Privacy
Privacy Policy
Last updated September 30, 2026
The Mourning Lamp respects the privacy of writers, contributors, readers, and visitors. We collect only the information reasonably necessary to operate the publication, manage submissions, communicate with contributors, and provide requested services.
Information We Collect
What you provide to us.
When you submit work for consideration, we may collect information such as your legal name, preferred or pen name, email address, general location, poem titles, manuscript files, and the confirmations required by our submission process.
When you use the contact form, we collect the name, email address, reason for contact, and message you choose to provide.
If you separately choose to subscribe to publication updates, we may collect your email address and consent to receive those communications.
Blind Editorial Review
Keeping identity separate from the work.
Blind editorial review is a core part of our submission process. Writers are asked to remove identifying information from manuscript files. Identity information is maintained separately and is not intended to be shown during ordinary blind review.
Authorized editors may deliberately reveal a writer's identity when appropriate in the editorial or publication process. Such access is restricted through the editorial system.
How Information Is Used
Why we collect it.
Information may be used to receive and evaluate submissions, communicate submission decisions, prepare accepted work for publication, manage contributor materials, respond to inquiries, prevent abuse of the submission system, and operate the website.
We do not sell personal information to advertisers or data brokers.
Files & Storage
Manuscripts and publication records.
Manuscripts submitted through the website are stored in private storage and are accessible only through authorized editorial workflows.
Submission, editorial, and contributor records may be retained as reasonably necessary to administer the publication, maintain editorial records, resolve disputes, and meet legal or operational obligations.
Service Providers
The tools that help operate the publication.
We may use third-party service providers to host the website, store data, send email, process payments, protect against abuse, and provide related infrastructure.
Those providers may process information only as needed to provide their services and are subject to their own privacy and security practices.
When digital purchases or pay-what-you-want editions become available, payment information will be handled by the applicable payment processor rather than stored directly by The Mourning Lamp.
Security
Reasonable safeguards.
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect submitted information, including access controls and private manuscript storage.
No internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot promise absolute security.
Your Choices
Questions, corrections, and communication preferences.
You may contact us regarding personal information you have provided, correction requests, newsletter preferences, or other privacy questions.
Submission records may need to be retained where reasonably necessary for editorial, contractual, legal, or recordkeeping purposes.