Submission Guidelines

We accept online submissions only. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged; it would be unfair of us to expect you not to make the most of your work by sending out to other venues. Please tell us when you are accepted elsewhere so we can celebrate with you. The Dirty Napkin accepts only unpublished work and acquires first North American Serial rights. All authors will be required to record their work, but the Dirty Napkin will take care of all the technical details. The process is easy, and will take place over a phone call. Please send manuscripts to the appropriate editor using this easy online form. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to reading your work.

Poetry Pleases

Please submit up to three poems at a time. We accept any length and style, though the shorter amount of time it takes to cripple us with your brilliance, the better. Please include a cover letter with something juicy and revealing about yourself.

Fiction Pleases

Please submit one story at a time, or up to three flash pieces. There is no maximum word length, though our editors tend to get tired after about 7500 words unless a story is really really good. In fact, we're tired a lot, so it's best to send us your most accomplished and surprising work; strong, honest writing wakes us up better than red bull and without any of the subsequent sugar crash.

Letter Pleases

Please submit any correspondence with which you are comfortable. We believe strongly that letter writing is a lost art and deserves to be revived. A letter to a loved one, from a loved one, to sons, daughters, parents, friends, jailbirds, hope, America, the President, your fourth grade teacher, the cute barista at the coffee shop, your ex-husband, . . . are all acceptable. In your cover letter, give us the letter's back story. If you send a letter that's been written to you or wish to send full correspondence between yourself and another, we must have permission from all authors involved before publication. Please include both parties' contact information.