Submission Guidelines & Contact

The Centrifugal Eye

Submission Guidelines

                The reading period for the February 2010 issue is now open.

                                                                                                                                Deadline: January 1st, 2010.

Check here for the current and upcoming themes.
Artists' guidelines here.

Address submissions to editor: Eve Hanninen.

Submit 3 - 6 (single-spaced) unpublished* poems in the body of 1 email, and please make sure the word "Submission" is in the subject line. If there is special formatting for any of your poems, indicate that this is so in your email, and if the poems are selected for publication, you may be asked to resubmit poems of interest in Word, Wordperfect or Rich-text format attachments.  Otherwise please DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS of ANY KIND unless directed to do so, OR unless you QUERY FIRST.

Simultaneous submissions OK, ONLY if stated at time of submission AND you notify me immediately if the work has been accepted elsewhere.

Responses made in 3-7 weeks, typically, although occasionally it may be shorter or longer.

Poems on all subjects considered (but see the upcoming general themes column on this page for quarterly slants. Quality poems tucking into these ideas will have the highest success rates of acceptance). I look for strong imagery, metaphor and poems with a bias for introspection. This doesn't mean that all poems submitted should be written in 1st-person point-of-view, just that they be thoughtful and content-rich. I want to see fresh subjects, layered meanings, sophisticated themes, juicy language. Any POV welcome. Rhyming & formal poems must be especially polished and unforced — free verse has a better chance for acceptance, unless your traditional lyric forms show great maturity of craft.

You may include a short Bionote with submission, or upon notice of acceptance. If your work is accepted early in the publishing quarter, please follow-up later with additional credit updates if you wish to have them included by proof time.

There is no payment for publication at this time.

*The Centrifugal Eye acquires First Rights and Exclusive First Electronic World Serial Rights for all work published, unless otherwise negotiated. This means that all written works (including poems, essays, reviews) and artwork submitted to TCE have never been previously published (print or electronic; see below for exceptions). Please include first publication acknowledgments to The Centrifugal Eye in any subsequent publications.

It is considered polite and professional to wait until after the current issue passes before submitting reprints to other online publications – when submitting your work to The Centrifugal Eye, be aware that you are agreeing to grant TCE exclusive electronic rights† for that work, should it be accepted, for a period of 90 days, as well as a non-exclusive right to maintain a copy of published work in TCE's journal archives, indefinitely (However, permanent archival cannot be guaranteed‡).

Many print journals that look to acquire 2nd or 3rd Reprint Rights also appreciate a 90-day cooling period after initial publication. You should still credit The Centrifugal Eye for first publication even if the 2nd reprint is making it into a print journal for the first time; the same publication rights apply in either format.   As of May 2009, TCE issues (including select back issues) will also appear in print format.

†By agreeing to allow "Exclusive First Electronic Rights", you give permission to The Centrifugal Eye for the exclusive appearance of negotiated work as stated above, and you agree to refrain from republishing same work accepted by TCE elsewhere online while the issue featuring your work is current. Be aware that to "publish/republish" includes any public display (including your personal website) of your work, except for poetry critique workshops that are private forums (require log-in membership to view).

If you have had work published previously in print journals (not electronic) which you feel might meet current or upcoming themed issues, Please Query me for possible special consideration, but do not send previously published material without asking.

‡If your writing or art is published in The Centrifugal Eye, make sure you save your pdf proofs and print out a copy of your page(s).  Or download the entire issue your work appears in from the Issuu Viewer, if you register on issuu.com (see the "New Issue" link on the TCE navigation bar for more information).

Depending upon future webspace limitations, not all works will remain archived. Some of them may be collected in a new publishing format, or included in an anniversary anthology. Assure permanence by printing out your own copies.

Curious as to what sort of voices or styles we're looking for?

Think Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Pablo Neruda, Ruth Stone, John Steffler, Laurie Lee, Cheryl Savageau, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Floyd Skloot, Sharon Olds, Camille Norton, Jared Carter...

But we're also open to your voice. Let us hear it.

Please note there are 2 different email addresses being used.

These help sort the many letters from submissions, and also use different technologies for coding. Please try to use the correct email for your purpose; however, you will not be penalized should you err.

Click these addresses to send mail:

For Poem & Manuscript Submissions:

(if above link does not work, copy and paste this address: centrifugaleye@earthlink.net)

For Queries & Correspondence:

(if above link does not work, copy and paste this address: centrifugaleye@gmail.com)

Tips for greater success at acceptance:

Follow the Guidelines carefully.
(If you have not read the Guidelines, or disagree with TCE's editorial and publication policies, do not complain or harass the editors when your submission is rejected for non-compliance. Better yet, do not submit to TCE if you don't agree with our policies.)

Very short and very long poems must be sublime.

Be consistent with punctuation; use it well, or don't use it all.

Expand your vocabulary. There's an average of 150,000 words in many standard dictionaries, yet the same 25 words show up repeatedly in nearly every 2 out of 3 poems editors receive. "It's been done already, alright?!"

Where possible, "Show, don't tell".

View editor involvement as a sign of appreciation.

Send in your best work, and be willing to negotiate minor changes or revisions, if asked.

Market yourself like a businessperson: Remain polite at all times, sell your strengths, accept both advice and rejection gracefully.

Read books on how to prepare manuscripts and poetry pages for submission - just because this is an electronic publication, doesn't mean all standard publishing practices go out the window with technology!

Whatever else makes the editor happy.

***

If you want to produce an unhappy editor:

Don't read the submissions directions, do send previously published materials without remarking upon their appearances, allow for duplicate publications in other magazines without prior agreement, neglect to answer all of the editor's questions, and believe that you (and only you) are perfect.

Visual artists:
Looking for original photos and artwork. Or please inquire if you'd like to collaborate with the editor to produce specifically-targeted illustrations. Otherwise, insert art files into email, if possible. Preface any necessary attachments with the title "CE Artwork" in the email's subject line. There is no payment for artwork at this time, but you'll receive credits and great exposure to a large readership.

Accepting submissions
after October 31st:
Volume V, Issue I.
Winter, February 2010 -

Seeking essay submissions:

First-person essays about aspects of your "Writing Life" wanted -- 500-2,500 words on such topics as: how writing relates to your job, when you were first published, your writing habits, what inspires you, or who encouraged you to write, etc. Keep it brief, but interesting, by choosing a specific slant on this broad subject. Be personal. Humorous or serious narrative equally acceptable. Essays which dovetail with current themes being sought are not only highly desirable, they are also practically mandatory for acceptance.
No payment. Acquires First N. American Serial Rights.

We are also looking for reviews of new and modern poetry collections, and single poems published within the last 6 months - 5 years, as well as reviews of single, classic poems (published more than 25 years ago).

Tell us what you think. Personable, conversational styles most welcome; academic studies also acceptable. The reviews may quote from author works, although entire poems will not be republished (Fair Use only). Collections must be previously published. Unpublished poetry collections will be rejected.

Word count for collection reviews: 500 to 1,500 average. Word count for single poem reviews: 500-or-less, preferable. Exceptions may be made.
Include short Bionote with submission (subject to editing).
No payment. First Serial Rights.