We seek unpublished work by established and emerging writers unaffiliated with the University of Central Arkansas.

We accept submissions all year, but please be aware that our active reading period is August through March, taking a short break during April, May, June, and July.

Genre-specific guidelines are below.


Submit to Fiction
We're looking for polished fiction of any form. Speak in voices no one has heard. Give us lies so well told they turn into truth. Submit as many stories as you like, but please keep your total word count 4,000 words or fewer. 
Submit to Poetry
The poetry staff for Arkana encourages you to submit up to three poems in a single document, with no additional information. In Submittable, please include a brief biographical statement or other information you feel provides a necessary context to your work. To get a sense of what we’re looking for, we suggest you take a look at our mission statement. We are moved more by an aesthetic than by any particular trend or fashion in the world of contemporary poetry. As our mission statement indicates, we like art by outsiders. We like art about outsiders. We like beauty and music. We dislike art in which nothing is at stake—great art is inherently unsafe. Come live dangerously with us!
Submit to Creative Nonfiction
Send us your essays, your memoirs, your investigations. Give us your perspectives, your questions, your answers (tentative or firm). Let us hear your voice as you tell your reality as you know it. We accept all musings of 4,000 words or less, double spaced, no fancy fonts. Just plain truth.
Submit to Scripts

We're looking for polished scripts that illuminate truths and push boundaries. We accept ten-minute plays and scripts that are 20-pages or under. 

Submit to Illustrated Narrative

We consider anything that combines words with visuals in a way that pushes the boundaries of form and storytelling. We accept works of fiction, nonfiction, comic strips or otherwise, as long as it fits our aesthetic and our mission. Work that is part of a larger novel or collection is allowed, as long as it has not been published anywhere else and the narrative works as a standalone piece. We are looking for short works no more than 5 pages in length. You can send multiple works at a time, but we ask that you do not exceed 20 pages per submission.

Submit to Translation
Arkana is most interested in authors who have not previously appeared in translation, new approaches to translation, and languages that are currently underrepresented. 

We accept all forms of work in translation, although we prefer poetry. Submissions should be 3 pages of poetry and 4,000 words of prose. Your submission should be in a DOC, DOCX, or PDF file format and your name and a short bio (300 words or less) should be included in the cover letter. 

Please also include the information of the original publisher and attach information showing that publication rights are available. If yours is a piece in the public domain, please note that. 
Submit to Artwork
Submit photographs or images to be published alongside literary work. Photographs and images should speak to Arkana's mission and aesthetic.
Arkana