Persimmon Tree’s mission is to bring the creativity and talent of women over sixty to a wide audience of readers of all ages.

We are looking for work that reveals rich experience and a variety of perspectives. Each issue of the magazine will include several fiction and nonfiction pieces, poetry by one or more poets, and the work of one visual artist. The magazine is published quarterly, in association with Mills College.

Fiction and Nonfiction: We welcome previously unpublished pieces under 3,500 words, written by women over sixty. Submissions may be sent to us any time during the year. Several readers will review your submission, and we will respond to you within six months. Multiple submissions are accepted. If you want to send us more than one piece, put them in separate emails.

Please send your submission as an attachment to us at: Submissions@persimmontree.org. Include in your email a brief biographical statement (less than 50 words). The attached document must be saved in MS Word or a compatible program. If we can’t open it, it won’t be read. We will respond to you online.

Submissions should be double-spaced, with 12-point type and numbered pages. At the top of the first page please enter author’s name, address, telephone, and email address. Type the title of the piece, labeled fiction or non-fiction, in the subject line.

Art: Artists are invited to send samples of their work and a short biographical statement (less than 50 words) for us to put on file. Do not expect a response from us unless we plan to use your work.

Poetry: Persimmon Tree ordinarily does not accept submissions of poetry. However, two times a year we hold contests and publish the winning poems submitted from poets who live in a specific geographical region.

Call for Submissions: SHORT TAKES

We invite you to submit a short nonfiction piece (250-500 words) for "Short Takes." This section will appear in all issues.

See the topics listed below—they’re general, so you can relate to them as you wish. We’re especially interested in hearing about your experiences, but you can include your thoughts, dreams, and ideas. Humor and irony are always appreciated!

The editors will select the submissions to appear in the issue. We will edit your work, but we will pass it by you for approval before it appears.

Submissions guidelines

Email your piece as a Word attachment to editor@persimmontree.org.

Type SHORT TAKES and the topic in the subject line.

At the top of the first page please enter author's name, address, telephone, and email address.

We will contact you only if your piece is selected. Our choices are determined by our need for balance and diversity, so unfortunately we cannot include all the good pieces we receive.

Schedule

Topic: Gossip
Submissions Accepted: Aug. 1 — Oct. 31, 2012
Appears: Winter 2012-13

Topic: Guilty Pleasures
Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 — Jan. 31, 2013
Appears: Spring 2013

Topic: TBA
Submissions Accepted: Feb. 1 — Apr. 30, 2013
Appears: Summer 2013