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Zone 3 a literary journal

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About

Zone 3 is an online literary journal published once a year by the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts. The editors welcome submissions of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from both established and emerging writers. Recent contributors include A. Van Jordan, Kimiko Hahn, Nancy Eimers, H.L. Hix, Brenda Miller, Ander Monson, Sara Majka, Geffrey Davis, Louise Erdrich, Jill Talbot, Ira Sukrungruang, Charles Haverty, and Oliver de la Paz.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. (Note: About 8% of magazines always charge fees.)
The fee is USD $3 (average for magazines that charge).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 1986

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Published 1 x per year

AI Policy

Human-created work only; no AI use allowed
476 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Faster
Zone 3's overall average response time is faster than most magazines.
More Challenging
Zone 3's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines.
More Responsive
Zone 3's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.
Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Open Fee-based

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 01 November 2026* (approx. 57 days from now).

2

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 3,000 words.
Novel Excerpt: Up to 3,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Unknown payment Unknown 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

Dates:

Open to nonfiction submissions through 01 November 2026* (approx. 57 days from now).

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:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Unknown payment Unknown payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Open Fee-based

Dates:

Open to poetry submissions through 01 November 2026* (approx. 57 days from now).

4

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Up to 6 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Unknown payment Unknown 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.
* 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 Zone 3

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Facebook Facebook
Instagram @zone3press
X (Twitter) @zone3press

Support this Publisher:
Subscribe

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

Zone 3 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:
Accuracy
We have received 54 reports from 47 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
2 min | 40.0 mean avg | 39.0 median | 101 max days (31.5 std dev)
Responses
94.44 %
Acceptances:
3.70 % of submissions accepted (71.5 avg. days per acceptance) | 4.26 % 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:
90.74 % (39.2 avg. days per rejection) | 34.7 % personal, 46.9 % form, 18.4 % unspecified
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals
5.56 % (18.3 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
25 responses are pending (1 min | 15.8 mean avg | 19.0 median | 21 max days waiting | 778.2 std dev) from 25 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 180 days.
The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 11 Dec 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Nov 2025.
Date compiled: 05 Sep 2026 13:25 UTC (6 hours, 5 minutes ago).

Work submitted here was also submitted to...

Fiction: The Pinch; Indiana Review; swamp pink; the minnesota review; The Massachusetts Review; West Branch; Copper Nickel; Tahoma Literary Review; The Los Angeles Review; The Hopkins Review; Pleiades; Ninth Letter

Poetry: Tahoma Literary Review; phoebe; The Iowa Review; Kenyon Review; Poet Lore; The Georgia Review; Four Way Review; New Ohio Review; Michigan Quarterly Review; New England Review; Copper Nickel; Ninth Letter

Nonfiction: River Teeth; The Missouri Review; Blackbird; The Los Angeles Review; Grist; New Letters; The Southampton Review; Hayden's Ferry Review; New Ohio Review; Ninth Letter; Michigan Quarterly Review; Baltimore Review

Members accepted here also had work accepted by...

Fiction: Insufficient data

Poetry: Insufficient data

Nonfiction: N/A

Your Submissions

This section is available to subscribers only. Join today!

Zone 3 Creative Nonfiction Book Award ON HIATUS  Charges fees for all submissions
Zone 3 First Book Award for Poetry ON HIATUS  Charges fees for all submissions
Zone 3 Press Broadside Competition 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: 14 Aug 2026

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

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