Spring 2026 Submissions Open
Share your work with the Short Vine Literary Journal!
We are excited to announce submissions are now open for our Spring 2026 edition! If you are currently a college undergraduate, please send us your poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art and photography through our new Subfolio page. We do have a theme for this edition, but we will accept work that does not follow it.
Our submissions close on March 23rd at 12:00 pm. Good luck, writers and artists!
Feel free to follow our Instagram and Substack to stay up to date as we put together our best issue yet.
Sincerely,
The Short Vine Editorial Team
Theme: Paradigm
We make patterns, we share moments.
Jenny Downham, Before I Die
Our minds are built, from the cellular level, to recognize and embrace patterns.
The patterns of moments: habit.
The patterns of days: routine.
The patterns of generations: tradition.
The patterns of humanity: history.
Within your submission we ask you to explore either:
What does it mean to uphold these patterns? How do we preserve a culture, defend our rights, or uncover the extraordinary through the repetition of the ordinary?
Conversely, what does it mean to break these patterns? How do we escape generational trauma, challenge our self-perception, or adapt to new frontiers of scientific advancement?
You may choose to focus on a single pattern, or on an entire set of patterns: a paradigm.
We invite submissions that dissect and redefine the paradigms of the world around us through concept and form. We look forward to engaging with your creative interpretations.
There are only patterns, patterns on top of patterns, patterns that affect other patterns. Patterns hidden by patterns. Patterns within patterns. If you watch close, history does nothing but repeat itself. What we call chaos is just patterns we haven't recognized. What we call random is just patterns we can't decipher. what we can't understand we call nonsense. What we can't read we call gibberish. There is no free will. There are no variables.
Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor
Submission Guidelines
Fiction
We are looking for writing that creates a lasting impression and lingers in our minds. We want you to be as creative or as expressive as you want, but the most important requirement is that your voice and perspective are authentic. Our submissions are not limited by archetype, genre, or theme.
- At this time, we are NOT accepting any fiction written using A.I in any way.
- Please do NOT submit excerpts from novels or manuscripts. Stand alone pieces only.
- Submissions should be sent as Word documents. 12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced (unless formatting is paramount to your story).
- We accept flash fiction as short as 100 words and short stories up to 5,000 words.
- No more than two submissions per person. These will be judged individually.
- Content warnings are not required when submitting. If you prefer to include them, you may, but we reserve the right to decide if any of the warnings are published.
- We encourage work experimenting with hybrid or other forms, please send it in the form/structure that suits the intentionality of the work.
- We do not accept previously published work.
- We allow simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
- Please include a short author bio (less than 100 words) in Subfolio.
Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction expresses every story’s truth. We are looking for unique voices that convey authentic ideas and distinct modes of storytelling. Whether it’s a themed piece or general submission, we are open to all writing styles. Themed submissions are encouraged for nonfiction, but general submissions are more than welcome.
- At this time, we are NOT accepting any work written using A.I in any way.
- We do not accept academic essays or literary criticisms.
- We do not accept previously published work, but translations are welcome if accompanied by the original work.
- We allow simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
- Only one non-fiction work can be submitted at a time, with a word limit of approximately 2,500 words.
- Format: Page-numbered, double-spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins. We are open to discussions with submitters who wish to use non-traditional formats in a creative and purposeful way.
- In the Subfolio form please list content warnings for your work. We welcome work that challenges us and to that end ask submitters to use discretion when including appropriate content warnings. The editors reserve the right to decide what content warnings are included in the final publication.
- Please include a short author bio (less than 100 words) in Subfolio. Cover letters and author’s statement are not required.
Poetry
Poetry can represent naked truths and timeless ruminations. We are looking for poems that experiment with style, form, and structure while weaving the content of the theme paradigm along with poetic devices. Whether your piece is themed or not, we hope to see poetry that will stay with our readers once they close the journal.
- We are NOT open to AI for generation or writing purposes.
- Four poem limit per submission, all in one document.
- No poems longer than two pages.
- Submissions must be sent as Word documents through our Subfolio.
- Format: 12-point font, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
- We allow simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere. We do not accept previously published works.
- We request content warnings within poetry submissions where applicable. Please use discretion as the author.
- Use the Spring 2026 theme as a guide, not a restriction. Non-thematic poems are absolutely welcome.
- An artist statement is highly encouraged but optional when submitting poems. If there is any additional information you wish to add this is the place to do it.
- Please include a short author bio (less than 100 words) in Subfolio.
Art & Photograpgy
We are looking for creative and thought-provoking art, music, and video crafted by undergraduate students. Experimentation, unconventional forms, and passion projects are encouraged. Themed submissions are preferred, but all submissions will be considered.
- Art & Photography
- Multiple media forms accepted.
- Note: we are open to video & audio content.
- Stills: Minimum 300 DPI. Submit as JPEG/PDF.
- For video/audio: please submit as an MP4
- Please refrain from any use of AI in your submission.
- Unlimited submissions are accepted.
- If submitting a collection, works of 3-5 pieces are permitted.
- Please specify if you want pieces to be displayed. together/consecutively or if it is acceptable to mix with other artists.
- We allow simultaneous submissions but we do not allow any previously published submissions.
- Multiple media forms accepted.
- Please include on Subfolio submission:
- Work description with your name, medium, dimension, year made.
- A content warning if applicable.
- An author bio (less than 100 words).
- Please include an artist’s statement (less than 175 words).
- This can include the background behind the work/medium, the intent of the artist, and the context needed for the subject matter.
- Please state the medium.
- We encourage you to include your social media handles.