Submissions

Upcoming premises (target themes) and deadlines for submission [postmarked]:

• Today's Onerous Task (November 1, 2025)

• While the Snowstorm Was Raging... (March 1, 2026)

• Waiting in Line (July 1, 2026)

To download a PDF file of the guidelines, click here .

ALL SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, POEMS, PHOTOGRAPHS and ART MUST RELATE TO ONE OF THE PREMISES SPECIFIED ABOVE.

NOTE: Previously published pieces are welcome, provided that the submission fits the theme and that the author owns the copyright.

The premise (target theme) must be an integral part of the story, not necessarily the central theme but not merely incidental. NOTE: Stories longer than 20 double-spaced typewritten pages will not be considered. Indicate premise (target theme) on title page. Be sure to Indicate target theme in cover letter or on first page of manuscript. Include self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with each submission. Rejected manuscripts unaccompanied by an SASE will not be returned. Response time: 3 months after premise deadline.  NO READER'S FEE.

Mail to: THEMA, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747.

Outside the US: email thema@cox.net

On acceptance for publication, we will pay the following amount: short story, $25; nonfiction/essay, $25, short-short piece under 1000 words, $10; poem, $10; artwork/photography, $25 for cover, $10 for interior page display.

Copyright reverts to author after publication.

THEMA isn't for everyone. To find out why, click here.

New to submitting manuscripts to journals?
Click here to download a PDF file of a few basic guidelines.

Unlike many publishers, we prefer works submitted by the authors themselves, without the involvement of an agent.

Be sure to indicate premise and include SASE for each submission.  BE SURE to include a separate SASE for each premise.

No handwritten manuscripts will be considered.

NOTE:

We do not accept e-mailed submissions EXCEPT from authors who live outside the U.S.

For those living outside the U.S., submit manuscript as an email attachment (readable by MSWord ― either as a DOC file or an RTF file), and include the following information on the title page: target theme, title of work, name of author, email address and physical address.

 

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Short Stories: All types welcome―both traditional and experimental

Send to: Virginia Howard, editor, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747

Outside the US: email to Virginia Howard at thema@cox.net

What we like: a carefully constructed plot; good character delineation; clever plot twists

What we don't like: bedroom/bathroom profanity.  Why?

• It's boring! Writers should be more creative than to depend on the same tired and dubious language crutches to express surprise, disdain, shock, bemusement, anger, sadness, and other emotions.
• Such profanity, used in excess, often serves as a camouflage for a weak plot. If the plot is good, the story can be told much more effectively in nonscatologic language even though a character in the story may be sleazy.
• Stories of lasting quality rarely need it.

Poetry: All types of poetic form welcome. Submit no more than three poems per theme, please. If more than three poems are submitted, we will read only the first three poems in the stack.

Send to: Gail Howard, poetry editor, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747

Outside the US: email to Gail Howard at thema@cox.net

What we like: poems that are thoughtfully constructed and carefully distilled.

What we don't like: sexually explicit wording. Subtlety is more creative.

Art and Photography:  Now accepting color illustrations and photographs for cover, and black and white illustrations and photographs for interior display. Submit  5"x7" photograph of artwork.

Send to: Virginia Howard, editor, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747

Outside the US: email to Virginia Howard at thema@cox.net

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Sample copies of THEMA are available at $15.00 per copy ($25.00 outside the US). Click here to see a list of all available issues.

Subscription rate: $30.00 per year for three issues ($40.00, outside the US).

Make check payable to "THEMA Literary Society" and mail to THEMA, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747.