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Fiction and Nonfiction: We welcome previously unpublished fiction and nonfiction pieces under 3,500 words, written by women over sixty.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. Send only one piece at a time.

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.

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. Here is the schedule:

Fall 2012—INTERNATIONAL. Submissions accepted April 15-June 15, 2012.

Call for Poetry Submissions: Fall 2012 Issue

We are seeking previously unpublished poems from women over sixty who currently live outside the United States. The winning poems will be published in the Fall 2012 issue, appearing online Sept. 15, 2012.

We’re pleased to announce that Fleda Brown (fleda@english.udel.edu) will be the guest poetry editor for this issue. She will select the poems for publication from the entries she receives.

The email address and guidelines for this poetry section are different from the magazine’s general address and guidelines. Poetry manuscripts must use the following guidelines to be considered:

— Your poem(s) must be previously unpublished. They should be emailed between April 15-June 15, 2012 to our guest editor, Fleda Brown (fleda@english.udel.edu). Any that arrive earlier or later at this email address will not be read. Poems sent directly to Persimmon Tree will not be forwarded.

— Include 1-3 poems in a single WORD attachment. No poem may be longer than a page; use 12 point type.

— In the subject line of the email message, type POETRY FOR PT. In the body of the message, include your name, email address, phone number, and postal mailing address. Also include the titles of the poems that you have included in the attachment.

— If you send a submission that fails to follow the above guidelines, it will be automatically deleted. You will not be notified.

Call for Submissions: SHORT TAKES

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

See the list of 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 in the subject line.

In the accompanying email, tell us your name, state, email address, and telephone number. If you don’t want your name included when the piece appears, let us know. You will be listed as "Name Withheld."

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: Sports
Submissions Accepted: May 1- July 31, 2012
Appears: Fall 2012

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

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