The Common A Modern Sense of Place About The Common is a literary organization whose mission is to deepen our individual and collective sense of place. Based at Amherst College, we aim to serve as a vibrant common space for the global exchange of ideas and experiences through three main areas of activity: publishing, public programming, and mentorship and education. We publish works that embody particular times and places—literature and art powerful enough to reach from there to here—and feature new and underrepresented voices from around the world. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for their subscribers. The fee is USD $3. Important: Subscribers can submit outside of their regular submission periods. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2010 Publication Media & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationPublished on a rolling basisPrint Publication Print PublicationPublished 2 x per year Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 September 2025* (approx. 46 days from now) through 01 December 2025.7Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General.Lengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words. Novelette: 7,500 - 10,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Place/Regions.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $200 per piece.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. 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 01 September 2025* (approx. 46 days from now) through 01 December 2025.1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 10,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Place/Regions.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $200 per piece.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. 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 01 September 2025* (approx. 46 days from now) through 01 December 2025.7Audience: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: Place/Regions.Payment:Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) Semi-pro payment. Details: USD $40 per poem.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. 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. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @commonmagX (Twitter) @commonmag For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Subscribe The Common Submission Statistics Free Preview! 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. This project ranks among the 25 Slowest Fiction Publishers in our database. This project ranks among the 25 Slowest Nonfiction Publishers in our database. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Nonfiction Publishers in our database. Accuracy: We have received 286 reports from 261 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported: 1 min | 158.7 mean avg | 155.0 median | 496 max days (141.6 std dev) Responses 84.27 % Acceptances: 1.40 % of submissions accepted (111.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 1.53 % 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: 82.87 % (167.2 avg. days per rejection) | 12.7 % personal, 63.7 % form, 23.6 % unspecified Non-Responses 15.73 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals: 15.73 % (122.8 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 202 responses are pending (6 min | 147.7 mean avg | 116.0 median | 498 max days waiting | 360.9 std dev) from 198 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00. Most submissions are acknowledged within one day. Most recent response reported was received on 14 Jul 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 27 Mar 2025. 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 SubmittingWe 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. DatesLast Updated: 01 Jun 2025Last Audited: 03 Apr 2025 Date Added: 16 Sep 2010We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.