The Café Irreal About The Cafe Irreal is a quarterly webzine that presents a kind of fantastic fiction infrequently published in English. This fiction, which we would describe as irreal, resembles the work of writers such as Franz Kafka, Kobo Abe, Clarice Lispector and Jorge Luis Borges. As a type of fiction it rejects the tendency to portray people and places realistically and the need for a full resolution to the story; instead, it shows us a reality constantly being undermined. Therefore, we're interested in stories by writers who write about what they don't know, take us places we couldn't possibly go, and don't try to make us care about the characters. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1998 Publication Medium & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationPublished 4 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed The Café Irreal's overall average response time is within a normal range for magazines. More ChallengingThe Café Irreal's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines. More ResponsiveThe Café Irreal's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines. Collapse section Fiction Open Dates: Rolling Deadlines: Check cutoff dates.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General Subgenre: Magic RealismLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Unknown number of pieces. Short Story: 1,000 - 2,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) Semi-pro payment. Details: USD $0.01/word, $2 minimum.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are NOT allowed.Media: Text. Expand section Nonfiction Closed Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookX (Twitter) @TheCafeIrreal For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Café Irreal Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Nonfiction Group by submission Include outliers Accuracy We have received 25 reports from 25 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 13 min | 61.4 mean avg | 60.0 median | 98 max days (26.2 std dev) Responses 96.00 % Acceptances: 4.00 % of submissions accepted (73.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 4.00 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 92.00 % (60.5 avg. days per rejection) | 17.4 % personal, 56.5 % form, 26.1 % unspecified | 8.0 % shortlisted Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 4.00 % (13.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 4 responses are pending (43 min | 65.8 mean avg | 60.0 median | 100 max days waiting | 854.0 std dev) from 4 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The editors will try to make a decision within 120 days. Most recent response reported was received on 10 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 04 Jul 2026. Date compiled: 12 Sep 2026 07:06 UTC (less than a minute ago). View report of recent responses from this project Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 12 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only