How to submit

Submission Opportunities

Free and paid options for authors, poets, and photographers. Choose the path that fits your work and your timeline.

01 & 07

Free Submission

Free

Standard submission with a response in 6–8 weeks. Also covers submissions for an advertised anthology.

  • Free submission — yes or no, 6–8 weeks
  • Submission for an advertised anthology
Submit here →
02

Paid — Yes or No

$5

A fast yes or no within 24–36 hours. No feedback — just a clear answer so you can move on.

  • Response within 24–36 hours
  • Yes or no decision only
Submit here →
03

Paid — Minimal Feedback

$10

A decision within 24–36 hours with a brief note on what worked and what didn't.

  • Response within 24–36 hours
  • Yes or no with minimal feedback
Submit here →
04, 05 & 06

Paid — Detailed Feedback

$15

A decision within 24–36 hours with detailed notes on what you could do with the piece. Also covers prize submissions and paired photo + text works.

  • Detailed editorial feedback
  • Submission for a prize
  • Photograph paired with poem or story
Submit here →

Guidelines at a Glance

We publish
Fiction, flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, science theory, and photography — including paired photo & text works. Previously published work is welcome.
Lengths
Prose to 6,000 words. Flash to 1,500 words. Up to 5 poems per submission. 1–3 photographs.
How to submit
By email to editor@blackleatherjournal.com — a link to the work, or PDF, .doc, or .docx attached. Name, handles, email, and prior publication history on the title page.
Fees & response
Free — decision in 6–8 weeks. $5 — yes/no in 24–36 hours. $10 — decision with brief feedback, 24–36 hours. $15 — decision with detailed feedback, prize entry, or paired photo & text, 24–36 hours. The free option is always available.
Simultaneous submissions
Welcome — just tell us if the work lands elsewhere.
Rights
We acquire non-exclusive rights to publish on the web and in the journal; all rights remain with the author.
Payment
We cannot yet pay contributors. Every published writer receives a standing author page, and publication opportunities through Light Rain Books.

Questions & Comments

Not ready to submit? We're happy to answer questions about the journal, our process, or what we're looking for.

Ask us anything →