adapt, retell, transcendThe Icarus Writing Collective, a mythic magazine, was founded in 2022 by Elizabeth Zarb and Kyle Ross. The two met as undergraduates at Emerson College in 2017, finding a combined interest in classic literature and mythology. After a flash fiction workshop course in their senior year, both Elizabeth and Kyle fell in love with the short form and took that passion one step further to establish this collective.
In contrast to the Icarus myth, this magazine encourages writers to go beyond their limits and get close to the sun. While hubris can be a downfall, The Icarus Writing Collective strives to create a community where there’s a balance between hubris and humility— together, we’re able to make something beautiful.
We call ourselves a “collective” because we aim to create a space where lovers of antiquity can dabble, experiment, and work together to form a new canon of stories, not just the ones picked up by the big publishers.
Despite the Greek influences on the aesthetics of the zine, we heavily encourage writers to adapt from their own cultures and favorite mythologies. There is no limit to the stories that can be retold. Writers from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.
We proudly nominate work for both Best of the Net and The Pushcart Prize and are honored to be able to offer a tiny stipend to our contributors upon acceptance.
Looking for more answers? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
Looking for some inspiration? Our issue-curated playlists feature some of our editors’ favorite artists and songs of a new mythical nature. What they do with music, we hope do with this publication.