The Ones Behind the Bookshelves About The Ones Behind the Bookshelves is a writer-run literary newsletter. It began as my way of getting back into the reading habit I’d lost track of.I’ll be curating eclectic short fiction and poetry from writer submissions. So you’ll see stories or poems in your inbox from writers who want to share their work.Whether you’re a reader hunting for fresh voices, or a writer wanting to share your work, this is the place for you. Important: Word count limits may vary for themed calls. As always, check the full guidelines carefully before submitting. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2025 Publication Medium & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationPublished 6 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis FasterThe Ones Behind the Bookshelves's overall average response time is faster than most magazines. Collapse section Fiction Open Types of stories preferred: speculative fiction, contemporary fantasy, dystopian tales, and character-driven stories. The weirder, the stranger, the more surprising, the better.Dates:Open to fiction submissions through 14 November 2026* (approx. 60 days from now).Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Horror Open to all/most Subgenres Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres, including: DystopianLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 3,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Politics/Political Science: See guidelines.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Open Types of poems preferred: narrative or prose poetry. Shorter poems are welcome, but priority will go to narrative or prose.Dates:Open to poetry submissions through 14 November 2026* (approx. 60 days from now).1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Horror Open to all/most Subgenres Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres, including: DystopianLengths: Poem: No line limits known; Up to 3 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms, including: Narrative poetry, Prose poetry.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Politics/Political Science: See guidelines.Payment:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Bluesky @cgacosta.bsky.socialInstagram @tobtbs For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Ones Behind the Bookshelves Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Poetry Group by submission Accuracy We have received 8 reports from 8 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 4 min | 12.7 mean avg | 12.0 median | 89 max days (27.9 std dev) Pending 2 responses are pending (4 min | 57.5 mean avg | 57.5 median | 111 max days waiting | 75.7 std dev) from 2 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The editors will try to make a decision within 30 days. (12.5 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 30 days.) Most recent response reported was received on 10 Jun 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Jun 2026. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:48 UTC (less than a minute ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 11 Sep 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only