CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
FOREST ENCOUNTERS: short stories, flash fiction, poetry, essays
We are looking for representations of different encounters with the forest from both human and non-human perspectives.
The FOREST ENCOUNTERS project explores and proposes diverse imaginaries, concepts, and practices around the following questions: What and how can we learn with and through the forest? What are actual and potential human encounters with the forest? How can we better coexist with the forest? What kind of forests do we want and need in the future?
We are looking for texts that explore your personal experiences around the forest. We welcome different perspectives of the forest — as the aesthetic, social, political, ecological, metaphysical space, a.o. We enjoy non-traditional writing and work that might not be supported by conventional publishing venues. We look forward to reading about the forest and the encounters that take place inside of it.
We are accepting applications from both individuals and collectives. Six selected works will be published and distributed worldwide in FOREST ENCOUNTERS paperback and e-book, and will also be available online in audio format as a podcast. The authors of the six selected works will receive a forfeiture honorarium of EUR 150.
Looking forward to reading your work – send it our way!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
We ask you to submit your work via our online Google Form active from 20/04-30/06/2024. Submission is free. We advise you to prepare your application off-line until it is ready to be submitted as the contents of the form cannot be saved on-line before submission.
Guidelines for length
- Essay: 500 to 700 words
- Flash fiction: less than 500 words
- Short story: 500 to 700 words
- Poetry: 1 to 3 poems, less than 700 words in total
Language
English (mandatory)
In original language (optional, but welcomed :))
Deadline
The call opens on April 20, 2024 and automatically closes once it receives one hundred submissions. The final date for submissions is June 30, 2024.
Selection process
The Forest Encounters Cohort will review all submissions.
The announcement of six selected works will take place no later than October 2024.
Publication of submitted works
All submissions will be published on the Forest Encounters website if applicants give permission during the application process.
The six selected texts will be published in the Forest Encounters publication and distributed as paperback and/or e-book in 2025. They will also be recorded as a podcast, and made available to the public through other digital channels of the Forest Encounters project.
Code of Conduct
Demeaning words that could be experienced by readers as undermining another person’s self-esteem, or implying that he/she/they is less worthy as a human being will not be allowed. We are against all forms of discrimination, racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the application process or your application, please contact Out of Sight vzw (publisher) by email: office@out-of-sight.be