Foglifter is a biannual compendium of the most dynamic, urgent queer and trans writing today. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace.


Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it.

What does that look like? Check out some writing we love from our recent issues:


Editorial Statement

We provide a path to representation for a broad selection of LGBTQ+ voices, centering queer and trans literary artists of color, youth, elders, and those beyond traditional LGBTQ+ cultural centers so that our readers and audiences can see their own experiences authentically represented through queer and trans literary arts.

We believe that queer and trans people must curate our own artistic discourses and we curate with a commitment to not perpetuate harm in our communities and recognize our responsibilities as editors to uplift the voices of queer and trans people while not punching down on those of us who live at the intersection of multiple oppressed identities.


Writers in Need Fund

Foglifter is excited to launch the Writers In Need fund to support sliding-scale payments for our contributors. While we have been deeply fortunate to be able to compensate contributors for their important and incredible writing with a modest honorarium, Foglifter recognizes the many intersections of our queer and trans artistic communities, and that members of our community may be differently impacted by financial insecurity and historical disenfranchisement. This fund is an attempt to address those inequities. Please see the Submit page on our website for details. 


Guidelines

Title your submission with the title of the work(s) you are submitting (separated by commas).

Include a 50-word or less bio (with pronouns after your name, please!) in your cover letter. (If accepted, we will request an author photo; JPG or PNG files are best.)

We accept the following unpublished unsolicited submissions:

  • 3 to 5 poems (max 5 pages)
  • up to 7500 words of fiction or nonfiction (up to three flash fiction pieces)
  • up to 20 pages of cross-genre work, text-image hybrids, or drama

All submissions must be uploaded as one DOC or DOCX file using the following titling convention: First_Last_Foglifter (i.e., Audre_Lorde_Foglifter)

  • We accept simultaneous submissions; however, please withdraw your piece immediately if it is accepted elsewhere (or, if you only need to withdraw part of a submission, send us a message in Submittable).
  • Only one submission per genre is permitted each reading period.
  • We do not accept previously published material.
  • We welcome translated work in all genres, provided rights have been secured before submission. (Both author and translator will receive an honorarium.)
  • If we've recently accepted your work, please wait two reading periods (1 year) to submit again.
  • Contributors receive two copies of the issue in which they appear and a $50 honorarium (via PayPal).


Submission periods are:

  • March 1 to May 1 (Fall Edition)
  • September 1 to November 1 (Spring Edition)
  • We are always open for cover art! Reach our production manager Alice Lee at production@foglifterpress.com. (For all other submissions, please use the applicable form below.)
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Submit to Staff Application — PR/Events Coordinator (needed) — $2000 honorarium/year

The PR/Event Coordinator manages events, including securing venues, communicating with readers, devising rosters with ongoing input from genre editors (particularly any/all that will staff/attend the event), and designing programming for approximately 5 events per year. They also research and apply for relevant festivals/conference events, and plan/execute those events in various cities. They ensure that quality photos and video are taken at all Foglifter events. The PR/Event Coordinator also manages press kits/releases for Foglifter events/publications. They write press releases, distribute those releases to media outlets, and manage our media contact list.

The annual honorarium for this position is $2000, which will increase to $3000 in 2025. This position must be physically based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Submit to Volunteer Staff Application—Assistant Fiction Editor ($1,500 Honorarium Per Year)

Foglifter is looking for an Assistant Fiction Editor for our small, all-volunteer staff. The responsibilities are as follows:

  • The Assistant Fiction Editor is responsible for supporting the Managing Fiction Editor in much of their work. They consistently solicit excellent writers for the journal, keeping the Solicitations sheet up to date and organized. They read and rate incoming unsolicited work in accordance with agreed-upon timelines, flagging anything exceptional to the team for early acceptance. They attend and participate in genre decision meetings, and advocate for work they are passionate about. They stay aware of any contests that Foglifter authors might be eligible for and bring those to the attention of the Managing Fiction Editor. They promptly respond to all Foglifter communications and help the rest of the genre team stay efficient and organized.

The estimated time commitment for this role is 2–5 hours per week during reading periods, and 1–2 hours outside of reading periods. It includes a yearly honorarium of $1,500.

Residence is the San Francisco Bay Area is not required, but would be ideal. 

Multi-marginalized individuals are encouraged to apply.

Foglifter Press