We consider works of fiction and nonfiction that are original and unpublished for the print journal and the online (Non)fiction 500. We like funny, but we also like sad. Depending on the position of the moon and the velocity of certain bowling balls, we like dainty and coarse, direct and obscure, as well as ordinary and unusual. In general, we consider short stories, flash fiction, novel and memoir excerpts, and (creative) essays. We do not, under any circumstance, consider poetry. We sorry, but we just don’t. It’s a long, bittersweet story that we’d rather not get into at this point.

We also enjoy serious and scholarly works, which has resulted in two upcoming volumes of scholarship that examine the works of Steve Erickson and Jhumpa Lahiri. 

If a work is accepted for publication, we  acquire first-publication rights. Once we’ve published your story, for instance, you are free to include it your own collection.

We are currently not accepting submissions.

Like Water Burning: Issue Two

Address: Submissions for Like Water Burning: Issue Two should be sent via e-mail to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with either FICTION SUBMISSION or NONFICTION SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Reading Period: February 1, 2009 - June 15, 2009

Length & Number: We gladly accept up to two submissions per person per period, with a maximum word count of 15,000 words or 40 pages (which ever comes first) for each submission.

Formatting: All submissions should be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, and should be attached as a Word file. Submissions should not be pasted in the body of your e-mail. If you are submitting two works, you should attach two separate Word files.

Cover Letter: In the body of your e-mail, please paste a cover letter that includes your name, contact information, word/page count, and a brief bio. If this is your first time submitting and you’ve never written a cover letter, feel free to refer to our sample cover letter here.

Simultaneous Submissions: We know how slow the submission process can be and thus welcome simultaneous submissions. If your submission is accepted elsewhere, however, we’d greatly appreciate your letting us know as soon as possible.

Response: We make every effort to respond to each submission within a month. And though we’re generally pretty good about this response time, sometimes things happen and we take a little longer. If it’s been over a month, feel free to send us an e-mail that goes something along the lines of: “What up, yo! So, uh, it’s been, like, a month, I think, and I was just kind of wondering, you know, what you guys, like, thought about my story and stuff.”

Subject Matter: We don’t have any specific preferences when it comes to subject matter, but feel free to visit the Read section for samples from Issue One.

(Non)fiction 500

General: Why 500?  500 can be divided by 2. We like that. It can also be divided by 5, which is something we really like. Selected submissions will be featured on the ultra-sleek (Non)fiction 500 racetrack. Previously published work cannot not be considered.

Address: Submissions for the (Non)fiction 500 should be sent to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with either FICTION 500 SUBMISSION or NONFICTION 500 SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Reading Period: Year-round.

Length & Number: We gladly accept up to two submissions per person, with a maximum word count of 500 words for each submission.

Formatting: See above.

Cover Letter: See above.

Simultaneous Submissions: See above.

Response: See above.

Subject Matter: Not sure what to write about? Consider one or more of the following subjects: drugstore janitors, seven-grain whole wheat toast, underachieving fourth graders, neon orange paperclips, old hot dog water, the inevitable commercial success of salmon-flavored toothpaste, that girl in freshman composition who makes you sweat, talking cupcakes that scream when you eat them, talking pencils that cry when you sharpen them, or talking mutes. Note: Writing on one or more of the suggested topics will not increase your chances of being featured on the ultra-sleek LWB (Non)fiction 500 Racetrack. Sending us well-concealed wads of cash in plain, brown envelopes marked NOT A WAD OF CASH, on the other hand, will.

Steve Erickson: Critical Perspectives

General: We welcome scholarly submissions that examine the writing of Steve Erickson. Previously published work cannot not be considered.

Address: Submissions should be sent via e-mail to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with ERICKSON SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Reading Period: February 1, 2009 - June 1, 2009

Length & Number: We gladly accept one submission per person per period, with a maximum length of 35 pages or 11,000 words (which ever comes first), including endnotes.

Formatting: Submissions should follow the American Literature Style Guide here.

Cover Letter: In the body of your e-mail, paste a cover letter that includes current contact information, word/page count, a brief bio, a 100-150 word abstract, as well as 3-5 key words.

Simultaneous Submissions: We know how slow response times can be and thus welcome simultaneous submissions. If your submission is accepted elsewhere, however, we’d greatly appreciate your letting us know as soon as possible.

Response: We make every effort to respond to each submission within two months. If it’s been over two months, feel free to send a query letter to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with RESPONSE QUERY in the subject line.

Jhumpa Lahiri: Critical Perspectives

General: We welcome scholarly submissions that examine the writing of Jhumpa Lahiri. Previously published work cannot not be considered.

Address: Submissions should be sent via e-mail to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with LAHIRI SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Reading Period: February 1, 2009 - June 1, 2009

Length & Number: We gladly accept one submission per person per period, with a maximum length of 35 pages or 11,000 words (which ever comes first), including endnotes.

Formatting: Submissions should follow the American Literature Style Guide here.

Cover Letter: In the body of your e-mail, paste a cover letter that includes current contact information, word/page count, a brief bio, a 100-150 word abstract, as well as 3-5 key words.

Simultaneous Submissions: We know how slow response times can be and thus welcome simultaneous submissions. If your submission is accepted elsewhere, however, we’d greatly appreciate your letting us know as soon as possible.

Response: We make every effort to respond to each submission within two months. If it’s been over two months, feel free to send a query letter to lwbsubmissions@yahoo.com with RESPONSE QUERY in the subject line