GENERAL OVERVIEW Word Riot publishes the forceful voices of up-and-coming writers and poets. We like edgy. We like challenging. We like unique voices.
Word Riot first opened shop in March 2002 as the literary section of a now defunct on-line music magazine, Communication Breakdown. Each month we provide readers with book reviews, author interviews, and, most importantly, writing from some of the best and brightest making waves on the literary scene.
We accept submissions of experimental and literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Prose should be emailed to wr.submissions@gmail.com, submissions of poetry to poetry@wordriot.org, and creative non-fiction to wr.submissions@gmail.com with the piece submitted in the body of the email or, in the case of fictional prose, as a Microsoft Word document.
No snail mail please.
We reserve the right to edit works as we see fit.
With fiction and creative non-fiction, only send one submission at a time.
We don't mind simultaneous fiction and creative non-fiction submissions, just inform us if and when the piece has been accepted elsewhere.
WORD RIOT PRESS Pending a winning lottery ticket or a massive error in our bank account's favor, we don't have the manpower or ability to review unsolicited manuscripts at this time.
FLASH FICTION Flash fiction is a piece of fiction under 1000 words.
STORIES Short story submissions should be no less than 1000 words and no greater than 6500.
NOVULAR We will accept submissions of novel excerpts up to 6500 words in length. Please include a brief synopsis of your novel and a general overview of its theme. We will take into consideration the limitations imposed by submitting an excerpt best understood in the context of a novel.
Additionally, selections from longer works such as screenplays and novellas may be considered under this category.
STRETCHING FORMS The stretching form category includes experimental and unique writing that we feel exists beyond the usual categories of fiction, poetry, and essay. Submissions should be no longer than 6500 words in length.
NON-FICTION All submissions must have CREATIVE NON-FICTION SUBMISSION WORD RIOT in the subject line. We're interested in reading both full-length personal essays (1000 to 6500 words) and very short non-fiction pieces (650 words or less). Whatever the length or the subject matter, preference will be given to compelling stories strong in lyricism, wit, compassion, or daring. Please send your submission, along with a short bio, to wr.submissions@gmail.com.
POETRY All submissions must have POETRY SUBMISSION WORD RIOT in the subject line or they will not be opened. Please send no more than 6 poems in the body of your email to poetry@wordriot.org. Please do not send poetry as an attachment.
REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES If you are interested in contributing reviews, interviews, or articles to Word Riot, please contact Jackie Corley.
RIGHTS Word Riot will hold the First North American Electronic Serial Rights for the piece for the issue in which the piece is printed. At the end of the month, rights revert back to the author, though Word Riot reserves the rights to archive the piece. If the piece is chosen to appear in a later print edition, the author will be contacted for Word Riot to reserve First North American Print Serial Rights. Word Riot cannot offer payment for accepted submissions to the magazine.
