The Main Street Rag See other projects related to this listing. About Main Street Rag Publishing Company has been publishing our print magazine: The Main Street Rag, uninterrupted since 1996. It was our entry point into the publishing world. Among its features are poetry, short fiction, photography, essays, interviews, reviews, and commentary. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for some submissions. They charge fees for most submissions, except for interviews, art, and subscribers. The fee range is USD $2.50 to $3.50 (below average to average for magazines that charge). Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1996 Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationPublished 4 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis FasterThe Main Street Rag's overall average response time is faster than most magazines. More ApproachableThe Main Street Rag's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines. More ResponsiveThe Main Street Rag's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines. Collapse section Fiction Open Fee-based Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Open Fee-based Prefer social or political themes over How to, process pieces or literary pieces about the life of a literarian.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Interview: 2,000 - 2,500 words. Review: Up to 800 words. Essay: Up to 6,000 words. Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Politics/Political Science. Society/Culture.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Methods: Email. Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Open Fee-based Any style, any subject, emphasis on edgier material, but we're not interested in the graphic details of your love life and we do enjoy a good laugh now and then--so just send your best and let the rest sort itself out. What we are least likely to accept is "garden" poetry, poetry about poetry, or the often over-used wading pool of Greek and Roman mythology. We prefer work that is alive with the poet's own experiences. While we do not publish much in the way of formal poetry in our magazine, we will consider it and we like to see poems that maintain the integrity of the form without becoming stiff, uninteresting or losing their vitality.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poem: No line limits known; 3 - 5 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms, including: Free verse.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Visual Art Open We like it all—no subject taboo—but if you are targeting cover art, we like people doing what they do, street scenes, a world in motion. Send us a picture we can hear and smell.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Artwork: Art Media: Open to all/most Art Media, including... Photography.Art Styles:Open to all/most Art Styles.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.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. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookX (Twitter) @MainStreetRag Support this Publisher: Buy Book(s) For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Main Street Rag 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: Category: All Categories Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Visual Art Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 21 reports from 21 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 0 min | 22.9 mean avg | 18.0 median | 135 max days (33.8 std dev) Responses 90.48 % Acceptances: 71.43 % of submissions accepted (22.4 avg. days per acceptance) | 71.43 % 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: 19.05 % (48.8 avg. days per rejection) | 0.0 % personal, 75.0 % form, 25.0 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 9.52 % (4.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 2 responses are pending (78 min | 82.5 mean avg | 82.5 median | 87 max days waiting | 41.0 std dev) from 2 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The editors will try to make a decision within 112 days. (4.8 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 112 days.) The most common submission fee paid: USD $2.50. (59.1 % of reports specified whether they paid a fee; of those, 100.0 % paid fees.) Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 13 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 21 Aug 2026. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 07:50 UTC (1 hour, 56 minutes ago). View report of recent responses from this project 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! Related ProjectsThe Cathy Smith Bowers Chapbook Contest DNQ Charges fees for all submissionsMain Street Rag Book Publishing DNQMain Street Rag Novella Series BELIEVED DEFUNCTMain Street Rag Poetry Book Contest ON HIATUS Charges fees for all submissionsMain Street Rag Short Fiction Anthology Series DNQ 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: 04 Sep 2026We 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