We've just completed our 8th year of ce
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For Snapdragon Journal, 2022 is “A Year of Magic,” as we explore "pleasure," "place," "innovation," and "elements," over the course of our quarterly issues. These themes represent the hope we're feeling following last year’s “Grief Series,” which helped us process some of the overwhelming pain and loss presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that grief isn't linear, simple or something that can be wrapped up in a year. Healing is holistic and this year we want to consider the joy the is desired and experienced.
Send us your best new or previously published poetry, creative nonfiction, or photography/digital art on the theme "ELEMENTS" to be included in our Winter issue due in December 2022 (submission window is October 1-15). Read guidelines below before submitting.
Reflect on the word "elements." What does it mean to you? We welcome diverse interpretations of this theme, especially as they relate to the broad concept of "healing," whether that be healing on the individual or collective level.
“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.” — Bruce Lee
"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." — Willa Cather
“Don’t dismiss the elements. Water soothes and heals. Air refreshes and revives. Earth grounds and holds. Fire is a burning reminder of our own will and creative power. Swallow their spells. There’s a certain sweet comfort in knowing that you belong to them all.” ― Victoria Erickson
“even a scientist can’t help thinking of the Periodic Table as a zoo of one-of-a-kind animals conceived by Dr. Seuss. How else could we believe that sodium is a poisonous, reactive metal that you can cut with a butter-knife, while pure chlorine is a smelly, deadly gas, yet when added together make sodium chloride, a harmless, biologically essential compound better known as table salt? Or how about hydrogen and oxygen? One is an explosive gas, and the other promotes violent combustion, yet the two combined make liquid water, which puts out fires.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson
"To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float." ― Alan Watts
“Is it possible to penetrate the Eighteen Elements in another way?' and the Buddha replied, "Yes, we can say that there are Six Elements ." These are the Four Great Elements (mahabhuta ) of earth, water, fire, and air, plus space and consciousness. All physical phenomena are made up of these Six Elements. If we observe these Six Elements inside us and around us, we see that we are not separate from the universe.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
"The two elements the traveler first captures in the big city are extra human architecture and furious rhythm. Geometry and anguish." ― Federico Garcia Lorca
“Wordless, Infinite — You. You intensify everything. You are fire burning all that is left of my heart.” ― Frida Kahlo
Guidelines
Poetry & Creative Nonfiction (memoir, essays, blog post) Guidelines
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We receive submissions via Submittable only. We do not accept submissions via email or after the submission deadline.
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Due to the high level of submissions, we will not publish a piece by one person more than twice a year. So, if we've published you twice in one year, please wait until the next year for consideration.
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We ask for no more than one poetry submission of 1-3 poems (one poem per page and no more than 5 pages) or one creative nonfiction submission of up to 2,500 words and in English only. Due to time constraints, we will not read your submission if it's over the limit.
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We accept simultaneous submission. We respond within two months. Please keep this in mind as you consider simultaneous submissions.
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Poems and creative nonfiction should be 12pt text; set in Courier, Arial, Times New Roman (double space creative nonfiction).
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We consider new and previously published work on the theme of healing (emotional, physical, spiritual, community, etc.).
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Please tell us, if your piece was previously published and you own the rights, where and when it first appeared so we can note that.
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Please use our online submission portal to withdraw submissions. We really appreciate if you do this as soon as you know a submission is no longer available for publication.
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We believe a writer should have full control of their work, so all copyright and publication rights remain with the writer at all times. However, we appreciate exclusive publication rights for three months after the issue has been published to ensure maximum impact. And that if your piece appears in Snapdragon Journal before any others that you acknowledge that in any subsequent publications.
Photography & Digital Art Guidelines
We're looking to profile one photographer in each issue. Send us your work and, if selected, it will appear throughout an issue. And there will be a page dedicating to sharing with our readers who you are. Send 15-20 images -- NO WORDS/POETRY -- all at 200 dpi resolution through our Submittable site.
And what makes the best submissions?
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Your photographs/art fit the theme and/or season of the issue (winter issue, etc).
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Photos that are unique in lighting or angles.
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Show us what we may not otherwise see.
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Bring us into the moment of the subject.
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Photos of pets/animals or people aren't the best. If you send up photos with people make sure they are diverse or extremely artistic and mood shifting; and that you have their permission for us to publish the photos..
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We're looking for photographs that tell a story.
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As of now, Contributors receive:
1) a free online issue in which their work appears,
2) one comp issue for a friends if they send us the email addresses (we won't contact them for any other reason),
3) listing on our website with a link to their website,
4) first dibs on our writing retreats, and
5) our deepest appreciation.
We are not able, at this time, to pay contributors. All of the money we receive from subscribers and members goes directly to our technical maintenance (website, LucidPress, Submittable, etc. -- we do not get paid). Therefore we ask that you NOT share the link to the full journal once it's published (you may share the cover photo, a screenshot of only your poem, and/or link the website.) Thanks for your support!