What are we looking for?

underdog. is a literary magazine based in the UK focusing on amplifying emerging and underrepresented voices. We’re on the hunt for stories and submissions from female, POC, LGBTQ+, working-class voices; if you fit one of these categories, or all of them, or even some we haven’t mentioned, we want to hear from you!

Write not what you think people want to read, but what you want to write! You don’t have to be a professional writer in any capacity to submit to us, and we welcome all degrees of experience - whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been years in the game. Just make sure you adhere to the rules and regulations!

With our bimonthly anthology, underdog. is hunting for:

Submissions adhering to the month's theme for The Flavour
General entries which do not fit the theme, but are being entered to be considered for Ultimate Underdog

This month, for the theme of 'Magical Realism: Blurring the Line', the deadline is December 1st 2024.

Submission Guidelines

underdog. will release an issue every month. The issue will consist of up to ten selected submissions for The Flavour, and one selected submission for Ultimate Underdog.
The theme will be chosen by the Editor-in-Chief, and is entirely up to interpretation. If you have any queries, send us an email at theliteraryunderdog@gmail.com
Themes will cover a wide spectrum, and will be announced on www.theliteraryunderdog.com, through our Substack newsletter, and on all social media channels at @theliteraryunderdog
What length of work do you accept?

At the moment, to make sure we digest each submission with as much equality and time as they deserve, we are accepting work between 100 - 3,500 words. This can be flash fiction, a short story, an excerpt from a novel, or essay on the prescribed theme or topic of your choice.
What format do you expect for the submissions?

While we won’t dismiss any piece of work for not conforming to these suggestions, we do encourage you stick to them as it makes it easier for our submission purveyors! If you could please submit your entry in Times New Roman, Arial, or any equivalent easily eligible font, and in size 12.
How will the issues be distributed?

Issues of underdog. will currently be distributed only in a downloadable PDF format, and can be accessed through the website. We are keen for those who have work included to be able to easily access the issue, in the event they would like to save it, send it to others, or use within a portfolio.
How will I be notified of my entry’s success?

If you’re successful in your submission, we will contact you by email.
How long between submission and notification of success?

Dependent on the volume of entries, the time between submission and notification of success may vary from month-to-month, but we aim to deliver within a two week period.
When will the issue be published?

Again, dependent on the volume of entries, the date of publication may differ from month-to-month, but will always be made clear following the closing date.
Do I receive payment for my work being included?

Unfortunately, at this moment, we cannot offer any monetary prize for your entry’s inclusion in underdog. issues, though we do hope to move toward that in the future. Equally, we cannot accept any donations or financial offerings from you, and we do not charge to submit.
Do you have age restrictions for submissions?

There are no minimum or maximum age restrictions on submitting to underdog.
How do I get in touch?

If you have any questions, please reach out to theliteraryunderdog@gmail.com, or use one of the contact forms on the site.
How do I enquire about the roles advertised on underdog.?

Please reach out regarding available volunteer positions at theliteraryunderdog@gmail.com.

License Declaration

According to British copyright laws, 'You automatically get copyright protection when you create original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography' in the UK.

However, the compilation copyright belongs to underdog. Literary Magazine (2024), which means you own your own work, but underdog. Lit Mag owns all issues and any included artwork.

Equally, if you do not reside within the United Kingdom, it's advisable to check the copyright laws in your current country to ensure your work is protected.