Submission Guidelines

V&B Submissions Are Now Closed

Submissions to Vistas & Byways are now closed. Thanks to all who contributed to our eighth issue, Fall 2019. We received a great selection of pieces to choose from for our theme section on music and many others for our literary genre sections. We hope you enjoy the read!
Check back in January 2020 for changes and special themes for the Spring 2020 issue.

Submission Guidelines
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 was the elimination of the popular Visual Arts Section which showcased members’ paintings, photographs, collages and other artwork. We also reduced the number of submissions and accompanying illustrations.
 
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 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: edboardvbreview@gmail.com

General Guidelines

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
  • Drama: 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 Staff are also participants in writing classes at OLLI at SF State, some of their own works may be included in the Review.​
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Submission Procedure

  • Submissions for the Spring 2020 issue of Vistas & Byways will be accepted February 1 through February 29, 2020.
  • 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).
  • If you are submitting more than one piece, attach each one separately.
  • 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. The theme for Issue 9 will be posted by January 1.
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.​
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.
Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University​.​
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University​ (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to the Vistas & Byways  volunteer staff.