Tin House Theme Issues
Weaccept submissions September 4 through May 31, and, as always, our summer and winter issues are notthemed (see below for the inevitable exception to the rule). We consider each submission for all upcoming issues regardless of theme, however, please feel free to make a note in your cover letter if you wish to be considered
for a particular theme. We have provided suggested deadlines for each theme issue, but please be aware that
these fill up fast, so get your theme - issue submissions in as soon as possible. Tin House is reading for
Summer, 2013, an open, non-themed issue. The deadline for this issue is January 14, 2013. We are also
reading for the our Fall 2013 issue, which has a theme of WILD. We are looking for fiction, nonfiction, poetry,
interviews, and Lost & Founds about the Wild--untamed places, people, things, events, happenings, and
experiences. Unmediated, unfiltered, from the past, present, or future. Or, conversely, simulated
and mediated wildness or wilderness. Surprise us, please. The deadline to submit to this issue is April 15, 2013.
Guidelines
Please submit only one story or essay (ten-thousand-word limit), or up to five poems at a time. Multiplesubmissions will be returned unread. We shall do our best to respond within three months, however, in some
cases this period may be longer. If you have not received a response from us within ninety days, we will be happy
to respond to your e-mail inquiries. We do ask that you please wait until you hear back from us before submitting
new work for consideration. Tin House does accept simultaneous submissions. In the event that the work is
accepted for publication elsewhere, please do us the courtesy of informing us promptly. Only previously
unpublished works will be considered for publication. Our reading period is September 1-May 31; submissions
received outside this reading period will be returned unread. Cover letters should
include a word count and indicate whether the submission is fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Also, please note
whether or not you would like your manuscript returned. Manuscripts transmitted via fax or e-mail will not be accepted
for consideration.
Only those processed through our online submission manager or sent by regular mail will be considered for
publication. Submissions can be mailed to Tin House, PO Box 10500, Portland, OR 97210. Please enclose an SASE
(include an IRC with international submissions), or we cannot guarantee a response to or the return of your work.
For those of you interested in submitting your work electronically, using our dandy online submission manager
(we call her Tina), you are invited to do so now. Simply click here to get started.
- Do you accept genre fiction?
- Although we read fiction of all stripes and frequently publish work that crosses or bends genre lines, we do strongly recommend that all submitters familiarize themselves with Tin House before sending work.
- My manuscript comes in just over 10,000 words, but it's really worth a read!
- Unless you are able to shave it down to 9,999, it will be returned unread. We apologize if this seems militant, but, as they say, we have to draw the line somewhere. If your manuscript seems long, and there is no WORD COUNT included in your cover letter, it will be returned unread.
- Why are your rejection notes so robotic and impersonal?
- It’s mostly a matter of volume; with over 1,000 submissions received each month during our reading period, we must unfortunately be very ruthless in our selection process. It keeps some of us up at night. Please, please don’t take it personally.
- Could you please tell me why you didn't accept my story?
- See above. We just don’t have the time to comment on individual submissions. We wish we could.
- Who reads my submissions?
- We have a volunteer crew of about twenty-five readers. All of our readers have an extensive background in the literary arts and most have advanced degrees in English or writing or both. They are put through a grueling gauntlet before being offered a position. Submissions are also read by our editorial interns, who hold an equally competitive position and are extensively vetted. Finally, most of the magazine’s editorial staff read submissions on an ongoing basis, as well.
