The Sun

The Sun is a monthly, ad-free magazine based out of Chapel Hill, N.C. that is particularly focused on stories related to social justice. It was founded by an idealistic ex-newspaper reporter in 1974. As far as submissions, The Sun accepts fiction, nonfiction, interviews, and photography — all on a rolling deadline. In terms of nonfiction, The Sun is not looking for journalistic features, but rather personal essays. It does not cost anything to make a submission, but if it is accepted, The Sun pays between $300 and $2,000 for essays and interviews; $300 to $1,500 for fiction; and $100 to 500 for poetry. Published authors also receive a complimentary one-year subscription to The Sun. Current nonfiction on The Sun's website includes a story about a friendship between a 92-year-old woman and her much younger former neighbor, an essay about taking in feral cats and people, and an essay about preparing for a hurricane in a trailer park. With interviews, The Sun asks that you either send an already conducted interview or else include a query telling about the interview and what you plan to cover. On its website, The Sun notes that it is "particularly interested in interviews with women and people of color." Interviews can run between 5,000 words and 15,000 words, and also include a 1,000 word introduction. The Sun also has a section called Readers Write, which allows readers to write about a topic each month. This month, for instance, the topic was Whispering. All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, and include a self-addressed envelope. It typically takes The Sun three to six months to respond to submissions. The Sun has a circulation of over 70,000 subscribers, and, interestingly, is willing to give partial rate subscriptions to people who cannot afford to pay the full price. An annual subscription costs $39. Writing from The Sun recently won the Pushcart Prize.