Guidelines

• Who May Submit? / A Note on Languages
  We are open to submissions in all languages from anyone in the world. All work should be previously unpublished.
  
  We ask that submissions which are not in English provide at least a rough English translation in addition to the original (if accepted, we can help you polish it). While you are welcome to submit in English directly, we strongly prefer work that originates in your native language with an attached translation. Multilingual work that fluidly moves between various languages and scripts is welcome (we love it), and we are happy to publish works without an attached translation in the spirit of your preference. In this case, for editorial review however, we still ask you send us a rough translation. Eğer Türkçe yazıyorsanız tercüme etmeye gerek yok.

While we welcome submissions from anyone in the world, we are eager to work with artists in the regions where we are. That is, the South Caucasus, Türkiye, Iran, Central Asia, the East Mediterranean, and Southeastern Europe. Artists in diaspora and those from everywhere else in the world are still more than welcome and encouraged to apply.

• General Requirements and Considerations:
  In addition to your submissions, we ask for your basic contact information and the location you'd like associated with your submission, including your Instagram handle and website, if applicable. We also ask for a 1-3 sentence bio and an optional cover letter that describes your work and your intentions to any degree that you’d like. We are not expecting you to “sell” us in the cover letter. Be yourself - there is no need for formalities. We are artists just like you, so let’s have a conversation (my name is Joey, by the way - what’s yours?). Tell us what you’d like to share freely to help us understand your world and your work. You’ve already done the work to create it - don’t let connecting with us be a barrier for you.
  


• We do not accept work generated or heavily altered by artificial intelligence, including for translations. If you’ve used this heavily or exclusively for your work, we ask that you submit elsewhere. If you need help translating your project, write to us.
  


• We do accept simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if any part of your submission is accepted elsewhere.
  


• If you submit multiple items, we may consider using a portion of your submission if we are unable to publish all of them. In this case, we will confirm the final format with you before publication.
  


• If your work is not accepted for the current issue, we may reach out to consider it for a future volume, but only if you opt in. Please indicate this in the form.
  


• Those who submit are automatically opted into our label’s newsletter. You may opt-out upon signup or anytime.


• While we try to respond as quickly as possible to your submission, you can expect a reply time between 2 - 3 months from your submission date. We kindly ask that you do not follow-up on your submission - we will write to you :)
  


• If accepted, we will contact you and work together to finalize the format and presentation of your piece, including copyediting or translation refinement as needed.
  

• Hybrid: As a hybrid press, we first and foremost welcome and encourage submissions that are inherently interdisciplinary. You are welcome to submit as many mediums as you’d like as a single submission, as long as they fit the guidelines in the categories below. If doing this, we strongly encourage you to include a cover letter to describe your vision with how your works flow together (not only will this help us better evaluate your work, but it also helps us think about layout and how your work will integrate with the current volume).
  
  Collaborative works are welcome, but please ensure you have the permissions to submit on their behalf as well. Please include in your cover letter all the proper credits and attributions of those involved.


• Writing: Prose, essay, non-fiction, and narrative work up to 5,000 words are permitted. Poetry can include as many poems as you’d like between 1-10 pages. Format in standard 12pt font (US Letter or A4). Poetry with experimental or visual formatting is welcome; just ensure the layout is preserved in PDF format. Filetypes: .docx, .doc, or .pdf.
  
  If you work is sheet music, text-based art, or tuning charts, you are welcome to submit up to 10 pages, with the understanding that your work may be excerpted upon our request from you.


• Photography and Visual Art: Please include up to 8 images. Avoid files over 4MB. JPEG preferred. Please, no RAW files.


• Sound: As many audio files as you’d like up to 15 minutes total (for all of them combined, or one long piece). Please upload your file(s) in a lossless format (WAV, FLAC). Please, no MP3. You can alternatively provide a private streaming link on Soundcloud or Dropbox, provided that if accepted, we will request the original file from you.


• Film and Video: As many videos as you'd like up to 15 minutes total (for all of them combined, or one long piece). Because video files can be large, we ask that instead of uploading you provide a private streaming link on Youtube or Vimeo. If accepted, we will request the original file from you.

• Additional Materials to Include: Along with all submissions, we also invite you to share with us any materials to give your work context. These materials are optional, and we will only share them with your explicit consent. They may appear on our social media or in companion digital content to deepen engagement with your work. Feel free to include as many of the following as you’d like. If including photos, we ask that you add a short caption or description for context:
• - A photo of you; not professional or headshot-style (unless you are more comfortable with this), but something casual, poetic, or in your space
• - A photo of your handwritten draft or in-progress work
• - A photo of anything that relates to or inspired your submission (this must be your own work, or you must share written permission/photo credit if from someone else)
• - A short voice memo of you reading a line or the entire piece
• - A photo of something signficant with you while creating
• Note: additional materials will not be published within Tunings itself. They are simply supplemental for connection, promotion, and sharing.