Autumn 2025 Submission Guidelines
Submissions for Empyrean Literary Magazine Issue 15: Vol 4, No 3 are now open
What We're Looking For
The theme for this issue is Honor.
Honor is a complex and multifaceted theme that delves into the principles of integrity, loyalty, and duty that shape individual character and societal structures. It serves as a guiding ethos, influencing personal decisions and interrelations within families, communities, and beyond. This theme invites writers to explore interpretations of honor—be it the steadfast dedication to one's commitments, the conflicts that arise when personal beliefs clash with societal expectations, or the moments of redemption and shame tied to one's actions. Through honor, we examine the costs and rewards of living authentically, as well as the ways in which honor can both elevate and constrain human experiences.
In exploring the theme of honor, contributors can draw from a wide range of contexts and perspectives. Possible avenues for exploration may include personal narratives of upholding family traditions, reflections on the weight of honor, examinations of honor codes within various cultures, or character studies that reveal how different interpretations of honor can lead to conflict or reconciliation.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of topics you can draw from (pieces don’t have to cover any of these topics as long as they relate to Honor): Psychology, philosophy, sociology, religion, mythology, history, etymology, chivalry, justice, family, rituals, political theory, or ethics.
Honor is a complex and multifaceted theme that delves into the principles of integrity, loyalty, and duty that shape individual character and societal structures. It serves as a guiding ethos, influencing personal decisions and interrelations within families, communities, and beyond. This theme invites writers to explore interpretations of honor—be it the steadfast dedication to one's commitments, the conflicts that arise when personal beliefs clash with societal expectations, or the moments of redemption and shame tied to one's actions. Through honor, we examine the costs and rewards of living authentically, as well as the ways in which honor can both elevate and constrain human experiences.
In exploring the theme of honor, contributors can draw from a wide range of contexts and perspectives. Possible avenues for exploration may include personal narratives of upholding family traditions, reflections on the weight of honor, examinations of honor codes within various cultures, or character studies that reveal how different interpretations of honor can lead to conflict or reconciliation.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of topics you can draw from (pieces don’t have to cover any of these topics as long as they relate to Honor): Psychology, philosophy, sociology, religion, mythology, history, etymology, chivalry, justice, family, rituals, political theory, or ethics.
Formats
Fiction:
Entries must be in the form of flash fiction, short-shorts, or full-length short stories. Each story must be within 1000 – 6,000 words. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the title of the story in your submission and short summary, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Writers may submit up to 3 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
Poetry:
Entries must be in the form of portfolios; a portfolio must contain 3 – 10 poems. Each individual poem must start on a new page, beginning with a title underlined. One or all the poems may be chosen to participate in the magazine. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the titles of the poems in your submission, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Poets may submit up to 2 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
NonFiction:
Entries must be in the form of journals, articles, or full-length essays. Each story must be within 1000 – 6,000 words. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the title of the story in your submission and short summary, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Writers may submit up to 3 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
Art & Photography:
Entries must be in the form of portfolios; a portfolio must contain 3 – 10 pieces. One or all the pieces may be chosen to participate in the magazine. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, including your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in .jpg or .png format, 300dpi. Landscape covers: 11in width, 8.5in height. Portrait covers: 5.5in width, 8.5in height. Artists may submit up to 2 entries each. Please submit each entry separately.
Mixed submissions are accepted a pick of 3 of the following: 1 fiction piece, 1 nonfiction piece, 1 poetry portfolio, and/or 1 art/photography portfolio. Please submit each entry separately (meaning up to 3 mixed entries).
Submissions to general entries (3), contest (3), moon entries (2), and zodiac entries (2) will all be considered separately, and could result in up to 10 entries.
The entry must be the entrant’s own original creation and must not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.
*Please note* There is no financial compensation for contribution.
Entries must be in the form of flash fiction, short-shorts, or full-length short stories. Each story must be within 1000 – 6,000 words. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the title of the story in your submission and short summary, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Writers may submit up to 3 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
Poetry:
Entries must be in the form of portfolios; a portfolio must contain 3 – 10 poems. Each individual poem must start on a new page, beginning with a title underlined. One or all the poems may be chosen to participate in the magazine. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the titles of the poems in your submission, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Poets may submit up to 2 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
NonFiction:
Entries must be in the form of journals, articles, or full-length essays. Each story must be within 1000 – 6,000 words. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the title of the story in your submission and short summary, your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf. Writers may submit up to 3 entries each, written in English. Please submit each entry separately.
Art & Photography:
Entries must be in the form of portfolios; a portfolio must contain 3 – 10 pieces. One or all the pieces may be chosen to participate in the magazine. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, including your name, a 50-word third person bio (longer bio will be subject to editing), your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in .jpg or .png format, 300dpi. Landscape covers: 11in width, 8.5in height. Portrait covers: 5.5in width, 8.5in height. Artists may submit up to 2 entries each. Please submit each entry separately.
Mixed submissions are accepted a pick of 3 of the following: 1 fiction piece, 1 nonfiction piece, 1 poetry portfolio, and/or 1 art/photography portfolio. Please submit each entry separately (meaning up to 3 mixed entries).
Submissions to general entries (3), contest (3), moon entries (2), and zodiac entries (2) will all be considered separately, and could result in up to 10 entries.
The entry must be the entrant’s own original creation and must not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.
*Please note* There is no financial compensation for contribution.
Process
Submissions are accepted from everyone 18+.
Those chosen to appear in the print edition may be featured either in print alone or in print and online. Those not chosen for the print magazine may still be selected to appear online. Shortlisted entrants will be notified by email when they have made the list on August 20th by 5:00 p.m. (MST). Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
Empyrean will have the exclusive right to publish the chosen pieces for six months from first publication in The Empyrean Literary Magazine. After six months, the rights will revert to the author. Should the pieces be published elsewhere, we ask that the appropriate credit is acknowledge in print that Empyrean published it first.
Once you have read of the terms and conditions, please email your submission to [email protected] with the subject containing: Issue [#] [Genre] Submission - [Pen Name], Entry [#]
Example: Issue 4 Poetry Submission - Jane Doe, Entry 2
Those chosen to appear in the print edition may be featured either in print alone or in print and online. Those not chosen for the print magazine may still be selected to appear online. Shortlisted entrants will be notified by email when they have made the list on August 20th by 5:00 p.m. (MST). Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
Empyrean will have the exclusive right to publish the chosen pieces for six months from first publication in The Empyrean Literary Magazine. After six months, the rights will revert to the author. Should the pieces be published elsewhere, we ask that the appropriate credit is acknowledge in print that Empyrean published it first.
Once you have read of the terms and conditions, please email your submission to [email protected] with the subject containing: Issue [#] [Genre] Submission - [Pen Name], Entry [#]
Example: Issue 4 Poetry Submission - Jane Doe, Entry 2
Only submissions received by 11:59 p.m. (MST) on 15 August 2024 will be considered. Entries that are incomplete, incorrect, are corrupted, or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
We look forward to reading your submissions.
We look forward to reading your submissions.