Established in 1945, The Fiddlehead is Canada’s longest running literary journal. With over 65 years of publishing history, The Fiddlehead has earned its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s literary culture. Starting out, their goal was to give emerging writers a chance to be heard in the company of their elders, and though they’ve grown in prestige over the years, that goal has remained unchanged. Since gaining an international following, they’ve expanded that mission by publishing Canadian authors alongside writers from around the world, giving their work a global context.
The Fiddlehead is primarily a print journal, but you can get a sense of what they publish by reading selections online, or by ordering a sample issue. They publish four annual editions out of their home at the University of New Brunswick, each with poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from around 25 authors. They read submissions year-round, and submitting writers can expect a response within three to nine months. Their acceptance rate is around 2%. Writers published in the Fiddlehead will be paid approximately $40 CAD per published page.
Poets may submit up to ten poems, though The Fiddlehead suggests a submission of three to five poems is best. Fiction writers may submit one short story, up to 6000 words, or one piece of flash fiction up to 1000 words. They do not accept unsolicited nonfiction. Writers should submit work in only one genre at a time, and should not send multiple submissions in any genre.
The Fiddlehead accepts simultaneous submissions, but they don’t accept previously published work. They only accept submissions by post, and submitting writers should include a self addressed stamped envelope with Canadian postage if they wish to receive a response. The Fiddlehead is famous for their rejection notes.
If you’d like to learn more or submit to The Fiddlehead, please visit their website at http://www.thefiddlehead.ca/submissions.html.
