Call for Submissions: "Schism" Special Issue

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Guest Edited by Puneet Dutt

We invite submissions of creative work to The Ex-Puritan which delves into, and has a dialogue with the many facets around the theme of "schism." The term "schism" has its roots in ancient Greek, coming from the word "skhisma," meaning "cleft" or "division." In a world marked by both division and conflict, we are interested in works that also touch on rare moments of unity and even reconciliation. We seek to explore the myriad interpretations and manifestations of schism in our lives and surroundings. Be it positive or negative, overt or subtle, societal or personal – we want to read work that offers a poignant lens through which we can examine the complexities of existence. Whether it manifests politically, mentally, in our natural surroundings, or within the depths of our own selves, we are hoping to read work that challenges us to confront the fractures and fissures that shape our world in new, strange, or even beautiful ways.

Guidelines:

We welcome submissions across all genres—poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and visual art—that engages with the theme of schism in creative and thought-provoking ways. Your work may explore:

• Political schisms and societal divides, both historical and contemporary;

• The psychological schisms that define our inner landscapes and interpersonal relationships;

• The intersection of humanity and nature, where ecological schisms highlight our impact on the environment;

• Moments of rupture and reconciliation, where schism gives way to connection and understanding.
  

Submission Details:

• Feel encouraged to push boundaries, play with form, and explore genre elements.

• We are especially interested in work by LGBTQ2S+ writers, BIPOC writers, and writing from other marginalized folks, along with work in translation.

• All submissions must be previously unpublished (this includes self-publishing, publishing on blogs, and in chapbook format).

• We are open to simultaneous submissions.

• Fiction submissions: Please do not submit stories over 10,000 words, flash fiction (under 1,000 words), or novel excerpts. Please only send one story at a time.

• Poetry submissions: We’re looking for poems of any length (this includes sequences and long poems, along with poetry in translation). Send up to four poems at a time.

• Interview submissions: Surprise us! Please submit it titled, double-spaced in 12-point font, in the 3500-word range, including a short introduction and bios.

• Review submissions: We publish reviews of CanLit books, especially by marginalized & debut authors. We love reviews of chapbooks; we love reviews both experimental and traditional. Please submit it double-spaced in 12 point font. Please only send one review at a time.

• Essays Submission: Please include a succinct description of no more than 250 words in the Cover Letter field, along with a full working essay as a Word doc. The essays should compel us with daring ideas and urgent, captivating writing. Submissions should not exceed 5000 words.

• Art/Experimental/Hybrid work submission: submit up to 6 individual pieces. Include an artist statement with title, creator name, and year⁠—description of objects/artifacts/performance to which your artwork responds.

The Ex-Puritan seeks submissions all year round, from anywhere in the world.

Our current publication rates (as of Fall 2022) stand as:

• $100 per interview

• $200 per essay

• $100 per review

• $150 per work of fiction

• $35 per poem (or page, capped at $120 for poems running four pages or more)

• $50+ per experimental or hybrid work, at an increasing scale depending on the nature of the piece.

Please note that we can ONLY issue payments using etransfer, PayPal or a cheque in the mail. We also pay in CAD. If you cannot accept payment via etransfer, PayPal or cheque from a Canadian bank, we cannot accept your submission.

Deadline:

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, September 19. We encourage you to take your time in crafting your piece and exploring the theme from unique perspectives.

Notification:

Accepted contributors will be notified in October. Due to the volume of submissions, we regret that we cannot provide individual feedback on each submission.

We eagerly anticipate the diverse voices and perspectives that this theme will inspire.

Warm regards,

The Ex-Puritan

Guest Editor: Puneet Dutt 

Puneet Dutt’s debut collection of poetry, The Better Monsters (Mansfield Press), was a Finalist for the 2018 Trillium Book Award For Poetry and was Shortlisted for the 2018 Raymond Souster Award and was named one of “Ontario’s Best Books” by NOW Magazine. Her chapbook, PTSD south beach (Grey Borders Books), was a Finalist for the Breitling Chapbook Prize. Her most recent chapbook manuscript was Longlisted for the 2020 Frontier Digital Chapbook Contest, selected by Carl Phillips. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in: Canadian Literature, Crab Orchard Review, The Fiddlehead, The Indianapolis Review, PRISM International, Queen’s Quarterly, Southern Indiana Review and World Literature Today. Dutt was born in New Delhi, raised in Jersey City, NJ and now resides in Markham, Canada with her partner and two kids. She is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.