Submissions

Submissions are open for the first month of each quarter (i.e. Jan. 1-31, Apr. 1-30, Jul. 1-31, and Oct. 1-31).

Per quarter, we accept five pieces. These can be short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, photography, art, hybrid, book excerpts, or other formats not listed here. We will also pair illustrations with written pieces. Content that has some connection with Hong Kong will be favored but all subjects are welcome. We do require some reference to Hong Kong, however, tenuous, to be included in the final version. (Example: a character in the story could eat dim sum, or watch a Bruce Lee movie.)

No payment for submissions at this time.

Follow the classic manuscript format, or anything else readable. We don’t care if you include your name and contact on the document itself, but do include the name you wish the piece to be published under. We’ll assume your preferred contact is the email address you send your piece(s) from, unless you say otherwise.

Submit written materials in Word or any of the usual formats. Submit visual materials in .jpg or any of the usual formats.

100% human-created content is preferred. If a non-human has been involved in the development of the content, please disclose this along with your submission.

Maximum word count about 10,000 (although we have published longer pieces).

Include whatever content warnings you think are needed.

No submission fee: anyone can submit, but if your piece is accepted and you are not yet a member of HKWC, we will ask you to join. Artists and photographers are also encouraged to submit their work; you do not have to be a member of HKWC to have your visual artwork published.

Simultaneous submissions allowed, but please notify us if the piece has been published elsewhere. Send all submissions to hkwcmagazine [at] gmail [dot] com.

Multiple submissions allowed, but only one piece per author will be published per edition. (This does not apply to artists and photographers.)

Reprints allowed, but original pieces are preferred.

Legal notice

The Apostrophe is a literary magazine published by the Hong Kong Writers Circle (HKWC), a member organization registered under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151 of the laws of Hong Kong). It publishes short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, photography, and artwork (called “work”).

By submitting your work to HKWC, you fully understand and agree that:

• You grant HKWC non-exclusive, worldwide rights to publish your work in The

  Apostrophe, both in print and online; you further grant HKWC non-exclusive

  electronic rights to archive the work online in perpetuity and to republish the work in any HKWC anthologies; you retain all other rights;

• You are the sole author or creator and copyright holder of the work;

• You are not prohibited by any prior agreement from transferring the rights to the work;

• You are at least 18 years of age or have obtained the permission of a parent or legal guardian to submit your work to HKWC;

• You shall not be entitled to any compensation for your work;

• Anybody can submit, but unless otherwise agreed by HKWC, only paid-up members of the HKWC may have their work published in The Apostrophe;

• You shall disclose if the work was written, developed, or assisted by AI tools either in whole or in part;

• HKWC will not alter the work’s text or title without your approval save that HKWC reserves the right to make copyediting and/or formatting and/or stylistic changes;

• You grant HKWC the right to use your name, image, and biographical material for all advertising, promotion, and other marketing use of your work in perpetuity;

• For unpublished works, if your work is republished elsewhere, it would be appreciated if you could note that it was first published in The Apostrophe;

• You agree that your submission is non-confidential and that HKWC is not obligated to use or publish any work you submit;

• All submissions and this agreement are governed by the laws of the Hong Kong SAR