General Submission Guidelines

Please read below prior to submitting stories to Does It Have Pockets.

We are looking for fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. We also welcome pitches for columns (monthly or quarterly), interviews, book reviews, and other literary adjacent projects. Of particular interest are digital art, hybrid, and cross-genre works that straddle the lines of classification.

Some specifics:

  • Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know in your cover letter. We appreciate timely notification if a piece under consideration has been accepted elsewhere.

  • We will be glad to look at previously published work (reprints) as long as:

    • You have the rights,

    • It has been at least 24 months since published online or three months if published in a small print-only run, and;

    • You provide the prior publication credit at submission.

  • Poetry: 3-5 poems

  • Fiction: up to 5K words

  • Creative Nonfiction: up to 5K words

  • Please limit submissions to two per category until we’ve replied. If published by DIHP, please wait three months before submitting again.

  • Flash fiction is welcome and you may send 3-5 flash pieces (up to 5K words) in a single document.

  • Pitches: For periodic features or one-off interviews, reviews, etc., use the free Pitch Pockets category. Explain your idea, audience, intended frequency, and a sample column.

  • Artwork submissions are free. All images must be sized as 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels and submitted as a jpeg. Please use the Pitch Pockets submission category.

  • Formatting: We prefer standard formatting & Times new roman 12 pt font. We will do our best to retain poetry formatting within the limits of our online systems.

  • Submissions fees for literary works are $3 and are used for artist payments and administrative costs (Submittable, website, etc.). We hold fee-free periods for the last two weeks of each February and August, to ensure cost is not a barrier for any writer.

  • All rights remain with the author before, during, and after publication. We request non-exclusive permission to feature your work on our site, our social media channels, archives, and special projects (anthologies, collections, etc).

  • If published, we pay $10 per issue (including artwork). We understand this is nowhere near what writers/artists deserve, and we will raise rates as soon as we are able.

  • DIHP may provide content warnings when publishing pieces that touch on the following subject matter:

    • Sexual assault

    • Abuse/child abuse

    • Child loss

    • Abortion

    • Self harm/suicide

    • Excessive Violence

    • Eating disorders/body dysphoria

  • Looking for more specifics? Read our Duotrope self interview here. 

  • Submit here: https://doesithavepockets.submittable.com/submit

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