In today’s digital age, everyone has a story to share. But finding the right platform to publish your work can be a daunting task. If you’re looking for a place to showcase your personal essays, fiction, or poetry, you might want to consider The Sun magazine. With a readership of over 70,000 and a reputation for publishing some of the most thought-provoking and inspiring pieces of writing, The Sun offers writers the opportunity to share their stories with a wide audience.
In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about writing for The Sun, from the submission guidelines to the payment structure. So if you’re ready to take the next step in your writing journey, read on to discover why The Sun might just be the perfect place to share your work.
What is The Sun Magazine?
The Sun Magazine is an independent, ad-free magazine that has been publishing personal essays, fiction, and poetry since 1974. Based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, The Sun has a reputation for publishing honest, compelling, and thought-provoking writing from established and emerging writers around the world.
The magazine is known for its commitment to publishing work that is both challenging and accessible. The editors seek out writing that can turn heads, open hearts, and change minds. The Sun is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, and many of its pieces deal with themes such as loss, grief, addiction, and social injustice.
Unlike many other literary magazines, The Sun publishes work that is explicitly political and socially engaged. The magazine encourages submissions from writers whose perspectives are underrepresented or missing from mainstream media. The editors are particularly interested in work by writers of color, queer and trans writers, writers with disabilities, incarcerated writers, and others who are marginalized on the basis of their circumstances or identity.
Overall, The Sun Magazine is a place where writers can share their most personal and vulnerable stories with a compassionate and discerning audience. It is a community of readers and writers who value honesty, authenticity, and connection.
What is The Sun looking for?
The Sun is looking for personal essays, short stories, and poems that are emotionally honest and take risks to tell something true about ourselves. The magazine encourages submissions from writers whose perspectives are underrepresented in or missing from The Sun, such as writers of color, queer and trans writers, writers with disabilities, incarcerated writers, and others who are marginalized on the basis of their circumstances or identity. The Sun is also interested in writing that seeks to understand the world from a fresh perspective and that wrestles with questions that resist easy answers.
- Personal Essays: The Sun is looking for personal essays that are too intimate for other journals. These essays should be a clear-eyed reflection on big mistakes, hard-won victories, or a testament to make newsworthy events feel intimate. The Sun encourages submissions from writers whose perspectives are underrepresented, including writers of color, queer and trans writers, writers with disabilities, incarcerated writers, and others who are marginalized on the basis of their circumstances or identity. Personal essays that are accepted by The Sun are paid $200 and up, based on page length.
- Fiction: The Sun seeks emotionally honest stories that help readers learn what it feels like to be someone else. These stories can be satire, tragedy, or parable in any genre of fiction. The Sun wants stories that take risks to tell something true about ourselves. Fiction that is accepted by The Sun is paid $200 and up, based on page length.
- Poetry: The Sun wants poems that bask in the mysteries of the universe and invite readers into the writer’s confidence. These poems should usually be narrative but always accessible, reflecting on relationships, asking questions for God, or elegizing for something lost. Poetry that is accepted by The Sun is paid $200 and up, based on page length. The Sun will consider up to 5 poems at once, please save them together in a single submission file.
Who can write for The Sun Magazine?
The Sun welcomes submissions from established and emerging writers from all over the world. The magazine seeks work that turns heads, opens hearts, and changes minds. They publish personal essays, short stories, and poems that are emotionally honest, risk-taking, and accessible.
Moreover, The Sun encourages submissions from writers whose perspectives are underrepresented in or missing from the magazine. They seek work from writers of color, queer and trans writers, writers with disabilities, incarcerated writers, and others who are marginalized on the basis of their circumstances or identity.
The magazine’s contributors’ work has also been selected for many of the Best American anthology series, including Best American Essays, Poetry, Short Stories, Spiritual Writing, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Sports Writing.
In short, The Sun is open to receiving submissions from writers of all backgrounds and experiences, as long as their work meets the magazine’s criteria for personal, emotionally honest writing that takes risks to tell us something true about ourselves.
How much can I earn writing?
The Sun Magazine pays its contributors for published works. For personal essays, short stories, and poems, the payment is $200 and up, based on the length of the work.
It’s important to note that the payment is not determined by the genre, but rather by the length of the piece. The longer the work, the higher the payment. The payment is made upon publication of the accepted work, and payment can be made via PayPal or direct deposit.
The Sun Magazine also purchases one-time print and online publishing rights for accepted works. If your work is accepted for publication, you will receive a contract outlining the payment, rights, and other details.
It’s worth noting that The Sun Magazine charges a $2.50 submission fee to help cover expenses related to receiving and evaluating submissions. The fee is charged for online submissions via Submittable, and it is not refundable. If you submit by mail, you do not need to pay a fee.
Why should I write for The Sun Magazine?
The Sun Magazine has been publishing high-quality literary work for over 45 years, and has become an influential and respected publication in the literary community. Writing for The Sun can be a great opportunity for both new and experienced writers to have their work seen by a wider audience, and to gain exposure in the literary world.
In addition, The Sun pays their writers for accepted work, providing a financial reward for their efforts. Writers who are published in The Sun can earn between $200 and up for personal essays, fiction, and poetry. The payment amount depends on the length and complexity of the piece.
Writing for The Sun also allows writers to be a part of a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about literature and storytelling. The Sun has a devoted readership and a reputation for publishing works that are thought-provoking, emotional, and authentic.
Finally, writing for The Sun can be a fulfilling experience for writers who want to share their stories with the world. Whether it’s a personal essay about a life-changing experience, a short story that transports readers to a different world, or a poem that captures the beauty of the natural world, The Sun provides a platform for writers to express themselves in a meaningful way.
How do I submit my piece?
Submitting your work to The Sun is a simple and straightforward process. Whether it’s a personal essay, fiction, or poetry, the publication accepts unsolicited submissions online via Submittable. To ensure that your work meets the publication’s standards, it’s important to follow their submission guidelines carefully. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind before submitting your work.
- Length: The Sun has no formal word limits, but they tend not to publish work longer than 7,000 words.
- Formatting: The Sun prefers manuscripts in any legible 12-point font with double-spaced paragraphs, page numbers in the footer, and 1-inch margins. On page 1, please include the author’s name, submission title, and genre.
- Submission: The Sun considers submissions online via Submittable. A $2.50 submission fee helps defray expenses related to receiving and evaluating more than 2,000 unsolicited submissions per month. The Sun does not consider unsolicited submissions via email.
- Simultaneous submissions: The Sun is happy to consider manuscripts that have also been submitted elsewhere. Please notify them immediately if your work is accepted by another journal.
- Response time: The Sun tries to respond to each submission within three months, though occasionally it takes longer.
- Payment: The Sun offers payment upon publication of accepted work. They pay via PayPal or direct deposit.
- Rights: The Sun purchases one-time print and online publishing rights.
