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
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
COLD HARD TYPE V
Margin Releases:
Typewritten Tales of Transgression
edited by
Richard Polt, Frederic S. Durbin, and Andrew V. McFeaters
published by
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
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
