What is paperplates? What will paperplates publish?
How do I submit my work to paperplates?
What is paperplates? Available for downloading directly from www.paperplates.org, paperplates is a literary quarterly published in Toronto.
Who writes for paperplates? We make no distinction between veterans and beginners. Some of our contributors have published several books; some have never before published a single line.
What will paperplates publish? Like most magazines, paperplates has a front, a middle, and a back section.In the front section ("homeplate") we put short personal essays, memoirs, and travel accounts. The tone expected is that of an informal letter, although the subject itself need not be light. The average length is 2,500 words.
In the middle section we put short stories, one-act plays, musical scores, poems short and long, extended travel pieces, formal essays, interviews, and reminiscences. (These categories are not exclusive.) The maximum length for the prose works is 7,500 words, for the poems 1,500 words (give or take a few couplets). We prefer not to serialize, particularly when the subsequent parts have yet to be written.
In the back section we put reviews of theatre, films, and books. The average length is 2,500 words. We have some fine regular reviewers, but noone holds tenure here. We welcome opinionated writing.
We also welcome photos and drawings for display throughout the magazine. We would like to publish one or two cartoons in each issue.
How do I submit my work to paperplates? On paper, preferably, with a stamped* self-addressed envelope (if you want the submission returned). Once we accept your submission, we'll ask you, if you're a computer user, to save your document in a text-only version and send it to us on a diskette (minimal formatting, spaces rather than tabs, no double-spacing). Our style guide gives information on spelling and so forth.*Canadian postage only, please. Otherwise, include an International Reply Coupon.
Or, if you must, by e-mail to magazine@paperplates.org. (If you're attaching your submission – see below – describe in your message the contents and the format of the attachment and give your mailing address and telephone number.)
NEW: Do not send fiction as an e-mail attachment. Copy the first 300 words or so into the body of your message. If we like what we read, we'll ask for the rest. If you prefer not to send a fragment, you have the option of using surface mail. Please send no more than five poems or one prose piece per submission.
Who has copyright to my work? You do. We receive permission from you to publish your work this once in this issue, which itself is copyright paperplates. You are granting us "first serial rights". All further rights belong to you -- you may publish the same work afterwards elsewhere.We no longer accept previously published work.
The work you submit should not have already been optioned by another publisher. We will accept simultaneous submissions but only if they are clearly marked as such.
If you have other questions, write to us.Send all correspondence to magazine@paperplates.org or
paperplates, 19 Kenwood Ave, Toronto, Ontario M6C 2R8.Bernard Kelly
publisher
