Note: None of our guidelines apply to our "Post-Experimentalism" category. In that category, anything goes.
New: You can choose whether or not you want personalized feedback. Submissions to the "without feedback" categories may receive responses slightly quicker than submissions requesting feedback.
Here are some things that generally turn us off:
- Stories written in third-person present tense
- Stories that are poorly written or poorly edited
- Stories about writers
- Stories about struggling marriages
- Stories set in bars
- Stories with more backstory than plot
- Stories with undeveloped characters
- Stories that are overly reflective
- Stories that rely heavily on second person
- Stories with a "punch line" ending
There are many other things that turn us off, but we are also turned on by a lot of things. Send us whatever you'd like. Just make sure it's great.
Flash fiction should be 1-1200 words. Long fiction should be from 1000-3000 words. Yes, there is overlap. You as the author can decide if your 1076 word story is flash or long.
Simultaneous submissions are okay as long as you let us know if a piece is published elsewhere. Please only send one submission at a time, and please wait at least one week before submitting again.
Look for some new features soon.
Post-Experimentalism
(pdf, doc, docx, rtf)
Size limit: 1,000,000
Send us your post-experimental work right here. Our debut issue of post-experimentalism is due out this summer. We have no idea what it will look like. It's up to you to show us.Note: We are not looking for experimental work here. We are looking for post-experimental work (although we must admit we aren't sure exactly what that is yet). We aren't looking for work that plays with form just to play with form. It must first embody a story. The form of the work should follow the function, which is tell a story.
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Flash Fiction with Feedback
(doc, docx, rtf)
Size limit: 1200 words
Send us something we haven't seen before. Make it 1200 words or less. Make me wish I would've written it.Note: An editor will provide a few sentences of feedback for each submission to this category.
SUBMIT
Flash Fiction without Feedback
(doc, docx, rtf)
Size limit: 1200 words
Send us something we haven't seen before. Make it 1200 words or less. Make me wish I would've written it.Note: Submissions to this category will not receive any personalized feedback. Response time may be slightly quicker.
SUBMIT
"Long" Fiction with Feedback
(doc, docx, txt, rtf)
Size limit: 3000
For more developed stories. We still don't want all the backstory and reflection. Keep it tight. Make every word count. 1000-3000 words. All "long" fiction submissions must be double spaced.Note: An editor will provide a few sentences of feedback for each submission to this category.
SUBMIT
"Long" Fiction without Feedback
(doc, docx, rtf)
Size limit: 3000 words
For more developed stories. We still don't want all the backstory and reflection. Keep it tight. Make every word count. 1000-3000 words. All "long" fiction submissions must be double spaced.Note: Submissions to this category will not receive any personalized feedback. Response time may be slightly quicker.
SUBMIT
Donation - $5.00
Size limit: 0 words
If you would like to donate to Bartleby Snopes, please do so here. Do not send any files with your donation. You may post kind words about the magazine if you would like, or you may give us suggestions for ways to improve.We thank you in advance for any donation you make. The money you send us will be used for (in no particular order):
- Web upkeep and hosting
- Providing contributor copies of print magazines (starting with Issue 8)
- Promoting our contests
- Funding our upcoming flash novellas/novels (more information coming soon)
We are also looking to make some additional changes in the future. Your generosity will help the magazine grow.
Please note that we will not respond to any submissions made in this category. This is for donations only.
Thank you,
The Bartleby Snopes Staff
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