Belletrist Magazine

What Belletrist Magazine does

Belletrist Magazine is an independent literary arts journal founded in 2016 and based in Bellevue, Washington, affiliated with Bellevue College. The publication produces annual print issues of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, with seven themed volumes released through 2026 (the most recent being Belletrist 7: The Unsaid Issue). Editorial operations are led by two named editors, Cassie Cross and Dan Tremaglio, both of whom hold positions at Bellevue College. The magazine's website is built on WordPress, and submission management and print issue sales are processed through the third-party Submittable platform. Pricing for print issues is not publicly disclosed.

The publication operates a companion product, Bellezine, an annual print zine designed and produced by Bellevue College students through the ENGL 299 course. Bellezine exclusively accepts submissions from Bellevue College students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and is distributed free of charge on campus at the Library Media Center and in room R230. Together, the two publications serve three identifiable segments: literary fiction readers purchasing print issues, writers seeking publication opportunities via Submittable, and the Bellevue College community for Bellezine.

Revenue is generated solely through one-time sales of Belletrist print issues via Submittable, supplemented by institutional support from Bellevue College's Service & Activities Fee. The company is privately held with no external funding rounds, no M&A activity, no partnerships beyond the Bellevue College affiliation, and no disclosed financial metrics. Belletrist is not a technology or venture-backed business; it is a small arts-publishing operation with no AI/ML capabilities, no API, and no proprietary technology beyond its editorial brand and website.

Name

Belletrist Magazine

Legal name

Belletrist Magazine

Website

https://belletristmagazine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Belletrist Magazine is an independent literary arts journal in Bellevue, Washington, publishing annual print editions of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction since 2016. Two Bellevue College-affiliated editors run it, and issues are sold through the Submittable platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Arts Print Magazine

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Literary arts journal
• Print literary magazine
• Fiction poetry nonfiction
• Creative writing publication
• Student literary zine

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Print Issue Sales: Sale of annual print issues of Belletrist magazine and Bellezine zine through Submittable platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Belletrist Magazine is an annual print literary arts journal that publishes curated fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. The publication operates a companion annual print zine called Bellezine, which is designed and produced by Bellevue College students through the ENGL 299 course and features work from students, faculty, and alumni. Print issues of Belletrist and Bellezine are sold and ordered through the Submittable platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bellezine: Annual print zine featuring work from students, faculty, and alumni of Bellevue College, designed and produced by students through ENGL 299 course.

Products and services

• Belletrist Magazine (Annual Print Literary Arts Journal) An annual print literary arts journal featuring curated fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, sold to readers through the Submittable platform. Each volume is themed (e.g., The Unsaid Issue, The Calligram, The Scroll) and published in various print formats.
• Bellezine (Annual Print Student Zine) An annual print zine featuring creative work from Bellevue College students, faculty, staff, and alumni, designed and produced by students through the ENGL 299 course. Distributed free of charge on campus at the Bellevue College Library Media Center and R230.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bellevue CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelletrist is affiliated with Bellevue College. The magazine is produced through the college community, with editors holding positions at the college. Bellezine, the companion zine, is specifically designed and produced by Bellevue College students as part of ENGL 299 course.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• The Paris Review: Quarterly literary magazine publishing fiction, poetry, and non-fiction with a long-standing print-first tradition. Highly comparable in format, content mix, and editorial mission to Belletrist, though at vastly greater scale and brand recognition.
• Ploughshares: Literary journal publishing fiction, poetry, and essays on a recurring schedule, with a strong tradition of themed guest-edited issues. Directly comparable to Belletrist's themed annual volumes and its literary arts editorial positioning.
• AGNI: Boston University-affiliated literary magazine publishing poetry, fiction, and non-fiction internationally. Highly comparable as an academic-affiliated print literary journal with a focus on emerging and established writers, similar to Belletrist's Bellevue College affiliation.
• Granta: Quarterly literary magazine featuring fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, with strong themed-issue identity. Comparable in editorial mission and content mix to Belletrist, though operating at a much larger international scale.
• One Story: Literary magazine publishing one short story per issue in print format. Directly comparable in print-first literary publishing model and use of submission-management platforms, with similar subscription and single-issue purchase mechanics.
• McSweeney's: Independent literary publisher known for distinctive print formats and themed anthologies of fiction and non-fiction. Comparable to Belletrist in print-format experimentation and themed editorial identity.
• American Short Fiction: Literary magazine publishing short fiction with university affiliation (UT Austin). Closely comparable to Belletrist in scope (fiction-focused literary journal), institutional affiliation, and print publication model.
• Prairie Schooner: University of Nebraska-affiliated quarterly literary journal publishing fiction, poetry, essays, and reviews. Comparable as a long-running academic-affiliated print literary magazine with similar editorial and distribution mechanics.
• The Kenyon Review: Kenyon College-affiliated literary journal with a long history of publishing poetry, fiction, and essays. Comparable in academic affiliation, print literary magazine format, and tradition of curating emerging and established writers.

Others

• Submittable: Submission and storefront platform used by Belletrist to manage writer submissions and print issue sales. Relevant as the enabling technology and distribution infrastructure rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Belletrist Magazine