Events

In the spirit of promoting global peace and contemplative artistic expression, Zen Peacemaker’s showcases three haiku a month on this page.

Surprise us with work that stretches the meaning of kinship—personal or collective, intimate or cosmic—while staying true to the urgency of our times.

In a time of fake news and counterfeits, scammers and artificial intelligence, tell us how you’re sifting through the layers of conceit. Send us your most suspicious stories, fallacious arguments, and prose that teeters between fact and fiction. 

We’re looking for pieces that embody the spirit of Nocturnia: eerie, elegant, unsettling, or uncanny. This is not just horror — it’s the haunting echo in a quiet room, the bittersweet memory that resurfaces at midnight, the beauty in the grotesque.

This issue is not themed. Send us your best tension-filled poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

We look for work that is creative, grounded in concrete images, and playful, though "playful" needn'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.

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.

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!

One of the most important qualities we look for in others is Integrity. But what does that mean exactly?

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.

Rage against the machine, storm the castle, the space alliance against the hegemony, hackers against the oligarchy, or however you envision it.

We seek work that represents and invigorates the diversity of contemporary poetry and demonstrates literary excellence whether it be lyric, free verse, prose, or experimental form.

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.

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.

How do you deal with loneliness? Do you embrace it? What has your loneliness taught you?

All stories must start with the appropriate first line, and you cannot change it in any way unless otherwise indicated.

We want fiction with memorable characters and realistic plots, poetry that is fresh and original, and nonfiction that is both thoughtful and entertaining.

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.

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?