Submissions

We're always looking for fresh voices and untold stories. Cetera publishes original short fiction and poetry that surprises, challenges, and moves readers. If you write stories that explore the unexpected—tales of memory, rebellion, folklore, or worlds that change without warning—we want to hear from you.

What kind of work do you accept?

Short Fiction: We're looking for stories between 1,000 and 5,000 words. We do not currently accept flash fiction, which includes anything under 1,000 words. For genres, we're most interested in literary, speculative, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, weird fiction, and stories that defy categorization. We're especially interested in writing that is geared toward adults, so YA and middle-grade stories are a tough sell for us.

Poetry: Closed. We will open up poetry submissions again for our next themed call sometime in February.

Due to the high volume of submissions we now receive, we no longer accept previously published work. That includes anything published online, even if it is on a personal blog or social media post.

Simultaneous submissions are OK, but please let us know if the piece has been accepted elsewhere. If you need to withdraw your submission, simply reply to your submission email so we can properly flag it.

AI Policy: We maintain a strict no-AI policy. We do not accept work that has been created, assisted, edited, or enhanced by artificial intelligence tools of any kind. This includes but is not limited to:

  • AI writing assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)
  • AI grammar and style checkers beyond basic spell-check
  • AI plot or poem generators
  • AI-generated ideas, prompts, outlines, or conceptual frameworks
  • Any AI tool used in the writing, editing, or revision process

We believe in the irreplaceable value of human creativity and authentic voice. By submitting to Cetera, you certify that your work is entirely your own creation, written without AI assistance.

How do I actually submit?

Please send your submission to ceterasubmissions [@] gmail.com. But before you do, review the following guidelines to avoid an auto-rejection.

  • Subject line of your email should be "Fiction Submission: [Story Title]" for short fiction and "Themed Call: Poetry — [Your Name]" for poetry.
  • Submit your story or poem packet as an attachment. Files must be .doc or .docx. If you're submitting both fiction and poetry, please send them as separate emails.
  • Please include a brief cover letter (2-3 sentences) and your author's bio.
  • Fiction must be double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or similar).
  • Poetry may follow your preferred spacing and formatting,
  • Include your preferred name for publication (i.e. "pen name") and contact information on the first page.
  • Title your file: "LastName_StoryTitle" for fiction and "LastName_PoemTitle" for poetry (even if you're sending 3 poems, just pick the title of the first one)

As mentioned above, we no longer accept previously published work. That includes anything published online, even if it is on a personal blog or social media post. Simultaneous submissions are OK, but please let us know if the piece has been accepted elsewhere.

Anything else I should know?

  • We are a labor of love and cannot offer payment at this time. What we can offer is careful editorial attention, original artwork to accompany your story, and promotion to our growing community of readers. Additionally, if a reader "tips" your story, all proceeds go directly to you.
  • We ask for first serial rights and the right to archive your story on our platform. All other rights remain with you.
  • We aim to respond within 1-2 weeks depending on the volume of submissions we receive at any given time.
  • Accepted short stories will be published in our weekly Thursday newsletter and archived on ceteramagazine.com. Audio versions of selected stories may also be featured on our podcast, Worlds Without Warning.
  • Accepted poetry comes out in curated collections featuring multiple authors, also archived on ceteramagazine.com.

What if I have more questions?

If you're not sure what to submit, please check out our archive to get a better feel for what we publish. And if you have any specific questions about submissions not covered here, please email us via the address above.