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Chill Subs $5,000 Lit Mag Incubator Application Form

This year, we will award five literary magazines $1,000 each to build a future for their readers and writers. All are welcome to apply. It's free.

Here's your challenge: Make your literary magazine financially sustainable within a year.

Two simple rules:

1. Have a clear, committed plan to pay your staff and writers.

2. You cannot rely exclusively on submission fees or traditional contests.

We don’t know the secret to always making a financially sustainable magazine (if we did, we wouldn’t be here). So tell us how you’re going to get it done. Your plan can be a combination of several different revenue streams, one big bet, or something in between.

Here’s what you’ll get: Selected lit mags will be awarded $1,000 each and brought into a private chat with Chill Subs and our growing Board of Editor-Advisors from magazines, including The Sun, HAD, Only Poems, and SmokeLong Quarterly.

For the next year, you’ll have our guidance and support for any questions, problems, or concerns that arise as you grow your lit mag.

There are no restrictions to apply. You can even pitch us an idea for a magazine.

There’s really only one question: Would $1,000 help you build a more sustainable future for your magazine? Yes? Then tell us how.

Applications close on September 1st

Contact Information:

Magazine name:

Website:

Magazine contact name:

Contact email:

Location:

About your magazine:

What makes your magazine unique? (150 words)

How long has your magazine been active?

Less than 1 year

1–2 years

3–5 years

5+ years

10+ years

It doesn't exist yet

What genres do you publish?

Your sustainability plan:

Tell us your plan to achieve financial sustainability within a year. Include specific steps, revenue streams, budget, and what makes your approach unique. (300–500 words)