Guidelines for Writers
Obsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora, a non-profit organization hosted by North Carolina State University, is a semi-annual journal. We publish contemporary poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction prose from within, about, and contextualizing the African Diaspora.
General Guidelines
All manuscripts that are submitted via mail must contain a self-addressed stamped envelope and an electronic version of the submission on hard disk.
Electronic submissions should be attached to the e-mail and in Microsoft Word (.doc) or RTF format.
Writers should include cover sheets bearing the author’s name, contact information, and the contents of the submission. All decisions of the editorial staff are final.
We do not accept simultaneous submissions or previously published works. Copyright reverts to authors upon publication.
Poets and fiction writers should allow three months for a response.
Each contributor will receive two complimentary copies of the journal. We deeply appreciate writers who subscribe to the journal as well as submit their work for publication.
Poetry: Poetry should be single-spaced. Poetry submissions should contain no more than 5 poems and not exceed 8 pages in the length.
Fiction: Submissions should be double-spaced and no longer than 20 pages in length.
Non-Fiction: Submissions should be not longer than 20 pages in length and double-spaced. Citations and work cited should follow MLA style (for additional information consult, http://www.mla.org).
Drama: Submissions should be double-spaced and no longer than 20 pages in length.
Reviews: Submissions should focus on books related to Africa and African Diaspora and should not exceed 1500 words.
Art: Submissions should be submitted in .jpg with a hard copy. Both color and black and white submissions are welcome. Art published with in the journal will only appear in black and white; however, cover art may appear in color.
Please send submissions to the following address:
Obsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora
North Carolina State University
Department of English, Box 8105
Raleigh, NC 27695-8105
or by e-mail: obsidian@social.chass.ncsu.eduNeither the editors nor the staff assumes responsibility for loss or damage of submissions.