A Novel Approach

PFN - Call for Submissions to Etymology Press on the Theme: Assume
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Etymology Press
Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words.
Here, we know words are not inanimate. They live, they evolve, and they change. More so, words have the power to live in us, evolve us, and create change in our communities. Let us do this work together. Let’s tell the stories of our community, together, one word at a time.

Each issue, we publish five pieces in print. Up to three honorable mentions (or multimedia work) may be published on our website along with each issue. If we publish you this month or even if we don’t, please, keep submitting. We want to see your work over and over and over again.
We look for work that is creative, grounded in concrete images, and playful. (Note: playful doesn’t equal light. We want your horror, your heartbreak, and your fury. We just want it delivered in interesting, surprising ways that remind us why we fell in love with language to begin with.)

Submission Guidelines

How to submit:

Email submissions as an attachment to etymologypress@gmail.com
Attachments should be in document format, not PDF.
Subject your email “Submission for *word* / *Genre*” For example: “Submission for Genus / Poetry”
Please include a short author bio in the body of the email. 50-150 words.
Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please contact ASAP if work is to be published elsewhere.
We are happy to publish reprints, so long as the author notifies us of previous publications so that we can give proper credit.

Poetry
We look for poetry that has a strong sense of voice and is rooted in imagery. We love playful poetry, fresh language, and metaphors that haunt our dreams.
Poetry submissions should include 3-5 poems.
Narratives
We look for narratives (true or fictional) that have a strong sense of voice and are rooted in concrete images. All genres welcome. Graphic Narrative and other experimental forms are encouraged.
Stories should be between 500-5,000 words.
Stories should be double spaced, 12pt, Times New Roman font.

F - Call for Submissions to Timeless Reflections Magazine. Theme: A Valued Inheritance
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Timeless Reflections Magazine
Submission Form For Timeless Reflections Magazine

Please complete the form below
Current Theme: A Valued Inheritance
What do you consider a valued inheritance? It could be an object of sentimental value, a lesson from a loved one, a characteristic passed down through generations, a spiritual blessing or gift, or even something else you consider valuable.
We are looking for prose and short stories about anything that has had a meaningful impact on you, which a valued person or relationship has passed down. Be creative and thoughtful. Please send us your best work!
Submissions are open until October 31. Thanks for stopping by!

Timeless Reflections is published semiannually, in spring and fall, online and in print. We accept most genres except erotica and horror. Simultaneous submissions are considered if we are notified of the work being accepted by another publication. Reprints are considered with disclosure of previous publications.

PFN - Call for Submissions to Phylum Press Quarterly Journal. Theme: Corkscrew Willow
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Phylum Press Quarterly Journal
About the Journal
Phylum Press’ quarterly journal accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction of any subject. While we love to receive works that relate to each ISSUE’s theme, we do not preference those submissions over others.
Each year, Phylum will choose 4 different species from a phylum within the natural world. These four species will be the names and inspiration for each ISSUE we publish during that year.
We pay $10 to all authors accepted in our journals.
Current ISSUE: Corkscrew Willow
Corkscrew Willow comes from the family of Magnoliophyta, or more commonly known as “flowering plants.” They bear both flowers and fruits. Corkscrew Willow is a species of Willow Tree most noted for its twists and turns, which can most notably be seen after leaf fall.
At Phylum Press, the Corkscrew Willow symbolizes twists, turns, and anything unexpected that may fall into our laps. Embrace the new, plant the seed, care for it, then see what happens!
Submission Rules

Fiction/Creative Non-Fiction: up to 5,000 words
Poetry: up to five pages

Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Phylum Press is made up of writers just like you, and we know how hard submitting can be. That being said, please only submit your original, unpublished work.
How to Submit
Please email submissions to phylumpress@gmail.com with:

Your work attached as a PDF file.
“SUBMISSION – [Last name, Title]” as the subject line.
The category/genre of your piece.
A 100 word author bio.
Confirmation that the piece is your own work, and you will inform us if it is published elsewhere.

NOTE – If we think your work is not quite there, we may offer you a conditional acceptance and request some edits. It is your right as an author to determine whether or not you want to take our suggestions, but refusing may impact whether the piece is accepted for publication.

PFN - Submissions are Open for Epistemic Literary on the Theme of: Integrity
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Epistemic Literary
Theme: Integrity

One of the most important qualities we look for in others is Integrity. But what does that mean exactly? At its most literal level, integrity is the state of being whole and undivided. I like to think of it in terms of being solid in three main ways: Reliable, Honest, Responsible. Being integrous can also mean having a strong sense of moral principles—undivided in a much different way. So why do we care about these traits? As humans, like it or not, we all depend on others. People with integrity tend to gain our trust and faith. And when people let us down, especially those we trust the most, it can be difficult to live with the disappointment.
The specifics:
Window: Submissions will be accepted Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025. Expected publication December 2025. Please submit a new form for each genre.
Genre:
Poetry, including prose poems: One poem, up to two pages – Read by Kristin. *Editors note: I have a strong preference for shorter, free-verse works but I’d love for you to knock my socks off with longer, metrical, or rhyming works.
Flash and MicroFiction: maximum three pieces up to a total of 1500 words – read by Melissa
Creative Nonfiction (CNF): maximum two pieces up to 1k words each – read by Genalea
(All final decisions are joint.)
Format: Please submit your work using our Google Form, which will go live on the website when submissions open on June 15. Attach your file as a Doc or docx (If this is a problem submit how you need to and give us a heads up in your email), saved as “genre-last name” such as “Poetry-Houlihan.” No cover letter required; we will ask for a short third-person bio with website upon acceptance.
Simultaneous submissions and previously published work are welcome; please note the original publication so we may give appropriate credit. Collaborations are welcome.
All submissions will receive a response prior to publication.

P - Submissions Open for the Reality Detonates Anthology.
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Reality Detonates Anthology
Poetry – Reality Detonates -Submissions Open submissions@realitydetonates.com

Reality doesn’t bend—it blows apart!
Cicada Song Press invites you to join the blast. Our upcoming poetry anthology, Reality Detonates, will gather voices that ask, what happens when the ordinary combusts?
Each entry must include the exact phrase, “reality detonates,” within the body of the poem. Make it sing. Make it roar. Make it linger like smoke.
Submissions are open from October 1st to October 31st. Send them to submissions@realitydetonates.com
Launch date is January 30, 2026. Blow our minds.

Read ALL requirements on this entire page CAREFULLY.

Poems must be titled unless in a form traditionally not titled, such as haiku, tanka, rictameter, etc. Such poems will use the first line as the title. “Untitled” is an UNacceptable title.

No form of the words “reality” or “detonates” can be in the title.

Do not format titles in all caps, italics, bold, or underlined.

If you use a specific poetry form, center the name of the form in lower case italics under the title.

Poems must be original and unpublished. Appearance on personal website or blog is okay; appearance on social media is not okay.

Length 2-50 lines; spaces between stanzas do not count.

Submit 1-2 poems in a single document in one submission. Do not include your name in the body of the document. Name document as follows (use legal name): RD LASTNAME FIRSTNAME Titles of Poems NUMBEROFPOEMS1or2

Attach document to an email. Send email with attachment to Faith Canright, Editor, at submissions@realitydetonates.com. Subject line should be (use legal name): RD LASTNAME FIRSTNAME Titles of Poems NUMBEROFPOEMS1or2

You may not submit another set of poems in the same submission period. It will be deleted unread.

In body of email, include your legal name, pen name (if applicable), the statement that your poems are original and unpublished, and the titles of your poems with number of lines each.

Simultaneous submissions are okay as long as you email us immediately to withdraw any poems accepted elsewhere. Subject line of email: Reality Detonates WITHDRAWAL LASTNAME FIRSTNAME Title of Poem

Compensation: Writers whose poems are accepted will receive a .pdf copy of the book electronically and will also be given the opportunity to buy physical copies at cost.

F - Inkd Publishing Seeking Submissions for "Rebels" Anthology
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Rebels Anthology
Rebels
Theme: Rebels – Rage against the machine, storm the castle, the space alliance against the hegemony, hackers against the oligarchy, or however you envision it.
Stories that contain infanticide, rape, or gratuitous gore will not be accepted.
Submissions: No AI, 1 per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 8,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: Speculative Fiction, any fiction
Anticipated Pay: Royalty share of D2D sales + $10
Each contributor will receive a share, as will the publisher, from the sales on the D2D platform. This does not include Kickstarter funds (unless the Stretch goals are met), wholesale to authors, or retail outlets.
Timeline Projections:
Submissions close: October 2025
Review: November 2025
Acceptance / Rejection: Dec 2025
Edits: Jan 2026
Production: Spring 2026
Published: Spring 2026
Upon acceptance, the author is expected to work with the editor on at least one round of revisions in MSWord. Our publication goal is dependent on the extensive time needed to review and edit submissions may vary depending upon the submitted works and author’s response times. Inkd Publishing LLC will hold first publication rights for four months after publication and the continuing non-exclusive right to reproduce the work in Rebels.
Authors must provide assurance that their story submission is an original, previously unpublished work, is not currently under consideration elsewhere, and that it will not be submitted for publication elsewhere prior to receiving notification that it has not been accepted for inclusion in Rebels.
For the D2D royalty sharing, you can expect ongoing financial compensation from Draft 2 Digital for stories published in the anthology. An account with Draft 2 Digital will be required to provide royalty share payments.
US authors will also receive one complimentary copy of the printed anthology, other shipping destinations will depend on shipping costs and are at the sole discretion of Inkd Pub.

P - DMQ Review: Call for Prose Poems IX
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | DMQ Review
Please include up to THREE unpublished PROSE POEMS in one document, one poem per page, each poem 500 words or less. Reading our current prose poem issue and this from the Ether column is the best way to determine if your work might be right for us AND for knowing how we consider a prose poem as different from other short forms.
Please do NOT SUBMIT AI generated work. No thanks.
Submissions are open until midnight October 31, PDT, or sooner at our discretion.
Submit your best work early. DMQ Review reserves the right to close submissions when our capacity is reached. This will be announced on our Facebook page. Follow us there.
Thanks for thinking of DMQ Review and entrusting us with your work. We look forward to reading it!

FN - Call for Submissions to Dandelion Revolution Press. Theme: Twisted Myths
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Dandelion Revolution Press
Winter 2025 Theme: “Twisted Myths”
Email: DandelionRevolutionPress@gmail.com
Subject Line: Twisted Myths
Length: 1,000-5,000 words

Reimagine classic stories with a fresh, bold twist. Take a well-known myth, fable, or fairy tale, and breathe new life into it—whether by exploring untold perspectives, shifting genres, or adding unexpected turns. We want to see familiar characters and plots through new eyes, or even a myth of your own invention. If you have a short story that creates or reinvents a timeless tale in a surprising way, or a creative nonfiction piece that draws compelling parallels to a traditional story, we want to read it! Full issue will be published digitally on our website and SubStack. See “Submission Guidelines” below for details.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

This is an anonymous selection process, so submission pages should not have any identifying information (i.e., no name, email address, or any other personal information).
We accept .doc/.docx files.
In the body of your email, please include the title of your submission and the category for your submission (fiction, creative nonfiction, or personal essay).
No fee to submit.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Please immediately inform us if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
Multiple submissions are admissible, however, only one piece will be selected for publication per author in a category.
Only submissions related to the theme will be considered. Please email submissions with associated theme in the Subject line to dandelionrevolutionpress@gmail.com

Questions? Check our Frequently Asked Questions under the “Our Story” heading on our website or send us email dandelionrevolutionpress@gmail.com. Happy writing!

PFN - Call for Submissions to Bi Women Quarterly on the Theme: Allies & Accomplices
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Bi Women Quarterly
Winter 2026: Allies & Accomplices

In social justice education, an “accomplice” refers to someone who actively participates in dismantling oppressive systems by using their privilege to challenge the status quo and support marginalized groups, going beyond passive allyship to take concrete actions that may involve personal risk or discomfort to create meaningful change. All accomplices are allies, but not all allies are accomplices.
What does it mean to you to be an ally or an accomplice? What are meaningful ways that people have shown allyship and accompliceship to you or to the bi+ community on a large scale or individual level? How do you wish people could show up? How have you practiced allyship and accompliceship for others, and does your experience as a bi+ person impact the way you do so? In a time where solidarity feels more essential than ever, we’re looking to hear about ways to show up in support for others, whether they be loved ones, strangers, organizations, or in any other form.

Submission Guidelines
BWQ features the voices of women with bi+ sexualities (i.e., bi, pan, fluid, and other non-binary sexualities). We see “woman” as a broad category with space for an array of gender identities and expressions. We welcome contributions from bi+ women who identify as trans, non-binary, cis, and beyond.
Every issue has a theme. While we will consider all submissions, content related to the theme are prioritized.
We welcome essays, poetry, news articles about current issues and events related to bi+ topics, creative writing, musings, film, book, & theater reviews, letters to the editor, visual art (photos, paintings, drawings, images of 3-dimensional art), and more.
Please submit your words in a word document (.doc, docx or .rtf). Use single spacing, 11 pt font. Please do not send pdfs. Different spacing and formatting is okay if submitting poetry but please use Adobe Garamond Pro (11pt), if possible. Images should be high resolution and submitted electronically in .jpg or .png format.
Bi Women Quarterly and Robyn Ochs, Editor reserve the right to reprint your work in current and future related publications, in print and/or online. We will attempt to notify you in advance if we do so. You retain ownership of your work and may re-use it, provided that its previous appearance in Bi Women Quarterly is noted, along with our website (e.g., “This piece previously appeared in Bi Women Quarterly (at BiWomenQuarterly.com”).
Previously published work may be submitted for publication provided you have permission to do so.
Note that Bi Women Quarterly is a print and digital publication. Issues of BWQ are sent via mail and then posted online in both magazine and PDF format at BiWomenQuarterly.com
Submission length: there is no minimum length. Maximum length: 1500 words. Please do not send pieces over this count unless requested by the editor or approved by her.
The maximum number of submissions per person per issue is FOUR.
Before submitting your writing, please run it through spell check and grammar check. Consider, too, asking a friend or two to read your piece for you and provide feedback.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
Please send us your work via our SUBMISSION PORTAL.
(https://tinyurl.com/BWQ-Submissions)
You will be asked for the following information:

Your name
Your email address
Your Twitter or other social media handles (if public)
The name you wish to use in BWQ: (you are welcome to use a pseudonym or modify your actual name)
Name of the piece you are submitting
A short, 1 to 2 sentence, 3rd person bio that includes your geographic location (e.g.: Robyn Ochs lives in the Boston area and is the editor of BWQ.) to follow your piece:
Finally, you are encouraged — but not required — to submit a photo with your work. Photos should be at least 300 dpi, and have good contrast. This can be a headshot of yourself or an image relevant to your submission that you have the rights to use.

N - HerStry Seeking Stories on the Theme: Alone
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | HerStry
Everyone experiences loneliness. But some days it feels like you are the only one. That everyone else is being social and you are the only one who feels alone. During the month of December we are collecting stories about being lonely. How do you deal with it? Do you embrace it? What has your loneliness taught you?
** HerStry is always happy to share stories anonymously—if your story is selected for publication, simply let your editor know you would not like your name shared **
THE RULES:

All stories must be true and about you.
Stories must follow the theme in some way, interpretations can be wide.
Stories must stay around 3,000 words.
Documents should be double spaced, 12Pt font with 1 inch margins and in an easy to read font. Submissions not following these guidelines are subject to disqualification. Our editors read a lot of work, please have mercy on our eyes.
Submissions must be in .doc or .docx form—we do not accept PDFs.
Stories are read blind. Please DO NOT put any identifying material on your manuscript. Manuscripts that don’t follow this rule will be automatically disqualified without being read. We realize personal essays may contain your name; a first name is fine.
Please include a third person bio. Cover letters are fine, but not necessary (we don’t read them, we’re more interested in what you’ve written).
Please submit only once per theme.
We do not accept previously published stories.

HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, nonbinary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two spirit. In other words, if you are a cis man, please refrain from submitting.
WANT PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK?
You can now receive helpful feedback by selecting the “personalized critique” option on our submissions page. While getting your work critiqued does not guarantee publication, we can help make it great for your next submissions, whether it’s to us or someone else.
$3 submission fee goes toward keeping HerStry sustainable and paying our staff. All accepted pieces receive $20 payment.
DUE NOVEMBER 1st

Submission fee: $3

P - Time of Singing Contest Winter 2025/26 Theme: "Change"
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Time of Singing Contest
Time Of Singing, A Magazine Of Christian Poetry
A Publication of Wind & Water Press
P.O. Box 5276, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316
www.timeofsinging.com Email: timesing@zoominternet.net
Volume 52, Number 3 — Winter Contest 2025/26
Contest Theme: “Change”
Form: Any form
Winners will be published in the Winter, 2025/26 issue.
Rules:
1. Anyone may enter
2. The poem must focus on the process of change, or the
result of change. Considering synonyms such as alter, mod
ify, replace, become different, conversion, metamorphosis,
renewal, shift, “flip-flop” etc may also spur ideas.
3. Name and address ONLY on back of each page. Use 8 ½
by 11” paper. You may submit up to four entries. One entry
per page. 24 line limit.
4. One prize per poet. SASE for winner’s list. Non-winning
entries will be considered for publication in the “Editor’s
Choice” section. Entries not accepted by email.
FEES: $5.00 per poem. If you submit at least TWO entries
you will receive a complimentary issue, Vol 52, No. 3
PRIZES: First Prize $35 Third Prize $25
Second Prize $30 Honorable Mention $15
(In case of ties, the prize amount will be divided equally
between the winners for that place and both will be pub-
lished.)
THE JUDGES’ DECISION IS FINAL. Any poems not conforming to the rules
will be disqualified. Entry fees will not be returned. PLEASE MAKE
CHECKS /MO’s PAYABLE TO WIND & WATER PRESS. (Canadians: I’m
sorry, but bank fees make it prohibitive to cash checks, even in US funds. Please
send US cash. Thanks!)
FEES: $5.00 per poem. If you submit at least TWO entries
you will receive a complimentary issue, Vol 52, No. 3

PFN - The First Line Seeking Submissions that Begin: "When anyone in town needed help, they contacted Rocky Germain."
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | The First Line
The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination–to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line; it also provides a forum for discussing favorite first lines in literature. The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.
We love that writers around the world are inspired by our first lines, and we know that not every story will be sent to us. However, we ask that you do not submit stories starting with our first lines to other journals (or post them online on public sites) until we’ve notified you as to our decision (usually four weeks after the deadline). When the entire premise of the publication revolves around one sentence, we don’t want it to look as if we stole that sentence from another writer. If you have questions, feel free to drop us a line.
Also, we understand that writers may add our first line to a story they are currently working on or have already completed, and that’s cool. But please do not add our first line to a previously published story and submit it to us. We do not accept previously published stories, even if they have been repurposed for our first lines. And, just to be clear, we do not accept simultaneous submissions.
One more thing while I’ve got you here: Writers compete against one another for magazine space, so, technically, every literary magazine is running a contest. There are, however, literary magazines that run traditional contests, where they charge entry fees and rank the winners. We do not – nor will we ever – charge a submission fee, nor do we rank our stories in order of importance. Occasionally, we run contests to help come up with new first lines, or we run fun, gimmicky competitions for free stuff, but the actual journal is not a contest in the traditional sense.
Fiction: All stories must be written with the first line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise noted by the editors. The story should be between 300 and 5,000 words (this is more like a guideline and not a hard-and-fast rule; going over or under the word count won’t get your story tossed from the slush pile). The sentences can be found on the home page of The First Line’s website, as well as in the prior issue. Note: We are open to all genres. We try to make TFL as eclectic as possible.
Poetry: We do accept poetry, though rarely. We have no restrictions on form or line count, but all poems must begin with the first line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way.
Non-Fiction: 500-800 word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work.The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.
All Submissions: Writers should include a two- to three-sentence biography of themselves that we can use in the journal should your story, poem, or essay be accepted.
Multiple Submissions: We don’t mind if you want to submit multiple submissions for the same issue. However, it is unlikely we will use more than one of your stories or poems in the same issue.
Submissions: We prefer you send manuscripts via email to submission (@) thefirstline (dot) com. We accept stories in MS Word or Word Perfect format (we prefer attachments). Please do not send pdf versions of your story or links to Google docs. Make sure your name and contact information, as well as your bio, are part of the attachment. Stories also can be sent to The First Line‘s post office box. No manuscripts will be returned without an accompanying SASE with sufficient return postage.

Notification: We don’t make decisions about submissions until after each issue closes. We typically send notices four weeks after the issue’s deadline to everyone who submitted. You can also check the website’s home page for each issue’s production status.

Payment: We pay on publication: $25.00 – $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 – $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction (all U.S. dollars). We also send you a copy of the issue in which your piece appears. You’ll receive your money and issue at the same time.

Note to our international writers: Postage cost for sending author copies overseas is a little high, so we are reducing international author payment by the amount it would cost to send one author copy overseas. However, if you would like to receive an electronic version of the issue (PDF) instead of a hard copy, author payment will not change.The First Line Literary Journal: It all starts the same but….

PFN - Call for Submissions to Halfway Down the Stairs. Theme: Intuition
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Halfway Down the Stairs
Submissions

Halfway Down the Stairs publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews. New issues are published quarterly (March, June, September, and December), and each issue is themed. We publish primarily literary and mainstream work, but accept work in most genres, with children’s literature and erotica as the exceptions.
Please note we are a non-paying market.
Our December 2025 issue will be themed Intuition. We aim to respond to all submissions within 4-8 weeks of receipt, and you will never wait more than three months for a response.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

We are looking for serious writers with an appreciation for language and the craft of writing. We want fiction with memorable characters and realistic plots, poetry that is fresh and original, and nonfiction that is both thoughtful and entertaining.
We will accept only writing that has been proofread for spelling and grammar. Trust us on this one. We keep our virtual machete very sharp for people who are grammatically challenged, and we are not afraid to use it.
Having said that, as an international ‘zine, we accept differences in spelling usages (e.g. British vs American English) and will publish whatever is considered correct in an author’s home country.
We are not interested in explicit sexual content, gratuitous violence, or repetitive swearing, unless it is essential to the plot and not included solely for shock value.
Please do not send us any of the following: poetry that sounds like it ought to be on a Hallmark card, poetry you copied from a Hallmark card, how-to articles, first drafts of anything, fanfiction, anything full of sentimentality, or religious and/or political propaganda disguised as fiction.
This ought to be obvious, but only send us your own work, humans. If you send us anything plagiarized or written by a robot, remember we have a machete.
We do not accept previously published work. This includes not only formal publications in print and online journals, but any pieces you may have posted to a blog, personal website, etc. If it’s already available to the public in some form, we do not accept it.
We do accept simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if your piece is accepted by another journal.
As above, we do not consider or accept submissions outside the specified submission period.
We reserve the right to make minor editorial changes without consultation, where there are unintentional errors or inconsistencies in punctuation, spelling or grammar. We will consult authors about anything more substantive.
The editors are all responsive to shameless flattery and to gifts of chocolate.

Poetry Guidelines
We accept poetry of roughly 500 words or less, although we are not terribly strict about this guideline. We are rarely willing to be lenient with the theme when it comes to poetry, and will do so only if the submission is very good.
Please note that we only accept three poems at any one time from a single author and, for the most part, publish only one poem from any one author per edition.
Fiction Guidelines
We accept fiction of roughly 5,000 words or less related to the theme of the issue. The fiction editors are looking mostly for short stories, but we are happy to consider well-crafted flash fiction. We don’t want to be too strict with the guidelines, because we appreciate originality, creativity, and stories that are off the beaten path. We like stories that grab us from the beginning, make us think, and keep us enthralled. Stories should be written confidently and fluidly, avoiding too many adjectives or too much dialogue. We will be negatively distracted by poor grammar/spelling, clichés, and a lack of editing.
Please submit only one piece of fiction at a time, and ensure stories are formatted as requested below.
Nonfiction Guidelines
We accept creative nonfiction of 3,000 words or less. Halfway Down the Stairs is specifically looking for essays and memoir with a strong voice and a unique point of view. We publish well-written, honest writing that inspires emotion. Humor is also appreciated.
We are not looking for stream of consciousness rants of a political or religious nature. Save those for your blog. We respond negatively to spelling and grammatical errors, so please proofread your work closely if you wish to have it seriously considered.
As of 2018 we began accepting nonfiction submissions outside of the issue theme. Submissions within the theme are still encouraged, but high quality submissions outside the theme will also be considered for publication. Please note this only applies to nonfiction submissions.
Please submit only one piece of nonfiction at a time.
SUBMISSIONS PROCESS

Please send all writing submissions to halfway . stairs @ gmail . com.
DO NOT send your work as an attachment. (More details under point 5 below.)
Your subject line should look like this: submission, genre, and title of your piece. (Example: “Submission, Fiction, Monsoon Nights.”) If you are submitting multiple poems, state the number of poetry submissions instead of the title of the piece. (Example: “Submission, Three Poems by William C. Fredrikson.”) Please do not submit multiple genres in a single e-mail; if you would like to submit poetry and fiction, send us two separate e-mails.
Within the body of your e-mail, give us the following information: the title(s) of your submission(s), the name under which you wish to be published, your e-mail address, if the piece you are submitting has ever been published elsewhere, if the piece you are submitting is a simultaneous submission, and a brief introduction written in the 3rd person point of view. If you are submitting multiple poems, include these statements at the beginning of your e-mail, and follow it with the actual poems. Example:

Three Poems
by William C. Fredrikson.
crazywillie57@gmail.com.
No, the submitted poems have never published elsewhere.
Monsoon Nights is not a simultaneous submission. Elsewhere and Lady Luck are both simultaneous submissions.William C. Fredrikson teaches grade seven social studies in British Columbia. His students think he looks exactly like Jack Nicholson. In his spare time, William enjoys playing the guitar, reading Hemingway, studying World War II history, and making fun of reality television.

If we do choose to publish your piece, we will also publish your biography. Your e-mail address is confidential, and we will never publish it or give it out.
After your introduction, please post your piece within the body of your e-mail. Please do not send your work as an attachment. Please single space your work, double spacing between paragraphs. Please do not indent your paragraphs.
Provide a content warning if it’s warranted: Let us know upfront if there is some kind of explicit content in your submission which we should be warned about in advance. We’ll leave this up to your discretion, but examples could include abuse, neglect, self harm, or violence.
Optional: Let us know how you found us. We’re curious as to where our readers and writers are coming from.
Optional: Let us know if there’s a kind of image you visualize with your piece, or even if you have an image you would like us to use if it is published (guidelines below). We reserve the right to choose alternatives – but we are happy to consider your suggestions.

We aim to respond to all submissions within 4-8 weeks of receipt, and you will never wait more than three months for a response.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Upon publishing your work, Halfway Down the Stairs will require exclusive electronic rights to it for 3 months, or the length of one issue. After the three month period is over, we will request nonexclusive electronic rights so we may include it in our archives.

N - Dorothy Parker's Ashes Seeking Submissions on the Theme of: Revenge
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Dorothy Parker’s Ashes
Submissions are restricted to women and gender non-conforming people.
Submit.
Please submit first-person essays* anytime before the deadline prior to publication date. Please be advised that we reserve the right to edit, though all edits will be sent to writer before publication for approval. Please feel free to include a suggested title and art but we reserve the right to change the title and choose the art. We do consider previously published essays, taking into consideration venue, date, etc.
Although the essay holds the central role at DPA, we are open to other genres, including experimental, poetry and flash non-fiction, as long as there is a first-person point of view.
All rights are non-exclusive. We do not currently offer payment. We accept no responsibility for anything from libel to hurt feelings. As Anne Lamott says, “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should’ve behaved better.”
Preferred length. 500 to 2000 words.
Please send submissions along with a short bio pasted directly into your email to: info@dorothyparkersashes.com We ask for this to avoid potentially malware-laden attachments. Unless your formatting is a specific design element of your piece, format should be single space with no paragraph indentation and one extra space between paragraphs.

PFN - Call for Submissions to Instant Noodles. The Theme: Gravy
2025-11-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Instant Noodles
The Old Scratch Press team asks that all fiction/non-fiction pieces adhere to a word count of 1000 words or less.
The final theme for 2025 is GRAVY. Our end of year issue is always about fun, funny, mayhem, messes. Oh, the holidays! The stress, the trauma, the gravy!
PLEASE ATTEMPT TO BE FUNNY. We do not want sad memoirs about bad holidays, etc. HUMOR is the ask. The idea is to lift readers up over the holidays.
What ideas does the word GRAVY evoke for you? Are you thinking about cash, a meal, a scorched mess in a pan? Where does the word take you? Try writing a story about yourself, something you observed, or something entirely imaginary. Do your best to submit something light-hearted or, even better, laugh-out-loud funny.
Please don’t use AI to make your submission.
Do look at the magazine. We have unusual covers, great writing and art, and we always submit to Best of the Net.
All work must be original and must belong to the author. Works that have been previously published will not be considered. Stories must be complete and self-contained (i.e., do not submit chapters of a larger work). NOTE: Accepted works will be published as submitted without editing; as such, in addition to the originality of the work itself, we are looking for manuscripts that are clean and press ready. Be sure to review your grammar, spelling, tenses, proper punctuation, and other general rules of the written word before hitting “Send.”
Please include a brief bio (0-200 words, with links) to be included on the contributors’ page of the magazine if your work is chosen. Feel free to use AI to write, edit, or tighten up your bio.
We follow up each issue with a live Zoom reading!

Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry

File types: .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff
Number of Pieces:
1 piece per fiction submission.
1 piece per multimedia submission.
1 piece per nonfiction submission.
Up to 3 pieces per poetry submission.
Single File: Not required; may include a separate file/link for each piece.
Anonymous submissions are not required.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Reprints are not allowed.
Multiple entries are not allowed.
AI-assisted works are not allowed.

P - Cordite Poetry Review Seeking Submissions on the Theme: Precarious
2025-11-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Cordite Poetry Review
We seek first publication rights (print and electronic) for all works submitted. Authors retain copyright of their work.
Submissions

Submission to Cordite 118: PRECARIOUS, with poetry guest-edited by Andy Jackson, closes 11.59pm Melbourne time on 2 November 2025.
The following conditions apply to all poetry submissions:

We will only read submissions sent during our official submission periods.
Cordite maintains a hybrid submissions policy. This means that the guest editor may invite five (5) Australian and five (5) overseas authors directly to submit to the issue. In addition, the guest-editor will anonymously select an additional 30-35 works from Australian authors and use their discretion to select further overseas works. For each issue, the guest editor does not know the identities of the online contributors (via Submittable) until after the final selections have been made.
Simultaneous submissions? Sure. Just inform us or withdraw if the work is accepted elsewhere.
Please place up to three (3) poems in one (1) Word or RTF document (unless specifically noted otherwise for special issues), with no identifying details in the document itself.
We are not able to offer feedback on individual poems.
Submissions will only be accepted via Submittable …
Submissions may need to be developed to adhere to our Guide for Indigenous Editing and Writing.

Guidelines

Please do NOT print your name or contact details on your submission document.
Cordite only accepts unpublished work.
Simultaneous submissions? Sure. Just inform us or withdraw if the work is accepted elsewhere.
Please send a maximum of three (3) poems in your submission. Submit only one time. 2nd and 3rd submissions, even if 1 poem apiece, will be rejected.
Please send all of your works in one (1) document. For electronic poetry, submit a document with instructions on how and where to access the submission. Large sound and video files can be shared via Drive or similar open means. Submit a document with those URLs.
Submissions will only be accepted via this online submissions form.
Please keep in mind that the guest poetry editor(s) will not commence reading the submissions until the submissions window closes. Allow 5-6 weeks thereafter for notification.
Authors whose poems are accepted for the issue will be included on our mail list (which can be opted out of).
As a government-funded non-profit charity, we can only pay Australian citizens and permanent residents for poems published.

P - Gulf Stream Fall Poetry Contest 2025 is Now Open. The Theme: Wet
2025-11-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Gulf Stream Poetry Contest
The Gulf Stream Contest is back! It offers emerging writers a great opportunity to have their work read by published poets and authors, plus the chance to earn some money.
Theme: WET!
We want to know what makes you wet. Show us writing that breaks form like ice melting into water. Show us poetry that drips off the page. Think of rain, oil, blood, wet cement.
The Prize
The winner will receive a cash prize of $100 plus publication in Issue #37 (in print and online!). Please read over the theme description before submitting.
Two runner-ups from each category will be published in Issue #37 and reimbursed their entry fee.
The Details
Poetry submissions of up to 5 poems.
Submissions will be judged blindly. Our poetry readers will choose the top ten to fifteen poems to send to our final judge. The judge will then choose the first place winner and two runner-ups.
All submissions will be considered for publication. If you submit to the contest, you do not need to submit separately to our regular poetry submissions.
Entry conditions
-Entry fee is $10
-Submit via Submittable. No submissions through email or mail
-Poetry submissions no more than 5 poems per submission
-Submitted work must be original and previously unpublished
-Do not include any identifying features on your submission, only on the cover letter
-Include a cover letter with a short bio of up to 50 words
-International submissions welcomed
-Simultaneous submissions are fine as long as you notify us if it’s accepted elsewhere
-Please direct questions or comments to gulfstreamlitmag@gmail.com
-Submissions from current FIU students not accepted. Submissions accepted from alums 2 or more years after graduation
-By submitting, you agree to receive email marketing updates about the contest & general submissions.

Entry fee: $10

F - Call for Submissions to Cream City Review. Theme: "Disunion: A State Of"
2025-11-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Cream City Review
THEMED CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Disunion: a state of
cream city review calls for rupture. For the Spring/Summer (50.1) issue, we want fiction that wrestles with the theme of Disunion: a state of, where form follows the fault lines of separation and traces the fractures of our current terrain. We are drawn to pieces that unravel the shifting self, its relationships, and its upheavals.
Disunion is absence and aftermath, breakage and becoming. We welcome interrogations of dismantling and what emerges in its wake. Show us the ache of severance, pains of distance, and the clarity of exile. How, in its unraveling, might disunion reveal new possibilities and perhaps, an unexpected union.

Number of pieces: Please send one story at a time.
We love writing that is sharp, cutting, juicy, specific.
Number of pages per piece: Manuscripts should be no longer than 20 double-spaced pages. Please use Times New Roman font.
We welcome flash fiction pieces (two pieces, up to 600 words each).
Format: .doc, .docx or PDF.
From the editors: What makes a story memorable? We want lingering, emotional stories that rattle our rib cages long past the last line. We want stories that are sticky in our brains for their excellent imagery choices and their smart constructions. We are always in search of stories that bypass obvious shock tactics—graphic violence, in particular—and instead surprise the reader with their insight, their generosity of spirit, and their bravery of expression. And what makes a story energetic? We’re looking for fiction that’s tightly written and well-crafted. We love stories that know exactly why they’re making the decisions they make in form and experimentation, instead of stories that strive for oddness as an end goal. The way you tell the story should be best and only way to tell that story. We can’t wait to read; thanks for trusting us with your words.
CCR does not accept any work that was generated using Language Learning Models (LLMs) or generative AI.
NOTE: While we admire and welcome stories that borrow from commercial genres like science fiction and mystery, traditional works in these genres are unlikely to find a home with us.

We accept simultaneous submissions, but please withdraw your submission through Submittable if your work is accepted by another publication.

Submission fee:$2.50

P - Leonard Cohen Poetry Prize Seeking Poetry with the Theme of Love, Faith, & Sex
2025-11-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Leonard Cohen Poetry Prize
$1000 will be awarded to a poem that explores the intersections of love, faith & sex. Ten finalists will each be awarded $250 (up from 4 finalists last year!)
➡️ Read More About the Prize & Ethos
📮 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES📮

Send us up to 3 pages of poetry.
Each poem starts on a new page.
In the spirit of Leonard Cohen, we ask that your poems deal in some way with the intersections of Love, Faith, & Sex.
Open to anyone writing in English, anywhere in the world (with a special encouragement to poets submitting from outside North America).
We only accept previously unpublished work. Self-published pieces (blogs, social media, personal sites) are welcome, but poems published in journals, anthologies, or books are not eligible.
Please withdraw your poems if they get accepted elsewhere.
We love reading cover letters. You’re welcome to share your love for Leonard Cohen, or your publication history, if any, though these are read only after the decisions are made and do not influence the outcome. Please make sure that the document of your poems is stripped of any biographical information—use the cover letter field on Submittable for this.
Submission Fee: $18
Each submission comes with a one-month Best membership to Chill Subs and a one-month ONLY POEMS Membership. We want every poet who submits to our prizes to receive more than just a contest entry.
If the fee is a barrier to you, please refer to out waiver policy here.

Judging process: Each submission is read by at least 3 readers. The ones that move to the next round are read by 5 more readers. Longlist is read by our full team of 35+ readers and Editors. Shortlist is discussed by the Editors. Final decisions for the winner & finalists are made by the Editor-in-Chief, Karan Kapoor.
Judging criteria: In evaluating submissions, we look for originality, emotional intensity, musicality of language, and a deep engagement with the themes of Love, Faith, and Sex.
Timeline: We respond to everyone before the end of this January. Winners and Honorable Mentions are announced and published in February.
Read our statement on Transparency & Fairness here.
PLEASE NOTE: The Leonard Cohen Family Trust does not endorse this award, ONLY POEMS, or the prize winners. It is due to their generosity that we are allowed to name this prize after Leonard Cohen, the Poet Laureate of the World

Submission fee:$18

PFN - Call for Submissions to Meat for Tea: The Valley Review. Theme: Rasher
2025-11-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Meat for Tea
Writing submissions should be works of poetry and short prose no longer than 1500 words in length,
8000 words for short fiction and essays, 1200 words for flash and microfiction.
Please only send CLEAN COPY. We do not edit copy.
If a work is accepted for publication, it appears letter-for-letter as submitted.
Submissions with obvious typographic errors will be rejected.
We reserve the right to format copy to our layout standards.
Please also note that due to tight deadline and printing timelines,
revisions likely will not be even possible after a work is accepted.
Therefore, please only submit works you’re fully confident in having published.
All writing should be sent as an editable document, ideally Microsoft Word Format (.doc or .docx,) or RTF.
Be aware that any formatting you use in your document will be changed to fit our layout specifications.
Don’t get fancy unless you have something that is required for the piece (such as special formatting for a poem.)
We STRONGLY encourage very general formatting for most written work.
Your font will be changed, we don’t use indents for paragraph breaks, and we will re-format as needed.
Please keep the formatting simple.
See below, as well.
Embedded images in a text document might lead to rejection, due to difficulty in layout.
If you feel you must have embedded images, please email us before submitting.
IMPORTANT: PDF is NOT an acceptable file format, except for the rare case of a work depending strictly on physical formatting and font(s).
Please email us FIRST if you want to submit a PDF for a text piece.
(WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T SEND PDF UNLESS YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY SURE THE TEXT MUST BE IN A STRICT FORMAT.
This basically means, if you’re using unusual fonts and/or formatting that is absolutely critical to the piece.)
SO:
DISCLAIMER: We shall still reserve the right to reformat PDF submissions to fit our layout standards.
Submitting as PDF is not an assurance that we will print the item as it looks in the PDF. Additionally, if we are forced to re-format from a PDF we will not be responsible for errors in the format conversion.
If you have questions about this policy regarding your work, please contact us via email before submitting.
Must include a third-person bio, 100 words maximum.
No submitting written work via email or a file transfer service unless requested. Please use Duosumo.
Due to time constraints, physical submissions via regular mail will NOT be considered for inclusion.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as the submitter notifies us IMMEDIATELY upon their work being accepted elsewhere. The best way to notify us of a piece accepted elsewhere when submitting through Duosuma is to immeditely withdraw the piece. There is no assurance we will know it is withdrawn unless
you withdraw it directly through Duosuma. Email is inadaquate for withdrawls for Duosuma submissions.
If we accept a submission, it will be printed. Our timeline is so tight that there is no other option.
Please note: you are free to withdraw a piece for any reason via Duosuma unless we have accepted it for publication. We don’t “hold work hostage”.
Also note: due to the frequently large volume of submissions and our limited publication space, sometimes we may not get to accepting or rejecting a submission during the submission cycle in which it was presented.

Submission fee: $4.85

PFN - Call for Submissions to Parcham Online. Theme: Justice
2025-11-10 08:00 - 17:00 | Parcham Online
Theme: Justice
Guest Editor: Devashish Makhija
Many years ago, as a little child, from my first floor balcony, I watched a man being chased. The man’s clothes had been ripped away. He was bleeding. And the two men chasing him had swords in their hands. I was 8. Barely high enough to peek over the verandah wall. The man being chased was stumbling. The men chasing him slashed at him with their swords.
Most of it is sort of blurry to me now except for one thing. Every time his pursuers turned to check if they were being watched, I would duck. I remember not wanting to be seen. I remember being cold and clammy. I remember feeling the urge to piss in my shorts. I remember my throat so dry I couldn’t gasp. I remember my heart thumping. I remember feeling very very afraid. First for myself, and then for the man being hacked.
I never forgot that… that I felt afraid for myself first.
The man was pleading, screaming, begging, as he ran, tumbled, fell, got slashed, got up again, ran. After that everything is a blur. I cannot remember if his attackers killed him right there. Or if he managed to run down the street and out of sight around the corner where he screamed one last time. I don’t know now if I imagined some of the details. Or if they even managed to kill him. But I do remember my fear. And I carry that guilt.
I did not respond to those pleas for help. I did not raise an alarm. I did not show myself. I remember going down on my knees, shielded by the verandah wall, and crawling back into the house on all fours. I remember crawling all the way into my bed, and trying hard to erase what I had seen and heard. I couldn’t.
I’ve carried this guilt inside of me all my life. If that man died that night, he did not die because of his pursuers. He died because of me. Because of people like me.
We don’t like to confront violence because we don’t like to acknowledge it.
I use the word ‘violence’ because if I said ‘injustice’ I’d run the risk of alienating some of us. What appears unjust to one might seem like ‘justice served’ to the other. But ‘violence’? We can all agree on what that entails.
What matters more – An individual’s Right to his/her life? Or a social sense of Justice?
Is death-for-death fair trade?
Is Society greater than the sum of its many Individuals?

Why is it that when an individual metes out death it is seen as Murder, but when a social institution metes out death it is considered Punishment?
Humans are merely one of Earth’s many species. Then how did Humanity become a synonym for Compassion?
Franz Kafka (in ‘The Trial’) said that the Law presupposes guilt. It makes no distinction between voluntary and involuntary crime. If you’re suspect you’re guilty until proven innocent.
Friedrich Nietzsche and Fyodor Dostoevsky (in ‘The brothers Karmazov’) said something similar: if God is dead everything is permitted (‘God’ here must not be taken literally – it stands broadly for a collective sense of morality). This seems to be at the heart of crime in the modern world – that the evil – in a larger sense – almost has no explanation… it proliferates in the Death of God.
Academic Sunipa Das Gupta says, “Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive what they deserve. But in a top-down political hierarchy, it is the apex that decides what the bottom deserves, and more importantly, gets.”
Can Justice then be relied on to be Fair?
What really does Justice mean? To you? To me? To us?
Tell us through short stories, Flash Fiction, Poetry and Editorials.
The world is standing on its toes at a dangerous precipice today. If we need to tip-toe back from our collective annihilation, some difficult conversations must be had.
This could be one of them.

~ Devashish Makhija

We invite previously unpublished Poems, original Short Stories (In English), translations of Short Stories, Non-Fiction pieces, Editorials on the above theme for our December 2025 Issue.
Photo-Stories and articles on Films and Popular Culture are welcome on themes of the contributor’s choice. We are keeping the thematic concerns flexible only for these two sections.
Send in your submissions for the December Issue by the 10th of November 2025 to parchamonline@gmail.com. Please follow the guidelines below and in case of any queries please write to parchamonline@gmail.com or WhatsApp 6289935412.

Submission Guidelines
Poetry: Please send in your previously unpublished poems (not more than 3) in a single MS Word document to the email id mentioned above with the subject line Poetry Submission- December 2025.
For Fiction/ Short Stories (Originally in English and in translation): Please keep in mind that short stories should be no more than 4,000 words. Send in the short story to parchamonline@gmail.com with the subject line Short Story Submission- December 2025. The submissions should be in MS Word format. In case of a translation, the contributor should send in an Acknowledgment/No Objection from the original author so that we at Parcham know that the translation is being done to the knowledge of the author.
For Editorials/ Opinion Pieces/ Interviews and Book Reviews: For Editorials and Opinion Pieces, please ensure that your submissions are free from unparliamentary language or religious or cultural bigotry. The editors have complete authority to reject a piece if they feel that they are not upholding the spirit of the magazine. Please send in your submission with the Subject Line Editorials/Opinion Pieces-December 2025.
Copyright for articles, artwork and photographs published in this magazine shall rest with the authors, with first publication rights to Parcham. As the magazine follows an open access policy, articles or extracts from articles may be used by others, with proper attribution, for academic and non-commercial use. We reserve the right to publish the work in print in case we go for a print edition later.

Please send in a short bio (no more than 40 words) and a recent picture of you along with the submissions.
Note: If your submissions in any of the above-mentioned sections have found a place on our platform in the previous two issues, we request you to please wait for another cycle (One Issue at most) before submitting again.

PN - RFD Magazine Seeking Submissions on the Theme: Screen Queens
2025-11-15 08:00 - 17:00 | RFD Magazine

PFN - Call for Submissions to Anomaly Poetry Anthology Series on Tidings & Rituals. Winter Issue Theme: Tidings
2025-11-16 08:00 - 17:00 | Anomaly Poetry Anthology Series
Submission Guidelines

Tidings
Our winter anthology focuses on themes of tradition, cycles of life – the light and the dark, and the need for human connection. We want your cozy holiday memories. The power of a winter storm. The sparkling beauty of a frozen landscape.
We accept:
up to two (2) poems – no format/form restrictions. Please begin each poem on a new page.
one (1) short prose piece (800 words or less) – no format/form restrictions.
Please submit your work via email to sarah@domesticatedprimate.com. In the body of your email, please include a brief bio about yourself (~100 words or less).
Submissions should be sent in either PDF or Word format/ PNG or high-quality JPG for images.
We accept simultanious submissions, but please notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere. We are also happy to accept previously published work; please inform us where your work was previously published, so we may give proper credit.

Copyright Stuff
When an author or artist (“you”/”contibutor”) agrees to our offer of publication of a work, Domesticated Primate (“we”/”us”) thereby acquires worldwide first serial rights and limited, perpetual, nonexclusive, online rights. Submitters represent to us that they hold transferrable copyright for submitted works (ie: this work is your original composition). By agreeing to publication you agree to the following terms:

Online rights are limited and non-exclusive: After we publish it, nothing in this agreement restricts what you may do with your work, including publishing it elsewhere online, as long as you don’t require us to stop using your work as in §2 above (this enables us to offer back issues in our e-store and to host individual works on our website). Note: We do not hold copyright for future anthologies, best-ofs, and the like.
Contributors kindly will acknowledge Domesticated Primate as first publisher in all subsequent publications.
After publication, an individual work’s copyright reverts to Contributor, with agreement that Domesticated Primate and Anomaly Poetry will share, with appropriate credit, into the future through social media and digital publications.

PFN - Open Call to WayWords Literary Journal. Theme: Wonder
2025-11-20 08:00 - 17:00 | WayWords Literary Journal
Issue 21: Wonder
Editors’ advice: curiosity, everyday magic, and exciting newness can fill the soul with wonder.
​
Submissions

​Submissions must be in English and include the required Title Information (below).
​Limits:
up to 5,000 words of fiction
two poems up to 15 lines each
​Formatting:
Keep formatting professional, please: readable font, empty lines for scene breaks, empty margins, etc. You can find recommended settings on the Submissions page.
​
Title Information
Please add the following to the top left of your document body (not in the header margin):
​Name or Pseudonym, email
Piece Title
WayWords
Word or Line Count
​If your submission was previously published, please credit your publisher below your word/line count.
If submitting multiple poems in one document, please list all titles on the second line in your Title Information. Adding Title Information to each piece is appreciated but not necessary.
Accepted file types: .doc, .docx, .odt
Submissions accepted via email (submissions [at] writersworkout.net) OR Dropbox OR Duosuma.
Live, unlocked Google Docs or Microsoft Word links are accepted via email.
We must be able to download your file. We will not request access and we are not responsible for locked docs.
The Writer’s Workout will not review fanfiction, religious, political, erotic, or AI-generated content.

​
Rights
​The Writer’s Workout requests one-time, non-exclusive serial rights with worldwide distribution. We will not retain the right to republish the work in an additional collection.
We accept simultaneous submissions, previously published works, and you retain the right to submit your work elsewhere after we publish it.
​ AI-generated content is theft. We do not accept anything generated in whole or part by AI.
Works published by The Writer’s Workout are for entertainment purposes. These publications should not be used in whole or part for content mills, reproduced without written approval, or for training Artificial Intelligence. Humans work very hard to produce the creative works featured in our publications; they deserve our respect.
If you need to withdraw, please let us know.
​This literary journal is published in digital and print. Contributors receive a digital contributor copy. The Writer’s Workout is a registered nonprofit organization run by volunteers.

FN - Persimmon Tree: An Online Magazine of the Arts by Women Over Sixty Seeking Short Takes on the Theme: Friendship and Other Gifts
2025-11-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Persimmon Tree
Issue #77–Winter 2025/2026–Friendship and Other Gifts

This is the season of giving–and receiving. What’s on your wish list–for yourself, for those you love? What is the greatest, or most memorable, or best, or worst gift you have ever been given–or that you ever gave? The gift you’ll write about may be a thing you tie up with a bow; or it could be an intangible: Being a good friend is a gift, as is knowing how to be. Gifts can be two-edged swords: In Old Norse and in some modern Scandinavian languages as well, the word that corresponds to “gift” in English, “gjöf” (pronounced “gyuv”), can, depending on the context, also mean “potion” or “poison.” You may wish to write about the magic potion you once received–or the poison. Finally, gifts often come with strings attached. In many cultures around the globe, a gift creates for its recipient the burden of reciprocity; she must return the favor, sometimes two-fold or more. When has someone given you a something that turned out to be as much obligation as gift?
Projected publication date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Submissions will be accepted: November 17 to November 21
(Please do not submit earlier or later than those dates.)
Your submission must be under 500 words. Submit it to us as a Word document; be sure your name, address, phone number, and email address are all in the Word document. Send us the document by an email addressed to shorttakes@persimmontree.org, and type “Short Take” in the subject line of the email.
Include a headshot and short bio (no more than 50 words) in the email.
You must be subscribed to submit; click here to subscribe. Submissions and subscriptions are free.

PFN - Periwinkle Pelican Lit Seeking Submissions on the Theme: "I am learning to let the soft animal of my body love what it loves"
2025-11-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Periwinkle Pelican Lit
Want to submit?

Perfect! The birds are so excited!

Subs are open! Feed the birds from now until 11/26 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOf9woUf6tPFqmE3LKtkA08xYJGJjQw14yplqx7kau1acSow/viewform?usp=header​
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept email submissions, UNLESS WE ASK FOR THEM. We have previously and will continue to use Google forms for each submission window, which you will either find on this page or our Twitter when each submission window opens. We love the enthusiasm but tend to lose track of your work due to our high volume of emails!
We do not accept AI generated work of any kind. Period. Attempting to submit AI work will be an automatic rejection. The same goes for any kind of prejudice. We have a zero tolerance policy.
​Poetry: No more than five poems or ten pages. Keep all poems to one file.
​Fiction or Nonfiction: Up to 2,000 words. (If you’re a little over we won’t hold it against you.)
​Creative Nonfiction: Up to 2,500 words please! But just like our fiction and nonfiction baddies we won’t hold it against you if you go a smidgeon over.
​General things that apply to everyone:
Simultaneous submissions are okay! We allow reprints/republish pieces if you either retain the rights to your work OR with permission from the original publication.
Please do not include your phone number or address in your submissions.

P - Call for Submissions to Last Leaves Magazine. Theme: Balance
2025-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | Last Leaves Magazine
Theme for Issue 11: Balance
Issue 11’s theme is inspired by our own life challenges. Recently, our editors have been reflecting and identifying ways in which their lives need a little more balance. Between work, family, passions, and everything else, finding time for it all can prove difficult.
What needs more balance in your life? Where do you find yourself falling? Soaring? Maybe take a literal spin and tell us about a time you lost your footing on a trail (or one of those pesky sidewalks that jump out at us sometimes). Or maybe a time where you fell short of something important to you. Bring us on your journey.
Failure to adhere to the guidelines may invalidate your submission. If you have any questions or concerns surrounding the guidelines or the new submission manager, please send us an email at lastleavesmag@gmail.com prior to submitting. We’re always happy to help! As always, our themes are very loose and open for interpretation, please don’t feel limited to our description of the theme.
Submission guidelines:

We do not accept AI-generated poetry.
For poetry: Please send up to 3 poems (no more than 10 pages) in Word (.doc or .docx). Please start each poem on a new page. All work should be single-spaced and in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
Do not include your name or contact information in the documents.
Submitters are welcome to send work through Duosuma, once per submission period per category and up to 5 pieces in each category.
Please include a brief 50-word bio. Include your name as you would like it to appear in the magazine, your email, and links to your website and/or social media (if desired). We will trim the bio as-needed if it exceeds the word count.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, though please send us a message ASAP if your work is accepted elsewhere. We do not accept previously published work, but we love reading your poems on Instagram @lastleavesmag.
Please only submit once per issue and wait until the next reading period to submit again. We hope to respond to each submission within two months. As with most literary magazines, we’re volunteers and doing our best. We thank you in advance for your patience.
For more information on what we publish, check out our editor interviews here and here. At this time, we’re unfortunately not able to pay contributors. The PDF version of our magazine will always be free to download here.
Authors published in our magazine retain full rights to their work to do with as they please following publication of the issue they’re in. We simply ask for First North American Serial Rights and to be credited as first publication (i.e., “Work first appeared in Last Leaves Magazine, Issue X”).

PFN - 3Elements Literary Review Seeking Submissions including the Three Elements: Compass, Rocking Horse, Underpass
2025-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | 3Elements Literary Review
Submission Guidelines
The three elements for the current submission period are: Compass, Rocking Horse, Underpass.

What does 3Elements enjoy reading?
We appreciate good writing in any genre. We especially like edgy writing that offers insight into darkness. We prefer character-driven stories as opposed to plot-driven ones. We relish a piece with a great deal of heart and more than a little bit of Truth (note the capital “T”). We want to read a story that makes us feel edified or philosophical or amused or creeped out or angry or melancholy or inspired or, best yet, all of these things together.
We find stories that include gratuitous violence distasteful. Sexism, racism, or other forms of intolerance are intolerable to us. That said, you can certainly reveal a character through his/her prejudices; just don’t use a story to perpetuate negative stereotypes or ignorance. The world is already bursting with both.
Using the elements
3Elements Literary Review is a themed literary journal, and all THREE elements (the specific words, Compass, Rocking Horse, Underpass must be included in your story or poem for your work to be considered for publication. NO EXCEPTIONS WHATSOEVER.
Your story or poem doesn’t have to be about the three elements or even revolve around them; simply use your imagination to create whatever you want. You can use any form of the words/elements for the given submission period. For example, if the elements are: Flash, Whimsy, and Seizure; we would accept the usage of Flashed, Whimsical, and Seizures.
How to submit your work
We will only accept previously unpublished (including digital/online content) work submitted to us through Submittable. You can easily submit material to us from our Submit page. Any work that is sent to us as an attachment, or in the body of an email, through our ‘Contact’ page, or any other way outside of Submittable will automatically be declined.
Length
There is no minimum word count, but please keep your fiction and nonfiction submissions under 3,500 words. Poetry must be under two typed pages.
Bio
If you’re accepted for publication in 3Elements Literary Review, we, as well as the readers of our publication will naturally want to know a little more about you, as well as your writing background, so providing us with a bio is very helpful!

Submission fee
Submitting material to 3Elements Literary Review is absolutely free.
Usage rights
Please refer here to understand our usage rights.
Submission period category limits
We will only accept the following number of submissions per submission category: Fiction and nonfiction is capped at no more than two submissions per submission period. Poetry is limited to three submissions per submission period, art and photography is also limited to three submissions per submission period.
Multiple submissions
We do not accept multiple submissions within the same document/file. Each submission (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, photography) must be submitted individually.
Simultaneous submissions
Simultaneous submissions are completely fine with us. Our only requirement is that you notify us as soon as you can if you intend to publish your piece with another publication.
Feedback
We regrettably cannot give individual feedback on submissions.
Payment
Unfortunately, there is no pay at this time.

F - Call for Submissions to Flash Frontier: An Adventure in Short Fiction. Theme: Dance | Ngā Kanikani
2025-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | Flash Frontier: An Adventure in Short Fiction
What we like
We are looking for variety and originality. Tickle us, haunt us, gobsmack us. Choose your words carefully and leave our readers wanting more. And do it in a small space.
Please submit only previously unpublished stories. If the work has appeared in any other print or electronic journal, we consider it published.
If it has appeared on a writing workshop site, we will consider it but please do let us know, and we expect Flash Frontier to be credited with first publication if your work appears in our pages.
We love original art in all forms – colourful and daring, muted and understated. We’ll choose art each month that reflects the theme.

How to submit

Please submit your story to the editors in email:

flashfrontier@gmail.com

Please paste your work and your bio directly into the body of the email.

If your story requires unusual formatting let us know – the editors may ask for a different kind of document to confirm your formatting requirements.
Provide a brief biographical sketch (approx. 60 words) about yourself – written in third person – that can be included on our Contributor page. You do not have to include your bio if you have submitted to us before.

Issues are published during the last week of the month.
Remember to count: 251 won’t be accepted.

PFN - Call for Submissions to The Fiddlehead: Disability. The Theme: The Revolution! [disabled writers only]
2025-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | The Fiddlehead
Disability: The Revolution!
Special Issue Call for Submissions
Revolution: from the old French revolution, originally referring to the motion of the stars. Later versions of the word in the 15th century played on this sense of cyclical revolving — in the changing of the seasons, but also — crucially — the revolving of the wheel.
What does revolution look like from a disability standpoint? How do we remember that disabled writers just taking up space is revolutionary? How do we, as disabled writers, consider that question of the wheel and its many manifestations — literal, temporal, and symbolic? How do we celebrate it, remake, and open ourselves to the revolution, ongoing and future, that must usher in a more accessible world?
For our Summer 2026 issue, The Fiddlehead seeks work from disabled writers on the theme of revolution. You can interpret the theme as broadly as you like. If you identify as disabled and would like to answer this call, please submit! We would love to hear from you.
Send us your fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and review pitches that call for change — change in the world we know and change in the world that might come to be. How can the innovation that drives disabled experiences also help to drive a new and better world? What might a world beyond the revolution look like, especially for disabled people?
Imagine new worlds with us — worlds far away, and the world that waits close in our future.
The issue will be overseen by disabled author and activist Amanda Leduc, who will also serve as the fiction editor alongside poetry editor Phillip Crymble, nonfiction editor Therese Estacion, and reviews editors Grace R. Taylor and Christine Wu.
In an exciting first for The Fiddlehead we are creating audio narration for this special issue, and we are in conversation with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) to offer even more formats for maximum accessibility.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
The general rule of only submitting once per calendar year does not apply to the Disability issue.
For purposes of this issue, you may submit once in all three categories. Please submit as per the guidelines below (one story, one essay, and no more than 6 poems).
Fiction Submissions:

A submission should be one story, double-spaced, a maximum of 6 000 words, and in a legible font.
Pages should be numbered.
At the top of the first page, include the story’s title and word count.
If your story is less than 1000 words, you may include a second submission that is also shorter than 1000 words. This submission should start on a new page and include the title and word count at the top of that page.

Creative Nonfiction Submissions:
Creative nonfiction (CNF) is construed widely and can include personal essays, narrative non-fiction, think pieces, etc. Check out the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society’s definition here.

A submission should be one CNF story, double-spaced, a maximum of 6 000 words, and in a legible font.
At the top of the first page, include the story’s title and word count.
Pages should be numbered.
If your CNF story is less than 1000 words, you may include a second submission that is also shorter than 1000 words. This submission should start on a new page and include the title and word count at the top of that page.
If you have images (pictures, graphs, drawings, etc.), we are happy to consider them but you must have written permission to use them from the creator in a publication before you submit to us. AI-generated images will not be considered.

Poetry Submissions:

A poetry submission should be single-spaced.
It can be no more than 6 poems and no more than 12 pages in total.
Pages should be numbered.
Each poem should begin on a new page with the title of the poem at the top of the page.
If a poem continues onto more than one page, please note at the top of that page that the poem has continued.
