Exclusive Fee-Free Submission Period for BIPOC Writers By The Common
Submissions are encouraged from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, international, and/or otherwise from communities underrepresented in U.S. literary magazines and journals.
The Common seeks stories, essays, poems, and dispatches that embody a strong sense of place: pieces in which the setting is crucial to character, narrative, mood, and language. Inspired by the mission and role of the town common, an egalitarian gathering place, The Common aims to foster the global exchange of diverse ideas and experiences. In an effort to remove barriers to access, The Common will waive submission fees for BIPOC writers from June 14 – June 28.
Submission Period
June 14 – June 28
Submission Guidelines for Exclusive Fee-Free Submission Period for BIPOC Writers
- Submission is encouraged from writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, international, and/or underrepresented communities.
- No age restrictions
- Submission can be in the below listed genre;
- Stories
- Essays
- Poems, and
- Dispatches; which are notes, news, and impressions from around the world and can be up to 800 words.
- Word count should not exceed 10,000 words.
- Cover letter should include title, word count and contact details
- Submission should be made through submittable
NB: For dispatch, the title, piece location, and word count of the piece should be on the first page of submission
For the Exclusive Fee-Free Submission Period for BIPOC Writers, you can;
- Submit up to five poems, or one prose piece, or three flash pieces per submission.
- Submit previously unpublished works in English, and translations for which the translator has secured the rights.
- Include title, word count, and contact details in your cover letter.
- Send simultaneous submissions, but withdraw them immediately they are accepted elsewhere. Poets may use Submittable’s message feature to withdraw individual poems.
- Reading time is 6-8 months, but this varies widely, so reading takes time as at least three readers review your work before an editor makes a final decision.
For the Exclusive Fee-Free Submission Period for BIPOC Writers, you cannot;
- List any identifying information on your submission.
- Submit more than one submission per genre at a time. Wait for a response before submitting again.
- Submit a piece over 10,000 words.
- Query about the status of your piece. Your Submittable account allows you to check the status. Your work is being considered if it doesn’t show a decision.
- Submit as a subscriber if you are not a current subscriber, the submission will be withdrawn.
Payment
- Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be considered for print and online publication
- Dispatch will be considered for online publication only
- $100 honorarium per story
- $50 honorarium per dispatch
- $20 honorarium per poem
Good Luck!
