At some scale, times are always bad, but given the atrocities being committed in this moment, particularly in Palestine, they feel increasingly desperate. While this project has always been explicitly political, I want the next issue of Prolit to address things even more sharply.

As an editor from the United States–which funds and demands the death, displacement, and disconnection happening in Gaza now and in countless places across the globe and over centuries–I want to spotlight the elements of these unending cycles of violence that entangle us here and impact people everywhere. I hope to make Issue 8, in full or in part, a special conversation about Empire and its end.

For the month of December, submissions will be open to all with no fees, as usual. Especially encouraged are works of writing or art which in some way interrogate imperialism–whether physical, economic, cultural, or otherwise; works which identify and push back on the doctrines and narratives used by the US and “the West” more generally to justify their existence and their cruelty; and works which imagine liberated alternatives.

Other work about money, work, and class more generally will also be considered for publication either in this issue or the next one.

As always, all contributors will be paid an equal share of the funds raised through the magazine’s Patreon campaign. Depending on the ultimate size of the issue and any changes to the Patreon contributions, I expect the payout to be in the range of $75-100 per contributor.

Submissions should be emailed to prolitmag@gmail.com. Please only submit once per reading period, and adhere as much as possible to the following guidelines:

Poetry: send no more than 5 poems or 15 pages;

Prose: send no more than 3,000 words;

Visual art (any medium): send no more than 5 images;

Send work as .doc, .pdf, or .jpeg email attachments if possible;

Include a brief third-person bio.

Feel free to be in touch via email or on the contact page with any questions or concerns. All responses will be sent after the December 31 deadline.

PROLIT ISSUE 8
SPECIAL ISSUE ON EMPIRE
OPEN READING PERIOD
Dec. 1-31, 2023