Sunspot FAQs

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Sunspot Literary Journal was founded by an author and publishing consultant who has seen many sides of the industry. Your rights are important to us, so you will always be treated with respect.

Rights – We only ever ask for first rights. After publication of your short stories, nonfiction, poems, scripts, photography, or art, you have the right to use your work anywhere you like.

What We Accept – Anything. Everything. Sunspot's dedication to the fullness of creativity means there is never any limit on category, genre, theme, or art form. We have published meaningful children's stories, science fiction, mixed genre stories, personal essays, interviews, translations and more. We honor every submission and every voice.  

Response Time – Response time generally takes 30 days. During publication cycles, that time might expand to two months. In no case will we take longer than four months to respond. If we ever do, it will be because we have been sucked into a black hole. 

Fast Flux Response Option - We get it...sometimes you just need an answer right away. Work submitted under the Fast Flux option receives an answer in two weeks or less. 

New Versions – If you revise a piece after submission and would like us to consider the new version, withdraw the original and resubmit the new version as a new submission.

Length – We really mean it when we say we will consider longer works. That means up to 49,000 words for fiction and nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, and up to 50 pages for a single poem. Please note that open calls for longer works of fiction and nonfiction close earlier than open calls for shorter works. For example, the novella-length category is open for only one month. The novelette category is open for roughly six weeks. Compare these to the flash category, which is open for three months.  

Number of Submissions - Send us any number of submissions in any variety of categories. As long as you submit each piece individually, we will consider any amount of work from you no matter how many of your submissions are active at the same time. 

Review Process - We review pieces submitted through the standard form in chronological order: first in is first reviewed. Fast Flux submissions necessarily move to the front of the line.

Simultaneous Submissions - Simultaneous submissions are welcome. No limit to the number of active submissions sent in during any open call period. Please do notify us if the work is accepted elsewhere.