INTRODUCTION

Stepping Stones strives to be a starting point for new writers to experiment with their craft and to strengthen their skills. This publication also appeals to the established writer, allowing these veterans to serve as virtual mentors to those beginning their writing journey. Though Stepping Stones is a place to experiment and find your voice, acceptance into the journal is not automatic. Putting it plainly, if your work appears in our magazine, then it deserves to be there.

Stepping Stones is an 8.5” x 11” electronic Portable Document Format (PDF) publication. The magazine is 40 pages of short fiction, poetry, articles, market listings and more. Photos, drawings and other artwork complement the text. To read the journal you will need software that reads PDF files. Some recommendations are Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit PDF Reader .

FORMATTING GUIDELINES

Fiction: 3,000 word maximum. All manuscripts should be double-spaced, 12-point clean type (Times New Roman or Helvetica), with 1" margins. Please send no more than two stories per submission.

Nonfiction: 1,500 word maximum. See fiction guidelines. Please send no more than three articles per submission.

Poetry: 100 line maximum, single-spaced. Please send no more than five poems per submission.

We will not accept any writing that promotes intolerance for race, religion, gender or sexual preference. For nonfiction, authors should be mindful to ensure that their sources are current at time of submission. We accept both simultaneous and reprint submissions. Please notify us if either situation applies.

Artwork appearing in Stepping Stones should be the original work of the submitting author. We believe in the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, so tell us something in the picture. Please submit no more than five pieces per submission. Artwork must be formatted as a Portable Network Graphics (.png) or Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg) image. Please submit work on cd, dvd or as an e-mail attachment.

Send electronic submissions to the following addresses:

Art: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fiction: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nonfiction: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Poetry: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We understand that not everyone has access to a computer. We will accept hand-written manuscripts providing they meet the following criteria:

Poetry: Under thirty (30) lines.

Fiction and nonfiction: Under 500 words.

Artwork: Camera-ready and not folded.

Please enclose a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with your postal submission and mail to the following address:

First Step Press

Post Office Box 902

Norristown, PA 19404-0902

If we accept your manuscript for publication, you will receive an acceptance letter with a tentative publication date. We publish work under One-time Print Rights and One-time Electronic Rights. All other rights revert to the author.

PAYMENT

Stepping Stones Magazine is a labor of love and is presently unable to offer payment. Subscriptions to SSM are free. As the success of the publication continues, we hope to be able to offer monetary payment.