Guidelines
Review instructions for submissions including requirements.
- Poetry - A maximum of 500 words for each poetry submission. No limits on form or content. If submitting multiple pieces, please submit each individually.
- Fiction - A maximum of 1,500 words for each fiction submission. If submitting multiple pieces, please submit each individually.
- Non-fiction - A maximum of 1,500 words for each non-fiction submission. If submitting multiple pieces, please submit each individually.
- Hybrid Literature - A maximum of 500 words for each hybrid submission. If submitting multiple pieces, please submit each individually.
- Art - Please submit each artwork separately. Submissions should be in the highest resolution possible, minimum 200 dpi. Submissions must also include the art medium and date of production.
- Reviews - Book, film, television, and media reviews of works released in the last 12 months are welcome. Works being reviewed must be recent. Reviews should be between 600-900 words long and should be in MLA format. No works cited pages should be necessary in your review (see past examples of acceptable reviews). Please contact our reviews editor, Reagan Oliveira (roliveira@csustan.edu), to inquire further about reviews or send a review proposal. A review proposal is required. Include the title of the work you wish to review, a 1-2 sentence summary, and a short author bio or CV.
- Reviews word count should be between 600 to 900 words
- Reviews must end with a sign off of the submitter’s name and academic affiliation
- Reviews must be of recent works (within the last year)
- Review proposals are required, and these should be sent to Reagan Oliveira at roliveira@csustan.edu.
- Each person can submit up to 3 pieces total (for example, 1 art and 2 fiction OR 3 fiction OR 1 hybrid, 1 poetry, and 1 fiction). Failure to comply with this guideline will result in a rejection of all pieces submitted for the issue.
- Each piece must be in a separate document/submission to be considered.
- Word count for fiction/non-fiction is 1200 words
- Poetry pieces can be no more than 500 words
- Written documents should be submitted as Word Docs: NO PDF files will be accepted
- Art pieces must be sent as jpeg images, minimum 200 dpi resolution; we will request your highest resolution if selected.
- Titles must appear the same way in all parts of the submission (submission file, doc title, etc.) to prevent confusion.
- Once accepted, submitters cannot withdraw their pieces. All submissions are evaluated AFTER the submission period has closed. If your piece is accepted in another publication after we have accepted your piece, the secondary publication must attribute Penumbra as the original publisher.
- All submitted works must be original and unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
Penumbra's Website is frequently updated with calls for content and contains a wealth of new and archived material. All submissions of original poetry, art, and literature to Penumbra are made through the Submission page on penumbraonline.com. Guidelines can be found here.
With the exception of Reviews, we do not accept submission through email. The most up-to-date information is on the Penumbra website, but you are welcome to contact the following editors with questions.
Faculty Advisor, Dr. Tony Perrello – tperrello@csustan.edu
Editors-in-Chief, Allison Westlund & Martina Bekasha – awestlund@csustan.edu , mbekasha@csutan.edu
Reviews Editor, Reagan Oliveira – roliveira@csustan.edu
Updated: September 24, 2024