Submissions

 

We are now closed for Spring 2026 Issue #18 – Choices Submissions

 

Look for Summer Issue #19
&
Mental Health Awareness Writing Contest
Call for Submissions in Early April

 

Start writing your contest piece today!

 

General Guidelines

We seek previously unpublished, creative, and high-quality work in the form of poetry, creative nonfiction/essays, fiction/short stories/flash fiction, scripts and digital media (photography, drawings, podcasts, and short films). Patients, students, family members, caregivers, nurses, physicians, healthcare consumers, artists, mental health providers, physical therapists, writers, clergy—all of us will be patients one day and all are welcome to submit work. We are especially looking for content from vulnerable populations and those who care for them; content that connects us with every community, makes us feel something, helps us see illness, wellness, health, or the healthcare environment differently, and inspires equality in healthcare and the world.

Theme Guidelines: Coming Soon for Issue #19

Genre Guidelines

Poetry

Please submit a maximum of three poems at a time. If you submit more than three, we can only read the first three.

Fiction

Please submit short stories no more than 4,000 words in length. Flash fiction, up to 1,000 words, is welcome and encouraged. Submissions should be double-spaced in 12pt Times Roman or other serif font with 1″ margins. We will look at excerpts of longer works on a case-by-case basis; please query us with a description of your project before submitting if greater than 4,000 words.

Creative Nonfiction

Please submit nonfiction pieces no more than 4,000 words in length. Submissions should be double-spaced in 12pt Times Roman or other serif font with 1″ margins. We will look at excepts of longer works on a case-by-case basis; please query us with a description of your project before submitting if longer than 4,000 words.

Films

Please submit links to your short films for review, and up to five minutes in length.

Other Media

We welcome submissions of photography, podcasts, and other media. All digital media will should be hosted by the creator, and shared by a link. Photography and still images can be attached to submission in a .jpg file sized suitable for web upload on WordPress.

As always, we aim for the highest literary and artistic standards.

All Submissions are made through Submittable.