Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I expect to hear about my submission?
We aim to respond to all submissions within six months of receipt.
How can I check the status of my submission?
You can check the status of your submissions at any time by logging in and clicking on the status of your entry. If your status is ‘Received’, it has been received. If your status is ‘In-Progress’, your piece has been assigned to a member of our editorial staff.
I’m having trouble logging in to check the status of my piece.
Please contact Submittable directly if you have any trouble with the database.
I’ve revised my piece since I have submitted. Can you consider a newer version of a piece rather than the one I submitted?
If you would like us to consider a newer version of an already submitted piece, please log in, withdraw your piece and submit again as a new submission. Please do not contact us separately asking us to replace a submission. We will not receive this email.
I can’t afford the submissions fee. Is there another way to submit?
During every opening period, we offer 100 free submissions to authors on low incomes. If you are a low-income writer and would like to apply for free entry.
How much do you pay if my piece is accepted?
We pay professional rates for the publication of all unsolicited submissions via Submittable.
How much do you pay writers?
We pay writers £200–£400 for published short fiction.
Our standard word count is 2,000–6,000 words. The maximum payment of £400 is offered for unsolicited short fiction selected for publication.
How much do you pay for serialised fiction?
For our Serialisation section, we pay £400–£600 per chapter, depending on the length and nature of the work.
How much do you pay artists?
Artists commissioned or selected for publication receive £500 and upwards, depending on the work and commission.
Do you accept AI-generated submissions?
We do not accept fiction or artwork generated by AI. Please do not submit work created by artificial intelligence.
All submitted writing and artwork must be original work created by a human artist or writer.
My piece has been accepted for a different publication. How do I notify you?
If your piece is accepted elsewhere, please log in and withdraw your submission from our database.
Can I submit my piece somewhere else even if it’s still ‘In-Progress’ in your system?
Yes. If your piece gets accepted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission by logging in, clicking on your entry and following the instructions. Please do not write to The Belles Letters Review asking to withdraw the piece. We will not receive this email.
Can I submit something that’s shorter or longer than the 2,000-6,000 word guideline?
Yes – pieces published in The Belles Letters Review are of variable length. But please refrain from submitting book manuscripts or novellas. It is unlikely that we will read more than 10,000 words of any submission.
Do I need to find out what the upcoming themes of the magazine will be so I may submit appropriate work?
We tend to shape our issues around the work we receive, rather than asking authors to write around our ideas, so there is no need to write towards a particular theme.
If you are ready to submit your work, please visit our online submission system.