Send us your writing.

What we're reading for

ScreaminMamas publishes work by mothers. That's the whole gate. You don't need an MFA, you don't need to have published before, and you don't need to write about motherhood — though many of our pieces do.

For Summer 2026 we're especially interested in:

• Short fiction — up to 3,500 words. We love a clear voice and a real ending.
• Poetry — up to 5 poems per submission. Form is open.
• Humor — up to 1,200 words. The funnier the better, but funny doesn't have to mean light.
• Personal essay — up to 2,500 words. We're not a personal-essay-heavy magazine, but the right one always finds a home here.

"We don't want polished. We want honest. There is a difference."

How to send it

Email a single attachment (PDF or .docx) to submissions@screaminmamas.com with the genre and title in the subject line — for example: Fiction — The Borrowers.

In the body of the email, include a 2–3 sentence cover note. We don't need a CV or a list of credits. Tell us your name and where you're writing from, and that's plenty.

One submission per genre per reading window. If you send fiction and poetry, that's two emails — that's fine.

What happens next

Two readers will see your submission within a week. If it advances, it goes to the editor for a final read. Either way, we'll write back within four weeks with a personal note — never a form rejection, never silence.

If we accept your piece, you'll hear about edits within two weeks of acceptance. We pay on publication via PayPal, Venmo, or check.

What we don't want

• Previously published work (a personal blog post counts as published).
• Simultaneous submissions are fine — just let us know if it's accepted elsewhere.
• AI-generated writing. We can usually tell. Don't.
• Fan fiction, erotica, or anything that hasn't been read by at least one other human being.

That's all. We can't wait to read you.