Submissions Open Until 12/31
Submit Your Work!
We accept short stories, flash fiction, novel excerpts, poetry, slam poetry, experimental nonfiction, screenplays, photography, artwork, comic strips, and visual media. We are interested in historical fiction, mystery, steampunk, and anything off-beat or unconventional.
Please reach out to our Managing Editor, Emily Hizny (hizny@susqu.edu), with any questions, comments, or concerns. We look forward to seeing your submissions and applications soon!
Submission Guidelines
OFFICIAL EMAIL: submissions.sanctuary@gmail.com
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 31st by 11:59pm
READING BOARD APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 6th by 11:59pm
Prose Guidelines: We accept short stories, flash fiction, scripts, nonfiction, novel excerpts, graphic works, and anything hybrid! Our maximum word count is 4,000 words (2,500 for scripts) and submitters are encouraged to submit up to 3 pieces. Send multiple submissions as separate attachments, each including a cover page with your name, email address, and title of your work. Submissions should be paginated and double spaced. These should be submitted as .DOCX files (or JPEG in the highest resolution if submitting a graphic work) to submissions.sanctuary@gmail.com using “PROSE SUBMISSION” for the subject line. Please be sure to leave out any identifiable information on the piece itself.
Note: Nonfiction work that centers negatively around other students at Susquehanna University will not be accepted. As part of our commitment to uphold social and aesthetic diversity, submissions will be reviewed blind. With the exception of threatening or hateful expressions of racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, etc. no work will be rejected based on subject matter alone.
Poetry Guidelines: Submit up to 5 poems in the same .DOCX attachment, along with a cover page including your name and email address. Format your piece(s) as you wish to see them in the magazine. Please separate each poem with a page break. Graphic works should be sent as a JPEG in the highest possible resolution. Be sure not to leave your name or any other identifiable information on the document itself. Use “POETRY SUBMISSION” as the subject line of your email to submissions.sanctuary@gmail.com.
Note: We will be accepting graphic work such as illustrated poetry.
Artwork Guidelines: We consider works of any variety including photography, painting, collage, digital art, etc. Submit up to 5 pieces for consideration by emailing them to submissions.sanctuary@gmail.com. Make sure to use “ARTWORK SUBMISSION” as the subject of your email and send your work(s) with the highest possible resolution as a JPEG file. Please make sure to give your works a title and use it as the file name.
Reading Board Applications: We are also looking for people to participate on the reading boards for our spring issue! Reading boards are a vital part of our publication process and are responsible for reviewing all of our submissions for their specific genre (prose, poetry, or visual art). Reading board members give feedback on submissions, helping the editors pick pieces to include in the upcoming issue. They will receive submissions to read during winter break in January, then will meet with the rest of the board and their head genre editor at the beginning of the spring semester. No experience is required. Applications are due December 6th at 11:59pm. Applicants are also welcome to submit their work to our magazine. If you are interested in applying, please fill out the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/QhPG3SgPdY
The Candlewick Prize
The Sanctuary Magazine's Candlewick Prize is awarded each year to one contributor who fully embraces the mission of our magazine, introduces unique perspectives to our sense of normalcy, and answers our call to "pound on the cathedral door." The winner of this prize will be announced annually at The Sanctuary Magazine's publication night.