Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern A project of McSweeney's (see other related projects). About McSweeney’s began in 1998 as a literary journal that published only works rejected by other magazines. That rule was soon abandoned, and since then McSweeney’s has attracted work from some of the finest writers in the country, including Denis Johnson, Jonathan Franzen, William T. Vollmann, Rick Moody, Joyce Carol Oates, Heidi Julavits, Jonathan Lethem, Michael Chabon, Ben Marcus, Susan Straight, Roddy Doyle, T.C. Boyle, Steven Millhauser, Gabe Hudson, Robert Coover, Ann Beattie, and many others. At the same time, the journal continues to be a major home for new and unpublished writers; we’re committed to publishing exciting fiction regardless of pedigree. Each issue of the quarterly is completely redesigned. There have been hardcovers and paperbacks, an issue with two spines, an issue with a magnetic binding, an issue that looked like a bundle of junk mail, and an issue that looked like a sweaty human head. McSweeney’s has won multiple literary awards, including two National Magazine Awards for fiction, and has had numerous stories appear in The Best American Magazine Writing, the O. Henry Awards anthologies, and The Best American Short Stories. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1998 Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationPublished 4 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Slower Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern's overall average response time is slower than most magazines. More ChallengingTimothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines. Less ResponsiveTimothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern's overall rate of non-response is higher than most magazines. Collapse section Fiction Open Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Flash Fiction: No specific word count limits known (our definition: up to 1000 words). Short Story: No specific word count limits known (our definition: 1000 to 7500 words).Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Other: May vary.Payment:Unknown payment to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Unknown payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $400 for short stories; pay for flash fiction and other works varies.Submissions:Method: Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Open Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: No specific word count limits known.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Other: May vary.Payment:Unknown payment Unknown payment. Details: Payment varies.Submissions:Method: Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. 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:X (Twitter) @mcsweeneys Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Shop their Store Subscribe For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern 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 Include related projects Accuracy We have received 77 reports from 58 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 8 min | 119.9 mean avg | 50.0 median | 470 max days (488.6 std dev) Responses 85.71 % Acceptances: 0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet. Rejections: 85.71 % (70.9 avg. days per rejection) | 3.0 % personal, 87.9 % form, 9.1 % unspecified | 1.3 % shortlisted Non-Responses 11.69 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: 11.69 % (359.8 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals 2.60 % (50.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 18 responses are pending (3 min | 114.5 mean avg | 61.0 median | 399 max days waiting | 1,369.0 std dev) from 18 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information Most recent response reported was received on 11 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 19 Aug 2026. Date compiled: 12 Sep 2026 07:00 UTC (6 minutes 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! Related ProjectsThe Believer Magazine DNQA Force Outside Myself: Citizens Over 60 Speak DNQIllustoria MagazineLogger DNQMcSweeney's Books DNQMcSweeney's Internet TendencyMcSweeney's McMullens DNQMcSweeney's Student Short Story Contest CLOSED Charges fees for all submissionsStephen Dixon Award for Short Fiction DNQ 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: 02 Jul 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