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:
- “Dykes in a Tub,” by D. Arthur
- “Zulum,” by Fargo Tbakhi
- “INWARD ASPECT,” by Chekwube Danladi
- “Magical Faggot as Cinematic Study,” by Dez Deshaies
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We accept the following unpublished unsolicited submissions: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.
- 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, Jason Lipeles, at production@foglifterpress.com. (All other submissions, please use the applicable form below.)
The guest poetry editor for this issue is A.A. Vincent. A.A. (they/them/she) is a poet and essayist. They are the author of Person, Perceived Girl (Barrow Street Press), which came out Fall 2022. Her work has appeared in Santa Clara Review, MumberMag, West Trestle Review, and most recently in Black Bird Press News and Review. They live in the Bay Area.
Submission must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Submit 3 to 5 poems (max 5 pages).
- Each new poem must start on its own separate page.
- Include all poems in a single Word document (and put the titles of your poems, separated by commas, in the title field).
Foglifter aims to reflect the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ literary community in our award-winning journal. Fill out our anonymized Demographics Survey to be considered for publication—then take a screenshot of the thank-you screen at the end and attach it along with your submission.
The guest fiction editor for this issue is Sahil Mehta. Sahil (he/him/His) was born and raised in India. He currently lives in Boston, MA. He recently gave up a 20+ year career in educational publishing to focus on writing and painting. When he's not revising his novel or playing with acrylic and ink, he works in the hospitality world. His cocktail recipes have won numerous awards and appeared in local and national media. Instagram: sahildmehta
Please send a single Word document with up to 7500 words of fiction (up to three flash fiction pieces). Make sure it is in standard double-spaced formatting and a font that we don't need a microscope to read.
- Foglifter aims to reflect the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ literary community in our award-winning journal. Fill out our anonymized Demographics Survey to be considered for publication—then take a screenshot of the thank-you screen at the end and attach it along with your submission.
The guest nonfiction editor for this issue is Daisuke Shen. Daisuke (they/them) is the author of the forthcoming short story collection Vague Predictions & Prophecies (CLASH Books 2024). Their collaborative novella Funeral with Vi Khi Nao was published by KERNPUNKT Press in January 2023. www.daisukeshen.com.
- Please send a single Word document with up to 7500 words of nonfiction (up to three flash nonfiction pieces).
- Make sure it is in standard double-spaced formatting and a font that we don't need a microscope to read.
Foglifter aims to reflect the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ literary community in our award-winning journal. Fill out our anonymized Demographics Survey to be considered for publication—then take a screenshot of the thank-you screen at the end and attach it along with your submission.
The guest hybrid/drama editor for this issue is Daisuke Shen. Daisuke (they/them) is the author of the forthcoming short story collection Vague Predictions & Prophecies (CLASH Books 2024). Their collaborative novella Funeral with Vi Khi Nao was published by KERNPUNKT Press in January 2023. www.daisukeshen.com.
- Send up to 20 pages of cross-genre work, text-image hybrids, or drama.
- PDFs are accepted in this category.
Foglifter aims to reflect the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ literary community in our award-winning journal. Fill out our anonymized Demographics Survey to be considered for publication—then take a screenshot of the thank-you screen at the end and attach it along with your submission.