If you want to submit work for inclusion in Lighthouse (and we’d very much like you to), we ask that you use our online submission form and familiarise yourself with our submission guidelines. These are intended to make it possible for us, as editors, to read through as many pieces of work as carefully and as thoroughly as we can in the time we have available to us.

We are all very passionate about writing here at Lighthouse and we’d like the work of everyone who sends us submissions to have the same basic chance to show its interest and quality to us. Given that we, as editors, work on a voluntary basis, the electronic submission form and the guidelines below are an important part of our efforts to ensure that this happens.

What kind of work is Lighthouse looking for?

The editorial team consider all work received and accept that which seems best. We regret that the volume of submissions received and the small size of our staff do not permit us to give individual criticism.

Who are Lighthouse hoping to get submissions from?

We are a magazine devoted to promoting and showcasing new writing. Although we expect that many of our contributors will not have many previous publications, in order to retain our focus on writers at an earlier stage of their careers, we should note that we will not normally print unsolicited submissions from writers with more developed literary careers:

• For poets, this would normally mean writers who have not already produced a first full collection of poems with a mainstream literary publisher will be given priority.
• For prose writers, this would normally mean writers who have not yet published a first novel or collection of short fiction will be given priority.

Word Length and Formatting

• For poems, we will not normally be able to print submissions of more than 60 lines in length.
• For short fiction, we will not normally be able to print submissions of more than 7000 words. We welcome the submission of shorter prose forms, such as flash fiction and micro-fiction. Please do not send us extracts from longer works, such as chapters from novels, unless they are able to stand alone as complete pieces.

Does Lighthouse accept previously published material?

No. We cannot consider anything that has been previously published or accepted for publication, anywhere, in any form. Work that has appeared online is considered to have been previously published and should not be submitted. We do not consider simultaneous submissions.

Does Lighthouse pay for Contributions?

No. We would love to pay contributors for work, but both we (Lighthouse) and Gatehouse Press run on a voluntary basis. All profits are ploughed back into publishing new work. We do offer two free copies, on request, of the journal in which you appear.

For more information and  to send your work