CONTRIBUTORS WELCOME

The Wise Owl Team prides itself in giving everyone an equal shot at publication, based solely on the quality of their work. We favour originality, freshness, innovation and novelty and would encourage our contributors to adhere to our norms. That is not to say we turn up our noses at traditional works. Well-written quality pieces are always welcome.  To have the best chance of surprising us, please take a few minutes to read our Guidelines before you submit.  Submissions may be sent to editor@thewiseowl.art

Guidelines for Submission

The Wise Owl, welcomes submissions of hitherto unpublished poetry, Fiction (Short Stories), Non-Fiction (Essays, memoirs, travelogues, Reviews (Books/Films/TV Series/OTT releases). We would also be happy to publish literary and critical writing, as well as visual art (Photographs, paintings, sketches, graphic designs, pen and ink designs, short films et al). Please note the following genre-specific and general guidelines.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• All submissions should be sent as one Microsoft Word attachment (as a.doc file, please).

• Your submission must include the following:

  • The original work.

  • A statement granting us permission to publish the original work as well as a declaration that you are in a position to grant us such rights.

• Optional, but highly encouraged:

• A short write-up providing context of the literary work in about 100-150 words. 

• Submissions must not have been previously published. An undertaking to this effect must be submitted along with your submission. Your submission will not be considered by our Editorial team unless such an undertaking is filed.

• Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but we ask in return that you notify us by email as soon as you learn of an acceptance elsewhere.

GENRE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

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Fiction (Short Stories)

May include sub-genres like crime, fantasy, romance, science fiction, Westerns, inspirational, historical fiction, and horror. The submission may include one or more works of short fiction or excerpts of a longer work. Please ensure that the fiction pieces do not exceed 1500 words each. 

Poetry

Submission in this section may include more than one poem or a translation of the poem in English language. Please start each poem or section of a long poem on a new page unless the work absolutely demands to be read without page breaks. Word Limit is 500 words.

Non-fiction

This includes genres such as memoir, Musings, Travelogues, Anecdotes and Essays. The non-fiction piece should be 750-1200 words. 

Criticism (Reviews of Books/Films/releases on OTT Platform)

This section includes reviews of books, plays, films and releases on the OTT platform (usually recently published or forthcoming). If you are interested in reviewing for us please email editor@thewiseowl.art using "INTERESTED IN REVIEWING WORK" as the subject header, suggesting some potential titles, and links to your previously published work. These should not exceed 750 words. We have no objection to pieces used as a launch pad for new releases as long as they meet our parameters of submission.

Interviews

Interview pitches are welcome. Please ensure that the interview is restricted to established or upcoming writers, poets, playwrights, painters, sculptors, photographers or cinematograpghers. Interviews must be in English.  If a video recording of the interview is sent and it is found to fit our quality parameters, it will be published as well.

Visual Art

Painting, sketch, graphic design, illustration, sculpture, photograph and short films are acceptable under this section. A visual feature adjudged as best by our Visual Art team will be featured on the cover of our magazine or as a cente piece or as Editor's Pick. The size of the visual art works should be 1080x1080 pixels and should be sent as a .jpg/.jpeg/.png/.img image file not exceeding 2MB. The short film should be of 5-10 minute duration.

Please ensure that all submissions are accompanied with a passport size photograph and a short CV (75-100 words) of author/poet/writer/artist/cinematographer/filmmaker. Literary submissions that are adjudged as ‘Editor’s Pick’ will also be a part of our podcast/YouTube Channel. Visual feature adjudged as best will be used as a centrepiece for the magazine. Copyright will remain with the poet/artist/writer/Filmmaker.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Rights to the work revert to the author and the artist after publication. We do hope to put out a print anthology as an annual feature. Contributors who have been chosen for such an anthology will be requested for permission separately.

• If the author, writer, poet, book reviewer or artist has a website, a weblink will be added at the end of the article. This link will help drive traffic to author's website.

Editorial Intervention & Liability

The submissions will be examined by our Editorial Team for content from the point of view of what they feel is rich and wholesome content, with universal approach and global acceptance.The Editorial Team shall also evaluate submissions based on whether in their opinion, the submissions can generate viewership.Rejection of some or all works of a writer/artist is in no way a comment on the ability of a particular poet/writer/artist.

Review of Submissions

Submissions entered into our system before 15 of every month, will be evaluated within 15 days. If they are accepted, you will hear from us within 3 weeks (by the 1st week of the following month). However, if you don’t hear from us, it is a polite way of saying that the submissions have not passed muster. Rejection of some or all works of a writer/artist is in no way a comment on the ability of a particular writer/artist. Our team would be happy to evaluate fresh submissions.  

• Our finances do not permit us to pay contributors at this time. However, this situation will change in the near future.

• If you require further clarification on any matter, please send us a query (with the word "QUERY" included in the header) at the email address editor@thewiseowl.art. Due to the volume of e-mails we receive, we may not be able to respond to queries about guidelines that have already been answered on this page itself.