Submissions
Send us the work
The Still Point publishes quarterly issues shaped by the immediate world. We look for writing that registers global events at the level of private life, where their weight is actually felt. We accept unpublished work in English (or in translation). Issue 1: Handmade Open for submissions: September 15 - October 31 Our inaugural issue responds to a culture increasingly written, generated, and mediated by machines. As automation shifts the creative industries and synthetic media erodes trust in what we see, we are looking for the mark of the human hand. We welcome all genres exploring the tension between the real and the synthetic, the organic and the automated. Give us fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or unclassifiable prose that embraces the imperfect, the awkward, and the singular. Show us what survives when the screen is switched off. Age Requirement We currently only accept submissions from writers aged 18 and over. Work submitted by individuals under the age of 18 will not be considered.
What we publish
- Short Fiction
Up to 3,000 words.
- Poetry
Poems should be no longer than 100 lines.
- Essay
Up to 3,000 words.
- Translation
Prose or poetry up to 3,000 words (or 100 lines for poetry). Please attach the original text and confirm you hold the translation rights.
- Criticism
We do not read unsolicited reviews. Please send a 200-word pitch to the editors before submitting full drafts.
- Experimental
Up to 3,000 words. No guidance given. Convince us.
- Flash Fiction
Up to 1,000 words.
- Visual Art & Illustration
Up to 3 images included in a single PDF or DOCX file (for review purposes only). High-resolution, print-ready files (300 DPI) will be requested upon acceptance.
How we read
- 01
Blind Reading. All submissions are read blind by our editorial team. Please ensure your name, email, and any identifying details are completely removed from the manuscript file. Submissions containing personal details will be declined without review.
- 02
Response Times. We aim to read every submission in full and respond within 12 weeks. If you have not heard from us after three months, feel free to send a polite query.
- 03
Simultaneous Submissions. We welcome simultaneous submissions. If your piece is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it immediately via the submission portal (or by email).
- 04
Payment & Remuneration. The Still Point is currently unable to offer fixed contributor fees for general publication. At present, financial remuneration is available exclusively to competition entrants in the form of a cash prize.
We run separate, standalone writing prizes with cash awards. Submissions for our general issues are not automatically entered into prize cycles, and competition entries require a separate submission process.
Policy on artificial intelligence
We do not accept work that has been generated, translated, or edited with the help of AI and automated language models. All submissions must be entirely original and the product of human craftsmanship. Any submission found to have used AI at any stage of its creation will be rejected without review.