Arkana is an online literary journal of mysteries and marginalized voices, staffed and edited by graduate students in the University of Central Arkansas’s Creative Writing MFA program. They are currently open to no fee submissions of Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Illustrated Narrative, Scriptwriting, Translation, and Artwork for their upcoming issue in May 2022. While they are not able to pay all contributors, they do offer $50 to their Editor’s Choice Awards for each issue. You can read past issues on their website to get a feel for the type of work they accept. For more information see my interview with Managing Editor Kathy M. Bates and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: How/why was Arkana originally started? 

ANSWER: Arkana began in Spring 2016 and launched its inaugural issue in November that same year. As part of an overlooked and often misunderstood region of the US, we wanted to create a space where we could bring together a diversity of voices and champion stories that match our mission. 

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience? 

ANSWER: We really want to reach a diverse population of readers, as diverse as the work we receive and publish. We are especially interested in work that explores the identities and experiences of voices who have been silenced or marginalized. We want readers who look for and hope for spaces where those overlooked stories are told.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for? 

ANSWER: We’re looking for quality writing that is thought-provoking and literary, highlighting finely tuned craft and purposeful narratives. 

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in? 

ANSWER: Place-based nonfiction that continues to give a voice to under-represented topics or issues such as poverty, regional concerns, or communities. We would also love to see more 10-minutes plays and flash fiction. We would also be excited to see more illustrated narratives, a photo or story album that tells an intriguing narrative.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

ANSWER: Some of our staff favorites are The Oxford American, ZYZZYVA, Lunch Ticket, Thrush, Up the Staircase Quarterly, Copper Nickel, and F(r)iction.

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with Arkana?

ANSWER: I really appreciate the dedication and teamwork found in the Arkana group. We are mostly composed of volunteers. In graduate school, finding extra time is challenging, but we work all that out together. Each team member has their own strengths, and they bring those skills to the collective table as we try to find and publish the best work for our readers, be it an established voice or an emerging one. 

I also love that the Arkana team values our readers and contributors like family. We share in the excitement of their accomplishments, publications, and news, and are always looking for a chance to promote their efforts whenever we can. The positive energy in our community is inspiring. 

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

ANSWER: Submit via Submittable with details found on our website: https://arkanamag.org/submit/

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you? 

ANSWER: Readers and friends can reach us via any of our social media platforms. TW/FB @ArkanaMag and IG: @arkanamagazine

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Always Open
• FORMAT: Online
• SUBMISSION FEE: None
• PAYMENT: Although we are not able to pay all contributors, we are excited to offer $50 to our Editor’s Choice Awards for each issue. 
• ISSUE FREQUENCY: Two times a year, May and December
• AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 2-3 months, but usually faster during active reading periods
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Submittable
• SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes
• FORMS: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Illustrated Narrative, Scriptwriting, Translation, and Artwork
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
• DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/21289/arkana

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