Submission Guidelines

We Want Your Voice

Open-Ended Specificity seeks writing that explores the edges of the internet, technology, and digital culture. We're looking for pieces that make us see the screen-lit world differently.

What We Publish

We accept:

• Essays - Personal, critical, experimental
• Fiction - Short stories, flash fiction, hypertext narratives
• Poetry - Any form, any style
• Art & Visual Work - Digital art, photography, glitch art, net art
• Hybrid & Experimental Work - If it defies category, we want to see it

Themes We Love

While we don't limit submissions to these topics, we're especially drawn to work exploring:

• The intersection of technology and consciousness
• Digital intimacy and isolation
• Internet folklore and mythology
• Virtual spaces and their architectures
• The poetry of code, glitches, and errors
• Online identity and self-creation
• The future of human-computer interaction
• Cyberpunk, solarpunk, and speculative visions

Submission Requirements

Written Work:

• Word count: Up to 5,000 words for prose; no limit for poetry
• Submit as a .txt, .doc, .docx, or .pdf file
• Include a brief bio (50-100 words) in the body of your email
• Previously published work is accepted if you retain rights

Visual Work:

• Submit as .jpg, .png, .gif, or .webp files
• Minimum resolution: 1200px on the longest side
• Include titles and any relevant descriptions
• Series of up to 5 related images welcome

Hybrid/Experimental Work:

• Contact us to discuss format and submission method
• We're open to interactive pieces, video, audio, and code-based work

How to Submit

Email your submission to: [SUBMISSION EMAIL HERE]

Subject line format: SUBMISSION - [Type] - [Your Name]
(e.g., "SUBMISSION - Essay - Jane Smith")

In the body of your email, include:

• Your name
• Title of your work
• Brief bio (50-100 words)
• Links to your website or social media (optional)
• Any content warnings if applicable

Response Time

We aim to respond to all submissions within 4-6 weeks. If you haven't heard from us after 8 weeks, feel free to query.

Simultaneous Submissions

We accept simultaneous submissions. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please let us know immediately.

Rights & Payment

We request first electronic publication rights. All rights revert to the author upon publication. While we cannot offer payment at this time, all contributors receive full credit and promotion of their work.

What We're Not Looking For

• Work that promotes hate, bigotry, or violence
• AI-generated content without significant human creative input
• Purely promotional or advertising material
• Academic papers without creative/personal elements

Tips for Submitters

• Read past issues to understand our aesthetic
• Take risks - we value originality over polish
• Your unique perspective matters more than perfect technique
• Don't self-reject - let us make the call

Questions?

If you have questions about whether your work fits, reach out! We're happy to discuss potential submissions.

We look forward to reading your work.