Submissions

 

Crab Fat Magazine is no longer accepting submissions as of April 15, 2020.

Crab Fat accepts submissions on a rolling basis. We’re interested in flash fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction (lyric essay & memoirs are some of our favorites), visual art, & book reviews from small indie presses.

We do not accept email submissions. If you send us a submission by email we will delete it, unread.

Crab Fat Magazine is founded on the principles of inclusive & diverse writing/publishing. This means we actively seek work from marginalized people. Please submit to us if you are a POC, a queer/trans person, a disabled person, a woman, femme, nonbinary person, a neurodivergent person, a trauma survivor, a nonreligious, atheist, pagan person, or any other person that is often marginalized and flattened in media.  We want to make space for you. We want to hear your voice.

Check out our Six Questions For… interview with Jim Harrington, as well as our LitBridge interview, NewPages Chat, and Duotrope Interview for a more in-depth discussion of what we’re after at Crab Fat.

Housekeeping:

  • flash fiction should not exceed 1,000 words

  • longer creative non-fiction should not exceed 3,000 words (1,100-2,500 words preferred), though exceptions can be made for AMAZING prose. Please note: we no longer accept fiction beyond 1,000 words

  • Please send no more than 10 pages of poetry at a time, with each poem starting on a new page. PLEASE SUBMIT ALL POEMS IN ONE DOCUMENT

  • images are limited to 5 per submission, please send hi-resolution (300 dpi)

  • book reviews should not exceed 1,000 words

  • Crab Fat is currently a non-paying market, though we hope this changes in the future.

  • Crab Fat requires first North American serial publishing rights. After publication all rights revert back to the author. We also ask for indefinite archival rights. This means that we can keep your work on our website for as long as it exists. Please note: accepted work is subject to use, in part or full, for any future anthologies, both digital and print.

  • Crab Fat asks that any reprints give first publication credit–something like “XYZ originally appeared in Crab Fat Magazine.

  • If these guides don’t vibe well with you, cool, we just aren’t the right place for your work, but if they seem cool with you, even better, we look forward to checking out what you send our way!

**Crab Fat does not like to censor a writer/artist’s aesthetic or imagination, but there are certain topics that we are simply not interested in. With that said, please DO NOT send prose, poetry, or images that depict child molestation/sex fantasy, rape (unless it’s a vital part of the narrative, handled with sensitivity, and includes a trigger warning before the piece begins–an example of what we’re referring to would be something like a nonfiction piece from the POV of a survivor), gratuitous violence, bestiality, or necrophilia. Seriously, don’t do it. We will scream and reject the piece.**

For poetry: please withdraw simultaneous submissions by requesting an edit to your original submission and removing the piece.

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62 Comments

    1. Please send all submissions to the address listed in the guidelines. Although documents should be sent as .doc/.docx & images as .jpeg/.png/.

  1. “We want: Well done second person POV in short fiction…”

    Huh? The SF I read on your website is first person or, in one case, third person. What’s the deal? A quip, perhaps?

    1. Hi Linda,
      Second person is not a requirement for accepted work, we just love that POV. There are a few stories on the site, and a few in the issues that are in second person.
      Thanks for reading, we hope you’ve enjoyed it.

  2. I’m the writer, Sevarion Nadiradze, author of several books. My mini-novel “The way of flour” translated into English. I wish my English translation appeared, publisher abroad, especially in the post-communist era it directly reflects the horror of what actually happened in the closed metal wall behind what was called the Soviet empire and the occupied Georgia for 200 years. I know most of the agencies and publishers have their clients, or mostly writers serve their country, but as the metal wall of the shed, which S.S.R. Feedback was called, we were captured by the country’s children appeared free, barrier-free space, and we believe that the new metal walls will be erected in front of us never cease, especially the boundaries of art can not tolerate. I have created in 2014 as a model even imagine in my book, and finally issued a symbolic 50 pieces presented here in Georgia and friends. This model P.D.F. I have saved and send you if you are interested in what I hope. This text auto translators translate and we apologize for that, is not perfect.
    This text auto translators translate and we apologize for that, is not perfect. It is also sending his autobiography. I hope you are interested in my writing …
    Writer Sevarion Nadiradze was born on October 11, 1962, in Tbilisi. He graduated from Tbilisi State University, philological department. His literary activities started from young age: his poems were published in Georgia and abroad. In 1989, S. Nadiradze published the first book of poetry “Two Shores”; A book of poetry “Monologue of Winter” (2002) consists of three poems: “Abel, Cain’s brother”, “Star and Magi”, and “Starting in Our Hearts and Finishing in Love”. In 2003, the first author’s novel, “The way of Flour”, was published. It followed by the collection of poetry “Poems Left in Shadow” (2005). The second novel, “Khaki Color Yashmak”, appeared in 2008. The latest poetic collection, “A Poem, White Chit”, dates to 2013. In 2009, Soso Nadiradze was awarded with the Prize of the First Lady of Georgia, Sandra Roelofs, as a winner of contest Shotaoba. The magazine “Our Writers” named Sevarion Nadirdze the Poet of the Year.
    Georgia, Tbilisi, mobile +995 557 668 224. 37. Mujirishvili Street flat 14 phone +995 032 2 54 97 70. mail.

    1. Hi Sevarion,
      Please review our submissions guidelines and submit! Just note that we do not accept previously published material.

  3. The e-mail address is not receiving some of your letters, so the delayed response. Now I am sending some of my poems translated into English recently.

    Writer Sevarion Nadiradze was born on October 11, 1962, in Tbilisi. He graduated from Tbilisi State University, philological department. His literary activities started from young age: his poems were published in Georgia and abroad. In 1989, S. Nadiradze published the first book of poetry “Two Shores”; A book of poetry “Monologue of Winter” (2002) consists of three poems: “Abel, Cain’s brother”, “Star and Magi”, and “Starting in Our Hearts and Finishing in Love”. In 2003, the first author’s novel, “The way of Flour”, was published. It followed by the collection of poetry “Poems Left in Shadow” (2005). The second novel, “Khaki Color Yashmak”, appeared in 2008. The latest poetic collection, “A Poem, White Chit”, dates to 2013. In 2009, Soso Nadiradze was awarded with the Prize of the First Lady of Georgia, Sandra Roelofs, as a winner of contest Shotaoba. The magazine “Our Writers” named Sevarion Nadirdze the Poet of the Year.

    Sevarion Nadiradze
    Eight Poems
    Translated by Manana Dumbadze

    1. Thousands of war

    The sun warmed with Don Quixote’s helmet
    Keeps riding the Rocinante horse,
    Wound is never gone, it’s always there,
    Even you win thousand wars…

    What if the sun shuddered suddenly?
    Sun warmed for us, and full of pride,
    We trench around our lovely streets,
    With tombs, as if digging our own graves.

    I hide my sparrows deep in my bosom,
    Not to be hobbled or put into irons,
    Don’t scare much our harmless city
    With barricades here and there.

    The sun heated with Don Quixote’s helmet
    Keeps riding the Rosnante horse
    Wound is never gone, it’s always there,
    Even you win thousand wars.

    —–

    2 Spring monologue

    A sparrow sheltered me under its wing,
    Endured frost and storm,
    That’s why he looked so shabby and pallid,
    So woeful and small.

    He cherished me like a fetish,
    Put at a sacrifice what he could,
    Then lit a tiny world in my heart,
    And fed with own life blood.

    The fairy island was too attracting,
    And a warm city called him for fun and joy,
    But sparrow better froze to death,
    Than be unfaithful, and betray.

    It used to run against death,
    A black kite would take off the meadow,
    Sparrow would stand against the wall,
    And meet my share of a bullet shot.

    And when I slipped away from death,
    The world was so outworn,
    I took a shelter under the flower,
    Me, the weakest flower in the flower world.

    ——-

    3 Mother at home

    That night should be long and sleepless,
    Stars were guarding that piece of world,
    The grave was cold and a little narrow,
    So, Mother’s hands stayed at home.

    The night got drunk with a moon-full bowl,
    The wound is followed with a another wound,
    The coffin is cold and a little narrow,
    So, Mother’s smile stayed at home.

    I bare that pain on my shoulders,
    Wind wraps it in a cold shroud,
    We could not get through the open door,
    So, mother’s body stayed at home.

    Because the graveyard is now lonesome,
    All is tranquil, I am at ease,
    And because a house is mother’s soul,
    Scent of that incense makes my dizzy.
    ——

    4 It’s March

    It’s March. I think I am getting older,
    I see youth from the open door.
    April will come with a handful of lure,
    Feed the faithful sparrows at dawn.

    It’s March.
    Believe, my window has never been that blue, that shiny,
    I wish I knew, where, in which tree
    Spring nested so quietly.

    It’s March.
    I miss you – the only flower,
    The only tear, comfort, and pain,
    You pass by my window every morning,
    And like a button tear a poem off from my broken heart.
    —-

    5 Dog “Granite”

    “Granite”, a stray dog, is a village guard,
    Links anxiously its greasy paw,
    Believes, that every roof-tile
    Is a hungry tongue of the old house.

    Dog might me a big observer,
    Brave, smart, and swift,
    When rain starts all offended houses
    Speak tile-language with Granite.

    6 Christmas Eve

    With childish anxiety I wait for something,
    My seed of hope has being reviving,
    It’s Christmas Eve, and village sheds
    Hold handful of stars meanwhile.

    Balthazar’s shoulders are burdened with dreams,
    The village sheds are also waiting for miracle,
    We have to overcome mountains and seas,
    The shepherds’ sky is something different.

    Waiting cuts the long way short,
    Don’t be afraid, all mothers tonight
    Will feel a slight kick in womb.
    That’s Christmas Eve!

    With childish anxiety I wait for something,
    My seed of hope has being reviving,
    It’s Christmas Eve, and village sheds
    Hold handful of stars meanwhile.

    ——-

    7. A Clown

    He will make faces and tousle hair,
    Will present his heart as an easy toy to youth,
    Will never call for monsters from darkness,
    Dotard, a master of hurly-burly.

    Maestro wrapped in colorful rags,
    Bending, and smiling to circus fans,
    Chandelier lights snatch away his eyesight,
    He faces his destiny as a prodigal son.

    He will perform a lowly pauper,
    Remind Adam’s folks about the human pride,
    He will arrange his rags, stand straight,
    And count ten on his shaggy fingers.

    Children will guess what the old man is about,
    No need to search the idea’s depth,
    When the lame performs his farewell dance,
    The mask-men cheer a man wearing a mask.

    ——

    8. Funny Tricks

    The sun will go fishing in the morning,
    Carry a folded cloud like a fishnet,
    Metekhi Cliff will cast the line,
    And hang Tbilisi up like an old rod over the river.

    We will get tired of catching carp fish,
    I know some funny fishing tricks,
    And soon will hook these gorgeous balcony houses
    On rod like floats and let them drift.

    I was born in this city of poetry,
    Raise my hands and pray for this turquoise sky,
    Now the sun will spread a fishnet,
    And soak its feet in the waters of Mtkvari.

    The sun will go fishing in the morning,
    Carry a folded cloud like a fishnet,
    Metekhi Cliff will cast the line,
    And hang Tbilisi up like an old rod over the river.

    Leave a Reply

    1. Thank you for your interest in submitting to Crab Fat. I encourage you to read through our guidelines and submit your work through our submissions manager. http://www.crabfatmagazine.submittable.com

  4. My mini-novel and the 2000 edition was published in Georgia in Georgian sold 1 month, bettselerad became, therefore, interested in the American embassy and helped me with the translation in English. The book has been printed, and the stores have been sold. Only 50 pieces of printed publisher friend. It was kind of a model, such as imagine this book in English. The book is very good and close friends-handed model. It ilustrilebulia inside, if you are interested I will send you the text of this version … I translate the Internet translator, so excuse me inaccuracy …

    Respectfully Sevarion Nadiradze

  5. If one is fortunate enough to have one’s work accepted for an issue of Crab Fat, is it then acceptable to submit work to the next issue? Or is that being a bit too greedy? Thanks.

  6. Hello! Crab Fat #4 is quite excellent. Congrats. However, I received an email back a few months saying that my submissions were accepted by Crab Fat, yet I don’t see them. Should I assume that my work is now “unaccepted”? That’s cool, you have every right to “unaccept”, but I’d just like to know. Guess I’ll submit more work, but not the unaccepted pieces. Cheers, R.

    1. Hi! You’re piece is still slotted for publication. However, due the the volume of work we receive there is often a 60-90 day gap between acceptance and publication.

    1. Our submissions manager confirms receipt immediately, and we typically respond with an accept or reject message within 10 weeks.

      1. If I have not received a response to a submission within this time frame (almost two weeks past this time frame now), should I follow up? Or should I give it a few more weeks?

        1. Hi Ashley,
          Due to unforeseen circumstances we are a bit behind on our backlog, however, we are making quick progress now and all back submissions will have a response within the next 10 days.
          Thank you for allowing us to read your work.

  7. I read on a different site that you accept screenplays, yet your submission page makes no mention of this. Am I right to assume that means my information is wrong? Thank you.

    1. Hi Shannon,
      We do accept screen/stage plays. There is a category for those submissions on our Submittable page. We will be sure to update our guidelines to reflect this.

      Best,
      Caseyrenée, EIC

  8. Hi, I’m interested in submitting work and I was wondering if multiple submissions were accepted. I’m sorry if I missed it if that topic was mentioned in the submission guidelines. Thank you!

    1. Multiple submissions to different genres are acceptable. Please be sure to include shorter pieces such as flash or poetry in one document. Thanks!

  9. Hi Crab Fat! A quick clarification regarding previously published material–does a post on a personal blog or Tumblr count as something already published? Thank you!

  10. Hey! Do you accept submissions from people outside of North America? I’m London, UK. Thanks. This looks amazing, and much needed.

  11. Hey! I am interested in submitting work but just wanted to ask if you accept pieces by unpublished authors? I am jut staring my creative writing journey and have come across a few online publications that don’t accept pieces from authors who are unpublished?

    1. as long as your work is unpublished we can consider it. your publication history doesn’t play a role in our acceptance or rejection of work.

    1. use the search feature on the righthand sidebar, or let us know what story you are after and we’ll get back to you.

  12. If I were to submit small flash fiction (no more than three sentences) and had multiple submissions, given their size would you like them individually or listed in an appropriate PDF or Word file? Or do you even accept flash fiction that small?
    Thank you for your consideration.

    1. Submissions are open to everyone, as our guidelines say, but marginalized people are encouraged to submit.

  13. This comments section is some of the best reading I’ve done in a while. Thank you, Crab Fat. Besides being brave, you’re also extremely generous!

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