solace: comfort in times of grief or worry

We seek work that uplifts and consoles, work that inspires and gives hope and comfort, especially in the form of laughter and joy. Such work may be serious and thoughtful or bawdy and fun.  It may be prayerful or downright sacrilegious. It may speak of great beauty: pastoral, human kindness, everyday miracles. It may be heartfelt but not heart-rending. It may be tender but not tragic. It should be honest but not triggering.

We want this collection to be one readers choose as a companion for healing, comfort, or a good laugh.

Submit up to three poems inside one word docx.  Work that has been previously published is acceptable, as long as it has been at least a year since its publication.  Please send acknowledgements with previously published work.

Format your poems (work) or CNF in Times New Roman 12 pt. font, left justified.  Do not add embellishments inside the document (bolding, italics, borders, graphics).  Formatting like italics or spacing is acceptable as long as it is needed for the meaning and rhythm of the work. Do not include personal identifiers within the document itself.  Use the submission title(s) as the file name.

Submit creative non-fiction in one word docx. that is 1,000 words or less.

Submit images as low-resolution jpg images.  Include a short artist's statement explaining your process and materials and how your submission fits the theme.

Your accepted work will be published in digital format on fws upon acceptance. You may read work that has already been published in this issue here.

The editors reserve the right to create a hard copy version. You will be notified if that decision is made. Any hard copy version of the collection will most likely be formatted differently than the digital version. Your act of submission here grants permission to fws AKA d. ellis Phelps, AKA Moon Shadow Sanctuary Press to publish your work digitally and in future possible print publications.  

No simultaneous submissions are allowed.

The small reading fee helps support fws and helps keep it ad-free.

We look forward to reading your work.

Namaste,

d. ellis phelps, Managing Editor

Svetlana Litvinchuk, Associate Editor

Sandi Stromberg, Associate Editor