Submissions
Southerly does everything possible to have all submissions read and a response sent out within three months. However, if you haven't heard back from us in three months, then please assume Southerly will not be accepting your work this time. Due to the high volume of work we receive, we cannot provide feedback.Please read our guidelines before submitting. Questions and concerns can be addressed to admin@southerlylitmag.com.au
Southerly 81.1 2026
Ireland and Other Islands
Australia is often referred to as the most Irish country outside of Ireland. Irish writers have greatly influenced Australian and world literature through their writing as well as their advocacy for Ireland’s now permanent program of Basic Income for the Arts (BIA). Yet few literary works engage with our contemporary understanding of Ireland and Irishness and their entanglements with Australian life. What does it mean to be Irish, or of Irish heritage, or to be interested in Irishness, while living and working in Australia on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land? Whose voices are heard the loudest and whose are silenced when it comes to Irish literature, and why? What is it about Ireland that is irresistible (or not) to writers in Australia? We invite submissions from writers who identify as Irish or as being of Irish heritage as well as writers from other cultural backgrounds interested in exploring these and other related questions. Send us your submissions in the following genres:
- Short fiction (up to 3000 words)
- Creative nonfiction including personal and lyric essays (up to 3000 words)
- Poetry (up to five pages, with 1.5 spacing and each poem starting on a new page)
Guidelines
- Submissions open: Monday January 19, 2026, 09:00 am AEDST
- Submission close: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 pm AEDST
- Submissions will be assessed by Southerly’s editorial team whose decisions will be final.
- We will let you know the outcome of your submission within three months of the closing date.
- For Payment information see https://southerlylitmag.com.au/submit-to-southerly/
- Publication date: October 2026
Southerly 81.1 2026 Ireland and Other Islands Australia is often referred to as the most Irish country outside of Ireland. Irish writers have greatly influenced Australian and world literature through their writing as well as their advocacy for Ireland’s now permanent program of Basic Income for the Arts (BIA). Yet few literary works engage with our contemporary understanding of Ireland and Irishness and their entanglements with Australian life. What does it mean to be Irish, or of Irish heritage, or to be interested in Irishness, while living and working in Australia on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land? Whose voices are heard the loudest and whose are silenced when it comes to Irish literature, and why? What is it about Ireland that is irresistible (or not) to writers in Australia? We invite submissions from writers who identify as Irish or as being of Irish heritage as well as writers from other cultural backgrounds interested in exploring these and other related questions. Send us your submissions in the following genres:
- Short fiction (up to 3000 words)
- Creative nonfiction including personal and lyric essays (up to 3000 words)
- Poetry (up to five pages, with 1.5 spacing and each poem starting on a new page)
Guidelines
- Submissions open: Monday January 19, 2026, 09:00 am AEDST
- Submission close: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 pm AEDST
- Submissions will be assessed by Southerly’s editorial team whose decisions will be final.
- We will let you know the outcome of your submission within three months of the closing date.
- For Payment information see https://southerlylitmag.com.au/submit-to-southerly/
- Publication date: October 2026
Southerly 81.1 2026 Ireland and Other Islands Australia is often referred to as the most Irish country outside of Ireland. Irish writers have greatly influenced Australian and world literature through their writing as well as their advocacy for Ireland’s now permanent program of Basic Income for the Arts (BIA). Yet few literary works engage with our contemporary understanding of Ireland and Irishness and their entanglements with Australian life. What does it mean to be Irish, or of Irish heritage, or to be interested in Irishness, while living and working in Australia on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land? Whose voices are heard the loudest and whose are silenced when it comes to Irish literature, and why? What is it about Ireland that is irresistible (or not) to writers in Australia? We invite submissions from writers who identify as Irish or as being of Irish heritage as well as writers from other cultural backgrounds interested in exploring these and other related questions. Send us your submissions in the following genres:
- Short fiction (up to 3000 words)
- Creative nonfiction including personal and lyric essays (up to 3000 words)
- Poetry (up to five pages, with 1.5 spacing and each poem starting on a new page)
Guidelines
- Submissions open: Monday January 19, 2026, 09:00 am AEDST
- Submission close: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 pm AEDST
- Submissions will be assessed by Southerly’s editorial team whose decisions will be final.
- We will let you know the outcome of your submission within three months of the closing date.
- For Payment information see https://southerlylitmag.com.au/submit-to-southerly/
- Publication date: October 2026