The Muleskinner Journal About We are an online literary publication, with a digital collection issued quarterly. We are also a community. If you send us stuff, publish stuff with us, or read what we publish, you're a Muleskinner too.Our goal is to feature work that delights and provokes. Work that gathers strength from diversity, and that travels inside and outside the box for a purpose.We work in themes as jumping off points. They are prompts rather than subject matter. They are koans. Our collection of work on a theme becomes your meditations on that theme. They’re mediations that could take us anywhere. They set us free of the theme, not tie us down to it.If you live with courage, we want you to be a Muleskinner too. Voluntary Fees: This project accepts voluntary fees for tip jar submissions. Submission Caps: They may close to submissions early if they reach their quota. 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 PublicationPublished 4 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis FasterThe Muleskinner Journal's overall average response time is faster than most magazines. Normal AcceptanceThe Muleskinner Journal's overall acceptance rate is within a normal range for magazines. More ResponsiveThe Muleskinner Journal's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines. Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces. Short Story: 1,000 - 3,000 words. Novel Excerpt: Up to 3,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Other: May vary.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 Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 3,000 words. Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 3,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Other: May vary.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 Poetry Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poem: No line limits known; Up to 3 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Other: May vary.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. 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:Bluesky @muleskinnerjournal.bsky.socialFacebook FacebookInstagram @muleskinnerjournalX (Twitter) @MuleskinnerJou1 Support this Publisher: Make a Donation For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Muleskinner Journal 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 Group by submission Include outliers Accuracy We have received 155 reports from 126 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 | 18.1 mean avg | 17.0 median | 70 max days (78.2 std dev) Responses 93.55 % Acceptances: 9.03 % of submissions accepted (16.1 avg. days per acceptance) | 11.11 % 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: 84.52 % (18.7 avg. days per rejection) | 15.3 % personal, 66.4 % form, 18.3 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 6.45 % (8.1 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 13 responses are pending (10 min | 62.0 mean avg | 27.0 median | 223 max days waiting | 217.0 std dev) from 11 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 30 days. (15.5 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 30 days.) Do not query on the status of your submission before 30 days have passed. The most common submission tip paid: USD $5.00. (20.5 % reported giving a tip.) Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 11 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 31 Aug 2026. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 08:10 UTC (1 hour, 36 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! 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: 06 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