Website
Type Of Organization
Magazine
Mission Statement / Editorial Focus
About Sunspot Literary Journal: Sunspots are areas of lower temperatures that appear on the sun's surface. Because of the sun's brilliance, sunspots are not visible to the naked eye. Compare that to the blinding static many publishers use when marketing celebrity rehab stories. The unique and creative get lost.
Hearing Every Voice: Sunspot literary journal was founded to cut through the blinding flashes. The publications present writing that is meaningful. Writing created by individuals who might not have a large social media following, but who still have something important to say.
Writing a New World: Here at Sunspot, we believe in the power of the written word. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry and art can speak truth to power with the power inherent in all human beings. Our mission is to amplify every voice.
Social Media Platforms Used
Twitter, LinkedIn
Is Your Group Affiliated With A University, Portal Or Other Agency?
no
Primary Editor/Contact Person
Laine Cunningham
Contact Title
Senior Editor
Publishes
essays, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews, art, translation, gr_novel
Recent Awards Received
Reedsy selected the journal's contests to spotlight as one of their top picks in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Submissions Policy
Submissions: Work must be unpublished (except on a personal blog) and sent through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions welcome. Double-spaced text for all submissions except poetry. Times New Roman 12 point font or similar. Submit as many as you like, but only one work per submission. https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit
Fiction: From 1,001 words up to 49,000 words. Sunspot takes pride in publishing stories other literary journals might think are too long.
Poetry: 20 pages for a single poem.
Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words in length. The title is not included in the word count.
Essays/Nonfiction: Lyric essays, thoughtful opinion pieces, and proposals for solutions to the world's ills. A sunspot is unique. From 1,001 to 49,000 words.
Sunspot also accepts reviews of books, movies, and exhibitions.
Accepts Unsolicited Submissions
Yes
Submission Guidelines URL
Simultaneous Submissions Accepted
yes
Reading Period
Year round
Reporting Time
1 - 2 months
Author Payments
cash
Contests
All our contests accept prose, poetry, art, graphic novels, scripts and screenplays.
See the Contest tab at Sunspotlit.com.
Number Of Paid Staff
2
Number Of Unpaid Staff
1
Year Founded
2019
Distributors
Ingram
E-distributors
Ingram, Amazon
Wholesalers
Ingram
Average Print Run
100
Total Circulation
800
Paid Subscriptions
N/A
Individual
$$25
Insitution
$$25
Single Copy Price
$$25
Back Issues Available
yes
Unsolicited Manuscripts Accepted
yes
If Yes, What Percent Of All Unsolicited MSS Are Published
6
Format
perfect
Dimensions
5 - 9
Average Number Of Pages
200
Name
Laine Cunningham
Title
Senior Editor
How Did You Arrive At Your Current Position?
Over the last 30 years, I've seen the industry contract so much that many voices are still going unheard. Sunspot Literary Journal is one way to help the neglected voices shine light on our world.
What Is The Staff Structure At Your Magazine/press?
The founder is the Senior Sunspotter in charge of content. The rest of the staff puts together the graphic design and administrative elements.
Do You Have Any Cover Letter Advice?
Please do note a little about the piece you're submitting. We love to hear the story behind the stories, poems, essays, graphic novels, and art.
How Are Submissions Processed In Your Magazine/press?
Through Submittable at https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit. Contest submissions can be made through Submittable or Duotrope.
What Do You Look For In A Submission?
The unique in the everyday. The spectacular in the mundane. The hidden depth that too often goes unnoticed in the blinding mess of celebrity tweets. Work that makes us stop and gaze deeply into the sun, even if it might blind.
What Advice Do You Have For First-time Submitters?
We have very few limits on length. We are open to taking exceptionally long poems, short stories, essays and articles. Quality is our first concern. If the piece needs to be 20 words, write no more. If the piece needs to be 49,000 words, send it!
Do You Have A Favorite Unsolicited Submission Discovery Or Anecdote?
We love to see works that made us gasp, laugh, and cry (although not necessarily at the same time). That's why we're doing this...to bring those moments to readers worldwide.
Who Is Your Ideal Reader?
People who care about the world and the human beings in it.
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