UNFURL

: to release from a furled, coiled, or wrapped state
: to open out from or as if from a furled state
: to unfold

The issue will be released in May.

This issue of Yellow Arrow Journal explores the process people go through when finding and transforming into their authentic selves. UNFURL will be a survey of the unique journeys people take when experiencing and undergoing self-transformation, journeys that all start with a little fire, a desire, deep inside.

Submissions Guidelines

• Accepted submissions include creative nonfiction and poetry by authors identifying as women.

• Submissions must relate to the theme UNFURL, as interpreted by the author, using provided guiding questions (these will change for each theme).

  • What role did community play in finding yourself?

  • How has your sense of self changed due to your transformation? What about your relationships?

  • What did you find along the way?

  • What do you still need to be authentically you?

  • Was there something that forced you to be a different version of yourself? How did you internalize it?

• Creative nonfiction (1 submission per author per issue) must be between 100 and 2,000 words. Poetry (up to 2 poems per author per issue, grouped into a single document) may be any length.

• Submissions do not need to be in English but must include an English translation.

• No previously published work will be accepted at this time—this includes all printed and online material; simultaneous submissions are okay but please let us know when you send in your submission(s) and if a submission is published elsewhere in the interim, email submissions@yellowarrowpublishing.com immediately.

• Are You Ready to Submit?

  To submit to UNFURL (Vol. X, No. 1, spring 2025), send an email to submissions@yellowarrowpublishing.com and include:

  • Subject: Vol. #, No. # Theme – type of submission [nonfiction, poetry, or cover art] (required)

  • Your full name (and name you would want Yellow Arrow to use), nationality, and current city/state/country of residence (required)

  • Our writers and readers come from all walks of life and so do we. We are taking steps across our portfolio to increase representation and give greater visibility to the voices of underrepresented women-identifying storytellers. If you are comfortable doing so, please share with us which underrepresented communities you identify with that may make you uniquely positioned to connect with a particular group of readers (optional)

  • Your pronouns and age (optional)

  • Where you heard about us (optional)

  Authors/artists should only submit one type of submission per issue; no agents.

  Note that submissions are anonymously reviewed in-house; the information you provide above is used only to better understand the composition of our audience.

  Attach your submission to your email. Accepted files for creative nonfiction and poetry submissions include .doc/.docx, .rtf, or .pdf (.doc/.docx preferred)—use minimal document styling and do not include identifying information (only within your email). Accepted files for cover art include .jpeg/.jpg, .tiff/.tif, .gif, .eps, or .psd—a low resolution is preferable at this time.

  By sending your submission you agree to the following statements:

  • You are a writer or artist who identifies as a woman

  • You have completely read and submitted within the guidelines.

  Due to the volume of submissions and the nature of our submission process, authors/artists will not receive an email confirming receipt of submission. Rather, all who submit within the guidelines, whether accepted to the next issue or not, will receive an email after submissions have closed—please do not email us to inquire about a submission. Submissions for UNFURL (Vol. X, No. 1, spring 2025) are open February 1-28.