Literary Mama

This October will be the last year that our now fifth grade twins submit a book character pumpkin for their school extravaganza. It usually involves some hasty creativity with one of our wooden pumpkin ornaments, transforming it into a favorite book character for display in our school library amongst other pumpkin characters. Since moving to […]

Literary Mama is seeking an audio editor for our This Mama is Lit! podcast. This position involves editing raw audio from podcast recordings to 25-30 minute episodes. For more details about the position, check here. Come join an organization that promotes mama writers and readers!

In addition to providing an opportunity for mama writers to publish with us, Literary Mama also periodically contributes nominations for other prizes and publications. The staff is delighted to share our nominations for the 2027 Best Small Fictions anthology through Black Lawrence Press. CirceLaura Leigh MorrisLiterary MamaMay/June 2026 It’s Not Called a Miscarriage If You’re […]

Berrr! Here we are. We’ve made it through to the ninth month of 2026, even though you should know we have been misled. If, like me, you hadn’t made the connection, you will love hearing that September is in fact the seventh month of the year. I’ve been challenging myself to read in French this […]

I am always on time to work but late to the party otherwise, which is why a blog on the highlights of the previous Literary Mama issue is a good task for me. Sometimes it is the first chance I’ve had to actually look at it. I imagine many other literary mamas feel the same.  […]

If you love fiction, are interested in fostering other writers through the editing and submission process, and would like a ready-made network of other mama writers to enhance your own creative endeavors, consider applying for the role of Fiction Editor at Literary Mama. You can find more at our Opportunities page.

Poetry editors Libby Maxey and Amanda Roth recently created an interview where they answered some questions that poetry readers and writers might find interesting and (hopefully) useful if they are considering submitting to Literary Mama. Current publications or publishers we enjoy: AR: I’m a big fan of journals like West Trestle Review, MER, Whale Road […]

Yes, the July/August issue of Literary Mama is out, but it is the dog days of summer and I’ve gotten behind for very different reasons than when I run behind during the school year. I wanted to take a moment to highlight a couple pieces from the May/June issue that really spoke to me. One […]

Imagine. A mother who adores books, sitting precariously on a beanbag at the base of her teenage sons’ bunk beds and reading aloud; mainly to herself, but hopeful that the boys are listening to her, and not to music through earpods.  At first glance, this might appear a melancholic vision of a mother’s obsolescence, once […]

Maybe today, July 4, 2026, you’ll find time to write. You’ll fit it in between the hot dogs at noon and the fireworks after dark. Or perhaps, you’ve secreted a pad of paper in the pool bag. Of course, if you’re busy with cookouts and parades, it may be next week before you get a […]

As a community connected by our love of literature and motherhood experiences, we know how significant it is to feel accepted. Literature is the label we often attribute to writing that has been published or posted to a wider audience. We even say that literature needs that superior quality or to be recognized as having […]