Submissions
Submissions are now OPEN.
Please read the guidelines for details on what we are looking for. The links are at the end.
โ What weโre looking for โ
Here at Whim and Wander, our goal is simple: to bring a little more imagination into a world thatโs forgotten how to wonder.
We want narrative that feels alive, pulsing with the magic it contains.
We want earnest tales that overcome the greatest challenges.
We want stories and poems that uncover curiosity, sparkling with whimsy.
Often, good narrative has to wrestle with difficult topics before finding goodness; the Light canโt be known without darkness. But, however deep the story delves, we want readers to always leave filled with hope โ with hearts lightened and life sweetened.
We are currently looking for short fiction and poetry, with four pieces (two of each) to be accepted and published the following month.
We are not limited to a specific genre or style, only a mission. If this sounds like you, please submit your work! Weโd love to read it.
โ More information โ
โ Submissions are free!
โ We accept work from all over the globe from writers 18 and up. Writers under 18 may submit as well, under the condition that we obtain a parent or guardianโs consent if accepted.
โ We are looking for poetry, flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), and short stories (under 5,000 words). These are loose limits, but keep in mind the longer a story is, the harder it has to work to prove itself.
โ We (currently) pay $20 per story and $10 per poem โ though we hope to increase this in the future.
โ Writers may submit via a Google forms link in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.
โ We currently publish four pieces a month: two stories and two poems. We promise each one is thoroughly read and carefully considered.
โ Please make only one submission at a time, but returning writers are always welcome back!
โ Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but promptly inform us if your work is accepted elsewhere.
โ Previously published works are not accepted; however, self-published pieces (personal Substack, website, blog, etc.) are very welcome!
โ If your piece is accepted, we may suggest small edits or changes. However, we will only consider work that is finished and ready for publication.
โ You will hear back from us within the month.
โ If accepted, we ask for first serial rights. After publishing all rights revert back to the writer.
โ We are not looking for stories driven primarily by shock value, heavy political messaging, or explicit content; our priority is stories that reflect transcendent goodness and the triumph of light over darkness. Please no heavy language, sexual themes, or gore/heavy violence.
โ Work written or edited by AI will not be considered or accepted.
Poetry โ
Fiction โ