Submissions

Important Deadlines: August 1, December 1 and April 1 are the deadlines for our three quarterly issues (published in October, February and June). Please keep these dates in mind when submitting.

Submissions are open as art and photography, poetry, fiction, and articles. Each category has its separate email address, which we ask you to respect. Please send in all submissions as attachments. Please DO NOT include the work in the body of your email–this is reserved for your author bio. Please do NOT send your bio in an attachment.

Art & Photography
submissions(at)themissingslate(dot)com

Guidelines

  • When submitting works of art, please make sure that you send us high resolution (300 dpi) files.
  • Any artwork goes; paintings, illustrations, digital art photography, etc. If it’s art, we take it.
  • Concerning photo essays, please send in a series of up to 8 high res photographs with a meaningful theme: social, religious, cultural, etc.
  • Please ensure that the subject is relevant to our magazine’s audience and content. We don’t want random pictures of your pet puppies or cats in your backyard…there must be meaning and relevance behind your lens and it must reflect in your submissions.
  • Please send in all submissions as attachments. DO NOT include the work in the body of your email.

All material will be judged by the Creative Director. Please note, these submissions are not the same as our Roving Eye Spotlight series. While it is true submissions can convert into a Spotlight interview if deemed appropriate. Relevant artwork along with your credit will be cited during display of the submission within corresponding content, etc.

Fiction
fiction(at)themissingslate(dot)com

Guidelines
Flash fiction, short stories and serialized long fiction are all accepted. We ask only that they be insightful, aesthetically pleasing, original and coherent pieces with something to say. It doesn’t need to be political or religious or social or what have you, but the piece must be about something.

Please do NOT:

  • Send submissions in the body of the email. That’s where your cover letter and third-person bio is expected to be.
  • Send multiple emails to us.

Please DO:

  • Submit up to a maximum of 3 pieces of fiction as Word attachments to the address above.
  • Label your attached Microsoft Word files as “Your Name – TMS Fiction“.
  • Include 1.5″-2.0″ line spacing, formatted in Georgia 11pt, justified.
  • If it’s serialized long fiction, please break down your story into serials/chapters as you’d like it to be published.
  • Pay particular attention to grammar, unless it’s experimental fiction or serves the purpose of the narrative.
  • Include a short (up to 60 words) third-person bio which can be published along with your submission.
  • Remember that simultaneous submissions (to other publications) are accepted, but please tell us as much and notify us immediately if your piece is accepted for publication somewhere else.
  • Realize that while we have no issues with accepting your previously published pieces, you must ascertain whether you have the permission to re-print, from your original publisher.
  • Credit TMS if your piece is re-published with another publication.

Poetry

poetry(at)themissingslate(dot)com

Guidelines
Poems of any theme and subject will be considered, but preference will be given to surreal, edgy, and accessible styles. Poetry must be strong and aesthetically pleasing. Particular attention must be paid to originality; plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way. Grammar and syntax must be respected, unless in the interests of the poem in question.

Please do NOT:

  • Send submissions in the body of the email. That’s where your cover letter and third-person bio is expected to be.
  • Send multiple emails to us or multiple attachments in one email to us.

Please DO:

  • Submit up to a maximum of 3 poems as a single Microsoft Word attachment to the address above.
  • Label your attached Microsoft Word files as “Your Name – TMS Poetry“.
  • Include a short (up to 60 words) third-person bio which can be published along with your submission.
  • Remember that simultaneous submissions (to other publications) are accepted, but please tell us as much and notify us immediately if your piece is accepted for publication somewhere else.
  • Realize that while we have no issues with accepting your previously published pieces, you must ascertain whether you have the permission to re-print, from your original publisher.
  • Credit TMS if your piece is re-published with another publication.

Articles

chiefed@themissingslate.com

Guidelines
Submissions for articles have been temporarily closed. Articles are typically assigned by the Editor-in-Chief or pitched (and written) directly by the Articles Editors. However, should you have a critique, opinion, satire or social commentary that you are interested in having The Missing Slate publish, you are free to pitch the idea directly to the Editor-in-Chief. If it bears promise, you will be assigned an editor who will work with you during the duration of its writing.

Material should not be derogatory or intolerant of the beliefs of others. We do believe in freedom of speech and opinion, but we also choose to respect the beliefs and rights of others and will not accept indulgent, narcissistic and insulting pieces.

Feedback / Comments / Suggestions
If you would like to leave feedback on pieces, be they poetry, works of fiction, articles or feature work published in TMS, please email them to feedback@themissingslate.com. Do not contact the authors directly. We will publish your comments per our discretion in the following issue under the Mailbox section.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions on the submissions guidelines presented above, please don’t hesitate to contact us.