FAQ
Frequently asked (and sometimes unasked) questions:
Why the name Em Dash?
Hmm, good question. The best answer can be found on our About page, where we explain where the name came from and what it means to us.
What do you accept?
Another good question. Refer to our Submission Guidelines for this information. But just to recap, we accept poetry, fiction (including flash fiction), non-fiction, photography, and artwork (digital and print). Again, for specific information, please see our guidelines.
How do I submit?
Another one that can be answered from our Submission Guidelines page.
When do you accept submissions?
We are a quarterly lit mag. We publish in the fall (Oct/Nov), winter (Jan/Feb), spring (April/May), and summer (July/Aug). Because we just launched, our reading dates have yet to be determined (but will be announced via a blog post). Actual publication dates may vary and are subject to change at any time, without notice.
Are you a paying market?
No, at the moment we aren’t. Maybe sometime in the future we might be, but we are strictly in it for the pleasure and hope that you are, too.
Can I advertise on your site?
We would love to have some sponsors, but we’d like it to be tasteful and relevant. You can check our Contact page on how to reach us and request some information about this.
Do you offer print versions of the magazine?
Not yet, but we’d like to. At the moment, we’re just getting started, so everything is up for discussion. If we see enough interest in print copies, we will definitely consider it.
Do writers/artists retain their rights?
Yes, you retain all rights. We seek only non-exclusive rights to initially publish your work and to retain it in our archives indefinitely.
If my piece is rejected, can I submit something else during the same reading period?
We would prefer you wait until the next reading period to submit something else.
What if my submission has nudity/cursing/graphic content?
We are writers and artists ourselves, and we understand that not everything we create is packaged in PG-13 wrapping paper. (If it were, the Venus de Milo and Michaelangelo’s David would very likely not exist!). And while we understand this, we must protect ourselves and our readers. With that in mind, we can only say that our decision towards graphic content will be on a per submission basis and depend on how tasteful and relevant it is. Some pieces simply do not work well with euphemisms, but gratuitous nudity, vulgarity, and obscenities will more than likely be rejected.
Do you accept previously published work?
We would ultimately like to have something you’ve created that is just for us. However, if we are truly wowed by something, its previous home will matter not. Furthermore, we do not consider things that are posted on blogs as “previously published.”
Can I resubmit a piece during another reading period that you previously rejected?
Yes, you may, as long as you let us know that it was previously submitted and rejected.
If you reject my submission, will you tell me why?
We will not. However, if you are truly curious, you can send us an email requesting feedback and we will try to reply and let you know why we didn’t accept your submission.
For any other questions, you can leave a comment below and we will try to answer them. You can also check our Contact page.
