Creative Submission Guidelines

Overview

Encinitas Quarterly is a print publication focused on people, place, and perspective along the North County coast.

We publish work that reflects the character of the region—creative, thoughtful, independent, and grounded in lived experience. Each issue is loosely themed, but we are ultimately interested in work that captures something real: a moment, a shift, a story, or an idea worth sitting with.

At present, submissions are by invitation only.

Editorial Focus

We welcome work across a range of formats:

Essays & Cultural Writing
800 – 3,000 words
Literary nonfiction (personal essays and memoir essays), criticism, commentary, or reported pieces engaging with culture, community, or place.

Fiction
500 – 2,000 words
Short stories and flash fiction, with the understanding that setting and/or themes of fictional pieces are related in some way to Encinitas or the North Coast area.  

Poetry
500 – 2,000 words
Poetry is a core part of Encinitas Quarterly. We work with writers connected to Encinitas—whether by residence, history, or subject matter—and we’re interested in poems that reflect something authentic about the place or its people. We welcome both free verse and formal poetry, from both established and emerging poets. We are especially interested in poetry that is grounded in an understanding of line and form. We are less interested in poetry that leans on cliché or sentimentality.

Send up to three poems. Include a brief author bio (75 words or less) which includes a short note describing your connection to Encinitas. Please attach your poems as a single MS Word file, and include your bio in the body of the email.

Profiles
Pitch first.
Stories about individuals shaping the creative or civic fabric of the region.

Photography & Visual Art
3 – 5 images
Work that reflects the people, texture, and environment of Encinitas and surrounding communities. Collaborative submissions (writer + artist) are welcome.

Recommendations & Local Features
Short pitches please.
Places, experiences, or people worth highlighting. No PR submissions.

Voice & Approach

We’re drawn to work that is:

  • Curious rather than certain

  • Observant rather than reactive

  • Grounded in real experience

We value strong points of view, but not writing that relies on cynicism, posturing, or easy conclusions. The best pieces tend to open something up rather than close it down.

A Note on Perspective

Encinitas Quarterly is rooted in a specific place, but not limited by it.

We’re especially interested in work that connects local experience to broader cultural or human themes—and in stories that feel tied to real people and lived moments.

Submission Policies 

  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed; please notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere

  • Submissions must be original and previously unpublished

  • Work generated by artificial intelligence will not be considered

  • Writers retain copyright; if republished elsewhere, please credit Encinitas Quarterly

Compensation

Encinitas Quarterly is an independent publication.

We offer modest honorariums for most accepted work based on length and scope. Compensation details will be discussed upon acceptance.

How to Submit

Please send:

  • Full draft (for essays, fiction, criticism), or

  • A brief pitch (for profiles and reported pieces)

  • Poetry, see guidelines above.

Include a short contributor bio (75–100 words).

Send all submissions to: tony@tonykranz.com. Except poetry submissions, which should be sent to darius.degher@gmail.com.

Response Time

We aim to respond within 1–2 months, though it may occasionally take longer. If you haven’t heard from us after three months, you’re welcome to follow up.

Final Note

We take care in reviewing submissions, but like any publication, our selections reflect editorial judgment as much as objective criteria.

We will inevitably pass on strong work due to space and fit. If something isn’t selected, we hope you’ll continue to send us your work.