Submission Guidelines
Pearl S. Buck Online Literary Journal – Volume 3, Issue No. 2, Fall 2018
Pearl S. Buck Online Literary Journal is a publication of The Writing Center. The journal is part of our ongoing mission to spread the literary legacy of Pearl S. Buck by aiding writers in their development and by giving them opportunities to be published. This call for submissions goes out to past and present PSB Writers Guild members, Writing Center workshop attendees & presenters and PSBVA volunteers.
Make sure your subject matter and language are suitable to be published by this Center.
Theme
The theme of each issue will be chosen from those found in Pearl S. Buck’s own writing. Our Fall 2018 issue’s theme is Transformation.
The word itself suggests a two-part theme of before-and-after, then-and-now, which fit into the progression of any story, indeed, of any life itself. We are all transforming ourselves daily in small increments, often without looking back to see how each tiny decision led to the person we are today.
Take a good look at the effects of recognizing those important points in our life’s path where, by chance or choice, we changed our “form” into something bigger than its former self. What changes us – praise, criticism, an overheard comment, an accident, a calling, a place, a person?
“When I realized I was in love with you.” “When will I have true freedom?”
“You always do that to me!” “I can’t be that person you want any more.”
“I’m tired of the rat race.” “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
Please review your entry to be sure it fits within the stated theme.
Deadline / Number of Entries / Length Limits
Deadline is October 31st for the Fall issue.
Email the editors listed below by filling in the Submission Details (as shown below) on page 1 of your story/poem entry. Begin page 2 with your title, but do not repeat your name.
Submission Details (print these four items only on Page 1 of all your submissions)
Title
Author
Genre
Word Count
(Begin Page 2 of your story/poem entry with the title only and don’t repeat your name.)
Submissions limited to five (5) poems or flash fiction (300 word limit each), or two (2) pieces of fiction, essay or memoir (5,000 word limit each); or short story (limit 3,000 words). When selecting the contents of the Journal, editors will try to limit entries to only two per author, preferably from different genres. Please accompany each separate submission with your Submission Details cover page.
Submission Format
1) Format work in Times New Roman 12pt. with 1” left & right margins, singlespaced.
2) Editors will use the Chicago Manual of Style or the MLA Style Sheet to keep the Literary Journal uniform.
3) Submissions accepted online only. No hard copy submissions will be accepted.
4) Attach copy in an editable Word .doc file to your email.
5) Email to the appropriate editor shown below. Submissions will be acknowledged within 48 hours via email.
6) Keep a record of each submission, to whom sent, the acknowledgement of receipt, any subsequent edited and revised versions, and the final editors’ decision.
Editors
Dr. Anne K. Kaler – Fiction and Nonfiction at akkaler@verizon.net
Susan E. Wagner – Poetry at swagner001@gmail.com
Linda Donaldson – Memoirs and Essays at lindadonaldson@verizon.net
Judges
The following four editors will decide on the entries for each issue: Dr. Anne K. Kaler, Susan E. Wagner, Linda K. Donaldson, and Cynthia L. Louden. Acceptance notifications will be made by November 10th.
Pearl S. Buck Writing Center 