CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ISSUE 47 - SOFT
The topic of resilience has been on our minds for the past few years of living through a global pandemic. The word evokes being strong and holding steadfast during difficult times. In fact, “Resilience” was our theme for issue 41. For our final issue of 2023, however, we invite creators to take a deep breath and mull over the word “Soft” as a theme for carte blanche 47. We want to consider works that touch on the soft, slow, open, and gentle. After collectively living through a challenging few years, what does softness mean to you?
We invite creators to submit previously unpublished pieces in the following genres: comics, creative nonfiction, fiction, photography, poetry, and translation (French to English).
carte blanche acknowledges the intersectionality of individuals’ lived experiences and aims to provide a welcoming and safe space for racialized and marginalized voices. We encourage and welcome submissions by individuals who identify as LGBTQ2S+, BIPOC, disabled, and those who live with mental health challenges or neurodivergence.
Please note that while Canadian and international creators are welcome to submit their work to us for consideration, as a result of our affiliation with the Quebec Writers’ Federation and Canada Council grant requirements, we may emphasize a focus on Quebec-based creators in a given issue.
Submissions open on September 5, 2023 and close on October 15, 2023.
Please read a recent issue and our general guidelines, and please take note of the issue theme before you send your work.
General Guidelines
Simultaneous submissions: We accept simultaneous submissions. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are sending your piece elsewhere and withdraw your submission via Submittable if it is accepted somewhere else.
Unpublished submissions: We do not accept submissions that have been previously published, including on personal websites and social media.
Frequency of submissions: We encourage you to submit to carte blanche no more than once a year unless solicited by an editor.
Rights: We ask for first world serial rights and the right to archive your work on the website. Copyright reverts to the author upon publication. In the case of translated pieces, you must already have received permission from the original French publisher to translate the piece prior to submitting your translation to us.
Payment: carte blanche pays an honorarium of $75 for each published piece. We hope to increase the amount in the future.
We accept all kinds of fiction. Maximum 3500 words (1 story can be up to 3500 words, 2+ stories must be 3500 words or under total).
We’re looking for comics that have a story to tell, that explore the boundaries of narrative within the comics form. We’re open to all styles, subjects, shapes, and sizes, but keep in mind that your comic will be displayed on the web using a Squarespace image slideshow. Please submit your files at web resolution (72dpi) in one file (PDF or ZIP). If your piece is selected, you will be asked to submit high-quality files for publication on our website and potentially in print-on-demand issues.
We consider nonfiction narratives including memoir, personal essay, and literary journalism. Creative nonfiction submissions should be factual. Any changes to names to protect privacy should be indicated in an author’s note. Maximum 3500 words.
We accept all kinds of fiction. Maximum 3500 words (1 story can be up to 3500 words, 2+ stories must be 3500 words or under total).
Tell a story in 12 photos or less. Together, your photos should create a narrative–whether abstract or concrete. You may include a text-based artist's note that will accompany your piece.
Keep in mind that your photos will be displayed on the web using a Squarespace image slideshow. Please submit your files at web resolution (72dpi) in one file (PDF or ZIP). If your piece is selected, you will be asked to submit high-quality files for publication on our website and potentially in print-on-demand issues.
We welcome poems in any form.
As of 2021, we have instated a submission cap. Please submit early–we will not accept late submissions by email. Maximum 3 poems per person per submission round.