Submit

So To Speak considers unsolicited submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art for every issue. Sample copies of the most recent issue are available at $7 each; one-year subscriptions (2 issues) are $12. We strongly encourage all potential contributors to read an issue before submitting.  

Reading Periods

We read from August 1 through October 15 for the Winter/Spring issue & from January 1 through March 15 for the Summer/Fall issue. All dates are postmark dates. Submissions received outside of our reading periods are returned unread. We respond to all submissions in one to four months.

The Winter/Spring issue features our annual Poetry & Nonfiction contests. The Summer/Fall issue features our annual Fiction & Visual Art contests. For more information on how to enter our contests, please see the contest submission guidelines.

Submissions

We do not accept electronic submissions. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable as long as we are notified if a submission under current consideration is accepted elsewhere. Please include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) and a cover letter with your submission that provides:

1. Your name, address, phone number, and email address
2. How you heard about So to Speak
3. A bio, not to exceed 75 words, describing your background as a writer or artist and any of your awards or other publications.

Please send all poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions to:
So to Speak
ATTN: Poetry, Fiction, OR Nonfiction Editor
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MSN 2C5
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

Genre Guidelines

Poetry

• Please send up to 5 poems at a time, not exceeding 10 pages total.
• Poetry submitted during the August 1 – October 15 reading period will be considered for our Winter/Spring annual poetry contest & must be accompanied by a $15 reading fee. See contest guidelines. Contest entries will not be returned.
• Poetry submitted during the January 1 – March 15 reading period will be considered for our Summer/Fall issue & requires no reading fee.

Fiction

• Please submit one prose piece at a time, not exceeding 5,000 words.
• All fiction submissions should be double-spaced with numbered pages.
• Fiction submitted during the August 1 – October 15 reading period will be considered for our Winter/Spring Issue & requires no reading fee.
• Fiction submitted during the January 1 – March 15 reading period will be considered for our Summer/Fall annual fiction contest & must be accompanied by a $15 reading fee. See contest guidelines. Contest entries will not be returned

Nonfiction

• We welcome submissions of personal essays, memoir, profiles, and other nonfiction pieces not exceeding 4,000 words.
• All nonfiction submissions should be double-spaced with numbered pages.
• Nonfiction submitted during the August 1 – October 15 reading period will be considered for our Winter/Spring annual nonfiction contest & must be accompanied by a $15 reading fee. See contest guidelines. Contest entries will not be returned.
• Nonfiction submitted during the January 1 – March 15 reading period will be considered for our Summer/Fall Issue & requires no reading fee.

Visual Art

• We are open to any form of artwork. Past issues have included photography, sketches, paintings, digital media, and images of various installations and sculpture.
• There is no limit to the number of pieces submitted.
• Artwork should be sent electronically in one of three formats—tiff, jpeg, or pdf—to sts@gmu.edu. (Resolution or dpi?) The subject line should read “ATTN: Art Editor.”