We publish one new piece every Friday, alternating between poetry and flash fiction. We do NOT publish flash nonfiction. Please send us either one poem OR one flash fiction per author, per submission period.

We're open for submissions on the 1st of every month and stay open until we hit our submission cap. If we hit the submission cap early, regular submissions will close and reopen on the 1st of the next month. However, tip jar and expedited response submissions will remain open until the end of the month.

Our usual turnaround time is around 2-3 months. If you haven’t heard from us after 3 months, please feel free to follow up on your submission.

POETRY

• Please send us only one poem per author, per submission period.
• While there are no strict word limits for poetry, we tend to like poems that fit on one page.
• Use a 12-point standard font and single space your submissions (except for form poems).
• Attach your piece as a Word doc, docx, Google doc, or PDF.
• Please include a brief cover letter with a short third-person bio if you so desire.

FLASH FICTION

• Please send us one flash fiction per author, per submission period.
• Our maximum word limit for flash fiction is 1,200 words.
• Use a 12-point standard font and double space your submissions.
• Attach your piece as a Word doc, docx, Google doc, or PDF.
• Please include a brief cover letter with a short third-person bio if you so desire.

TIP JAR AND EXPEDITED RESPONSE SUBMISSIONS

All proceeds from the Tip Jars and Expedited Responses will go towards covering OKD's expenses like our Submittable subscription, website hosting, administrative fees, editor stipends, and then everything left over will go towards a contributor fund pool, which will be divided evenly among our published writers at the end of the year. Thank you so much for supporting OKD and the literary community!

GENERAL GUIDELINES

If we pass on an author’s flash fiction or poem, please wait at least 2-3 months before submitting again. If we accept a flash fiction or poem, please wait at least one year before submitting again. This helps us give everyone a fair shake.

Simultaneous submissions are okay, but we do not accept multiple submissions. If you send us one piece, please wait until we respond before sending us another. We also do not accept previously published pieces.

We like to read both literary and genre-bending work, but no gratuitous sex or violence. Also, no racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia.

We do not read blind, or publish anonymous work. This enables us to publish authors from diverse backgrounds, and we strive to uplift marginalized and underrepresented voices. We do however respect our authors’ privacy and publish works under a pen name.

Okay Donkey acquires First Electronic Rights and Non-exclusive Archival Rights. All other rights remain with the author. If you reprint your piece in a book or anthology, all we ask is that you mention it appeared here first.