bending spoons 'zine

bending spoons: a literary collection

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must be received as the body of an email, single-spaced within paragraphs and double-spaced between to avoid formatting errors.

We accept works of fiction and episodes/installments of serial fiction.

Fiction submissions should be 7,000 words or fewer. We are not going to plug your submission into a word processor and count the words, then reject you for 7,001 words, just keep it within the ten-fifteen page limit. Flash fiction is also welcomed and encouraged.

Serial fiction installments are allowed up to 10,000 words to avoid unnecessary plot breaks, however we do prefer that all installments be submitted two at a time. This helps us with two things. First, we know there is a part two (you know if we have to mention it, it has happened) and second we know that the "speculative" aspect of your story may not present itself until the second or third installment. If it is later in the story, please send a query.

Queries are ONLY needed in the above situation. Queries sent regarding short fiction will be ignored so you are really just wasting your time and ours.

Please send all submissions to the following address: bendingspoons@hotmail.com

bending spoons is an online literary 'zine devoted to showcasing works of speculative fiction. Started in the Spring of 2004, bending spoons and Spoonbender Press have recently released to the public the first annual anthology of work that has been published since the 'zine's conception. Currently, the anthology is only available through Lulu.com but will soon be available through many other avenues, including but not limited to Amazon.com. Basically, at this point, we are at the mercy of the government, so who knows how long that will take - six weeks seems to be the ballpark figure from the outfield. We will keep you posted as this develops.

The Legal Stuff

Submissions to bending spoons are accepted on the assumption that you are the owner and creator and that you are authorized to publish the work you are submitting to us. bending spoons requests First North American Serial Rights, which basically just means that the piece(s) you have chosen to submit has not been published in any other magazine, newspaper or other serial publication on the continent of North America (this includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands). Also, in submitting to our publication, you agree to allow any accepted piece to be included in our annual anthology.

The only requirement for inclusion in the anthology is that your work be accepted for one of the previous six issues. Purchase is required for anyone who would like a copy as, let's face it, we are a small publication, working for our own prestige and funding everything from our own moth-eaten pockets. While we would love to provide free copies to our first grade teachers, mail carrier, the butcher at the local supermarket, as well as all of the contributors, we simply cannot afford such a luxury. Purchase, however, is not required for inclusion.