INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE
Wards is a South African literary journal with a special focus. Every issue ‘invites writers from different, specific demographics to submit fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and research articles’. The title ‘wards’ is important because ‘wards are storied places, and warding is an act of defence or self preservation’. Submissions for issue 5 are open until 31 March and the theme is ‘Native’.
The team promise ‘personal, detailed feedback’. They particularly want ‘literary work from indigenous and First Nations authors from any continent’ but all work is accepted if it is to the theme. Flash fiction and short stories are wanted. Submit no more than three stories, up to 5,000 words. Poetry should be under fifteen pages, no more than five poems. Creative non-fiction and personal essays are always welcomed. Submit one piece, up to 10,000 words.
Use of a native language is accepted. Follow the specific guidelines to upload it and an English translation.
Response time is reasonable. Payment: ‘One author in each genre will receive a $50 prize.’
Simultaneous submissions are accepted; previously published work is not. Multiple subs are allowed in different genres. Submit through the website, www.wardslitmag.com
Launched in January, 2019, Sunspot Literary Journal publishes diverse multinational voices from around the world. New works are published in their original language side-by-side with English translations.
Its mission is ‘to amplify every voice’. It needs submissions of microfiction, flash fiction, poetry, short stories, plays, scripts, literary works and well-written genre pieces up to novella length. Non-fiction, ‘essays, opinions, articles, reviews, memoirs, and travel stories’ are welcomed. They love ‘thoughts that blind’.
Check the guidelines carefully as different length work must be submitted through the correct online portal via the correct form. For example ‘one poem up to two pages’ has to be submitted through the standard Submittable form but longer poems through another form. The team also offer a ‘Fast Flux Response Option’ and for a small fee work will ‘receive an answer in two weeks or less.’
Submit longer works – up to 49,000 words for fiction and nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, and up to fifty pages for a single poem – using the special form on the Submittable portal. Response time is ‘within three months’. There is no payment other than ‘an Editor’s Prize of $50 for one work selected’ for first rights.
Website: https://sunspotlit.com
is a quirky new literary zine.