Mandatory Assembly
There are presently no open calls for submissions.
Who will we publish?
If you are between the ages of 14 and 18, we are interested in publishing your writing. If we choose your work, we will be in touch to ask your parents/guardians to sign permission forms and verify your age.
What are we looking for in poetry submissions?
Send us 4-6 poems. Send us your favorite poems, and throw in one you are pretty sure no one will like. We are looking for poems that speak your mind with fresh ideas, using language that surprises. We are not interested in poems that are ornate, and it’s probably best not to send us metrical, rhymed verse, unless it’s truly inventive.
What we are looking for in fiction/creative non-fiction?
Send one (and only one) short story or essay (up to 2,500 words) or up to three works of flash fiction or nano-essays (up to 650 words each).
We want stories and essays with a fine coat of polish over a foundation of raw feeling. We want impact. We want stories and essays that grab us on the first page and haunt us after we’ve finished. Hit us with your best shot and bring the pain (or laughter).
We are not interested in fanfiction or any works that make use of characters or settings protected by someone else’s copyright, even if you’ve changed all the names.
We do not publish academic essays or reviews.
If you are between the ages of 14 and 18, we are interested in publishing your writing. If we choose your work, we will be in touch to ask your parents/guardians to sign permission forms and verify your age.
What are we looking for in poetry submissions?
Send us 4-6 poems. Send us your favorite poems, and throw in one you are pretty sure no one will like. We are looking for poems that speak your mind with fresh ideas, using language that surprises. We are not interested in poems that are ornate, and it’s probably best not to send us metrical, rhymed verse, unless it’s truly inventive.
What we are looking for in fiction/creative non-fiction?
Send one (and only one) short story or essay (up to 2,500 words) or up to three works of flash fiction or nano-essays (up to 650 words each).
We want stories and essays with a fine coat of polish over a foundation of raw feeling. We want impact. We want stories and essays that grab us on the first page and haunt us after we’ve finished. Hit us with your best shot and bring the pain (or laughter).
We are not interested in fanfiction or any works that make use of characters or settings protected by someone else’s copyright, even if you’ve changed all the names.
We do not publish academic essays or reviews.
Statement about diversity:
We believe in representation–of all people. We are proud to represent a diverse array of young people in our journal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, we’re excited to see work that represents your unique position and perspective. Because of the value we place on all voices, we will not publish work that perpetuates prejudice of any kind.
Other things:
If you are new to sending your writing to literary journals, here is a great primer.
Cover letters are encouraged. If you have life experience relevant to the topic of your work, please tell us about it; for example, if your poems are about Antarctica, let us know about the summer you spent there studying penguins.
We claim first North American Serial Rights, which means what you send us has never been published before–even online. After publication with us, your rights to the work revert to you, but we retain the right to reprint the work on our website and in any future anthologies.
We accept simultaneous submissions, but we ask that you notify us as soon as work has been accepted elsewhere. Please don’t send us more than one submission per issue.
We are currently unable to pay for the work we publish.
All submissions should be sent through our Submittable portal. Submissions for the inaugural issue are open from January 8 through February 15, 2018.
We believe in representation–of all people. We are proud to represent a diverse array of young people in our journal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, we’re excited to see work that represents your unique position and perspective. Because of the value we place on all voices, we will not publish work that perpetuates prejudice of any kind.
Other things:
If you are new to sending your writing to literary journals, here is a great primer.
Cover letters are encouraged. If you have life experience relevant to the topic of your work, please tell us about it; for example, if your poems are about Antarctica, let us know about the summer you spent there studying penguins.
We claim first North American Serial Rights, which means what you send us has never been published before–even online. After publication with us, your rights to the work revert to you, but we retain the right to reprint the work on our website and in any future anthologies.
We accept simultaneous submissions, but we ask that you notify us as soon as work has been accepted elsewhere. Please don’t send us more than one submission per issue.
We are currently unable to pay for the work we publish.
All submissions should be sent through our Submittable portal. Submissions for the inaugural issue are open from January 8 through February 15, 2018.