For ALL submissions, please send a Microsoft Word doc (but PDF is also okay) as an attachment (please NO pasted subs in the body of the email, since this is a collab issue; this will result in an automatic rejection) to flaremagazinesubmissions@gmail.com with your genre in the subject line along with “Collab Issue.” You should also include a brief statement about why your submission is “exclaimable” and the type(s) of exclamation it contains (i.e. Is this piece astonishing? Surprised? Angry? Etc.).
It’s absolutely FREE to submit!
Submissions are OPEN now and close on June 12th, end of day.
Exclamation Mark Literary Journal and FLARE Magazine are collaborating for the below issue theme!
Issue theme: Exclamation for and by the Disabled and Chronically Ill!
- Do you have something urgent to say about living with a disability/mental health condition/chronic illness?
- Tell us about a time you were in the ER or needed help ASAP!
- What needs to be said about these topics ASAP?
- How has your disability surprised you, angered you, made you need to exclaim about it?!
…And more! These are just some ideas we’d love to see!
This special collab issue will be a print AND digital issue. **Please note that we unfortunately cannot offer free contributor print copies. However, the issue will be available for free on both Exclamation Mark Literary Journal and FLARE Magazine’s websites digitally.
Print copies will be available to purchase worldwide and will be created by the lovely team at Exclamation Mark Literary Journal!
For all genres of writing, PLEASE INCLUDE CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS AHEAD OF EACH PIECE IN THE DOCUMENT.
PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME IN THE DOCUMENT!
Please also just submit to ONE writing category (but writers can submit in art as well!).
Genres we’re accepting (same as regular submission guidelines):
- Poetry: Up to 3 poems
- Each on its own page
- PLEASE NO SPECIAL FORMATTING (WordPress is not a fan!)
- Microfiction: Up to 3 pieces (400 words or fewer)
- Please double space
- We’re open to all literary and genre fiction, just no erotica
- Flash Fiction: 1 piece only (up to 1000 words)
- Please double space
- We’re open to all literary and genre fiction, just no erotica
- Short Story: 1 piece only (up to 2500 words)
- Please double space
- We’re open to all literary and genre fiction, just no erotica
- Creative Nonfiction: 1 piece only (up to 2000 words)
- Please double space
- Hybrid/Experimental: Up to 3 pieces (1000 words max per piece)
- Single spaced is okay here
- Art/Photography: Up to 3 pieces (JPEG please!)
- SPECIAL NOTE: For this issue, we’ll be looking for one art piece as the print copy’s cover (MUST BE in black and white). (No payment for selected artist)
- *NEW SPECIAL NOTE as of 6/9: the online issue will allow art in color (doesn’t necessarily have to be in black and white, but it also can!), but the print copy will be in black and white (even if it’s not just the cover). This is mostly due to printing costs, fyi! If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask! 🙂
- REMINDER: your art piece does NOT have to relate to chronic illness, disability, and/or mental health, but the ARTIST must identify as having at least one of these.
- We encourage an artist’s statement about what inspired your submission!
- With your art submission, please include the art technique you used to create the work.
Response Time
For this issue, we aim to respond to all submissions within 3 days AFTER submissions close!
All accepted pieces will get proofread by FLARE Magazine EIC Kelly Esparza. If you want to see your piece prior to publication after proofreading edits, please let Kelly know. (This is ONLY to check for typos.)
Want Editorial Feedback?
As always, FLARE Magazine EIC Kelly Esparza will offer editorial feedback on pieces ONLY if the GoFundMe is donated to. This GoFundMe is for paying future contributors and/or hosting future contests where disabled creators are paid. We ask for a donation of $10 to the GoFundMe if you want feedback. Please also allow feedback to get to you within 5 days AFTER this submission call closes. Put FEEDBACK in the subject line of your email as well.
But REMEMBER: submissions are always FREE. THIS IS OPTIONAL AND ONLY IF YOU WANT FEEDBACK.
As always, FLARE will do daily author/artist spotlights on social media to further promote every creator’s work!
We also do not offer payment for any publication (maybe someday!), but FLARE and Exclamation Mark nominate for awards!