2025 spring
issue
Pen&quill's magazine is now accepting submissions
in print
We are currently accepting unsolicited submissions for our spring issue until May 2nd, 2025. Writers will be paid $20* per accepted submission as well as a physical copy** of the issue!
Theme
Everything dies, and everything comes back to life.
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In spring, death gives way to blooming life. But thawing is more than a season—it’s a state of being. It’s the moment when a crack of ice gives way to rushing rivers, the second a heart softens.
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This spring, our journal features a special Climate Change Subcategory. To be considered, simply indicate your interest in the Google form. Your work will be published in our journal alongside other contributors, and also featured on our website. Three outstanding writers from this subcategory will receive $50 instead of the typical $20, as well as a physical copy of the issue.
some literary inspiration
submission
guidlines
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We do accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify it as such and let us know as soon as it is accepted elsewhere (congratulations in advance)! Failure to inform us may result in disqualification from participating in future Pen&Quill issues.
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The word limit for each individual piece regardless of genre is 3,000 words.
You may submit up to three pieces of work in total. Please ensure all submissions are included in a single document, with each new piece starting on a separate page.
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Please place your full name & state/country at the top of each document.
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Participants' information is ONLY visible to P&Q staff, and will not be shared without your explicit permission.
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For this issue, writers will have the option to request feedback. Feedback will be provided before we make a decision about including your work in our magazine. Please note that receiving feedback does not guarantee acceptance or rejection—it's simply meant to help you improve your work.
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If anything is unclear, unstated, or causes concern, please feel free to contact us. We don't want confusion to prevent us from seeing your work! Our email can be found at the bottom of this page.
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While trigger/content warnings are not needed, anything racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic, plagiarized, or prejudiced in any form will be immediately disqualified.
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* To receive the $20, you must have a PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo account. Occasionally, other electronic transfer methods may be accepted, but please inquire before submitting. If you do not have an electronic way to receive money, we still encourage you to submit; however, unfortunately, we will not be able to provide payment.
** Unfortunately, at this time, we can only send copies of the journal to writers based within the United States. We are actively working on expanding our shipping options to include international destinations for our next issue. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to improve our reach and accessibility.
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*** We can only provide feedback to the first 100 submissions that request it due to our limited capacity. If you do not receive feedback, it means your submission was beyond the first 100 requests.
the sponsors of our spring issue
