(revised October 2008)

PresenTense, a magazine which explores Jewish life in the here and now for young Jews 18-40, seeks original, quality writing from experienced writers, as well as new Jewish voices. When submitting a pitch or article, please keep the following in mind:

• * Is it relevant to the Jewish people or Judaism?
• * Is your topic or story unique? Does it have a strong human interest angle?
• * Is it substantive? Can an article of depth (or humor) emerge from it?
• * Does it fit our demographic (18-40ish)?
• * Does it matter in the here and now?

UPCOMING DEADLINES

• * PT7: Food and the Jews (pub date: December 2008)
• * Pitches: October 24th
• * First drafts - November 1st
• * Writers receive final editorial comments - November 14th
• * Final drafts -November 22nd

SUBMITTING YOUR WORK

Writers are invited to submit queries, assignment requests or polished pieces (see below for e-mail guidelines).

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but PresenTense must be notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. (No reprints please, and be sure to read our previously published issues before pitching us or sending complete submissions, in order to familiarize yourself with the kind of work we publish.)

Pitches

Pitches should describe in a paragraph or two what – or who - the story is, and how it is relevant to young Jews today. Each pitch should be accompanied by an author bio, and a brief statement as to your qualifications for/interest in writing the piece. Each reported article requires at least three quoted/interviewed sources. PresenTense does not accept footnoted manuscripts.

Creative Writing

As part of our mandate to showcase new Jewish voices, we are especially interested in giving exposure to new Jewish fiction writers and poets. Creative Writing should have some Jewish content (whether overtly or covertly) and be of high publishable quality. Short stories should contain an emotional arc, and a clear beginning, middle and end, within the confines of 1000-3000 words; poetry should make ample use of imagery and metaphor, and be accessible to a wide readership. Poems should be no more than 300 words.

Reviews

As the magazine comes out only three times a year, PresenTense book, film amd CD reviews are not like traditional reviews which appear in most magazines and newspapers. Instead of a straight review, we are looking more towards "meditations on a theme," exploring larger themes associated with the work in question. Please look at our most recent issue for examples, and be in touch with us with questions or if anything is unclear.

Completed Articles

For completed articles, include the submission type(s), article title(s), and word count(s) in the subject line of your email. Multiple submissions may be sent in the same e-mail. Each piece should be attached as a document file.

Please send your pitch/piece to the appropriate section editor below. If in doubt as to the section your piece would fall under, or for general inquiries, please e-mail editor@presentense.org.

• * Letters to the Editor: letters@presentense.org
• * Front of the Book pieces (including news and briefs, short pop culture pieces, slices of Jewish life from communities around the world: fobeditor@presentense.org
• * Cover theme pieces and features (including profiles and sidebars relating to the issue's cover theme): features@presentense.org
• * Society and Community Building pieces (including 800 word features on Social Justice/Grassroots Activism, Israel, Zionism, Community, Education/Academia, Environmental Issues, Relationships, Religion and Health): society@presentense.org
• * Ideas and Innovation pieces (including 800 word features on Business, Wired World, Non-Profits, Bright Ideas for the Jewish People, First Person, Profiles of an Emerging leader in the Jewish world, and Paradigm Shift pieces): ideas@presentense.org
• * Arts and Culture pieces (including Film, Music, Literature/Books, Theater/Performance/Dance, Food, Photo Essays, Visual Arts, Fiction, Poetry, Television and the Endpage): arts@presentense.org

Articles/Complete Submissions Word Counts

If you are submitting complete articles, please note our word limits:

• * Around the World pieces: 600-800 words
• * News and briefs/Pop culture front-of-book pieces: 400-500 words
• * Cover Theme Features: 800-1200 words
• * Cover Theme Profiles: 600-700 words
• * Sidebars: 50-250 words
• * Section Features: 800 words
• * Reviews: 600-800 words
• * Brief reviews: 300 words
• * Paradigm Shift: Expositional essay 1200-2000 words
• * Fiction: 1000-3000 words
• * Poetry: 300 words
• * Photo Essay: a dozen photos with 600 words of text that expresses the experience of encountering the subjects, and the topic that drew the photographer to the subjects (whether people or objects, etc.). All photos should be a minimum 200 dpi (300 is best) and can be sent in any form (better jpg).
• * Endpage: a non-photographic one-page visual (an illustration, cartoon, drawing, collage, painting, etc.) reflecting the issue's cover theme; it may mix visual art and text to communicate the artist's perspective on the issue at hand. Should be a minimum 200 dpi (300 is best).

NOTIFICATION

PresenTense Magazine accepts work on a rolling basis. All queries and assignment requests should be answered within two weeks. We will make every attempt to notify you of our decision on already-written pieces within two months. Should you not hear from us after two months, send an inquiry to editor@presentensemagazine.org.

All pieces are subject to our editorial process. Writers will work closely with a member of our editorial staff to achieve a mutually satisfactory finished product.

RIGHTS AND COMPENSATION

PresenTense does not offer monetary compensation at this time. Accepted writers will be paid with three copies of the magazine issue in which their work appears and with the endless gratitude of our all-volunteer staff. Writers retain the rights to their work and may offer their pieces to other publications for reprint; PresenTense requests that writers make every effort to have future editors note that the piece originally appeared in PresenTense Magazine.

We look forward to hearing from you!