Diagonal Proof is a new online literary journal publishing four times a year in February, May, August, and November. It will also be available as a downloadable pdf. It is edited by Daniel Gooding and Jack Bowdren.

When we were younger, we read anything. Intergalactic sci-fi. Wildly imaginative fantasy. Deeply meaningful literature. Books about planet exploring, pearl diving, or penguins. Tales of happiness, heartache, or heroism. You get the idea.

Now we are adults, it seems the world has closed in. Universities insist on studying literature and dimissing genre fiction. Some people refuse to read fiction of any kind. Others have found their favourite genre and never leave it.

We're starting up Diagonal Proof because we still read widely, and we think we know best. We want to create a journal that constantly surprises you, a journal that will challenge you to enjoy writing of all kinds. Our ambition is for you to find something you knew you would like and something you were surprised to like in every issue.

We aren't making any money out of this, and to begin with nor will our contributors. We hope to change that as soon as we possibly can, most likely with a donation link. We would like to be able to offer at least some remuneration to our contributors, because hard work deserves a reward.

We want:

* short stories of anything up to 10,000 words

* flash fiction of up to 1,500 words

* non-fiction articles on any subject you are knowledgable and passionate about

* art and photography that is unusual, evocative, or simply beautiful

* work with a strong satirical or spoofing theme

We will consider longer stories and poetry submissions, but please be aware that material falling inside our guidelines has a greater chance of being included. We are also likely to shy away from non-fiction articles on politics and music unless they are exceptional.

We do not want previously published work.

Please send all submissions to submissions@diagonalproof.com. Please ensure all submissions are formatted correctly and attached as .doc or .rtf files (.docx are fine).

Enter the subject line as "Diagonal Proof - [Title] - [Author] - [Word count]".

For art/photography submissions, please attach no more than four pieces of work and use the subject line "Diagonal Proof - [Art/Photography] - [Artist]".

Feel free to include a brief biography in your cover letter, but please do not give a summary of your story or piece. We like to be surprised.

We are currently open to simultaneous submissions but PLEASE let us know immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere. We are also open to multiple submissions but please let us respond to your first submission before sending another. It will save us confusion.

We are now working on our second issue, planned for May 2011. Cut off date for submitting to this issue will be April 1st. Further updates will appear on this site and also on our Facebook page.