Submission Guidelines

Apache Ember is a literary journal rooted in the living traditions of Apache story. Our vision is to ignite the creative spirit of the Nnee through storytelling, poetry, and the written word–honoring the enduring power of Apache wisdom and expression across generations.

Towards tending this vision, we:

• Uplift the voices of Apache, Indigenous, and other writers through original works that reflect our languages, traditions, and lived experiences
• Cultivate a space for artistic excellence rooted in Nnee bi’at’e, encouraging diverse styles and perspectives
• Support emerging writers and artists by providing mentorship, editorial guidance, and publication opportunities
• Strengthen cultural identity and community connection through the power of story
• Serve as a living archive of creative resilience, ensuring the flame of Apache storytelling continues to burn brightly for future generations

Call for Submissions

Apache Ember invites submissions of original, unpublished poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, and hybrid/experimental work from creators whose work reflects Indigenous perspectives. Our journal seeks voices that honor ancestral memory, cultural resilience, and the many ways in which stories are carried through land, language, and community.

As the creative, literary home for San Carlos Apache College, Apache Ember’s vision and mission seeks to amplify Apache and other Indigenous voices while welcoming writers and artists from all backgrounds and experiences. Whether your work is deeply personal, lyrical, speculative, or traditionally grounded, your voice matters.

Submissions received by the deadline will be considered for Vol. 2, No. 1, set to be published Spring 2027. 

General Submission Guidelines

• • Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • We do not accept previously published work (this includes self-published blogs, chapbooks, or online platforms).
  • Contributors may submit in more than one genre.
  • We accept submissions in Indigenous languages, English, or both. Work written in an Indigenous language that reflects diacritics, syllabics, etc. should be Unicode compatible.
  • We especially encourage submissions from Apache and other Indigenous writers and artists.

Poetry

• • Submit 1 to 5 poems, up to 10 pages total

  • Accept experimental forms, oral-transcribed pieces, and bilingual work

File types: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf

Fiction

• • Submit 1 short story (up to 3,000 words) or up to 3 flash pieces (each under 1,000 words)

  • Double-spaced, 12 pt standard font (e.g., Times New Roman)

File type: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf

Creative Nonfiction / Essay

• • Submit 1 piece up to 3,000 words or up to 2 shorter works (each under 1,500 words)

  • Memoir, personal essay, lyric nonfiction, and other narratives are welcome

  • Double-spaced, 12 pt standard font (e.g., Times New Roman)

File type: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf

Visual Art

• • Submit up to 5 pieces as .jpg or .png, high-resolution (300 dpi)

  • Include title(s) in the file name(s)

  • Add a brief artist’s statement (max 100 words) in the cover letter section of this form

File type: .jpg, .png, .svg

Hybrid / Experimental Work

• • We welcome boundary-blurring submissions: prose-poems, text/image pieces, epistolary work, and other forms that challenge traditional genre

  • Submit 1 piece, up to 10 pages if text-based; formatting flexible, but clarity matters

  • If helpful, please include a brief note about form or context in the cover letter section of this form 

File type: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .jpg, .png, .svg

Note: Reach out if your file type includes something atypical (e.g. video or audio)

File Submission Information & Requirements

• • Title your file(s) as: Lastname_Title_Genre

  • We accept text-based submissions uploaded as .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf

  • Visual work can be uploaded as .jpg, .png, or .svg

  • Please reach out if your submission includes something atypical (for example, hybrid/experimental work that includes video or audio format

Other Call Details

Cost to Submit: NO

Accept Simultaneous Submissions: YES (please let us know if this is the case)

Accept Previously Published Work: NO

Bio Requirements: Please provide a brief biographical statement between 50 and 150 words (name, pronouns, and tribal affiliation are exclusive of the word count).

Copyright Information:

Apache Ember acquires rights to simultaneously publish the piece(s) it accepts on its website and in its printed literary journal.

Authors/artists retain all other rights to future resale or republication of their works.

Apache Ember asks that authors/artists who republish a piece that first appears in Apache Ember to provide credit using the following, or a similar, statement: “This work first appeared in the [publication date] issue of Apache Ember, the creative, literary home for San Carlos Apache College.”

Likewise, if Apache Ember is interested in republishing a piece in a future issue (e.g. a special anniversary issue, retrospective, etc.), we will contact the author/artist for republication permission under original terms.

Response Time: Our editorial team aims to respond within 12–15 weeks after the submissions deadline. If you have not heard from us within that time, feel free to query

Questions: Email the editorial team with any questions: apacheember@apachecollege.org

Deadline: August 31, 2026