Frequency

Print Publication Print Publication: Published 1 x per year

AI Policy

Human-created work only; no AI use allowed

16 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Faster: Shadowplay's overall average response time is faster than most magazines.
More Approachable: Shadowplay's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines.
More Responsive: Shadowplay's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.

Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 15 October 2026* (approx. 28 days from now) through 15 March 2027.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Unknown number of pieces.
Short Story: 1,000 - 2,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

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

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 15 October 2026* (approx. 28 days from now) through 15 March 2027.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Essay: Up to 2,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 2,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

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

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 15 October 2026* (approx. 28 days from now) through 15 March 2027.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Unknown number of pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

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

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
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.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for Shadowplay

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Facebook Facebook
Instagram @shadowplaylit

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

Shadowplay 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 22 reports from 20 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

2 min | 30.4 mean avg | 26.0 median | 136 max days (39.1 std dev)

Responses

95.45 %

Acceptances:

18.18 % of submissions accepted (29.8 avg. days per acceptance) | 20.00 % of submitters accepted

Rejections:

77.27 % (35.7 avg. days per rejection) | 0.0 % personal, 76.5 % form, 23.5 % unspecified

Non-Responses

0.00 %

Lost/Returned:

Never Responded:

Withdrawals

4.55 % (18.0 avg. days per withdrawal)

Other Information

Most recent response reported was received on 17 Mar 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 15 Mar 2026.
Date compiled: 16 Sep 2026 16:51 UTC (4 hours, 35 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!

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: 08 Jul 2026

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