About GDL

About Grande Dame Literary & Art Journal (Moth&Thistle)

We Are Dedicated to Supporting Women Writers.

Founded in 2021, Grande Dame Literary & Art Journal grew out of writing groups where women gathered on Zoom several times a day for write-ins. We shared our stories, our struggles, and, we bonded. Many of us had been writing our entire lives but had put down our pens when it came to pursuing authorship as a career. Being home gave us the chance to do something we had always wanted to do but never had: write, and maybe even publish. Some of the group members were well-established writers who guided us newbies. Carve out time? We had plenty. Writing hours? We made them happen.

Some women wrote simply to make it through the day. Others wrote to satisfy cathartic urges. Some of us were living the dream. Some journaled for themselves, while others wanted to shout their stories from the rooftops.

The more we talked in the opening and closing minutes of our Zoom sessions, the more we realized that many women writers were being overlooked by literary journals. Good stories — factual and fictional alike — were abundant, but few journals were accepting our work. Rejections were the norm, and when one of us received an acceptance, we jumped for joy and celebrated as if we had all received the letter.

We needed a journal that would open its arms to this cadre of storytellers — writers eager to see their work in print and share it with others. So we asked: why not create an online journal that supported women writers? And Grande Dame Literary Journal was born.

We looked for characters with agency. Stories with a beginning, a middle, and an end. We wanted memoirs that read like stories. Poets asked if they could send us their verses, so we added a poetry section. Essays? Of course, there was room for essays. GDL has burst at the seams, and in 2026 we moved to a new hosting platform and expanded to include flash fiction, flash nonfiction, writing events, and interviews with authors. In the coming months, women artists will have a space as well.

Our writers come from around the globe, sharing work that makes us think, feel, dream, and crave more. They run the gamut from newcomers to self-published novelists to award-winning, traditionally published authors. As of this writing, we have published more than 300 posts and maintain an acceptance rate of nearly 35 percent. Each month, a few thousand readers visit the site.

All in all, it’s a pretty cool story to tell.

What We Publish:

We are proud to be a journal where the door is genuinely open. Every submission is evaluated on the strength of the work and its potential to resonate with our readers. A first-time writer has as much chance of appearing in our pages as a seasoned professional, because what we are looking for is a confident voice and a good story.

  • Short fiction and flash fiction
  • Memoir and personal essays
  • Creative nonfiction and flash nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Visual art (beginning 2026)
  • Interviews with women writers and artists

Our Community and Values:

We are proud to partner with nonprofits that offer writing opportunities empowering girls and women through storytelling. The spirit of the Grande Dame — self-defined, confident, and unapologetically herself — guides everything we do. Whether you are just finding your voice or have been writing for decades, there is a place for you here.

And if you are looking for a little writing inspiration, our 30-day free trial Prompt Parlor offers updated prompts every week to spark your next story or poem. 

Find Us:

Grande Dame Literary & Art Journal (Moth&Thistle) is listed with CLMP, Duotrope, and Facebook.

We are always looking for the best new writing by women (and we are open to reprints). If you have a story to tell, we hope you will submit your work — and if you know a writer or artist who belongs here, please send them our way. There is no need to keep this place to yourself.

Grande Dame Literary & Art Journal (Moth&Thistle) — because there is a Grande Dame in every woman.