How do I submit to The Icarus Writing Collective?
When we are open for submissions, our Submit page will be live on the website.
We aim to publish twice a year, every October and April and submissions will generally open three-to-four months prior to our goal. However, you can find our Submission Guidelines year-round, should you like to get ahead!
We currently accept submissions via a Google Form and have a custom spreadsheet so we can ensure submissions are read blind.
What kind of work do you look for?
We are first and foremost a prose fiction magazine. Adaptations and retellings are our bread and butter, and your own created mythic story is also accepted.
What is something new you want to bring to an older piece of literature? How can you rewrite or retell it with something different or turn the tale on its head by subverting the original?
As each issue we publish is themed, we love to center pieces in connection with that idea, whether loosely or on the nose. We encourage you to test the limits of your creativity with the worlds you tap into or create. Our Submit page for each issue will list some ideas to help align with what we’re looking for. Or, you can also find our Curated Playlists for some musical inspiration.
Please check out our previously published pieces for examples.
What rights do you have to my work?
When you submit and are accepted into The Icarus Writing Collective, we are granted Electronic Publishing Rights, Archival Rights, and First Serial Rights. …But what does all that mean, you ask?
Electronic Publishing Rights: This permits us to publish your work on our website and other TIWC online accounts such as our Instagram, Twitter, and BlueSky. When we post teasers with excerpts from your accepted piece, we will always tag your social media if you provide that to us in the submission form.
Archival Rights: The right to archive your written work and/or artwork on our website, always with credit.
First Serial Rights: if you choose to submit your piece elsewhere and it is accepted into another place of publication, we would appreciate being credited as the original publisher.
Upon publication, authors and artists keep full copyright ownership of their pieces!
Why do you ask for content warnings and pronouns?
We believe it’s all about respect.
Content warnings allow us to make sure our editors-in-chief have a safe reading experience as we judge pieces. For example, EIC Kyle can’t read body horror! So EIC Liz will prioritize any pieces that include that content warning.
And, we’re a queer-forward magazine, run by two members of the LGBTQIA+ community and often publishes work by a majority of LGBTQIA+ individuals. We ask for your pronouns so we and our readers know how to respect you because you deserve proper, safe, and affirming recognition of your brilliant work!
Is there a fee to submit?
We will never require a fee to submit to The Icarus Writing Collective. We believe in maintaining an accessible publication, one that does not barrier any individual from submitting regardless of their background, economic status, or otherwise.
Do you pay your contributors?
Yes! While it may be a small amount, we are proud to be able to pay $5 USD to the accepted writers and artists to our humble collective, paid out through Venmo or PayPal.
Wait, so… How do you make money?
The simple answer is: we don’t, well, not really. The Icarus Writing Collective is 95% funded by our personal finances. Website hosting, contributors’ honorariums, Issuu, Canva… All of it comes from our own pockets.
When you purchase a physical book via our print-on-demand service, Lulu, we keep roughly $2 USD per copy. That is our main form of income to keep the magazine going. We also accept donations, and any sticker purchases from Redbubble also help, of course! You can learn more on our “How to Support Us” Page.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes, of course! As writers ourselves, we know the drag of waiting months for an answer for a singular piece. All we ask is that you please let us know as soon as possible if your work has been accepted elsewhere.
What about previously published work?
Unfortunately, we do not. We take pride in having the unique opportunity to be the first home for our pieces.
Do you nominate for awards?
We absolutely do, and are very proud to do so. When you’re accepted to our magazine, you become part of a collective of phenomenal talent and it’s our honor to champion your work forward. Right now, we nominate work for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. Hopefully more in the future!
Where do you stand on Generative AI in writing and art?
F*ck that! We do not under any circumstances accept any work that uses Generative AI in any capacity, be it ChatGPT, StableFusion, MidJourney, etc. If it is found that your work uses any of GenAI, it will be rejected immediately and we will blacklist your name for any future submissions.
Myth and mythic stories are innately human. From the oral tradition of epic poetry to the great classics, only a human can tell these tales. They discuss human moral dilemmas, human history, human relationships… Generative Artificial Intelligence cannot (and ethically, speaking on many levels, should not) grasp the human nature that is at the core of myth.
Do not send us GenAI work. We do not want it.
I loved an issue of The Icarus Writing Collective! How can I spread the word?
Did you know we’re on StoryGraph? You can find our issues there to keep track of your reading, then you can rate and review! Some ideas on how you can help support our growth: talk about us on social media, bring a print copy to your book club, ask your indie bookstore to stock a few copies in their zine section, pray to the gods we never crash and burn…
I have another question!
Amazing! We love questions. Feel free to reach out to us via email, or click the button below.