We look for compelling and thought-provoking fiction. Use all aspects of good writing in your stories, including dynamic characters, strong narrative voice, and a riveting and original plot.  A personable and confident overall tone will ensure you make the first cut toward publication. We have eclectic tastes so go ahead and give us a shot.


Creative non-fiction should have a confident and personable tone although the piece need not necessarily be true. Speak to the reader rather than at and this will assure you make the first cut among other submissions.  We look for pieces of depth and authors who go straight to the heart. Write warmly and don't be afraid to be extraordinary. If you need help or would like critiques of your work or a place to try out, go to our Forums.

The length of a poem isn't an issue, in fact, we prefer shorter poems. Adjective stacking doesn't make a poem better but we do like strong, vivid images. We look for poems that are fresh and unusual, that work on different levels. Generally, we favor poems that don't rhyme. But a poem that rhymes well and doesn't draw attention to the fact that it rhymes will get our attention. Avoid trite imagery like:  "Our hearts beat as one, our lips joined in passion."  And if you'd like to try your poetry out and have it critiqued, go to our Forum.

 

Fiction and Nonfiction submissions should be copied and pasted into the body of an email and sent to B.A.Quinn with the word: SUBMISSION typed in the subject line of the email. Please do not send attachments to email.  We will accept URLs that point to your submission in html format. Please limit your submission to 2,000 words maximum.

Please Note:  At the end of your work please include a 3 or 4 line bio, along with a link to your website, if you have one.  We do not accept attachments for the initial submission, which must be copied and pasted into an email, but we do require accepted pieces to be sent as an attachment in Word format, no indents, all margins to the left, single spaced, paragraphs double spaced, and in a standard Times Roman or Arial font.  There shouldn't be any hard returns except where you want to show new paragraphs.  (Hard returns occur when you hit the enter key while typing.  Normally you should type and let the words wrap to the next line on their own).

Poetry submissions should be copied and pasted into the body of an email and sent to Poetry Editor with the word: SUBMISSION typed in the subject line of the email. Please include a brief bio with your submission. No attachments to email will be accepted. A maximum of 3 poems only per submission, per author, is requested.  Send us your best! 

Please Note:  Due to the volume of submissions we cannot furnish a reply beyond a receipt of submission. Please read this receipt carefully. It will specify the issue your work is being considered for, as well as the start and end date of the current submission cycle. If you do not hear from us within a week of the end of the submission cycle, you may safely assume your work will not be acquired for publication. You may then proceed to submit to us again.  Check our Message Boards for submission periods.

The Rose & Thorn will pay $5 for each poem, essay or work of fiction that we publish.  Payments will only be made via PayPal. Upon acceptance, your work will be featured on its own page, in a visually appealing way, and indexed to the main site. You'll also receive an email link back to you. If you have a website, we can link that too.

By submitting a piece to us, you acknowledge that the piece has been created by and/or is fully owned by you. Submitting works owned by others without first obtaining their written permission violates U.S. copyright law.

By submitting a piece to us, you are also consenting to grant us a non-exclusive right to publish, modify, edit and archive your work on this site. We reserve the right to edit submissions for publication, but we will endeavor at all times to maintain the integrity of your work. We will consult you about any dramatic changes, and work with you one on one to improve your work.  You still retain full rights to your work under U.S. copyright law and it remains your own copyrighted property.  Occasionally, we select works we have published for showcasing on radio or other types of shows, for reprinting at events such as literary fairs, for nomination for awards such as The Pushcart, and your permission to publish with us extends to such events, showcases and nominations. We will attempt to notify you of such events.

Our intent is to showcase the works of up and coming talent and to encourage writers in their literary endeavors. 

 

The contents of this site are copyright protected and may not be reproduced without permission.