Big Fat Toad

Submission Guidelines

Version: 1, 11th August 2025

What we publish

  • Haiku: contemporary English-language Haiku that favor immediacy, clarity, and resonance.

  • No theme limitations. (See style notes below.)

  • We do not consider other related forms at this time (no haibun, haiga, or monoku) but might do so in the future.

  • Unpublished work only (including blogs/social posts).

  • Simultaneous submissions are welcome—please withdraw promptly if accepted elsewhere (you may withdraw individual poems).

  • Translations are welcome if the original is public domain or you have permission from the rights holder. Include the original text and proof of permission when required, and credit the translator.

  • Original work only. No AI-generated or AI-assisted poetry.

  • We accept or decline work at our editorial discretion.

Submission window & process

  • All dates/times use the Berlin time (CET/CEST) timezone.

  • For next month's issue, submit by the 15th of the previous month, 23:59.

    • Example: for a March issue, submit by 15 February; later submissions roll to April.

  • Response time: We'll notify you of your status within 5 days after the deadline.

  • If accepted, we'll confirm you wish to proceed and may request brief additional information.

  • We may suggest light edits for clarity/lineation; final approval remains with the author.

How to submit

  • One submission per release window.

  • Up to 5 Haiku per submission.

  • Use the submission form to upload one file in .docx, .doc, .pdf, or .txt. Separate poems with a blank line. 

  • Use a legible, left-aligned font.

  • For unusual spacing/indentation, mark and describe it clearly in a brief note.

Style notes

  • These notes are no rules. If you think breaking any one of them will improve your work, we support your decision!

  • We welcome fresh approaches that keep the haiku's clarity and compression.

  • Form: three lines, no titles. The classic 5-7-5 is not required; aim for brevity and natural rhythm.

  • Cut/juxtaposition: include a meaningful shift or cut (line break or subtle punctuation is fine).

  • Seasonality: kigo welcome but not required.

  • Voice: concrete images over explanation; present tense often works best; minimal punctuation; avoid heavy metaphor/simile.

Rights, payment & fees

  • Fees: none at any stage.

  • Payment: currently unpaid.

  • Contributors receive free access to the issue featuring their work.

  • Contributor Discount & Payout Code. Each contributor receives a unique discount code for the issue containing their work. The code reduces the list price by 20%. For every sale made with that code, the contributor earns 20% of the list price (pre-discount, including VAT/sales tax, if applicable) at the time of purchase. (Example: If the list price is €5.00, the discounted price is €4.00, and the contributor payout is €1.00 per sale.)

    • The code applies only to that issue.

    • The code remains valid for one month from the issue's release date. It expires at 23:59 Europe/Berlin on the same calendar day of the following month, or after 100 redemptions, whichever comes first.

    • You may share the code publicly and privately.

    • The code cannot be combined with other codes or discounts.

    • Payouts are made within 30 days after the code expires, via SEPA bank transfer (EU/EEA) or PayPal. Minimum payout is €5.

    • When paid by PayPal, processing fees are deducted from the payout; SEPA transfers within the EU/EEA incur no fees from us.

    • Payouts are reversed for refunds and chargebacks, and codes may be disabled in cases of abuse.

    • Payments are made in EUR; for non-EUR accounts, conversion uses the payment processor's rate on the payout date.

    • Contributors are responsible for any applicable taxes.

  • On acceptance, you grant Big Fat Toad 

    • (a) First World English Serial Rights.

    • (b) Non-exclusive, perpetual archival rights to keep the work available in our issue archives (online/print).

    • (c) A non-exclusive right to reprint the work, unedited, in Big Fat Toad–branded annual anthologies (print or digital), with author credit and notice.

    • (d) A non-exclusive right to use the work or brief excerpts for promotional purposes across our website, newsletter, social channels, and event materials.

    • All rights otherwise revert to the author on publication. Authors may opt out of (c) and/or (d) by telling us at acceptance.

Withdrawals & queries