Published twice annually by Michigan
State University Press, Fourth Genre is a literary journal that explores
the boundaries of contemporary creative/literary nonfiction. Personal essays
are welcome—including nature, environmental, and travel essays—as well as memoirs,
personal critical essays, and literary journalism. We are also interested in
queries for interviews and for full-length and capsule (“Reader-to-Reader”)
reviews of current books. Moreover, we encourage suggestions for topical genre
issues for our roundtable forum.
SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE
GUIDELINES WILL BE RECYCLED UNREAD. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING THOROUGHLYPRIOR TO SUBMISSION.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Two (2) issues published annually: Spring (#1) and Fall (#2)
General
Submissions: Accepted August 15–November
30 only.Authors
selected for publication paid with two (2) complimentary copies of the journal.
Typed,
double-spaced, on one side of 8.5" x 11" paper
Include
in cover letter (one page limit): name, address, phone number, email address, title
of piece, and approximate word count
Word
limit: 8,000—general submissions; 6,000—Michael Steinberg Essay Prize (longer submissions will
not be read)
Do
not send disks or electronics files
Multiple
submissions not accepted from individual authors (non-contest submissions only)
Simultaneous
submissions require immediate notification to Fourth Genre if accepted elsewhere
REPLIES
Replies
processed via email: Submission replies—16 weeks; Query replies—3 weeks
All
manuscripts will be recycled (keep a personal copy!)
IMAGES & DERIVATIVE MATERIALS
Electronic
files accepted; all images must be minimum 300 dpi at planned publication size
It
is the author/researcher’s obligation and responsibility to determine and
satisfy copyright and/or other use restrictions prior to submitting materials
to MSU Press for publication
Citations,
permissions, and captions are required upon submission for all images,
including those derived from the Internet
MSU
Press cannot publish such materials until clearance is obtained
SUBMISSION CONTACTS (Submissions
NOT accepted at MSU Press)
ESSAY/MEMOIR
SUBMISSIONS:
Marcia Aldrich, Editor
201 Morrill Hall
Department of English
MichiganStateUniversity East Lansing, MI48824-1036
NEW SECTION - "Writer As Reader" Submission Guidelines
Fourth Genre's new section, "Writer As Reader," will feature essays that respond to creative nonfiction, focusing primarily on a single work. Successful "Writer As Reader" essays will be neither jargon-laced nor disinterested, but will find a home in the personal and will tell a story about the author's relationship with one particular work of creative nonfiction.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Under essay title, include complete title of your essay's focal work (as book review identifies volume reviewed).
Cover letter required, including:
Your biographic information—writing qualifications and other pertinent information
Description of the work that is the topic of your essay
Complete bibliographic information on the work
3,000 word limit
"Writer As Reader"essays are invited as responses to:
A personal essay or memoir
Literary journalism
Personal cultural criticism
Another work commonly classified with creative nonfiction
"Writer As Reader"essaysmay focus on work that:
Has influenced the author's own writing
The author provides to students as an example of the genre's possibilities
The author has reevaluated over time
Is widely influential
Is challenging due to its form, innovation, content, history, or politics
May be contemporary or from another historical period
Send submissions to: Marcia Aldrich, Editor or Brian Olszewski Fourth Genre Writer As Reader Series Department of English 201 Morrill Hall Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824
—Please do not send submissions to Michigan State University Press—
Fourth Genre will seek the best creative nonfiction essay/memoir for its sixth
annual Michael Steinberg Essay Prize. Authors of previously unpublished
manuscripts are encouraged to
enter.
The winning author receives $1,000,
and the winning entry will be published in an upcoming issue of Fourth Genre. Runner-up entry will be
considered for publication.
SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE RECYCLED UNREAD. PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY PRIOR TO SUBMISSION.
COMPLETE ENTRY FEE CHECKS FULLY AND CORRECTLY;
INCLUDE WITH SUBMISSIONS.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Reading period: January 5–February 28. Submissions
must be postmarked on or before February 28.
Reading
fee: $15 (U.S.)
per entry
Make checks payable to “Michigan State
University Press”
Multiple submissions accepted; include $15 entry
fee for each individual submission
Include
in cover letter (one page limit): name, address, phone number, email address,
title of piece, and approximate word count
Include
in cover letter (one page limit): name, address, phone number, email address,
title of piece, and approximate word count
No
names should appear anywhere on the manuscript
Word
limit - 6,000 (Longer submissions will not be read)
Include
SASE for announcement of winner; all manuscripts recycled
ELIGIBILITY
CurrentMichiganStateUniversity students, faculty, and staff are
not eligible to enter the Michael Steinberg Essay Prize contest.
Electronic
submissions will not be considered
REPLIES
For
manuscript receipt confirmation, include a self-addressed stamped postcard
Contest
status queries will not be accepted
Winner
and runner-up (if applicable) announced at the end of April
