Submissions

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***Call for Submissions on a Special Theme***

MUSIC

Among the nine Muses of Greek mythology were the goddesses of Music, Song and Dance. Our word “music” derives from “muse.”
 
The effects of music are ineffable. Music has no obvious use in our lives, but is so compelling that it’s hard to imagine life without it. It inspires us, though we’re not sure how or why. It reaches the deepest recesses of our souls, where mere words are mute, yet also seems to surround us as the ambient soundscape of our lives: the quiet roar of waves crashing on a distant shore; the clamor, beat and incessant rhythms of city life; or, more familiarly, as a pop song forever associated with first love.
 
We invite you to sing your song. Recount your experiences with music composition or performance, as a dancer or listener, or even write a story about the Muses themselves. Let music’s power and emotion inspire you in the guise of a personal essay, memoir, fiction or poetry.
 
If we don’t accept your submission for the “Music” section, we will still consider it for inclusion in the Fall 2019 issue.

Submissions for Vistas & Byways, Fall '19, will be accepted during August 2019

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Submission Guidelines

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Important Editorial Note: 
In this, the eighth issue of Vistas & Byways, we have, regretfully, been forced to make some significant changes. We have a dedicated but too-small staff and in order to continue publishing at all, are forced to make cutbacks. The major cut is the elimination of the popular Visual Arts Section which showcased members’ paintings, photographs, collages and other artwork. We have also reduced the number of submissions and accompanying illustrations. (See details below.)
 
We are working to increase our staff and, if we are able to find interested and skilled volunteers, hope to be able to publish an Issue 9 and even reinstate the Visual Arts Section. If you are interested in preserving and even enhancing Vistas & Byways, please consider volunteering. We need help in editing, administrative management, web design and construction and marketing/publicity. Please look at what we do (Join Us) or write us at: edboardvbreviw@gmail.com

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General Guidelines

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Vistas & Byways invites members of the OLLI at SF State community to submit original written work for publication. All work received within a submission period will be reviewed by our Editorial Board and considered for publication in the next issue of the magazine. Decisions of the Board are final.
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In order to submit to Vistas & Byways, you must be a current OLLI at SF State member. After we receive your submission(s), you will be contacted by an OLLI at SF State staff member if your membership needs to be renewed.
 
Prose and Poetry:
NOTE: You can submit up to three pieces (in any genre or combination of genres).
Word Limits:

• Fiction: 10,000
• Nonfiction (memoirs, essays and other works of nonfiction): 10,000
• Excerpts from longer works of fiction or nonfiction: 10,000
• Poetry: no limit
• Accompanying Illustrations: One piece of artwork, photograph or other illustration may be submitted along with each literary submission to illustrate a written work. This illustration must be an original work by the author.

Policy

Copyright Protection:
The contents of Vistas & Byways will NOT be submitted for copyright protection to the U.S. Copyright Office. Contributors who wish to secure copyright protection for their work are responsible for filing for such copyright before submitting their work. Neither the Editorial Board nor Vistas & Byways assume any responsibility for loss or damages to individual authors for copyright infringement of literary or artistic work displayed in the magazine.
 
Editorial Note:
Vistas & Byways is staffed solely by unpaid volunteers who are students and members of the OLLI at SF State program. Since members of the Production Team are also participants in writing and visual arts classes at OLLI at SF State, some of their own works may be included in the Review.

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Submission Procedure

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Submissions for the Fall 2019 issue of Vistas & Byways will be accepted August 1 through August 31, 2019.

• Submissions received after the deadline will NOT be considered for publication.
• Literary submissions must be emailed as MS Word or rtf attachments (no other formats will be accepted).
• Attach accompanying illustrations in jpg or png format; do not embed them in the text. Inform us of any captions. Illustrations will be evaluated separately from literary pieces and may not be accepted, even if the literary piece is.
• Indicate whether you wish your piece(s) to be submitted to our special theme section for this issue, “Music.”

 

• If you are a first-time contributor, please include all of the following information:

Name and pen name, if different
Email address
Phone number
Short bio (120-word maximum)
Recent photograph of yourself (jpg or png)
The literary genre (e.g., short story, poetry, memoir, essay, book review) of all literary submissions and the medium (e.g., photography, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal) of all illustration submissions.

​If you are a repeat contributor, the bio, picture and contact information on file will be used unless you specify that you want to update them.
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Where to Submit:
Submissions and all other information should be emailed to:
edboardvbreview@gmail.com
 
NOTE: Vistas & Byways accepts simultaneous submissions and previously published works as long as you inform us.
 
If your piece or pieces are accepted, you will be informed by email. In that acceptance email, there will be a link to the following certification statement:
 
I certify that this is an original piece of literary work, and accompanying photography or artwork created by me. I grant the Editorial Board of Vistas & Byways permission to publish my work and agree that I will receive no payment. A modest amount of editing of the work by a member of the Editorial Board is acceptable. I understand that my work will be published in the upcoming issue.

Questions: email edboardvbreview@gmail.com or use our online contact form.

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