PFN – The Shallot: Journal of Mental Health, Art, and Literature Seeking Submissions on the Theme: Divergent

The Shallot is open to artists with lived mental and emotional health experiences.

Vol. 3, No. 2 – Prompt: “Divergent”

Two paths diverge in a yellow world; I am the one less traveled by, they say.

They’re the type of person who walks upside down on the ceiling, it makes sense to them and always has, never mind that it moves away from pesky traditional expectations. They sort paint chips alphabetically, then by color; they get dressed feet first; they love bearded dragons.

Neurodivergent. To think differently, with the brain trotting well-worn paths exclusive to the individual. More than a buzzword. A state of being; a state of risk; a state of safety.

Standing by the stove, they appear absent-minded, stirring a stockpot, its aroma swirling as it rises. They concoct their recipe backwards, starting with flavor or the sauce and somersaulting it back to an acceptable protein. This will be a fusion, unexpected and delicious, elevating the plate in an unexpected way. To some a gut punch, to some a handshake. They like a plate that does something interesting; unexpected.

Our mental health intersects with the various factors of our identity. Our differences make us strong and can bring us together, if we let them draw us into observation and conversation. We can share lived experience, neurodivergent and not, to render a more beautiful world.

For this edition, send us a work that diverges from the norm or is somehow divergent. It may represent neurodivergence, fusion, exploration, or something important or representative to you.

Submission Guidelines

• Two written submissions per artist at this time. You can submit multiple pieces in the same entry.
  • • Nonfiction
    • FictionSubmissions
    • Poetry
  • Written work should be no longer than 1000 words.

• NO submission fees.

• Bio
  • Always include a third-person author/artist/professional bio. The bio should be at least 1-2 sentences and up to 50 words. 450-500 characters maximum. More extended bios will not be accepted.
    • Note: There is a question for a more extended bio in this round of submissions. We may or may not continue this forward.
  • We will publish the bio, your pronouns, and links to your social media that you include.
  • We reserve the right to make grammatical changes while copyediting, but you will get to approve the final version.
• Questions
  • Answer all required questions in the submission system.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.