What we publish
Q: What is The Fiddlehead’s mandate?
The Fiddlehead’s mandate is to enrich and support literary communities in Atlantic Canada and beyond by publishing engaging works of literature in a multiplicity of styles; we aim to publish new and established writers side-by-side, foregrounding diverse and underrepresented voices.
Q: How often do you publish new work?
We publish four issues each year in January, April, July, and October.
Q: How often do you publish emerging writers?
Part of our mandate aims "to publish new and established writers side-by-side, foregrounding diverse and underrepresented voices," so we are always on the lookout for emerging writers to include in every issue.
Q: Do you publish work in languages other than English?
Yes, but these are always published in conjunction with English translations. Our home province of New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, and as such, we are particularly interested in Acadian writing; we also have a keen interest in Indigenous languages. Please submit works of translation in the appropriate genre category and be sure to have permissions of the author being translated, if the translated work is not your own. We usually do not reprint work already published elsewhere, but will consider doing so if an original English translation accompanies it. If work is accepted, the translator will be responsible for securing permission from the publisher of the original text; The Fiddlehead reserves the right to not go forward with publication if permission fees are exorbitant. If you are unsure, please contact us.
Q: Do you accept previously published work?
No, The Fiddlehead only buys first serial rights. If the work has been published elsewhere, we cannot consider it.
Q: What do you consider previously published work?
The Fiddlehead considers publication as a work appearing publicly such as in a journal or book, or online via a website or social media. I.e. if your work has been posted to your Facebook, we will not consider it.
In some cases, works are published in mediums that are not widely accessible to audiences and may still be considered by The Fiddlehead. For example, a poem that was printed and exhibited in a library or museum for a limited amount of time could be considered by The Fiddlehead once the exhibit is closed. If you feel your submission falls under this category, please reach out to The Fiddlehead by emailing fiddlehd@unb.ca to confirm we will still consider it before submitting.
Q: Do you run contests or themed issues?
Yes, The Fiddlehead runs three contests a year and a special summer issue.
Our three contests are Creative Nonfiction (March 1 – June 1), Fiction (June 1-September 1), and Poetry (September 1 – December 1). The deadlines for these contests may be shifted a day or two later if the first falls during a weekend.
Generally, our summer issue is dedicated to a single genre in a tri-annual cycle, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry. On occasion, we also publish themed issues during the summer. Our two latest themes issues were Issue 290 (Winter 2022) BIPOC Solidarities Special Issue and Issue 253 (Autumn 2012) Essential West Coast Poetry & Fiction in partnership with The Malahat Review.
On submitting
Q: How do I submit my work?
The Fiddlehead accepts submissions through Submittable or via the mail. All the information on submitting via the mail can be found on our submissions page.
Q: What do I put in my cover letter?
We do not ask submitters to include anything specific in their cover letters, but it is helpful for us if you include the title(s) of your work, whether your submission is Canadian editorial content, and if you belong to any equity seeking groups. Ultimately, we recommend being kind and respectful in your cover letter.
Q: Is there a submission fee?
No, we do not have a submission fee for our general submissions.
Q: Can I submit to multiple genres at once?
Yes, submissions to multiple genres is allowed. We just limit submissions to one submission per genre per calendar year.
Q: Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes, The Fiddlehead welcomes simultaneous submissions. If your submission is accepted elsewhere we ask that you withdraw it immediately from consideration. If one or more poems from a submission have been accepted elsewhere, please send us a message through Submittable to inform us which poem(s) need to be withdrawn.
Q: When will I hear back about my submission?
The Fiddlehead aims to respond to submissions within six months, however, due to the amount of submissions we receive, this has not been the case for the last two years. Our current response time is a year or more. We ask submitters to wait at least six months to query their work, at that time we can provide an update of where their submission is in the process.
Q: Do you pay contributors?
We pay $65 per printed page for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry and $45 per printed page for reviews.
Q: What rights do you retain on accepted work?
We only purchase first serial rights. After publication, all rights are returned to the author.
Q: If my submission is accepted, how long will it take to go to print?
There’s no set timeline. It depends on several moving parts and how the editor curates each issue. We appreciate your patience!
Q: Can I submit work that was published in The Fiddlehead to other places after?
Yes, but any work published subsequently must acknowledge The Fiddlehead as its initial place of publication. We also recommend confirming with the recipient before submission that they allow previously published work to be submitted.
Q: Do you offer feedback on submissions?
We encourage our volunteers to provide feedback on what is working well in a submission or something that might be improved upon; however, we do not provide feedback on all submissions.
Working with The Fiddlehead
Q: Can I volunteer or get involved with the journal?
The Fiddlehead is always welcoming new volunteer readers. We look for readers who have some experience working with literary journals, such as a reader or editor, and who are able to read broadly and see merits in all sorts of literature. To volunteer, send us your CV and a cover letter to fiddlehd@unb.ca and we will get back to you. The Fiddlehead cannot currently offer our volunteers monetary compensation but we do give our volunteers a subscription to the journal.
The Fiddlehead does not offer internships except through UNB’s Publishing Certificate.
Artwork
Q: Do you accept art or photography?
Cover artwork is chosen by our staff and editor, so feel free to email us a portfolio or link to your work if you feel it would be a good fit. We prefer to showcase New Brunswick artists and usually do not stray further than Atlantic Canada. Occasionally, we publish interior artwork (reproduced in black and white). Please email for more details!
Payment is currently $250 + two complementary copies for the cover and for interior artwork, we pay the regular contributor rate of $65/page + two copies of the issue.
Book Reviews
Q: What kinds of books do you review?
The Fiddlehead reviews books written by Canadians in the literary genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We do not review art books, cookbooks, or children’s books.
Q: How to I submit my book to be reviewed?
You or your publisher can submit your book for review by The Fiddlehead. You can either mail a copy to us or email a press kit to fiddlehd@unb.ca. Please include confirmation that you or your publisher is Canadian.
Q: How long will I have to wait to find out if my book is going to be reviewed?
It can take up to a year or longer for us to review a newly published book. Due to the large number of books we receive, we do not contact authors or publishers if their books are not chosen for review, but if your book is reviewed, we send pdf tear sheets after publication.
