![\"the-first-line\"](\"http:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/the-first-line.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSubmission Guidelines We love the fact that writers around the world are inspired by our first lines, and we know that not every story will be sent to us. However, we ask that you do not submit stories starting with our first lines to other journals (or post them online on public sites) until we’ve notified you as to our decision (usually two to three weeks after the deadline). When the entire premise of the publication revolves around one sentence, we don’t want it to look as if we stole that sentence from another writer. If you have questions, feel free to drop us a line.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n (Also, we understand that writers may add our first line to a story they are currently working on or have already completed, and that’s cool. But please do not add our first line to a previously published story and submit it to us. We do not accept previously published stories, even if they have been repurposed for our first lines.)<\/span><\/p>\n One more thing while I’ve got you here: Writers compete against one another for magazine space, so, technically, every literary magazine is running a contest. There are, however, literary magazines that run traditional contests, where they charge entry fees and rank the winners.\u00a0We do not – nor will we ever – charge a submission fee<\/b>, nor do we rank our stories in order of importance. Occasionally, we run contests to help come up with new first lines, or we run fun, gimmicky competitions for free stuff, but the actual journal is not a contest in the traditional sense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fiction:<\/b>\u00a0All stories must be written with the first line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise noted by the editors. The story should be between 300 and 5,000 words (this is more like a guideline and not a hard-and-fast rule; going over or under the word count won’t get your story tossed from the slush pile). The sentences can be found on the home page of\u00a0The First Line’s<\/i>\u00a0Web site, as well as in the prior issue.\u00a0Note: We are open to all genres.<\/b>\u00a0We try to make TFL as eclectic as possible. Non-Fiction:<\/b>\u00a0500-800 word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work. All Stories:<\/b>\u00a0Writers should include a two- to three-sentence biography of themselves that will appear in the magazine should their story run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Multiple Submissions:<\/b>\u00a0We don’t mind if you want to submit multiple stories for the same issue. However, it is unlikely we will use more than one of your stories in the same issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Four-Part Stories:<\/b>\u00a0If you think you are up to the challenge, you can write a four-part story that uses the spring, summer, fall, and winter sentences. However, all the parts must be submitted at once (a single e-mail or snail mail) before the February 1st deadline. (If selected, each part will be published in its respective issue.) Submissions:\u00a0<\/b>We prefer you send manuscripts via e-mail to\u00a0submission (@) thefirstline (dot) com<\/i>. We accept stories in MS Word or Word Perfect format (we prefer attachments). Please do not send pdf versions of your story or links to Google docs. Make sure your name and contact information, as well as your bio, are part of the attachment. Stories also can be sent to\u00a0The First Line<\/i>‘s post office box. No manuscripts will be returned without an accompanying SASE with sufficient return postage. Here is the submission schedule for 2017:<\/span><\/p>\n Spring:<\/span><\/b> Summer:<\/span><\/b> Fall:<\/span><\/b> Winter:<\/span><\/b> Notification:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0We don’t make decisions about stories until after each issue closes. We typically send notices out within two to three weeks after the issue’s deadline to everyone who submitted a story. You can also check the home page of the Web site as we will indicate each issue’s production status there.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Payment:<\/b>\u00a0We pay on publication:\u00a0$25.00 – $50.00<\/b>\u00a0for fiction,\u00a0$5.00 – $10.00<\/b>\u00a0for poetry, and\u00a0$25.00<\/b>\u00a0for nonfiction (all U.S. dollars). We also send you a copy of the issue in which your piece appears. You’ll receive your money and issue at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Note to our international writers:<\/b>\u00a0Postage cost for sending author copies overseas is becoming outrageous, so we are reducing international author payment by the amount it would cost to send one author copy overseas. However, if you would like to receive an electronic version of the issue (PDF) instead of a hard copy, author payment will not change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/b>Updated November 1, 2016<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nEddie tended to drift into whatever jobs were available that would pay the rent.
\nDue date: February 1, 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe plan suddenly made sense.
\nDue date: May 1, 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nFrank Rooney had been the manager of the Shop & Save for thirty-eight years, and he wasn’t retiring anytime soon.
\nDue date: August 1, 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n“I’m tired of trying to see the good in people.”
\nDue date: November 1, 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n