PRISM international

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Fiction, Creative nonfiction, Poetry, Translation. Official guideline: PRISM international guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Fiction and creative non-fiction up to about 4,000 words, including flash.
• Up to four poems for a maximum of six pages.
• A cover letter with your contact information and a bio of 50 words or fewer referencing where you live.
• For translations: a copy of the original work, plus confirmed permission from the original author or rights holder.

Subjects they avoid

• More than one piece at a time, unless submitting for a specific call.
• Translations without permission from the rights holder — they will ask to see it before publishing.

Key requirements

• Submittable
• Bio of 50 words or fewer
• One piece at a time
• Preferred length 4,000 words

Who can submit

Open internationally — their mandate is to publish "the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world." They ask for a bio of 50 words or fewer that references where you live.

Rights

PRISM purchases first North American serial rights.

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.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Submittable

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Submittable

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Read https://prismmagazine.ca/submit/ and check which category is open.
• Prepare a cover letter with a 50-word bio that says where you live.
• Submit through Submittable.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Six to twelve months; they may not be able to respond to everyone

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.