If you are interested in submitting a chapbook manuscript during our annual contest period, please visit one of the following:
Debut Series Chapbook Guidelines
As of 2017, our annual print issue is on hiatus. We hope to return to it someday, in the original or a different format. We had wonderful contributors and editors, and we’re grateful to have had the chance to showcase so much great work collected in each edition.
Paper Nautilus 
These following dates have me scratching my head….
Please submit only once per genre during each submission period (09/01 – 08/31)
Hi Janet:
Sorry, that can be kind of confusing! What that means is that we accept submissions year-round, but that you can only submit once between September 1st through the following August 31st, because submissions received after August 31st are considered for the following issue.
So a better way to say it is probably: please only submit once for each issue, and submissions for new issues begin every September.
Does that help?
Re: Aphorisms
The example you give of Pound’s “Metro” is more of a haiku.
Aren’t aphorisms more like proverbs?
e.g. “Wet bird, perched on a rain-wetted branch, sings in the dark.”
vs. Aphorism:
“A wet bird never flies at night.”
Which is closer to what you’re looking for?
Hi Bob:
Thanks for your question; this seems to be one that a lot of people have. We’re looking for works that more closely resemble your first example rather than your second.
We realize that “aphorisms,” as a definition, mean something entirely other than what we’re asking for. That’s our fault for categorizing these super short-shorts as something that already exists. We were hoping that by calling them aphorisms, they would evoke certain qualities that the proverb-kind have, such as brevity, sudden insight, and an almost confidence in their declaration.
So yes, “Wet bird, perched on a rain-wetted branch, sings in the dark.” You may have just helped us clarify for our other readers, so thank you!
Re: not accepting previously published work. Do you define previously published work, pieces that have appeared on that author’s personal blog?
Hi Darren:
Work that’s been posted on a writer’s personal blog is OK. Thanks for checking!
May I submit both a poem as an entry for your poetry prize and up to five poems (perhaps including the same poem that’s submitted for the prize) for your first issue, or would that be considered a multiple submission? Thanks!
Hi Laura:
Yes, you can submit to both the contest, as well as the general submissions – even if one of the poems is included in both, since only the judge of the contest will be reading contest entries. We look forward to reading your work!
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Fine know-how! I have been searching for things like this for a time today. Thank you!
Do authors who contribute work to Paper Nautilus receive any complimentary copies?
Yes, contributors receive one complimentary copy of the issue their work is featured in. Thanks!
So how exactly do I submit? I checked everywhere for an email…? Are we supposed to send our work to the submission manager’s email address or. Thanks, and sorry to bother with a silly question.
-Angelique Clark
Hi Angelique,
You can submit directly through submittable, here: https://papernautilus.submittable.com/submit
It’s a great system, since it helps both submitter and publisher keep everything organized. We look forward to reading your work!
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Some questions for Ms. Magini-
This may be in the wrong place but here goes: The printed chapbooks appear to be 20 to 30 pages. The limit on submission length is 5000 words which would be 8-10 pages single spaced.
How many stories go in each chapbook or is it one story-one writer or most likely I’m missing something. A helping hand would be great.
Keith
Hi Keith,
Great question. These guidelines are aimed at our annual literary periodical (which we’re taking a break from right now). The chapbook guidelines can be found under the menu for each. To save you the trouble, both chapbook contests have a range of 16-24 pages at the time you submit it, rather than worrying about word count. Hope this helps!
The last response makes sense. the only thing missing in the guidelines and in the answer (or I missed it!): 16-24 pages double or single spaced?
Spacing is at the author’s preference. If it’s poetry, it should be submitted in whatever spacing you would want it to appear in print. If it’s prose, it’s more about the word count rather than the page number, so the spacing doesn’t really play a role. Hope that helps!
It did, thank you sincerely,
Lazarus