Please submit only one (​1) story at a time. Additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere we ask that you please withdraw it from our system. Novellas and novel excerpts are welcome. Translations are welcome; it is the translator's responsibility to secure rights to the work before it is submitted. 

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series, including:

Fiction 

“Woman Sleeping” by Teolinda Gersão, translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa

“The Dead Fish Museum” by Charles D’Ambrosio

“The Funeral” by Mahreen Sohail

We aim to reply to submissions within four months. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

Please submit only one (​1) essay at a time. Additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere we ask that you please withdraw it from our system. Excerpts are welcome. Memoir is welcome. Long-form cultural criticism is welcome. Translations are welcome; it is the translator's responsibility to secure rights to the work before it is submitted. 

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series, including:

Nonfiction 

“The Persistence of Muybridge” by John Haskell

“Meeting Points: Between and In Between Subject and Object” by Cleo Mikutta

“Pita in the Arms of God” by Elena Poniatowska, translated by Christina MacSweeney

We aim to reply to submissions within four months. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

Please submit up to five (5) poems in one document. Only one submission at a time is allowed; additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if a poem is accepted elsewhere, we ask that you withdraw your submission from the system or, if you've submitted multiple poems, that you add a note to your submission letting us know which poem(s) you are withdrawing. Translations are welcome, but it is the translator's responsibility to secure rights to the work before it is submitted. We will make every effort to respond to your submissions within four months, though at times it may be longer. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. 

We are pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Editorial Fellowships, a program for aspiring editors, will open on January 5, 2026. Established in 2019, the Editorial Fellowship at A Public Space aims to support the next generation of editors who will offer a more diverse publishing community—culturally, aesthetically, economically; and to explore new possibilities for editing, writing, and literature. Learn about previous Editorial Fellows, and the work they edited for the magazine, here.

A Public Space is an independent, nonprofit publisher of a literary and arts magazine and A Public Space Books. The Editorial Fellowship is designed to provide practical, hands-on experience as well as mentorship and education in editing and independent publishing.  

Two Editorial Fellows will be selected to work alongside the editorial staff at A Public Space on various aspects of the magazine, including evaluating submissions, researching, developing, and soliciting work, editing, copyediting, proofreading, production, and promotion. They will also have the opportunity to oversee an Open Call and serve as the lead editor on a piece for the magazine.   

APPLICATION

Time Period and Compensation: The 2026 Editorial Fellowships period is approximately six months, from June 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026. The Fellows will work on their own schedule, and will have responsibilities of approximately fifteen hours weekly. They must be able to attend up to two weekly meetings (virtual and in person) during regular office hours. The Fellows will receive compensation of $6,000. 

Eligibility: A strong interest in contemporary literature and a career in publishing. The ability to work independently, and to bring curiosity and initiative to their work. Excellent verbal and written English-language communication skills. A commitment to meeting deadlines. Individuals who bring diverse experiences and new perspectives to our work are especially encouraged to apply. Some experience in editorial work is preferred but not required. Preference will be given to aspiring editors who have not worked extensively in literary publishing, and who may have limited access to career opportunities in the industry. Editorial Fellows must be residents of New York City for the duration of the Fellowship. Proof of residency will be required. A Public Space reserves the right to invite candidates to apply. Unfortunately, A Public Space is unable to sponsor work visas.

Timeline: Applications for the 2026 Editorial Fellowships will be accepted via Submittable from January 5, 2026–February 28, 2026. Submissions for the Fellowships close at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on February 28, 2026. Successful applicants will be informed no later than April 10, 2026. The Fellowships will begin June 1, 2026.

Procedure: Please submit the following:

• A résumé
• As one file:     
  • A statement describing your interest in editing and independent publishing; the influences and experience that you will bring to your work as an Editorial Fellow; and your goals for the fellowship and beyond. Please also include where you heard about the Editorial Fellowships.
  • A short excerpt from a work by an under-recognized writer; and a brief statement (250 words max.) on the writer and why you feel work such as this should be championed by editors.
  • A statement (250 words max.) about one author published by A Public Space, either in the magazine or A Public Space Books, and how their work resonates with your editorial interests.
  • Each Editorial Fellow serves as the lead editor for a portfolio that will appear in the winter issue of the magazine. This project starts with developing an idea for an Open Call for submissions. Please submit a short paragraph outlining two potential ideas for an Open Call,  and your interest in these topics.

   

Note that only PDF or Word files (.doc and .docx) are accepted. Incomplete applications will not be considered.