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Issue 2 — Closed

Submissions Closed

Submissions are closed now. Issue 2 is coming this Summer.

Submissions are closed now — Issue 2 is coming this Summer

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  • Unpublished pieces (personal blogs are an exception)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 in English (other languages are welcome if translation is provided)

What We Accept

  • Fiction — short stories or standalone novel excerpts (no longer than 5,000 words)
  • Creative/Narrative nonfiction — essays, memoirs, travel literature and interviews (no longer than 5,000 words)
  • Poetry (up to three poems per person)
  • Flash Fiction (no longer than 750 words)
  • Art including photography, comics and illustrations: at least two pieces, 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/illustrations).
  2. For images and illustrations, please attach high resolution JPEG files with an ideal max file size of 10 MB but no more than 100 MB.
  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 submissions 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. Thanks for your interest — submissions are closed now.

Before submissions reopen, please check:

  • Your spelling, punctuation, spacing, and all other formatting.
  • You have included your name and social media handles, website, or relevant links.
  • You have not exceeded the word count in your category.

The submission form will reopen when Issue 2 is ready.

Issue 2

Meet our Guest Editors

Ambata Kazi, Fiction Editor for WAYF Journal Issue 2

Ambata Kazi

Fiction Editor

Ambata Kazi is a writer, editor and teacher born and raised in New Orleans, LA. Her writing has been featured in Rowayat, Carve, Torch Literary Arts, midnight & indigo, CRAFT, and other journals. Her novel Far Away from Here recently published with Spark Press. She is the senior editor at Sapelo Square and currently resides in the Atlanta metro area.

What I'm looking for: "I love the idea of maximalism in writing because I like to see, hear, feel and taste my way through the story worlds. Don't hold back the details! I appreciate nuanced writing with complex characters. I love stories that give me a (re)invigorating sense of hope — not with a neat bow so much as an arrow. Don't be afraid to go deep, I'm here to be immersed."
Noha Beshir, Non-Fiction Editor for WAYF Journal Issue 2

Noha Beshir

Non-Fiction Editor

Noha Beshir is an essayist and poet who writes about belonging, faith, and the multi-generational immigrant experience. Her writing has been featured in Maisonneuve Magazine, Mania Magazine, and WAYF Journal. She writes a weekly newsletter, Letters from a Muslim Woman (nohabeshir.substack.com). She lives in Ottawa, Canada.

What I'm looking for: "I'm looking for writing that's honest and vivid — writing that doesn't worry about conforming to colonial language rules. Writing that celebrates the brightness and the fullness of the diasporic experience. Break the rules, but break them with skill and beauty. Let's maximise the parts of ourselves and our worlds that we've spent our whole lives minimising."
Rakaya Fetuga, Poetry Editor for WAYF Journal Issue 2

Rakaya Fetuga

Poetry Editor

Rakaya Fetuga tells stories through fiction, poetry, and lyrical prose. Her words have taken her across the UK and the world, performing on stages from Qatar to Cuba. Receiving writing awards from the New York TV & Film Festival (2024) and Royal Holloway University of London (2015 & 2016), as well as winning poetry competitions such as the Roundhouse Poetry Slam (2018), Rakaya’s words spark joy, challenge and meaningful reflection in her listeners. With a masters in Literature & Creative Writing, Rakaya has been published in anthologies by HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan and Penguin Random House. An advocate for self-expression, Rakaya finds joy in creating spaces of inspiration, connection and community.

Submissions FAQ

How do I submit to WAYF Journal?

Submissions are currently closed. The Google Form will be shared when we reopen for Issue 2.

What is the theme for WAYF Issue 2?

The theme for WAYF Issue 2 is Maximalism. We want writing and art that embrace richness, depth, and layered expression rather than restraint or minimal framing.

How long does the WAYF review process take?

We aim to respond within four weeks of receiving your submission. If timelines shift, we share updates through our channels.

Does WAYF accept simultaneous submissions?

WAYF accepts simultaneous submissions, provided you notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. This helps us review fairly and finalize the issue schedule.

Does WAYF pay contributors?

We currently do not offer compensation as we are self-funded, but we plan to pay contributors for subsequent editions. All contributors receive readership, promotion, and visibility.

"In becoming forcibly and essentially aware of my mortality, and of what I wished and wanted for my life, however short it might be, priorities and omissions became strongly etched in a merciless light and what I most regretted were my silences. Of what had I ever been afraid?"
— Audre Lorde, The Cancer Journals