Detailed Guidelines - Fiction
DesiLit magazine seeks original and innovative works of fiction that capture the essence of South Asia or its diaspora, as well as pieces inspired by South Asia.
What We Want
- We want to publish fiction that pushes the boundaries of current South Asian literature. We are interested in writers that transcend traditional "literary" or "genre" fiction, and seek new and hybrid forms of creating insightful and innovative fiction.
- We want fiction that is simultaneously entertaining and enlightening; that experiments with language and form as long as the story is more than just a pile of pretty or inventive words or a creative gimmick.
- We seek fiction without an agenda, fiction whose purpose exists beyond spreading a particular message or political viewpoint. However, we encourage you to explore politics in your fiction as long as the subject matter is treated in a sensitive and complex manner. What we do not wish to publish is "message art."
We accept all types of stories, including excerpts from longer pieces, i.e. a chapter from a novel, but it must stand alone as a complete work. We will not publish incomplete stories. We strongly prefer stories under 5000 words, but will consider longer pieces. There is no minimum word requirement. We pay a flat fee of $100 per piece.
How to Submit
To submit, send your story both as a MS Word attachment and in plain text format in the body of an email to fiction@desilit.org. Please include your complete contact information with email address, phone number, and a short bio about yourself (around 100 words), including previous publications if applicable. In the subject line of your email please use the following caption: Fiction Submission: [Insert Your Story Title]. We accept simultaneous submissions provided that you let us know immediately if it has been accepted for publication elsewhere. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and the editorial board reserves sole discretion to choose publication date.
Thank you for your interest!
For more information, please contact Sumita Sheth, Executive Editor.