What kind of work is Sisyphus looking for?
We examine all work received and accept that which seems best. We consider original works of clear prose written in the English language. We also publish some poetry, art, and photography.
We seek prose of 750-1500 words, for educated readers who are progressive but not doctrinaire. Work should be either journalistic or creative nonfiction in character, not academic or jargon filled.
We seek poetry that is clear, evocative, and imagistic.
We seek pieces with a point of view that might not be easily published elsewhere (hence Sisyphus with his rock and his hill). While we aren’t trying to convert opposing points of view, we do hope to offer important contributions that will further discussion and even sway some people. We are looking for a high level of craft, the specific rather than the general, the instance that makes a powerful statement rather than broad political diatribe.
We regret that the small size of our staff does not permit us to necessarily give individual criticism.
Does Sisyphus accept previously published material?
Yes. That said, we want to ensure that their Sisyphus is fresh, new, and unique going forward. In other words, we would like to both discover your writing and have a creative viewpoint that is timely and topical. Also, we prefer to stay away from any rights entanglements. Work that has appeared online is considered to have been previously published. Simultaneous submissions acceptable.
Does Sisyphus pay money?
Not at this time. And all rights will revert to the author upon publication.
How do I submit my work to Sisyphus?
We now have an online system for you to send us your work. It will securely send our editors your work and e-mail you a confirmation that it has been received. When you are ready to submit, please visit our submission system at hippocketpress.submittable.com. Your account will be set up during your first submission. There is no need to create an account beforehand. Once you have submitted your work, you can check the status of your submission by signing into your Submittable account.
What file types can I submit?
Under the “Prose” or “Poetry” category, submit files in one of the following formats only:
- Word document (.doc or .docx) files
- Rich Text Format (.rtf) files
- Text (.txt) files
- Portable Document Format (.pdf) files
Under the “Visual” category which accepts the following: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, and Word document files.
Please note that submissions are limited to one prose/essay/story or four poems (in a single file, separated by titles or page breaks between poems) and should not exceed ten pages. Please include all writer contact info on the first page of the submitted file.
When can I submit to Sisyphus?
We accept submissions year round. We ask that you do not make multiple submissions: please wait for a response to your submission before sending new work.
How soon can I expect to hear about my submission?
Out of respect for authors, we will do everything we can to minimize response time. We will do our best to respond within three months from the day of receipt, but are sometimes slower in responding. Please be patient! It is our goal to make sure each submission gets a good read.
Please ensure that you set your e-mail spam filter to allow mail from both sisyphuslitmag.org and hippocketpress.org; otherwise notification regarding your submission may be marked as junk mail.
Who can I contact if I’m having trouble using the online system?
Please contact Submittable by e-mail (support@submittable.com) or by phone: 855.467.8264.