Submit
Submissions are open!
Submissions will be open the first seven (7) days of each month and will close at 11:59 pm CST on the seventh day. We occasionally solicit but the vast majority of work comes from the submission queue.
What we’re looking for:
Memoir, lyric essays, pop culture pieces, long & flash form personal essays that were previously published in literary, cultural, and lifestyle magazines and journals. Pieces from personal websites, blogs, and newsletters aren’t eligible. We’re not interested in critical, political, technical, or academic writing. Previously published work only. See our “About” page.
These are some examples of pieces we love:
I Want You Back by Michael A. Gonzales
In the Garden of Gethsemane, a Lamp by Jamie Etheridge
In Bloom: An Abecedarian Reflection by DW McKinney
The Shadow in Me by Ronit Plank
To Be a Street Musician by Matt Dennison
Your piece must have been published prior to 2025. We don’t have a cut off for older pieces but be sure the tone and content is still relevant to today. We aim to respond to your submission within 30 days.
Rights and content responsibility remain with you. Your work will remain on site indefinitely unless you ask for it to be removed. We don’t pay for publication but neither do we pay ourselves. Our site on Substack will always be free for Subscribers and anyone else who reads.
How to submit:
One story per submission unless it’s micro. Multiples are allowed for micro. Send a minimum of two, max of five.
If declined, feel free to submit a different piece at the next reading period.
If accepted, please wait four submission periods to submit again.
Attach your story to an email in docx. file. At the end of the piece, please note word count and the previous publication name and date published.
If accepted, we’ll ask for your bio and a short statement to accompany your piece about what inspired it.
We have a 4000 word limit. 200 words or less for each micro.
Cover letters aren’t necessary but welcome.
Email your submission to sugarsugarsaltlit@gmail.com.
We will publish weekly on Sundays. We look forward to reading your work!