guidelines for desire issue of hayden's ferry

Inspired by Oscar Wilde's evocative words, “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it,” we invite you to delve into the complex layers of desire where the pursuit and attainment of what we yearn for create their own distinct trials and moments of reckoning. We seek work exploring the journey of desire—how we reach for what lies beyond our grasp and what it means when we finally attain it. How does desire shape our lives and identities? What sacrifices are made along the way, and what new truths emerge when desire is fulfilled? We invite you to share stories, poems, and essays that explore these questions, capturing the tension between longing and fulfillment and examining what it means to find what we seek truly.

We welcome submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, and hybrid forms that engage with the theme of desire in innovative and thought-provoking ways. Whether through explorations of unfulfilled longing, stories of hard-won fulfillment, or reflections on the complexities of wanting, we invite you to examine the profound impact of desire on our lives. We encourage works that push the boundaries of form and perspective, revealing how desire shapes and reshapes our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

We highly encourage submissions from BIPOC, queer, and disabled writers and visual artists, as well as collaborative works. Share your unique voice and perspective on what it means to reach, to want, and to find.

• Poems: Submit up to 6 pages of poems in one document. Each poem should be on a separate page. Please provide the title for each poem in the order they are being submitted on your cover letter.

• Prose (fiction/nonfiction/essay): Submit up to 10 pages, double-spaced, in one document. If submitting more than one piece, please provide the title for each one in the order they are submitted on your cover letter.

• Translation - An English translation must be provided alongside the original piece. Both the original and its translation will be published. If collaborating with a translator, please include their bio in the cover letter.

• Art: Submit up to 6 pieces. Please provide a title for each one in the order they are being submitted on your cover letter. We encourage video work to be submitted (video work not to exceed 5 minutes).

• Hybrid: Submit following the guidelines for the genre it most closely resembles/is in conversation with.

Please include a brief bio (150 words max) with your submission, including social media handles and your website. Please only submit to one call for submissions