SOLRAD, the online literary magazine for comics, publishes original content ranging from comics criticism, original comics, essays, interviews, and the promotion of small-press events and releases. We are currently accepting submissions from writers.
The site is a platform for new, underrepresented, and otherwise marginalized creative voices, in addition to commissioning work from well-established cartoonists, critics, journalists, and authors. We actively encourage submissions from writers of color, LGBTQ+ writers, and other underrepresented voices in comics criticism.
Currently Accepting
Reviews/Criticism
SOLRAD is interested in reviews that provide a critical analysis of the work being reviewed. Our reviews and essays focus on the theme of the work and how cartoonists use their tools to convey that theme.
Note: If there is a specific comic you are interested in writing about, we can request review copies for you from the publisher, but review copies are not guaranteed.
Essays
SOLRAD is interested in original journalism and investigative work, personal essays, profiles, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction. We are looking for well-written, solidly-reported work with a personality and a viewpoint.
Interviews
SOLRAD is interested in interviews with artists, comics writers, and those in comics-adjacent fields (e.g. publishing, comics sales).
Currently NOT accepting comics
SOLRAD commissions original fiction and nonfiction comics – we are not currently accepting pitches for new comics at this time.
Submissions Guide
SOLRAD recognizes the right of media workers to obtain a living wage – our current pay rates represent an honorarium with the goal of moving towards a higher rate of pay over the life of the magazine. What we pay:
- $90 for an approximately 1,000-word review/essay/interview
- $70/page for commissioned comics
Step-by-Step Process
1. Prepare
SOLRAD focuses on comics arts outside the mainstream genre comic. We strongly encourage you to read the last few pieces from SOLRAD to see what kind of books we tend to cover before considering pitching us.
Note: we are not accepting submissions for original comics at this time.
2. Submit
Write a concise email including:
- Your proposed topic and angle
- For reviews: what comic you’re focusing on and your critical lens
- A bit about yourself and any relevant links or samples
Email your pitch to pitch@solrad.co.
All work must be in English, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere simultaneously.
3. Publish
- We edit via Google Docs
- Published writing must be at least 1,000 words
- Pay is $90 per piece
SOLRAD retains exclusive digital rights for 6 months post-publication. After that, all rights revert to the writer.
Submissions to Fieldmouse Press
SOLRAD is a publication of Fieldmouse Press. If you are interested in submitting printed work for consideration to our publisher, please follow this link.
If, after reading all this, you feel that SOLRAD is an appropriate place for your writing, let’s get going. Send in your pitch!