FOR A SHORT TIME, X-R-A-Y IS DOING THEMED CALLS. WE MAY ALSO OPEN THE MAIN SUBMISSIONS. WE’LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, AND BLUESKY.

THESE ARE OUR CURRENT CALLS, OPEN DECEMBER 1

SHORT STORIES = GAMBLING

FLASH FICTION = BUGS

CREATIVE NONFICTION = QUIETUDE 

On December 1, we will open short story (2,000-7,500 words) submissions for this theme: GAMBLING.

This is what our editors Josh and Alice have to say about the GAMBLING short story call:

Josh says, “I am interested in casino stories, but only when they have some amount of story taking place outside of the casino. I’m also less interested in the big stakes bet, the reversal of a life’s fortunes. My favorite gambling book is ‘Bob the Gambler’ by Frederick Barthelme.”

Alice says, “I’m interested in high stakes (Wall Street, Russian roulette), or mathematicians and philosophers. My favorite book on gambling is ‘Addiction by Design’ by Natasha Schull, about gambling in Vegas. I’d be delighted to get stories with that level of intellect and observation.”

On December 1, we will open flash (300-2,000 words) submissions for this theme: BUGS.

This is what Chris said about the BUGS flash fiction call:

There are around 10 quintillion insects in the world (10,000,000,000,000,000,000), or around 200 million insects for every human. In some kind of way that only makes sense to metaphor-crazed writers, insect consciousness far eclipses human consciousness on this planet. Sometimes humans can act like insects, and insects can act like humans. Send us a story about bugs, or where a bug makes some sort of appearance. 

Examples:
-The Order of Insects by William Gass
-The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
-The Life of the Spider by Jean Henri Fabre
-The Flea by John Donne
-Army Ants by Tom Waits (song)

                                                            

On December 1, we will open creative nonfiction (300-7,500 words) submissions for this theme: QUIETUDE.

This is what Jo and Michael said about the QUIETUDE creative nonfiction call:

What winter song brings comfort or discord? What birds do you strain to hear? What the silences you prize most? Send us stories that respond to this idea. 

                                                           

GENERAL GUIDELINES

X-R-A-Y'S SWEET SPOTS

While we will look at any Fiction or Creative Nonfiction submission up to 7,500 words, these words counts are our sweet spots. 

500-1,200
3,000-5,000

If you poke at our sweet spots, we will love your bones forever.

NORMAL SUBMISSION PERIODS AS FOLLOWS 

• SHORT STORIES (2,000 to 7,500 words): We open these submissions on the 1st of every month. Submissions close when we reach our cap. Every other month we limit these short story submissions to folk who have not submitted short stories to us in the past. 
• MICROS (up to 300 words): We open these submissions on the 7th of each month. Submissions close when we reach our cap. 
• CREATIVE NONFICTION (300 to 7,500 words): We open these submissions on the 1st of each month. Submissions close when we reach our cap.
• FLASH FICTION: (300 to 2,000 words): We open these submissions on the 1st of each month. Submissions close when we reach our cap.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We want prose only. No poetry, please.
• Wait until you hear from us before you submit again.
• You may submit your work elsewhere, no problem.
• We shoot for a response time of 3-8 weeks.
• We're kind about it, but genre fiction might find a better home elsewhere.
• We'd love for you to look around before submitting. Have at it.

GRITTY BITS & BOBS

• By submitting to us, if accepted, you grant us first electronic rights and non-exclusive archival rights.
• All submissions remain the intellectual property of the artist. Rights revert to author upon publication.
• We'd love if you'd credit us if your work first appeared here.
• Work previously published in print only welcome if in no violation of original rights.
• You'll feel really good if you check out these kick-ass authors.
• Exposure to the website carries a small risk of radiation poisoning. We suggest wearing a lead apron while submitting. 

REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS

Our interviews/reviews editor is Rebecca Gransden, who is very nice; pitch her at rebecca@xraylitmag.com. We don't take reviews as often as interviews, and we rarely assign our reviews. But go on, shoot your shot