Submission Guidelines

Mission From The Throat

Dog Throat Journal looks for unusual, thought provoking flash fiction, micro fiction, and prose poetry. Blur the lines. We want your non-realist, non-normal, risk-taking, odd, offbeat, eccentric, unconventional, experimental, beautiful poetic prose. We look for well crafted articulate pieces with innovative language that dances, work that speaks to themes that outlive the moment, work that may contradict itself, just like human beings do, work that explores and exposes the mysticism of everyday life, work from the edges of artistic expression and freedom. We want work that rises above and defies genre.

Starting October 1, 2025, we will begin publishing on a rolling basis. We open for submissions on the 1st of the month and close on the 21st. This happens all year except for July and December when we kick back to drink margaritas and hot chocolate.

We welcome submissions of flash fiction (up to 1000 words), micro fiction (up to 400 words), and prose poetry. The lines between these types of work aren't meant to strict. We want quality work that explores different ways of seeing the world we inhabit, and has distinctive ways of expressing it. Experiments are beautiful and necessary to move the poor planet forward.

You may submit in multiple categories, one active submission per category at a time. Remember too that we (actually singular, me) are human at this end, and at times, despite coffee, must sleep. Please use your judgment.

Simultaneous submissions are fine. Please let us know if your work is accepted somewhere else.

If you have work that was previously published, but that publication died without a resurrection, and therefore your work is no longer out there, that's fine. Onward. Otherwise, no previously published work, please.

Everybody is welcome. It makes no difference if you're new, established or somewhere in between, no difference who you are, where you're from, or where you're going. We look at the work, not the person. All submissions are read anonymously.

Response: We respond within three weeks, usually sooner. If we decline your submission, it will be a form letter. I know that form emails flop like a grounded fish, but we're running a small shop here, and the dogs want to go hiking in the hills.

Rights: Dog Throat Journal acquires first-time publication rights and the right to display the work indefinitely. All rights revert to the author upon publication. If your work is later reprinted elsewhere, please acknowledge Dog Throat Journal as the site of first publication.

How: All submissions are made through our submission system. There's no fee. You just need your email address to get started. When you register, your email address becomes part of our mailing list. We don't send out a huge amount of mail, and of course you can jump off the list at any time.

$: We don't offer any payment at this time, but we do nominate for prizes, and we hold no-fee contests with cash prizes. So there's that, friends. Dog Throat Journal is a labor of love, but also one that balances the publication of artistic expression with cash for sandwiches and doughnuts.

Thanks for thinking of us. Dog Throat Journal is a relaxed place of discovery with an open heart. If you any questions or suggestions, please get in touch.

Victor D. Sandiego
Dog Throat Journal