At carte blanche we believe there is more than one way to tell a story. Our mandate is to provide a venue for narrative of all forms from fiction and nonfiction, to poetry and photo essays.
carte blanche is published three times a year: in the winter, spring/summer, and fall.
How to submit
We are open for submissions from 21 July to 21 August. Creative Nonfiction is temporarily closed for submissions.
We accept original, previously unpublished submissions through our online submission form ONLY. If you have problems using our submission form, please send us an email.
Deadlines
Submissions for Issue 42 – Fall 2021 are due 21 August at 11:59 p.m. EST. Send us your Comics, Fiction, Photography, Poetry, and Translations.
Simultaneous submissions: We accept simultaneous submissions. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are sending your piece elsewhere and withdraw your submission via Submittable if it is accepted somewhere else.
Unpublished submissions: We do not accept submissions that have been previously published, including on personal websites and social media.
Rights: We ask for first world serial rights and the right to archive your work on the website. Copyright reverts to the author upon publication. In the case of translated pieces, you must already have received permissions from the original publisher to translate the piece prior to submitting your translation to us.
Payment: carte blanche pays a modest honorarium per submission. We hope to increase the amount in the future.
Theme
Our theme for Issue 42 is an open theme and we invite writers and artists living with visible or invisible disabilities to submit their work for this issue.
We would like to celebrate the wide spectrum of work created by individuals who live with disabilities, however they may identify or define disability.
carte blanche acknowledges the intersectionality of individuals’ lived experiences and aims to provide a welcoming and safe space for racialized and marginalized voices in Quebec, Canada, and beyond.
We encourages submissions by individuals who identity as LGBTQA2S, BIPOC, disabled (visible and invisible), and those who live with mental health challenges and neodivergence.
Please send us your best works of Fiction, Poetry, Comics, Translations, and Photography. Please make sure to read a recent issue and our guidelines before sending in your work (via Submittable only). The Creative Nonfiction section will be closed for submissions for this issue.
What to send
Comics
We’re looking for comics that have a story to tell, that explore the boundaries of narrative within the comics form. We’re open to all styles, subjects, shapes, and sizes, but keep in mind that your comic will be displayed on the web using our image gallery.
See our website for previous submissions and to get an idea of how the gallery looks.
Please submit your files at web resolution (72dpi) in one file (PDF or ZIP) with an artist’s biography of 75 words or less, and any relevant links.
All files should be named with their proper titles as you would like them to be displayed on the site. Note: If your piece is selected, you may be asked to submit print-ready files for a print-on-demand copy of your issue.
Fiction
We welcome fiction in any form. Word limit: 3500 words.
Photography
Tell a story in 12 photos or fewer. Together, your photos should create a narrative – whether abstract or concrete.
Send a ZIP or PDF file with your work pasted in and include a statement, captions, and any other relevant text.
If your work is selected for publication, we will contact you for a high-res version of the photo essay. A low-res version is adequate for submitting.
Poetry
As of 2021, we have instated a submission cap. Please submit early — we will not accept late submissions by email.
We welcome poems in any form.
Limit: Maximum 3 poems per person per submission round.
Translations
We accept English translations of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction written originally in French. If possible, please include the original work on which the translation is based.
If we like your piece and choose to publish it, you will be required to provide proof of permission from the copyright holder of the original work to translate and publish the translation. Obtaining permission can take time, so please do so before you submit!
What not to send (for now)
Creative Nonfiction
We consider nonfiction narratives including memoir, personal essay, and literary journalism. Creative nonfiction submissions should be factual. Any changes to names to protect privacy should be indicated in an author’s note.
Maximum 3500 words.
Pitches: à la carte blog
We are currently closed for “à la carte blog” blog submissions.
When we reopen, we will be especially interested in pitches for the à la carte blog from marginalized writers. BIPOC, LGTBQA2S, disabled (visible & invisible), under-represented religions, and others will be encouraged to submit.