Who owns the rights to the artwork or writing I submit?

You, the artist or author, retain full copyright ownership of your work. Cinder Magazine does not claim exclusive rights.

What happens to my work and information if my work is not selected?

Privacy is extremely important to us. Unless you opt in for continued marketing or partnership opportunities your submission and personal data will be deleted within 30 days of the issue’s publication date.

What rights am I granting Cinder if my work is selected?

If selected, you grant Cinder a non-exclusive, royalty free license to: reproduce and distribute your work in print issues, use your work digitally for marketing and promotional materials, and to archive your work. You may request removal from the archive in writing, however your work will remain in the physical magazine and any past materials already in circulation.

Can I submit work that has been published elsewhere?

No. We are currently seeking previously unpublished work. This includes promotional blogs, print publications, and social media accounts outside of your own. We believe in debuting new voices and fresh work.

Can I publish my work elsewhere after it appears in Cinder ?

Yes! We encourage it. You are free to publish your work elsewhere after it debuts with Cinder Magazine, provided future publishers do not require exclusivity that infringes upon the rights you’ve already granted to us. We ask that Cinder Magazine be credited as the original place of publication where appropriate.

Will I be paid if my work is accepted?

At this time, contributors will receive: a free print copy of the issue in which their work appears and access to promotional assets.

As Cinder Magazine grows our goal is to move towards direct payment and profit-sharing models. We are aiming to enter these models as soon as possible.

How many pieces can I submit?

We accept both visual and literary work. You may submit up to 5 pieces of writing and up to 8 pieces of visual art, per issue.

Literature Submissions

Literature submissions may include, but are not limited to: poetry, prose, short stories, screenplays, and other creative writing pieces. We ask that your submission does not exceed 3000 words. We are unable to print too many long-format pieces, so please keep in mind that shorter pieces have a higher likelihood of being selected. All literary submissions should be in PDF format.

Please name each file using the format" “Lastname_Title”

Example: “Taylor_Cinder.pdf”

Visual Submissions

Art and design submissions may include, but are not limited to: drawing, painting, digital art, graphic design, printmaking, sculpture, photography, fiber arts, wood arts, or mixed media. All visual submissions should be 300dpi, CMYK, and either .jpg or .png format. (Max file size: 10MB, if selected we will ask for a high-resolution image at a later point).

Please name each file using the format" “Lastname_Title”

Example: “Taylor_Cinder.pdf”

Will you accept physical originals ?

No. We do not accept or retain any original physical artworks. All submissions must be digital files or high-resolution photographs of the work.

Does Cinder Magazine accept multilingual work ?

Absolutely! We accept and encourage non-English submissions. For non-English literary submissions we do require an English translation that will be printed alongside the original submission. Only the original submission will be counted against the word limit.

Can I submit work that features sensitive or personal topics ?

Yes. We recognize the complexity of chronically ill, disabled, and neurodivergent experiences. However, we ask that you provide content warnings for graphic material or potentially triggering themes. While you may submit pieces of any subject matter Cinder Magazine reserves the right to reject any pieces that could be harmful in nature.

What happens if I need to withdraw my work ?

If your piece has not yet been selected or published you may withdraw it by contacting us. If it has already been accepted for publication, we will do our best to accommodate withdrawal prior to print deadlines, but we cannot guarantee removal after production begins.

Can you edit my work ?

Yes. We reserve the right to make minor editorial adjustments (cropping, layout tweaks, color correction for print). For more significant changes we will request your approval.

Can I be removed for harmful behavior ?

Yes. Cinder Magazine upholds a zero-tolerance policy. We reserve the right to revoke your participation (print, digital, and/or marketing) if you: commit plagiarism, try to pass off AI content as your own, violate intellectual property rights, use hate speech or harassment, engage in discriminatory or violent behavior, or breach community standards of respect and safety.