Call for Submissions on Theme of "Thresholds": Multiplicity

 

We invite submissions for our Spring/Summer 2026 issue:

THRESHOLDS

We halt at thresholds; we step over them. We edge back from thresholds; we move past them. We can reach our thresholds; pain and hurt can exceed them. Thresholds become a marker—in space, time, and metaphor—sometimes a pause point, sometimes a pressure point, sometimes a passing point. Some thresholds are doors. Others are platforms. Some are arched gates, strung with colorful beads or lights, promising magic on the other side. Others are darkened hallows that fill us with dread.

For this issue of Multiplicity, we want to hear about all manner of thresholds. We want to learn about the moments of standing in-between or on the verge, the moments of choosing not to enter or turning back, and the moments of pressing forward to reveal what's on the other side. Take us to the threshold. We accept essays, profiles, and narrative nonfiction up to 2,999 words, poetry (up to three poems per submitter), and original photography (up to five photographs) inspired or connected to our theme.

For accepted work, we pay $45 for prose, $15 per poem, and $15 per photograph. 

Submission Dates: November 20, 2025–January 31, 2026
Acceptances Sent: March-April 2026
Anticipated publication: June 2026

Our $3 submission fee is our way of protecting human writers and editors. It is waived without question for any writer experiencing financial difficulty. Please contact us through our website if you require a waiver.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Our literary magazine first-round review process is blind. Please do not include your name or other personally identifying information on any of the pages of your submission or in the file name of the document you submit. Your cover letter and bio will be reviewed if your work enters our final round of review.

Be aware that curation of the magazine happens inside Multiplicity Studio, where Bay Path MFA faculty and students work together during the spring semester to review submissions. Notification of accepted work typically occurs in late March or early April. For this reason, we don't expect exclusive submissions, but do let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere, so we can remove it from our cue. (And congratulations!) 

• Prose submissions should be double-spaced, formatted in Times New Roman or a similar serif font, 12 pt., with one-inch margins all around. Please paginate and include the title of the work on each page. All work should be carefully proofread before it is submitted. 

• Poetry submissions may include up to three poems per issue; stanzas should be single spaced and there should be no more than one poem per page. 

• Photographs (up to five) should be original, royalty-free, and thematically relevant. Please submit in a format that can be displayed on a Web page and opened in Photoshop. JPG and PNG are preferred. Submitted images should not include vectors or layers. You may include captions, or a brief narrative to illuminate the thematic content. 

• We will not knowingly publish submissions that are slanderous, libelous, racist, sexist, ageist, or otherwise intentionally discriminatory or offensive.

• All works must be original and must not be subject to copyright restrictions. For each issue, the journal publishes one submission per selected author/artist. Once our final review is complete, our Editorial Board will notify each submitter of the status of their work. Please see our Usage Rights page for information about the rights we request upon publication.

Submit your work here. 

Thank you for submitting.