Submissions
What we want
What we don’t want
Guidelines by type of submission
Compensation, rights, and length
How to submit
Response Time
Editing Policy
How to contact us
WHAT WE WANT
The Hatchet is an internet journal devoted to the study of true crime, mystery, Victorian history and the Borden Murders of 1892, as well as topics related to the life and times of Fall River, Massachusetts and Victorian America.
We are interested in well-written but easy to read works related to the case, Fall River, the lives of the people involved in the case (even peripherally), and the Victorian era in America.
We will consider previously published material but prefer original works.
We accept nonfiction essays, first-person narratives (growing up in Fall River, attendance reports at events, family memories that relate to the case, and other interesting pieces), advice for teachers using this case in their classrooms, speculative fiction, short stories, poetry, art, illustrations, humor pieces, literary criticism, and reviews.
Articles on history and/or culture can address a wide variety of possible topics. We’re interested in new angles on old ideas, or topics that don’t get covered frequently. We like to showcase articles that don’t just sum up some issue but make us think and make us want to read further.
The above is not exhaustive. If you have an idea for an article that doesn’t seem to fit into one of these categories, feel free to send us a query at peartreepress@mac.com. If you don’t have an immediate idea for a piece, but you’d really like to write for us, let us know and be prepared to show us work you’ve done. We can always think of subjects!
WHAT WE DON’T WANT
We do not accept erotica, either as articles or images
We do not accept articles or images with excessive crude language or outlandish sexual humor
We do not accept simultaneous submissions (submitting a piece to more than one journal or site at the same time)
We cannot consider partial or incomplete stories or essays
We do not accept rewrites of the “Lizzie Borden Took An Axe” doggerel
We do not accept Haiku poetry, unless as a part of a collection of five or more
GUIDELINES BY TYPE OF SUBMISSION
ARTICLES: NONFICTION
Subjects related to the Borden Murders of 1892, Victoriana, Fall River history, legal analysis, case evidence, side issues, biographical pieces.
POETRY
We are looking for high-quality extraordinary poems (both serious and humorous) that explore something related to the Borden case, Fall River, or Victorian America. Personal pieces that offer a self-reflection are acceptable. We do not accept rewrites/alternate versions of the “Lizzie Borden Took An Axe” doggerel.
REVIEWS AND CRITICISM
We accept reviews and critical essays (deeper explorations) of works related to the Borden case, Fall River, or Victorian America, including books, films, videos, and CDs. Reviews should introduce its readers to whatever it is reviewing to give the audience some idea of whether or not to read, watch, play, or buy it themselves.
Critical essays should be written more in depth about works with which your readers are presumably familiar. You may decide to take any of the following critical approaches: feminist, historical, cultural, sociological, literary, gender studies, queer theory, psychological, medical, forensic, legal, or biological.
HUMOR
We accept jokes, short humor pieces, humorous first-person stories related to the Borden case, farce, and take-offs.
THE EXCHANGE
Here is your chance to write open letters to The Hatchet and ask case-related factual questions (please be specific). Readers are invited to answer these questions with responses printed in the next issue. Sources for your answers are required!
ART AND ILLUSTRATIONS
All submitted art and illustrations must be in TIFF or PSD format and no smaller than 300 dpi.
INTERVIEWS
If you would like to interview someone related to this case (including, but not limited to, authors, celebrities, relatives of Borden case members, experts in a related field of study), you can submit your idea to us for approval.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “Dear Hatchet”
You may write letters on topics related to the content of the journal, corrections or criticism of its contents.
COMPENSATION, RIGHTS, AND LENGTH
RIGHTS: By submission of your work, you are agreeing to The Hatchet and its publisher PearTree Press holding exclusive first-printing world rights for a period of 6 months. During this first 6 month period, it may not appear anywhere else on the Internet, in print, or sold for profit. Rights revert back to the writer/artist at the end of 6 months.
We also require that you then give us non-exclusive electronic rights to include your work in our archives after it is rotated off the issue and to allow the article to appear in print format in perpetuity.
COMPENSATION AND LENGTH REQUIREMENTS: We pay compensation for almost all work accepted for publication. Payment is made upon publication. Checks are sent by mail. Foreign contributors can choose to be paid by international money order or by PayPal.
ARTICLES, NONFICTION
- 3000-5000 words (long pieces) — $15
- 1000-2999 words (medium pieces) — $10
- 500-999 words (short pieces) — $5
- 0-499 words — no fee paid
FICTION, SHORT STORIES
- 500-2500 words — $10
INTERVIEWS
- compensation is paid to the person conducting the interview — $5
POETRY
- we prefer poetry under 100 lines — $5
CRITICISM
- 300-1000 words — $10
REVIEWS
- 250-500 words — $5
ART/ILLUSTRATIONS
- in JPG or GIF format only — $5
HUMOR PIECES
- 500-100 words — $10
- 200-499 words — $5
- 0-199 words — no fee paid
FIRST PERSON STORIES
- 250-1500 words — $10
TEACHING LIZZIE BORDEN
- 300-1000 words — $10
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR no fee paid
EXCHANGE LETTERS no fee paid
HOW TO SUBMIT
We buy exclusive first-printing world rights for 6 months.
Submissions must be made via email to submissions@hatchetonline.com with the subject heading “[SUB]” followed by the title of your piece.
Electronic submissions should be as an attached MSWord or AppleWorks file. Do not include the text of your submission within the email.
For all submissions, please include your name, address, email address, and word count. Also please include a 25-50 word bio. A small JPG or GIF photo of you is not required but will be appreciated.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but only one submission per email please.
No simultaneous submissions accepted.
RESPONSE TIME
Average response time is about 30 days. If you don’t hear from us in 45 days, please query.
EDITING POLICY
We prefer not to edit heavily. If we like your idea, but feel that your article needs significant editing, we’ll send it back to you with lots of suggestions and recommendations. We will correct all typos, grammatical errors, and adjust punctuation to our house style. If we make any substantial changes we will contact you first for approval well in advance of publication.
If we cannot contact you or you do not return our emails, we will assume that you have withdrawn your submission. Feel free to resubmit it at a later date.
We prefer poetry under 100 lines. Please don’t send us poetry unless you have thoroughly proofread it. Accepted submissions may be edited for clarity or to correct minor errors. Poetry submissions which do not meet minimum standards for correct spelling will be rejected.
HOW TO CONTACT US
peartreepress@mac.com
or write us at
The Hatchet
P. O. Box 9585
Fall River, MA 02720