Haven Spec Magazine

Our ✨August 2026 issue✨ is now free to read online! In this thread are links to all of its poems and stories. Please read it and please spread the word! havenspec.com/issues/issue... 🧵

Our limited demographic window ends soon! Of course, you can still submit in the general window next month, but it's our goal to publish more authors of historically marginalized backgrounds, so send us your stories and poems! For our full guidelines and schedule, visit: www.havenspec.com/submit/

“Like Water” by @emlinden.bsky.social ….you tryna make me cry?? WONDERFUL STORY … thank you @havenspec.bsky.social for platforming this beautifully written piece #shortstory #litmag #newzealand #writers #writerssupportingwriters #art

Our general submission window will open on the first of the month! We want stories and poetry with a strong voice and a sense of adventure, stuff that makes us feel things, stuff that lets us use our hearts and our brains and leaves us wanting more! Guidelines & schedule: www.havenspec.com/submit/

18. "flowers, coffee, cinnamon and the long way home" by Arden Baker in @havenspec.bsky.social Delights in an atmospheric, dreamy aesthetic. A cozy narrative arc that feels like wandering across the vastness of space. havenspec.com/poetry/flowe...

"Bootcut" (@havenspec.bsky.social) is a 2nd-person "good for her" feminist revenge story with wit and violence and truths close enough to cut. Also a wicked pair of jeans that offer a chance to push back against abusive men. Will you try them on? TW: Sexual violence havenspec.com/fiction/boot...

realised i have a few stories out this year so making an official “what i pubbed in 2026” thread 🥹😭 first up is “magical girl: corporate failure” in @havenspec.bsky.social, which was recommended by @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social in @reactorsff.bsky.social! havenspec.com/fiction/magi...

Our editor Leon Perniciaro / @leonp.bsky.social will be on a panel about short fiction at World Fantasy / @wfc2026.bsky.social this year, so if you're there, stop by and say hi!

4. “Skin Deep” | WYSR Review @havenspec.bsky.social Erin and Amanda can shift into any animal they desire. But growing up comes with shifting desires, too. inkfoundry.net/review/why-y...

For another gorgeous poem by Marvellous, check out "Poison" in @havenspec.bsky.social's June 2026 issue

14. "Here Come The Men In Black, or, Out Wrecks The Shroud, or, Kelly’s Black Boyfriend Is Actually The Eschaton???” by Christopher Leigh Silverberg in @havenspec.bsky.social Intense, evocative, engrossing. For anyone who loves their poetry abstract and weird. havenspec.com/poetry/here-...

October poetry recommendations thread! In this thread, I'll highlight some fantastic poems I read and reviewed in September on Stardust & Verse. If you want to check out all the reviews now, you can do that here: www.patreon.com/StardustAndV...

11. “Sestina for My Summer Situationship with the Lake Michigan Lake Monster” by Sarah Chin in @havenspec.bsky.social A brilliant execution of a very tricky poetic form. I love the self-awareness of the narrator. Weird and clever and fresh. havenspec.com/poetry/sesti...

SUBS OPEN

Haven Spec Magazine is open this month to submissions by authors of historically marginalized backgrounds only! We want to read more works by Black writers, Indigenous writers, disabled writers, gay and lesbian and trans writers, and others whose voices must be heard! www.havenspec.com/submit/

Happy Banned Books Week AND Anti-Prime Day! We've spent this week fighting with Amazon, who blocked Issue 3... because a stylized illustration of a statue = porn, at least if you're a queer publication. The best way to support us is directly. Code ANTIPRIME gets you 15% off subscriptions this week.

5. “The First Spider on the Moon” by @hvpatterson.bsky.social in @havenspec.bsky.social A playful poem anchored in clever language & the strong relationship between the narrator and the spider. Cozy feel of a friendship story instead of an intense tale of outer space. havenspec.com/poetry/the-f...

Haven Spec Magazine is open this month to submissions by authors of historically marginalized backgrounds only! We want to read more works by Black writers, Indigenous writers, disabled writers, gay and lesbian and trans writers, and others whose voices must be heard! www.havenspec.com/submit/

My September poetry reviews are now free to read on Stardust & Verse! Check out my newsletter round-up for: - Top recommendations for new poetry readers - September stars 💫 - Links to all my reviews ...and more! Check out the month's reviews now: www.patreon.com/StardustAndV...

The We Demand Stories event with @bsfwriters.bsky.social scheduled for 3 PM today has been postponed on account of Nor'easter! In lieu of blowing away in the high winds, we'll do this in October, but we'll keep you posted about when! More info: www.eventbrite.com/e/we-demand-... Stay safe!

If you're in NYC on Saturday, join @bsfwriters.bsky.social and our editor @leonp.bsky.social for a panel discussion on cities and how they shape our lives (and fiction)! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-demand-stories-about-cities-as-characters-season-5-kaleidocast-launch-tickets-2000339690863

Our Fall Reading Period starts October 1st! Schedule: October — Limited Demographic Window November — General Submissions Window December — Closed to Submissions We're nearly done with summer submissions, and we'll start on the holds soon! Full schedule: https://havenspec.com/submit/

If you haven't read the poem "Acceptable Reasons for Embracing Your Incubus" by Lesley Hart Gunn in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/poetry/acceptable-reasons-for-embracing-your-incubus-august-2026/ (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social)

Reading for award noms? Please consider the short story "Fragments of Sky in Quantum Grief" by Lex Chamberlin in our ✨February 2026 issue✨! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/fiction/fragments-of-sky-in-quantum-grief/ (Art by @mspencerdraws.bsky.social)

If you're in NYC on Saturday, join @bsfwriters.bsky.social and our editor @leonp.bsky.social for a panel discussion on cities and how they shape our lives (and fiction)! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-demand-stories-about-cities-as-characters-season-5-kaleidocast-launch-tickets-2000339690863

If you haven't read the poem "Acceptable Reasons for Embracing Your Incubus" by Lesley Hart Gunn in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/poetry/acceptable-reasons-for-embracing-your-incubus-august-2026/ (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social)

Reading for award noms? Please consider the short story "Horseland" by EC Dorgan in our ✨June 2026 issue✨! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/fiction/horseland-june-2026/ (Art by @carlydraws.bsky.social)

If you haven't read the short story "The Forest, the Sea, & Those Caught Between" by C.G. Aubrey / @cgaubrey.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Read: https://havenspec.com/fiction/the-forest-the-sea-those-caught-between-august-2026/ Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social

If you haven't read the poem "Please stop asking how I'm doing" by Mahaila Smith / @mahailasmith.ca in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/poetry/please-stop-asking-how-im-doing-august-2026/ (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social)

If you haven't read the short story "The Forest, the Sea, & Those Caught Between" by C.G. Aubrey / @cgaubrey.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Read: https://havenspec.com/fiction/the-forest-the-sea-those-caught-between-august-2026/ Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social

If you haven't read the poem "Please stop asking how I'm doing" by Mahaila Smith / @mahailasmith.ca in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/poetry/please-stop-asking-how-im-doing-august-2026/ (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social)

"Like Water" by @emlinden.bsky.social in Issue 25 of @havenspec.bsky.social This tale of language and sacrifice reads like a newly discovered folktale, one you might expect to hear around a campfire on a late summer evening. I'm off to read everything else by Linden. havenspec.com/fiction/like...

Reading for award noms? Please consider the short story "Fragments of Sky in Quantum Grief" by Lex Chamberlin in our ✨February 2026 issue✨! Find it here: https://havenspec.com/fiction/fragments-of-sky-in-quantum-grief/ (Art by @mspencerdraws.bsky.social)

If you haven't read the short story "Crown Shyness" by C.M. Fields / @toomanyspectra.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: havenspec.com/fiction/crow...

As you read for award nominations this year, please consider the short story "Magical Girl: Corporate Failure" by Lia Lao / @thelialao.bsky.social in our ✨January 2026 issue✨! Find it here: havenspec.com/fiction/magi... (Art by @aimeecozza.com)

We are 98 new subscribers away from our goal! clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/

If you haven't read the short story "Proliferation" by J.A. Bryson / @jbrysonwrites.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: havenspec.com/fiction/prol...

✒️✨ Calling all SFF poetry enthusiasts! 🌈💫 Stardust & Verse is a new review site where I read and recommend fantastic free-to-read SFF poems. Here's a sneak peak of what to look forward to in September... #StardustAndVerse www.patreon.com/cw/StardustA...

If you haven't read the short story "Between Tides and Bones" by Carol Scheina / @carolscheina.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: havenspec.com/fiction/betw... (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social )

If you haven't read the short story "Between Tides and Bones" by Carol Scheina / @carolscheina.bsky.social in our 🌟August 2026 issue🌟, now's your chance! Find it here: havenspec.com/fiction/betw... (Art: @carolinejamhour.bsky.social )