As of August 2008, CICADA ® magazine is reopening submissions on a limited basis. The editors will review manuscripts from adult authors whose work has previously appeared in CICADA. Art samples from new illustrators are welcome. Please review the following guidelines before submitting.

(Authors and artists ages 14-23, please see General Submissions at www.cicadamag.com.)

In September 1988, Carus Publishing Company began publishing CICADA magazine, a literary magazine for teen and young adult readers. CICADA is part of the Cricket Magazine Group that includes CRICKET ® magazine, SPIDER ® magazine, LADYBUG ® magazine, and a selection of other fine literary and nonfiction magazines.

CICADA, for readers ages 14 and up, publishes original fiction, poetry, and first-person nonfiction by both adult and teen writers. In some cases, CICADA purchases rights for excerpts from books yet to be published. Each issue also includes reprints of high-quality selections.

CICADA measures 8" x 10.5", contains 48 pages, has a full-color cover, and is staple bound. One-color and/or black-and-white illustrations of the highest quality appear throughout the magazine.

Editor-in-Chief: Marianne Carus
Executive Editor: Deborah Vetter
Art Director: John Sandford

Published: bimonthly (6 times a year)
Price: $33.95 for a 1-year subscription (6 issues)

Categories

Fiction: realistic, contemporary, historical, humor, mysteries, fantasy, science fiction
Nonfiction: first-person experiences of interest to teen and young adult readers
Poetry: serious, humorous, rhyming or free verse

Submissions on all appropriate topics will be considered at any time during the year.

Please keep in mind that CICADA's readers are intelligent and sophisticated and can handle complexity with respect to theme, characterization, and plotting. The editors want to provide a balance of serious and humorous writing within each issue.

Length

Fiction/Nonfiction: up to 5,000 words
Novella: up to 10,000 words (We run one novella per issue.)
Poems: not longer than 25 lines

An exact word count should be noted on each manuscript submitted. For poetry, indicate number of lines instead. Word count includes every word, but does not include the title of the manuscript or the author's name.

Rates

Rates and contract rights vary. Payment upon publication.

Art

CICADA commissions all art separately from the text. Any review samples of artwork will be considered. Samples of both color and black-and-white work are appreciated. It is very important that candidates review CICADA for level of sophistication, design, typography, and storytelling. CICADA's illustration ranges from a narrative mode for one story to abstract in another; we use inference, suggestion, and symbols in stories and poems. We are open to a wide variety of styles and media, and look for people who can provide compelling concepts as well as strong imagery.

Remember, this magazine is for high-school and college-age readers and not for grade-school children.

Comments

CICADA would like to reach as many authors and illustrators as possible, but our standards are very high, and we will accept only top-quality material. Before attempting to write for CICADA, be sure to familiarize yourself with this age group.

PLEASE DO NOT QUERY FIRST.

CICADA will consider any manuscripts sent on speculation and accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions without a SASE will be discarded. Manuscript submissions from outside the U.S. should include an International Reply Coupon (IRC).

PLEASE DO NOT send original artwork, photocopies, books, or prints. Send us your samples via e-mail, according to the directions under Artwork Submissions below.

Response time: Please allow 4 months for manuscripts. For artwork, we will keep your samples on file, and if we find an assignment that suits your style, we will contact you for further information.

CICADA ® normally purchases the following rights:

For stories and poems previously unpublished, rights vary. Payment is made upon publication.

For stories and poems previously published, CICADA purchases second North American publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights. Payment is made upon publication. Same applies to accompanying art.

For recurring features, CICADA purchases the material outright. The work becomes the property of CICADA, and it is copyrighted in the name of Carus Publishing Company. A flat fee per feature is usually negotiated. Payment is made upon publication.

For commissioned artwork, CICADA purchases all rights plus promotional rights (promotions, advertising, or any other form not offered for sale) are subject to the terms outlined below:
(a) Physical art remains the property of the illustrator.
(b) Illustrator may use artwork for self promotion.

Please address all MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS to:

Deborah Vetter
Executive Editor, CICADA 
70 East Lake Street
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601 

To send ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS:

E-mail a link to your online portfolio to:

mail@cicadamag.com

Make sure PORTFOLIO SAMPLES is the subject line of the e-mail. If you do not have an online portfolio, you may e-mail a sample. Please limit any e-mailed file to a maximum attachment size of 50 KB. We will keep your samples on file and contact you if we find an assignment that suits your style.

Direct inquiries regarding PERMISSIONS to:

Diane Sikora
Rights and Permissions Coordinator
Carus Publishing
30 Grove Street
Suite C
Peterborough, NH 03458