The Waking: Ruminate Online

A project of Ruminate Magazine (see other related projects).

Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (December 2023). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

The Waking is Ruminate's online publication space. We’re looking for short-form fiction that questions, that shakes off easily won meaning, that is rooted in image, specific moment or memory, that, as Bernard Cooper says “magnif[ies] some small aspect of what it means to be human.” We seek to publish work that invites us into the moment: a pause, an in-between, an opening.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. (Note: About 8% of magazines always charge fees.)

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Unknown publication frequency

Collapse section Fiction Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

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

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word).
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than payment specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Interview: Up to 1,000 words.
Review: Up to 1,000 words.
Essay: Up to 1,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.
Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 1,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Critical, Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Literature/Books: Theory/Analysis/Criticism.

Payment:

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Expand section Poetry Closed

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 The Waking: Ruminate Online

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The Waking: Ruminate Online 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.

This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months.

Your Submissions

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Kalos Visual Art Prize CLOSED
Ruminate Broadside Poetry Prize DNQ
Ruminate Magazine CLOSED
Ruminate Magazine Poetry Prize DNQ

Ruminate Spiritual Nonfiction Prize CLOSED
VanderMey Nonfiction Prize DNQ
The Waking Flash Prose Prize DNQ
William Van Dyke Short Story Prize DNQ

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: 22 May 2026