Jaywalker Submission Notes:

Print-ready submissions lighten our load here, though we do avoid editing poetry and prose. 

Short stories of between 500 and 1000 words are currently far easier to place than longer ones, but we look at each submission as an artwork first and foremost. That means that our guidelines are elastic, if not downright imaginary!

Shorter pieces are easier to place than long; and we look for comprehensibility to a general audience above all, since our circulation is low, and our publication is physically small. If you wonder about a given piece, submit it!

We avoid hard politics, expletives and "issues" as we strive to be timeless, enjoyable and memorable. We like emotionally compelling pieces that are not sensationalistic nor promotional in nature. Jaywalker loves incidental references to Kingston

We prefer shorter over longer; edited over "rough"; material that is understood by an audience with a broad background. Although we try to encourage submissions with a natural, local feel, it is not a prerequisite for inclusion. Being a local writer is good, but not essential.

We avoid issues, hard politics, promotions/agendas, expletives and critiques. Our readers enjoy interesting words, but not at the cost of readability.

Short stories of between 500 and 1500 words are ideal, especially shorter ones that allow space for images and highlighted text.

Each submission is given identical consideration. We ask if it conveys its message, flows well, is "ready to go" and we try to match the needs of our diverse readership each month. Each month has a theme, but it is VERY flexible.

Many submissions will likely be needed for one to be accepted. The magazine is a mosaic, with each reader drawn to different aspects. For this reason, one's inclusion is more a measure of how well their piece fits within that issue, and not how "great" the piece is. We've printed works from all levels of experience, favoring reader enjoyment far above critical acclaim.

Though we'd like to respond to everyone, we rarely do, even if your submission has been accepted. At times, we will accept submissions to the website that will not make it to print, and we welcome URLs that we may link to, but request that the site is registered with SafeSurf or ChildSafe. These sites simply designate content in order that it may be restricted, where necessary, in terms similar to those we've long used for movies.

You may submit through mail or email, and can phone if you have questions as well.