Tidal Lantern is open for submissions to residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in the SC lowcountry. We value authenticity over perfection.
We seek poetry, prose, and pictures for print issues plus songs, short films, animated shorts, and other digital art to feature online. You may submit 3x per reading period.
We define 'art' broadly. We are less interested in forty-year-olds with MFAs than we are in four-year-olds that are MFAs (Masters of Fingerpainting Arts). If you think your kid's story is great, we probably do too, and we'd also love those doodles you've kept in your notebook for years. Tidal Lantern is for all of Charleston's people. We publish children next to computer scientists and call it high art.
Send poems, code poetry, and images in batches of 3-5. We accept photography, paintings, drawings, sketches, even ASCII. Short stories and personal essays, whether fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir, should be 1500-5000 words. Videos under 25 minutes may be submitted as a link in a text file. Code art may be submitted as an app, HTML file that runs a live script, or a video demo.
Print preference will be given to high school and college students, but writers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to submit. Writers from abroad are considered if their work is relevant to the region. We accept reprints.
The inaugural issue will go to print in April 2027. The reading period will begin August 1. Contributors will be compensated with 2 print copies, and if funds allow, the best two submissions will be rewarded with cash prizes.
We are not gatekeepers. We are doormen.
E-mail: lantern@crosstheteas.org
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