HerStry is seeking pitches for our AMPLIFY series in which we seek to amplify an unknown or under represented woman, woman identifying, or nonbinary person. The theme for our winter issue is Light. Keep that in mind as you present us with figures you'd like to lift up. Your profile can focus literally on a light barer or tangentially. 

A few Things: 

• Do not send us entire essays. A couple of well thought out paragraphs will do. 
• Keep the HerStry audience in mind when you pitch. We're looking to profile figures dead or alive, they need not be famous or well known, though they can be. 
• Upon acceptance HerStry will work with authors on length and format. 

HerStry is seeking poetry for our winter issue based on our theme Light. 

Send us poems that plumb that depths of the human story, of what it means to light up, shine bright, and sometimes fizzle out. Be as literal or as metaphorical as you need. 

A few things to know before you submit: 

1. Authors may submit up to 3 poems in one document

2. We read blind. Please make sure your manuscript is clear of any identifying information. Work found to contain identifying information will be discarded without being read. 

3. We do not require a cover letter and won't read one if you submit it. We're interested in the quality of the work in front of us, not how many times or where you have been published. We love publishing new writers! 

HerStry is seeking fiction for our winter issue based on our theme Light. 

Tell us tales of light in the darkness. Of explosions of color. Of broken hearts that were rebuilt. Of places where the light can't reach and places it is too bright. We love long form stories that leave us thinking about them for days to come and micro fiction that punches us in the gut. Weave together tingling sentences and unforgettable characters. Make us hurt in the best way. 

A few things to know before you submit: 

1. We publish fiction of 10,000 words or less. 

2. We read blind. Please make sure your manuscript is clear of any identifying information. Work found to contain identifying information will be discarded without being read. 

3. We do not require a cover letter and won't read one if you submit it. We're interested in the quality of the work in front of us, not how many times or where you have been published. We love publishing new writers! 

4. All work should be 12 Pt. font, Times New Roman (or similar), double spaced

HerStry is seeking creative nonfiction essays for our winter issue based on our theme Light. 

In the darkest time of the year we want to know what lights you up. What you seek and how you find it. We want to see hearths and firesides and strands of twinkle lights. We want to know what shines for you when everything else feels dim and muted. Bring us your stories of survival, of joy, of finding hope when you thought there was none. Bring us stories of the places where the light shines brightest and places where the fastest tendrils barely reach. Be as literal or as metaphorical as you need. Above all, tell us a good story. 

A few things to know before you submit: 

1. We publish creative nonfiction of 5,000 words or less. 

2. We read blind. Please make sure your manuscript is clear of any identifying information. Work found to contain identifying information will be discarded without being read. 

3. We do not require a cover letter and won't read one if you submit it. We're interested in the quality of the work in front of us, not how many times or where you have been published. We love publishing new writers! 

4. All work should be 12 Pt. font, Times New Roman (or similar), double spaced

HerStry is seeking volunteer readers for the 2027 reading season. HerStry publishes four times a year--Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Our Winter and Summer issues focus on a particular theme while our Spring and Fall issues are nontheme. Readers may apply for one reading session. 

Winter: November - January 

Spring: February - April 

Summer: May - July 

Fall: August - October 

First time, last time, maybe a long time since. What are your sex stories? Don’t leave anything out. Don’t be afraid of the juicy details. Let’s talk sex, baby. 

** HerStry is always happy to share stories anonymously—if your story is selected for publication, simply let your editor know you would not like your name shared **

THE RULES: 

• All stories must be true and about you.
• Stories must follow the theme in some way, interpretations can be wide.
• Stories must stay around 3,000 words.
• Documents should be double spaced, 12Pt font with 1 inch margins and in an easy to read font. Submissions not following these guidelines are subject to disqualification. Our editors read a lot of work, please have mercy on our eyes. 
• Submissions must be in .doc or .docx form—we do not accept PDFs.
• Stories are read blind. Please DO NOT put any identifying material on your manuscript. Manuscripts that don’t follow this rule will be automatically disqualified without being read. We realize personal essays may contain your name; a first name is fine.
• Please include a third person bio. Cover letters are fine, but not necessary (we don’t read them, we’re more interested in what you’ve written).
• Please submit only once per theme.
• We do not accept previously published stories.

HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, nonbinary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two spirit. In other words, if you are a cis man, please refrain from submitting. 

 WANT PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK?

You can now receive helpful feedback by selecting the “personalized critique” option on our submissions page. While getting your work critiqued does not guarantee publication, we can help make it great for your next submissions, whether it’s to us or someone else.

$3 submission fee goes toward keeping HerStry sustainable and paying our staff. All accepted pieces receive $20 payment. 

 DUE September 1st

Hot and cold. Wrong and right. In and out. One and then the other. We can’t always control our moods or the moods of others. Or, for that matter, the moods of nature. Tell us your story about mood swings. 

** HerStry is always happy to share stories anonymously—if your story is selected for publication, simply let your editor know you would not like your name shared **

THE RULES: 

• All stories must be true and about you.
• Stories must follow the theme in some way, interpretations can be wide.
• Stories must stay around 3,000 words.
• Documents should be double spaced, 12Pt font with 1 inch margins and in an easy to read font. Submissions not following these guidelines are subject to disqualification. Our editors read a lot of work, please have mercy on our eyes. 
• Submissions must be in .doc or .docx form—we do not accept PDFs.
• Stories are read blind. Please DO NOT put any identifying material on your manuscript. Manuscripts that don’t follow this rule will be automatically disqualified without being read. We realize personal essays may contain your name; a first name is fine.
• Please include a third person bio. Cover letters are fine, but not necessary (we don’t read them, we’re more interested in what you’ve written).
• Please submit only once per theme.
• We do not accept previously published stories.

HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, nonbinary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two spirit. In other words, if you are a cis man, please refrain from submitting. 

 WANT PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK?

You can now receive helpful feedback by selecting the “personalized critique” option on our submissions page. While getting your work critiqued does not guarantee publication, we can help make it great for your next submissions, whether it’s to us or someone else.

$3 submission fee goes toward keeping HerStry sustainable and paying our staff. All accepted pieces receive $20 payment. 

 DUE October 1st

We’ve done this one before. But from time to time, we like to open this space for those who want a platform to talk about their abortion, the abortion experience, or anything related to it. Maybe you will find it healing. Or maybe you will find yourself in someone else’s story and see that you are not alone. 

** HerStry is always happy to share stories anonymously—if your story is selected for publication, simply let your editor know you would not like your name shared **

THE RULES: 

• All stories must be true and about you.
• Stories must follow the theme in some way, interpretations can be wide.
• Stories must stay around 3,000 words.
• Documents should be double spaced, 12Pt font with 1 inch margins and in an easy to read font. Submissions not following these guidelines are subject to disqualification. Our editors read a lot of work, please have mercy on our eyes. 
• Submissions must be in .doc or .docx form—we do not accept PDFs.
• Stories are read blind. Please DO NOT put any identifying material on your manuscript. Manuscripts that don’t follow this rule will be automatically disqualified without being read. We realize personal essays may contain your name; a first name is fine.
• Please include a third person bio. Cover letters are fine, but not necessary (we don’t read them, we’re more interested in what you’ve written).
• Please submit only once per theme.
• We do not accept previously published stories.

HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, nonbinary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two spirit. In other words, if you are a cis man, please refrain from submitting. 

 WANT PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK?

You can now receive helpful feedback by selecting the “personalized critique” option on our submissions page. While getting your work critiqued does not guarantee publication, we can help make it great for your next submissions, whether it’s to us or someone else.

$3 submission fee goes toward keeping HerStry sustainable and paying our staff. All accepted pieces receive $20 payment. 

 DUE November 1st

About the Contest

In our new contest we’re looking for the shortest of the short. The most micro of micro. 

At HerStry we’ve long prided ourselves in telling your stories in long form. Now, as our ten year anniversary rolls ever closer, we’re turning that on its head. Now, we’re asking for your micro-memoirs. Your true stories told in flash form. 

But just because it’s micro doesn’t mean it should lack depth. We’re looking for micro-memoirs that tug on our heart strings, make us re-examine what it means to be alive and observing in this world. Don’t just tell us your story. Show it to us with depth, and emotion. Evocative language and beautiful images. Blow us away with what we can feel in so few words. 

GUIDELINES

• Essays must be true, about YOU, and previously unpublished. 
• Essays must stay under 1,000 words. The shorter, the better. 
• All essays must be submitted with a third person bio and author photo. Neither of which we will see unless you are a contest winner as we read everything blind. 
• Essays would be submitted in a .dox form. No PDFs, please. 
• Essays should be double spaced, Times New Roman (or similar), 12pt font with 1 inch margins. All essays should be clear of identifying information. Because we are expecting a large number of submissions we will disregard any submissions that do not follow these guidelines. 
• Do not submit more than one essay. 
• While we cannot stop you from submitting your work elsewhere while it is under our consideration we kindly ask that you withdraw your essay if it is accepted elsewhere. Winners will be announced no later than September 12th. 

HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, non-binary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two-spirit. In other words, if you are a cis man, please refrain from submitting.

Winning Entires: 

First - $200

Second - $150

Third - $100