When writer Théo Casciani joins social media platform Reddit, he stumbles on a page where millions of users regularly tear each other to shreds in an event called the Pixel War:

"Each edition followed the same rules: as soon as the webpage has loaded, your screen displays a large, blank board four million pixels wide. Users can populate that canvas over the span of a few days, by clicking the pixel they want to fill, picking a color out of the available options and then dropping it on the map. They can only fill another pixel by refreshing the page. Players try to create images and icons with those pixels, either by staying in a preferred area of the map or undoing the work of others. Many of them team up to prove that there’s no better strategy than collaboration: with only a few seconds to seize power, they coordinate to collectively engrave their dots on enemy zones, then step back and try to reassure themselves that, in the end, whether the map looks like a monumental fresco or like rotten fruit, when the countdown of the Pixel War runs out, this is just a game.:"

Théo is recruited by a user called Anon08_, a likely underage boy and authoritarian master strategist, to click, refresh, click again – so as to realize Anon08_’s vision for the Pixel War’s canvas. As is often the case on the internet, things quickly spin out of control.

"Please imagine me, slouched on my bed in the middle of the night, constantly refreshing the same page and obeying to the will of a child I didn’t even know, satisfying his every desire and getting treated like scum if I dared to take two minutes off to go pee, reply to people who thought I was busy writing, or just glance at my window to check if Brussels’ EuropeanQuarter was still there."

In the story itself (as on the internet), fact and fiction soon become hard to distinguish.

Read the full story: Pixel war by Theo Casciani

One could call it a paywall, we call it a first handshake. We are not really into it for the money anyway.

Hey everyone, I am so honored to be a part of this community as both a reader and an editor. At A Sufferer's Digest, we are working on putting out the second issue and it will come out at the beginning of next month.

Until then, we have a lot of unpaid costs to cover and the budget is looking thin, so if you are interested in buying an issue or sticker, or just supporting the magazine, check out our shop or buy me a coffee.

By no means do you have to do this, and whether you read or not, I'm so happy you're here!

Hi everyone! Just dropping in to introduce my new literary journal, Allura Magazine!

Allura is an arts journal for the creative, the whimsy, the romantic, the poetic, and the melancholic. Our mission is to uplift women’s voices through prose, poetry, and visual art. We want to publish stories from a diverse range of perspectives and celebrate what it means to be a woman in today’s world.

Our first issue’s theme will soon be announced along with submission guidelines.

We’d love to chat with any writers looking to distribute their work to new audiences, and anyone who runs their own journal. Networking is key.

Please feel free to drop us a message on our socials whenever you like. We welcome all queries!

I have a submission out with Prairie Schooner I have been waiting a long time on (200 days). I know they take a long time but I also saw on Duotrope no reported responses since September. Just curious if anyone has heard from them and how long it took to get a reply? Asking especially because they don't allow simultaneous submissions and also don't seem to have any info about querying after a certain time, etc. Wondering if I should just withdraw & submit elsewhere or give it a little more time.

Creative writers, it's time to shine!

Submit your poetry and prose to the brand-new BU Undergraduate English Literature Association Journal—a platform to showcase your creative writing! Whether you're an English major, minor, or simply passionate about literature, this journal is for you. We welcome submissions from all majors, giving everyone a chance to share their unique voices. You do not have to be a BU student to submit.

This journal was created by the UELA to foster a vibrant literary community on campus. It's a space where you can express yourself, view the works of fellow writers, and see your work published.

If you're ready to share your literary work, you can submit now at uelajournal.com!

If there are any inquiries or details missing, please feel free to reach out (englisha@bu.edu), or write a comment below!

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The European Review of Books is a magazine of culture and ideas, in print and online, in English and in a writer’s own tongue. We publish book-length print issues three times a year, and digital pieces each week. In 2021, we launched a crowdfunding campaign, to raise funds for early contributors, along with a digital opuscule of early essays, stories, and explorations. Issue One appeared in June 2022.

No review of books reviews only books, nor does it merely review. We publish many kinds of writing: fiction, travelogue, provocation, parody, poem, come what may. In general we champion the essayistic mode. A good essay is the antidote to the measly « opinion », the enemy of the airy platitude. We want avenues to the arcane, the profane, the grand.

One of our missions, if the word will be forgiven, is to thicken the « European » intellectual atmosphere. The Europe of our title is neither nostalgia nor telos; it is where we happen to live. (Not even we know the boundaries of « European ».) Culture in Europe filters through national and metropolitan sieves; we want to write, and to edit, beyond the nation and the metropole, to cultivate more writers, more intelligent dissent, the good kind of disharmony, a lively cacophony. « Europe » deserves better critique.

The ERB’s gambit is to publish both in English and in a writer’s mother tongue. Pieces written in Greek or Arabic or Italian or Polish or Dutch—or, or, or—will be available in English and in the original.

We would like to invite you to join our discourse, whether it may be by reading, critiquing or contributing. Feel welcome!

Hello! I am the creator and editor for Fellowship of the Unmoored, a literary journal. I am seeking writers and artists to submit their work—no experience or submission fee required! Please reach out to unmooredjournal@gmail.com or visit the website with any questions

Scriptor Press Sampler | 22 | 2020 Annual
www.scriptorpress.com/sampler/22_2020.html
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Hello everyone,

And here is the new Scriptor Press Sampler! Coming along in a more timely way, continuing my 2024 push to catch up many projects. Another great one to share!

This Annual’s contents include:
*** Poetry by Raymond Soulard, Jr., Tamara Miles, Ace Boggess, Martina Reisz Newberry, Colin James, Judih Weinstein Haggai, Joe Ciccone, Benjamin Gray, John Echem, Gregory Kelly, Tom Sheehan, & Sam Knot
*** Prose pieces by Jimmy Heffernan & Charlie Beyer
*** Dream Raps by Raymond Soulard, Jr.
*** Labyrinthine [new fixtion] by Raymond Soulard, Jr.
*** Fiction by Algernon Beagle & Timothy Vilgiate
*** Graphic artwork by Kassandra Soulard

Respond with your feedback here—or by email at editor@scriptorpress.com.

Peace,
Raymond

Hi all, I am a university student launching an online literary journal called Afterwards as my final project in an editing and publishing course. The goal of this journal is to display science fiction or dystopian short stories and poetry. I completely understand any hesitancy to submit to a small, non-paying literary journal, but I would greatly appreciate anyone willing to share their work.

Link to Website: https://afterwardsjournal.wixsite.com/afterwardsjournal

I write mostly CNF and some short fiction on the topics of parenting, motherhood, body image, and more. Writing is my hobby/passion. I have a handful of publications to my name. I am looking for a writing/editing partner to work with and talk all things lit publishing. Any takers??

The title basically. Thanks.

Hello, I am wondering if anyone can suggest a free or low-cost form or platform for managing submissions. Something that organises submissions and documents a bit better than Google Forms does? I know lots of big journals use Submittable, but I edit a smaller journal (50-60 submissions per submission round). Any suggestions?

In times of uncertainty, we often turn to art for comfort and healing. Poems for Tomorrow is a literary magazine dedicated to bringing hope and inspiration to patients in hospitals through poetry, prose, and artwork.

Our initiatives:

• Create anthologies to share with patients in both child and adult care unit
• Provide printed poems for hospital waiting rooms to offer comfort during difficult moments

We accept submissions of poetry, prose, artwork, and magazine cover art with no submission fees.

To submit, email us at poems4tomorrow@gmail.com and find more submission details on our website. We will try to respond within 24 hours

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I would like to submit it to a lit mag that requires "previously unpublished" (including on social media) work. Here's my quandry:

A poem of mine won the Academy of American Poets University & College prize at my college when I was an undergrad a number of years ago. Each of several hundred schools have their own independent prizes, named after their own donors, all sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. They do not formally print the poems to my knowledge, but there was a pamphlet of the poems that we read at an award ceremony on campus. It was otherwise not listed on any website or elsewhere. I received a certificate and I think $100 but I don't even know if the Academy itself actually received my poem or even the title. The current Academy website states that donors will receive the poem.

Do you think that poem counts as having been published?

New Feathers Anthology is now open for submissions, until November 1, for our winter issue. We accept poetry, visual art, fiction, nonfiction, drama, short videos, and music. Read our past issues for an idea of our interests and please look at our submission guidelines. Submit your work at http://www.newfeathersanthology.com/submit.#literature #art #poetrycommunity #poetry #nonfiction

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Hi! Sick N Twisted is once again accepting submissions! Were a small, woman-run horror magazine and we would love your prose, poetry, or art to be showcased in our newest issue.

This years theme is The Witching Hour.

Feel free to check out our website for more in depth guidelines. https://sickntwistedlitmag.wixsite.com/sick-n-twisted

الحياة أقصر بكثير مما نعتقد. نمر بأيامنا ونحن نحمل على أكتافنا أثقال ليست لنا، نحاول إرضاء الآخرين، نتكيف مع توقعاتهم، نخاف من أحكامهم، وننسى أنفسنا في هذا الزحام. كم مرة وقفت أمام المرآة وسألت نفسك: هل ما أفعله حقا هو ما أريده؟ هل أسعى لإرضاء نفسي أم أنني أسعى لإرضاء الجميع إلًا نفسي؟ هذا الكتاب هو دعوة لك لتعيش حياتك كما تريدها أنت، دون أن ترضخ لأحكام أو توقعات الآخرين. دعهم يحكمون كما يشاؤون، ودعهم يغضبون إن أرادوا. ما يهم هو أنت، حياتك، وسعادتك.

..توحيد هارون نويه من كتاب حرر حياتك..

I'm super new to this and this is my first time submitting to anything, so I thought mentioning that it has been accepted for publication (for a 2025 edition in a respected but juvenile journal for teens and educators) would give my work a boost.

If I withdraw my piece from the other journal, does it seem like they would still consider for publishing, or is this essentially a high-tier rejection? It hasn't actually been published yet either, again it was accepted for a 2025 edition.

Would love any feedback!!

Hi, everyone! Starspun Lit is a new fantasy literary magazine open for submissions until September 30th, 2024. We accept fantasy stories for children in three age categories: 6-9 yrs, 10-13 yrs, and 14-16 yrs. If accepted, your story will be illustrated by us and published digitally. We will also conduct read-alouds at local Seattle hospitals and clinics with your stories. Acceptance rates are high so submit now! Visit www.starspunlit.org for more information.

The Cenacle | 125 | Summer 2024

https://scriptorpress.com/cenacle/125

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Anyone know what happened to the journal Whiskey Island based at Cleveland State? I am guessing it met a sad, quiet death like other journals. A couple years ago they replied to my submission to say they were in the process of switching to an online version...

Hello! I received an email from a magazine telling me my poems have been shortlisted and a final decision will come in about two months. They've asked for first rights of refusal, meaning I would not sign contracts with any other magazine until that final decision is made.

Of the several poems I submitted, only two are simultaneous submissions, one with a magazine and one for a contest. All three (the shortlisting magazine, the simultaneous submitted magazine, and the contest) are all prestigious, equally so.

While I am super excited to be shortlisted, I have never been asked for first rights of refusal and am unsure how to proceed.

My questions:

1. (Edited to clarify) Can I agree to give the shortlisted magazine first rights of refusal for most of the poems but not the two I've submitted elsewhere?
2. If not, and I must agree all of them get FROR, do I inform the other magazine and the contest judges? Do I withdraw the pieces from consideration?
3. Has anyone else experienced this?

I appreciate any guidance you may have as this is uncharted territory for me. I will likely be cross-posting this because it is time sensitive.