MANDIRA PATTNAIK

Good morning, friends! We are officially into the last month of 2025–how utterly unbelievable is that! We’re also at the eighth edition of this newsletter–and 8 is an auspicious number in my culture, so I’m rather happy we’ve come this far. Let’s get straight to sharing some news from the lit world that caught my eye. First up, celebrated publishing venue Salamander Magazine went on a hiatus and will not be accepting new submissions during the 2025-2026 reading period. Suffolk University, their parent institution for the past 20 years, decided to end its relationship with Salamander due to increasing budget cuts. Not to be disheartened because others continue to publish, and Brecht de Poortere showed us where exactly by sharing the 2026 lit mag rankings in November 2025. The OVERALL ranking includes 750 journals – here is the top 20:

TIP: Use directories like NewPages.com and Poets & Writers to filter and discover journals that match your style (genre, length, tone, acceptance policy). These databases are immensely popular and help catch newer mags or smaller indie ones.

Staying on with literary world news, NIMROD Journal announced on November 26 : “With over 16,000 submissions received since Nov. 1, we have reached our platform’s limit. We will do our best to respond to everyone within six months.”, which attracted attention: a) because of the sheer numbers; b) because some writers missed the bus (the publication was to officially close on November 30) and c) because of suspicions that at least some of these submissions being AI generated.

On numbers, Funicular print, in which I had the good fortune of appearing (November 2025–Issue 18), said that they received more than 4000 submissions in their last round, and would curtail open periods henceforth. I am obviously over the moon to be selected and considered worthy from among this massive pool, but I am also scared. Usually, I am easily among the ~3983 who received “NO, not this time.” notes. Such huge numbers indicate increased competition!

Competition is followed by controversies. Copies of Folly Journal (NZ; established 2022) were pulled off major NZ bookseller Whitcoulls’ shelves on November 30 due to, what was said to be, the journal’s “risqué content”.

Onto some great opportunities: The Paris Review is hiring a web/senior editor and an engagement editor.

Check out After the End Poetry Competition. Deadline is, unfortunately, TODAY. “This poetry competition invites creative responses from poets that critically engage with ideas of time and temporality and the question of who gets to say that something has ended. Work from poets at every stage of their writing careers is welcome.” With a slightly longer margin, submit to “Folk Tales” / “Faux Trails” / “Fox Tails” before December 15. Three faux-tales: one science fiction, one fantasy, one horror. These folk-tails might emerge from any culture, any history, any landscape, but they should inform South Asian experiences. Prize: CAD150 each. Island Magazine submissions are open until December 12. Also find dozens of other open opportunities curated by Erika Deifus here.

On the personal front, some resolutions I made this year, worked for me. For example: I have truly shifted to short stories from flash. Although I do still write flash fiction and nonfiction, but I simply do not enjoy the genre as much as I used to. Secondly, I have stopped submitting to the big five flash fiction magazines where I’ve never been published. I did a quick check on Brecht’s list, and found, to my surprise, that, barring the top 5, I’ve been published in almost all of them, till ranked 30 and beyond. This has spared me the heartburn I used to experience earlier, and quite frequently too. Finally, (more details will emerge in my Annual Writing Report which will be the fifth edition–my God!, but just wanted to pin here that) I’ve stopped looking for validation as much as I used to after a bitter experience in August. Result: more happiness and peace, and therefore, more creativity!

So that’s all for this newsletter. I am intentionally not sharing any recs, either stories or craft essays, because, after all, December is that break we all look forward to. Moreover, I will be sharing the Best of 2025 sometime later this month. If you are interested, those ten pieces will keep you more than busy reading.

REMINDER! Fahmidan’s unique one-off WRITING WORKSHOP is coming up this Saturday and they’re having a flash discount (25% off) till December 03. I hope to see you there!

Before I leave, I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding:

a) Your submission strategy and anything you plan to change in 2026?

b) what book are you reading? It’s fine if the answer is “None”!

c) What places excite you the most–do you filter by genre, category, what they publish are your type, awards won etc., or simply your gut feeling?

Please remember to subscribe (it’s free!), and if you’re able, please support my work through PayPal. Thank you.

This blog is a monthly newsletter published on the first week that is truly a newsletter–updates from the literary world, open windows, a few personal updates, some tips, opinions and conversations, and a round-up of recent work I truly recommend. If you enjoyed this, please share with your friends. Consider subscribing, commenting and/or liking this post. Thanks!