Six Questions for Doug Mathewson and Sally Reno, Editors, Blink-Ink

Blink-Ink publishes fiction around 50 words. Issues are generally themed for each submission period. Read the complete guidelines here.

• Ten big years of publication for us as of this fall (2019).
• General submission guidelines @ www.blink-ink.org/submissions/  and specific 
• themes, deadlines, and updates @ www.blink-ink.org/news/ 
• We are Duotrope and New Pages listed. 

SQF: Why a 50-word limit?

BI: We ask for stories of approximately 50 words. There have been 53 word stories where it would be a crime to loose a single word, and conversely 47 word stories where neither the author nor myself can imagine anything else to say.Blink-Ink is about the stories we publish, the rules  are secondary.


SQF: What are the top things you look for in a submission and why?

BI: We like new. New voices, new outlooks, new subjects and story lines. A new take on an old tale. Something fresh, you read it once, or come back to it several times. A story you can not stop
thinking about.


SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

BI: People who can’t be bothered or do not care enough to read our guidelines. We only have a few. Write approximately 50 words on our theme, and  send it in the body of an email.  No poetry, no attachments, no bios.


SQF: Many editors look for a strong opening. Given each submission is only 50 (or so) words, is the opening sentence that important?

BI: The first sentence is crucial. Just jump right in, you don’t need a long involved set-up. Trust the reader, they are your partner in this journey and will get up to speed very quickly.


SQF: Many editors list erotica, or sex for sex sake, as hard sells. What are hard sells for your publication?

BI: There are “hard sells” and there are “no sales” as well. No sale to rape, torture, sexual violence, child molestation, racism, pointless violence, and mean spirited attacks. Like everyone we have our preferences. “Hard sells” include talking animals, people wearing capes, or speaking in unintelligible dialects. No go on zombies, vampires will be considered on an individual basis.


SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

BI: “Why do you do this?”

I am not sure I know how to answer this question. We are coming up in September of 2019 on ten years of publication and distribution. That is ten years of long hours and losing money to put out our  two publications, Blink-Ink and  its sister press The Mambo Academy of Kitty Wang (coming in September 2019 issue). Over the years we have met so many new and interesting people. By accident we have antagonized a few, but in large seem to have made many people happy. Happy when they read us, and happy when we take a piece they have written. It is such a pleasure to have someone say “Thank you, this is the first story of mine that anyone has ever published.”

Thank you, Sally and Doug. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.