We publish twice a year: Summer and Winter. The deadlines are March 15 for the Summer issue and September 15 for the Winter issue.
We accept essays, short stories, and interviews by individuals with a disability or a community member. If you are an individual with a disability or part of the disability community as a family member, caregiver, special educator, or in any way connected to disability, we want to see your disability-related writing.
Although the majority of our published submissions are by adults, we try to include a piece or two by a child with a disability in each issue. Even better if it’s hand-written and can be scanned and emailed or mailed. Writing by children does not need to be Pulitzer Prize ready or have a disability-related theme.
We do not have any specific aesthetic criteria, except to say that we seek pieces of quality that demonstrate the writer’s attention to the piece. Submissions by/on behalf of children are an exception. We will not consider any writing that purposefully exploits or demeans. We read each submission carefully and appreciate the care that went into writing it.
Word limit is 6,000, but we will consider a longer piece.
We are committed to publishing new writers as well as experienced ones.
Our first commitment is to unpublished works; but we will also consider works that have been published previously. Please include the place of first publication at the bottom of the submission. Simultaneous submissions are fine as long as you keep us informed of the publication status.
Submission(s) and cover letter should be sent as attachments to your email. We require submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or (.docx), single-spaced in 12-point font such as Times, Times New Roman, or Courier. Please include the author’s name, address, disability, or connection to the disability community, and a brief bio.
Mailed submissions should generally be typed and double-spaced. If you would like your mailed submission returned, please supply a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Email your writing submission to:
If you prefer, mail your submission to:
Pentimento Magazine
PO Box 615
Lambertville, NJ 08530
We will try and respond within 2 – 4 months, but it may take longer. Send an email query if you have not heard from us after four months.
Accepted submissions may be edited with approval of the author.
We will pay $25 – $250 for a published submission, and payment is determined by length and quality. Payment for previously published work will be reduced. A contract will be sent upon acceptance.
All rights revert to the author upon publication.
Thank you for your interest in Pentimento.
Pentimento Magazine 