CRWROPPS Post: Slippery Elm submissions close Feb. 1!

Dear Writer,

There are only a few days remaining to enter work for Slippery Elm's 2021 print issue contests (Feb. 1 deadline).  We're getting an excellent crop of submissions already and we're looking forward to our best issue ever, and we hope you'll want to be a part of it! 

Prizes of $1000 will be awarded for poetry and prose, and all entries will be considered for publication.  Conor Bracken will judge in poetry, and Gina Willner-Pardo will judge in prose.  Submit up to three poems or 5,000 words of prose via Submittable by February 1.  It's only $15 to enter the contest, and all entrants will receive a copy of our 2020 issue.  Visit our website for past issues and online-exclusive content, and see our Submittable page for complete submission guidelines.

General (non-contest) submissions remain free, but we're getting more of those than ever before and will soon surpass our monthly Submittable limit; free non-contest submissions will be available again all day on Saturday, February 1^st, when our stats refresh with the new month.

We hope you'll consider supporting our mission with a contest entry, though!  We're a completely non-profit outfit, and these endeavors are a large part of what keeps the lights on in our metaphorical offices, the website up, and new issues coming out every year.  If you can be further persuaded, take a look at our list of Top Ten Reasons to Submit to Slippery Elm, linked here or below.

We will also be hosting a Virtual Book Table in Zoom this Sunday, 2-4pm Eastern.  All are welcome to drop in with submission questions, or just to say Hi!

And if you'd rather not receive these occasional e-mails, just reply and let us know.  An "unsubscribe" in the subject or message body works.

Sincerely,

the Slippery Elm staff

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Reasons to submit to Slippery Elm by Feb. 1!

https://slipperyelm.submittable.com/submit

1. We do a slick, quality print publication.  Print still has prestige, and our issue is great to hold in your hands.
2. Be read!  Every issue receives a print run of 500-700 copies and an initial mailing in the hundreds, so you know your work will show up in someone else's hands, too.
3. You can live online forever!  Print's great, but for accessibility, online rules, and we archive all back issues on our website, with a convenient link you can share and post to your own sites.
4. We promote our authors: in local readings, throwback posts on social media, our Slippery Elm bookshelf for new books and publications, and events at conferences like AWP.
5. Does every journal you publish in send you galleys for approval before press time?  We copy-edit carefully, and work with every author on exactly how each piece will look, before the issue goes to press.
6. Our issues feature widely-published, well-established writers alongside emerging talents.  Be in good company in every issue!
7. For some recent contest winners, the winning piece has been their first publication!  It could happen to you.
8. We announce and publicize a deep list of finalists.  Even if you don't win, finalist status is something to be proud of, and makes a great literary resume item.
9. Every contest entrant gets a copy of the print issue, cover priced at $10.  We know, there are ambivalent feelings about contests, and we feel that every entrant should get something tangible back beyond just a shot at the prize.  We hope the issue we'll send you no matter what is worth your consideration.
10. If you still don't love contests, that's fine–we do not and have never charged a reading fee, for "general" submissions.  As a purely nonprofit literary operation, though, your contest entry is what keeps the lights on, the site up, and the print issue happening.  If you like what we do, we appreciate your support!