The Muleskinner Journal
Long journeys. Hard roads. Good times.
Submission Guidelines
Journal Twelve: Twist of Fate
Submissions are now closed
A twist of fate, simple or complicated, or a fork in the road.
Or a sinkhole in the road.
Earnestly, we request the lightning strike, the itchy trigger finger, the crack in the tooth, the miracle ingredient that kills you.
We crave the red herring, the sub-rosa decision, the back-breaking straw, the missing link.
For Journal 12, Muleskinner Journal seeks work ignited by that storm we didn’t see coming, that small gesture that lifts the veil, the sudden change of course, the latent gene, the hidden fear released, the rabid dog unleashed, the accidental journey, the snap decision, the impulsive act, or the unexpected guest.
We are looking to experience, witness, or understand the twisty circuits of the psyche, the gesture that makes all the difference, or the thing of consequence you can't explain.
As always, our themes are prompts.
You may start with a Dylan song, and end with a symphony.
We want you to write, and send us what you write, and we want everyone to read it, and be moved by it, and inspire others because of it, and we want the world changed, for the better, as a result.
What a twist of fate that would be.
Manuscript Guidelines…
We accept unsolicited general submissions for free, through Submittable.
We do request a $5 donation (voluntary) to help us offset costs and build towards paying our writers.
Submissions should be in .doc or .docx format and the file should be titled: Last Name_Title or Last Name_Poems
Prose submissions should be sent in New Times Roman or similar, 12pt font, double-spaced, always, with numbered pages.
Simultaneous submissions are fine — we’re writers too, after all — but please let us know if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
Please include a short, third-person bio - we want to know who you are, and include any social media handles you would like us to share
Please, no more than one submission per issue.
Feel free to inquire about the status of your submission if you haven’t heard back after a month. We try to be quick.
Please, no re-submissions of the same work unless a revision was specifically requested.
And finally, we are listed in Duotrope, so please don’t forget to report your submission (if you use them, that is), and thank you!
What we are looking for…
Muleskinner Journal accepts previously unpublished work only. Please use the following word counts to select a category to submit. Send no more than one piece at a time, except where noted. Please submit in only one category at a time.
Micro-Fiction: 25-50 words (1-3 pieces at a time)
Flash: max. 1500 words each (1-3 pieces at a time)
Short Story/excerpts from longer work: (max. 6000 words)
Creative Nonfiction: (max. 3000 words)
Poetry: Any length or form. (1-3 pieces at a time)
We look for writing of all kinds that uses skill, wit, and determination to deliver the goods. We accept and publish poetry, short fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction, short scripts, excerpts from longer works, memoir, criticism, craft essays, artwork, journalism, and shopping lists.
We don’t care who you are, as long as you are the author of what you submit.
Copyright Stuff
Upon publication, Muleskinner Journal acquires first world serial rights, including first audio production rights, after which we retain the right to include it in a print anthology, as well as the right to maintain it indefinitely on our website. All other rights return to the author upon publication.
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Changes to this Statement
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