Creative nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Essays
Geist
Geist, a Canadian magazine of ideas and culture, pays up to $650 for longform essays, fiction and comics, $100 per page for poetry, and $100–300 for short non-fiction in Notes & Dispatches. It prioritises Canadians and permanent residents, or work with a strong Canadian connection.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-09
The docket
The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 304-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- Up to $650; $100/page poetryOf the other 9 records based in Canada that state a flat-fee figure, 6 state less, 2 state more, 1 state exactly this.
- Length
- Notes & Dispatches under 2,000 words; Features up to 5,000
- Who can submit
- Restricted to a stated groupOfficial: their priority is work from emerging and established writers and artists who are Canadian or permanent residents of Canada, or whose work has a strong connection to Canada or would be relevant to a Canadian audience. They encourage submissions from Black writers, Indigenous writers, writers of colour, writers with disabilities and LGBTQIA2S+ writers.
- Reading period
- Not yet assessedBRYME has not recorded a reading period for this market from its guideline page. That is our gap rather than the publication's silence: it does not mean the window is open, and it does not mean there is none. Read the guideline linked on this page before you send.
- Response time
- Not statedNo response time recorded. A follow-up after two to three weeks is reasonable; silence past that is a soft no, not a rejection.
- Simultaneous submissions
- You may submit elsewhere at the same timeWe accept simultaneous submissions, but please note it in your cover letter and let us know if your submission is accepted elsewhere. — https://www.geist.com/submit/ (read 2026-09-30)
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 138 of the 304 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- StatedGeist purchases first North American Serial Rights and non-exclusive electronic rights. Copyright reverts to the author after publication. They may use part of the work for promotional purposes.
- Experience
- Wants some prior publicationOur priority is to publish work from emerging and established writers and artists who are Canadian or permanent residents of Canada — https://www.geist.com/submit/ (read 2026-09-30)
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 3 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
- Response time — expect to wait blind, and keep other pitches live.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
Record last human-checked 2026-09-06. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records based in Canada quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- Up to $650; $100/page poetry
- Word count
- Notes & Dispatches under 2,000 words; Features up to 5,000
- Submission
- Submission form on their site
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-09
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Creative nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Essays. Official guideline: Geist guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Short non-fiction under 2,000 words, typically personal narrative, for Notes & Dispatches — they are always seeking this.
- Longform essays up to 5,000 words: innovative, thoughtfully researched and emotionally resonant narrative non-fiction.
- Work that takes the shape of lists, letters, instructions or other unconventional structures, matching creativity with intellectual rigour.
- Comics that are weird, funny, unexpected or experimental. Poetry: a maximum of 5 poems.
Subjects they avoid
- Work with no connection to Canada or relevance to a Canadian audience.
- More than your best single short story — they usually publish one per issue.
Key requirements
- Submission form
- Canadian connection
- Read several issues first
Who can submit
Official: their priority is work from emerging and established writers and artists who are Canadian or permanent residents of Canada, or whose work has a strong connection to Canada or would be relevant to a Canadian audience. They encourage submissions from Black writers, Indigenous writers, writers of colour, writers with disabilities and LGBTQIA2S+ writers.
Rights
Geist purchases first North American Serial Rights and non-exclusive electronic rights. Copyright reverts to the author after publication. They may use part of the work for promotional purposes.
AI policy
Not stated in the guideline
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.
How to submit
Submission form on their site
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Submission form on their site
- Submission email: submit@geist.com
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read several issues of Geist, or the archives at geist.com, before submitting.
- Pick the right section — Notes & Dispatches is the most open door at under 2,000 words.
- Submit through the form at https://www.geist.com/submit/.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Not stated; due to volume you may not hear back
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.