Extended deadline for the October 2023 Autumn Equinox issue!
WOMEN RAISE OUR VOICES
A new quarterly publication for women artists & writers is now open for submissions!
Women Raise Our Voices (WROV) is a fresh online quarterly platform written, edited, and illustrated by women. It is a place for women, non-binary, and female-identified creatives to share their writing, art, and photography. Our voices matter! Your voice matters!
We have extended the submission deadline for the October 2023 Autumn Equinox issue on the theme, “Letting Go.” Entries are now due by September 20, 2023. We will accept up to 50 entries, total, so don’t delay.
Marjorie St. Clair, a beloved writing coach to many and co-creator of WROV, has survived the devastating Lahaina, Maui, wildfire. However, the fire consumed her home, belongings, and pets. She is literally rising from the ashes after having escaped in her car. Ironically, the Letting Go theme for this second issue of WROV had been chosen and the initial call issued before the fires. We dedicate this second issue of WROV to her perseverance in the face of loss and her commitment to raising women’s voices.
We hope you will participate in WROV to honor the process of letting go and the tender places this reaches within you and our sisters in Hawaii. Please consider contributing to Marjorie’s recovery through GoFundME. Click HERE to donate.
Submission to WROV is free. Copyright reverts to the writer/artist following the date of publication.
Categories and criteria are listed below and the submission form is HERE.
Who are we? We are a collective of ten women from five states who meet online monthly to support each other’s writing and creative expression. We recognize the power of a women’s circle to support and provide a safe place for deep listening as we explore authentic expression.
- Members of this collective identify each quarter’s theme, read all submissions, and select final pieces based on the published criteria.
- Our vision is a world that honors women’s voices and respects women’s wisdom.
- Our mission is that Women Raise Our Voices publishes writing and art to promote justice, equality, peace, and harmony.
- We value every submission, whether it’s the first time you’ve submitted a poem or you’ve published a dozen books. All are welcome here and we can’t wait to meet you.
Letting Go
Autumn in the northern hemisphere, when the leaves change color and fall, can signify the process of letting go, a release or an end, but it can also be the beginning of something new, like a birth. Some leaves fall quickly; others linger, surrendering gradually to the season. What does this natural process inspire in you? How is it a metaphor for life in any season? We encourage you to open your heart and mind to your creative powers, letting go of writing angst to write freely of your experiences.
What are we looking for? We are interested in women’s understanding and experience of letting go, as suggested by these questions:
- What is the sacred work of letting go?
- What challenges arise when we release attachments?
- How does nature’s surrendering process mirror your life experience?
- What reminds you of a freefall and getting up again?
- How has a recent loss or change of wellbeing or circumstances affected your journey?
- How do aging and maturity affect your life decisions—what to keep? What to let go of?
Submission categories
- Poetry: Any form, including haiku! Length: No more than 40 lines.
- Prose: Fiction and non-fiction, short stories and essays, in your own voice! Length: 500 or fewer words.
- Art and photography: High-resolution image should be at least 1200 pixels horizontally.
Keep it short! Maximum of 500 words of prose and 40 lines of poetry, preferably shorter.
Criteria
- Gutsy, honest, brutal, loving truth. The more real and personal, the better.
- Beautifully crafted and carefully edited writing.
- Humor is welcome!
- Keep it short. Prose, no more than 500 words. Poetry, no more than 40 lines.
- Simultaneous submissions and previously published work are allowed.
- NEW deadline: September 20, 2023. No more than 2 entries per person.
A word about respect: In a world out of balance, kindness is crucial. Please respect your sisters and submit according to the guidelines. The submission must be your own, original work (not copied, AI-generated). Although we can’t respond to every entry, we will notify you if your work has been selected. WROV will credit your work as specified in the author bio (see submission form) and include links, etc., if requested and authorized.
Submission Form – HERE
Future issues & staying in touch: If you would like to receive email notification of submission opportunities, please send your name and email address to WROVoices@gmail.com, subject line: Keep me informed! We also welcome comments and suggestions.