Upcoming deadlines: The submission window for our second issue, due out in May 2013, is now open until February 28, 2013.
Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry
We are currently accepting fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry of any length, but we do not generally accept so-called genre fiction. All submissions should have a strong emotive sense and the writer should demonstrate an ability to craft language to evoke emotion. Poetry can be in verse, out of verse, and/or experimental. There is no minimum or maximum number of pages or words, but we favor work that gets to the point. A maximum number of five poems may be submitted. We are happy to publish novel excerpts as long as they can stand alone. Writers from and pieces about Queens, NY are especially interesting to us, but this is not a requirement by any means.
Essays
We are interested particularly in essays about or related to Queens, NY. In addition, we would be pleased to publish essays that are not Queens-centered but are about writing or some other topic related to the journal’s mission (i.e., celebrating a diversity of voices and experiences, especially those often not given space).
Book Reviews
We are interested in book reviews of books written by Queens writers or have a Queens, NY focus. These reviews should go beyond just reviewing the book and consider broader topics or issues.
Guidelines for all submissions:
- We do accept simultaneous submissions, but if your work is accepted elsewhere, please contact ASAP.
- Only previously unpublished works will be considered.
- In your cover letter, be sure to include any connection you have to Queens, NY (not a requirement for acceptance), as well as any previous publications (also not a requirement for acceptance).
- You may submit using our online submissions service, which allows you to track your submission. There is a $3 administrative fee for this service. This is a close equivalent of mailing a hard copy and including a self-addressed stamped envelope. This fee will help us run the web site and keep the journal cost to a minimum. The journal is a non-profit venture and no person who works on it gets paid. The administrative fee helps to ensure that the journal is published. You can submit your work here.
- You may also submit a hard copy. Please include an email contact for further communication regarding acceptance. If you want your submission hard copy returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There is no administrative fee for this option. Send your submission to: Newtown Literary, 91-31 Lamont Avenue #2D, Elmhurst, NY 11373.
- We do not accept submissions via email.
- Upon acceptance, we retain First North American Serial Rights, including serial electronic rights. All rights are reverted back to the contributor upon publication.
- Unfortunately, we cannot offer contributors payment at this stage of the journal’s development. They will, though, be given two contributor’s copies when the issue is published. Local writers will also be invited to read their work at the launch of the issue in which it was published.
