The editors of Cricket and Cicada Magazines are currently seeking story submissions, particularly high-quality fantasy and science-fiction. These magazines in the Carus Publishing Group are, in my humble opinion, the premier market for children’s, middle-grade, and young-adult writing. Here is the call for subs:
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The editors of Cricket, a literary magazine for children, are eager to find and nurture writers of meaningful stories for our audience of 9- to 14-year-olds. Founded in 1973, Cricket has published stories by some of the most respected writers of children’s literature, with authors such as Isaac Bashevis Singer and Lloyd Alexander serving for many years on our Editorial Board.
Cricket publishes approximately 60 original short stories per year in a variety of genres, as well as poetry and literary nonfiction. We are especially interested currently in broadening our range of contemporary fiction and fantasy/science fiction. Most stories we publish are 1,500–1,800 words in length, but we regularly serialize compelling longer stories of up to 6,000 words.
Submissions should be of the first-quality, aimed at our audience of enthusiastic middlegrade readers. Stories should be satisfyingly well plotted and character-driven, told with grace and wit and an appropriate sophistication of language. Stories with an authentic voice giving our mostly American audience insight into other cultures are especially welcome.
Most successful Cricket fiction features a focal character in the age range of our readers, with a believable preteen or early teen voice. Protagonists tend to be curious and sincere, functioning mainly within a kid’s world and not relying on the intervention of adults to meet challenges presented by friends, family, and school. Whether in realistic fiction or fantasy, Cricket does not emphasize themes of dystopian violence, domestic disturbances, drugs and sexuality, or the pointlessness of existence. Characters generally solve their problems (if not too serious), or at least progress in coming to terms with themselves and life.
Complete manuscripts, with a brief cover letter and SASE for our reply (manuscripts are disposable; no email submissions, please) should be mailed to the address below. Please allow 3 to 6 months for a response. For previously unpublished material, Cricket pays 25 cents per word.
Submissions Editor, CRICKET
Suite 300 Box 7
70 E. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60615
Cricket is available in many public libraries, and a sample can be viewed online at
www.cricketmag.com/534-Online-Samples. Appropriate submissions will also be considered for Cicada, our literary magazine for ages 14 and up. Submission guidelines for
Cicada are available at www.cicadamag.com.
PLEASE POST
February 2012