We're thrilled you have found your way here.
Aster(ix) is a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing people of color at the center of the conversation. Founded in 2013 by novelist Angie Cruz and nonfiction writer Adriana E. Ramírez, the journal loves to feature the intimate, the honest, and the beautiful.
Aster(ix) is a play on asterisk, star, splat, a wildcard. It’s the censored and omitted. It’s footnotes and to be continued. (ix) honors Mayan heart-knowing, the alignment with divine will, the torch bearer. We cast lines between the future and the past, the possible and the impossible.
The best way to know what kinds of pieces we are likely to accept is to read what we've published previously! Explore our work for free online or to order in-print at www.asterixjournal.com
Submitting to Aster(ix):
- We intermittently do Open Calls for Submissions. Please sign up to our newsletter and/or follow us on social media (Instagram - where we are most active, Twitter, Facebook) for announcements on submission calls, new publications, partnerships, and more.
- We do not accept submissions via email; we only accept submissions via Submittable. Our editors will occasionally solicit pieces for the digital journal.
- What we are looking for: works that will take part in some of “the best conversations the world has to offer.” Work that speaks beyond the trends of the current moment, that listens to the past and looks to the future. We are especially interested in work that is unconventional, international, urgent, lyrical, difficult, delicious and of differing aesthetics. In this time of lightning communications we want to read writing that is thoughtful and not necessarily certain.
Publishing with Aster(ix):
- Throughout the year, we publish works online and typically produce two thematic anthologies, both in print and later online. Submissions will be carefully reviewed, but responses may take several months. We are an all volunteer staff. Please do let us know immediately if you have found another venue for your work.
- We typically do not publish submitted pieces as-is, instead, working carefully with each author on every accepted piece. Editorial processes typically take 3-6 months at a minimum.
- Although we don't pay our writers for pieces published online, we do offer a contributor copy (and, if budget permits, pay) for works published in print.
- We do accept reprints but you must have retained or regained the rights to your work.
- When you publish with Aster(ix) you agree to grant us first serial rights. Once your piece is published, rights revert back to you and you can republish it. We just ask you to give Aster(ix) credit.
- Each Submittable call includes details for what to include and how to submit.
Aster(ix) is currently seeking unsolicited (book) reviews and interviews to be published online.
- Criticism / Reviews are centered around books that are new releases are given publishing and editorial priority so we can support those authors around their new work to be showcased. We are interested in criticism that goes beyond a simple review; we want a conversation that is personal between writer and creator. We are looking for reviews of recent (within the last 18 months) or forthcoming books or art work by creatives of color, especially of works that may not get as much coverage.
- Interviews at Aster(ix) are best viewed as conversations, a dialogue that explores something not just about the work, but the artists as human beings. We are especially interested in conversations that explore writing as a craft.
- We are willing to reprint works of both of the above categories that were published in small print or out-of-print journals and have not been previously published online.
Examples of what we're interested in:
- Review: "A Contemplation on Sorrow and Loss: A Review of WHAT STORM, WHAT THUNDER by Myriam J.A. Chancy" by Cleyvis Natera
- Review: "Expanding the Waters of Love: A Review of Shayla Lawson’s I Think I’m Ready To See Frank Ocean" by Steffan Triplett
- Interview: "STAY WILD: A conversation with poet and artist Jane Wong" by Kiera O'Brien and Amanda Tien
- Interview: "Firelei Báez on Generosity and Freedom in Art" by Angie Cruz
- Interview: "Vão / Vòng – A Conversation with Katrina Dodson" by Madhu Kaza
Submission Process and Guidelines:
- Submissions are only accepted via Submittable.
- We are open to PITCHES *or* finished drafts. The submission form will have more details about what to include for both.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, as long as we are notified immediately if the manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere.
- Translations are welcome and should be accompanied by a copy of the original as well as permission of the original author.
- Please submit in either .doc or .docx format.
- Please include your name and email address in the document of your submission.
- We never charge a reading fee for general submissions.
- We unfortunately are not able to pay for any work within this call.
What happens next:
- Our editorial team will review your draft. Please note that we are a volunteer team, so responses may take a few months (our typical review cycle outside of print issues is about 2 - 3 months). (Note: We are largely on hiatus in the summer (May through August) so submissions sent by then will have an even longer response time.)
- We will respond with one of three responses: 1) accepting the piece, 2) or making suggested edits for you to incorporate before our acceptance or rejection, or 3) respectfully pass. We typically do not publish submitted pieces as-is, instead, working carefully with each author on every accepted piece. Editorial processes can take anywhere from 1 - 6 months (shorter for reviews/interviews and poetry, longer for prose).
- Please keep an eye on emails from the Aster(ix) Submittable around this piece.
If you have any questions about your submission, please reach out via the message portal on Submittable.
Thank you!
DEADLINE: THIS IS AN OPEN, ROLLING CALL FROM OCTOBER 2024 THROUGH APRIL 2025.
About Aster(ix)
Aster(ix) is a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing people of color at the center of the conversation. Founded in 2013 by novelist Angie Cruz and nonfiction writer Adriana E. Ramírez, the journal loves to feature the intimate, the honest, and the beautiful.
Aster(ix) is a play on asterisk, star, splat, a wildcard. It’s the censored and omitted. It’s footnotes and to be continued. (ix) honors Mayan heart-knowing, the alignment with divine will, the torch bearer. We cast lines between the future and the past, the possible and the impossible.
We encourage you to follow our Instagram @asterixjournal here and sign-up for our newsletter here to stay-in-touch with Aster(ix) and future calls. Read the journal online for free or order in-print at www.asterixjournal.com
Aster(ix) journal is open for submissions for a special DEBUT FICTION ISSUE (intended publication Spring 2025) guest edited by Cleyvis Natera, author of Neruda on The Park (Ballantine Books, 2023).
The DEBUT FICTION ISSUE will feature 1) short stories by writers who have not yet published in-genre in a literary journal and, 2) self-contained novel chapters of an unpublished debut novel (excerpts of forthcoming debut novels under contract will be considered). For both categories, we favor submissions under 6000 words. For this special issue, we are pleased to share that we can pay $100-250 per piece based on length.
Before submitting your work, please note that Aster(ix) is a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing people of color at the center of the conversation.
Submission Guidelines:
- Submissions are only accepted via Submittable.
- All submissions must be in English and must be previously unpublished.
- Translations are welcome and should be accompanied by a copy of the original as well as permission of the original author.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, as long as we are notified immediately if the manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere.
- Please submit in either .doc or .docx format.
- Please include your name and email address in the document of your submission.
- We do not need a cover letter, but the form will ask for a short bio.
- We never charge a reading fee for general submissions.
- Please send only one submission per author for this call (i.e. a short story or a standalone novel chapter). If multiple submissions are sent, none will be reviewed. Focus on one piece and send us whatever you think is your best!
About Our Review Process:
We read every submission, and because we receive so many submissions per year, response times will vary according to the volume of submissions. We are a mostly volunteer team. We aim to respond to all submissions within six months of receipt. Thank you in advance for your patience.
If a piece is accepted, editors will work closely with authors. We very rarely publish submitted pieces as-is, so if the idea of working and building your writing practice excites you, then you're in the right place!
Authors will receive a contract upon acceptance and payment (if applicable) upon publication. If the work is published in a print issue, authors will receive a complimentary print copy. Authors retain copyright to their work. Thank you for sharing your work with us!
What is Aster(ix) looking for?
At Aster(ix), we're looking for the intimate, the honest, and the beautiful. To get a sense of what we're looking for, here are examples of previous debut fiction pieces published in Aster(ix):
- A short story, "Today I Will Bake a Cake" by Layhannara Tep, published in our 2021 Fiction Issue
- A chapter excerpt from the debut novel of our very own guest editor, Cleyvis Natera, that we published in 2019!
We are also currently considering unsolicited interviews and unsolicited book reviews of debut books to be featured online. See that call here.
DEADLINE FOR THIS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: November 6, 2024 at 11:59pm PST
About Aster(ix)
Aster(ix) is a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing people of color at the center of the conversation. Founded in 2013 by novelist Angie Cruz and nonfiction writer Adriana E. Ramírez, the journal loves to feature the intimate, the honest, and the beautiful.
Aster(ix) is a play on asterisk, star, splat, a wildcard. It’s the censored and omitted. It’s footnotes and to be continued. (ix) honors Mayan heart-knowing, the alignment with divine will, the torch bearer. We cast lines between the future and the past, the possible and the impossible.
We encourage you to follow our Instagram @asterixjournal here and sign-up for our newsletter here to stay-in-touch with Aster(ix) and future calls. Read the journal online for free or order in-print at www.asterixjournal.com