Deadline: We accept submissions all year, but please be aware that our active reading period is August through March, taking a short break during April, May, June, and July.
We publish work by established and emerging writers unaffiliated with the University of Central Arkansas. We accept previously unpublished fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, scripts for the stage or screen, translation, artwork, and illustrated narrative through our Submittable submission manager.
Simultaneous submissions are always welcome. We only ask that you withdraw your piece as soon as you accept another opportunity.
As a compendium of the rare, intriguing, and unheard, we’re looking for quality writing that is thought-provoking and literary. We are especially interested in work that explores the identities and experiences of writers from the Delta region, BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, women, disabled, and neurodivergent writers, the resource-poor, writers over 50, those who have experienced or been impacted by incarceration, or anyone whose voices have traditionally been silenced.
Scripts: We’re committed to publishing genres not often featured in literary journals. Whether it’s a 10-minute play or a scene from a screenplay, we’re looking for polished scripts with compelling character motivation and innovative use of dialogue.
We're looking for polished scripts that illuminate truths and push boundaries. We accept ten-minute plays and scripts that are 20-pages or under.
REGULAR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Up to 4,000 words of prose (fiction or nonfiction), double-spaced
No more than 20 pages per submission
Limit 1 submission per genre until you’ve received a response
Up to three poems per submission
Up to 5 photographs or pieces of art
Cover letter with a brief biographical statement
For translated work only:
Original publication information
Confirm publication rights are available
If the piece is in the public domain, please let us know
It is always free to submit. While we accept submissions year-round, please note that our graduate students read during the school year, so you will experience longer response times over the summer.
HOW WE ADVOCATE FOR OUR AUTHORS
We nominate our writers’ work for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net every year and promote them regularly on social media. Our issues feature audio recordings of the pieces we publish. All our writers’ work is considered for $50 Editors’ Choice Awards in each genre.