Themed Anthology Open for Submissions

Thank you to everyone who submitted work to this anthology! We are now closed for submissions. Watch for the “Routine” anthology release this Fall!

As one of the many upcoming changes and improvements to our operations here at Crack the Spine, we are delighted to announce that we are producing our first themed print anthology!

The book with selected poetry, fiction, and essays will be available on Amazon and other online booksellers later this year. The submission period is May 17th – July 20th.

The theme for this print anthology is “Routine.” Let’s check in with good old Miriam-Webster for a moment, shall we?
1. a : a regular course of procedure

• if resort to legal action becomes a campus routine

b : habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure

• the routine of factory work

2: a reiterated speech or formula

• the old “After you” routine

3: a worked-out part (as of an entertainment or sports contest) that may be often repeated

• a dance routine; especially : a theatrical number

4: a sequence of computer instructions for performing a particular task

Helpful. But we want you to think well beyond this basic definition. We want short stories, poetry, flash fiction, or creative essays that focus on the theme of routine in an unexpected way. Tell us how routines are made or broken or reinforced. To us “routine” does not mean “boring,” but rather a concept that we all deal with daily. We are seeking work that embraces this reality, without surrendering to the clichéd notion that routines are, by their very essence, mundane. Play with time, play with perception, and by all means, play with your words and make your work hum with intensity.
We are accepting submissions on the subject of this theme in the following categories. Please specify, in the subject line of your submission, which category your work falls under.

• Micro Fiction: We define micro fiction as prose or verse of 100 words or less. Keep it sharp and make it sing. Sending multiple works in a single submission is encouraged in this category.
• Flash Fiction: “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Some guy named Shakespeare said that. We define flash fiction as prose of 1,000 words or less. Sending multiple works in a single submission is encouraged in this category.
• Short Fiction: We are seeking short stories of 1,000 words or more. But please don’t send us a novel. We’ve already got novels coming out our ears over here. Consider around 5,000 words as a general word-max guideline.
• Poetry: We’re not looking for any specific form or meter. We’re not concerned with limiting word count, either. Just make sure it ‘sings.’ If you are submitting word art poetry, please submit as a high resolution image file. Sending multiple works in a single submission is encouraged in this category.
• Creative Non-Fiction: What we’re really looking for is common stories told in interesting ways. Make us look at a hum-drum day in a different way. Open our eyes and make us see things from your unique perspective. We prefer essays of 2,000 words or less. Multiple works in a single submission are acceptable in this category.

If you are submitting multiple pieces, please send them as a single submission. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. All work must be completely original, your own work, and previously unpublished in any format. We do not currently offer payment to contributors.

submissions for the “routine” ANTHOLOGY are now closed