How to Order Print Issues of Downstate Story
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Writer's Guidelines


Downstate Story
Writers Guidelines


Writers Guidelines:

  • Downstate Story has been published every fall and beginning in 2012, only on the Web. Each issue contains 10 original short stories. With the 2021 issue, Vol. 30, we are ending publication, so this information is for historical purposes only.  We accepted a variety of genres so that every reader who looks at Downstate Story will find something fascinating.
  • The deadline was always June 30.
  • Meanwhile we also promoted Downstate Story, as well as the reading of fiction in general. We held readings, and our writers have read and been interviewed on radio and TV.
  • As a not-for-profit venture, our goal was to break even financially through sales and donations, so that Downstate Story could support itself and need not depend on subsidies, grants or advertising - though we're were flexible, and not ruling these out entirely. People can help by mentioning Downstate Story and similar publications to friends, encouraging libraries to order copies, or buying the back issues of the print copies for themselves or friends. It costs $10, postpaid in the USA, and makes a good gift. Add $2 more for non-USA postage. You can reach an order blank at the end of this page. Or click on the Website with the 2012 edition and make a donation through Democracy Engine.
  • We encourage potential contributors to buy a copy to support the magazine, and to become familiar with it. Read it for free on the Web.
  • Story guidelines, in general: short fiction or narrative written to the standards of fiction, under 2000 words, never published before. Shorter is better. We prefer some connection with Illinois or the Midwest. All contributors are paid $50 on acceptance for their work. We only buy first rights, including Internet publication. Anyone can submit work.
  • Send your work through the mail. No email submissions, please, as we circulate the manuscripts to our readers. Enclose an SASE for a response. In this age of cheap copies we do NOT return manuscripts. We do NOT accept e-mail manuscripts, but we REQUIRE corespondance via e-mail for the speed and cost savings. If you plan to send us a manuscript, be sure you have access to e-mail. All manuscripts should have a valid e-mail address, as well as a valid phone number on the manuscript itself!
  • We notify all authors of our decisions in late fall. Don't call us -- we will notify you!
  • Send manuscripts to:
    Downstate Story
    1825 E. Maple Ridge Dr.
    Peoria, IL 61614

    Questions? Email [email protected]


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Entire site copyright ©1992-2020) Downstate Story, Inc.
Original site by Eldon Brown
1998 Update by Ted Eselgroth,
[email protected]

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