Submission Guidelines

The editors at The Oxford American are constantly searching for well-written and substantive new fiction, nonfiction, and—with particular emphasis in 2012—proposals for ambitious reporting projects that explore the American South. We request that before submitting completed pieces or proposals, writers make themselves familiar with the spirit and aim of the magazine. It is discouraging to the editors to receive manuscripts from writers who clearly do not know much about the magazine.

We publish four issues a year. Some of our issues focus on specific themes. Our upcoming editorial calendar includes:

• THE VISUAL SOUTH ISSUE — MARCH, APRIL, MAY (newsstands)
  Season associated with: spring
  Everyone knows the South is crazy deep with wonderful literature, music, and food, but what about art? Maybe in comparison to other hotspots, the Visual Side of the South has, historically, been lacking. But we think there is new artistic energy electrifying the South and our “Visual South Issue” will attempt to answer the "What about art?" question with dazzling examples of contemporary Southern creativity. We will explore the best and brightest and strangest in the visual arts, in architecture, in design, and in that genre we all call "style." Some trend-spotters have gone so far as to say that the South now challenges New York and Paris as a visual hotspot. True or false?
  Writers' deadline: January 1

• BEST OF THE SOUTH ISSUE  — JUNE, JULY, AUGUST (newsstands)
  Season associated with: summer
  Our annual Mash Note to the South: What we love about the South and why. As usual, we want our literary and visual guides to dig deep beneath the "Why I Love the South" clichés and to enlighten us to the true and subtle and strange treasures of the region.
  Writers' deadline: March 15

• THE NEW SOUTH JOURNALISM ISSUE  — SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER (newsstands)
  Season associated with: fall
  An arresting number of the New Journalist crew was pinched from the Old South (Tom Wolfe, Hunter Thompson, Marshall Frady, Willie Morris, and Terry Southern) so we thought it’d be fun to seek an updating of New Journalism and the New South. To do this, we are now recruiting an army of fresh literary talent  (from both the fiction and nonfiction ranks) to delve into subjects ranging from the serious to the seriously unexpected. Our "New South Journalism Issue" will use long-form journalism to dig hard and well into the region’s culture, politics, and personalities.
  Writers' deadline: June 15

• SOUTHERN MUSIC ISSUE  — DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY (newsstands)
  Season associated with: winter
  Our annual Old School concert in print. We have not yet selected the Southern state that will next fall under our scrutiny (so far we've had tremendous fun with: Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi)…but we could at any moment!
  Writers' deadline: September 15

Below are some additional details.

1. We do not accept faxed or e-mailed submissions.

2. The Oxford American will consider only manuscripts that are from and/or about the South and that are clearly typed and double-spaced.

3. A self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with the correct postage must accompany all manuscripts. A SASE is needed for any kind of response, even if the writer does not want the material returned.

4. The pay scale for accepted material varies.

5. Payment is issued within thirty days of publication.

6. The Oxford American does not agree to pay expenses associated with the completion of a work unless an agreement has been reached between the editor and writer before the expenses are incurred.

7. We require an express acknowledgement if a manuscript is a simultaneous submission.

8. The Oxford American does not publish work that has been published elsewhere, including the Internet.

9. A good photocopy of the manuscript, rather than the original, should be sent. The Oxford American is not responsible for lost manuscripts.

10. Response time varies, but during our most hectic periods may take more than 16 weeks.

11. Poetry submissions should be three to five poems, of any length. Like fiction and nonfiction submissions, these should be from or about the South.

12. We do not publish pornography, society gossip, or poems about cats.

Please send all manuscripts to:

THE OXFORD AMERICAN
201 Donaghey Avenue, Main 107
Conway, AR 72035

Photographic and Art Submissions

Cover Submissions

We are always looking for the perfect cover shot. The image has to be powerful, unpublished, and something that will really capture people's attention. We'll know it when we see it! We publish four issues a year, and they are usually thematic, though we will try to find a spot for any beautiful image.

Photo Essay

The OA occasionally presents photo essays. We look for unusual and striking images that take place in any Southern town, city, or county. We try to avoid stereotypical or obvious images of the region. We will consider color or black-and-white photographs as long as they are artistic. Please familiarize yourself with the magazine to see what kinds of visuals we have chosen in the past. We've published photographs by legendary and emerging talents. The images do not need to be accompanied by text as long as you briefly identify the subject matter.

All Art Submissions

We will happily consider your photography and art for inclusion in all sections of the magazine. We cherish the visual arts and are constantly searching for bold new talent. We would prefer attached jpegs to an e-mail, a website, or tearsheets mailed to the address below. Please send all slides, photocopies, CDs, or portfolios to the address below. In order to have your material returned, you must include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with any submission. (Please do not send original work. The Oxford American is not responsible for lost submissions.) We especially love to hear about gallery/museum exhibitions by Southern artists or focusing on the South!

Illustrations

We have opportunities for feature and spot illustrations in every issue. We are always looking for a fresh style that can capture the contents of our issues. We usually have a short deadline (two weeks or so) for illustration assignments.

Illustration Submissions

We would prefer attached jpegs to an email, a website, or tearsheets mailed to the address below. Please send all photocopies, slides, CDs, or portfolios to the address below. In order to have your material returned, you must include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with any submission. (Please do not send original work. The Oxford American is not responsible for lost submissions.)

Please contact:

The Art Department
THE OXFORD AMERICAN
201 Donaghey Avenue, Main 107
Conway, AR 72035

For art and photography email submissions ONLY: editors@oxfordamerican.org