Folly is an international publication, based in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What happens when a literary journal has a torrid love affair with a Victorian gossip rag? Folly happens - documenting our cultural moment in all its messy, magnificent glory.

Touted by local media as the rebel child of the lit scene, and internationally recognised through the Indie Publishing Awards and the 2024 CLMP Best Literary Debut Awards, Folly is found worldwide.

The annual print only anthology of collectable art, commentary and essays, short stories and poetry is produced in Wellington city, New Zealand. Unbound by academic affiliations and fiercely independent, it is home to content which is beautiful, timeless and appealing to enough people that our print runs sell out. Within a month. 

Folly is a member of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses and abides by the CLMP Code of Ethics.

Thoughts and musings

  • "Something exciting, something lively, something more than titillating was happening in a lot of the short stories. They were fresh and funny and really unusual for a New Zealand short story, possibly because they were fresh and funny…. it marked something new in New Zealand writing, something…joyful, unaffected. A toast of at least one drink to Folly, that strange new journal which has some of the best New Zealand writing I've read all year.”

    Steve Braunias, Reading Room

  • "Folly magazine bursts onto the scene, not with quiet reverence, but with a vibrant and unapologetic energy. Described as the “rebel child of the literary scene” and a “strange new journal” aimed at those perhaps tired of the more traditional literary establishment, Folly carves out its own unique space. It embraces being “a bit of fun”, intended for enjoyment and perhaps even a little “general mistreatment”, whether displayed on a coffee table or kept in the bathroom."

    Kolby Granville, After Dinner Conversations USA

  • "Folly journal doesn’t have any problem with the idea of ruffling a few feathers. It all adds up to a magazine of contradictions that wants to do things differently."

    Stack Magazines, UK

Get a copy of Folly.

We sold out again. But the reprint is now in stock.

Take a minute to grab a copy of our sell out Issue 001 and 002, especially if you want a better idea of what our absinthe swilling editorial team are looking for from 2025 submissions.

Speaking of submissions, head over to that page to check out how to submit.