Submissions

General Guidelines

Lakeer Magazine and Chowk publish work by writers with a connection to Pakistan.
We publish work in languages spoken in Pakistan.
Fiction, essays, and poetry from non-Pakistanis are considered if translated by a Pakistani writer.
Please submit to only Lakeer Magazine or Chowk during a reading period.
We consider simultaneous submissions.
For original work, we only consider unpublished writing. Please do not submit work that has been previously published, including material published online including on social media, or in anthologies or chapbooks.
For translations, the above doesn’t apply.
Response time for submissions is three months (often sooner).

Guidelines for Lakeer Magazine

Please submit to only one category per submission period.
Please submit only once per submission period.
Email your submission to lakeer.submissions@gmail.com with FICTION, POETRY, ESSAY or REVIEW in your email subject.
Submissions for fiction, essays, poetry, and reviews/review pitches are currently closed.
Submissions for art/photography are open from 1 January 2025 until 31 January, 2025.
Fiction
1000 to 7000 words. Longer work might be accepted if it is strong.
On the first page: your name, email, and word count.
MS Word file labeled: your name_title
Please submit only one short story per submission period.
Essay
1000 to 5000 words.
On the first page, please write your name, email, and word count.
MS Word file labeled: your name_title
Please submit only one essay per submission period.
Poetry
Up to 3 poems, sent in a single file.
On the first page, please write your name and email.
MS Word file labeled: submitter name_title
Reviews/Review Pitches
We are seeking reviews of contemporary works by Pakistani authors.
You can submit a review or a pitch for a review.
A review can be from 900 to 1000 words.
Please include your name and email, as well as the title of the book, author name, and the book’s publication date.
If submitting a complete review, please submit only one time per submission period.
Art/Photography
If accepted, the artwork or photograph will be published alongside an essay or short story.
1 work of art or photograph along with a brief description.
Please include your name and email.
File labeled: submitter name_title.

Guidelines for Chowk

Chowk is a column of essays, poetry, art and photography.
The column is published on a rolling basis.
The theme for 2025 is Borders/Boundaries – سرحدیں/حُدُود:
Lines that define limits between a person and a place, between one place and another, between communities. When they’re necessary and when not. Transgression of those limits.
Submissions are now open.
Please submit to only one category at a time.
If your work isn’t accepted, you can submit two more times.
Please email your submission to chowk.submissions@gmail.com with ESSAY, POETRY or ART/PHOTOGRAPHY in your email subject.
Essay
1000 to 3000 words.
Please include your name and email on the first page.
Please submit only one essay at a time.

Poetry
One poem, original.
Please include your name and email on the first page.
Please submit only one poem at a time.

Art/Photography
Original artwork or photograph, or a series of related photographs (not more than 3) along with a brief note about the photo(s).
Please include your name and email.
Please submit only one artwork or photograph/series of related photographs at a time.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed at Lakeer, including Lakeer Magazine and Chowk, are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website, its affiliates, or any persons associated with them.