Call For Submissions

SOL: English Writing in Mexico is a  twice-yearly on-line literary magazine that accepts fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Nonfiction categories are personal essays, literary nonfiction, memoir.  Fiction may be short story or book excerpt. We will accept excerpts from novels or nonfiction books that have been recently published or are about to be published. Please clearly identify the genre of  your submission on the subject line of your email and on the manuscript itself.

We ask for one-time rights in the electronic form. It is our intention to publish a hard copy anthology from time to time. However, publication of any work in the electronic edition does not guarantee  a hard copy edition will be published, or that a specific piece published in the e-format will be published in hard copy.  We will assume one-time rights for the hard copy anthology, should you grant one-time rights for the electronic edition. After electronic publication, however, rights  for hard copy may be rescinded at any time.  Any and all problems associated with subsequent e-publications shall be the sole responsibility of the author and the author expressly waives any and all claims for any such damages against  SOL: English Writing in Mexico.

Word count is generally up to 2,500 words. Exceptions may be made for  longer pieces. We accept subject matter under the following categories: 1. Writing in English by people living full or part-time in Mexico; 2. Writing in English about Mexico; 3. Writing not fitting the two previous categories, but which we like.

We publish work from established writers as well as new writers. In all cases, however, material submitted must be polish-edited. We may suggest small editing changes on a particular piece: However, we only consider work that is written to a professional standard, whether from established or new writers. Be sure your manuscript looks the way you want it to look before you send it. If we accept it, we like it the way it is. Although we will consider minor changes (a word or two) at the time you proof it just prior to publication, we will not take major revisions at that time.

Publication dates are mid-March and mid-October of each year. The current issue stays on-line until the new one is published. However, all issues are available from the table of contents of the current issue.

Profits from SOL: English Writing in Mexico go to the San Miguel de Allende chapter of  International PEN scholarship programs. This may be changed by the publisher at his or her discretion at any time.  Thus, we do not pay in cash, but rather in cache. Writers will receive two copies of any hard copy anthology published under the name of SOL: English Writing in Mexico which contains their writing.

SUBMISSION STYLE GUIDE:

1. Manuscripts for our consideration should be submitted as Word attachments.

2. Submissions should be  single spaced  with 12pt Times Roman font only, without embellishments of all caps, etc. in the body of the piece. If the stylist integrity of your piece requires this approach, please inform us.

3. Genre (poetry, fiction or nonfiction)  and word count must be included at the top right side of the page, along with  writer’s name, telephone number and email address. If the manuscript has been printed elsewhere, please inform us when and where. Manuscripts must conform with U.S. standard spelling. Do not include headers or footers on the manuscript.

4. Do not use two spaces after sentence ends: Use only one space.

5. When using dashes, use the long dash (em-dash) form (or two hyphens) rather than space-hyphen-space, or simply a  hyphen. There should be no space between the words before and after the long dash. Example: “He went to the store–it was something he hated.” If your word program automatically converts the two-hyphen form into one long dash, this is acceptable.

6. Foreign words should be submitted with all necessary diacritic marks included  in the manuscript. Do not expect us to do this for you. Foreign words, unless they are words in common use in the United States–like enchilada, taco, rodeo, etc.–are italicized. Proper names are not.

7. Use italics for titles of books; quotation marks for titles of articles or smaller works.

8. Use double italics, except for quotes or citations inside of an italicized phrase.

9. Use colons for a series of things, or when the phrase following the colon modifies or mitigates the preceding phrase. Example: “He wanted to go home: It had become an obsession for him.” If the phrase following a colon is a complete sentence, capitalize it. If it is a dependent phrase, such as, “He wanted to go home: an obsession.” the phrase is not capitalized. Colons are often interchangeable with dashes or a period and a new sentence.

10. Do not use semi-colons where colons should be used. Semi-colons can separate long passages that have interior commas. Example: “He bought butter, eggs, milk, and cheese; forks, knives, and spoons; a tablecloth and a vase. Semi-colons are also used when the semi-colon could be substituted with “,and.” Example: “He wanted to go to the store; he wanted to swim in the quarry.”

We will send manuscripts back for correction when guidelines are not followed.

Poetry submissions: sollitpoetry@gmail.com
Prose submissions: solliterarymagazine@gmail.com

We do not require first rights.

Manuscripts to be considered for the March issue must be submitted by January 1;  October issue manuscripts must be submitted by August 1.  Please include a brief writer’s bio with your submitted piece.

Our pledge to our writers is to strive for the greatest possible coverage in places where good writing should be seen.