Submissions Guidelines

Elegant Thorn Review seeks well-crafted and spiritually intelligent poetry. There are no limitations on subject or spiritual tradition, nor are there limits on style and length. Obviously, since this is on the web, there are technical issues with highly formatted work, so I prefer everything to be left-justified if possible.

• I don’t like cliche, hallmark verse, and clumsy rhyme.
• I do like fresh imagery, striking phrasing, and depth of thought.
• If it helps, think of Mary Oliver, Theodore Roethke, Robinson Jeffers, Charles Wright, C.K. Williams, Jane Kenyon, Louise Gluck, Linda Hogan, David Ignatow, Galway Kinnell, and Denise Levertov, and you'll begin to have a sense of what I like.

Seeking:

• 3-5 poems at a time, or 2-3 flash fiction pieces, from which I will post one or two if I like them. Please submit in MS Word document form.
• Photographs that are web-friendly.
• Photographs can be stand-alone submissions, or they can go with a poem.
• Please include contact info with submissions, including website/blog urls if relevant. Your name and blog/website will be posted with poems. If you do not have a space on the web, an email address will be posted unless you object.

Details:
All work must be original and unpublished — and it must be yours. Previously posted (on the web) poems and photos are okay if you tell me and you own the rights. I am asking for one-time posting rights and the right to use any submitted work in possible future publications (you’ll have right of refusal). In the event that this goes to press, payment will be two copies.

The long-term goal is to produce a yearly Elegant Thorn Review magazine featuring the best of the web. At this point, that is still just an idea, not a plan. Please email your submissions to Elegant Thorn Review.

billharryman@gmail.com