VoiceCatcher

 Here are our new submission guidelines for your review:
 The Basics:



1. VoiceCatcher publishes NEW writing that has not been previously published. We accept simultaneous submissions, but ask that you notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
2. We ONLY accept submissions from WOMEN who consider themselves local Portland, OR area writers. Authors may consider themselves "local" for many reasons. We fully empower you to decide if you fall into this category of being a PDX writer or not. (At the same time, please be reasonable. You cannot be local if you have never lived here or near here.)


3. Payment to our authors is one complimentary copy of the book in which the author's work is published. VoiceCatcher retains first American rights to all pieces published in our collection. From there, rights revert back to our authors.
4. One of the best ways to learn what types of manuscripts we're looking for is purchase and read one of our prior VoiceCatcher editions.  Information about buying the current anthology can be found on our "buy the book" page.  To purchase prior additions, please contact us directly.
   

What to send to us: 
A cover letter: which should include, but is not limited to:
a)    An introduction. 

b)    A short synopsis of why you feel drawn to contribute to our publication; and why you consider yourself a local Portland area writer.
c)     The title (s) of your manuscripts. 
d)    Your contact information, including your name, mailing address, email, and phone. Please take special care with these details (e.g. include both home and cell numbers). It broke our hearts not to publish a manuscript we loved in 2007 because we were unable to reach the author to obtain an electronic copy of her work.

Your Manuscripts:
a)    THREE COPIES of each in standard 12-point font, with one-inch margins.
b)    Include the TITLE on all THREE COPIES of each manuscript.
c)     Please do NOT include your name on your manuscript. 

·Poetry: Please submit no less than 2 and no more than 4 poems for consideration. Longer poems should not exceed 6 pages. Poems should be single-spaced. In addition to the title, each poem should include the line count on the first page, in the top right corner on all three copies.

·Short story, essay, creative non-fiction, memoir, and other long-form prose: Please submit no more than 2 pieces of prose.  Each prose piece should not exceed 3,000 words.  If you are submitting more than one piece of prose, the combined word count limit is 6000. Prose should be double-spaced, with paragraphs indented. In addition to the title, each manuscript should include the word count on the first page on all three copies.

·If submitting both poetry and prose, please do not submit more than 4 pieces total. Follow the guidelines above for all manuscripts.

SASE (self-addressed-stamped-envelope): If your work is not accepted for publication, we will provide careful, personalized feedback on one of your manuscripts if and only if you include a SASE in your submission packet. No SASE, no feedback letter.   Your SASE should be a standard #10 envelope with a first class stamp.  -- Manuscripts will not be returned.      

A $5-10 suggested reading fee to help support VoiceCatcher's mission. We are a 100 percent volunteer run, not-for-profit entity dedicated to promoting the writing of local women. Each manuscript we receive is read and considered seriously by at least 3 of our editors. This is not a mandatory fee, but rather an invitation to help us continue to do the work we do. For more information, check out our mission page. 


Additional Details and Reminders:
·We will confirm receipt of your manuscript(s) via email by April 15
·We will not return manuscripts.
·Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
·If we accept your manuscript for publication, be aware that our editors will edit everyone's pieces, often somewhat heavily, to have them ready for publication.  Because of our tight timetable to bring the book to print, we regret that we cannot run each of these editorial changes past you.  However, you will have the opportunity to approve or disapprove the changes prior to publication. Please be apprised, we cannot guarantee that your piece will be published if you disapprove of our edits.
·If we do publish your work in VoiceCatcher, you will receive one copy of the anthology and be given the opportunity to purchase additional copies at a discount.

CHECKLIST
Your submission packet is complete with the following items:
√  A cover letter
√  THREE copies of each piece of writing adhering to the guidelines detailed above
√  SASE if you would like to receive feedback if your work is not accepted for publication
√  A $5-10 suggested reading fee--make checks to VoiceCatcher
√  Packet postmarked no later than March 31, 2010

 

Still have questions? Contact VoiceCatcher at editors@voicecatcher.org 

Send submission to:

VoiceCatcher


P.O. Box 6064