ROOTED LITERARY MAGAZINE

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monthly feature Submission Guidelines

Rooted Lit Mag is now accepting submissions for our monthly feature online mini-issue exploring the theme “Luck.” We invite creatives of all genres—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, visual art, music, animation, spoken word poetry, and more—to submit their work.

Luck is fickle. We credit it for our victories, our narrow escapes, the improbable timing that makes a story worth telling. Luck feels shiny and exciting when we hold its favor.
 
But luck often comes in the form of silence after hoping or the randomness that bruises more than it blesses. For this monthly feature, we’re seeking work that wrestles with luck in all its forms—charmed, cursed, manufactured, mistaken. Where has luck carried you? Where has it left you behind?
We accept pieces from each category:
 
  • Poetry 
  • Short Fiction 
  • Flash Fiction
  • Creative Nonfiction (Personal Essays, Book Reviews) 
  • Visual Art (Photography/Illustration/Graphics)
  • Audio (Spoken Word Poetry/Music)
  • Video (Animation/Short Film/Visualizers)
 
Formatting Guidelines
 
  • Flash Fiction: 1000 words or less
  • Short Stories: 5000 words or less
  • Poetry: Up to 3 poems (6 pages max)
  • Nonfiction: 2000 words or less
    • All written work should be submitted as a PDF, Word, .docx
  • Visual Art: Up to 3 pieces
    • Visual Art should be submitted as JPEG or PNG
  • Audio: Up to 4 Minutes
    • Audio should be submitted as MP3 files
  • Video: Up to 5 Minutes
    • Video should be submitted as MP4 files
  • 12 Pt. Times New Roman Double-Spaced. *Poetry can be single-spaced
  • All submissions must be original and unpublished. 
Other Restrictions
  • Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please withdraw your submission if accepted elsewhere. 
  • Any work created entirely, in part by, or with the assistance of generative AI will be rejected.
  • We do not accept the following:
    • Fanfiction of any kind (Work based on copyrighted characters, universes, or celebrity likenesses),
    • Erotica (Sexual content that exists solely to arouse; non-erotic intimacy is fine.),
    • Gratuitous Gore or Violence (Work that relies on shock value, graphic detail, or exploitation which does not primarily serve a narrative purpose)
    • Explicit Hate Speech or Discriminatory Content (Work that promotes harm, discrimination, bigotry, or harassment toward marginalized groups.)
    • Overtly Religious or Proselytizing Content (Work centered on preaching, conversion, religious instruction, or material intended to advance a specific religious belief. Faith may be present in a piece, but it cannot be the primary purpose or message.)
  • All submitters must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.

Publication Rights

First Electronic Publication Rights: You grant Rooted Literary Magazine exclusive rights to publish your work online for the first time, whether in text, image, video, or audio form. Rooted Literary Magazine does not accept previously published work, including works published on personal blogs and social media sites. 

For music submissions only: We accept previously released or published tracks. Unlike written work, music distribution is an essential part of an artist’s career. We are happy to feature work that has already been shared on streaming platforms or social media.

Archival Rights: After publication, we may keep your work archived on our platform indefinitely.

Non-Exclusive Rights: Following the initial publication, you are free to submit the published work elsewhere or republish it.

Promotional Rights: We may use your work for promotional purposes (e.g., social media, newsletters, and website promotions) during and after publication, with proper credit given.

Compensation: Accepted contributors for digital anthologies will be paid a one-time stipend of $10. 

Anthology/Compilation Rights: If Rooted Literary Magazine decides to create an anthology or print collection, you grant Rooted the right to include your work, with proper compensation to be discussed at that time.

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