Submitting Artwork

PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR ARTWORK

You can submit artwork (science fiction, fantasy, horror) to On Spec for our careful consideration by mail or email.

Want to know what On Spec editors are looking for? Try a "Taste of On Spec: Spring 2009", available free online for a limited time!

The email itself serves as the cover letter.

• First name & Last name
• Your current, active email
• A website link displaying your work (e.g. your own domain, DeviantArt, blogspot) is preferred.  Attachments are by On Spec’s request only.  This is to avoid clogging-up our email with large attachments.
• A blurb about yourself is nice, maybe a paragraph or two.

Please send your emailed story submissions to ONLY this address:

An example: Email Title: Artwork by Jen Laface

Email Body: Jen Laface Email: superjen@superjen.com

I have been drawing for many years, and began dabbling with digital painting.  Along with keeping busy drawing, I write, eat cupcakes (and cake!), play some videos and watch documentaries.  That’s if my puppy lets me while he sleeps on my lap.

Thank you,

Jen Laface

Mailing example artwork

Please mail ONLY sample copies, a CD or USB key of your work to this address:

ON SPEC Magazine P.O. Box 4727 Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6E 5G6

Include your full name, complete return address, phone number and information about yourself. If you don’t include an email address, please send return postage so we can send you a response (ONLY Canadian postage, $1 US or an IRC).  Including an email will ensure a quicker response.  On your original envelope, please include a return address.

Note: We won’t pay for envelopes with insufficient postage and no return address.

Other guidelines for consideration

• Since we work in digital, we require a digital version of your artwork, whether it was created on the computer or with a non-digital medium (e.g. painting).  If created by a non-digital medium, the artist is responsible for providing a scan or photograph (in a digital format).
• If you’re mailing, please no originals.
• Our covers are 5.25 inches width x 8 inches height portrait orientation (full bleed).
• Art needs to be no smaller than 5.375 inches width x 8.125 inches height.
• At minimum 300 dpi (some works, with a lot of detail, should be 600 dpi).
• The artist needs to consider space needed for the masthead, which is approx. 1.5" down and 3.5 inches wide in the top left corner (no 'critical' artwork should be in this corner, because it would be covered by the masthead).
• Preferably leave some other 'flat space' available for other text elements (volume/price at top right, and artist credits 'anywhere else'); the flat space can be light or dark, but preferred it is not high contrast because text readability becomes a difficult issue to resolve.
• Artists should always refer to our website archives or Facebook photo gallery to see past covers for general cover-element guidelines.
• Artists should either contact me before sending large image files, and/or just use http://www.YouSendIt - a 3rd-party FTP program (registration and basic usage is free).

Please send to this address: onspecmag@gmail.com

A guide to get your artwork email inquiry DELETED  We don’t advise if your email has been deleted due to not following the requirements.

• Have your “From” email set-up to be either some questionable spam name or symbols strewn together.
• There is no accessible return email.
• Any attachments, unless requested by On Spec.