Open Call for Submissions, Vol. III

Black Flower Publishing is opening a call for submissions for our third volume! We are seeking essays, poems, & artwork which explore what Masculinity is and can be during our current times. From these submissions we will create a Group Book, which will coalesce as a beautifully handmade, limited quantity edition by Black Flower.

We believe that Masculinity is an expansive walk to take. One of power, strength, responsibility, play, wisdom, but also one of delicacy, a gentle touch, a soft knowing, a quiet place. As a culture, we have much work to do in order to sift through our sorrow, shame, recklessness, and rage. During these trying times in our world, let us not abandon our Masculinity, but instead apprentice to what Masculinity may come to mean for our community, our world, and our unique soul.

We are interested as young men (Will & Roman) what is being asked of the masculine right now? What is trying to be born? What is being required of us all? How can we better hold space for our grief, deepen our connection to each other, make new language or remember the old language, and widen the narrow definitions we have been given? We know that whatever is not addressed and tended, will continue on as shadow. We are intentionally responding to this moment in our world by choosing to explore what we think is severely lacking in our collective culture. We offer joy, sorrow, rage, & repair as guide rails to your musings and wrestling.

Submissions are open to everyone. All genders, identities, and folks are encouraged to submit. Masculinity is not only for ‘Men,’ but it is an expression we all possess. We wonder how the idea of “the Masculine” might be seen as an archetype, which lives within each human soul and can be seen and found in the natural world, within institutions, and collective thought. This is not an exploration to only be done by ‘Men,’ as it does not only affect ‘Men,’ so we encourage everyone to contribute.

We are not sure the content your submissions may take and we want you to push the boundaries on what this Open Call is and can be. We imagine some of you may write an essay about Masculinity or certain archetypes, others may submit a painting that expands our understanding of Masculine bodies, others may write a poem about coming into relationship with the Masculine within themselves, others may write towards an experience where a manifestation of the Masculine deeply hurt them, others may create photographs which portrays their rage, others may paint their sorrows, others may have dreams which move them to create something totally new. We are open to it all–and hope to be surprised!

We welcome your submissions and look forward to building this book alongside you.