Call for submissions: MAINSPRINGS

Call for submissions

 

MAINSPRINGS

Tales of Typewriters in the Age of AI

 

edited by

Richard Polt, Frederic S. Durbin, and Andrew V. McFeaters

 

published by

Loose Dog Press

 

 

mainspring, n.: a typewriter’s reserve of potential energy, waiting to uncoil

 

 

Loose Dog Press’s COLD HARD TYPE series returns with a fresh topic that explores the technological frontier.

 

A new power has arrived like a tsunami: generative artificial intelligence, with its effects on everything from education to economy to environment. Are typewriters even more obsolete now, remnants of an ever more distant past? Or are they poised to offer surprising and essential services in this new age?

 

MAINSPRINGS invites contributions of short fiction, true stories, poetry, art, and photography. Contributors may explore synergies between typewriters and AI, conflicts between them, or creative and ambiguous encounters. 

 

Deadline for submissions: January 20, 2027

 

            Submit your work to Richard Polt by e-mail or post (see below). It will be reviewed by Polt (author of The Typewriter Revolution and Evertype), novelist Frederic S. Durbin, and English professor Andrew V. McFeaters.

            The maximum length for texts is 5000 words. At this stage, texts may be either digital or typewritten.

            Stories may be set in the present or the future; they may be realistic or fantastic, true or fictional. All genres, styles, and ideas are welcome, as long as both AI and a typewriter play some role in your creation. They may be intended for adults, but should not be pornographic or sadistic. As a rule of thumb, an effective story has interesting characters, a dramatic plot, and vivid sensory details. Avoid telling the reader about generalities; instead, show the reader concrete things and events. Good spelling, grammar, and punctuation also matter.

            Submissions of artwork and photos may include color cover images and grayscale interior images. Illustrations should fit the dimensions of the book’s pages, 6x9 inches. Resolution of digital images should be 300 dpi or better.

 

            You may use some AI to create your submission, as long as you disclose its role honestly and it serves an important artistic purpose. 

            We encourage you to find inspiration in previous volumes in the COLD HARD TYPE series.

 

Decision date: March 31, 2027

 

            The editors will either accept your work or reject it by this date. There will be no “revise and resubmit” judgments, although if your work is accepted, we may require some corrections or suggest some optional revisions. 

 

Deadline for finished, typewritten work: May 31, 2027

 

            All texts in the published book will be typewritten on real typewriters. This will require care and attention. Guidelines for typing will be sent to authors whose work is accepted. The finished typescript may be submitted on paper or as a scan.

 

Approximate publication date: August 1, 2027

 

            Around this time, the book will be available for purchase on Amazon as a print-on-demand volume. The book will contain no digital text, only images of typewriting. It will not be available as an e-book, only in print. The price will be as affordable as possible, and neither editors nor contributors will profit from the project. However, every contributor will receive a free copy of the published volume.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

            Can you give me advice on a rough draft of my work? — No, sorry. We expect many submissions, so we will not be able to review anything but polished work that you consider ready for publication.

            May authors collaborate? — Yes.

            May I submit more than one piece? — Yes, but it is unlikely that we will be able to publish more than one.

            May I use a pseudonym or remain anonymous? — Yes.

            What about foreign-language or bilingual material? — The language for the collection is English, so submissions must be in good English, and any bits in other languages must also come with a translation, so that readers who do not know those languages can understand.

            Can work have been published previously? — Yes, but we do prefer contributions that are new or not well known. Any previously published material must follow any copyright conditions attached to the previous publication.

            May I republish my work later? — Yes. You will retain copyright on your work, and after the book is published, you may publish your work in other formats, noting that it first appeared in this collection.

            Do I have to type my own work on a typewriter?— Your initial submission does not have to be typewritten, but the final text does. If you are not confident enough in your typing abilities, let us know; we may be able to arrange a substitute typist for you.

            Will I be paid? — No. No contributors or editors will make any money from this project. We will profit in the form of joy, fun, and the satisfaction of contributing to the typewriter renaissance—and contributors will get a free copy of the book.

 

Send all questions and submissions to Richard Polt

at polt@xavier.edu, or

 

Richard Polt

Dept. of Philosophy

Xavier University

3800 Victory Pky.

Cincinnati, OH 45207-4443

USA

Carson, CA type-in June 14

A Typewriter Festival is happening on Saturday, June 14th from 2–5pm at the International Printing Museum in Carson (LA area), in celebration of National Typewriter Day. It’s an afternoon filled with vintage charm, interactive activities, and a deep appreciation for the art of analog creativity.

Guests will be able to:

• Type on real working vintage typewriters

• Join fun contests like the Typewriter Speed Challenge and a "Never Ending Tale"

• Explore a vintage typewriter exhibit by Typewriter Connection

• Create typo-o-grams, handmade cards, and on-the-spot poetry

• Shop for unique merch and even win a restored typewriter!

Whether you have writers, artists, creatives, vintage fans, or curious minds in your circle, this is an experience they won’t want to miss. This is a great family-friendly event that celebrates creativity and history.

Details and tickets: printmuseum.org/typewriter

A new place for typewriter lovers in Indianapolis

Facebook event page

Indy Type Shop 

(317) 296-3898 

info@IndyTypeShop.com 

2621 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203 

Website coming soon.

A lit space for rad people: second hand books, typewriter rent/buy/repair; vintage ephemera & art, self-serve tea selections, and writing spaces. Disabled Veteran, LGBTQ+ owned. In store shopping & Event space. Free Wi-Fi available. Accepts Debit, Credit, NFC. Free Street & rear parking available.

 Hours starting 14 May 

S: 11-4 

M: Closed 

T: Closed 

W: 11-6 

Th: 11-6 

F: 11-7 

S: 11-7

 

Margin Releases deadline: March 1

The deadline for submitting fiction, poetry, art, and photos to Margin Releases is coming up in one month! Read all about it here.

 

Call for submissions: Margin Releases

 Call for submissions

 

COLD HARD TYPE V

 

Margin Releases:

Typewritten Tales of Transgression

 

edited by

Richard Polt, Frederic S. Durbin, and Andrew V. McFeaters

 

published by

Loose Dog Press

Human beings have an innate tendency to stray. We eat forbidden fruit, violate trust, speak outrageous truths or untruths, and run with scissors. All too often, this waywardness leads us into a tangled web, into the self-inflicted pain that is unique to our species. Yet a typewriter is built with a margin release mechanism for a reason; there are times when the margins are oppressive, or when going out of bounds accomplishes a greater good. 

 

Margin Releases: Typewritten Tales of Transgression seeks fiction, poems, photography, and visual art on the theme of crossing the line. Show us characters who, for whatever reasons, break the rules. As always, craft your fiction or poetry with any tools you’d like, and if your piece is accepted, you’ll get to dust off that typewriter for producing the final copy. Be original, be clear, be true, and remember there’s a 5,000-word maximum limit. Also, each submission must somehow involve a typewriter in a significant way, though it need not be central to the plot. The first rule is to tell a good story, in words or in images—don’t break that one.

 

 

Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2022

 

            Submit your work to Richard Polt by e-mail or post (see below). It will be reviewed by Polt (author of The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century), novelist Frederic S. Durbin, and English professor Andrew McFeaters.

            The maximum length for texts is 5000 words.

            At this stage, texts may be either digital or typewritten. 

            Submissions of artwork and photos may include color cover images and grayscale interior images. Illustrations should fit appropriately within the dimensions of the book’s pages, 6x9 inches. Resolution of digital images should be 300 dpi or better.

            Submissions may vary in style, genre, and tone, as long as they fit the theme. They may be intended for adults, but should not be explicitly pornographic or sadistic.

            To give your work the best chance of being accepted, we recommend that you read the first four volumes in the Cold Hard Type series—Paradigm Shifts, Escapements, Backspaces and Dead Keys—and reflect on what you like about your favorite pieces. As a rule of thumb, an effective story has interesting characters, a dramatic plot, and vivid sensory details. Avoid telling the reader about generalities; instead, show the reader concrete things and events. Good spelling, grammar, and punctuation also matter.

 

Decision date: May 1, 2022

 

            The editors will either accept your work or reject it by this date. There will be no “revise and resubmit” judgments, although if your work is accepted, we may require some corrections or suggest some optional revisions. 

 

Deadline for finished, typewritten work: June 1, 2022

 

            All texts in the published book will be typewritten on real typewriters. This will require care and attention. Guidelines for typing will be sent to authors whose work is accepted. The finished typescript may be submitted on paper or as a scan.

 

Publication date: July 15, 2022

 

            Around this time, the book will be available for purchase on Amazon as a print-on-demand volume. The book will contain no digital text, only images of typewriting. It will not be available as an e-book, only in print. The price will be as affordable as possible (approximately $7), and neither editors nor contributors will make any money from the project. However, every contributor will receive one free copy of the published volume.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

            Can you give me advice on a rough draft of my work? — No, sorry. We expect many submissions, so we will not be able to review anything but polished work that you consider ready for publication.

            May authors collaborate? — Yes.

            May I submit more than one piece? — Yes, but it is unlikely that we will be able to publish more than one.

            May I use a pseudonym or remain anonymous? — Yes.

            What about foreign-language or bilingual material? — The language for the collection is English, so submissions must be in good English, and any bits in other languages must also come with a translation, so that readers who do not know those languages can understand.

            Can work have been published previously? — Yes, but we do prefer contributions that are new or not well known. Any previously published material must follow any copyright conditions attached to the previous publication.

            May I republish my work later? — Yes. You will retain copyright on your work, and after the book is published, you may publish your work in other formats, noting that it first appeared in this collection.

            Do I have to type my own work on a typewriter?— Your initial submission does not have to be typewritten, but the final text does. If you are not confident enough in your typing abilities, let us know; we may be able to arrange a substitute typist for you.

            Will I be paid? — No. No contributors or editors will make any money whatsoever from this project. We will profit in the form of joy, fun, and the satisfaction of contributing to the typewriter insurgency—and contributors will get a free copy of the book.

 

Send all questions and submissions to Richard Polt

at polt@xavier.edu, or

 

Richard Polt

Dept. of Philosophy

Xavier University

3800 Victory Pky.

Cincinnati, OH 45207-4443

USA

 

 

 

Dead Keys: Typewritten Tales of Terror

Cold Hard Type IV

Dead Keys: Typewritten Tales of Terror

Can a writing machine become a weapon against evil—or a tool for it? Can it type exquisite tales of terror? Find out—if you dare—in this collection of fiction, poetry, and art. 

Contributors include Merinda Boekhoudt, Ryan Buchanan, Ken Coghlan III, Shelley K. Davenport, Séafra Duffy, Frederic S. Durbin, Gabe Dybing, David Freeman, Ian Gillespie, Sondra Holtzman, Joseph M. Jablonski, Kelye Kneeland, L. B. Kolmas, Cassandra Leoncini, Timothy Ley, Bryan Mahoney, Andrew V. McFeaters, Erich J. Noack, David W. Pedersen, Richard Polt, Kim e Revay, Heriberto Roselló, André Gene Samson, Marni Scofidio, David Tellet, Denise Terriah, Fred Von Drasek, Matthew Weaver, and Matt Wixey.

Purchase Dead Keys on Amazon

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"Backspaces" now available

The third volume in Loose Dog Press's Cold Hard Type series, Backspaces, has been published! This volume features stories, poems, art, and photography on the theme of traveling back to the heyday of typewriters. Like the previous two volumes, this book contains no digital text. Everything has been written on typewriters.

Now available on Amazon.

Call for submissions: Cold Hard Type III

COLD HARD TYPE III

Backspaces

Typewritten Tales of Time Travel

edited by

Richard Polt, Frederic S. Durbin, and Andrew V. McFeaters

published by

Loose Dog Press

            What if you could travel back into the heyday of typewriters? 

            The stories in this anthology will explore that question. The time traveler(s) may be one or more people; they may travel by any means you can imagine, intentional or accidental; they may come from any time after the heyday of typewriters, which we are defining as 1870-1990, and they must travel back into that period. A typewriter, or typewriters, must play some role in the story. 

Deadline for submissions: March 15, 2020

            Submit your work to Richard Polt by e-mail or post (see the end of this post). It will be reviewed by Polt (author of The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century, https://typewriterrevolution.com) novelist Fred Durbin (http://www.fredericsdurbin.com), and English professor Andrew McFeaters (https://theuntimelytypewriter.com). 

            The maximum length for texts is 5000 words.

            At this stage, texts may be either digital or typewritten. 

            Submissions may be dark, comic, romantic, or whatever you like in the way of genre and style; they may be intended for adults, but should not be pornographic or sadistic.

            Poetry, art, and photography are welcome, as long as they fit the theme of the book. 

            Submissions of artwork and photos may include color cover images and grayscale interior images. Illustrations should fit appropriately within the dimensions of the book’s pages, 6x9 inches. Resolution of digital images should be 300 dpi or better.

            To give your work the best chance of being accepted, we recommend that you read the first two volumes in the Cold Hard Type series, Paradigm Shifts and Escapements, and reflect on what you like about your favorite pieces. As a rule of thumb, an effective story has interesting characters, a dramatic plot, and vivid sensory details. Avoid telling the reader about generalities; instead, show the reader concrete things and events. Good spelling, grammar, and punctuation also matter.

Decision date: May 15, 2020

            The editors will either accept your work or reject it by May 15. There will be no “revise and resubmit” judgments, although if your work is accepted, we may require some corrections or suggest some optional revisions. 

Deadline for finished, typewritten work: July 1, 2020

            All texts in the published book will be typewritten on real typewriters. This will require care and attention. Guidelines for typing will be sent to authors whose work is accepted. The finished typescript may be submitted on paper or as a scan.

Provisional publication date: September 1, 2020

            Around this time, the book will be available for purchase on Amazon as a print-on-demand volume. The book will contain no digital text, only images of typewriting. It will not be available as an e-book, only in print. The price will be as affordable as possible (approximately $7), and neither editors nor contributors will make any money from the project. However, every contributor will receive one free copy of the published volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

            Can you give me advice on a rough draft of my work? — No. We expect many submissions, so we will not be able to review anything but polished work that you consider ready for publication.

            Can it be a typewriter that goes back in time, instead of a person? — Yes.

            May authors collaborate? — Yes.

            May I submit more than one piece? — Yes, but it is unlikely that we will be able to publish more than one.

            May I use a pseudonym or remain anonymous? — Yes.

            What about foreign-language or bilingual material? — The language for the collection is English, so submissions must be in good English, and any bits in other languages must also come with a translation, so that readers who do not know those languages can understand.

            Can work have been published previously? — Yes, but we do prefer contributions that are new or not well known. Any previously published material must follow any copyright conditions attached to the previous publication.

            May I republish my work later? — Yes. You will retain copyright on your work, and after the book is published, you may publish your work in other formats, noting that it first appeared in Backspaces.

            Will I be paid? — No. No contributors or editors will make any money whatsoever from this project. We will profit in the form of joy, fun, and the satisfaction of contributing to the typewriter insurgency—and contributors will get a free copy of the book.

Send all questions and submissions to Richard Polt

at polt@xavier.edu, or

Richard Polt

Dept. of Philosophy

Xavier University

3800 Victory Pky.

Cincinnati, OH 45207-4443

USA

COLD HARD TYPE II: Escapements now available

The second volume of COLD HARD TYPE is now available! I am glad to present Escapements: Typewritten Tales from Post-Digital Worlds.

With no digital technology, the world can be a harsh place—and a surprising one. Whatever happens, our typewriters will be there to document it. Imagine the possibilities in this collection of stories, poems, and art.

This volume includes contributions by Wendell Berry, Jenny Bristol, Rory Bristol, Ariana Davenport, Shelley K. Davenport, Jamie Davies, Frederic S. Durbin, Mathilda-Anne Florence, N. E. Glenn, Martyn V. Halm, Lori Hedges, John Howell, Scott Kernaghan, Shane L. Larson, Timothy Ley, LA Marler, Todd Mauldin, C. M. Mayo, Andrew V. McFeaters, Bill Meissner, Klaus Mielke, Eliezane Moon, Duane Morrison, John Munroe, Christopher Ochs, David W. Pedersen, Jim Pennington, Monica Quinn, Kim e. Revay, Charly Roland, Andre Gene Samson, Philip L. Simpson, Maria Tolentino, Armando Warner, and Donald Winzer.

You can purchase Escapements on Amazon now.

And don't miss volume 1, Paradigm Shifts!

Being Jack Kerouac

iamjack.art

QWERTY Festival, Greenville, NY, June 23-24

QWERTY: The Second Annual Festival of Type and the Letter Arts will be held at the Greenville Drive-In on June 23-24th and features a return performance by the enigmatic rhythm and words ensemble, the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. The festival begins on World Typewriter Day Friday with a line-up including a special live performance by Brian Dewan and a 10th anniversary screening of Gary Hustwit’s documentary Helvetica. Boston Typewriter Orchestra takes the stage Saturday evening before screenings of Ink & Paper and Doug Nichol’s new documentary California Typewriter featuring Tom Hanks, John Mayer and Sam Shepard. Both evenings will host a gathering of typewriter poets, typewriter and letter art and a type-in hosted by Eric Molbach. Bring your typewriter or use one of the free typewriters provided on a first-come first-served basis. The Greenville Drive-In is located at 10700 Route 32 in Greenville NY 12083.

More info here.

Typewriter Arts Festival, Greenville, NY, June 11

First Annual Typewriter Arts Festival to be Held at The Greenville Drive-In Saturday, June 11

[Greenville, NY] The Greenville Drive-In presents The First Annual Typewriter Arts Festival Saturday, June 11 beginning at 6:30pm. Festival highlights include a live performance with The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, screening of the documentary The Typewriter (in the 21st Century), a display by local artists using the medium of typewriters, and a display of vintage typewriters. The Greenville Drive-In is located at 10700 Route 32 in Greenville, NY.

Admission to the Typewriter Arts Festival is $10. Tickets are available on the website www.drivein32.com and at the door.  For further information, please email info@drivein32.com or call (917) 755-2452.

First Annual Typewriter Arts Festival Schedule of Events

6:30pm Typewriter-Themed Art Exhibit in the Beer Garden

The Greenville Drive-In and the Greene County Council on the Arts are partnering to create a one-day art show focusing on the medium of typewriters. Images will be projected on the big screen, as well as on display in person. New Baltimore, NY’s Sister Salvage will host a collection of vintage machines for display and sale. Guests are encouraged to bring typewriters and join the “type-in.”

7:00-8:30pm Live Performance with The Boston Typewriter Orchestra

The Boston Typewriter Orchestra is a collective endeavor that engages in rhythmic typewriter manipulation combined with elements of performance, comedy and satire. Their performance at the Greenville Drive-In will be their first in the Catskills.

8:45-9:45pm Screening of “The Typewriter (in the 21st Century)”

In May of 2010, filmmakers Christopher Lockett and Gary Nicholson read an article on Wired.com about the last generation of typewriter repairmen. Casual conversation over coffee turned toward the inevitable conclusion—a great documentary. This is the first local screening of this fascinating film.

10:00-11:50pm Screening of the French romantic comedy “Populaire”

A typewriter plays a key role in the storyline of the second film in this double feature.

Readings / type-ins in SF, LA, DC, and Michigan

I'll be reading and signing The Typewriter Revolution at various upcoming events. Typists and their machines are invited! 

Adobe Books, San Francisco, 5-7 PM, December 22, 2015

Type-in at The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, 5-6:30 PM, Dec. 28, 2015

with poetry, art, and the original typewriters of Orson Welles and Ray Bradbury ​

Busboys and Poets Bookstore, Hyattsville, MD, 5-6:30, January 7, 2016

Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI, 7 PM, January 15, 2016 ​

Kazoo Books, Kalamazoo, MI, January 16, 2016, 12-3 pm

 More information at typewriterrevolution.com.

 Richard Polt