New SC Lit Mag Accepting Submissions from Writers Across the Lowcountry

With its long list of local publications and independent stores and a yearly literature festival, Charleston’s literary scene is booming. There is one thing missing though: Charleston needs its own literary journal just for SC writers! Tidal Lantern is a new Charleston literary magazine that aims to elevate local voices across the South Carolina lowcountry.

Charleston’s newest literary journal was born out of simple frustration. There are at least five Charleston lit mags, but none are dedicated exclusively to Charleston’s vibrant community like Tidal Lantern. As a writer and reader, I want to see our own people, stories, and struggles reflected in print. There are countless talented writers here whose work deserves to be seen, but too often their voices get lost in the noise of larger, less personal publications. This new lit mag plans to change that.

Tidal Lantern is open for submissions to residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. The journal accepts poetry, prose, and picture art, and contributors may submit to each category for a total of three chances at publication per reading period. Digital publication will begin by January of 2026, and the first print issue is due to be released in April — in time to honor young writers before graduation. Submissions close March 1.

Poems and images should be submitted in batches of 3–4, and prose should be 1500–5000 words. Tidal Lantern welcomes short stories and personal essays, whether fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir. Hopeful writers may submit once per category, a total of three times per reading period. Writers of all ages from kindergarten to age 99+ are welcome to participate.

Preference for print publication is given to students as Tidal Lantern aims to represent as many tricounty area schools as possible in each print issue. The digital lit mag proudly features Charleston writers of all ages and skill levels. More distant writers are considered if they’re from here originally or if the story is relevant to the South Carolina lowcountry.

Though Charleston is beautiful and thriving on the surface, it is home to an underworld of underrepresented peoples for thom this is a very different city. From natives pushed out of the city by gentrification or even driven to homelessness to hungry children whose parents aren’t quite poor enough for SC’s stingy SNAP program, people across the lowcountry are struggling, surviving, and overcoming adversity through sheer old-fashioned grit. Tidal Lantern hopes to shine a light into the darkness and illuminate the places where Charleston’s citizens most need compassion and hope while celebrating and honoring the unique beauty and history of the Holy City.

Tidal Lantern values authenticity over perfection and depth over polish. I hunger for work that bares the soul and leaves a mark on mine. Write the things you are afraid to say out loud. Whisper to me your dark secrets, your midnight confessions, and your desperate dreams, and I shall shout your name into the Heavens where it will echo among the stars. Okay, technically it’s the void of the internet, but close enough.

Contributors receive free copies and are considered for the annual Sweet Tea and Lemonade Awards, which offer cash prizes (if funding allows).

Even if you’re not interested in submitting, you can still support the project by sharing the call for submissions with friends, family, teachers, and local businesses. Recommend writers and artists whose work moves you. Tidal Lantern is Charleston’s literary journal, and the artwork within its pages will be as beautiful, diverse, and enduring as the community that builds it.

For more information or to submit your writing for consideration, visit www.tidal-lantern.com.