In our conversation, Kael talks about the inspiration behind Indigo, the value of staying unmonetized and volunteer-run, and what they hope to see in the queue as their inaugural reading period continues. If you’re writing fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry that shifts perception—work that makes a reader feel untethered in the best way—Indigo is actively seeking it.
Read on for the full interview, submission details, and how to get your work in front of their editorial team.
HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Indigo Literature Review.
KNIGHT: Indigo is an independent literature project run by a small core group of volunteers. We’re gearing up for our first publication in October, where we hope to call attention to emerging literary voices with a digital-native presentation. If all goes well, I think you’ll be able to say Indigo is just as much digital gallery as it is magazine—the idea of positioning literary work in a digital-first context is an exciting challenge, and was a big part of the inspiration for Indigo.
For Indigo’s first issue, we’re going for a kind of liminal, dream-like vibe. The mood and aesthetic we’re targeting has been a topic of much discussion among our editorial staff. We feel like keeping things simple allows us to focus entirely on the art, without getting bogged down by logistics.
HOPKINSON: How/why was Indigo Literature Review originally started?
KNIGHT: I started Indigo for two reasons: to create a friction-free space for emerging writers to push boundaries, and to learn more about the editorial process myself. I really enjoy place-based, detailed sensory writing, and I thought there must be more writing out there waiting to be published.
We are completely unmonetized at the moment, which we see as a great advantage. It gives us no choice but to keep our structure lean and our decision-making process efficient. It also completely removes the question of which story will sell better from our reading, which I think will do us great favors in establishing a brand and tonal direction long-term.
HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for in submissions?
KNIGHT: We’re really on the lookout for work that gives the reader a sense of being unmoored within the author’s own experience. If you can make us see, hear, or feel something in a new way, we want to read it.
HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?
KNIGHT: We’re excited to say, we’ve just sent out our first few acceptances. Our submission form went live recently, and we’re already seeing much more interest than we had predicted. It’s incredibly encouraging, especially for a small, resource-light outlet like ours.
Currently, we’re seeing a massive flood of poetry, but relatively few prose pieces. We’d definitely appreciate some more long-form fiction or CNF submissions.
HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?
KNIGHT: This project is very inspired by SmokeLong Quarterly, Always Crashing, and Split Lip. I deeply admire Orion Magazine, Nature, and Permafrost for their exceptional mapping of nature, culture, and geography, alongside dark speculative and avant-garde spaces like The Dark, Apex, The Deadlands, Suburban Witchcraft, and Seize The Press.
HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with the Indigo Literature Review?
KNIGHT: Stepping to the other side of the desk to read blind submissions has been incredibly eye-opening. My absolute favorite part is the curation process. It’s a huge honor to be able to read these pieces writers have poured hours of effort into!
HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions?
KNIGHT: Writers can view our guidelines and submit their work at https://indigolit.com/submit-your-work/.
HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?
KNIGHT: You can reach me directly at editors@indigolit.com. Since we run on a volunteer basis, it may take us longer to respond, but we will read and respond to each and every outreach.
HOPKINSON: Is there anything exciting coming up you’d like to mention?
KNIGHT: Our inaugural submission window closes this September, and we are officially pushing Volume 1 live on October 24th. Once our first issue drops, we’re planning to submit standout pieces from our first wave of contributors for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net—we want to make sure our writers get the recognition they deserve!
Click here to read submission guidelines.
- SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Reading Period July 2nd – September 30th
- FORMAT: online
- SUBMISSION FEE: None!
- PAYMENT: No payment
- AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 2-3 weeks
- SUBMISSION METHOD: Form at https://indigolit.com/submit-your-work/
- SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes!
- FORMS: Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Poetry
- LISTINGS: Chill Subs, Duotrope
- SOCIAL MEDIA: Bluesky
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