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Submissions update
General submissions are paused for summer
Litro has received over 2,800 submissions this year. We are taking a summer pause to read carefully, clear the queue, and reopen general submissions in September with a cleaner editorial process.
General submissions reopen: September 2026
During the pause, writers who want practical editorial feedback can use Litro FastTrack. FastTrack is optional and does not affect publication decisions.
For short work
Need editorial feedback before September?
FastTrack gives you a focused editorial report on short fiction, essays, or poetry under 2,800 words, delivered within 10 business days.
Use it to understand what is working, what is blocking the piece, and what to revise next.
For longer projects
Working on a full manuscript?
For novels, novellas, and book-length non-fiction, Litro offers a full manuscript assessment focused on structure, pacing, editorial diagnosis, and submission readiness.
Litro Masterclasses
Strengthen the work before you send it
Alongside editorial services, Litro Masterclasses now includes practical writing courses and executive editorial labs for writers, publishers, editors, arts organisations, and cultural teams working with stories, rights, visibility, AI, and creative value.
For writers
Revision, reader contract, submission readiness, and stronger short work.
For publishers
Catalogue visibility, rights signals, metadata, workflow priorities, and fix plans.
For cultural teams
Practical AI-readiness, governance questions, internal decisions, and next steps.
View current writing sprint View Publisher Visibility Sprint View AI Readiness Sprint
“The notes gave me the fuel to move forward with a story I realised I was polishing without really improving.”
— Lucie Donahue, FastTrack editorial feedback
General submissions are paused until September. FastTrack is editorial feedback only and is not a publication decision.
September reopening guidance
Submission guidelines
Why submissions are paused
We’ve received over 2,800 submissions this year. The pause gives our editors time to read properly, respond responsibly, and reopen in September with a clearer process for writers.
Categories & word counts
- Fiction: aim for around 3,000 words. Exceptional pieces may be considered up to 5,000.
- Essays / non-fiction: up to 2,000 words.
- Flash: up to 1,000 words.
- Poetry: up to 3 poems per submission, max around 40 lines each.
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. If accepted elsewhere, withdraw your submission from Litro immediately.
Art / Photography
Submit photography, illustration, and visual art as a tight mini-series or a single standout image.
- Up to 4 JPEGs.
- Maximum 5MB each.
- Include title, name, captions or credits, and a short artist statement where relevant.
Litro Lab Podcast / Audio
Litro Lab is our audio-led storytelling strand: short, atmospheric work built for listening.
- Length: ideally 3–8 minutes, maximum 10.
- Audio: MP3 preferred, clean audio, minimal background noise.
- Include: a written version of the piece with the submission.
Requirements
Your submission must be your own and not previously published, in print or online. We consider original translations if you hold the necessary rights.
- Submit one piece per theme.
- You can submit to different themes at the same time.
- Withdraw your piece immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
Licence summary
If accepted, you grant Litro an exclusive licence to publish the English-language work in print, audio, and electronic form worldwide.
Read the full terms and conditions.
Read the full terms and conditions.
Formatting
Upload .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Put title and word count on page one. Use a clean filename, for example:
Surname_Title_Category.
Response times
General submissions are paused until September. FastTrack aims for 10 business days and provides editorial feedback only. It is not a guarantee of publication or acceptance by Litro.
FAQ
Can I submit while general submissions are paused? No. General submissions reopen in September.
Can I use FastTrack during the pause? Yes. FastTrack remains open for editorial feedback.
Does FastTrack improve my chance of publication? No. FastTrack is an editorial development service and does not influence acceptance decisions.
Do you accept AI-generated work? No.
Support independent literary publishing
Litro remains free to read and open to new voices. If you value the work we publish, you can support our editorial programme with a one-off donation. Donations are optional and do not affect editorial decisions.
Donate