Since we launched our journal in 2022, we have devoted December and January to special issues featuring pieces celebrating, reflecting on, or paying tribute to the holidays, winter, family and cultural traditions, or what it means to move from one year to the next.

Our submission call typically publishes from early October through mid-November to allow time to select and place new work in the December and January months.

For 2025, submissions will open on October 1, 2025, and close November 15, 2025. Submissions will be fee-free! We may choose to cap submissions if response is high.

glass of coffee on fur with bouquet of holly
Photo by Beyza Efe on Pexels.com

For the December 2025 and January 2026 issues, The Bluebird Word is looking for poetry, flash nonfiction, or flash fiction pieces that capture the essence, mood, and experience of the season. We welcome pieces with themes that center around wintertime, the holidays, and reflection as we close out one year and start a new one.

GUIDELINES:

  • We will feature at least twenty pieces—and maybe more—of new writing in the Winter Reflection Holiday issue. Last year, we published nearly thirty pieces (of poetry, flash nonfiction and fiction) in December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Emerging writers (fewer than five published pieces across any genre) are encouraged to submit. You are welcome to add a comment that you consider yourself an emerging writer.
  • Established writers are also cherished for their submissions.
  • If you have been previously published in The Bluebird Word, please join us again. We welcome your new and unpublished work.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

  • You may submit in multiple categories (poetry, nonfiction or fiction). However, please only submit up to three poems, one flash nonfiction essay, and/or one piece of flash fiction.
  • Poems do not have a line limit, although we prefer poems that do not exceed 50 lines. You’re welcome to try something new. For example, do you write haiku, villanelles, or sestinas? Play around with various formats, if you’d like.
  • Flash nonfiction and flash fiction submissions are preferred up to the 750-word range. Pieces cannot exceed 1,000 words.
  • Please attach your submission in a .doc or .docx format. You may include separate attachments or all work in one attachment.
  • Please use a clear font such as 12-point, Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, or similar.
  • Only new or unpublished work accepted. Nothing previously published (i.e. from other online or print publications, personal blogs, websites or social media).
  • As a friendly reminder, The Bluebird Word will not tolerate writing which fosters or promotes discrimination, hatred or violence. Your piece will not be read further if it is determined this is the nature of your submission.

SEEKING INSPIRATION?

Please take a look at previous years’ Winter Reflection Issues for inspiration and to get a sense of what we publish.

Thank you for being here. We look forward to reading your work.

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