WRITER'S GUIDELINES
last updated 6/3/09
During our reading period months of May, June, November, and December, we invite new submissions of memorable prose, poetry, and drama. We emphasize magical realism and look for other modes of experimentalism, or works which play with assumptions, form, or technique.
We would like to see more submissions of carefully developed stories; think Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Angela Carter, Nalo Hopkinson, Sherman Alexie, George Saunders.
In poetry, we tend to look for concrete, surprising imagery.
Be sure to read some of what we've published in the past to get an idea of our aesthetic before submitting.
If you are able to translate a submission of your own work into a second language, or already have, let us know.
Email us one work of up to 7500 words or up to 3 poems or flash fictions; include your name, address, and email address in the body of the email and on the first page of the manuscript; please do NOT include extra bio info, publishing credits, or previews. In the subject, give the genre & word count or # of submissions: e.g. Fiction 1500 or Poetry 2. Submit as an attachment (.doc or .rtf, but not .docx) to submissionsATacappellazoo.com. For multiple poems or flash fictions, please attach each work separately.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable and even encouraged for newer writers; please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. We respond quickly though, usually within 2 weeks, sometimes 24 hours, so we hope you'll consider offering your submission exclusively.
When we respond, it is important to us that you report your submission to Duotrope's Digest:
Our open submission periods are scheduled as follows:
May - June (fall issue) & Nov - Dec (spring issue)
We do not respond to submissions during other months:
Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct or Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr
For previously unpublished work, we acquire first North American serial rights: rights revert back to the author or artist once the work is in print. We now accept reprints as well. We also ask for the non-exclusive right to publish and archive the work online, though contributors are welcome to request to have their work removed at any time.
We reward all authors accepted for publication with a contri-butor copy of the issue. Additionally, all submissions for Issue 3 will be considered for the new Apospecimen Award.
For translations, the translator is responsible for obtaining permission from the author of the original work (if different from the translator) before submitting, and a copy of the original work should be submitted with the translation.
Contributors to past issues are welcome to submit new work, but please skip an issue (unless you would like us to consider a "sequel" of some kind to your previous contribution).
For submissions, use submissionsATacappellazoo.com.
For questions, use editorATacappellazoo.com.
thank you for reading