Writers: Journal Submissions
Submissions are open for Opus II, Issue III of Half Mystic Journal. Our thirteenth issue celebrates the theme of Vesper: in English, a song signifying nightfall; in Latin, the planet Venus as the evening star. We’re looking for penumbras, sleep paralysis, obsidian, susurration, event horizons, violin strings caught between quasars, burnt-out lightbulbs, bells tolling in a vacuum, shattered mirrors held to the night sky, the ouroboros, lunar maria, cicada-song so harsh & generous it punctures the vein of twilight. Darkness is a door opening endlessly into itself, exhaling smog around the edges of sound. Bring us the dream you can’t wake from, and let us hold it under a while longer.
Half Mystic Journal publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations, and hybrid work. We ask that each piece links to music and the vesper theme.
Submit up to five pieces of up to 3000 words each. We don't accept previously-published writing, but we do accept and encourage simultaneous submissions.
In your cover letter, include a brief biographical note and the genre(s) of your submission. For translations, enclose the full text of the original piece and a statement declaring that you have the author’s permission to publish the translation, or that the original text is in the public domain. Translations must be to or from English.
We pay US$20 per accepted piece, and charge US$2 per submission. We recognise that submission fees present a barrier to access, so if you're in need of a fee waiver to share your work with us, please reach out to journal@halfmystic.com. Limited waivers are available for writers in need on a first come, first serve basis.
You can expect to hear from us within four weeks. Thank you for honouring us with your work. We don't take that privilege for granted.