Anthologies: Calls For Submissions

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A list of creative writing anthologies and calls for submissions. Each anthology or literary journal has a particular theme and seeks a particular type of writing. See third-party websites or send any queries to the editors as needed. Advertisers are not affiliated with Writer's Relief. 

Learn more about Writer's Relief, an author's submission service. Want a listing in our classifieds section? Email info@wrelief.com for information. 

Deadline:2/10/2012
Submit to:Western State Press. Online Form
Theme:Western locations with humor
Type:Poetry (5 pages MAX) and prose (25 pages MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Western State Press

Deadline:2/15/2012
Submit to:Mandala Journal. Online Form
Theme:Exodus. MUST BE topics on diversity/multicultural issues.
Type:Poetry (5 poems, 10 pages MAX), fiction, and nonfiction (7,000 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Mandala Journal

Deadline:2/29/2012
Submit to:Getting Along with Grief. Send via attachment. Email Address
Theme:Signs and wonders often occur after a loved one's death: a rose blooming in a blizzard, unexplained "coincidences," messages in unlikely places...
Type:Poetry, prose, or photography--no adult language
Publisher:See website
URL:Getting Along with Grief

Deadline:3/1/2012
Submit to:Beth A. Richardson, Editor. Alive Now, 1908 Grand Avenue, P.O. Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004--or email (preferred)
Theme:Light. MUST BE spiritual and appropriate for those of Christian faith.
Type:Poetry and prose (400 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Alive Now

Deadline:3/1/2012
Submit to:Little Patuxent Review. Online Form
Theme:Audacity.
Type:Poetry (3 poems MAX) and prose (3,500 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Little Patuxent Review

Deadline:3/1/2012
Submit to:Readers Write, The Sun, 107 N. Roberson Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Theme:Forgetting
Type:Essays
Publisher:The Sun
URL:Readers Write

Deadline:3/1/2012
Submit to:THEMA, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747
Theme:White wine chilling (Indicate theme on first page of submission or in cover letter)
Type:Poetry (3 poems MAX) and short stories (6,000 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:THEMA

Deadline:3/15/2012
Submit to:damselfly press. See different email addresses on their site for your genre.
Theme:Only female writers.
Type:Poetry (3 poems MAX), fiction (10 pages MAX), and nonfiction (7 pages MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:damselfly press

Deadline:3/15/2012
Submit to:Muzzle Magazine Online Form
Theme:Drink
Type:Poetry (3 to 5 poems) or visual art
Publisher:See website
URL:Muzzle Magazine

Deadline:3/30/2012
Submit to:On Our Own – Widowhood for Smarties. Send one poem or story in the body of an email. Be sure to follow their specific guidelines on their site.
Theme:Widowhood
Type:Poetry (50 lines MAX) and stories (1,500 words MAX) (shorter works preferred)
Publisher:See website
URL:On Our Own – Widowhood for Smarties

Deadline:3/31/2012
Submit to:Mascara Literary Review. Write "Asian American poetry" in the subject title of your e-mail. Email Address
Theme:Poetry by Asian Americans
Type:Poetry (3 - 5 poems)
Publisher:See website
URL:Mascara Literary Review

Deadline:4/1/2012
Submit to:Literary Mama. See different email address on guidelines page below.
Theme:Father's Day Month
Type:Poetry (4 poems MAX), short stories (5,000 words), and essays (7,000 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Literary Mama

Deadline:4/1/2012
Submit to:Witness. Online Form
Theme:Redemption
Type:Poetry (5 poems MAX), short stories, and essays (10,000 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Witness

Deadline:4/15/2012
Submit to:Ecotone, Department of Creative Writing, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-5938
Theme:Abnormal. Must also "reimagine place."
Type:Poetry (5 poems MAX), short stories, and essays (30 pages MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:Ecotone

Deadline:4/15/2012
Submit to:Sou'wester. Submission Link
Theme:The Weather
Type:Poetry (5 poems MAX), shorts (3 MAX), short stories, and creative nonfiction
Publisher:See website
URL:Sou'wester

Deadline:4/30/2012
Submit to:Slipstream, Dept. W-1, Box 2071, Niagara Falls, NY 14301
Theme:Cars, Bars & Stars
Type:Poetry
Publisher:See website
URL:Slipstream

Deadline:5/1/2012
Submit to:Bitch. Choose "Magazine: Submissions" from the Category drop-down. Online Form
Theme:Habit(at). MUST BE a feminist response to pop culture.
Type:Essays (1,000 to 4,000 words)
Publisher:See website
URL:Bitch Magazine

Deadline:5/1/2012
Submit to:The First Line. Send via attachment. Email Address
Theme:Every story starts the same. This first line is: Rachel's first trip to England didn't go as planned.
Type:Short stories (3,000 words MAX)
Publisher:See website
URL:The First Line

Deadline:8/1/2012
Submit to:RATTLE, 12411 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. Or send via email attachment (1 file) or pasted-in text. Email Address
Theme:Speculative (SF) poetry
Type:Poetry and essays on the theme of sci-fi
Publisher:See website
URL:Rattle
Submission guidelines

Deadline:8/1/2012
Submit to:Terrain.org. Online Form
Theme:Ruin and renewal. Work must show a clear relationship to the built and natural environments.
Type:Poetry, short stories, and nonfiction
Publisher:See website
URL:Terrain.org

Deadline:2/1/2013
Submit to:Star*Line. Subject line: S*L sub. Send via pasted-in text. Email Address
Theme:Science fiction/fantasy/horror
Type:Poetry (3 - 5 poems) and nonfiction on the sci-fi topic. They read year-round.
Publisher:See website
URL:Star*Line

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A free list of calls for submissions to upcoming anthologies, compiled and updated regularly by Writer’s Relief. An anthology is a collection of short fiction (like short stories or flash fiction), short nonfiction (personal essays, reflections, and memoir), or poetry (free verse, rhyme, etc.). Most often, the selections in anthologies are joined by a common theme (such as motherhood, surviving cancer, or any other topic). Editors will often put out a call for submissions for their anthology. Sometimes the editor will already have a publisher lined up. Other times, the editor may wait to select works of creative writing for the anthology, then begin pitching a publisher. If you submit to an anthology that already has a publisher, you will have the security of knowing that your work will likely be published. If you submit to an anthology that does not have a publisher, you have less of a guarantee of publication. Some anthologies are scrapped before they are submitted to agents and editors, but some go on to do very well and sell many copies. Weigh your options before you submit. And never sign a publishing contract that will waive your rights unless you’re certain of publication. Consult a lawyer about contracts. We hope you enjoy our calls for submissions list for upcoming creative writing anthologies. Please feel free to share this list with your writer friends. These editors are waiting to receive your work!