What’s the best way to submit my work?

Please submit one story, or up to 5 poems, at a time. Our preference is for clearly typed manuscripts, double spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper. The submission should contain your name, address, e-mail address, and a telephone number where you can be reached. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope or we cannot guarantee your work will be responded to or returned. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but please let us know in your cover letter.

Please mail to: Roux

2852 Willamette, #111

Eugene, OR 97405

Do you accept manuscripts via fax or email?

Not by fax. We’ve just started to accept submission via email (see here). If this seems to generate more spam than literature, we’ll have to discontinue the practice.

What style/genre/preference will make it into the magazine?

Our staff has varied tastes, and will accept anything that strikes a chord. We prefer work that has a clear, unique voice. Rough and risky subject matter, formats, or perspectives are welcome when they are well-written or have been thoughtfully considered, but dashed-off ramblings with the occasional dirty word do not fare as well. After a couple of years, we’ve become a bit jaded to pieces about dying relatives, the “muse” of poetry, that last morning before your relationship ended, or the weather. Please keep in mind that we read many, many other submissions and if your themes are a bit on the traditional or cliché side, realize that to make an impression the writing needs to be exceptional.

A small group of readers read everything submitted and make recommendations to the editor. The final decision rests there but can be swayed if someone has a strong response to a piece.

We don’t really do “theme” issues or pretend to any high artistic aspirations other than to compile the best work that we can. If we don’t have enough good material, we wait until we do before publishing the next issue.

Most magazines (and advice columns) recommend that authors read a sample issue or two to understand the flavor of the magazine and an editor’s preferences. As a relatively new and evolving publication, it isn’t a fool-proof gauge. However, if you’d like to hedge your bets you can acquire a review copy at a discount by sending $6 (includes shipping & handling) to Back Issues Editor, Roux Magazine, 2852 Willamette, #111, Eugene, OR 97405

Do you read unsolicited manuscripts all year long?

Of course. We don’t exactly pay top dollar (copies of the magazine) so we are dependent on beginning authors or those who place a premium on exposure over cash. The magazine can only be as good as the authors we publish, so we are absolutely willing to make the effort to read everything that comes in and will include anything we find exciting, regardless of style, genre, length, or the author’s resume.

The downside of this is that due to the large number of submissions, we are slow. Very slow. It is not unusual for several months to pass before we’re read the material and made a decision. If a piece is simply not our cup of tea, we’ll politely decline. It’s difficult to comment on every manuscript, but if time permits we’ll offer our opinion.

What’s you publication process, and what publication rights are involved?

After acceptance, we sometimes ask for minor edits or changes, and if these are acceptable to the author we have a brief contract to sign. We ask for First Serial Rights; non-exclusive, one-time anthology rights; and the right to run a portion of the story or the full poem on our web site. Authors receive 2 copies of the issue in which their work appears.

When does ROUX come out?

Sporadically, at this point. We’re a small operation, run by volunteers who have day jobs as well as other commitments and this means that to this point we have done a poor job of meeting deadlines and fulfilling our own expectations. Ideally, we’d like to have new issues quarterly, but have been biannual up to this point.

Where are you located?

In 2006 we moved from Southern California to Eugene, Oregon. Our mailing address is PO Box because we have no proper business office and gather at the homes of our volunteers to discuss submissions.