Established in 2017 as a literary magazine for fiction, CRAFT expanded in 2020 to publish creative nonfiction as well. We explore how writing works, reading pieces with a focus on the elements of craft, on the art of prose. We feature previously unpublished creative work, with occasional reprints, as well as critical pieces including craft essays and interviews. All published creative pieces include an author’s note and an editorial introduction that both discuss stylistics in the work.
We do not charge fees for our fiction or creative nonfiction submissions, or for our craft categories, and we are a paying market. Our general submissions are open year-round with no capacity limits. We value accessibility—keeping CRAFT free to read and free to submit to is our priority. We work with all writers, established as well as emerging. All creative work published in CRAFT comes through submission; we do not solicit fiction or creative nonfiction.
We offer editorial feedback on short prose, as well as fast-response categories whenever possible.
So that our notifications to you are not filtered as spam/junk, please whitelist/add to contacts: notifications@email.submittable.com.
By submitting to CRAFT, submitters agree to receive correspondence about future published works and submission opportunities from CRAFT. You can unsubscribe at any time.
**If you haven't already, please verify your email address with Submittable for more consistent communication.**
Unless specifically requested, we do not accept AI-generated work.
CRAFT 2023 Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest
Guest Judge: Sarah Fawn Montgomery
$3,400 Awarded
November 13, 2023 - January 14, 2024
Calling all memoirists and essayists—we want to read your story! We're looking for your most authentic creative nonfiction for the 2023 CRAFT Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest. Here's what our wonderful guest judge, Sarah Fawn Montgomery, would like to see for this contest:
I’m looking for work that does not follow predictable patterns, but instead reimagines structural and stylistic possibilities entirely, transporting the reader into a writer’s world as opposed to translating that world for the reader. I want to be immersed in the writer’s mind, experiencing their sense of self in all its tender, powerful, painful, and gorgeous uncertainty. I’m drawn to unapologetic vulnerability, a thorough questioning of subject and self, and an attempt to capture complexity that does not necessarily result in tidy conclusion. Bonus points for attention to image and language that sings.
Please carefully review the guidelines below, then send us your most polished work. Three winners will receive $1,000 each and publication. Our team will also select two “editors’ choices” to publish alongside the three grand-prize winners. All fifteen shortlisted creative nonfiction writers will receive a $1,000 scholarship to PocketMFA. Do your words “sing” on the page? If so, don’t wait—submit ASAP!
GUIDELINES:
- The contest is open November 13, 2023, to January 14, 2024.
- CRAFT submissions are open to all writers, emerging and experienced.
- Submit creative nonfiction ONLY! (Please, no academic work, flash prose, short fiction, or poetry.)
- International submissions are allowed.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary code-switching/meshing is warmly welcomed.
- This contest is for creative nonfiction excerpts and essays between 1,001 and 6,000 words. Please do not submit flash prose.
- We review literary creative nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir excerpts, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, speculative nonfiction, and experimental prose—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- For this contest, we will consider previously unpublished work only—we will not review reprints or partial reprints, including self-published work (even if only on social media). Reprints will be automatically disqualified.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers, please notify us and withdraw your entry if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- The $20 reading fee per entry allows one longform creative nonfiction piece (either memoir excerpt or essay) from 1,001 to 6,000 words. We will not read flash nonfiction prose for this contest. Please do not submit flash prose.
- We allow multiple submissions—each entry should be accompanied by a separate reading fee.
- All entries will also be considered for publication in CRAFT.
- Please double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable).
- Please include appropriate content warnings (if applicable), for the sake of our dedicated, diligent staff.
- We do not require anonymous submissions, but the guest judge will review the shortlist anonymously.
- Creative nonfiction writers from historically marginalized groups are invited to submit for free until we reach the twenty-five free submissions budgeted for this particular contest. Email us with relevant inquiries.
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication: work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined/disqualified without complete review.
- AI-generated work will be automatically disqualified.
- Entries that do not adhere to these guidelines in full will be declined/disqualified without complete review.
AWARDS:
The writers of the three winning pieces will receive:
- $1,000 each;
- publication in CRAFT, each with an introduction by Sarah Fawn Montgomery;
- publication of an author's note (craft essay) to accompany the piece;
- and a set of six titles of Graywolf’s The Art Of series.
The two writers chosen in the editors’ choice round will receive:
- $200 each;
- publication in CRAFT, each with an introduction by the editorial team;
- and publication of an author’s note (craft essay) to accompany the piece.
All fifteen shortlisted writers will also receive a $1,000 scholarship to PocketMFA.
OUR GUEST JUDGE:
SARAH FAWN MONTGOMERY is the author of Halfway from Home (Split/Lip Press, 2022), winner of a Nautilus Book Award. She is also the author of Quite Mad: An American Pharma Memoir (The Ohio State University Press, 2018) and three poetry chapbooks, as well as a forthcoming craft book on writing disability (Sundress Publications, 2025). Her work has been listed as Notable in The Best American Essays many times, and her poetry and prose have appeared in Brevity, Catapult, Cincinnati Review, DIAGRAM, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, New England Review, The Normal School, Passages North, Poetry Foundation, The Rumpus, Southeast Review, Terrain, and numerous other journals and anthologies. She is an associate professor at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. Find her on Twitter at @SF_Montgomery.
FINE PRINT:
- Friends, family, and associates of the guest judge are not eligible for consideration for the award.
- Our collaboration with editorial professionals in the judging of our contests and the awarding of our prizes does not imply an endorsement or recognition from their agencies, houses, presses, universities, etc.
- Read (and enjoy!) our 2022 contest winners for examples of work we’ve chosen to publish in the past.
- As we only consider unpublished writing, and will publish the winning pieces in June 2024, any work under contract to publish prior to September 2024 should not be entered in this contest.
OPTIONAL EDITORIAL FEEDBACK:
You may choose to receive editorial feedback on your work. We will provide line-level marginal editorial notes, as well as a two-page global letter discussing the strengths of the writing and the recommended focus for revision. While editorial feedback is inherently subjective, our criticism is always actionable and encouraging. Work that we critique is not eligible for future CRAFT contests. If your piece is chosen for publication, feedback will not be given and your feedback fee will be returned.
OUR CONTEST PARTNERS:
GRAYWOLF PRESS is a nonprofit literary publisher of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and work in translation.
Their Mission:
Graywolf Press is a leading independent publisher committed to the discovery and energetic publication of twenty-first century American and international literature. We champion outstanding writers at all stages of their careers to ensure that adventurous readers can find underrepresented and diverse voices in a crowded marketplace. We believe works of literature nourish the reader’s spirit and enrich the broader culture, and that they must be supported by attentive editing, compelling design, and creative promotion.
BLACK LAWRENCE PRESS has also generously partnered with CRAFT to provide contest submitters a free six-month subscription to their weekly e-newsletter Sapling (a $15 value). Sapling is a wonderful resource for writers highlighting the best the small-press and indie-publishing world has to offer. The coupon code will be provided upon submission.
PocketMFA is a twelve-week mentoring and workshopping program, designed to make more accessible the rigor, community, and guidance of a graduate-level writing program. Based on the low-residency MFA model, PocketMFA places up to ten writers with a creative nonfiction mentor of their choice, to work through our three distinct and entirely virtual phases of Direct Instruction, Mentorship & Workshopping, and Writing Life Residency. All fifteen shortlisted creative nonfiction writers will receive a $1,000 scholarship to PocketMFA.
Editorial Feedback Platform
Need new eyes on your short prose?
We would love to work with you!
CRAFT offers editorial feedback on creative prose up to 6,000 words. We've carefully chosen a team of qualified editors to provide thoughtful critique. For each piece sent, you'll receive line-level marginal notes, as well as a two-page global letter discussing the strengths of the writing and the recommended focus for revision. While editorial feedback is inherently subjective, our suggestions will always be actionable and encouraging. Please allow up to twelve weeks to receive your feedback materials.
For your convenience and savings, we offer two options—single letters and triple letters. Rates are detailed below. Triple letter packages offer an 8% discount. This form is for single letters, but you can find the triple-letter option here, if desired.
All work sent through this event will also be considered for publication in CRAFT. Should we accept your work, the feedback fee will be refunded.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com.
Testimonials from Previous Recipients of CRAFT Editorial Feedback:
As a published author of 75+ academic and professional articles, reports, and two (academic) books, I have to say that David K. Slay's feedback on my fledgling short story "John Huff" was the most thorough, perceptive, and helpful feedback and writing coaching I have ever received. I am very grateful for their attention to detail, voice, and flow—something I craved as I continue my journey into this daunting genre. —Marjorie S.
I was so pleased with the feedback I received from Kyle Cochrun. His comments demonstrated that he understood what I was trying to accomplish with the essay and that he was 'thinking with me' as he closely read my draft. He didn't make a single comment that left me scratching my head—in fact, just the opposite. His feedback was like a private class in essay writing, and helped me see how to look at my drafts for unplumbed opportunities and to apply the strengths he identified to develop those opportunities. I've already completed the revisions and believe the piece is much stronger for his guidance. —Aggie S.
Rates for Single Letters:
- Flash fiction / flash creative nonfiction up to 1,000 words (one flash piece or up to three micro* pieces totaling fewer than 1,000 words): $59
- Short story / creative nonfiction essay from 1,000 to 3,500 words (one piece): $79
- Short story / creative nonfiction essay from 3,500 to 6,000 words (one piece): $99
*For our purposes, micros should be about 333 words maximum apiece, please. Include all three micros in ONE document.
How you can help us when sending work for our review:
- Please send only .doc or .docx files if possible, so that we can use MS Word's Track Changes for our marginal notes.
- Kindly double-space and use Times New Roman 12.
Guidelines:
- CRAFT Editorial Feedback is open to all prose writers.
- Please send fiction or creative nonfiction only.
- International submissions are welcome.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- Please adhere to the 6,000-word-count maximum.
- If sending up to three micros, include all pieces in ONE document.
- Work that has received editorial feedback is not eligible for submission to CRAFT contests.
- We do not accept, review, or consider AI-generated work.
- We strongly discourage simultaneous submissions in conjunction with editorial feedback. If your piece is already under review by our team and you withdraw it, we will not be able to offer a refund. If you withdraw your piece before we have begun feedback, we will be happy to let you substitute another piece of equal length.
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review (you will be refunded, less fees).
Editorial Feedback Platform
Need new eyes on your short prose?
We would love to work with you!
CRAFT offers editorial feedback on creative prose up to 6,000 words. We've carefully chosen a team of qualified editors to provide thoughtful critique. For each piece sent, you'll receive line-level marginal notes, as well as a two-page global letter discussing the strengths of the writing and the recommended focus for revision. While editorial feedback is inherently subjective, our suggestions will always be actionable and encouraging. Please allow up to twelve weeks to receive your feedback materials.
For your convenience and savings, we offer two options—single letters and triple letters. Rates are detailed below. Triple letter packages offer an 8% discount. This form is for triple letters only.
All work sent through this event will also be considered for publication in CRAFT. Should we accept your work, the feedback fee will be refunded.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com.
Testimonials from Previous Recipients of CRAFT Editorial Feedback:
As a published author of 75+ academic and professional articles, reports, and two (academic) books, I have to say that David K. Slay's feedback on my fledgling short story "John Huff" was the most thorough, perceptive, and helpful feedback and writing coaching I have ever received. I am very grateful for their attention to detail, voice, and flow—something I craved as I continue my journey into this daunting genre. —Marjorie S.
I was so pleased with the feedback I received from Kyle Cochrun. His comments demonstrated that he understood what I was trying to accomplish with the essay and that he was 'thinking with me' as he closely read my draft. He didn't make a single comment that left me scratching my head—in fact, just the opposite. His feedback was like a private class in essay writing, and helped me see how to look at my drafts for unplumbed opportunities and to apply the strengths he identified to develop those opportunities. I've already completed the revisions and believe the piece is much stronger for his guidance. —Aggie S.
Rates for Triple Letters:
- Flash fiction / flash creative nonfiction up to 1,000 words (one flash piece or up to three micro* pieces totaling fewer than 1,000 words): $149
- Short story / creative nonfiction essay from 1,000 to 3,500 words (one piece): $199
- Short story / creative nonfiction essay from 3,500 to 6,000 words (one piece): $249
*For our purposes, micros should be about 333 words maximum apiece, please. Include all three micros in ONE document.
How you can help us when sending work for our review:
- Please send only .doc or .docx files if possible, so that we can use MS Word's Track Changes for our marginal notes.
- Kindly double-space and use Times New Roman 12.
Guidelines:
- CRAFT Editorial Feedback is open to all prose writers.
- Please send fiction or creative nonfiction only.
- International submissions are welcome.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- Please adhere to the 6,000-word-count maximum.
- If sending up to three micros, include all pieces in ONE document.
- Work that has received editorial feedback is not eligible for submission to CRAFT contests.
- We do not accept, review, or consider AI-generated work.
- We strongly discourage simultaneous submissions in conjunction with editorial feedback. If your piece is already under review by our team and you withdraw it, we will not be able to offer a refund. If you withdraw your piece before we have begun feedback, we will be happy to let you substitute another piece of equal length.
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review (you will be refunded, less fees).
Welcome to CRAFT.
Submissions for CRAFT Creative Nonfiction are open year-round and offer payment of $200 for accepted original work. This category is for essays and standalone excerpts between 1,000 and 6,000 words. See our Flash Creative Nonfiction category for essays of fewer than 1,000 words.
As we have always done with our fiction as well, each published work of creative nonfiction will include an author’s note and an editorial introduction that both focus on the craft of the piece. We review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com
GUIDELINES:
- CRAFT Creative Nonfiction submissions are open to all writers.
- We accept longform creative nonfiction only in this category; please, no academic work (we have a separate category for Critical Writing & Interviews).
- International submissions are allowed.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- We adhere to a 6,000 word count maximum (for essays of fewer than 1,000 words, please choose the more appropriate Flash Creative Nonfiction category).
- We review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, speculative creative nonfiction, and experimental prose—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- We do consider reprints, though we are unable to pay for these pieces.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. If you withdraw your work, you may submit another piece in the same genre.
- We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece of longform creative nonfiction at a time, until you've heard back from us.
- If your work is declined, we ask that you wait three months before submitting again to the same genre, unless an editor requests more work from you.
- Please, please, double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please send your piece as a Word doc.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable).
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review.
Welcome to CRAFT.
Submissions for CRAFT Flash Creative Nonfiction are open year-round and offer payment of $100 for accepted original work. This category is for essays and standalone excerpts fewer than 1,000 words. See our Creative Nonfiction category for essays between 1,000 and 6,000 words.
As we have always done with our fiction, each published work of creative nonfiction will include an author’s note and an editorial introduction that both focus on the craft of the piece. We review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com
GUIDELINES:
- CRAFT Creative Nonfiction submissions are open to all writers.
- We accept flash creative nonfiction only in this category; please, no academic work (we have a separate category for Critical Writing & Interviews).
- International submissions are allowed.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- We adhere to a 1,000 word count maximum (for essays between 1,000 and 6,000 words, please choose the Creative Nonfiction 1–6K category)—please send only ONE flash creative nonfiction piece between 401 and 1,000 words.
- OR, up to three micros (400 words or fewer each / fewer than 1,000 words total) may be submitted in a single document—this file counts as ONE submission.
- We review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, speculative creative nonfiction, and experimental prose—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- We do consider reprints, though we are unable to pay for these pieces.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. If you withdraw your work, you may submit another piece in the same genre.
- We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece of flash creative nonfiction at a time (unless you're sending three micros, of course), until you've heard back from us.
- If your work is declined, we ask that you wait three months before submitting again to the same genre, unless an editor requests more work from you.
- Please, please, double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please send your piece as a Word doc.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable).
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review.
Welcome to CRAFT.
Submissions for CRAFT fiction are open year-round and offer payment of $200 for accepted original work. This category is for short stories and standalone fiction excerpts between 1,000 and 6,000 words. See our Flash Fiction category for stories of fewer than 1,000 words.
We are thrilled to be able to pay for published stories, but subsequently must be highly selective in our choices.
To serve our aim of exploring the art of fiction, each published story includes an editor’s introduction as well as a craft essay (author’s note) by the writer. This essay will be requested upon acceptance.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to:
contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com
GUIDELINES:
- CRAFT fiction submissions are open to all writers.
- We accept short fiction and standalone excerpts only in this category.
- International submissions are welcome.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- We adhere to a 6,000 word count maximum (for stories of fewer than 1,000 words, please choose the more appropriate Flash Fiction category).
- We review literary fiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- We do consider reprints, though we are unable to pay for these stories.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. If you withdraw your work, you may submit another piece in the same genre.
- We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece of short fiction at a time, until you've heard back from us.
- If your work is declined, we ask that you wait three months before submitting again to the same genre, unless an editor requests more work from you.
- Please, please, double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please send your story as a Word doc.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable).
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review.
Welcome to CRAFT.
Submissions for CRAFT Flash Fiction are open year-round and offer payment of $100 for original work. This category is for flash fiction up to 1,000 words. See our short fiction category for stories between 1,000 and 6,000 words.
We are thrilled to be able to pay for published stories, but subsequently must be highly selective in our choices.
To serve our aim of exploring the art of fiction, each published story includes an editor’s introduction as well as a craft essay (author’s note) by the writer. This essay will be requested upon acceptance.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com
GUIDELINES:
- CRAFT Flash Fiction submissions are open to all writers.
- We accept flash fiction only in this category.
- International submissions are allowed.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
- We adhere to a 1,000 word count maximum (for stories from 1,000 to 6,000 words, please choose the more appropriate short fiction category)—please send only ONE flash fiction piece between 401 and 1,000 words.
- OR, up to three micros (400 words or fewer each / fewer than 1,000 words total) may be submitted in a single document—this file counts as ONE submission.
- We review literary fiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- We do consider reprints, though we are unable to pay for these stories.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. If you withdraw your work, you may submit another piece in the same genre.
- We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece of flash fiction at a time (unless you're sending three micros, of course), until you've heard back from us.
- If your work is declined, we ask that you wait three months before submitting again to the same genre, unless an editor requests more work from you
- Please, please, double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please send your story as a Word doc.
- Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable).
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review.
This form is currently open ONLY to BIPOC and other mis- and underrepresented writers.
While our submissions for short and flash prose are always free and always open, we are currently offering a fast response option for free to BIPOC writers and other historically mis- and underrepresented writers.
This form is for both short fiction and longform creative nonfiction (short stories, standalone excerpts, and creative nonfiction essays) between 1,001 and 6,000 words, and for flash and micros (both fiction and creative nonfiction) up to 1,000 words.
We will respond to your piece within four weeks of submission.
We pay $200 for accepted short stories or longform creative nonfiction, and we pay $100 for accepted flash or micro pieces. To serve our aim of exploring the art of prose, each published piece includes an editor’s introduction as well as a craft essay (author’s note) by the writer. This essay will be requested upon acceptance.
If you have questions about submissions, please send an email to: contact (at) craftliterary (dot) com
GUIDELINES:
- This fast-response category is open only to BIPOC writers and other historically mis- and underrepresented writers.
- International submissions are allowed.
- Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary code-switching is warmly welcomed.
- For this category, we review previously unpublished work only.
- For short fiction and longform creative nonfiction, we adhere to a 6,000 word count maximum.
- For flash, we adhere to a 1,000 word count maximum—please send only ONE flash prose piece between 401 and 1,000 words.
- OR, up to three micros (400 words or fewer each / fewer than 1,000 words total) may be submitted in a single document—this file counts as ONE submission.
- We review literary prose, but are open to a variety of genres and styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.
- We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. If you withdraw your work, you may submit another piece in the same genre.
- We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece at a time (unless you're sending three micros, of course), until you've heard back from us.
- If your story is declined, we ask that you wait three months before submitting again to the same genre, unless an editor requests more work from you.
- Kindly double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.
- Please send your submission as a Word doc.
- Include a brief cover letter with your publication history and any relevant content warnings (if applicable).
- We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
- Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication. Work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review.
- Please do not submit work to this category if you do not identify as BIPOC or as a writer from another demographic who has been historically mis- or underrepresented in publishing.
Interested in writing critically for CRAFT? Please see the guidelines below and select the appropriate dropdown option when you submit your work. We do not consider previously published material (reprints) in this category.
We review essays on writing craft, critical literary analyses, and interviews. Please visit our Craft Section to see the type of content we publish.
All work in this section is concerned with fiction or creative nonfiction. Please do not send critical work about poetry, film, or any other genres. Those pieces aren't for us. Please do not send personal essays—send those to our creative nonfiction forms. We pay $50 for craft and critical essays, $50 for most standard interviews, and $100 for hybrid interviews (a critical essay paired with a Q&A).
Craft and critical essays range from 1,500 to 2,500 words concerning the craft of fiction or creative nonfiction. We recommend familiarizing yourself with our archive. Most essays we publish offer a careful examination of craft elements in fiction or creative nonfiction.
We welcome queries, pitches, and completed interviews with fiction or creative nonfiction writers. We will want to know if the interview is already approved as well as which elements of craft will be explored. We often schedule interviews well in advance—please contact us as soon as possible with your proposed interview.
We no longer allow multiple submissions—please send only one piece per genre at a time. If your craft/critical submission is declined, you may submit again to the genre immediately. Overall, you may have one piece of fiction (either short or flash), one piece of creative nonfiction (either flash or creative essay), and one craft piece under consideration at one time.
Details:
Craft and Critical Essays
Please send completed essays concerning the craft of fiction or creative nonfiction, and include in your cover letter what you're exploring and why it is a good fit for us. Submissions should be 1,500 to 2,500 words and should consist of a careful examination of craft. We only consider completed pieces.
Interviews & Hybrid Interviews
Typically our interviews run around 2,000 to 2,500 words and our hybrid interviews run 3,000 to 4,000 words, 1,000 to 1,500 of which comprise a critical essay about one or more of the interviewee's books. We consider both completed pieces and queries/pitches.