Fiction, Essays, Poetry
The Stinging Fly
The Stinging Fly pays €45 per magazine page (min €300, max €1,200) for fiction and nonfiction, €150 for flash/shorter essays, and €40 per page for poetry. Open to writers from abroad.
🟢 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
- €45/page (min €300, max €1,200)BRYME records 1 other records based in Ireland that state a flat-fee figure — too few to rank this one against without over-reading 1 data point.
- Length
- Page-based; flashcards 1–2 pages
- Who can submit
- Not statedOpen to writers from Ireland and abroad; no stated country restriction.
- 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
- Not accepted — send to one place at a timeWork must be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere. — https://stingingfly.org/submissions/ (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
- StatedPays for first serial rights; copyright remains with the author.
- Experience
- Open to unpublished writersWe have a particular interest in promoting new writers, and in promoting the short story form. — https://stingingfly.org/submissions/ (read 2026-09-30)
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 4 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- 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 2026-09-05. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records based in Ireland quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- €45/page (min €300, max €1,200)
- Word count
- Page-based; flashcards 1–2 pages
- Submission
- Submittable
- 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: Fiction, Essays, Poetry. Official guideline: The Stinging Fly guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Short stories especially
- Nonfiction and poetry
- Work from Ireland and abroad
Subjects they avoid
- Simultaneous submissions
- Previously published work
Key requirements
- Short fiction, novel extracts, nonfiction or poetry
- Previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere
- No simultaneous submissions
Who can submit
Open to writers from Ireland and abroad; no stated country restriction.
Rights
Pays for first serial rights; copyright remains with the author.
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
Submittable
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Submittable
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Submit only via the magazine's Submittable account during the reading period.
- No submission fee; one category per period.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Reading periods
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.