Submission window: We are always open for submissions of art, animation, and music! We are currently closed for fiction and poetry submissions.
We are open for fiction and poetry submissions from 15 June to 15 September and from 15 December to 15 March each year.
Please note we have added some limits to submissions (as of 12 Dec 23)! Read on below for more info.
In general ...
I would love to see submissions representing not only multiple cultures but subcultures, exploring issues of race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and many things I haven't thought of. Does this mean you have to represent everybody and everything in 1000 words? Of course not. But be aware that we are creating a magazine that overall reaches and represents the true diversity of the world we live in.
In terms of genre, I am looking for work that constitutes the ever-moving edge of its kind, as a place between light and dark, consciousness and un, today and tomorrow; work exhibiting the strange, the bizarre, that which is not of the world we know, but more of a twilight realm or even altogether alien place. Not necessarily science fiction, not necessarily fantasy, not necessarily horror, and not necessarily not these things. In short, ideally edgy. Maybe even idealistically edgy. I am NOT looking for porn.
Penumbric generally accepts submissions in the following categories: fiction, poetry, illustration, graphic narrative, animation, music, or combinations of these (e.g., a spoken-word version of a poem). If you have something that fits some other category that can be displayed to advantage on the web, try me; I'll take a look.
All works must be the creation of the author(s) submitting them, and must not infringe upon any right of any other person or entity. We buy non-exclusive worldwide periodical rights to publish your work in Penumbric, and will accept reprints on a case-by-case basis. We are also buying the right to continue to display your work on our website for an indefinite period of time, and to publish your work in the annual print-available anthology (if it is selected). We also reserve the right to use your work when advertising the magazine (such as displaying the cover in an ad or on social media). All remaining rights stay with the author. See Payments, below, for more information.
There is no fee for submissions. Payment to the author is on publication. We're currently running 6-9 issues from acceptance to publication.
All submissions should be e-mailed (if less than 10 MB in size) to
submissions@penumbric.com. Alternatively, we can make arrangements for submission via DropBox or Box for larger submissions, or if security is an issue. Penumbric is not responsible for submissions lost in the mail, electronically speaking.
Specific content
Fiction or poetry must be fewer than 10,000 words; please double-space unless you are indicating a specific layout for your piece. Note we do not require a physical address or phone number. Cover page is optional but helpful. Format: PDF, Word document, plain text, rich text format.
There is a limit of one short story or 5 poems per submission. Once we have gotten back to you with an acceptance or rejection (generally within three or four weeks), you can submit more work to us if the submissions window is still open. Note, however, that we are unlikely to accept more than one piece per author per submissions window, whether poetry or prose. If you submit more than this we will contact you to see which pieces you wish us to consider.
Illustrations are stand-alone art, color or black & white. Format: JPG, GIF, PNG, or PDF. Again, a cover page is optional but helpful.
There is a limit of ten pieces of art at a time. Once we have gotten back to you with an acceptance or rejection (generally within three or four weeks), you can submit more work to us if the submissions window is still open. Unlike fiction and poetry, we often accept multiple pieces of art per artist.
Graphic narratives may be color or black & white. Format: JPEG, GIF, PNG, or PDF. A cover page is optional but helpful. It is possible an ongoing narrative could continue over multiple issues, in which case the author will be paid for each issue in which the work appears.
Animation submissions must include the completed work or a link to it. A cover page is optional but helpful. Format: Anything web-playable as animation.
Music or other audio submissions must be accompanied by lyrics/text (if applicable), along with any other authorial notes on the piece. Format: Any sound file playable on multiple platforms (PCs, Macs, Android, iPhone, etc.). A cover page is optional but helpful.
Any combination submissions should follow the above guidelines as applicable to your combo.
Payment
Payment for contributors is US$10 for non-exclusive worldwide periodical rights and the right to publish the work in the annual anthology (online and possibly in a "print" version to be available on Amazon, and possibly other online venues). We are also buying the right to continue to display your work on our website for an indefinite period of time. If you are published in the anthology, you will be paid royalties amounting to a percentage of profits (that percentage determined at the time the anthology is created and based on the number of works in the anthology, but at least 2%). Note that this might not amount to much ... but who knows?
Questions? Contact us at
submissions@penumbric.com.
