We open submissions during the first month of each quarter (i.e., Jan, Apr, Jul, and Oct). For each issue, we accept only five pieces. These can be short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, photography, art, hybrid, book excerpts, or other formats for any genre. We will also pair illustrations with written pieces. Content should have some connection with Hong Kong, but it can be extremely subtle / tenuous. (Example: a character in the story eating dim sum or watching a Bruce Lee movie.) If we like a piece that doesn’t include a Hong Kong connection, we will help the author figure out how to sneak one in.
Follow the classic manuscript format or anything else readable. We don’t care if you include your name and contact information in the document, but do include the name under which you wish the piece to be published. Unless you say otherwise, we’ll assume your preferred contact is the email address from which you send your piece(s).
Submit written materials in Word. Submit visual materials in jpg.
100% human-created content is preferred; see Legal Notice below.
The maximum word count is 10,000 but that’s approximate.
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, you must become a paid member before publication. Artists and photographers do not have to be members to have their visual artworks published. See Legal Notice below.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us if the piece has been published elsewhere. Send all submissions to hkwcmagazine [at] gmail [dot] com.
Multiple submissions are allowed, but only one piece per author will be published per edition. (This does not apply to artists and photographers.)
Reprints are 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 paidup members of the HKWC may have their written works 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.