Every issue of Sequestrum features the best creative writing of today. Once a year, Sequestrum features the best creative writing of yesterday. The way we see it, the start of every publication cycle sends scores of outstanding writing from yesteryear to the literary wayside. (Not everyone so thoughtfully offers up their complete archives at pay-what-you-can rates.) An ever-expanding swamp of forgotten literature is the nature of the beast we call publishing, but it’s an imbalance we aim to help correct. In the past, we’ve reprinted work from internationally acclaimed publications alongside journals which are long-defunct or upstart gems on the rise. And that’s the way we like it. As always, wow us. Thrill us. Never bore us. We’re eager to read your best. Deadline 12/15.
When ready to submit, please use our online submission system.
What We Publish:
Fiction & Nonfiction: Submissions should generally not exceed twelve thousand* (12,000) words.
Poetry: Up to three poems per submission. 50 lines* per poem. You may submit poetry featured with multiple publishers.
*Length guidelines are just that: guidelines. Pieces exceeding these limits will be considered but generally have a harder time being published. If your work is outstanding, we’ll make room for it.
In addition to a brief bio, include the name and email address of the original publisher in your cover letter so we can confirm availability should your submission be selected.
A Note on Themed Submissions:
Themed submissions are considered alongside our general submission pool. Themed submissions are not contests resulting in a predetermined minimum or maximum number of publications (we hate turning good writing away for the sake of contest rules). Any piece which is a good fit will be published in Sequestrum and is subject to standard rights and payment as outlined on our submission guidelines (unless other rights are part of the theme or outlined below). Selected pieces are not published as a batch or part of a “themed” issue but are instead proudly displayed right alongside every other Sequestrum publication. We implement deadlines to transition between calls, with roughly four themes per year. Multiple and simultaneous submissions allowed. Our standard reading fee and free subscriber submission rules apply. If making a subscriber submission to a theme, please indicate so in your cover letter.
We’re trying to keep things simple. Themed submissions are a call for the sort of writing we’re hungry to read. As our tastes change, so will our themes. We’re hoping to be surprised. We’re hoping to find exactly the stories and poems we’re looking for. We’re hoping to fall in love with writing we never realized we needed.
Send away. We’re eager to read your best.
Not the theme you were hoping for? No problem. We accept unthemed submissions following our general submission guidelines.
Publication Rights: Please be sure your work is available to be republished elsewhere. Rights include Nonexclusive Archival Rights: We archive all published work indefinitely in our online archives. At the time of publication, all other rights revert to the author. If your work is republished elsewhere, credit Sequestrum as a publisher.
Payment: We believe good writing deserves recognition and offer a small cash honorarium of $20 for all writers we publish. In addition, all contributors receive a complimentary 6 month subscription redeemable at any time after acceptance.
Deadlines: Sequestrum occasionally closes general submissions to finalize upcoming issues, catch up on reading, keep our eyes from bleeding, etc. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates: https://www.sequestrum.org/submission-updates.