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Valiant Scribe has 2-5 submission calls each year. Here are the details:
1. Open Call for Digital Submissions: This call welcomes multiple genres and is open from January 15 to December 15. Accepted entries are published on the website every Friday at 10:00 AM EST. Furthermore, selected entries may be included in upcoming print issues. Starting in 2026, we charge a $5 submission fee and guarantee written feedback if the submission is unsuccessful.
2. Two-Month No-Fee Submissions: We offer a two-month no-fee reading period from February 1 to March 31, 2026. Submissions are completely free and open to all genres we publish. Acceptance notifications are sent out in May and published on the website on a rolling basis. This free submission period helps ensure accessibility for writers while complementing our year-round submission option.
3. Biannual Poetry Competition: We hold a poetry competition every two years during the summer. The first competition was held in 2021. The winners of the competition receive monetary compensation, and both winners and runner-ups are featured on a dedicated website page.
4. Annual Ekphrastic Showcase: We feature an art and poetry showcase on our website in the summer. The call for interest is announced in our newsletter.
5. Annual Print Issue: We release a print issue of our journal in winter that features multiple genres. We generally invite submissions through a call, but we may also consider pieces that have previously been showcased on our website. Contributors receive a free electronic copy of the issue. Starting in 2024, contributors will also be paid CAD$10 per piece. You can find additional information below.
General Information:
1. We are looking for brave and daring literature from courageous writers who are not afraid to address challenging topics.
2. To learn more about what we are looking for, you can check out A Selfish Poet's Editor Interview with Valiant Scribe by Trish Hopkinson or the Editor Interview on Duotrope.
3. We are also interested in supporting projects and initiatives that align with our areas of focus through our philanthropic arm.
Please remember:
4. We publish content on Fridays on our homepage and under the collections tab.
5. We release one electronic and print issue of the journal annually in winter.
Open Call for Submissions: Digital Publications
$5 submission fee
Submission period: January 15 to December 15
Submission Guidelines
Valiant Scribe calls for submissions focusing on faith and social issues, including violence, poverty, criminal justice, human trafficking, mental health, unknown inventors, people of color, climate change, etc.
Creative nonfiction, essays, devotionals, flash fiction, poetry, art, and photography are welcome.
Submissions can be published or unpublished. Each submission should not be more than 2,000 words long for prose and no more than 5 poems, art/photos.
Submissions should be in English. Submissions in other languages are also welcome, but should be accompanied by an English translation.
Submissions can be simultaneous.
Only digital submissions are accepted. Please email a single Word document attachment containing* a brief cover letter with your name, 100-word third-person bio, and submission(s) to contactvaliantscribe@gmail.com. Kindly attach your proof of payment to the email.
*Please note that we want a single Word document. An introductory note in the body of your e-mail is welcome but not required. We will not consider your submission if you do not follow these guidelines.
Authors will be notified within 1 week to 3 months if their submission is selected.
Submission fee:
$5 per submission. Pay to paypal.me/valiantscribelit
Compensation:
There is currently no compensation for entries. However, we will provide written feedback if the submission is unsuccessful.
Publication:
Successful entries will be published on our homepage and under the collections tab every Friday.
No-Fee Call for Submissions: Digital Publications
Submission period: February 1 to March 31
Submission Guidelines
Valiant Scribe calls for submissions focusing on faith and social issues, including violence, poverty, criminal justice, human trafficking, mental health, unknown inventors, people of color, climate change, etc.
Creative nonfiction, essays, devotionals, flash fiction, poetry, art, and photography are welcome.
Submissions can be published or unpublished. Each submission should not be more than 2,000 words long for prose and no more than 5 poems, art/photos.
Submissions should be in English. Submissions in other languages are also welcome, but should be accompanied by an English translation.
Submissions can be simultaneous.
Only digital submissions are accepted. Please email a single Word document attachment containing* a brief cover letter with your name, 100-word third-person bio, and submission(s) to contactvaliantscribe@gmail.com.
*Please note that we want a single Word document. An introductory note in the body of your e-mail is welcome but not required. We will not consider your submission if you do not follow these guidelines.
Authors will be notified within 1 week to 3 months if their submission is selected.
Submission fee:
No fee
Compensation:
There is currently no compensation for entries.
Publication:
Successful entries will be published on our homepage and under the collections tab every Friday.
NOW CLOSED
Issue V
We Are Resilient
Submission Period: July 1 to August 30, 2024
Entry Guidelines
Announcing Valiant Scribe Literary Journal Issue V: W.A.R. (We Are Resilient).
Issue V will focus on resilience in the face of war or its aftermath.
We welcome submissions of previously unpublished fiction, non-fiction prose, and poetry. Each person can submit up to 5 poems, and the word count limit per prose piece is 3,000 words.
Submissions should be in English. Submissions in other languages are also welcome but should be accompanied by an English translation.
Only digital submissions are accepted. Kindly indicate "Issue V" in the subject line of your e-mail. Please send a single Word document attachment containing* a brief cover letter with your name, 100-word third-person bio, and submission(s) to contactvaliantscribe@gmail.com.
*Please note that everything about your submission should be in a single Word document. An introductory note in the body of your e-mail is welcome but not required. We will not consider your submission if you do not follow these guidelines.
Judgement will be blind. Valiant Scribe volunteers will anonymize entries.
Submission fee:
None.
Compensation:
Contributors will receive a complimentary e-copy of the collection and $10 per piece.
Notifications: Successful entrants were notified by e-mail in September.
Publication:
The issue will be published in December.
NOW CLOSED:
2023 Poetry Competition
Submission period: June 10 - July 15.
Entry Guidelines
Valiant Scribe calls for poetry submissions written from a hopeful perspective, insinuating there's light at the end of the tunnel. We welcome entries focusing on faith and social issues.
Submissions must be previously unpublished.
Each poet is limited to one submission of no more than five poems.
Submissions should be in English. Submissions in other languages are also welcome but should be accompanied by an English translation.
Only digital submissions are accepted. Kindly indicate "Poetry Competition" in the subject line of your e-mail. Please send a single Word document attachment containing* a brief cover letter with your name, 100-word third-person bio, and submission(s) to contactvaliantscribe@gmail.com.
*Please note that we want a single Word document. An introductory note in the body of your e-mail is welcome but not required. We will not consider your submission if you do not follow these guidelines.
Judgement will be blind. Valiant Scribe volunteers will de-identify entries.
Submission fee:
None.
Compensation:
The author of the winning poem will be awarded 500 Canadian dollars.
Payment will be made through PayPal or TransferWise. Entrants must ensure they can receive payment through either option.
We will also shortlist up to ten runner-ups for honourable mention.
Notifications: We will notify the winner and runner-ups by e-mail in September.
Publication:
The winning poem and shortlisted poems will be featured on a dedicated page on our website found here.
Previous Calls for Our Print Journal:
The call for submission for Issue III of the Valiant Scribe Literary Journal is now closed.
Theme: Peace Like a River
Closed: September 16, 2022
Notifications: Successful contributors were notified before November 30, 2022. Please note that we do not send out rejection letters.
Publication Date: Issue III of the Journal was published on December 14.
More information here: https://www.valiantscribe.com/issue-3-winter-2022
