Incandescent Mind is opening submissions on the topic of mental and emotional health. We’re looking for poetry, very short prose (under 500 words), and art for an ongoing journal series that presents aspects of mental and emotional health on many levels: from trauma, mental illness, PTSD, anxiety, abuse, to even specific situation issues like divorce, death, loss, physical ailments and disabilities, and to serious marginalization due to race, sexual orientation, economic status, gender, religion, etc. Any and all of the things that put us through fire, but also make us stronger. We want the personal rather than analytical or observational experience.

Submission will now be taken through Submittable (closed 4/3/16). Please submit 1 poetry or prose in a doc/docx file. You may submit up to 3 pieces per submission period. The plan is to select a maximum of 36 pieces of poetry or prose and only one per author per issue. Submissions will close once the 36 slots have been filled. Strongly rated pieces may be considered for the next issue.

We are looking for previously unpublished work, but will be open to considering special pieces. Simultaneous submissions are fine as long as we are notified immediately if work is accepted elsewhere.

Poetry: We’re open to style, but want to feel the connection to the topic. We’re open to length and form, but keep it under 100 lines (including stanza breaks). We don’t prefer rhyming poetry, unless they’re very well crafted.

Prose: We’d love to have well written and edited short prose (under 500 words) of fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, or other on the topic.

Art: We are open to paintings, drawings, photography, digital art, collage, etc in color or black and white, abstract or specific subjects, any mediums that transfer well as a jpeg or png file, and as long as it conveys emotion. Work does not have to be directly related to mental and emotional health, but needs to compliment the feel of the journal. If you aren’t sure, send us what you have and we’ll let you know! You may submit up to 10 high resolution images. You may submit art in addition to poetry or prose. Please include titles with your images (preferably in the file names).

Include a short, 50 word 3rd person bio with website or social media contact information where people can learn more about you.

We reserve the right to make minor edits to pieces as needed, but may ask for revision for a piece we love enough to see improve. Authors and artists will retain the rights to their individual work. We do not offer payment other than one complimentary contributor copy. Additional copies can be ordered at a discounted price.