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Submission & Compensation

How, When, Where, and What

The Literary Hatchet is an indy international literary journal that publishes provocative contemporary short fiction, poetry, illustrations, interviews, and reviews by established and emerging writers and artists from around the world. All subjects (except erotica) are welcomed. We are run by a devoted group of volunteer writers and editors.

Submission Guidelines

  • PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

    We publish three issues per year.

    Jan/Feb issue is published in March
    May/June issue is published in July
    Sept/Oct issues is published in November

    We have no submission deadlines. Please expect a three month wait (at the most) for our decision. If we are slow with this, we apologize in advance. Feel free to send us a nudge!

  • WHAT WE WANT

    We accept short fiction (500-7,500 words), speculative fiction, flash fiction, poetry, prose, photography, art, and illustrations.

    The above is not exhaustive. If you have an idea for a work that doesn’t seem to fit into one of these categories, feel free to send us a query using our contact form. If you don’t have an immediate idea for a piece, but you’d really like to write for us, let us know and be prepared to show us work you’ve done. We can always think of subjects!

    Multiple submissions are accepted, but only one submission per entry, please.
    No simultaneous submissions accepted.

  • WHAT WE DON'T WANT

    We do not accept erotica.
    We do not accept fiction, poetry, prose, or illustrations with excessive crude language or outlandish sexual humor.
    We do not accept partial or incomplete works.
    We do not accept Haiku poetry, unless as a part of five or more.
    We do not accept multiple submissions in one submission. Each work must be submitted as in individual piece.

  • HOW TO SUBMIT

    We buy exclusive first-printing world rights for 6 months.

    Submissions must be made via Submittable.com

    Electronic submissions should be as an attached MSWord or AppleWorks file. Do not include the text of your submission within the email.

    Multiple submissions are accepted.

    No simultaneous submissions accepted.

  • SHORT STORY GUIDELINES

    We accept short stories from 500-7,500 words in length.

    We are not a “genre” magazine. We are looking for quality writing in any subject. We want interesting themes, characters, and unexpected resolutions. We aim to be the kind of journal that is difficult to define. We seek to surprise readers. We are open and eclectic.

    But to narrow it down somewhat, we love mysterious subjects, ambiguity, thematic focus, and emotional impact. We love surprises and content that shocks (not meaning anything pornographic).

    Move us, take unexpected turns. Above all, never bore us with 30-page ramblings that go nowhere–We will trash this kind of junk.

    Last of all, write from the most honest knowledgeable place in your heart and we will pay attention.

    Please submit your work in Word, Text, or RTF files. NO PDFs please. No email or postal submissions. For all submissions, please include your name, address, email address, and word count on your stories. Also please include a 25-50 word THIRD PERSON bio with the submission.

    We have no submission deadlines. Please expect a three month wait (at the most) for our decision. If we are slow with this, we apologize in advance. Feel free to send us a nudge!

  • POETRY GUIDELINES

    We are looking for high-quality extraordinary poems (both serious and humorous) that explore the human condition. Personal pieces that offer a self-reflection are acceptable. We prefer poetry under 100 lines.

    For all submissions, please include your name, address, email address, and word count on your stories. Also please include a 25-50 word THIRD PERSON bio with the submission.

    We have no submission deadlines. Please expect a three month wait (at the most) for our decision. If we are slow with this, we apologize in advance. Feel free to send us a nudge!

  • ART, ILLUSTRATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

    All submitted art and illustrations must be in 300 dpi, JPG or PNG formats and no larger than 1200 X 1200 pixels. Submit these as POETRY— is no category for this on our Submission Manager.

    For all submissions, please include your name, address, email address, and word count on your stories. Also please include a 25-50 word THIRD PERSON bio with the submission.

    There is no submission fee. We have no submission deadlines. Please expect a three month wait (at the most) for our decision. If we are slow with this, we apologize in advance. Feel free to send us a nudge!

Compensation

  • RIghts

    By submission of your work, you are agreeing to The Literary Hatchet and its publisher PearTree Press holding exclusive first-printing world rights for a period of 6 months. While your piece is online, it may not appear anywhere else on the Internet, in print, or sold for profit. Rights revert back to the writer/artist at the end of 6 months.

    Your work will remain in print as long as The Literary Hatchet is in print and cannot be removed at a later date.

  • Compensation

    We pay compensation for all work accepted for publication. Payment is made upon publication. North American contributors can choose between payment by check, PayPal, or a free hard copy of the issue sent to them. Foreign contributors may choose between PayPal or an Amazon gift card. Only North American contributors can choose to receive a hard copy of the issue in lieu of financial compensation.

    Fiction: 500-7,500 words — $10
    Poetry: under 100 lines — $5
    Art/Illustrations: in JPG or TIFF format only — $5