Submission
Guidelines
Updated
October 2, 2024
Fiction:
All stories must end with the last line provided. The
line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise
noted by the editors. The story should be between 300
and 5,000 words (this is more like a guideline and not
a hard-and-fast rule; going over or under the word count
won't get your story tossed from the slush pile).
Also,
we understand that writers may add our last line to
a story that they are currently working on or have already
completed, and that's cool. But please do not add our
last line to a previously published story and submit
it to us. We do not accept previously published stories,
even if they have been repurposed for our last lines.
Also, we do not accept simultaneous submissions.
All
Stories: Writers should include a two- to three-sentence
biography of themselves that we can use in the journal
should your story be accepted.
Multiple
Submissions: We don't mind if you want to submit
multiple stories for the same issue. However, it is
unlikely we will use more than one of your stories in
the same issue.
Submissions:
We prefer you send manuscripts via email to submission
(@) thelastlinejournal (dot) com. We accept stories
in MS Word or Word Perfect format (we prefer attachments).
Please do not send .pdf versions of your story. Make
sure your name and contact information, as well as your
bio, are part of the attachment. Stories also can be
sent to The Last Line's post office box (PO Box
250382, Plano, TX, 75025-0382). No manuscripts will
be returned without an accompanying SASE with sufficient
return postage.
The
2025 last line will be released this November.
Notification:
We don't make decisions about submissions until after
each issue closes. We typically send notices to everyone
who submitted within three to four weeks after the issue's
deadline. You can also check the website's home page
for each issue's production status.