Call for Submissions: The Literary Times Magazine

Submissions OPEN from 21st April till 18th May, 2025.

ISSUE VI Theme: “Forbidden”

Forbidden (adjective): not allowed; banned or prohibited.

What does it mean for something to be forbidden? Is it an unspoken rule, a law etched in stone, or a quiet, lingering fear that keeps us from crossing the line? Forbidden is the space between desire and denial, between curiosity and consequence. It is the unseen boundary set by society, morality, or even the self—a barrier that tempts as much as it restricts. To forbid something is to give it power. The unspoken, the hidden, the unattainable—these are the things that haunt the mind, that shape history and human nature alike. Love forbidden by culture or bloodlines. Knowledge kept under lock and key. Art deemed too dangerous. Words that must never be uttered. Places no one should enter. Thoughts one must not think. But who decides what is forbidden? And what happens when the forbidden is pursued, uncovered, broken? Does it lead to liberation or ruin, enlightenment or chaos? In this issue, we explore the boundaries drawn around us—by law, by faith, by fear—and the ones we are willing to cross, no matter the cost.

Submission Guidelines

✦ We accept submissions from writers of all levels, but we prioritize polished and well-crafted works.
✦ Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please inform us at theliterarytimesmag@gmail.com if your work is accepted elsewhere.
✦ Submissions must be original and previously unpublished works.
✦ We do not accept works containing; self-harm, sexual content, graphic violence, Hate speech or discrimination towards any group, religion or individual.
✦ All written submissions should be in English, formatted as a Word document or PDF. Use a standard font (Times New Roman, Arial, or similar) and a font size of 12. Double-space prose submissions and use single spacing for poetry. Artwork should be submitted as high-resolution images with 3:4 image size.
✦ Submissions will be accepted via google forms. Include your name, contact information and a brief bio (50-100 words). Specify the genre or category your submission falls under (e.g., poetry, fiction, art).
✦ We aim to respond to all submissions within 1 month, but please be patient as the reviewing process can take time. Note: Only accepted works will receive a response from our editorial team (due to high volume of submissions).
✦ As a small, independent organisation we are currently unable to offer monetary compensation to our contributors however, we do provide a free digital copy of Issue to our contributors. We do not charge any submission fee but we greatly appreciate your small tips or support at patreon.com/TheLiteraryTimes
✦ By submitting your work, you grant us first-time publishing rights. Upon publication, the rights revert back to you, the creator. We kindly request that you credit our magazine if your work is subsequently published elsewhere.

Submit your work here.