Vision Statement

SWELL is a quarterly online journal of original writing focusing on GLBT themes. The electronic publishing arm of NewTown Writers, SWELL aims to reach beyond the traditional boundaries of the printed word, exploring the limits of form, structure, and content, while giving a voice to emerging writers.

Submission Guidelines

SWELL aims to reflect a spectrum of perspectives as diverse as the community from which it was born. Ideal publication candidates approach GLBT issues in a fresh way or present universal topics from a unique point of view. Pieces which avoid well-trodden areas of the GLBT canon are of particular interest. Fiction and non-fiction of all styles, as well as poetry and drama, are all acceptable forms for SWELL; aspiring contributors are also encouraged to experiment with the possibilities inherent in internet publication, such as multimedia compositions, creative hyperlinking, and works not easily categorized.

In addition to written works, SWELL chooses one composition per issue to be included as the cover image. Artists wishing to be considered should send smaller versions of their work for consideration; if an artist is selected for the cover, a higher-resolution image will be requested.

All work must be shorter than 3,000 words -- no exceptions -- though excerpts from longer works are welcomed. We do not publish work that has been published previously. All work should be submitted as a Word document to swelleditor@yahoo.com. Multiple pieces are welcome as long as the total is under 3,000 words; SWELL requests that contributors ask before submitting additional pieces beyond that word limit. We encourage the inclusion of a biography and a digital photograph to accompany submissions. Please be patient in awaiting a reply: response time is generally 1-2 months. Because of our regular publishing schedule, submissions are welcome at all times. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but we ask that you notify us upon submission. If you opt to publish a simultaneous submission elsewhere, please notify us immediately. All submissions will receive a response. There is no reading or submission fee and unsolicited work is welcome. SWELL does not pay its contributors.

Authors and artists published in SWELL retain copyright for their works.