Please send your contributions electronically. Paper contributions are something we SO don’t want to read. When sending submissions to us, send them either (1) in the body of the email (though bolds and italics and special characters may be lost in the body of the email sometimes), or (2) as an attached “.txt” file, “.rtf” file, or as a Microsoft Word file (we accept both .docx and .doc files, but we have to transfer all .doc files to .docx format, so we would prefer a .docx file to a .doc file). (Also, we will not consider PDF file submissions, and we will not consider web page links as submissions — if all you can bother to send is only a web page link and not the actual writing, that shows us how little regard you have to submitting writing for consideration to our magazine.) You can send it both ways (in the body and as an attachment) if you want to be extra-sure we can read it, but these are the ways we can receive submissions successfully. By preferring e-mail subs, this reduces the possibility that Scars and CC&D will inadvertently introduce typing or scanning errors into the copy. Our philosophy is that you either have to just not know what a computer is or you can’t afford to get on-line in the first place in order to send us snail-mail submissions. Email or floppy disk or CD rom or ZIP disk or USB thumb drive submissions are all that we prefer to be accepting... But if you have email, you can email us; it’s a lot faster, you don’t need a SASE; it is more economical.

    Please note that our byline is that we are the UN-religious magazine. The name of this magazine is generated from a poem about the dysfunctionality of religion and family life, so this is NOT a Christian magazine. Along those same lines,
    We do not consider rhyme. Sorry guys, I’m sure there are a ton of other places for that rhyming stuff, but it’s not our thing. We have noted that the reader gets more involved with the writer’s rhyme than the actual message of the writing.
    We believe rhyming poetry steers readers away from any real message from the writer, and oftentimes the words the writer had to choose to make something rhyme make the writing sound trite (or at least not precisely the essence of what the writer would have preferred to say). Rhyming poetry seems contrary to showing that the writer wants the reader to actually understand the writing.
    If we get submissions of poems and see that the end words in verses rhyme, we will throw away the writing and not consider it. Do not send it to us. So please, don’t bother mailing it to us; we’ll just reject rhyming poetry without thinking of their content.

    Remember these basics:
    Do NOT all-cap titles.
    No NOT enter two returns after every paragraph in prose. (This goes for no double returns after every line in poems too.)
    Do not center poetry. (And because we import Word files into our layout program before looking at them, we don’t get embedded images and we do not use colors in text, so don’t do it).
    Do not give us writing with assorted random indentations (they are too difficult to replicate on the web, so please refrain from using them).

    Also, after you have sent a submission, please do not send another submission until we have processed and responded to your first submission.

    SENDING WRITING IN ITALICS: We are totally fine with receiving italics in submissions... some people remember in the past sending submissions where all italicized material is instead underlined, and some do not know this (which is why we’re fine with getting submisions in italics). If your submission has italics as underlines, we will assume (if there are no italics in your submission and there are underlines) that underlined copy should be italicized instead. If this is not what you want (i.e., you do not have or want any italicized copy and you want copy underlined), let us know this when submitting your work.

* ADDITIONAL NOTE on sending images with copy:
    Because we do not review .docx files WITHIN Microsoft Word (we import them into our layout program to read them, and that does not import images in your .docx files), if you have images to go with your copy, MAKE SURE you send the images separately to us. There have been difficulties in sending images embedded into .docx files in email transmission, so make sure you send the jpeg images to as a separate files. If we accept the for publication, they appear in print books as well as web pages, so we need images at 300dpi at a maximum width of 4.5 inches (if you only have the image at 72dpi, that means it needs to be a maximum width of 18.75 inches at 72 dpi, and we can convert the file to 300 dpi for print publication). Images that are sent to us at 2 to 4.5 inches wide at 72dpi are WAY to small for print purposes.

    Here is the important stuff. Print copies are no longer free, but issues through 2009 can be purchased for a low low price through us, so for older copies, get electronic copies at this site, which are free, by clicking on the text archives and back issues of cc+d. 2010 issues are printed from a printer, so we do not even have spare copies to give away. For 2010 issues, copies can be order through a click to the printer links.

General Themes

    Our biases are works that relate to issues such as politics, sexism, society, and the like, but are definitely not limited to such. We publish good work that makes you think, that makes you feel like you’ve lived through a scene instead of merely reading it. If we had to use two words to describe what we want, they would have to be intelligent and powerful. Keep that in mind.

Poetry

    Send no more than 5 pieces at a time (we will accept a bit more if they are short, but this is a common guideline when submitting poetry to magazines). We accept work of almost any genre, but we’re not keen on rhyme for rhyme’s sake, and we’re definitely not keen on religion poems (look at our current issue for a better idea of what we’re like). We are also not keen (meaning, it’s best not to send it to us for consideration) poems with repeated or intricate indentations. If the poem cannot read well without the mass special indentations, then it’s probably not a good enough poem for publication at Scars. Oh, and we do accept longer works, but within two pages for an individual poem is appreciated.

This was listed at the top of the page, but this is an ADDITIONAL NOTE on sending images with copy:
    Because we do not review .docx files WITHIN Microsoft Word, if you have images to go with your copy, MAKE SURE you send the images separately to us. There have been difficulties in sending images embedded into .docx files in email transmission, so make sure you send the jpeg images to as a separate files. If we accept the for publication, they appear in print books as well as web pages, so we need images at 300dpi at a maximum width of 4.5 inches (if you only have the image at 72dpi, that means it needs to be a maximum width of 18.75 inches at 72 dpi, and we can convert the file to 300 dpi for print publication). Images that are sent to us at 2 to 4.5 inches wide at 72dpi are WAY to small for print purposes.

Prose

    Send one story at a time (no matter the length), only 1 story should be sent when submitting prose. Do not send another submission of prose until we have responded to your first submission of prose. We say keep it under ten pages, if you can, but we really like getting prose submissions, so if you think your piece is good but worry about the length, well, send it to us anyway and let us decide. If it relates to how the world fits into a person’s life (political story, a day in the life, coping with issues people face), it will probably win us over faster. Oh, and please tell the story like it actually happened. What makes a story believable is the detail given in it that pulls the reader in. Make our reader see the scene, smell the food, feel the wind on their face. They’ll remember the story more when they put an issue down if they feel like they lived the story instead of merely reading it. They can take something from it, and when they do you know you’ve done something right.
    That also means that as a rule we do not want to look at Vampire stories or Zombie stories (sorry, we don’t find these fictional stories remotely interesting because they’re not remotely believable, so hold off on sending them to us.)

This was listed at the top of the page, but this is an ADDITIONAL NOTE on sending images with copy:
    Because we do not review .docx files, if you have images to go with your copy, MAKE SURE you send the images separately to us. There have been difficulties in sending images embedded into .docx files in email transmission, so make sure you send the jpeg images to as a separate files. If we accept the for publication, they appear in print books as well as web pages, so we need images at 300dpi at a maximum width of 4.5 inches (if you only have the image at 72dpi, that means it needs to be a maximum width of 18.75 inches at 72 dpi, and we can convert the file to 300 dpi for print publication). Images that are sent to us at 2 to 4.5 inches wide at 72dpi are WAY to small for print purposes.

    SENDING WRITING IN ITALICS: Some people remember that sending submissions where all italicized material is instead underlined, and some do not know this. If your submission has italics as underlines, we will assume (if there are no italics in your submission and there are underlines) that underlined copy should be italicized instead. If this is not what you want (i.e., you do not have or want any italicized copy and you want copy underlined), let us know this when submitting your work.

Art Work

    Do not send originals. We don’t go for humorous illustrations or comics, unless they’re political and fit in with out current themes. Photography and drawings are usually your best bet; look artwork in past issues online for a better idea of what we most commonly receive.. Artwork in electronic versions (html pages) of Children, Churches and Daddies will appear at 72 dpi in full color, but in print versions, we need the artwork at 300dpi, and artwork on inside pages of print issues/books appears in black and white (greyscale).

    Do not send images in .docx files; MAKE SURE you send the images separately to us. Send the jpeg images to as a separate files. If we accept the for publication, they appear in print books as well as web pages, so we need images at 300dpi at a maximum width of 4.5 inches (if you only have the image at 72dpi, that means it needs to be a maximum width of 18.75 inches at 72 dpi, and we can convert the file to 300 dpi for print publication). Images that are sent to us at 2 to 4.5 inches wide at 72dpi are WAY to small for print purposes, which makes them much less likely to appear in print issues.

    If you have a lot of artwork to submit electronically to us, the scars.tv email servers might not be able to handle that many images sent in emails to us. Ask us for instructions on sending large amounts of artwork (that may later appear in your own framed art page online), because we could give you an altrnate gmail address for those artwork emailing purposes.

Everyone: Read This Submission Advice

    We’ve received comments from readers and other editors saying that they thought some of our stories really happened. They didn’t, but it was nice to know that they were so concrete, so believable that people thought they were nonfiction. Do that to our readers.

    Here you even have the opportunity to directly submit writing to cc&d. You can also submit art work electronically by e-mailing it to us...

Boring, Stupid Crap:

     All magazine published from Scars Publications are released on the web — an in past issues (pre formal printer issues) as a free downloadable PDF file (e-book, or e-issue), as well as on a web page. In this way people can enjoy the magazine on the Internet for free.
    cc&d magazine origianlly started as a print-only magazine, and within a year was placed on the web. Because of years where the magazine did not exist except in collection books, cc&d magazine has made every effort to continue to have issues available for free online. Print issues are offered to people who are interested in keeping a hard copy for their own records, but since over the years cc&d magazine has been available for free on the web, free print copies are not given away.
     Because all magazines published from Scars Publications are released on the web (and in the past as a free downloadable PDF file, as well as on a web page), it is always been the policy of Scars Publications to not give away free print issues.

Part 2: the really technical details:

    Children, Churches and Daddies is a magazine dedicated to showcasing the work of writers and artists, and is published monthly, so submit early and submit often. We don’t go for racist, sexist (therefore we’re not into pornography either), or homophobic stuff. (though we shy away from concrete poetry and rhyme for rhyme’s sake...) We prefer work sent via e-mail or on Macintosh disks. Submit as much as you want at a time. And about copyrights - the work is yours, and we don’t want to ever claim it for ourselves. Simultaneous submissions are cool, previously published or concurrently published works are cool, and the work is always yours. You’re only giving us the right to publish it.
    We may want to run your work again in a collection volume in the future, but that only means you’re published again, the collection books/calendars/whatnot will be posted on our web site as well, and you can still do whatever you want with your work. You always retain the rights to your work; by submitting your material to us you are giving us permission to show off your work (on the web or in print issues or collection books), but you can do whatever you like with your won work. Someone else wants to publish your material after we accepted it? No problem. (Bigger bargain for us if they credit first publication rights to cc&d, and thanks.) Someone else published your material first and you want to submit it to us? Fine. (We’s laid back that way.) If you are accepted and you later ask us to pull your work from the Internet or a print issue, consider it done. Your work is yours, and we want to respect you and your writing and art work. (The only thing we won’t do is accept material that has already been published in the other Scars magazine, since both acceptances appear together in the writings section of http://scars.tv...)

    We know your writing’s good, so send poetry, short prose, black and white art work (electronic submissions greatly preferred for art work), praises or large checks (like poets even have money) to us. Now. What a country!

Copyright Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission.

comments on past collection books scars publications and design has done:

    Paul Weinman, Writer (on 1996 “Children, Churches and Daddies”)
    Wonderful new direction (“Children, Churches and Daddies” has) taken. Great stories - all sorts of hot info!

    Donna Thompson, editor, Challenges Magazine (on “Blister and Burn”)
    Blister and Burn arrived today. It’s quite handsome, attractive format, clean and uncluttered.
    Congratulations on the publication....good work!

    D. V. Aldrich, Writer I just recieved my copy of the vol. 77 - March issue. First of all, let me say I am impressed, make that “throw me up against the wall and do whatever you want with me” impressed, by the new layout, design and color. Mighty fine job, mighty fine!

    Jane B. Roth, writer (on “Slate and Marrow”)
    ...Absolutely beautiful. Very impressive. Congratulations. Haven’t had a chance to read much yet, but I loved the poem “Clipping Koltin.” The photography looks great.

    John Sweet, writer (on chapbook designs)
    Visuals were awesome. They’ve got a nice enigmatic quality to them. Front cover reminds me of the Roman sculptures of angels from way back when. Loved the staggered tire lettering, too. Way cool.

    Chris McKinnon (on collection book “Blister and Burn”)
    Thank you - (Kuypers has) really outdone herself with “Blister and Burn”. What a great volume, and your work is quite compelling! Marvelous job.

    C Ra McGuirt, Editor, The Penny Dreadful Review (on “Children, Churches and Daddies”)
    cc&d is obviously a labor of love ... I just have to smile when I go through it. (The editor) uses her space and her poets to best effect, and the illos attest to her skill as a graphic artist.

    Ryan Malone, Writer (on “Sulphur and Sawdust”)
    I’m enjoying the copy of “Suphur and Sawdust,” which came in the mail yesterday. The design is phenomenal. Stark, sleek, brilliant, impressive. Very refreshing. The small lines of text running sideways down the pages? Very cool. This is really, well-done, classy looking anthology. Congratulations.

    Debra Purdy Kong, writer, British Columbia, Canada (on the magazine “Children, Churches and Daddies”)
    I like the magazine a lot. I like the spacious lay-out and the different coloured pages and the variety of writer’s styles. Too many literary magazines read as if everyone graduated from the same course. We need to collect more voices like these and send them everywhere.

    Fred Whitehead, Freethought History (on “Blister and Burn” and the editor)
    Blister and Burn (is a) collection the admitably fulfills the promise of its title. I’m amazed at how much (the editor) accomplishes and gets done. She is listening hard for the authentic voices of America.

    Cheryl Townsend, Editor, Impetus (on “Children, Churches and Daddies”)
    The new cc&d looks absolutely amazing. It’s a wonderful lay-out, looks really professional - all you need is the glossy pages. Truly impressive AND the calendar, too. Can’t wait to actually start reading all the stuff inside.. Wanted to just say, it looks good so far!!!

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