Cutthroat, A Journal of the Arts

Submitting your work

Cutthroat accepts submissions year-round via Submittable, with reading periods for general submissions and separate windows for its annual contests (e.g., the Rick DeMarinis Short Story Contest). Before submitting, read at least one recent issue to understand the editors' tastes—they favor work that is bold, voice-driven, and structurally adventurous, and they are not interested in conventional genre fiction or polite, workshop-style poems. For contests, follow guidelines precisely: include a cover letter with contact information, use standard manuscript formatting, and pay the reading fee (which supports the journal's operations). Response times vary from two to six months; simultaneous submissions are allowed but require immediate notification if accepted elsewhere. The editors appreciate brief, professional correspondence and discourage queries about submission status before the stated reading period ends. Above all, send your most daring work—Cutthroat is not a venue for safe choices.