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Announcing RAINBOW INK: a Bridge Ink & Let’s Say Gay collaboration

We are so excited to announce that Bridge Ink has partnered with Let’s Say Gay for our upcoming Pride-themed issue, Rainbow Ink! Let’s Say Gay is a queer youth literary journal designed to create space for the LGBTQ+ community.

This special Pride issue is open to queer* artists between the ages of 13 and 18. We are currently accepting short fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. We only accept one entry per category, but welcome submissions in multiple genres (you may submit one entry for both poetry and also flash fiction).

Submissions are open until July 1st. Submissions are free. Please submit all entries via email at LSGLitJournal@gmail.com or Bridgeinkeditors@gmail.com with the subject line “PRIDE ISSUE.”

• Stories and poetry should be submitted in a word document (or Google document) with an easy-to-read font. Please number pages.
• Entries in fiction and creative nonfiction should be no more than 4000 words. Excerpts from novels and academic essays are not accepted.
• Flash fiction pieces should be no more than 1000 words.    
• All art pieces should be submitted in a .Jpeg, .PDF, .SVG, or .TIFF.  

Selections are broken into two age-based categories: 13-15 and 16-18. Proof of age will be required for applicants whose work is chosen. Your piece will be published with your age and your first name, or the penname you choose, and your state and country. Your submission can be printed with full anonymity. Safety is paramount.

On behalf of both Bridge Ink and Let’s Say Gay, we thank you for considering our journals as places to express your beautiful, unique voices. We believe art empowers communities everywhere, and are extraordinarily proud to say gay.

*We use the word queer to be inclusive to all member of the proud and diverse LGBTQ+ spectrum; so whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, gender queer, trans, asexual, demisexual, nonbinary, skoliosexual, gender non-conforming or another unnamed identity, we respect you and we want to hear you.

     

Rolling Submissions

Bridge Ink is published every other month and seeks original writing from young voices ages 13 to 18*. Our editors yearn to see something different, to learn from a piece of work, or to discover a new point of view. We are looking for young, honest voices daring enough to share those stories. How can a poem reveal an observation, emotion, or experience in a new or unique way? How can a story change a reader’s way of thinking? We want stories that open our minds to new possibilities.

Submissions are open year-round, always welcomed, and always free. Young adults can send their writing (no more than 1,500 words) to bridgeinkeditors@gmail.com and include their name, age, city, state, contact information, and how they found Bridge Ink. We only publish the writer’s age, first name, and last initial (unless there’s a request to be published anonymously), and where the writer is from.

If you are a young adult sending a response to or art for our Ekphrastic Challenge*, please include “Ekphrastic Challenge” in the subject line of your email. Thank you!

*Occasionally, we also accept submissions from writers age 10-12.

Ekphrastic Challenge*

The editors at Bridge Ink have created an Ekphrastic Challenge series using submissions of teen artwork to inspire poetry and prose.

Write a poem, story, or essay in response to or in reflection of the featured art, and then submit your work following the directions above. Winners will be posted as the featured story in the following issue.

If you’re an artist and would like a chance to feature your art for the next Ekphrastic Challenge, please send your art to bridgeinkeditors@gmail.com and include your name, age, city, state, and contact information.