Submission Guidelines
If you would like to publish your short story, essay, creative nonfiction, poems, or a book review
in Anak Sastra, please follow the simple guidelines below, then submit on the submissions page.
What We Want...
Anak Sastra consists of two main platforms. The first is to give writers of Southeast Asian countries a place to publish their work on any topic written in English. The second is to allow expatriates, tourists, and regional connoisseurs to share their experiences living or traveling in Southeast Asia through written word in English.
Geographic Range...
Anak Sastra aims to feature writing about and writers from all Southeast Asian nations. These include Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Timor-Leste, and the Philippines. Stories with no connection to Southeast Asia will not be considered. For those who are more visually oriented, here is a map of the countries we take stories from or about. As there are already an abundance of journals focusing on China/East Asia and India/South Asia, we no longer accept stories from these regions. We do, however, accept stories from Indian or Chinese Diaspora writers from or characters based in Southeast Asian countries.
Short Story, Essay, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry Guidelines...
Essentially, there are no guidelines. You may write on any topic, although topics considered highly offensive or insensitive may not be allowed publication (we don't want to be arrested). The length is also up to the writer, though it is always easier to read through a shorter short story than an exceptionally longer one. For poems, send as few or as many as you'd like. But don't be offended if we only take one or two. Please do not submit work that is published elsewhere and never submit work that is not entirely your own. And even though this should be common sense, do let us know if your work has been accepted/published elsewhere before we get back to you. Copyright issues--just give us first electronic print rights. After that you are free to do as you wish with the story. Just be sure to credit Anak Sastra as the first publisher of the story if you reproduce it elsewhere.
Book Review Guidelines...
We go by the mantra "if you don't have something nice to say, then say it behind their back." So if you did not like a particular book, do not send us your review on why you disliked it. We want to read what you enjoyed and want to share with others. Talk about what you thought, how it made you feel, why you think it has wide appeal (or not)...write whatever you want. But don't just make it a simple book summary. Again, book reviews must be about works with a Southeast Asian connection.
Language and Grammar...
All submissions must be in English or a variant thereof. Feel free to use local English dialects (Singlish, Manglish, Indolish, Englog, etc.) if it is appropriate to any dialogue in your stories. The editorial staff will accommodate any minor grammar or vocabulary mistakes and will do so without notifying the writer in advance (again, these are just minor errors). If a story requires a significant amount of editing, it will be rejected for publication.
How to Submit Your Story...
All stories must be submitted via the submissions form on this website. Upload your story as a Word document (not PDF, not a link to your blog, not a jpeg screenshot) and fill in the blank fields on the form. Any questions should be submitted there as well. We do not accept postal mail.
What Happens Next...
After you submit your story, we will review it for possible inclusion in the upcoming issue. We are not usually quick with e-mail replies, but don't worry--we got it. After your story has been accepted for publication and reviewed (usually in the month of publication itself), the editor will send an e-mail letting you know when your story will be published. Unfortunately, not all submissions can be accepted for publication here. But we wish you the best in finding a suitable home for your work.
Deadlines...
Deadlines cause stress. Anak Sastra attempts to be a stress-free zone. So there are no deadlines for submissions. If you submit shortly before a new issues comes out, it will be carried over for consideration with the next issue unless you ask for it to be removed from our list.
in Anak Sastra, please follow the simple guidelines below, then submit on the submissions page.
What We Want...
Anak Sastra consists of two main platforms. The first is to give writers of Southeast Asian countries a place to publish their work on any topic written in English. The second is to allow expatriates, tourists, and regional connoisseurs to share their experiences living or traveling in Southeast Asia through written word in English.
Geographic Range...
Anak Sastra aims to feature writing about and writers from all Southeast Asian nations. These include Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Timor-Leste, and the Philippines. Stories with no connection to Southeast Asia will not be considered. For those who are more visually oriented, here is a map of the countries we take stories from or about. As there are already an abundance of journals focusing on China/East Asia and India/South Asia, we no longer accept stories from these regions. We do, however, accept stories from Indian or Chinese Diaspora writers from or characters based in Southeast Asian countries.
Short Story, Essay, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry Guidelines...
Essentially, there are no guidelines. You may write on any topic, although topics considered highly offensive or insensitive may not be allowed publication (we don't want to be arrested). The length is also up to the writer, though it is always easier to read through a shorter short story than an exceptionally longer one. For poems, send as few or as many as you'd like. But don't be offended if we only take one or two. Please do not submit work that is published elsewhere and never submit work that is not entirely your own. And even though this should be common sense, do let us know if your work has been accepted/published elsewhere before we get back to you. Copyright issues--just give us first electronic print rights. After that you are free to do as you wish with the story. Just be sure to credit Anak Sastra as the first publisher of the story if you reproduce it elsewhere.
Book Review Guidelines...
We go by the mantra "if you don't have something nice to say, then say it behind their back." So if you did not like a particular book, do not send us your review on why you disliked it. We want to read what you enjoyed and want to share with others. Talk about what you thought, how it made you feel, why you think it has wide appeal (or not)...write whatever you want. But don't just make it a simple book summary. Again, book reviews must be about works with a Southeast Asian connection.
Language and Grammar...
All submissions must be in English or a variant thereof. Feel free to use local English dialects (Singlish, Manglish, Indolish, Englog, etc.) if it is appropriate to any dialogue in your stories. The editorial staff will accommodate any minor grammar or vocabulary mistakes and will do so without notifying the writer in advance (again, these are just minor errors). If a story requires a significant amount of editing, it will be rejected for publication.
How to Submit Your Story...
All stories must be submitted via the submissions form on this website. Upload your story as a Word document (not PDF, not a link to your blog, not a jpeg screenshot) and fill in the blank fields on the form. Any questions should be submitted there as well. We do not accept postal mail.
What Happens Next...
After you submit your story, we will review it for possible inclusion in the upcoming issue. We are not usually quick with e-mail replies, but don't worry--we got it. After your story has been accepted for publication and reviewed (usually in the month of publication itself), the editor will send an e-mail letting you know when your story will be published. Unfortunately, not all submissions can be accepted for publication here. But we wish you the best in finding a suitable home for your work.
Deadlines...
Deadlines cause stress. Anak Sastra attempts to be a stress-free zone. So there are no deadlines for submissions. If you submit shortly before a new issues comes out, it will be carried over for consideration with the next issue unless you ask for it to be removed from our list.