Top Twelve Online Literary Journals

Here are the top twelve online literary journals, at least according to the number of Million Writers Award nominations each journal has received in the last five years.

• Eclectica (31 nominations)
• Pindeldyboz (26)
• Agni (16)
• Strange Horizons (16)
• Word Riot (16)
• Narrative Magazine (15)
• Fiction Warehouse (13)
• The King's English (12)
• Mississippi Review (12)
• Blackbird (11)
• Blithe House Quarterly (11)
• Storyglossia (11)

Comments

[Jackson Bliss]

Just one man's take, but I think that AGNI doesn't count because like many other print journals (Iowa Review, Kenyon Review, Conjunctions) it has created an online supplement that is equal to, but not independent of the print version. Also, I can think of several prominent online journals off the top of my head that I think are better (or certainly as good as) the journals listed above: 3:am Magazine may be the best online journal there is, and is definitely one of the most respected and international one out there. Identity Theory, despite its self-conscious hipness has some great writing (and interviews, for that matter). Failbetter + Fringe Magazine both have some fantastic writing too, as do Doubledoor. Word Riot, Pindeldyboz + Narrative are all fantastic journals.

[Bookfox]

Yes, a lot of people are up in arms about what counts as a online literary journal. If you just started an online section of your famous literary journal, does that count?

What if you started an online section of your famous literary journal, and endowed it with its own aesthetic preferences and identity, does that count?

Many people are angry at Narrative for one reason or another, which I don't fully get, but it's pretty obvious that they're the best example of an online literary journal. They're blazing the trail.

Failbetter is excellent, 3:am is hit and miss, and I'm not familiar with Identity Theory but I'll check it out.

[Jackson Bliss]

What I love about 3:am is that I can find writing that I love + I can also find something that appeals to a non literary-fiction writer too, which is rare for virtually all literary journals these days with the exception of Fiction International, Harper's or the Boston Review. I agree with you on one thing: I think Narrative has some really good writing in it. My only issue is that there is only one month in which submissions are free, otherwise you have to pay a reading fee. Unless they've changed their editorial policy, I think that's a crime. Other than that, I think Narrative has done more to establish the legitimacy of the online journal than almost any other.

[Anonymous]

Just wondering why Night Train isn't on this list.

[Bookfox]

Because they didn't get enough Million Writer Award nominations during the last five years.

Perhaps if it was a more subjective list, Night Train would have made it.