RHP Magazine is currently closed for submissions!
Rock and a Hard Place Magazine is currently closed for submissions.
But don’t fret! Each month, RHP Press is open the first week of the month for submissions to Stone’s Throw, the online companion publication of Rock and a Hard Place Magazine. Each month will feature a different prompt for stories between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Visit the Stone’s Throw submissions page to learn more.
NOTE: Contributors are asked to limit submissions to one (1) written work per open call, or four (4) visual arts submissions per open call (or both, if you’re a noir polymath). If we’re accepting submissions for two different projects simultaneously, you may submit one written work or four visual arts submissions for each project for which we’re soliciting submissions. And to make it even more complicated, we’re only publishing one accepted story per author per calendar year over at Stone’s Throw, since the year’s stories will be collected in a standalone anthology at the end of the year.
Got all that?
At this time, we are not accepting single panel slice-of-life or workplace cartoons à la Dilbert or Cathy (weird that we even have to say that…), but if you have an idea for a longer form visual arts project (photo essay, a story in graphic novel format, etc…) hit us up via our Contact form to discuss.
Note that we no longer accept reprints — there’s so many great original works out there that we want you to wow us with something that hasn’t been printed before.
And from the Department of Things We Never Thought We'd Have to Say Department: Anyone found to be submitting a story that uses AI or language modeling software will have their story instantly rejected; they will be banned for life from submitting to any other RHP open calls; and they will be the object of open public ridicule and scorn. Come on, people — let’s not contribute to the eventual subjugation of humankind by the machines, okay?
Submissions Guidelines for Rock and a Hard Place Magazine
Rock and a Hard Place Magazine is a cross-genre magazine publishing works of fiction that focus on the plight of marginalized, poor, depressed, and desperate.
What types of stories will you publish?
We want fiction from any genre. We want stories that mix genres. We want stories that don’t acknowledge the existence of genre or categories.
Really, what we want is stories that detail life at the bottom or at the margins of human society. These can be stories about losers who always make the wrong decisions, or they can be stories about people who always make the right decisions but who still can’t get ahead because of the hand they were dealt in life.
You can make it weird. You can make it sad. You can make it dark. Or you can make it just the tiniest bit hopeful.
The title of this magazine is Rock and a Hard Place. We want stories about that situation.
Remember, we don’t want reprints or multiple story submissions.
What do you NOT want?
You know that cousin you have that inherited a bunch of money and who everything goes right for? With the really nice smile and daily life full of cotton candy and shiny, relaxed people with great hair?
We don’t want stories about him or any of his friends.
Also, don’t send us any racist, homophobic, transphobic, or misogynistic shit. If you do, not only will we not accept your piece, but we will mail you actual shit. And document the whole situation very publicly, with an awesome soundtrack.
How long should my story be?
Between 2,000 and 5,000 words, but if it’s a little more or a little less, send it. If it’s good, we’ll publish it. We’re also known to publish photo essays, poetry, visual art, and flash fiction. Our issues even have kids’ magazine-style activities, complete with dark sense of humor. We believe in guidelines, not strict rules. If you have an idea or work in a medium outside what’s described here, email us and let’s talk about it. Please do not email us submissions while we are closed for submissions.
Are you going to pay me?
Yes. We pay $35 for stories between 2,000 and 5,000 words; less if you would prefer a contributor copy of the issue in which your work appears. If your submission is less than 2000, we will discuss payment with you. We do not pay for flash (1,000 words or less), but we will kick in for your contributor copy. We pay $15 for most art pieces.
Can I submit garbage?
Not literal garbage, no. But if you are a new writer and haven’t got the polishing thing going yet, send it over. If we see a story in there, we’ll try to work with you.
We do however reserve the right to not publish whatever we don’t want to publish. This includes submissions made while we are hangry, and we expect you to know when that is. We also expect you to send sandwiches.
How should I submit?
When we’re open for submissions, we’ll include a link to a Google form on this page. Use that, but we’re flexible — if you have trouble utilizing the Google form, send us an email, and we’ll figure it out. Please read the directions for submissions carefully. We’re pretty relaxed, but sticking to these guidelines means we’ll have the best possible experience in reading your work. And we want that; we want you to want that. We want you to submit great stuff and we want to read great stuff. We’re on your team.