Please review the guidelines for each of our pre-approved submission categories. If you have something you feel doesn't quite fit under one of these headings, send us a general query letter. As formerly ostracized high school cafeteria diners, we've got a soft spot for things that don't quite fit in.
Flash Fiction
We have to admit that this is the favored child in our family. But bear in mind that our bias toward the medium of flash fiction also necessitates a high standard for submissions to this category. "Brevity is the soul of wit." Some guy named Shakespeare said that. We define flash fiction as prose of 1,000 words or less. Multiple submissions are acceptable in this category.
Micro-Fiction
With the recent onslaught of Facebook novellas and Twitter haikus, micro-fiction is an increasingly acknowledged literary medium with great appeal for those of us with abbreviated attention spans. We consider micro-fiction as prose or poetry of 500 characters or less (not including spaces or title). Multiple submissions are encouraged in this category.
Poetry
We're not looking for any specific form or meter. We're not concerned with limiting word count, either. Just make sure it's good. If you are submitting "word art" poetry, please review the art/photography guidelines found below. Multiple submission are encouraged in this category.
Short Stories
We are seeking short stories of 1,000 words or more. But please don't send us a novel. We've already got novels coming out our ears over here. If your short stories are more than 4,000 words each, please submit only one at a time.
Personal Essays
Don't we all have an interesting story to tell? Okay, maybe not. But what we're really looking for is common stories told in interesting ways. Make us look at a hum-drum day in a different way. Open our eyes and make us see things from your unique perspective. We prefer essays of 2,000 words or less. Multiple submissions are acceptable in this category.
Book Reviews
If you're getting paid to review someones book, do not submit us your work. But if you've recently read a book or chapbook that made you obnoxiously conversational for weeks, send us your opinions. Be clever, be witty, be truthful. We prefer reviews of books produced by independent publishers. Reviews of P.O.D. books may be considered if the material is exceptional. Limit reviews to 1,000 words or less. Multiple submissions are acceptable in this category.
Art/Photography
We need cover art! Send us your photos, your sketches, your paintings, your word art. As compulsive writers and readers, we don't get out into the bright light of day with our cameras and paint brushes as often as we would like. So we need your contributions to make our covers beautiful. Multiple submissions are encouraged in this category.
- Email to: submissions@crackthespine.com
- Please format the subject line as follows: SUBMISSION CATEGORY - YOUR NAME - TITLE OF PIECE(S) - WORD COUNT
- Include your submission as a single Word or PDF attachment. All attachments will be required to pass necessary virus scans prior to being opened.
- ALL submissions should be R-rated or less. Profanity is acceptable (we've heard all the grown-up words already), but we will not consider excessive violence, extreme erotica, or anything involving animal cruelty. Call us evil censors if you must, be we're just not looking to be a purveyor of sadist smut or bunny mutilation manifestos.
- Please specify if you are sending a piece simultaneously submitted for publication elsewhere, and let us know ASAP if your work is accepted for publication before we have a chance to respond to you.
- Include a brief bio.
- At this time, we do not provide payment to contributors. Maybe someday...
- Be sure to report submissions and response times on Duotrope Digest.
- Subscribe to our website for updates and to familiarize yourself with our aesthetic.
- All work must be completely original, your own work, and previously unpublished in any format.
