Calls For Submissions for Trans Writers

Listed in order of deadline, from soonest to latest

This is a compilation of CFS’s that: -are specifically for trans writers or may be of special interest to trans writers (because of the editorial team, subject matter, etc) -do not charge a reading fee -are currently accepting submissions (or will be very soon)

[If you find this helpful and would like to support Topside’s work, one great way to do that is at our store: http://shop.topsidepress.com]

April 30, 2016 - Strange Horizons “Queer Planet” Celebration - Online spec-fic lit mag special issue to be published  in July 2016. Fiction up to 10,000 words, non-fiction columns/essays 1,000-5,000 words, and poetry. See CFS for extensive descriptions. http://www.strangehorizons.com/ourqueerplanet.shtml

May 12, 2016 - THEM Lit - Issue III. Print and online publication featuring work by authors under the “trans umbrella.” Fiction, nonfiction, experimental, and poetry. Prose: under 2,000 words, Poetry: 3-7 poems http://themlit.com/submit/

May 16, 2016 - Trans Fiction Anthology (with focus on sexuality) - Editor: Tobi Hill-Meyer, Publisher: Instar Books. Trans and cis authors sought. 2,000-5,000 words. http://handbasketproductions.com/call-for-submissions/

May 25, 2016 - Alien Mouth - Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Online (monthly) and print (quarterly). Trans editor on staff. http://alienmouth.com/submit/

June 1, 2016 - Sibling Rivalry Press - Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Full manuscripts. (SRP asks that authors submitting manuscripts purchase at least one title from their online store, some of which are under $1. Weird but, whatever, seems harmless and might be flexible.) https://siblingrivalrypress.com

June 5, 2016 - HIV Here and Now Project - Poetry and prose. Online, daily lit project aiming to “advocate for a world without HIV/AIDS.” Counting down to 35 years of AIDS on June 5, 2016. All authors invited, regardless of serostatus. Content does not need to focus on HIV/AIDS. http://www.hivhereandnow.com/

June 30, 2016 - The James Franco Review - Issue 8, Fiction editor Ryka Aoki. Prose up to 8,000 words. Poetry, 3-5 poems.  Themes are as follows: Poetry: Crash The Margins / Fiction: Abundance / Nonfiction: Bodies of Evidence Submissions open May 1, 2016 https://thejamesfrancoreview.com/submission-guidelines/

July 15, 2016 - Trans Homo …Gasp! - Anthology to be published by Transgress Press. Editors Avi Ben-Zeev and Pete Bailey. Nonfiction (memoir) 1,500-2,500 words, by and about gay/queer trans men and cis men on the subjects of dating, relationships, etc.Detailed guidelines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IH5ct5goRgx6jB5QjIbr9TjllwNRKOGdsirrkd9e82E/edit

August 31, 2016 - Jonathan - Semi-annual lit mag. History of gay-focused prose and poetry, but has published trans authors and is actively seeking trans authors of all genders. Submissions open June 1, 2016: https://siblingrivalrypress.com/jonathan/

October 30, 2016 - Heavy Feather Review - Print and online lit mag. Trans editor on staff (Non-fiction editor, Colette Arrand). Poetry: 3-6 poems, Prose: no limits https://heavyfeatherreview.com/submit/

Rolling Deadlines/Open Calls:

The Fem Lit Mag - Feminist online journal esp. Seeking writers from LGBTQIA/disabled/POC or other oppressed communities. Fiction and nonfiction: up to 4,000 words. Poetry: up to 5 poems.

More info: https://thefemlitmagazine.wordpress.com/submissions/

Assaracus: A Journal of Gay Poetry - Self-identified gay male authors. Submit up to 10 poems.

More info: https://siblingrivalrypress.com/assaracus/

Harlot.Media - Feminist online magazine. Seeking essays, fiction, poetry, and other genres from marginalized, female-identified writers. Poetry can be sent directly to wandererpoetry@gmail.com. Trans editors on staff, lots of trans content.

More info: http://harlot.media/contribute-to-us

Jellyfish Highway Press - Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry full manuscripts for publication. Trans editor on staff. Free submissions open May 1, 2016.

More info: http://www.jellyfishhighway.com/submissions/

Special Events

Queer Memoir - Storytelling event series in NYC curated by Kelli Dunham. Frequently features trans women and other trans people, always eager to showcase new voices, regardless of writing and performance experience. Email: kellidunham@gmail.comMore info: https://www.facebook.com/kellidunham/posts/10154035437815340

[If you find this helpful and would like to support Topside’s work, one great way to do that is at our store: http://shop.topsidepress.com]

We’re working hard on bringing a whole series of new titles to our readers in 2016, the first of which will be When The Chant Comes, by disabled pilipinx-american transgender poet Kay Ulanday Barrett. A New York City event on June 7 at Bluestockings Bookstore will be the launch event for his first book of collected poems.

Some of the other books to look forward to this summer and fall represent a mix of genres. Poetry-lovers will be head-over-heels for debuts of KOKUMỌ’s Reacquainted With Life and Cat Fitzpatrick’s Glamorpuss. Out of Salem, a delightful first novel by author Hal Schrieve due out this fall, tackles the all-too-familiar challenges of trying to survive undead in high school as a genderqueer zombie teenager: bullies, homework, and oh, parts of your body keep falling off, too. Finally, Imogen Binnie, beloved punk columnist and author of the 2013 novel Nevada, will be releasing her second book, a collection of essays from her tenure at Maximum Rocknroll called We See Through You, with cover design and interior illustrations from renowned artist Annie Danger.

We’re so excited to share these new books with you, our readers, who make all of this possible. More information about the authors can be found below, and we’ll soon be announcing events and other opportunities to support these new books. You can also make a purchase today of books, zines, or art, which is always a great way to help us keep making books.

Reviewers, bloggers, and journalists can get advance copies and arrange interviews by emailing our team at promo@topsidepress.com.

Find out more about these authors here.

“Ward” by  multigrade

Aiyyana ❤️

Vetch 2 comes out today. Our spring 2016 issue features Trish Salah, merritt k, Wo Chan, manuel arturo abreu, Thel Seraphim, Cat Fitzpatrick, Kit Yan, and many other remarkable poets.

Their work is paired with illustrations by Kit Mills, Bo Luengsuraswat, and Liam O’Brien.

For this issue we asked contributors to submit work based on themes of temporality and the past. As we write in our editors note,

The spring 2016 issue is dedicated to the memory of Bryn Kelly, with love.

Spread the news, friends.

FREE COPIES OF THE ANTHOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR AND AMAB NONBINARY POC

As we approach March 31st, the official publishing date for the anthology, we want to send this message of love and strength out to all the trans women of color and amab nonbinary people of color out there in the world. First and foremost, without you, our sisters and siblings, we could not have envisioned or ever created this writing project. All of you were in our hearts throughout the past year as we went from the initial act of organizing to draft our submission guidelines to editing the stories, designing the book, and, finally, preparing to publish online. More than that, you were here for us like no one else, contributing in a thousand small yet essential ways by boosting our posts, writing to us with support, and by fighting to survive alongside us. The only reason we’ve been able to make this book is because of the work you have done, collectively, to make our lives and our art possible. We love you. This anthology book of our stories already belongs to you, so we will not ask you for payment or anything else in exchange for a copy. Free copies are available for you as of this moment, from now until forever.

Please email us at twocanthology [at] gmail [dot] com or message us here so that we can send you your copy. We won’t ask you to prove your identity or to give us any information. Just ask for a copy and we’ll send it to you as soon as possible.

With warmth,

Ellyn and Jamie, editors

See our Goodreads page. for a full list of our writers and leave us a review/rating.

[The image above continues our tendency of repurposing images of trans feminine people of color that were originally captured and used by cis people. The image is a still from the film Paris is Burning, directed by Jennie Livingston; it shows Carmen and Brooke Xtravaganza smiling at the viewer from a beach.]

Hi, I’m a co-editor and writer in this book project. Please share this post widely so that all trans women of color and all trans and nonbinary people of color who are affected by transmisogyny can get their hands on a free copy. Thanks!

*looks at a framed photo of myself* do it for her

Paris, France

whoa maybe i do like video game stuff

To Billy, from The Undertaker