Open Call

In connection with the Editorial Fellowship program at A Public Space, we are pleased to announce an open call for a special portfolio in the magazine to be edited by Lydia Mathis.

Call for Submissions

I am looking for pieces of fiction or creative nonfiction that in some way incorporate the epistolary (memos, letters, diary/journal entries, texts, emails, logs, telegraphs, social media posts, blogs, etc.); as well as portfolios of letters/diary entries, etc. that are cohesive and capture elements like intimacy, vulnerability, and/or interpersonal relationships. I’m particularly drawn to creative pieces that make the form their own, using it in ways that are inventive, unexpected, and exciting.

I’m interested in both the intimacy and distance granted by the epistolary form in prose, and how the form can introduce a constraint in the work, but also allow for a depth of introspection, higher emotionality, and honesty (or dishonesty). How can we use the epistolary form to reveal aspects of character, time, place, and relationships that we wouldn’t necessarily get without it? What drives us to share ourselves in this way and how can the form present a person authentically or inauthentically?

Submission Requirements: Only previously unpublished prose pieces are eligible. International and multilingual submissions are welcome, provided that English is the primary language used. Only one submission per person is allowed. Writers whose work is published in the magazine will receive an honorarium.

Timeline: Submittable will be open for submissions from July 11 – July 25 only. Submissions close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on July 25, 2023.

Procedure: Only electronic submissions will be considered. Note that we only accept PDF or Word files (.doc and .docx). Work must be submitted through the Special Call category in Submittable. There is no submission fee. Please submit the following:

— A cover letter, including a one-paragraph biographical statement, and a paragraph describing a work of art (book, film, etc.) where the structure/form surprised, moved, or inspired you. Briefly explain why.

— One previously unpublished piece of fiction, creative nonfiction, or a portfolio of letters, diary entries, etc. up to 7,000 words, double spaced.

— Only writers who have not yet published a book or been contracted to write a book-length work in English are eligible.

— Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please note that if your piece is accepted elsewhere, you will be required to withdraw your entire application; replacement pieces will not be accepted once the deadline has passed.

The cover letter and manuscript should be submitted as separate files. Incomplete submissions or submissions that do not address this call will not be considered and will be returned unread.

Questions? Write Editorial Fellow Lydia Mathis at lydia@apublicspace.org.