When we are asked a question that might be helpful to other people, we'll add it here. If you want to ask us anything else, please email editorial@scrimshaw.ie.
Q. Once my work has been accepted by Scrimshaw, can I publish it elsewhere?
A. We ask for exclusivity for six months from the launch date of the journal. This includes self-publishing on your own channels in the same way as 'unpublished anywhere else' includes your own channel. If you are publishing elsewhere, it would be nice if you could add 'first published in Scrimshaw Journal Volume Five' but that's not essential.
Q. How many pieces of work can I submit?
A. As many as you like, there is no limit to the number in any category. However, please don't send us your entire portfolio of 1000 poems or 60 short stories. Pick the few things you like the most and send us those.
Q. Do you accept pieces taken from a larger work?
A. Yes we do! It must still meet the other requirements (i.e. be unpublished, word count etc.), and it must make sense as a stand alone piece, but otherwise, go for it.
Q. Your style guide is really restrictive, what if I want to use unusual formatting to make a point?
A. Most if not all publications will have a style guide. They will almost always have formatting requirements for their submissions. This is partly to make it easier for us editors to read and, we hope, streamline the editing process. If you want to break or bend the rules, that is fine as long as it looks intentional. If there are misspellings that look like typos, or anything that looks like a mistake, expect to be able to defend your choices. We will do what we can to accommodate your creative decisions.
It is important to note that the fonts we're asking for (Times New Roman and Arial) won't be the font the journal uses - this is a design decision taken separately.
Q. Are you accepting fan fiction?
A. Not for this volume. The copyright implications are not something we are confident enough about to allow for this year, but maybe next year's editors will feel differently.