About

Penstricken is an online literary journal dedicated to publishing quality short fiction and poetry. Our mission is to provide a platform for new authors to showcase their work, though we welcome submissions from writers of all experience levels.

We love stories that draw us into the beating heart of a character and allow us to experience life through their eyes. We also love elegant wordcraft and rich sensory language that doesn’t compromise on clarity.

If you’re an aspiring author, a literary enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys a good story, we invite you to submit your work and help us build a vibrant collection of diverse voices and compelling narratives.

Our inaugural issue, One, is available to read online or buy as a paper copy.

Submissions Open

Submissions are now open for our Spring 2026 issue, The Sublime and the Ridiculous. See our submissions page for full submission guidelines and how to submit.