Bright Static: Call For Submissions - Writers Forum

L. L. Chandler · 09-30-2005, 09:32 PM

The literary magazine Bright Static, while in its infancy and fairly unpretentious, is seeking to format itself similarly to such greats as Glimmer Train and Atlantic Monthly. The magazine is going to be student-owned and operated, so expect the occassional delay and/or bout of confusion. While there is nothing to prove the magazine's current existence, (a website will soon be developed), updates will be received, at the recipient's request, via e-mail. I have been accused several times of spamming because of my general absence from forums except for call for submissions threads. I encourage you to submit any questions to me in e-mail form at rocinante4@earthlink.net with "Bright Static: Question" as the e-mail title. (Note: spamblocker on rocinante is especially stringent, so if you receive an e-mail saying that you've been designated spam or that your message didn't go through, don't worry. All is received, just in an indirect way). Or you can plug another editor at TheCandleOfEternalCoolness@gmail.com. We're both equally friendly. If you're accepted, I cannot promise recompense, but I can promise a good deal of publicity, as distribution will be centered around the nearest metro, windy Chicago.

The Bright Static Winter Fiction Contest is seeking submissions of fiction at 5,000-9,000 words. These submissions can be sent electronically to me at rocinante4@earthlink.net or mailed hardcopy to The Village Press at 124 E. Church St. in Libertyville, IL. Please include a brief biographical statement as well as your name, address and/or e-mail address if you should choose to submit hardcopy. All electronic submissions of fiction should be sent to rocinante4@earthlink.net. Please include your piece of work in the body of the e-mail. Title the e-mail "Bright Static: Fiction Contest". All e-mails without Bright Static in the title will be promptly rejected. Please send all submissions of regular fiction to the same address with "Bright Static: Fiction" as the title.

Submissions of poetry have no length limit and can be sent to the talented and gymnastic poetry editor, Mr. Alexander Rosenberg, at TheCandleOfEternalCoolness@gmail.com. Please title all submissions "Bright Static: Poetry".

Thank you. I look forward to seeing you in the magazine.

Rebekah Frumkin, Editor[/i]

L. L. Chandler · 10-01-2005, 01:42 PM

i have noticed by browsing other posts on this site that my current lack of a website may discredit the publication as well as deterr potential submissions. for this i deeply apologize, and i am doing all in my power to fix the problem. the web address should be posted soon. i also understand that a fledgling publication, (especially a student-run one) may not be able to hold its own against the many upstanding publications posted here. i regret having shown any signs of pretension in aspirations of formatting, (Glimmer Train, etc.), and meant only to use those as examples of the kind of work the magazine would be seeking. sorry in advance for anything else.

r.a.f.

mammamaia · 10-02-2005, 08:58 AM

i see no need to apologize, rebekah... your post was straightforward, provided all the most essential info and was upfront about your mag's status and current inability to offer payment...

as for your aspirations, they're admirable and i wish you all the best in attaining your goals...

i can only wish that all who post calls for submissions would be as forthright and detailed... so, it may actually be a plus that you have no site link to just tell folks to click on and find out for themselves all the pertinent stuff you presented so nicely here...

as a matter of fact, i'm so impressed, i'm going to do something i next to never do, and you can expect my 'top dogs and bottom feeders' to drop in your email lap shortly...

best to you and the crew on your exciting new venture... love and hugs, maia

ps: how many poems can be included in one submission?

L. L. Chandler · 10-02-2005, 10:53 AM

Mammamia,

Thank you so much for your support. In regards to poetry submissions, Alex can probably handle up to four poems per submission if they are of relatively short length. For longer poems, probably just two. For fiction, I'd say only two stories per submission.

Thanks again. I look forward to reading your work. This is an exciting venue to have entered for the whole Static crew.

much love,

r.a.f.

mammamaia · 10-02-2005, 11:01 AM

your enthusiasm is contagious!... keep me posted on your progress, willya?... and let me know by email if i can be of any help with editing or just checking your to-come site for typos and goofs...

it's good to see new print venues being 'born'... and especially when the 'parents' are college students who are brave enough to enter risky waters...

love and hugs, maia

L. L. Chandler · 10-03-2005, 07:47 PM

oh maia. where would i be without you?

you can count on a weekly update and nervous shells of websites being forwarded your way. also, you'll be among the first to receive a print copy of the winter issue.

much love,

r.a.f.

damien_frosst · 10-04-2005, 12:53 PM

Can you give any guidelines for submissions? Pasted in text? Word format? Any specific fiction genres requested?

About this contest? What's the rules? What's the prize? How's the judging handled?

More information if you wouldn't mind.

L. L. Chandler · 10-05-2005, 06:46 PM

In regards to fiction genres, the broad topic "literary fiction" is applicable here, this being the kind you'd see in magazines like Ploughshares or Tin House. However, fiction of any genre is more than welcome if you'd like to submit but aren't a fan of straightforward literary fiction. We've been having some errors with pasted in text, so attached Word documents are preferred.
The contest is a tad more strict. Only literary fiction is acceptable. I really wish that I could offer you a prize in the form of payment, but I can't. So if you're searching for something that will garner pay, please look further. First, second and third prize winners will be published in the Winter Issue and winning authors will receive a copy of their work. Judging is being handled by myself and two others editors, among them the poetry editor who is willing to cross genres for the occassion. Submissions to the fiction contest have been slow so far, and we're hoping to see an upswing by mid October.

thanks for your interest,

r.a.f.