Submit
Author Guidelines for Postcard Poems and Prose Magazine:
Is it clever?
We publish poetry, short prose and visual art. We appreciate and consider anything that is well crafted. We seek cleverness in a unique format. We prefer poetry that forces every word to pull its weight. Prose needs to be tight and gripping. We aren’t enamored with ‘gotcha’ endings or passive voice narrations. Visual art needs to have a unique message. Sunsets are out. So are nature pics that don’t speak clearly. Erotica is never okay. Send us something interesting.
How do I submit for publication?
(Please read ALL of our guidelines before submitting.)
We only take electronic submissions through our Submittable link. You may submit up to three poems or one piece of fiction. They must be as separate files and separate submissions. Otherwise, you drive our staff crazy and that is never a good thing. Two pieces of visual art may be submitted without overloading our sensory systems. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but we need to be informed immediately when your work is accepted elsewhere.
Occasionally, the last line in a .doc file will vanish. Please type END, THE END, or //END// at the end of each submission. This ensures we see all of your submission.
It should go without saying that all work submitted must be your own original creation and not published anywhere else (like Facebook or a personal blog).
Publication Schedule
Postcard Poems and Prose Magazine publishes 15 -18 online features each month. Reading period—January 1 thru December 31 (open submission call).
Rights
Postcard Poems and Prose Magazine claims First North American Rights for our online publication and First Anthology Rights for a print anthology for a period of 18 months. After that all rights revert to the author. If you use it somewhere else, we ask that you mention it was published first in Postcard Poems and Prose Magazine.
Payment
We are not a paying market. We wish it were otherwise. We pay out-of-pocket to keep the magazine afloat. Yes, we pay extra to keep our magazine ad-free. Authors and artists take precedence at Postcard Poems and Prose. We offer expanded author bios, comment sections, Facebook/Twitter Likes and Shares, and hyperlinks back to your personal website, blog, and works for sale. Look through our archives for examples.
Editorial Policy
We understand certain content may bother some people. We admit there are even things that bother us. The things that trouble us we simply don’t allow (after all, it is our publication). Overly graphic sex, completely-over-the-top violence, and hatred in any of its many forms won’t be considered. We encourage authors of that content to seek publication elsewhere.
What else?
Please include the sentence, “I am a rock star,” with your submission so we know you have read our guidelines.
postcardpoemsandprose.wordpress.com 
What size should the postcard be?
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Thanks for asking Raydeen. Think in terms of a 4×6 card. We re-size everything to a width of 637 pixels for publication. We prefer to have the art submitted separately from the literature component – if there is a lit component. (eds.)
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What? is the email to which we submit our poems or photos???
booksgal2@gmail.com
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Thanks for asking, Gail. Read “How Do I Submit For Publication” on the page above. We look forward to your submission. (eds.)
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“How Do I Submit For Publication” does not give the email address for submissions.
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Postcard Poems and Prose has switched their submission process over to Submittable.
The link there is: https://postcardpoemsandprose.submittable.com/submit
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We have used Submittable for the last four and a half years. Email submissions were only allowed the first couple months of our existence in 2012.
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In these days of webpages, blogs, and DIY materials, what constitutes previously published? I have some poem on postcards that I have made myself, for example, but have never been published by anyone else. How do you feel about those?
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An excellent question that we are asked on a regular basis. If it has been on your blog or an open Facebook group then we, like most journals today, consider that to have been previously published. Cheers. (eds.)
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Your guidelines say 12 – 20 line poems, but I noticed that some of them are shorter. Is it ok to submit a poem shorter than 12 lines?
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Yes, Helen, it certainly is. 12-20 lines may find it easier to gain acceptance but a well-written poem will outstrip its competitors no matter the length. We look forward to your submission. Dave
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Are you open to Canadian writers?
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Why of course, Dale! We have published authors from more than a dozen different countries. (Including Canada) We would love to read your work. Cheers. (eds.)
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Would you accept a series of say three or four linked postcards?
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We have a couple times previously. The best thing to do is send them and let us see if they are a good fit for our format and aesthetics. Thanks for your interest. (eds.)
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What is the address to submit a short story, as it says above it should be in the body of the email? Thanks
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Hi Barbara and thanks for asking. We are currently closed to short stories at PP&P. Our sister publication, Fine Linen, is accepting flash between 200 and 700 words. Thanks again, Dave.
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Hi, I just came here via Barbara Ruth & as a visual artist, who sells her work as well as has it online, ask one thing. Please add a copyright symbol to art work along with the words photo credit. What I’ve seen on this site is quite excellent….and the pieces coming from working artists need a bit of protection since the internet has made art seem ‘up for grabs’ and used any way by any one. Thanks for your work.
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@Happy Hyder: great idea.
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I’m also a visual/photo artist and sell my work. I totally agree with L.A. Hyder. A copyright symbol and the artist’s name should appear with the photo/art. Thanks
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How many haiku can I submit to Haiku Haven?
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Three, Patricia. Thanks for asking. 😉
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how many postcard prose pieces can you submit at one time?
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Three, SuzAnne, but please submit them as separate submissions rather than all in one. Thanks! WE look forward to reading them. (eds.)
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Hello. I submitted three pieces of poetry back in August 2015 and have not received word that they have been either rejected or accepted. The Submittable status only shows “In-Progress”. Can someone please tell me what’s going on? Thanks.
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I don’t see anything from then in our database. I will search the archived items tomorrow to see if something slipped through. To which magazine did you submit?
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Hello! I am a bit confused. In the guidelines it says to submit three poems separately, and three pieces of art separately, but submittable will only allow me to attach one document for the poetry submission, and two documents for the art with prose or poetry submissions. When submitting, should we submit multiple times in order to reach that three limit? Or should I keep my poems together in one document, and the art pieces in another? Thank you!
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Multiple times to total three. Our apologies for the confusion. 🙂
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I cannot find your contact page — I was referred to it in your e-mail to me. Help?
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Sorry for your bit of bother. Which staffer sent the email?
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Hello! From your description, it sounds as if you accept any prose/poetry that you consider well-crafted, clever, unique, etc – however, in your publication schedule, you specify poetry and flash fiction. What about flash nonfiction? Not critical or journalistic in nature, but creative NF.
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Yes, we look at creative NF. Send some our way and best wishes. (eds.)
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Hello, I’m a big fan of the site, the poetry is truly amazing. Just out of curiosity, generally how long are submissions progresed for? 🙂
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Anywhere from three to eight weeks. We have eight staffers and it takes time for everyone to read and comment on a poem. Thanks for your kind words and your interest in PP&P.
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Hello…a quick question re: bios. Should poets submit in the initial cover letter or are they asked for upon publication? Thanks very much!
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Great question. Most folks include one with their submission. However, we ask for a new one upon acceptance to give the authors a chance to update them. Best wishes
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Can I submit three poems in one submission or must they be submitted in three submissions? Thanks, Judith Pacht
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Three separate submissions please, Judith. That way our first readers can vote and comment on them in depth individually. Thanks for asking. (eds.)
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Thanks, Judith
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Of course! (Please pardon the exclamation. 🙂 eds.)
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So, what is it: 220 words max of prose or 1001 words?
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Thanks for your question.
Postcard Poems & Prose takes up to 220 words of prose.
See submission guidelines at: https://postcardpoemsandprose.wordpress.com/submit-2/
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Dear Post Card Poems and Prose Magazine Staff,
What an interesting concept! What I can’t figure out is how I can view my draft? Thank you for giving voice to both short poetry and prose, allowing art elements from authors. If you can help with this I would be grateful.
Blessings and best wishes,
Karen
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Dear Karen O’Leary,
Thank you for your question. We are glad you like our magazine.
It looks like you submitted a piece on 5/27/18. If you need to double check anything on your submission, just go back into Submittable and you’ll be able to view your submission from there. Our editorial staff makes every effort to get back to writers with our rejection/acceptance decisions quickly.
If you have any further questions, you may direct them to the managing editor at: jlcourtneyauthorpage@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading PP&P,
Jennifer Courtney
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Like the postcards on your websight!
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I write fiction; my husband creates photos and digital art. If I create a postcard with his art and my words, do I submit under my name, his, or both?
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Thanks for reaching out. Please submit the words and art separately (under each creator’s name). In the cover letter let us know that the two go together.
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