If you love work that leans into mood, texture, and the quiet strangeness of being human, Ink in Thirds is a magazine you’ll want to spend time with. Founded by Grace Black, this boutique lit mag has been publishing poetry, prose, and visual art since 2016, always with an eye toward the emotive and the visceral—the pieces that linger, that hum under the skin, that make us look twice at the ordinary.

In this interview, Black talks about the magazine’s origins, what she hopes to find in the queue, and why she’s drawn to writing that pushes boundaries while staying rooted in the everyday. With no submission fees, a quick response time (often under a week), and a genuine appreciation for experimental work, Ink In Thirds offers a welcoming home for writers and artists who want their work to resonate on multiple layers.

Read on for the full conversation, plus details on how and when to submit your poetry, prose, photography, or visual art.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Ink In Thirds.

BLACK: Established in 2016, Ink In Thirds is a boutique literary magazine that publishes poetry, prose, and photography/art. The focus is on the emotive, visceral layers of the human condition, bringing artists and writers together in cohesive fluidity.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for in submissions?

BLACK: We are always on the lookout for writing about the common or mundane parts of daily life, told with a fresh perspective. We want lasting imagery that clings to our bones with a gnawing persistence.

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

BLACK: We’d love to see more experimental work. Writing that pushes boundaries, teeters on the edge, and makes us stop to question the human experience as we know it.

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

BLACK: Rust & Moth, Maudlin House Journal, Milk Candy Review, The Molotov Cocktail, Rattle, and many more.

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions?

BLACK: https://inkinthirds.org/submissions/

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

BLACK: https://inkinthirds.org/stay-connected/

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINES:
  • Prose/Poetry: April 1 – July 31 (for fall/winter issues)
  • October 1 – January 31 (for spring/summer issues)
  • Photography/Visual Art: Always open
• FORMAT: Print and Digital
• SUBMISSION FEE: None
• PAYMENT: $5 (token payment)
• ISSUE FREQUENCY: 2 times a year: Spring/Summer (early spring) and Fall/Winter (early fall)
• AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 7 days (typically less)
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Online form (found on their website)
• SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes
• FORMS: Fiction, CNF, Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Poetry, Artwork, Photography
• LISTINGS: Chill Subs, Duotrope
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Threads

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