General Guidelines

Paperbark lives at the confluence of text and image, science and art. We believe in the obligations of a livable future nurtured through collaboration across generations and fields of thought. Rooted in stewardship and creative possibility, Paperbark gathers stories of ecologies in crisis—as well as stories of life’s flourishing intricacies. We expect all submissions to be in conversation with environmental themes, however you choose to define that relationship.

Simultaneous submissions are encouraged. Please withdraw your piece immediately if accepted elsewhere. We hope to respond to all submissions within three months. Please query (paperbarkmagazine@gmail.com) if you haven’t heard from us by then.

Please Note: Paperbark does not consider work from current graduate students in any program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; however, undergraduates and alumni are welcome to submit.

Prose

Fiction, creative nonfiction, journalism, and science communication that engage with environmental themes can be submitted under this category. We accept submissions up to 5,000 words. If sending shorter pieces, you may submit up to three flash pieces (<1000 words) for consideration. Works should be double-spaced. Please only submit sections of a longer work if it stands alone as a piece.

Art

Visual art, photography, and design, as well as any multimedia works that engage with environmental themes can be submitted in this category. Submit up to six pieces as filetypes Submittable allows. Please prepare an Artist’s Statement (<500 words) to be featured alongside your work if selected.

Questions?

Email paperbarkmagazine@gmail.com with any questions regarding the above. Do not send unsolicited work here—we only read submissions through Submittable.