Nature Held Me Close

"In her urgent poem “Trilliums”, the late Mary Oliver wanders through the natural world “listened to the earth-talk, the root-wrangle, the arguments of energy, the dreams lying just under the surface” as she observes the trilliums in full bloom before eventually becoming the very flower of the poem’s name. In our pursuit of gentleness, nostalgia, and a reimagining of ‘home’, Frontier Poetry is launching a new contest called “Nature and Place”.

We’re looking for poems rich and robust in language, technique, and form that pay homage to the natural world and all of the small marvels that occur in nature. We’re also interested in poems that observe geography and the landscape of home. Frontier Poetry warmly encourages poets of all backgrounds, identities and ethnicities to submit. You're welcome here."

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Mentally I am bonking myself on the head with a cardboard tube as a reminder that I haven't written poetry regularly in years and don't have time to put together a submission in three days because I have a whole dissertation on nature place and landscape to finish writing 😑

...it is tempting though.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

When Backlit by Love is a zine about trans people loving and being loved. Our hope is that this collection of art, poetry, and creative nonfiction can begin to encompass the breadth and depth of love so many people, cis and trans alike, have for the trans folks in their lives.

We are seeking stories and artwork that centers a love for a trans person or people in the creator’s life, including yourself! We especially want to highlight work by trans and nonbinary creators, but cis people are also encouraged to submit. A great part of the purpose of this zine is that love for trans people comes not just from the trans (and queer) community, but across many identities and in many ways.

How to Participate:

If you’d like to submit your work, follow the submission guidelines under the cut. Send your work to [email protected]. We plan to accept 30-40 original pieces; if there’s a huge response, we may consider future editions. Submissions are now being accepted on a rolling basis, so get yours in before spots fill up!

Please share this call for submissions with any creators you think might be interested!

If you’d like to support the zine, please follow us at whenbacklitbylovezine and share our posts! When Backlit by Love will be completely free when released.

Volume 3 of Nature Held Me Close is now available.

Read and download it here.

Call for Submissions: Nature Held Me Close, Edition Two

“Nature Held Me Close” is a zine about gender dysphoria and the great outdoors. Sometimes it’s hard to exist in a physical body, but spending time in nature can be one of the best ways to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

This is the second edition of this project, initially started in 2020. You can read volumes 1 and 2 here.

This zine is a place to feature art and writing from trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people about how spending time outdoors  – hiking, camping, gardening, birdwatching, landscaping, doing outdoor education or research, or just sitting quietly in nature – has influenced how you feel about your body and your gender. Submissions are open to dysphoric people of any and all gender identities!

You are welcome to share:

Essays and other nonfiction writing

Poetry

Digital and/or traditional art

Photography

Mixed media

How to participate:

Email [email protected] with your submission. Please include 1) your name or a nickname you’d like to be known by, 2) social media handle if you’d like it to be published with your piece (optional), and 3) any author’s or artist’s notes you’d like included as well. Once submissions are collected, this zine will be published as a free PDF. Submissions are due by June 20, 2021: this year’s summer solstice.

Submission guidelines are included under the cut!

Call for Submissions: Nature Held Me Close, Edition Two

“Nature Held Me Close” is a zine about gender dysphoria and the great outdoors. Sometimes it’s hard to exist in a physical body, but spending time in nature can be one of the best ways to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

This is the second edition of this project, initially started in 2020. You can read volumes 1 and 2 here.

This zine is a place to feature art and writing from trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people about how spending time outdoors  – hiking, camping, gardening, birdwatching, landscaping, doing outdoor education or research, or just sitting quietly in nature – has influenced how you feel about your body and your gender. Submissions are open to dysphoric people of any and all gender identities!

You are welcome to share:

Essays and other nonfiction writing

Poetry

Digital and/or traditional art

Photography

Mixed media

How to participate:

Email [email protected] with your submission. Please include 1) your name or a nickname you’d like to be known by, 2) social media handle if you’d like it to be published with your piece (optional), and 3) any author’s or artist’s notes you’d like included as well. Once submissions are collected, this zine will be published as a free PDF. Submissions are due by June 20, 2021: this year’s summer solstice.

Submission guidelines are included under the cut!

Call for Submissions: Nature Held Me Close, Edition Two

“Nature Held Me Close” is a zine about gender dysphoria and the great outdoors. Sometimes it’s hard to exist in a physical body, but spending time in nature can be one of the best ways to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

This is the second edition of this project, initially started in 2020. You can read volumes 1 and 2 here.

This zine is a place to feature art and writing from trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people about how spending time outdoors  – hiking, camping, gardening, birdwatching, landscaping, doing outdoor education or research, or just sitting quietly in nature – has influenced how you feel about your body and your gender. Submissions are open to dysphoric people of any and all gender identities!

You are welcome to share:

Essays and other nonfiction writing

Poetry

Digital and/or traditional art

Photography

Mixed media

How to participate:

Email [email protected] with your submission. Please include 1) your name or a nickname you’d like to be known by, 2) social media handle if you’d like it to be published with your piece (optional), and 3) any author’s or artist’s notes you’d like included as well. Once submissions are collected, this zine will be published as a free PDF. Submissions are due by June 20, 2021: this year’s summer solstice.

Submission guidelines are included under the cut!

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

When Backlit by Love is a zine about trans people loving and being loved. Our hope is that this collection of art, poetry, and creative nonfiction can begin to encompass the breadth and depth of love so many people, cis and trans alike, have for the trans folks in their lives.

We are seeking stories and artwork that centers a love for a trans person or people in the creator’s life, including yourself! We especially want to highlight work by trans and nonbinary creators, but cis people are also encouraged to submit. A great part of the purpose of this zine is that love for trans people comes not just from the trans (and queer) community, but across many identities and in many ways.

How to Participate:

If you’d like to submit your work, follow the submission guidelines under the cut. Send your work to [email protected]. We plan to accept 30-40 original pieces; if there’s a huge response, we may consider future editions. Submissions are due by June 30th, 2021.

Please share this call for submissions with any creators you think might be interested!

If you’d like to support the zine, please follow us at whenbacklitbylovezine and share our posts! When Backlit by Love will be completely free when released.

Volume 1 of Nature Held Me Close is now available. 

Read and download it here.