WRITER'S GUIDELINES
last updated 11/30/09
During our reading period months of November and May, we invite new submissions of memorable writing (prose, poetry, drama, and beyond). We emphasize magical realism and look for other modes of experimentalism, or works which play with assumptions, form, technique, etc.
We especially love to read full, carefully developed stories; think Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Angela Carter, Nalo Hopkinson, Sherman Alexie, etc.
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 (query first for longer works) 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 number of submissions: e.g. Fiction 1500 or Poetry 2, etc. Submit as an attachment (.doc or .rtf, but NOT .docx); for multiple poems or flash fictions, please attach each work separately. Email to submissions AT acappellazoo.com.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable and even encouraged for newer writers; please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. We usually respond within a couple of weeks, though, or even sooner, so we appreciate exclusive consideration.
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: November (spring issue) and May (fall issue). We do not respond to submissions sent during other months.
For previously unpublished work, we acquire first North American serial rights: rights revert back to the author or artist once the work is in print.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 contributions online, though contributors are welcome to request to have their work removed from the website at any point in the future.
We reward all authors accepted for publication with a contri-butor copy of the issue. Additionally, all submissions of prose and poetry are considered each issue for the Apospecimen Award, which awards $50 to a story or play and $25 to a poem selected by the editorial board as especially noteworthy contributions to A cappella Zoo.
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).
Email submissions to submissionsATacappellazoo.com
For questions or queries, use editorATacappellazoo.com
thank you for reading