Submission Guidelines
Issue 12 submissions are open from May 19th to July 28th, 2024.
Aster Lit’s Special Issue:
Aster Lit has always sought to explore and celebrate international voices. In accordance with this mission, Issue 12 is a special issue dedicated to the arts of translation and multilingualism. In this THEMED-SUBMISSIONS-ONLY issue, we hope to push you to explore art and literature as a means to challenge and define the constructs of language. Under “Genre Specifications,” we have included a list of the genres of submissions we will be accepting in Issue 12, as well as examples of some our favorite pieces. We can’t wait to read your work!
Click here to learn more about the theme!
Eligibility
International submissions are encouraged, but writing should be primarily in English or accompanied by an English translation. Writers must be 13–25 years old. Pieces must be the original work of the writer.
We accept and encourage simultaneous submissions and previously published pieces. If your work was previously published, please let us know its first place of publication so we can credit the appropriate publication. Aster Lit receives non-exclusive online reprint rights upon re-publication.
If your piece has not been previously published, Aster Lit receives First Serial Rights upon publication. All rights revert back to the author upon publication. Once published, we kindly ask that you credit Aster Lit as your piece’s first place of publication in any subsequent reprints.
Genre Specifications
MULTILINGUAL PIECES: Poetry (max 5 pieces, each <100 lines), Prose (max 3 pieces, all together <5,000 words) or hybrid with inserts of another language or dialect (including slang, code switching, or vocabulary). Optional: provide English translations as footnotes.
Examples: “From ‘Glossary of Grief’” by Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach, "FINNA” by Nate Marshall, and “In the Culture of Now” by Natalie Scenters-Zapico.
REFLECTIONS: Poetry (max 5 pieces, each <100 lines), Prose (max 3 pieces, all together <5,000 words) or hybrid that describe your relationship to multilinguality.
Examples: “Every Time a Train Goes By” by Sripurna Majumdar, and “Rashk-e-Qamar” by Unaiza Farooq.
TRANSLATIONS: Translations of public domain works (<5,000 words), to or from English. Include a link to the original piece and proof it is within the public domain. Use a translator’s note to explain your choices regarding vocabulary and composition, give background on the piece, and/or reflect on your experience translating with a translator's note (<500 words). You can find public domain poetry at Poets.org Public Domain and Public Domain Poetry.
Examples: “On Translating “A Bird in Bishopswood” by Eric Weiskott, “Self-Translator’s Note” by Shook, and “On ‘Black Oval Shapes,’ ‘Folk Song,’ and ‘The Fish’” by Brian Henry
REVIEWS OF MULTILINGUAL WORKS: Write a review on a piece of translation, other multilingual works, or works not originally written in English (<5,000 words).
TRANSLATION COMPARISON: Find two translations of a work or excerpt of a work translated to or from English (poetry or prose) and compare them by analyzing the choices made. Work to interpret how these nuances contribute to each translator’s unique outlook of the piece. Make sure both translations are available online or via PDF when submitting (<5,000 words).
AUDIO: Please submit a piece of audio art (music, experimental music, sound art, sound scenography, et cetera) or spoken word poetry that fits the theme of translatability. All spoken word submissions should be a video submitted from the torso up as a MP4, MOV, or YouTube link (<3 minutes). Other forms of audio art should be submitted as MP (<5 minutes).
Audio Art Examples: “LINES” by Ander Lind, “TAPE LOOP ORCHESTRA” by the Amulets, and “Warzone” by Yoko Ono
Spoken Word Examples: “Chameleon” by Rudy Francisco, “Call Me By Your Name” by Daniel, and “Untitled” by Mikala Posley.
ART/PHOTOGRAPHY: All art and photography should follow the theme of translatability incorporating multimedia, literary, or other elements that the artist feels best portrays feelings of translation and multilingualism. Please include an artist’s state describing your artistic processes (physical or conceptual) and your piece’s relation to the theme (5 pieces).
Examples: “Exploring from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's Profile” by Mike Kelley, and "Telling Many Magpies, Telling Black Wolf, Telling Hachivi,” by Edgar Heap of Birds,
How to Submit
Submission Form
Our response time ranges from 4 weeks after submission to up to 2 weeks after submissions close. If you haven’t heard from us after 8 weeks, please feel free to query at submit@asterlit.org. Submissions that do not follow guidelines and/or are received outside of reading periods will not be considered.
Nominations
We nominate annually for Best of the Net, Pushcart, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfiction.
Still have questions?
Read our FAQ!