Hearth Stories

Submitting your work

Before submitting, read at least two full issues to understand the register Hearth Stories favors: work that is unhurried, sensorially specific, and comfortable with ambiguity. They are not looking for polished MFA-style epiphanies or overtly topical essays; instead, send pieces that trust the reader to sit with discomfort or quiet. Cover letters should be brief and free of self-mythologizing. Simultaneous submissions are typically accepted, but notify promptly if your work is placed elsewhere. Because the platform is remote and volunteer-run, response times can be slow—wait at least three months before querying. Most importantly, do not pitch work that performs vulnerability; submit work that has already done the difficult internal labor of making vulnerability legible without demanding sympathy.