Guidelines
Submissions are currently closed until October 2012!
Submission are now closed and will not re-open until October 1st 2012. Normally I read from October through April of every year but due to the heavy backlog I currently have I will not resume reading until October 2012. I currently have material for issues through 2013. Please do not submit at this time, submissions will not be read. You are welcome to submit as soon as reading resumes, in the meantime get to know more about The Stray Branch by checking out the current or a past issue of magazine. Thank you.
Submission Guidelines
Poetry
The Stray Branch is open to form & style, however free verse is preferred. Shorter poems have a better chance of being published. Looking for edgy, darker material written from the gut reflecting the heart & human condition known as existence. Topics include, depression, mental illness, loss, sorrow, addiction, recovery, abuse, survival, daily existence, self struggles & discovery through words. Personal, confessional poems are welcomed & embraced here. Rhyming poems are okay. Does not want over-schooled, arrogant, self rigteous, religious, political, sentimental, or happy & light pretty poetry. No erotic or sexually explicit poetry. The Stray Branch does not accept work from children or teens or work written for children or teens.
Submit up to 6 poems within the body of the email or as attatchments.
No simultaneous submissions. Previously published works are okay.
Fiction
As with poetry, no political, relgious, erotic or sexually explicit pieces. No stories written for children please. Would like to see dark humor, anything edgy, unique, suspense & definitely anything on the paranormal & after life are welcome. Please keep stories no longer than 2 1/2 pages. Shorter pieces of fiction stand a better chance of being published. Please send no more than 2 pieces of fiction per submission. All fiction must be sent as attachments. No simultaneous submissions. Previously published fiction is okay. The Stray Branch also publishes Flash Fiction.
Art & Photography
Submissions must be in black & only. Looking for dark, haunting, edgy, unigue work that fits the theme of the publication. Nothing cute or boring. All art & photos must be sent as JPEG or Gif attatchments.
Payment & Rights
Payment
The Stray Branch currently does not offer payment for accepted works and after the production of issue #4 will no longer offer free print copies to its contributors due to cost. However, they will still receive a pdf file version of the issue they appear in and will be able to purchase copies at a discounted rate.
Rights
The Stray Branch requires one time rights, the right to publish, this includes publication on the website as well as print. Contributors retain all copyrights to their work.
Reading times for The Stray Branch are from October through April. Response time, up to three weeks.
Submit (Email submissions only)
Send all submissions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with name, email, brief bio at the top of the page before your work. Poetry can be sent within the body of the email, all story, artwork and photography submissions please send as attachments. A small black and white bio photo (optional) can be sent as a jpg attachment. Bio photos will appear in print and on the website along with published work. Cover letters are not required.
Please do not send more than 2 submissions per a six month reading period.
Thank you.