Want to Write (or Create) for Ignite?
Ignite is the in-house zine from Phat Tracks Books & Records: a quarterly mix of fiction, essays, poetry, art, photography, and offbeat experiments that light up the margins. We’re a platform for voices that resist, provoke, and celebrate culture in all its messy glory. If it sparks something, anger, laughter, wonder, defiance, it belongs here.
What We’re Looking For
We publish a wide range of work:
- Fiction & nonfiction — short stories, essays, and personal narratives
- Flash — very short work (1,000 words or less) that hits like a lightning bolt
- Poetry — everything from protest chants to lyrical reflections
- Art & photography — standalone pieces or visual spreads
Payment
We value the work you put into your craft, and we pay contributors accordingly:
- Spotlight feature (1 per issue): 10¢/word, up to 5,000 words (max $500)
- Regular fiction/nonfiction: 5¢/word, up to 5,000 words (max $250)
- Flash (≤1,000 words): $25–50 depending on length and placement
- Poetry: $25–50 per poem
- Art/Photography: $50–100 depending on size and use
Rights
By submitting, you grant Ignite first serial rights (we publish it first) and the right to keep it in our print and digital archives. All rights revert to you after publication: you’re free to republish your work elsewhere after it appears with us. We may also quote or excerpt your work for promotional purposes with credit.
Submissions
We accept work year-round and review on a rolling basis. Simultaneous submissions are fine, just let us know if your piece is accepted elsewhere. Use the form below to send us your work.
FAQ
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes. Just let us know if your piece is accepted elsewhere so we don’t accidentally publish it after it’s already appeared.
Do you accept previously published work?
No. we’re looking for first publication rights. Once we publish it, though, rights revert back to you and you’re free to reprint it elsewhere.
What’s the word limit?
- Spotlight and regular fiction/nonfiction: up to 5,000 words
- Flash: 1,000 words or less
- Poetry: generally 1–3 pages per poem
How much do you pay?
- Spotlight feature: 10¢/word (max $500)
- Regular fiction/nonfiction: 5¢/word (max $250)
- Flash: $25–50
- Poetry: $25–50
- Art/Photography: $50–100
How do I get paid?
We pay electronically after acceptance (PayPal, Venmo, or direct transfer).
Can I submit more than one piece at a time?
Yes, within reason: think 2–3 poems or flash pieces, or one longer work.
When will I hear back?
We aim to respond within 4–6 weeks. If it’s been longer, feel free to nudge us.