Please consider donating.
2022 was a bad year for literary journals. The operating expenses for The Whisky Blot are around $7200 per year. Please consider donating to help us continuing what we do (as a labor of love, and for free). Anything helps, but our goal is $3000. With this, not only can we keep publishing great poetry and fiction online, but expand into printing physical copies of our issues as well in 2023. Thank you in advance for your ongoing support!
Submit
Submissions now OPEN for feature in The Whisky Blot's Spring 2023 issue!
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Upcoming issue -
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We want to read your best writing...
We want to read and publish literature inspired by and that speaks to the human condition--all of the dark and all of the light. Say something to us about the struggle, both inner and outer. To learn more about our aesthetic, please read what we have published thus far before submitting your work.
- literary fiction
- southern-fried grit lit
- magical realism
- anything Hemingway related
- writing about nature
- your writing about writing
- writing about drinking
- haiku
- fiction and poetry that is inspired by nature
We want to read and publish literature inspired by and that speaks to the human condition--all of the dark and all of the light. Say something to us about the struggle, both inner and outer. To learn more about our aesthetic, please read what we have published thus far before submitting your work.
Guidelines
We accept quality short fiction, poetry, haiku, and some art. We want to read good writing that we can enjoy while sipping our favorite dram of whisky. If you can work a little whisky and/or one or more of our favorite authors into your writing, even better...
Before submitting your work for consideration, please read the works we have published thus far to get an idea of what we are looking for.
No reprints or previously published works please (this includes social media posts).
Acceptable genres:
We may be relatively new, but we expect and publish no less than good literature - so submit only your best. In return, you'll get the best from us as editors and publisher.
We also accept some art (see below Art section), book reviews, and interviews with writers.
*Unacceptable
* Violence, prejudice, racism, political rants, etc. can be useful plot constructs for conveying truths. That is okay. The goal here is not censorship--far from it. We simply don't tolerate propaganda or hate couched in "literary" guise. As for erotica, just not our cup of tea.
Poetry/haiku - Writers may submit up to 3 poems/haiku at a time for consideration. Traditional 5-7-5 haiku only. We no longer publish poetry with special lineation as this requires substantial effort to format from text to HTML and does not display well on mobile browsers. If you submit lineated poetry you are consenting to have the lineation removed by our editors if chosen for inclusion in the Journal. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. Poems may be pasted directly into the email body or submitted in a Word document. Please ensure that each poem is titled clearly. Please include a brief author bio. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Flash fiction - Writers may submit 1-2 works of flash fiction of up to 1000 words. Flash fiction may be pasted into the email body, or submitted in a Word document. Single-spaced, no indentation (double space between paragraphs), and please use a standard font. Ensure that each piece is titled clearly and inform us as to word count and genre for each submission. Please include a brief author bio. Additional submissions must be submitted separately. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Short fiction - Writers may submit 1 work of short fiction (up to 3500 words) per submission. Short fiction may be pasted into the email body, however, a Word document is preferred. Single-spaced, no indentation (double space between paragraphs), and please use a standard font. Ensure the piece is titled clearly and inform as to word count and genre. Please include a brief author bio. Additional submissions must be submitted separately. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Microfiction - Writers may submit up to 3 works of microfiction (50 word limit) at anytime for consideration for publication on a rolling basis on the Journal home page. Works may be titled or untitled. Submissions may be forwarded via email and pasted into email body. Please include a brief author bio. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com.
Art - We accept artistic drawings, paintings, and photography of old whisky/whiskey bottles, whisky in glasses, old bars, vinyl records, old jazz instruments, anything noir, etc. We prefer dark-themed visual art (e.g., black and white or grey tones). Presently, we do not generally pay for art submissions but are curating for an online visual gallery to highlight the work of emerging visual artists and will consider payment for exceptional pieces.
***Submission Formatting***
Email subject line should follow the following format to ensure received and read by the editor.
Subject line: Type of Submission/Title/Word Count/Author Name
E.g., Fiction/"The Big Blue Sky"/3500/Author's Name
Expedited Submission Payment
***Submissions are and always will be free, however, we do provide the option of an expedited (24-hour) response to submissions for a nominal fee ($5.00). We are not a vanity publisher and the fee is strictly for expedited reading and remains optional). We offer this option because we are writers ourselves and understand what it is like to have wait weeks to months to hear back on your work. Such submission fees also help us to "keep the lights on" as we do not presently charge for the journal or offer any paid services at this time. We try to keep it affordable (similar to paid postage for manuscript submissions) and, as well, the nominal fees will be used to help us achieve the goal of paying our writers. Moreover, we also take the time to tell you what we liked and disliked about the submissions--we take it personally.***
Expedited readings are highly recommended during open submission calls as The Whisky Blot can received over 200 submissions per day.
Before submitting your work for consideration, please read the works we have published thus far to get an idea of what we are looking for.
No reprints or previously published works please (this includes social media posts).
Acceptable genres:
- literary
- magical realism
- grit lit
- general fiction
- historical and narrative fiction
- experimental
- dark fiction (i.e., classic, literary horror)
- humorous
We may be relatively new, but we expect and publish no less than good literature - so submit only your best. In return, you'll get the best from us as editors and publisher.
We also accept some art (see below Art section), book reviews, and interviews with writers.
*Unacceptable
- erotica
- anything depicting violence against women or children
- racially/hate motivated narrative
- polemics (we don't publish fiction that resembles essay or opinion piece but we do publish all points of view equally as long as the cake is frosted with ample, good writing and it reads as fiction/poetry--think Hemingway's "iceberg principle."
* Violence, prejudice, racism, political rants, etc. can be useful plot constructs for conveying truths. That is okay. The goal here is not censorship--far from it. We simply don't tolerate propaganda or hate couched in "literary" guise. As for erotica, just not our cup of tea.
Poetry/haiku - Writers may submit up to 3 poems/haiku at a time for consideration. Traditional 5-7-5 haiku only. We no longer publish poetry with special lineation as this requires substantial effort to format from text to HTML and does not display well on mobile browsers. If you submit lineated poetry you are consenting to have the lineation removed by our editors if chosen for inclusion in the Journal. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. Poems may be pasted directly into the email body or submitted in a Word document. Please ensure that each poem is titled clearly. Please include a brief author bio. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Flash fiction - Writers may submit 1-2 works of flash fiction of up to 1000 words. Flash fiction may be pasted into the email body, or submitted in a Word document. Single-spaced, no indentation (double space between paragraphs), and please use a standard font. Ensure that each piece is titled clearly and inform us as to word count and genre for each submission. Please include a brief author bio. Additional submissions must be submitted separately. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Short fiction - Writers may submit 1 work of short fiction (up to 3500 words) per submission. Short fiction may be pasted into the email body, however, a Word document is preferred. Single-spaced, no indentation (double space between paragraphs), and please use a standard font. Ensure the piece is titled clearly and inform as to word count and genre. Please include a brief author bio. Additional submissions must be submitted separately. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below.
Microfiction - Writers may submit up to 3 works of microfiction (50 word limit) at anytime for consideration for publication on a rolling basis on the Journal home page. Works may be titled or untitled. Submissions may be forwarded via email and pasted into email body. Please include a brief author bio. If you would like to request an expedited reading and response (24 hours) the fee is $5.00 and may be submitted via PayPal below. Submit to whiskyblot@runbox.com.
Art - We accept artistic drawings, paintings, and photography of old whisky/whiskey bottles, whisky in glasses, old bars, vinyl records, old jazz instruments, anything noir, etc. We prefer dark-themed visual art (e.g., black and white or grey tones). Presently, we do not generally pay for art submissions but are curating for an online visual gallery to highlight the work of emerging visual artists and will consider payment for exceptional pieces.
***Submission Formatting***
Email subject line should follow the following format to ensure received and read by the editor.
Subject line: Type of Submission/Title/Word Count/Author Name
E.g., Fiction/"The Big Blue Sky"/3500/Author's Name
Expedited Submission Payment
***Submissions are and always will be free, however, we do provide the option of an expedited (24-hour) response to submissions for a nominal fee ($5.00). We are not a vanity publisher and the fee is strictly for expedited reading and remains optional). We offer this option because we are writers ourselves and understand what it is like to have wait weeks to months to hear back on your work. Such submission fees also help us to "keep the lights on" as we do not presently charge for the journal or offer any paid services at this time. We try to keep it affordable (similar to paid postage for manuscript submissions) and, as well, the nominal fees will be used to help us achieve the goal of paying our writers. Moreover, we also take the time to tell you what we liked and disliked about the submissions--we take it personally.***
Expedited readings are highly recommended during open submission calls as The Whisky Blot can received over 200 submissions per day.
Guaranteed response within 24 hours
Multiple, Simultaneous, Previously Published Submissions, Etc.
We do accept multiple submissions pending the requirements above have been met. We also accept simultaneous submissions provided we are notified IMMEDIATELY should your work be accepted elsewhere while we read. We do not publish previously published work (including social media posts).
If your work is accepted, please do not submit further work during the same call period. You may submit again for any new call for submissions.
*Once we send out an acceptance, please kindly respond within 72 hours. Otherwise, we reserve the right to withdraw our offer. Thank you.
If your work was not accepted, please wait 30 days before resubmitting.
Publisher and Author Rights
The Whisky Blot acquires exclusive one-time online/electronic and print rights to publish accepted work and to maintain digital and print archives. After initial publication, all rights revert to the author. If the work is published elsewhere in the future, The Whisky Blot only asks for first publication credit, e.g., "This work first appeared in The Whisky Blot."
The editors reserve the right to make edits as needed to any accepted piece, e.g., spacing or formatting issues, punctuation, spelling, etc. We will make the writer aware of such changes. Should any other edits be required, we will contact the writer for revision.
Acknowledgement
By submitting your work to The Whisky Blot, you are acknowledging the below:
1. By submitting to The Whisky Blot, you are asserting that your work is available to publish and has not been previously published elsewhere.
2. You affirm that your submission is your own creation and no part of the work is derived from public domain or other sources.
3. We do occasionally offer payment to our writers (profit sharing) on any work that is chosen for publication in a print volume of our journal and, as well, payment for exceptional work that we will listed in the "Editor's Choice" section of the journal. All such payment will be rendered via PayPal only.
4. You may withdraw your submission prior to acceptance at any time and we will remove any published work at the author's request. Simply contact us for either.
5. ***We do offer an expedited reading option for a nominal fee ($5). Payment DOES NOT guarantee acceptance or publication. What this does guarantee is that, for example, you submit your work when there is a queue of 100 other pieces in front of the editor, we will move expedited submissions to the top of the queue and respond within 24 hours. *Please note that this excludes Sundays and holidays.
Multiple, Simultaneous, Previously Published Submissions, Etc.
We do accept multiple submissions pending the requirements above have been met. We also accept simultaneous submissions provided we are notified IMMEDIATELY should your work be accepted elsewhere while we read. We do not publish previously published work (including social media posts).
If your work is accepted, please do not submit further work during the same call period. You may submit again for any new call for submissions.
*Once we send out an acceptance, please kindly respond within 72 hours. Otherwise, we reserve the right to withdraw our offer. Thank you.
If your work was not accepted, please wait 30 days before resubmitting.
Publisher and Author Rights
The Whisky Blot acquires exclusive one-time online/electronic and print rights to publish accepted work and to maintain digital and print archives. After initial publication, all rights revert to the author. If the work is published elsewhere in the future, The Whisky Blot only asks for first publication credit, e.g., "This work first appeared in The Whisky Blot."
The editors reserve the right to make edits as needed to any accepted piece, e.g., spacing or formatting issues, punctuation, spelling, etc. We will make the writer aware of such changes. Should any other edits be required, we will contact the writer for revision.
Acknowledgement
By submitting your work to The Whisky Blot, you are acknowledging the below:
1. By submitting to The Whisky Blot, you are asserting that your work is available to publish and has not been previously published elsewhere.
2. You affirm that your submission is your own creation and no part of the work is derived from public domain or other sources.
3. We do occasionally offer payment to our writers (profit sharing) on any work that is chosen for publication in a print volume of our journal and, as well, payment for exceptional work that we will listed in the "Editor's Choice" section of the journal. All such payment will be rendered via PayPal only.
4. You may withdraw your submission prior to acceptance at any time and we will remove any published work at the author's request. Simply contact us for either.
5. ***We do offer an expedited reading option for a nominal fee ($5). Payment DOES NOT guarantee acceptance or publication. What this does guarantee is that, for example, you submit your work when there is a queue of 100 other pieces in front of the editor, we will move expedited submissions to the top of the queue and respond within 24 hours. *Please note that this excludes Sundays and holidays.
Publication Schedule
- Daily-weekly on the Journal home page
- Quarterly in our formal digital issues
- Annually in our "Best Of" issue
We publish on a rolling basis. Often daily but at least weekly. We select the best of our submissions for immediate publication on the Journal home page and include many of those in our more formal, quarterly journal (digital online version shared with our subscribers).
Writers we like...
We want your work, not an imitation of someone else's. But this doesn't mean that we don't have certain literary tastes and it is only fair that we share these with you. We love all good literature but that is simply too vague to be helpful to our writers, so below, find some of the authors that move us the most.
Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Crane, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, Hunter S. Thompson, Truman Capote, Thomas McGuane, Jim Harrison, Cormac McCarthy, and Haruki Murakami, among many others.
Just tell us a great story with great writing. We want writing that we can read and enjoy while sipping on our favorite dram of whisky.
Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Crane, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, Hunter S. Thompson, Truman Capote, Thomas McGuane, Jim Harrison, Cormac McCarthy, and Haruki Murakami, among many others.
Just tell us a great story with great writing. We want writing that we can read and enjoy while sipping on our favorite dram of whisky.
