Special feature:
For our first issue, we invite submissions of essays (written in English, passionately, in less than 1500 words) about a relatively unknown author writing in a language other than English that deserves more attention from the English-speaking world. All other requirements (listed below) apply.
Current deadline for submissions: 20 December 2010. However, give us a shout if you are thinking of submitting any of the following but need an extension: criticism, visual poetry, Special Feature essay, translation of nonfiction and of drama. If the work seems like a good fit for us, we will be happy to give you extra time for it.
We welcome submissions of poetry, fiction (short fiction or excerpts of longer works), drama as well as certain categories of nonfiction(memoir, despatch, and the occasional essay on literature or translation).
Language requirements
For poetry, fiction and drama, we consider only work translated into English. The exception is concrete/visual poetry, for which translation is often necessarily inadequate. We require instead a short write-up, in English, explaining the concrete/visual poem.
For criticism of published translations, as well as interviews given by notable translators about the art of translation, we accept submissions written in English (although we don't mind if an interview was conducted in a different language and then rendered into English).
For our special feature section, please see our current requirements (which vary from issue to issue) at the top of this page.
For all other nonfiction, submissions must be work translated into English.
Other requirements
Translations must not have been previously published, although the source text may have been.
Submissions in English (where permitted: see above) must not have been previously published.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but we ask in return that you notify us by email as soon as you learn of an acceptance elsewhere.
Submissions received after the deadline listed will be considered for the next scheduled issue instead.
What to send
Length guidelines
Poetry (including concrete/visual poetry): no more than 5 poems.
Fiction: no more than 5000 words.
Drama: A one-act play of any length (within reason) or an excerpt of no more than 12 pages from a longer work.
Literary Nonfiction: no more than 5000 words.
Criticism: no more than 1500 words.
Interviews: no more than 5000 words.
How to submit
All submissions should be sent via email, as Microsoft Word attachments(as .doc files please), to editors@asymptotejournal.com. For ease of reference, your email header should follow this format:
SUBMISSION (Genre)-Submitter Name
For example, "SUBMISSION (Fiction)-James Frey"
Other information
Rights to the work revert to the author and the translator after publication. If you do not wish to be considered(or for that matter, give up rights) for an annual print anthology, please state so in your submission.
Our finances do not permit us to pay contributors at this time. If and when we obtain funding that exceeds the costs of website maintenance and the production of the print anthology, we will immediately commit to paying our contributors in future.
If you require further clarification on any matter, please send us a query (with the word "QUERY" included in the header) at the email address listed above.