Unusual Calls for Submissions

At Mixed Fruit, we know writers are always under a lot of pressure to write something "literary." We're writers too, and we know that sting of having work rejected for not falling into certain modes of "serious" aesthetics. As we've always said, when you live life in the fast lane, you can expect to be pulled over for not wearing any pants. Our dedicated readers know that we're suckers for risks and experiments. Naturally, we get a lot of submissions where the experiment ultimately fails on some level, and on this basis we turn away many pieces, more than you'd think. We decided that for our next issue we're going to right some wrongs. Mixed Fruit is pleased to announce the first ever B-Movie Edition, to be released on October 15.We are challenging you to produce something truly bad for our next issue, and we mean "bad" in every sense of the word-interpret it as you will. Your submission(s) might utilize bad techniques as evidenced in films such as The Room, Crocodile, Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, or to hit closer to home for you bookish folks out there, 50 Shades of Grey. On a more advanced level, we're very open to well-done satires that only seem awful to those who don't understand them-think Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." Or your work might be bad in that it is laughably vulgar, cliché, bawdry, mawkish, raunchy, overdone, or undercooked. You might send us something that's been derided as cheesy, campy, or kitsch. Your submissions might not fit into any of these categories, and in that case, we still want to see them. No holds barred. With The B-Movie Edition, Mixed Fruit hopes to give all you artistic rogues a platform to get nasty and reckless. If you've been sitting on a piece in fear that no one could possibly want it-now's the time to give it the audience it deserves. But we challenge you to produce something with this issue in mind. It may be harder than you think. More, and to submit, go here.

damselfly press, an online literary journal for women, is pleased to announce our twentieth issue dedicated to female MFA graduates and students. We are seeking electronic submissions of original fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by female writers only. The twenty-first issue of damselfly press will be available October 15th, 2012. If you’d like to submit, please first visit our guidelines section at http://damselflypress.net/submissions and send us your submission by September 15th, 2012.These are the e-mails per genre editor: Fiction- jennifer(at)damselflypress.net replace (at) with @) Poetry- lesley(at)damselflypress.net Nonfiction- nonfiction(at)damselflypress.net

To foster awareness of PAST LOVES DAY, SEPTEMBER 17, Spruce Mountain Press sponsors an annual Story Contest. The Contest, and the Day, offer an opportunity to acknowledge a truth that lingers in your heart. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: No entry fee. Nearly everyone has memories of a former sweetheart. Write your true story of an earlier love, in no more than 700 words. Tell us about someone whose memory brings a smile or a tear, or both: What feelings arise if you allow yourself to be fully open to remembering that person? What is it about that special someone that you still cherish? IN PARTICULAR, how did that person's presence in your life change you and how you experience the world? Your story may be heart-warming or humorous. Just tell about your earlier sweetheart as if you were talking to your best friend. SEND YOUR ENTRY TO: e-mail: contest(at)ourpastloves.com (replace (at) with @) Please paste story into the body of your email, AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS WITH YOUR STORY. or regular mail: CONTEST / Spruce Mountain Press / 61 Katuah Rd., Plainfield, VT 05667. More here.

One of the most important roles of a parent is that of a teacher. What have your parents taught you through words or simple actions? We invite you to share with us one lesson that has impacted your life for the good. Entries will be curated for a book-length project. Entry length is up to you. If the lesson is short and sweet then submit it short and sweet. If it is longer send in an essay. You can also share how you apply the lesson today or how you use it with your own children. Submit essays at: Lessons From My Parents Submissions. One of the most important roles of a parent is that of a teacher. What have your parents taught you through words or simple actions? We invite you to share with us one lesson that has impacted your life for the good. Entries will be curated for a book-length project. Entry length is up to you. If the lesson is short and sweet then submit it short and sweet. If it is longer send in an essay. You can also share how you apply the lesson today or how you use it with your own children.