When are issues published?

We are a quarterly publication, releasing new issues every September, December, March, and June.

Why is there a fee to submit?

Blank Spaces is a heart project and, though love is free, time is not. Hours are being poured into bringing you the very best Canadian talent and the small fee goes towards supporting that sacrifice. The fee goes into the general operating fund and contributes to the cost of keeping Blank Spaces running.

If I submit something do I lose my rights?

Absolutely not! By your submission you are giving us permission to share your published work in print, PDF form, online, and through our social media channels. You maintain all legal rights to your work and are free to do with it as you please; we will, however, keep a copy in our archives. As a courtesy, we request that you refrain from submitting your accepted work anywhere else until three months after the date of publication.

Do you accept previously published works?

We sure do, but please make sure you have acquired the proper permissions to submit your piece and please let us know when and where it was previously published-including such places as blogs and websites. We are not interested in acquiring rights and will not be held responsible if you do not do your due diligence.

Will you edit my submission?

It is our hope that you only submit your very best work. Please do your best to ensure it's free from spelling and grammar mistakes. Ultimately, we are about content - not perfection - so, if your work is strong we will overlook the little slips. In such a case we will do some light copy-editing or we may return your piece with edit requests. It is up to you to make the requested changes. If you feel they compromise the integrity of your piece, we understand but please note there will be no refund of your submission fee. It is never our intention to remove your voice from your own work and we will strive to work with you to ensure you put your best foot forward into print.

Why do you spell 'color' wrong?

Nothing against your methods BUT we are proudly Canadian. We happen to think the way we spell colour is absolutely lovely and we're not going to change it. You will also see such words as favourite, endeavour, and dialogue. We will not apologize for our love of u's, we will edit your submission to contain Canadian spelling, and we hope U love us for it!

I'm not Canadian, can I still submit?

Unfortunately no. Our vision is to curate content that is strictly Canadian and we want to honour that. (A Canadian is: a citizen or a Canadian citizen living abroad.)

How much will you pay me if my piece is published?

We really wish we could tell you that, once published in Blank Spaces, you'll be able to quit your day job. Unfortunately that is not the case. All publication expenses are paid out of our own pockets and though we do have dreams of someday being able to offer monetary compensation, at this time we are unable to do so. What we can offer is publication, official registration of your article in the Canadian Library & Archives, a complimentary annual digital subscription that begins with the issue your piece appears in, your name added to the list of contributors with a link to your website or place of choice (active for the life of the magazine), promotion of your article across all of our social media channels, and a possible invitation to appear in an Artist Spotlight on our blog.

Can I advertise through Blank Spaces?

You sure can! We offer a wide variety of advertising options for listings within the magazine. We welcome ads from anyone - business owners, event promoters, bloggers, etc - as long as they do not contradict the values and mission of Blank Spaces. Visit our ADVERTISE page to get all the information you need. 

Would you consider publishing an anthology?

We love that idea! AND WE ALREADY HAVE! In September 2017, we published our first anthology, Just Words Volume 1 which came out as the number one new release in Canada! We are planning to release a new anthology every year which contains all prose and poetry from the following year. 

Is there anything you won't publish?

Glad you asked! We want to reach a wide audience, from students testing the waters of their craft to retired adults who are veterans of a creative life. While we don't believe in censorship we feel it's important to be respectful. We will not publish erotica or anything of a gratuitous sexual nature, vulgarity, hate speech, or pieces with aggressive political agendas. We are open to faith-based pieces but are not interested in anything preachy.

What if I want to withdraw my submission?

Why in the world would you want to? It is our expectation that you only submit what you're willing to share with the world. If fear is holding you back, we get that BUT we will make it our missions to gently encourage you to face that fear and put your work out there. If you're withdrawing because your work has been accepted by a publisher who is taking over the rights, we get that too BUT we require six weeks notice before the expected Blank Spaces publication date. (i.e. if your work is accepted for a September issue, you must notify us via email by July 22)

What happens after I make a submission?

Your submission is entered into a queue and will be read in the order of acceptance. While we try to get to each submission in a timely manner, it can take a number of months before you hear from us. We do our best to contact everyone who submits, even if we are passing on their piece.

What happens after my piece is accepted?

Your acceptance email will explain what issue we are scheduling your piece to appear in. You will be asked to submit a print-ready head shot and a 100ish word bio. The month before publication, we will contact you with a PDF proof so you can see how your work fits into our layout. You are also invited to make editing suggestions if necessary. All contributors are invited to purchase unlimited print copies at the pre-order discounted rate. These orders must be placed by the 20th of the month before publication.