We are opening for submissions on October 1st, 2026.
We're aiming for a monthly journal, with each submission period open for one month. As this is building toward our first issues, submissions will remain open until we have enough to meet the goals for our first issue. We will keep everyone who submits posted about our progress.
What we're looking for
By way of a medium, your submission could be a poem, flash fiction, photograph, painting, or a song.
Most importantly, we should be able to see some thread between the inspiration and your work. We recognize that could be a very subjective take, so we include a field with your submission to explain your artistic process and approach. It's not mandatory if you would like your work to speak for itself. Not including an explanation does not mean we will not accept it. There is also an option to share your artistic process publicly if you want, if your submission is accepted.
Other fields: a bio and links to your website and social media, if you have them. We want to celebrate you on our social media channels. (Yeah, as, uh, minimal as they are now. We're getting started here.)
We look forward to seeing what you send in.
What We Publish
- Poetry — any form, any length (though we have a soft preference for work under 80 lines)
- Fiction — flash and short fiction up to 1,500 words. All genres accepted.
- Photography — up to [5] images per submission, submitted as high-resolution JPEGs (300 dpi minimum)
- Visual art — including paintings, sketches, cartoons, etc., up to [5] works, submitted as high-resolution files
- Music — any genre or instrument, full song tracks or shorter melodies
We do not currently publish novel excerpts or essays.
Reading Periods
—after publishes twelve issues per year. Free subscribers receive six issues each year in alternating months; paid subscribers receive all twelve. Reading periods are announced via our newsletter and social channels and are open for the full month, three months prior to publication (e.g., submissions through October are reviewed in November, prepared in December, and published on January 1st).
Submission Policies
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please withdraw immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere — email us at editor@afterjournal.org to let us know.
Previously published work is not accepted. This includes work published on personal blogs, social media, or other online platforms. All works should be unique given they are a reaction to the source work for that month.
Multiple genre submissions: You may submit simultaneously across genres (e.g., one poetry submission and one fiction submission at the same time).
Reprints: Not accepted at this time.
Formatting
- Submit as a single Word (.docx), rich text (.rtf), or PDF file. JPG or PNG for visual art. MP3 or WAV for audio tracks. MOV, MP4, or M4V for videos.
- Standard manuscript format: 12pt serif font, normal margins, left-justified and right ragged for stories. Formatting as needed for poetry
- Poetry: single-spaced, one poem per page, up to three poems in one document
- Remove all identifying information from the manuscript itself — we read blind
- File name should be:
Title_Genre(e.g.,TheOtherRoom_Fiction.docx)
Compensation
—after is not currently a paying market but are working toward it.
Rights
We ask for first digital rights. All other rights remain with the author. Following publication, we ask for a 60-day exclusive window before the work appears elsewhere, with credit to —after on any subsequent publication.
Response Time
Given our publishing frequency, we will respond within two months of receiving your submission (i.e., submissions received on February 1st may not have a response until March 31st.) If you haven't heard from us after 60 days, feel free to query at editor@afterjournal.org.
A Note on Feedback
Due to volume, we are unable to offer feedback on declined work. Acceptances may come with brief editorial notes.