Hippocampus Magazine and Books

Hi there!

Thank you for your interest in Hippocampus Magazine (& Books). We previously had abbreviated guidelines listed here and directed folks to full guidelines at our website, but now that many people are finding us directly through Submittable, we're sharing our full guidelines here to make it easier, to save a click. Please read carefully; it's pretty comprehensive, but we wanted to be thorough so that all questions are answered before you have to ask them

[Book query guidelines listed within that category, below.]

Thank you and best of luck!

What We Accept

• memoir excerpt – a self-contained portion (chapter or selection) of a larger, book-length work – 4,000 words max
• personal essay – a short narrative reflecting on a particular life experience or observation – 4,000 words max
• flash creative nonfiction – 800 words max
• For our small press submission guidelines, visit our Books page - NOTE: We're closed to book queries until Oct. 1, 2017
  
• Our articles section (review, interviews, etc.) is by assignment only
  
  Please read our current and past issues to familiarize yourself with our publication. We can tell you this: we like quirky, we like edgy, we like witty, we like gritty, we like smart, we like diverse voices. We like pieces that take us to new places, we like to be moved, and, most of all, we like pieces that stick with us. We’re interested in hybrid forms and unique structures (that work in an in online format.)

• We do not accept fiction, poetry, academic papers, political commentary, or criticism. Because of our reading time, we may also not be the best place for timely pieces or responses to current events.

   

  Guidelines: Word Count, Formatting and Submission Information

  Please note: submissions not following our guidelines, below, will be automatically declined without explanation. Our blind reading process is important to us, and names on manuscripts/in filenames is the most overlooked rule. Please take care in your submissions to us and all literary journals. 

  Submissions should be:

  • no more than 4,000 words in the memoir and essay category
  • no more than 800 words for flash creative nonfiction pieces
  • double-spaced
  • page-numbered
  • in a standard web/print font, such as Times New Roman or Arial in 10-12 pt. font. (No courier, or comic sans, please.)
  • free of your name or other identifying/contact information in the manuscript, header, and filename; you do not need to attach a cover page with your manuscript as that information is request in the submission form itself
  • (Clarification: The submitter’s name is often important to the story. We completely understand! This is bound to happen since, after all, we publish creative nonfiction where you, the writer, are likely central to the story. Please use your judgement regarding your name appearing within the story, but PLEASE DO NOT include your name or contact information in the file name, header/footer or title page.)

  Other Information (Multiple/Simultaneous Submissions/Repeat Contributors):

  • Do not send us multiple submissions.
  • Hippocampus will only accept one submission at a time from an author; we will automatically decline any additional submissions. The exception is during contest or theme issue calls.
  • You may also have a book query and an essay under consideration with us simultaneously.
  • If you are interested in submitting more than one piece to us, please wait until you receive a decision on one before submitting another.
  • Effectively Aug. 1, 2017, Hippocampus will only publish work by a specific contributor once per calendar year; if you’ve been accepted by us, please wait until the following calendar year to submit again (this allows for us to have the most variety of voices possible.) The exception is contest and special theme issues, which are open to all.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions, under the condition that you will withdraw your work from us if it is acceptable elsewhere.
  • Use Submittable’s “withdraw” feature, not email; this is so the status is changed and alerts is. Again, please do not withdraw via email; we do not manage submissions by email.
  • Why is withdrawing important? If not removed from the queue, your submission will continue through our editorial process, meaning our volunteer reading panel reads and comments on your work; if your work is no longer available, we’re sure you’ll agree this is not a good use of anyone’s time.
  • If we accept your story, you will receive notification via Submittable’s email system, so be sure you are set up to receive those notifications and periodically check your spam or promotion (or other filtered stories.) Also, if you change your email address, be sure you update your Submittable account so you don’t miss a notification. Your story will also change to “accepted” status in Submittable.
  • If we accept your story, you must respond to us with your intentions within 30 days; we’ll send one reminder email. If you do not hear back from you, we’ll assume you no longer wish to publish this particular piece with us.

  How to Submit Your Work

  Hippocampus Magazine has partnered with Submittable to provide an efficient way for both writer and publisher to track and organize submissions. If you frequently submit to literary magazines you may already be familiar with this superb submission tool.

  Regular submissions require a $3 fee ($1.91 goes to Hippocampus after Submittable’s fee.) Learn more in this blog post.

  Cover Letter:
  A cover letter is not required. If you submit one, you must use the cover letter field, not as a page within your uploaded document; then, please know your letter is kept separate from your creative work; by system design, is not visible to the reader panel. Your work will stand alone in our blind reading process–the way it should be.

  Submission Turnaround Time

  • We will respond to everyone who submits, but please be patient. Typical turnaround time is 3 to 4 months.
  • We accept–and expect–simultaneous submissions so, if another publication picks up your work in the meantime, please let us know via Submittable, as noted above (not through email).
  • Hippocampus Magazine publishes new material monthly and likes to plan ahead. We accept submissions on a rolling basis. If we accept your submission, we will let you know in which issue it will appear. Sometimes there is more lead time than others.

  Terms of Publication

  • By accepting publication, the author grants Hippocampus Magazine one-time electronic rights and one-time anthology rights. The author retains copyright and may publish the submission elsewhere after it appears in Hippocampus.(We would appreciate a “first published in” credit.)
  • By accepting publication, the author gives Hippocampus Magazine the right to publish the work on hippocampusmagazine.com, to archive it indefinitely as part of the issue in which it appeared, and to be included in future anthologized print or electronic editions of our publication. (Note: In some cases, we’ll re-feature archived work on the homepage; this does not constitute a new publication.)
  • Authors whose work is selected for publication will receive a contract outlining these terms in more detail.

  Compensation

  Hippocampus Magazine is an independent, self-funded, volunteer effort. As of January 2017, we offer a $40 honorarium to authors whose work is accepted in the memoir, essay, and flash categories. If your story is selected for publication, your payment will be issued via PayPal or Venmo within 60 days of the date of publication.

  One contributor from each issue can win bragging rights AND a prize if his or her piece is deemed “Most Memorable.”

  Also we have an annual contest, The Remember in November Contest for Creative Nonfiction which offers a grand prize of $1,000.

  About Passing on Submissions

  Just because we pass on a particular submission does not mean it does not have merit — we publish 8-10 pieces in each issue and this often means turning away strong work. Do not take editorial decisions personally. Just sitting down and getting your thoughts on paper is a task for which you should feel great pride–not everyone can do it. Every piece of writing has value. We feel it is important to spread the message of being persistent and diligent in your search for publication. Never let rejection discourage you from sharing your story. Just because it is not right for us does not mean it will not find a more fitting or timely home. Write on.