Submit Your Work
Editorial Mission
SAD Mag has a mandate to support emerging writers and artists based in B.C., with an emphasis on stories and works from underrepresented voices. We especially encourage pitches from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and people with disabilities. Submissions are welcome from those who have never been published before, or who are in the early stages of their careers—editorial support will be provided.
Print and Web
Our print issues are published twice a year with themes and submission deadlines that are announced beforehand on our Instagram and here. Follow us @sadmagazine to stay updated. Please note if submissions are open or closed below.
Our website features regular content. Submissions are always open. We look forward to receiving your work!
More information on submission guidelines and how to submit to print and web below. Please note that print and web submissions are separate with different directions.
$$$
Paying contributors is important to us. We value your work and do our best to reduce financial barriers to submitting. Having said that, SAD is a volunteer-run nonprofit and much of our budget is grant-dependent. As such, our rates tend to fluctuate. Depending on the word length, writing submissions for each print issue will range from $100-300, and depending on the size and placement, art submissions will range from $70-500. For web submissions, writing and art submissions are $100 per piece.
Current Issue (On Stands Now!)
Our current issue, No. 36: Texture, is on stands now! Subscribe and get it mailed straight to your door!
Next Issue
SAD Mag is currently in production for our 37th issue:TIME. Submissions for this issue are now closed, but keep an eye out in the winter, when we’ll do our next call out!
print Submission Guidelines
The vast majority of our accepted pitches for the print magazine are those relevant to the issue’s theme, and we encourage you to interpret each theme creatively. While non-fiction pieces (personal essays, journalistic articles, etc.) make up the bulk of each issue, we publish a select handful of poetry and prose as well. Vancouver-related content is appreciated and encouraged, and we exclusively work with B.C.-based creatives.
We encourage new writers to check out a copy of SAD Mag to get a feel for our publication style. Submissions which do not observe formatting guidelines will not be reviewed. While we make a sincere effort to reply to every pitch, we receive a high volume of emails and are managed by a staff of volunteers. Thank you for your understanding.
Pitches
Editorial pitches can be addressed to our Editor-in-Chief at hello@sadmag.ca or via the submission form. Please include your submission as a Google Drive link, or in .docx or .pdf formats in 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced. It is much appreciated if you also include your name on this document.
Prose
Please include prose submissions as a Google Drive link, or in .docx or .pdf formats, in 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
Dispatches: 300-word pieces on the issue theme from current or former Vancouverites living, working, or travelling abroad. The only content we publish about other places in the world, dispatches have a strong sense of place.
Bite Sized: short and sweet pieces between 400 and 600 words, bite sized pieces explore topics relating to the issue theme in lighter detail.
Mid Sized: between 700 and 900 words, mid sized pieces explore topics relating to the issue theme in moderate detail.
Features: between 1,000 and 1,200 words, features explore the issue theme in further depth.
Poetry
Please include up to 3 pages of work as a Google Drive link, or in .docx or .pdf formats, in 12 point Times New Roman font. Poetry may be submitted in single-spaced or double-spaced lines. Please note we receive a high volume of poetry submissions and typically only publish 1-3 per issue.
Illustrations & Photography
Art pitches can be addressed to our Creative Director at cynthia@sadmag.ca or via the submission form. Please note that we can only accept submissions from artists who have lived or worked in Vancouver, Canada at this time.
If you are interested in illustrating or photographing a piece specifically for the magazine please submit your website portfolio or a link to a couple pieces showcasing your style. If selected, you will be assigned an article to be paired with.
Please note we only publish film photography in our printed magazine.
Editorial Pitches
Art Pitches
*Please note we can only accept submissions by artists who have lived or worked in Vancouver, Canada at this time.
Web Submission Guidelines
SADmag.ca is the digital counterpart to our print magazine. Here, you’ll find a handful of themed content from the mag in addition to timelier pieces including local events and interviews with creative Vancouverites as well as personal essays and the occasional poem.
SAD is currently able to offer payment for web submissions—we know it ain’t much, and appreciate your understanding that it’s the best we can do as a volunteer-run nonprofit with a grant-dependent budget. The rates are as following:
Reviews ~1000 words: $125
Fiction/Prose and Essays ~1000 words: $125
Interviews: Interviewer $100, Interviewee $25
Poetry: $65 per page, up to 2 pages
Art: $125
Pitches
To share your ideas, please write to our web editors at webeditor@sadmag.ca.
Prose
Please include prose submissions of 1,000 words maximum as a Google Drive link, or in .docx or .pdf formats, in 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
Poetry
Please include up to 3 pages of work as a Google Drive link, or in .docx or .pdf formats, in 12 point Times New Roman font. Poetry may be submitted in single-spaced or double-spaced lines.
Visual
We welcome submissions from painters, illustrators, photographers, videographers, and other artists. While in print, we only feature film photography, both digital and film photography may be featured online. Please include the URL of your portfolio or website if you have one, so we can link to you.