Submission Guidelines

Thank you for considering Not Quite Right. We’re excited to read your work.

We publish poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and original artwork that lives just outside the expected—work that feels intentional, emotionally honest, and a little off-center. We are especially interested in writing that explores identity, contradiction, intimacy, and the unresolved, often through a queer lens.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • We accept general submissions year-round.
  • We also open themed submissions on a rolling basis, with clearly posted reading periods and deadlines.
  • When submitting to a themed issue, please ensure your work meaningfully engages with the theme.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • Please submit only once at a time. We ask that you wait until you’ve received a response before submitting again.
  • We do our best to respond as quickly as possible, often faster than many publications, though response times may vary depending on volume.
  • Previously unpublished work is strongly preferred.
  • We reserve the right to decline work that does not align with the tone or vision of the magazine.

We are less interested in perfection than in presence. Send us your best, most honest work.

POETRY SUBMISSIONS

  • Submit 4–5 poems per submission.
  • Please include all poems in a single document (PDF or DOCX preferred).
  • Each poem should begin on a new page.
  • No strict line or length limits—longer or shorter work is welcome.
  • Previously unpublished work is preferred.

We’re drawn to poetry that lingers—work that feels precise, intentional, and alive beneath the surface.

SHORT FICTION SUBMISSIONS

  • Submit one short story per submission.
  • No strict word count limits.
  • Please format your story in a readable, standard manuscript format (12pt font, double-spaced recommended).
  • Submit as a single document (PDF or DOCX preferred).
  • Previously unpublished work is preferred.

We’re interested in stories that unsettle, transform, or resist easy resolution—fiction that stays with us.

ESSAYS & CREATIVE NONFICTION

  • Submit one essay per submission.
  • No strict word count limits.
  • Please format your work in a readable, standard manuscript format.
  • Submit as a single document (PDF or DOCX preferred).
  • Previously unpublished work is preferred.

We’re drawn to work that interrogates identity, memory, and lived experience—writing that questions as much as it reveals.

ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS

  • We accept original visual artwork, including illustrations, photography, and cartoons.
  • Submit 3–5 pieces per submission.
  • Files should be high-quality JPEG or PNG.
  • Include a brief description or title for each piece.
  • Artwork should be your own and not previously published.

We’re especially interested in work that complements or expands on the themes of the magazine—visual pieces that feel as intentional and off-center as the writing.

FINAL NOTES

We encourage submissions from queer writers and artists, as well as anyone whose work challenges norms, expectations, or easy categorization.

You don’t need to perform for us. You don’t need to explain everything.

If your work feels slightly off—if it bends, questions, or lingers—we want to read it.