SPRING 2024 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Every year, RiverCraft publishes a collection of exceptional literary fiction, poetry, photography, and visual art crafted by Susquehanna University students. When our magazine first began in 1964, it went by a different name: Focus. Borrowing this name for our upcoming issue’s theme, RiverCraft hopes to unearth Susquehanna’s literary roots and sow new seeds beside them. We encourage contributors to submit their best work, interpreting the idea of “focus” imaginatively, radically, and broadly.

Getting work published can be rewarding for all students, regardless of major. A publication can bolster your resume, circulate your name, and offer you practical experience in preparing your work for a mass audience. Even more, being featured in a magazine can help build confidence in your creative expression and remind you to celebrate your art. With the permission of our contributors, works accepted for our print publication will also be published here on our website to further increase the reach of your piece.

As part of our commitment to uphold social and aesthetic diversity, submissions will be reviewed blindly. No work will be rejected based on subject matter alone, apart from any threatening or hateful expressions of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or antisemitism.

The deadline for both reading board applications and submissions is November 30th at 11:59 PM, and there will be no extension. If you have any questions, contact our staff (rivercraft@susqu.edu). We will be in touch with reading board decisions come December, and we’ll be in touch with fiction, poetry, and art decisions come February.

There is no limit on how many submissions you may send, and you’re welcome to submit to multiple categories. You are also still welcome to serve on a reading board if you’ve submitted work. We accept work from enrolled Susquehanna University students.

You can find the guidelines for each submission category below. Send all submissions, applications, and questions as separate messages to rivercraft@susqu.edu.

Literary Fiction Guidelines:

RiverCraft specializes in publishing literary fiction. Our staff looks for character-driven and thematic work with a deeper meaning and a strong sense of craft. We’re especially excited by inventive uses of perspective and symbolism. We accept short stories, flash fiction works, and novel excerpts that can stand on their own. We also accept graphic works such as comics, political cartoons, and illustrated fiction pieces. We have no set minimum word count, but we do have a maximum of 8,000 words. Please send multiple submissions as separate attachments and include a cover page with your name and email address. Each attachment should be sent as a Microsoft Word file. Submissions should be paginated, double-spaced, and in 12-point Times New Roman. Graphic works should be attached as JPEG or PDF files in the highest possible resolution and cannot have your name or any other identifying information visible on the file. Put FICTION SUBMISSION in the subject line of your email.

Poetry Guidelines:

We accept poetry or any form or style. We also accept illustrated poetry. Please send multiple submissions in the same Microsoft Word document attachment, remembering to include a cover page with your name and email address. Format your piece(s) as you wish them to be laud out in the magazines, but please use 12-point Times New Roman and be sure that the distinction between each poem is clearly defined with a page break. Graphic works should be sent in as JPEG or PDF files in the highest possible resolution, and please do not leave your name or any other identifying information visible on the file. Put POETRY SUBMISSION in the subject line of your email.

Photography Guidelines:

Please send photo submissions as JPEG attachments in the highest possible resolution. No cover letter is required, but I your photo has a title, please use it as the file name. Use PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMISSION as the subject of your email. One photograph or work of art will be chosen as the cover of the magazine.

Artwork Guidelines:

We will accept works of any variety, from realism to abstraction, to painting or multimedia. Use ART SUBMISSION as the subject of your email and attach a digital copy of your work in the highest possible resolution. No cover letter is required, but if the work has a title, please use it as the file name. One photography or work of art will be chosen as the cover of the magazine.

Reading Board Application:

We want your feedback on submission! You can apply to be on one of our reading boards for fiction, poetry, or photography and visual art. Serving on a reading board can be an amazing opportunity to read widely, lend editorial insight, and play a large role in shaping a publication. You can find links to every reading board application in the navigation menu.

There is no limit on how many submissions you may send, and you’re welcome to submit to multiple categories. You are also still welcome to serve on a reading board if you’ve submitted work.

The deadline for both reading board applications and submissions is November 30th at 11:59 PM, and there will be no extension. If you have any questions, contact our staff (rivercraft@susqu.edu). We will be in touch with reading board decisions come December, and we’ll be in touch with fiction, poetry, and art decisions come February.

Happy submitting!