Guidelines

NOTE: We are currently closed to unsolicited submissions.

[Feature articles]
Bookish London seeks feature articles, interviews, reviews, and public audience non-fiction celebrating literary community, culture, and tourism in London. We're not a travel site, nor are we a review site (you won't find us assigning "stars" to the places, events, and experiences we write about). Instead, we look to promote ideas of literary citizenship and literary tourism in London as a reminder that, no matter where we are in the world, there are ways to engage with and fully appreciate the literary community around us. 

What we hope to see in our feature articles is a unique, personal perspective on some aspect of London Literary Tourism--a sense of your own passion for and connection to the topic--delivered in engaging, lively prose. You might write about a bookstore that's caught your attention or imagination, or about taking one of London's many literary tours; you might write about attending a book release party, author event, or book festival; you might even wish to review a new book from a UK press, or interview someone connected with publishing, media, creative work, or literary culture. We also welcome reflective personal essays detailing small and unexpected moments of literary connection: the afternoon you spent reading outside a cafe or in a park; the book you happened to come across at just the right time; the encouraging or inspiring word someone offered you in your travels. 

For all feature articles, including proposed interviews or reviews, please query the editors first via Canvas. Please address your query up top to "Editors at Bookish London" and please let us know what category your submission falls under (Literary Tourism | Bookstores | Media and Pop Culture | Book Culture | Writing Life) as well as the proposed title of your piece, as in:

TO: EDITORS AT BOOKISH LONDON
SUBMISSION: BOOK CULTURE: "Hardback Books: Not Just for Doorstops Anymore"

Other guidelines:

Length requirements for finished feature articles run from 1000-1250 words, but if you feel you need more space to convey a great idea, we're willing to work with that.

Queries should be brief (usually no more than 3 paragraphs) and include a 3rd-person bio of the author; if your piece is accepted, we will also need a hi-res headshot / author photo.

If your proposed piece includes photos that you've taken and might wish to use, please let us know that you plan on providing these.

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[Creative Writing]

 Bookish London seeks short-form/micro works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry which have been inspired in some way by your connection to, or even a brief encounter with, London. The piece itself need not be about London—in fact, we'd prefer if it wasn't directly; we're not looking for a dozen pieces titled "Ode to the Thames"—but think about how the experiences, sights, and sounds of the place might serve as a creative springboard. Also, keep in mind we're looking primarily for flash-length (750 words or shorter) pieces, with preference for even-more compact pieces under 200 words, looking to tell a story or convey a sense of wonder in that space, as one encounters all the time in London.

 

For all creative work, please query the magazine first via Canvas with a brief cover letter that introduces yourself as a writer, the kind of work you're drawn to, and (if you have specific pieces in mind you want to submit) the work you'll be offering for possible publication. The subject line should indicate your genre, as in:

TO: BOOKISH LONDON
SUBJ: FICTION SUBMISSION

 

If invited to submit the work, please include a very brief author's statement for each piece highlighting the piece's relationship to London or what inspired it. You may submit up to 4 pieces at a time, whether prose or poetry. 

 

We look forward to reading your work!