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Submission Guidelines

Theme: MAXIMALISM

For our second edition we wanted to dig a little deeper and show up a little braver. In a world where violence is displayed directly on our phones and gaslighting occurs both in the media and our daily lives we have been inspired by those who dare to resist. We want to celebrate resistance to norms that are often rooted in colonialism and racism. However, we want this issue to not only talk about resistance, we want it to be resistance in its own right. We want to resist the values imposed on many of us that influence us to believe that minimalism is the only form of art, beauty and progress that matters. Instead we want to celebrate the beautiful heritage that many cultures across the world have in common: the wild (read: liberal) combinations of pattern, ornaments, colours that we grew up with one way or another. Either in the rugs and curtains in the sanctity of our homes in the west, or the buildings and markets we were privileged to visit when exploring our origins. We want to encourage our contributors to write and create with reckless abandon of the voices that tell us to minimize ourselves and our worlds.

Main Requirements

• 18+ years old

• Open to everyone linked to a diaspora worldwide, and have multifaceted identities

• Unpublished pieces (personal blogs are an exception)

• Can submit multiple pieces at once

• Simultaneous submissions to other magazines are welcome, but inform us as soon as possible if accepted elsewhere

• Submissions should be English (Other languages are welcome if translation is provided)

What We Accept

• Fiction – short stories or standalone novel excerpts (no longer than 5000 words)

• Creative/Narrative nonfiction – essays, memoirs, travel literature and interviews (no longer than 5000 words)

• Poetry (up to three poems) per person

• Flash Fiction (no longer than 750 words)

• Art including photography, comics and illustrations: At least two and accompanied with text (please explain your work in one to three sentences or provide a brief teaser)

Submission Requirements

1. Online written submissions must be in a single file in .doc, .docx, or PDF format. (except in cases of images/illustration)

2. For images and illustrations, please attach high resolution jpeg files with an ideal max file size of 10MB but no more than 100MB

3. Your submission title must be in the following format: YourSurname_SubmissionTitle 

4. You must include a cover letter with your submission on the first page with the title of the piece, its category, word count, your name, contact details, website/social media links, and a 50-word bio

5. Fiction must be double-spaced. Indicate stanza breaks in poetry.  If submitting more than one poem, begin each poem on a new page. 

6. Include page numbers on prose or multi-page poems. 

Review process

We consider all submissions and we aim to respond within four weeks. We are not in the position to give individual feedback but please bear in mind that some stories may be well written, yet still unsuitable for WAYF Journal or may not fit with the theme of the current issue. We hope this does not deter you from submitting to future editions. We always look forward to receiving your work. 

Compensation

We currently do not offer any compensation for submission as we are currently self-funded, but we hope to bring you the fortune of readership. We plan to pay contributors for subsequent editions in the future.

Fine Print

Writers retain full rights to their work post-publication. If you would like to republish your story elsewhere, please make sure that WAYF Journal is credited and linked to as the original publisher. 

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here. If you don’t have any questions, what are you waiting for? Submit below!