Fiction, Poetry, Essays, Creative nonfiction, Other
A Velvet Giant
A Velvet Giant is a genreless literary journal that pays $20 per author on publication from donated funds. It asks for first serial rights, asks that future publication of the work acknowledge the journal, and says to expect a response within no more than six months. Submissions were closed when this record was read.
🔴 Currently closed Verified 2026-09
The docket
The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 288-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- $20 per author on publicationOf the other 63 records quoting in USD on this desk that state a figure, 22 state less, 38 state more, 3 state exactly this. Upon publication.
- Length
- No length limit stated on the submission guidelines
- Who can submit
- Not statedNo stated country restriction on the guidelines page.
- Reading period
- Not yet assessedBRYME has not recorded a reading period for this market from its guideline page. That is our gap rather than the publication's silence: it does not mean the window is open, and it does not mean there is none. Read the guideline linked on this page before you send.
- Response time
- No more than six months
- Simultaneous submissions
- Not statedThe guideline does not address simultaneous submissions. BRYME records that as silence rather than assuming a yes: if you are sending the same piece to several publications, say so in your cover letter and withdraw it everywhere the moment it is taken.
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 127 of the 288 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- StatedThe journal asks for first serial rights, and asks that any future publications of accepted work acknowledge A Velvet Giant.
- Experience
- Not yet assessedBRYME has read this publication's guideline but has not yet put the experience question to it, so this row is untouched rather than unanswered — it is our gap, not theirs. Treat it exactly as you would an unstated policy.
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 5 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
- Simultaneous submissions — the guideline leaves this open, so declare it in your cover letter rather than assuming.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
- Experience — BRYME has not assessed this one yet, so do not read the blank as either a welcome or a bar. Look at who the publication normally publishes before you pitch.
Record last human-checked 2026-09-30. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records quoting in USD on this desk quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- $20 per author on publication
- Word count
- No length limit stated on the submission guidelines
- Submission
- Submissions portal - see the submit page
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🔴 Currently closed
- Last verified
- 2026-09
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Fiction, Poetry, Essays, Creative nonfiction, Other. Official guideline: A Velvet Giant guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Genreless literary work - the journal describes itself as a genreless literary journal and points writers to its archive to see what it publishes.
- Work by genderqueer and LGBTQIA+ people, women, people of color, global writers, people living with disability and/or chronic pain or illness, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault - the journal says it is especially interested in these writers.
Subjects they avoid
- Work that is misogynistic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, antisemitic, or otherwise oppressive or exploitative. The journal's words: if you're not sure, don't send it.
Key requirements
- Read the about page and the archive before submitting.
- Submissions were closed on the date this record was read (2026-09-30).
- Expect a response within no more than six months.
- Acknowledge A Velvet Giant in any future publication of accepted work.
Who can submit
No stated country restriction on the guidelines page.
Rights
The journal asks for first serial rights, and asks that any future publications of accepted work acknowledge A Velvet Giant.
AI policy
Not stated in the guideline
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Not accepting submissions at the last check.
How to submit
Submissions portal - see the submit page
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Submissions portal - see the submit page
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read https://avelvetgiant.com/submit before sending.
- Submissions were CLOSED on the date this record was read; check the page before preparing a submission.
- Read the about page and a previous issue first - the journal tells you to.
- Expect up to six months for a response.
- Payment is $20 per author on publication and is funded by donations.
What happens after submission
Expected response: No more than six months
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.