SUBMIT
If you’re interested in writing for The Sunlight Press, send a completed piece to thesunlightpress@gmail.com. Please see guidelines below.
What are we looking for?
The Sunlight Press considers submissions within the following categories:
- Personal Essays (Nonfiction): 750-1,000 words
- Fiction: Includes flash fiction (under 1,000 words) and short stories (under 2,000 words)
- Poetry: Up to three poems in one submission (all attached in one document, please)
- Reviews: Review of books (fiction & nonfiction), short story collections, and essay collections; 750-1,000 words (preference for newly published books); also will consider occasional film reviews (current films).
- Artists on Craft Series: Interviews/Reflections by artists on their process of the art of choice (accompanying photos welcome); under 1,000 words
- Photography: Up to three photographs in one submission (please note: only unfiltered images)
Please note: We close to all submissions on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 (at midnight 12/4) until Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Any work submitted during this period will not be read. Please re-submit when we reopen, and we look forward to reviewing then.
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Contest News
Congratulations to Aria Dominguez for winning our spring 2022 essay contest. Her winning essay, “The Art of Negotiating,” appeared in June. We also are delighted to announce the two finalists: Skye Pratt Epperson and Diana Spechler. Essays by both writers appeared in July. For winning our contest, Aria received a $500 cash prize + $25 in regular payment; the finalists received $65. (We also accepted 15 additional essays submitted to the contest and will publish all during the coming weeks.) We are grateful to Windy Lynn Harris for judging our contest.
In other recent contest news, the winner of our 2021 Flash Fiction Contest was “Collapse,” by Justine Gardner. Our judge Dan Crawley also chose two finalists, “Lunch in the Park,” by Kevin Sandefur, and “Compensations,” by Candace Hartsuyker, both appearing in November 2021. The winning writer received a $500 cash prize, as well as regular payment. Finalists received $50.
Find other contest winners on our Contests page.
How do you submit work?
Email submissions to thesunlightpress@gmail.com with the subject line clearly indicating the genre — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, review, artist on craft, or photography. Submissions should be attached in a Word document (docx., doc.), without names and contact info on the document. Please note: Unusual formatting in poetry cannot always be replicated on our site.
Please submit written material in only one category at a time (in other words, do not submit written work in multiple categories at the same time. The only exception to this: You may submit a written piece and photography simultaneously). In written pieces, please use only one space after periods.
Do not send new work for consideration until hearing back from us on the status of a current submission. Also if a piece is not accepted, please wait three to six months before submitting new work. Writers whose work has been accepted, please wait three months after its publication to submit new work. Thank you.
Please note: We typically do not consider pieces beyond the word lengths above. We also do not publish how-to articles, or work that is religious or political in nature, nor about current social issues.
What should accompany your submission?
Please include a 3-4 sentence bio and any social media handles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.), as well as a current email address and contact information. We review simultaneoussubmissions; please inform us of this status upon submission.
Does The Sunlight Press pay writers upon publication?
Yes, The Sunlight Press pays for originalwork only, via PayPal. We occasionally accept previously published work (in print, on a personal blog, or another digital publication) but offer no payment.
Our payment rates as of July 1, 2022 are as follows:
$40 for essays (including book reviews and Artist on Craft pieces)
$40 for fiction (short stories and flash fiction)
$30 for the first poem accepted, and $10 for each additional accepted in the same submission
$15 for photos
When will you hear from us?
Every submission will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the submission from the editors. Writers will be informed of the status of their submission within two to three months of submission. Please query after that time period if you have received no update.
The content of The Sunlight Press is exclusively online. The Sunlight Press claims first publishing rights, which revert to the author upon publication; however, please acknowledge The Sunlight Press if your work appears later online or in print. Many thanks.
Final word: We strive to publish pieces within six months of acceptance and welcome your query if that time period has passed.
Still have questions?
Additional information is published in a June 2018 Q&A with editors at the “Six Questions For…” editors blog. Read more here. Further questions, email us at thesunlightpress@gmail.com. We welcome all questions and inquiries.
Many thanks for considering us for your work.
R & R Blog 