General FAQs
What is a SASE?
SASE stands for self-addressed, stamped envelope. If you wish for us to respond to your submission, you must include a SASE in your submission. If you wish for us to return your work, please make sure that your SASE has as much postage on it as the envelope you used to send your work to us. If you do not wish for us to return your work, a standard envelope with standard first-class postage is sufficient.
Are cover letters required? What do you want to see in a cover letter?
We ask that you send a short cover letter containing your contact information and the titles of your submissions. You may also include a brief bio if you wish.
If I submit to Nimrod, when will I receive a response?
We try to respond to work within five months of receiving it. However, sometimes we take a bit longer, especially around May and October. If it has been more than five months, please feel free to inquire about your submission’s status.
Do you accept work that has been published elsewhere?
No, work submitted to Nimrod must be previously unpublished. (Translated poems and stories still under copyright may have been published in their original languages, but your translated version must be unpublished.)
Do you publish works in languages other than English?
We are open to translations from any language. For poetry, we attempt to publish side-by-side translations into English. For fiction, we are usually only able to publish the English translation for space reasons.
What sort of spacing do you want for fiction and poetry?
For fiction, please double-space your manuscript. For poetry, please single-space your manuscript. For both, please use an easily readable 12 pt. font.
May I put more than one poem on a page if they are really short?
No. One poem per page, please.
May I print my work on two sides of the paper?
We ask that you do not.
Do you accept nonfiction?
We do accept creative nonfiction. The guidelines for submitting nonfiction are the same as for fiction. We do not accept academic writing.
Do you accept email submissions?
Only writers living outside the United States who cannot use our online submission manager system may submit their work by email. All other writers must submit by mail or through the online submission manager system.
Do I need to email for permission to send my work electronically if I am living outside the United States and cannot use the online submission system?
No. Just note in the body of your email that you live in a country where you cannot use the online system (and include your contact information). Paste the contents of the submission into the body as well—please do not send your work as an attachment.
I need to withdraw my submission. How can I do that?
The easiest way is to email us with your name and the title that you wish to withdraw. You can also send us this information by mail.
I self-published my work. May I submit it to Nimrod?
Unfortunately, no.
What genres do you accept for fiction?
In general, we accept literary fiction, both contemporary and historical. We don’t focus on fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance, or horror, so stories that fall strictly into those genres probably won’t work for us. However, we have published work with elements from all of these genres. While we most likely wouldn’t take a high fantasy story set in an alternate world, we have published work based in magical realism or with unexplained, speculative elements. We like to find fiction that pushes and challenges boundaries, so if your story goes beyond sword and sorcery, office romance, or jump scare horror, feel free to try it out on us. Some good examples of stories that we have published that contain genre elements include Helen Degen Cohen’s “My Grandma’s Sister” (Vol. 58, No. 1), Jacob Appel’s “Paracosmos” (Vol. 57, No. 1), Kellie Wells’s “In the Hatred of a Minute” (Vol. 55, No. 1), Teresa Milbrodt’s “Holes (or Annotated Scrapbook, Sections Slightly Charred)” (Vol. 53, No 2), Darren Pine’s “Ember’s Song” (Vol. 51, No. 2), and Jenny Noller’s “The Power of Sugar” (Vol. 49, No. 2).
I’m confused about the different types of submissions you accept.
We accept four different types of submissions at Nimrod. They are:
- General submissions: General submissions are the basic type of submission to the magazine. They can be on any subject or theme, and they are accepted from January 1-November 30 each year. We accept general submissions from writers living both in the U.S. and internationally. Click here for our general guidelines.
- Theme Submissions: Each spring, Nimrod publishes an issue with a different theme. Themes range from the geographical (China, India, the Celtic Fringe) to broader ideas (The Map of Yearning, Memory: Lost and Found, The View from Here). We try to announce the theme for the upcoming year in the summer of the previous year. We accept themed submissions from writers living both in the U.S. and internationally. Click here for information about upcoming themes.
- Contest submissions for the Nimrod Literary Awards: Contest submissions are accepted from January 1-April 1 each year. The contest is open only to writers living in the U.S. The contest has no theme. For more information about the Nimrod Literary Awards, click here. For more FAQs about the contest, click here.
- Contest submissions for the Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers: Contest submissions are accepted from May 1st-July 15th each year. The contest is open only to writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications. The contest has no theme, and it is open internationally. For more information about the Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers, click here. For more FAQs about the contest, click here.
I didn’t learn about your spring theme until the deadline had passed, but I have something perfect for it. Can I send it anyway?
Though we won’t be able to consider it for the spring thematic issue, we would still be happy to consider your work for future issues. General submissions are open to work of all themes and subjects, so feel free to send it for consideration there. We won’t discount it just because the theme as passed.
How can I find out what your upcoming themes are?
We try to announce the theme for the upcoming year in the summer. Check our Call for Submissions page, sign up for our Email Newsletter, or friend us on Facebook for the quickest announcements.
What happens to my submission after I send it in?/What is your submission process?/Who reads my submission?
Nimrod has a board of over 40 volunteer editors who read and help us make decisions about the work sent to us. We also have one Fiction Editor and two Poetry Editors, who serve as the uppermost voices of our volunteer board. We have two Associate Editors who read. Finally, we have one Editor-in-Chief who makes the final decisions about work submitted to the magazine.
When a story (or poem) is sent to Nimrod, it is first logged into our computer and assigned a number. It is then placed in a packet with other submissions. Our editors check out packets of manuscripts and read them, ranking each submission on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best possible score. The first reader then brings the packet back, and it is sent on to a second reader. After the second reader has read and scored the packet, work that has received two high scores or two conflicting scores is sent on for a third read (and sometimes more) by the Poetry or Fiction Editor, an Associate Editor, or the Editor-in-Chief. Work that has received two low scores is passed on at this point.
For the Nimrod Literary Awards, the same process holds true, except that all identifying information is separated from manuscripts as they are logged into our system. Our boards and Editors select the finalists, which are then sent to the final judge (a different distinguished fiction writer or poet each year), who selects the winners and honorable mentions.
When is Nimrod released?
We try to publish the spring issue in April and the fall issue in October, though sometimes unforeseen circumstances lead to us publish it a little early or a little late.
Is there a way for me to read past issues?
We have many past issues available. To purchase a single issue, use the form on our subscription page and select “Single Issue.” You can ask for the most recent issue, or you can specify the issue you want. For issues over five years old, it’s best to email or call first about availability.
Can I find Nimrod on social media?
Yes! You can currently find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
How can I support the magazine?/How can I donate to the magazine?
You can support Nimrod and our mission of discovery by:
- Subscribing
- Giving a subscription as a gift
- Attending our events
- Donating
You can donate by mailing a check to our main address, or by going to TU’s online donation form. To donate online, simply fill out the online form and, in the section that asks for your gift designation, enter your gift amount in the “Other” field, then type “Nimrod Journal” into the “Please specify where that gift should be directed” field.
What does your name mean?/How did the journal come to be named Nimrod?
Phil Bolian, one of Nimrod’s founders, provides this explanation: Nimrod appears in the Book of Genesis (10:9) as a mighty warrior or hunter (depending on translation), and we [Nimrod’s student founders] all knew that reference . . . But Jim Land Jones came upon a use of the name in Alexander Pope’s “Windsor Forest” and was struck by it, as we all came to be. Pope spoke of Nimrod as “a mighty hunter, and his prey was man.” Our “prey,” as novice writers, was human experience, its depths of joys and sorrows, challenging us to gain and express insights into it.
Why do I have to pay $3 to submit through your online submission manager system?
In short, the online system costs us money (yearly fees to use the system, paper to print submissions, etc.) and paper submissions don’t. Our $3 fee is not a reading fee, but a fee to cover the administrative costs associated with our online submission system. We believe that it is not higher than what you might spend on a paper submission, once you factor in paper, ink, mailing and return envelopes, and postage. If you do not wish to pay the $3, you may submit via postal mail, as we have no fees associated with postal general and thematic submissions. However, we also offer this alternative as a way to conveniently upload material directly from your computer, as well as to check the status of your submission online.
Nimrod Literary Award FAQs:
Is there a theme for the contest?
No. Work for the contest can be on any subject and any theme.
Is the deadline a postmark deadline or does my entry need to reach you by April 1st?
It is a postmark deadline, so as long as your entry is postmarked by April 1st, we will consider it.
May I send both a fiction entry and a poetry entry/more than one fiction entry/more than one poetry entry?
Certainly. You can submit as many times as you like to the contest, though each submission must have its own $20 entry fee. You will receive an additional year’s subscription to the magazine for each submission. For speed in processing, we ask that poetry and fiction entries be sent separately.
What is the length requirement for a submission to the contest?
For fiction: one story of up to 7,500 words. For poetry: up to 10 pages.
How many poems can I send for the contest?
It isn’t the number of poems that counts for the contest—it’s the page count. We consider one entry to be up to 10 pages of poetry, but we don’t care how you divide the poems. For instance, you could send one 10-page poem, ten 1-page poems, two 2-page poems and one 6-page poem, or anywhere in between. The important thing is that you don’t send over 10 pages of poetry for a single entry. One poem per page.
May I put more than one poem on a page if they are really short?
No. One poem per page, please.
May I replace/swap my submission or part of my submission if it is accepted elsewhere?
Unfortunately, no. In general, by the time we get the notification that your story or poem has been accepted elsewhere, we’ve already processed and read your submission. So we don’t allow any replacing or swapping for material submitted to the contest.
Should I send my work in a plastic binder/special folder/plastic clear cover?
No. We will just remove this from your submission when we receive it—which makes more work for you and us. Please staple your work and send it on plain paper.
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to enter the contest?
No. But you do have to be living in the U.S. during October of the year of the contest you are entering. This is because we bring our winners to Tulsa for the Awards ceremony and writing workshop and, sadly, we simply can’t afford international airfare. But we are open to general submissions from writers across the world.
May I send my contest entry by email?
No. All entries to the contest must be sent by mail or through our online submission manager system.
May I pay the contest entry fee with a money order or cash instead of a check?
You may, though we do not recommend sending cash via the mail.
I self-published my work. May I submit it to the contest?
Unfortunately, no.
Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers FAQs
The contest is only open to writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications. What do you consider as published?
We consider your work as having been published if it has or will appear in print or online via an external literary organization, i.e. in a venue that is not controlled by you. Thus, we do not count personal blog posts or self-published work in your tally of previously published or to-be-published works when it comes to contest eligibility. We also do not count work that appeared in a publication with fewer than 100 printed copies or journalistic articles.
Is there a theme for the contest?
No. Work for the contest can be on any subject and any theme.
Is the deadline a postmark deadline or does my entry need to reach you by July 15th?
It is a postmark deadline, so as long as your entry is postmarked by July 15th, we will consider it.
May I send both a fiction entry and a poetry entry/more than one fiction entry/more than one poetry entry?
Certainly. You can submit as many times as you like to the contest, though each submission must have its own $12 entry fee. You will receive an additional issue of the the magazine for each submission. For speed in processing, we ask that mailed poetry and fiction entries be sent separately.
What is the length requirement for a submission to the contest?
For fiction: one story of up to 5,000 words. For poetry: up to 5 pages.
How many poems can I send for the contest?
It isn’t the number of poems that counts for the contest—it’s the page count. We consider one entry to be up to 5 pages of poetry, but we don’t care how you divide the poems. For instance, you could send one 5-page poem, five 1-page poems, or anywhere in between. The important thing is that you don’t send over 5 pages of poetry for a single entry, and you cannot send more than one poem per page.
May I put more than one poem on a page if they are really short?
No. No more than one poem per page, please.
May I replace/swap my submission or part of my submission if it is accepted elsewhere?
Unfortunately, no. In general, by the time we get the notification that your story or poem has been accepted elsewhere, we’ve already processed and read your submission. So we don’t allow any replacing or swapping for material submitted to the contest.
I’m mailing my work. Should I send my work in a plastic binder/special folder/plastic clear cover?
No. We will just remove this from your submission when we receive it—which makes more work for you and us. Please staple your work and send it on plain paper.
Is the contest open internationally?
Yes.
May I send my contest entry by email?
No. All entries to the contest must be sent by mail or through our online submission manager system.
May I pay the contest entry fee with a money order or cash instead of a check?
You may, though we do not recommend sending cash via the mail.
I self-published my work. May I submit it to the contest?
Unfortunately, no. However, we do not count self-published work toward your previously published or upcoming work tally when it comes to contest eligibility.
