Call for Submissions on Theme of "Rites": Rooted Literary Magazine

To be rooted is to be centered in one’s self, environment, and community. Rooted Literary Magazine is a literary platform dedicated to showcasing art, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, spoken word, music, and film that captures the full spectrum of human experience—from the beautiful to the devastating, and everything in between.

Call For Submissions

We welcome work from both emerging and established creators who are unafraid to push the boundaries of form and genre. We are especially drawn to speculative fiction and pieces that challenge conventions, expand perspectives, or reimagine reality. Our goal is to platform voices that resonate deeply, disrupt gently, and leave a lasting impact.

Rooted Literary Magazine is now accepting submissions for a Halloween anthology. Submissions open on September 15th and close on October 17th. We invite writers and artists of all genres (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, visual art, audio, and video).

We’re looking for work that makes us question our convictions, provides us with a fresh perspective, or pushes the boundaries of genre and narrative.

We are especially drawn to speculative fiction and pieces that challenge conventions or reimagine reality. Our goal is to platform emerging voices that quietly demand to be heard. While not required, you can follow our in-house monthly theme for featured content and creators.

Theme: Rites 

Rites follow us through every stage of our lives. They appear as ceremonies, festivals, gatherings, or private traditions—moments that connect us to ourselves, to others, and to something larger.

We mark rites of passage when we blow out birthday candles, earn our driver’s license, or endure heartbreak for the first time. Funerary rites help us say goodbye to those we’ve lost. Marital rites bind people together, though they can be broken as swiftly as they are spoken.

But rites are not always comforting. Some are born of blood, secrecy, or sacrifice and are violent in nature as they bind us in ways we do not always choose. History is steeped in rituals of exclusion and control; rites are used to preserve power as much as they are used to celebrate life.

For October, we invite you to explore Rite in all its forms: sacred or secular, celebratory or unsettling, personal or collective. What happens when a rite is denied, disrupted, or transformed? Explore the power that rituals hold over us when the candles burn low and we think no one is watching.

We accept pieces from each category to be featured in a special Halloween Anthology in the following categories:

• Poetry

• Fiction

• Nonfiction (Essays, Reviews)

• Creative Nonfiction

1. Visual Art

• Audio (Spoken Word/Music)

• Video (Short Form)

Formatting Guidelines

• Flash Fiction: 1000 words or less

• Short Stories: 5000 words or less

• Poetry: Up to 3 poems (2 pages max)

• Nonfiction: 2000 words or less

All written work should be submitted as a PDF, Word, .docx

12 Pt. Times New Roman Double-Spaced. *Poetry can be single-spaced

 All submissions must be original and unpublished.

•  Visual Art: Up to 3 pieces

Visual Art should be submitted as JPEG or PNG

• Audio: Up to 4 Minutes

Audio should be submitted as MP3 files

• Video: Up to 5 Minutes

Video should be submitted as MP4 files

Other Restrictions

• Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please let us know if it is accepted elsewhere by emailing:

 info@stayrootedent.com

• Any work created entirely, in part by, or with the assistance of AI will be rejected.

• All submitters must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.

Publication Rights

First Electronic Publication Rights: You grant Rooted Literary Magazine exclusive rights to publish your work online for the first time, whether in text, image, video, or audio form.

Archival Rights: After publication, we may keep your work archived on our platform indefinitely.

Non-Exclusive Rights: Following the initial publication, you are free to submit the work elsewhere or republish it.

Promotional Rights: We may use your work for promotional purposes (e.g., social media, newsletters, and website promotions) during and after publication, with proper credit given.

Compensation: Accepted contributors for digital anthologies will be paid a one-time stipend of $10. Accepted contributors for print anthologies will receive a free physical copy of the print Anthologies upon release.*

Anthology/Compilation Rights: If Rooted Literary Magazine decides to create an anthology or print collection, you grant Rooted the right to include your work, with proper compensation to be discussed at that time.

*There is no financial compensation for accepted monthly features

Amendment (09/15/2025): There is no financial compensation for accepted monthly features submitted before September 15th.