Submission Status: CLOSED
Our next submission period opens February 1.
Our next submission period opens February 1.
**Submission Guidelines last updated December 18th, 2025
Please note that submissions that do not follow guidelines may be discarded, or rejected without review.
Quick submission checklist:
DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Paste your submissions directly in the email body.
INCLUDE WORD COUNTS, unless you're submitting haiku or very short poetry.
INCLUDE A BRIEF BIO, no more than 40 words.
We don’t require a cover letter, but a quick hello is always nice, and we’d love to know where you found out about us. Writers who haven’t yet been published, or who have very few publication credits, are also welcome to note that in their cover note if they’d appreciate brief feedback. While we can’t guarantee a response for every piece, we’d be happy to share notes when time permits.
Publication Schedule
We publish three times a year: January 15th, May 15th, and September 15th.
Submission Periods (updated)
Submissions sent outside these windows will not be reviewed until the next reading period opens. We recommend submitting only during the appropriate timeframe.
Previously Published material
We only consider work that hasn’t been previously published in a curated publication—whether in print or online. However, pieces shared on personal blogs or social media are absolutely fine.
Simultaneous Submissions
Allowed. Please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
AI-Generated Work **NEW
We consider only work that is primarily written by humans. Minor use of AI tools for editing or polishing is fine—but the story/poem itself should be yours.
Submission & Word Count Limits
How Often to Submit
Please limit submissions to once per calendar month during open rounds (meaning a writer may submit up to twice per submission period*). Each submission may include a mix of poetry or a mix of fiction—but not both.
*If your work is accepted, we ask that you wait until the next submission period before submitting again.
Poetry Submission Note
At THN, we’re drawn to poetry that hums beneath the surface, that is imagistic and subtle in voice. We love pieces that make us pause, that offer space for introspection—and that make us feel something.
Haiku Note
We tend to shy away from haiku that strictly adhere to the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure. Instead, we encourage submissions that embrace the essence of haiku in a more flexible form. For inspiration and guidance, we recommend checking out Jane Reichhold’s Bare Bones School of Haiku. This resource provides valuable insights into contemporary haiku practices and can help you craft poems that capture the spirit of the form in a nuanced way.
Author Bio
Please include a third-person bio (max 40 words), and feel free to add a website or social link. If you’d rather not include a bio, a quick note is appreciated—just so we know it wasn’t an oversight.
Format
Paste your work into the email body in a plain, readable font. Do not send attachments. Include your name/byline, title(s). Word counts should also be included, except for haiku and very short poetry.
Note: Submissions should follow simple formatting. Due to platform limitations, creative shape poems or unusual layouts may not display correctly; minor vertical or horizontal spacing is fine.
Age Requirement
Writers must be at least 16 years old to submit.
Genres
We welcome work in most genres. However, a note about horror: we’re drawn to stories that are eerie, unsettling, or atmospheric—quietly chilling rather than graphic or gory.
We avoid:
How to Submit
Send your submission to: [email protected]. Use “SUBMISSION” in the subject line, followed by the category (e.g., Poetry, Fiction, Drabbles, or Dribbles).
Response Time
We aim to respond within one month. If you haven't heard from us after 6 weeks, feel free to check in. We value your patience!
Editing Policy **NEW
We approach each piece with care. Minor corrections—such as typos, spelling, or grammar—may be made to polish the text. Dialogue quotes are standardized for journal consistency, following North American punctuation. No further edits will be made without your approval.
Rights
If your work is accepted, you grant The Hoolet’s Nook **first electronic rights to publish your work on our website. All rights revert to you after publication. We retain non-exclusive rights to archive your work on our site and share excerpts in promotions or potential PDF collections. If your work is reprinted elsewhere, please credit The Hoolet’s Nook.
**We define first electronic rights to mean the right to publish your work on our website before it appears in any other edited or curated online or digital publication.
Payment
We’re unable to offer payment at this time but hope to introduce cash prizes or honorariums in the future.
Data Privacy **NEW
By submitting, you agree that your personal information will be used solely for the purposes of reviewing your work and communicating with you. We do not, and will never, share personal data with third parties.
Questions? Email us at [email protected] or use our contact form. You can also follow us on Instagram and Bluesky .
Please note that submissions that do not follow guidelines may be discarded, or rejected without review.
Quick submission checklist:
DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Paste your submissions directly in the email body.
INCLUDE WORD COUNTS, unless you're submitting haiku or very short poetry.
INCLUDE A BRIEF BIO, no more than 40 words.
We don’t require a cover letter, but a quick hello is always nice, and we’d love to know where you found out about us. Writers who haven’t yet been published, or who have very few publication credits, are also welcome to note that in their cover note if they’d appreciate brief feedback. While we can’t guarantee a response for every piece, we’d be happy to share notes when time permits.
Publication Schedule
We publish three times a year: January 15th, May 15th, and September 15th.
Submission Periods (updated)
- June 1 – July 15
- October 1 – November 15
- February 1 – March 15
Submissions sent outside these windows will not be reviewed until the next reading period opens. We recommend submitting only during the appropriate timeframe.
Previously Published material
We only consider work that hasn’t been previously published in a curated publication—whether in print or online. However, pieces shared on personal blogs or social media are absolutely fine.
Simultaneous Submissions
Allowed. Please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
AI-Generated Work **NEW
We consider only work that is primarily written by humans. Minor use of AI tools for editing or polishing is fine—but the story/poem itself should be yours.
Submission & Word Count Limits
- Microfiction (101–300 words): up to 2 pieces
- Nanofiction (up to 100 words; includes drabbles and dribbles): up to 3 pieces
- Poems (up to 100 words): up to 3 pieces
- Micro poems & haiku (20 words or fewer): up to 10 pieces
How Often to Submit
Please limit submissions to once per calendar month during open rounds (meaning a writer may submit up to twice per submission period*). Each submission may include a mix of poetry or a mix of fiction—but not both.
*If your work is accepted, we ask that you wait until the next submission period before submitting again.
Poetry Submission Note
At THN, we’re drawn to poetry that hums beneath the surface, that is imagistic and subtle in voice. We love pieces that make us pause, that offer space for introspection—and that make us feel something.
Haiku Note
We tend to shy away from haiku that strictly adhere to the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure. Instead, we encourage submissions that embrace the essence of haiku in a more flexible form. For inspiration and guidance, we recommend checking out Jane Reichhold’s Bare Bones School of Haiku. This resource provides valuable insights into contemporary haiku practices and can help you craft poems that capture the spirit of the form in a nuanced way.
Author Bio
Please include a third-person bio (max 40 words), and feel free to add a website or social link. If you’d rather not include a bio, a quick note is appreciated—just so we know it wasn’t an oversight.
Format
Paste your work into the email body in a plain, readable font. Do not send attachments. Include your name/byline, title(s). Word counts should also be included, except for haiku and very short poetry.
Note: Submissions should follow simple formatting. Due to platform limitations, creative shape poems or unusual layouts may not display correctly; minor vertical or horizontal spacing is fine.
Age Requirement
Writers must be at least 16 years old to submit.
Genres
We welcome work in most genres. However, a note about horror: we’re drawn to stories that are eerie, unsettling, or atmospheric—quietly chilling rather than graphic or gory.
We avoid:
- Overtly religious themes
- Profanity
- Explicit or crude content
- Graphic violence
- Hate speech or discrimination of any kind
- Content involving self-harm
How to Submit
Send your submission to: [email protected]. Use “SUBMISSION” in the subject line, followed by the category (e.g., Poetry, Fiction, Drabbles, or Dribbles).
Response Time
We aim to respond within one month. If you haven't heard from us after 6 weeks, feel free to check in. We value your patience!
Editing Policy **NEW
We approach each piece with care. Minor corrections—such as typos, spelling, or grammar—may be made to polish the text. Dialogue quotes are standardized for journal consistency, following North American punctuation. No further edits will be made without your approval.
Rights
If your work is accepted, you grant The Hoolet’s Nook **first electronic rights to publish your work on our website. All rights revert to you after publication. We retain non-exclusive rights to archive your work on our site and share excerpts in promotions or potential PDF collections. If your work is reprinted elsewhere, please credit The Hoolet’s Nook.
**We define first electronic rights to mean the right to publish your work on our website before it appears in any other edited or curated online or digital publication.
Payment
We’re unable to offer payment at this time but hope to introduce cash prizes or honorariums in the future.
Data Privacy **NEW
By submitting, you agree that your personal information will be used solely for the purposes of reviewing your work and communicating with you. We do not, and will never, share personal data with third parties.
Questions? Email us at [email protected] or use our contact form. You can also follow us on Instagram and Bluesky .
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