What We Pay (and how we do it)
Changes in Payments and Fees
Dear, dear readers and writers—
We have some changes to announce. They comprise both increases in the rates we pay our contributors and feedback and critique prices.
Our world of words and original thoughts, of stories and poems, is more robust than ever. Reading period after reading period, we’ve experienced growth in both our queue and the number of writers we are able to publish, year over year. As always, TLR does not solicit, so 100% of our magazine is dedicated to work from our queue.
We’ve also been able to pay our staff as well as contributors for four issues now, soon to be five.
Every issue, we get better at what we do. Our readers and editors become more skilled and more incisive with each piece of feedback we offer.
As promised, we are continuing this trend of growth and moving towards a sustainable model of literature. One consequence of this is a change in our feedback and critique pricing.
Fee Changes
When our next reading period opens on Tuesday May 7, you will see the following price changes:
- Our feedback options will cost $1 more than they did previously.
- Our critique pricing will now be as follows:
- 1 – 1,499 words, the price for a full critique is $50.
- 1,500 – 4,999 words, the price for a full critique is $60.
- 5,000 – 7,499 words, the price for a full critique is $70.
- 7,500 – 10,000 words, the price for a full critique is $85.
- Our base submission rates (i.e., without feedback or critique) will remain the same.
Digital Subscriptions
Also as of May 7, electronic versions of TLR will cost $3.99 for a single issue, and a three-issue subscription will cost $8.99. Print prices will remain the same.
Increased Contributor Payments
TLR is increasing its pay for writers.
Starting with our next round of acceptances—for Issue #16, due out in November—authors of long prose and long works of poetry will receive $135 (an increase of $10). Contributors of shorter poetry and flash prose will receive $55 (an increase of $5).
For information about where and how we spend the monies generated by our submission fees, please see our Transparency Index below.
We are so happy to have seen this magazine reach its fifth year. We hope to be providing you with stories, essays, and poems you want to read, by people you want to know, for many more years to come.
Thank you for being a part of what we do at Tahoma Literary Review.
Your TLR editors
The Transparency Index
Because we're committed to transparency in the publishing process, we publish a transparency index for each of our issues. Tahoma Literary Review pays everyone involved in our publication, from publisher/editor to production artist.
Payment is made possible by:
- Revenues received from submission fees (fees range from $4 to $8)
- Critique fees
- Print journal sales
- A portion (20%) of the fees paid to the publishers for speaking engagements, articles written dealing with the work of TLR, or other engagements undertaken in the role of publisher or editor
- Contributions from sources such as donors and foundations
Here are the audited statistics from our past issues and reading periods:
Issue 14 (Spring 2019)
Issue 13 (Fall/Winter 2018)
Issue 11 (Spring 2018)
| Poetry | Nonfiction | Flash | Fiction | Total | ||
| Submissions | 367 | 109 | 149 | 395 | 1,020 | |
| Submission Fees | $2,423 | $789 | $776 | $3,682 | $7,670 | |
| Submittable Fee (5% + $.99/sub) | $523 | $148 | $187 | $576 | $1,434 | |
| Donations | $0 | |||||
| Net Submission Income | $1,870 | $641 | $589 | $3,106 | $6,206 | |
| Pieces Selected | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 21 | |
| Pay Rate | $50/$125 | $125 | $50 | $125 | ||
| Contributor Payments | $625 | $375 | $100 | $625 | $1,725 | |
| Other Production Expenses | $1,213 | |||||
| Income (Loss) | $3,269 | |||||
| Publishers' Share (distributed among four partners/editors) | $2,000 | |||||
| Retained in Tahoma Literary Review |
|
| Note: We have revised our Transparency Index slightly for issue 11. For one, we have made contributor payments uniform across genres. For another, we are including here other production expenses, including pay for our readers, copy editor, graphic designer, and cover artist. |
Issue 10 (
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 252 | 262 | 61 | 78 | 37 | 690 |
| Fee Income | 1008.00 | 2340.00 | 369.00 | 376.00 | 176.00 | 4269.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 376.00 | 300.00 | 79.00 | 96.00 | 45.00 | 897.00 |
| Donation Share | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 50.00 |
| Publisher Share | 248.00 | 687.00 | 0.00 | 98.00 | 40.00 | 1073.86 |
| Available to Pay | 470.00 | 1286.00 | 300.00 | 192.00 | 100.00 | 2347.00 |
| Pieces Selected | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 21 |
| Pay Rate | 52.00 | 300.00 | 150.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar amount. Some income from Fiction was shifted to increase payment amounts to other categories. Fiction maximum is $300. Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction maximums are $50. In case you’re wondering, the Publisher Share is used for things like business licenses and fees, advertising, and web development. So far, for each issue we’ve elected to cut our publishers’ share, and put additional funds into the payment pool.
Issue 9
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 248 | 282 | 57 | 70 | 24 | 681 |
| Fee Income | 992.00 | 1968.00 | 353.00 | 350.00 | 126.00 | 3789.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 295.00 | 378.00 | 74.00 | 87.00 | 30.00 | 1196.69 |
| Donation Share | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 50.00 |
| Publisher Share | 244.00 | 557.00 | 0.00 | 73.00 | 0.00 | 1163.86 |
| Available to Pay | 463.00 | 1044.00 | 289.00 | 200.00 | 106.00 | 2845.45 |
| Pieces Selected | 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 24 |
| Pay Rate | 50.00 | 253.00 | 120.00 | 50.00 | 45.00 |
Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar amount. Some income from Fiction was shifted to increase payment amounts to Poetry and Nonfiction. Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction maximums are $50. In case you’re wondering, the Publisher Share is used for things like business licenses and fees, advertising, and web development. So far, for each issue we’ve elected to cut our publishers’ share, and put additional funds into the payment pool.
Issue 8| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 460 | 301 | 62 | 86 | 47 | 956 |
| Fee Income | 1840.00 | 2123.00 | 382.00 | 420.00 | 240.00 | 5005.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 547.40 | 404.14 | 80.48 | 106.14 | 58.53 | 1196.69 |
| Donation Share | 27.60 | 27.60 | 27.60 | 27.60 | 27.60 | 138.00 |
| Publisher Share | 452.41 | 601.60 | 0.00 | 109.85 | 0.00 | 1163.86 |
| Available to Pay | 867.79 | 1144.86 | 392.12 | 231.61 | 209.07 | 2845.45 |
| Pieces Selected | 13 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 28 |
| Pay Rate | 66.75 | 250.00 | 149.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
Note: some income from Fiction and Flash Fiction was shifted to increase payment amounts to Nonfiction. Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction maximums are $50.
Issue 7| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 154 | 154 | 24 | 53 | 25 | 410 |
| Fee Income | 616.00 | 924.00 | 144.00 | 212.00 | 100.00 | 1996.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 183.26 | 198.66 | 30.96 | 63.07 | 29.75 | 505.70 |
| Donation Share | 21.20 | 21.20 | 21.20 | 21.20 | 21.20 | 106.00 |
| Print Sales Share | 8.80 | 8.80 | 8.80 | 8.80 | 8.80 | 44.00 |
| Publisher Share | 154.54 | 256.95 | -99.19 | 27.60 | 27.67 | 367.57 |
| Available to Pay | 308.20 | 498.39 | 124.81 | 151.33 | 72.68 | 1272.73 |
| Pieces Selected | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 19 |
| Pay Rate | 30.82 | 160.13 | 75.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 160 | 141 | 38 | 48 | 22 | 409 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Fee Income | 640.00 | 846.00 | 228.00 | 192.00 | 88.00 | 1994.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 190.00 | 182.00 | 49.00 | 57.00 | 26.00 | 504.00 |
| Donation Share | 5.00 | 5.00 | 55.00 | 5.00 | 55.00 | 125.00 |
| Print Sales Share | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 25.00 |
| Publisher Share | 130.00 | 258.00 | 14.00 | 5.00 | 11.00 | 418.00 |
| Available to Pay | 330.00 | 416.00 | 225.00 | 140.00 | 111.00 | 1222.00 |
| Pieces Selected | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| Pay Rate | 30.00 | 104.00 | 75.00 | 35.00 | 37.00 |
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 234 | 197 | 25 | 63 | 29 | 548 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Fee Income | 936.00 | 1182.00 | 150.00 | 252.00 | 116.00 | 2636.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 278.46 | 254.13 | 32.25 | 74.97 | 34.51 | 582.64 |
| Donation Share | 31.50 | 31.50 | 31.50 | 31.50 | 31.50 | 157.50 |
| Print Sales Share | 21.37 | 21.37 | 21.37 | 21.37 | 21.37 | 106.87 |
| Publisher Share | 118.81 | 166.12 | 0.00 | 34.72 | 18.00 | 437.65 |
| Available to Pay | 591.60 | 814.63 | 170.62 | 195.18 | 116.36 | 1888.39 |
| Pieces Selected | 15 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 31 |
| Pay Rate | 39.44 | 135.77 | 85.31 | 39.04 | 38.79 |
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 242 | 123 | 39 | 49 | 23 | 476 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Fee Income | 968.00 | 738.00 | 234.00 | 196.00 | 92.00 | 2228.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 287.98 | 158.67 | 39.51 | 58.31 | 27.37 | 582.64 |
| Donation Share | 15.43 | 15.43 | 15.43 | 15.43 | 15.43 | 52.50 |
| Print Sales Share | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 108.21 |
| Publisher Share | 122.79 | 105.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.70 | 229.66 |
| Available to Pay | 594.30 | 511.23 | 220.76 | 174.76 | 100.00 | 1576.41 |
| Pieces Selected | 15 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 27 |
| Pay Rate | 39.62 | 127.81 | 110.36 | 43.69 | 50.00 |
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 144 | 91 | 21 | 44 | 10 | 310 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Fee Income | 576.00 | 546.00 | 126.00 | 176.00 | 40.00 | 1464.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 171.36 | 117.39 | 27.09 | 52.36 | 11.90 | 380.10 |
| Donation Share | 5.00 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 22.00 |
| Print Sales Share | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 | 108.21 |
| Publisher Share | 74.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 431.21 |
| Available to Pay | 356.68 | 455.25 | 124.55 | 149.28 | 53.74 | 1005.49 |
| Pieces Selected | 10 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Pay Rate | 35.67 | 113.81 | 62.28 | 49.76 | 53.74 |
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | Flash | Flash Nonfiction | Total |
| Submissions | 225 | 135 | 49 | 52 | 24 | 461 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Fee Income | 900.00 | 810.00 | 294.00 | 208.00 | 96.00 | 2308.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 267.75 | 174.15 | 63.21 | 61.88 | 28.56 | 595.55 |
| Donation Share | 139.51 | 139.51 | 139.51 | 42.67 | 43.81 | 505.00 |
| Print Sales Share | 19.00 | 19.00 | 19.00 | 19.00 | 19.00 | 95.00 |
| Publisher Share | 113.97 | 229.20 | 0.00 | 57.79 | 30.25 | 431.21 |
| Available to Pay | 676.79 | 565.16 | 389.29 | 150.00 | 100.00 | 1881.24 |
| Pieces Selected | 18 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
| Pay Rate | 37.60 | 141.29 | 97.32 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
Issue 1
| Category | Poetry | Fiction | Flash | Total |
| Submissions | 351 | 167 | 79 | 597 |
| Fee | 4.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | |
| Sub Total | 1404.00 | 1002.00 | 316.00 | 2722.00 |
| Submittable fee 5% + $.99 per sub | 417.69 | 215.43 | 94.01 | 727.13 |
| Donation Share | 35.00 | 45.00 | 35.00 | 115.00 |
| Sub Total | 1021.31 | 831.57 | 256.99 | 2109.87 |
| Publisher Share | 295.00 | 150.00 | 6.99 | 445.00 |
| Available to Pay | 726.31 | 681.57 | 250.00 | 1664.87 |
| Pieces Selected | 24 | 5 | 5 | 34 |
| Pay Rate | 30.26 | 136.31 | 50.00 |