Submissions

Writers' Guidelines | Special Feature Topics | Creative Writing | NC Food Finds
Flashbacks | Book Reviews | Art and Photography
     

Writers' Guidelines

NCLR publishes articles and essays about North Carolina literature, writers, and literary history and culture. Much of each issue is thematically focused, so potential contributors should note the forthcoming special feature topics (listed below).
    
A portion of each issue is open to other NORTH CAROLINA-related ideas we find of particular interest. Interviews, solid historical explorations, current cultural/literary analyses (without academic jargon), and literary essays are of special interest to us. Word count varies. A survey of back issues would better demonstrate our eclectic interests than a phrase or two might manage. We usually do not accept previously published material.
    
NCLR also publishes high-quality poetry, fiction, drama, and creative nonfiction by North Carolina writers or set in North Carolina. (Creative Writing guidelines below.)
    
Queries should explain why the subject matter is important, what you will do with the subject that hasn't been done before, and why you are a good person to write the proposed article. Include SASE or email address for Editor's reply. Do not send attachments or electronic submissions until requested.
    
Manuscripts should be submitted in MLA style (with parenthetical citations keyed to a Works Cited list for any sources that need to be documented and endnotes for discursive notes), double-spaced, with 1-inch margins all around. Submit two copies with SASE or an email address for reply. Upon acceptance, a disk copy or email attachment Word file will be requested.
    
NCLR encourages writers to submit relevant art and photography with articles.
    
NCLR writers receive two copies of the issue in which their work appears and either a modest honorarium or some combination of subscription/extra copies of the issue/back issues.
    
Queries and Proposals
Send queries and proposals to
Margaret Bauer, Editor
BauerM@ecu.edu
   
Manuscripts and Books
Send manuscripts and books (for review) to
Margaret Bauer, Editor, NCLR
Department of English / Bate 2201
East Carolina University
Greenville NC 27858-4353
    
    

Special Topics

Future Special Topics (Subject to Change)
    
#17, 2008: North Carolina Humor; submission deadline, August 31, 2007
    
#18, 2009: North Carolina Drama; submission deadline, August 31, 2008
    
#19, 2010: Appalachia in North Carolina Literature; submission deadline, August 31, 2009
    

Creative Writing

For the general, Creative Writing section, NCLR seeks high-quality poetry, fiction, one-act plays, and nonfiction prose by North Carolina writers or set in North Carolina (no connection to special feature section topic necessary). Our definition of a North Carolina writer is anyone who currently lives in North Carolina, has lived in North Carolina, or uses North Carolina as subject matter.
    
Submit poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction September through April (see below regarding fiction submissions). Because we do not read during the summer, submissions received during the summer will be sent through the review process after August 25th.
    
Send two copies of submissions, double-spaced with one-inch margins all around, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope or email address for response.
    
Upon acceptance, a disk-copy or email attachment Word file will be requested.
    
Effective immediately, NCLR is only accepting unsolicited fiction submissions that are related to the special feature section (guidelines above) OR that are submitted for the Doris Betts Fiction Prize (guidelines below).
    
Beginning in 2006, NCLR joined with the North Carolina Writers Network in sponsoring the Doris Betts Fiction Prize. NCLR screens the contest entries for the Network and selects the final judge. Finalists and prize-winning entries will be considered for publication each year. For competition guidelines, go to www.ncwriters.org/programs/competitions/betts.shtml. Submission deadline is February 1; winners announced by May 1.
    

NC Food Finds

NCLR considers essays about your favorite North Carolina restaurant, particularly essays that provide a sense of place as well as a sense of taste. We are interested in everything from barbecue to tofu and tiramisu. Be creative, opinionated, reverent, sassy, somber, silly, or whatever it takes to get your point across. How's the service? What's the restaurant's focus or specialty? How are the prices? Is it a place to bring a date? Children? Your mother? Your dog? What makes this restaurant like no other? What makes it a "must experience" for new North Carolinians and out-of-state visitors?
    
Submit your restaurant reviews of up to 1,000 words with sample menus, photos, and appropriate releases. Reviews should include the address of the restaurant, with driving directions if it is off the beaten path; operating hours; and a phone number or website addres. Bon appétit, y'all.
    

Flashbacks: Echoes of Past Issues

In this section, we publish articles and interviews that hearken back to special feature topics of past issues.
    

Book Reviews

Book reviews are usually solicited, though reviews may be submitted for consideration and suggestions of books to be reviewed are welcome as long as the book is by a North Carolina writer, set in North Carolina, or deals with North Carolina subjects.
    
We publish review essays that examine the new work in the context of the writer's canon or of the genre as it is represented in North Carolina literature. If you would be interested in reviewing a book for us, please send a writing sample and a resume that reflects your areas of expertise to the address provided below.
    
If you have published a NORTH CAROLINA-related book, send or have your publisher send a copy for review consideration. We welcome books published by small presses as well as large commercial presses, but we do not review self- or subsidy-published/vanity press books.
    

Art and Photography

NCLR encourages writers to submit relevant art and photography with articles for consideration.
    
We also welcome queries/submissions from freelance artists and photographers. We are particularly interested in (but not limited to) images that reflect the "special features" of the issue. Submissions of slides, photos, and high quality photocopies are accepted for consideration. Include a SASE for return of submissions. Artists and photographers might also direct editor to their websites to examine samples of their work. Send attachments only upon request. Upon acceptance, a 300 dpi scan or the original photo or slide will be requested.
   
Artists and photographers receive either a modest honorarium/reprint rights fees and/or some combination of copies of the issue in which their work appears/back issues/subscription.