Slates’ mission is to support and address the authentic human experience via candid depictions of life – be that in short fiction, poetry, original music, narrative nonfiction, literary journalism, photography, art, etc. The purpose is to identify reality visually that allows the reader to better understand other perspectives and challenge their ideology, making space for discussion and relationships.

AU students! We are open for submissions!

From Friday, February 13, 2026 to Friday, April 10, 2026, Slates Literary Arts Magazine will be open for submissions. We would love to see your work, so please send us your best! You’ll find submission guidelines below.

General Questions

  • Friday, February 13th - Friday, April 10th

  • We are currently accepting submissions from AU Students, Faculty & Staff at this time.

  • Because your voice and art holds weight. In other words, you matter.

Submission Guidelines

    • Filename Conventions—Your filename should include your last name and first name + Submission Genre (ex., Doe Jane – Poetry Submission, or Sample Jim – Photography Submission).

    • Biographical Statement (50 words or less)—Submissions should include a descriptive 3rd person bio and any links to personal websites (optional).

    • Equity & Inclusion—We love writers from all backgrounds, and we work hard to represent diverse voices. Hate speech, discrimination, and any other negative stance towards another race, culture, or demographic is unacceptable, and we will not accept work that exhibits such traits.

    • Here, There, Everywhere—We encourage AU students, regardless of experience/major, to submit.

    Important Note: We allow simultaneous submissions (that is, submitting work to more than one online or physical journal), but please email us if one of your submissions is accepted anywhere else.

    • Title—Each poem should have a title

    • Submit up to three (3) poems at a time, up to five (5) pages, in a single attached file. Each poem must start on a new page (page break).

    • If you submit more than three (3) poems or more than five (5) pages, we will not review your submission.

    Important Note: We do not accept previously published poems, including ones from social media or other blogs. We do not accepted AI-generated/assisted poems.

    • Title – Each short story should have a title

    • (1) Short story may be submitted at a time per individual. The maximum word count is (2) pages long with no particular word count. Fiction and Nonfiction (historical, modern, etc.) are accepted. If there are more than two pages submitted, your entry will not be reviewed.

    • Anything AI generated will not be reviewed.

    • Short stories published from other social media and other blogs will also not be accepted.

    • Title – Visual artwork should include a title.

    PHOTOGRAPHY

    • May submit up to (4) photos at a time per submitter. Please put all photos on the same email if you are submitting multiple.

    • Anything AI Generated will not be reviewed.

    • If done by disposable camera, please scan the photo(s) before submitting. If this is not done, the photo(s) will not be considered for review. If done by another type camera, please send the photo(s) as a file. The same sentiment applies for pictures taken on your phone.

    DRAWING

    • May submit up to (4) drawings at a time either as a collection or separate per submitter. Please put all drawings on the same email if you are submitting multiple.

    • Can be drawn using physical media (pens/pencils, colored pencils, charcoal) OR can be submitted from online drawing programs (Adobe Express, Procreate, ect.)

    • Anything AI Generated will not be accepted for review.

    • If you are submitting artwork(s) using physical media, please make sure to send it as a scanned image. If you are submitting works from online programs, please send them as a scanned image.

    PAINTING

    • May submit up to (2) paintings per submission. Please put all photos on the same email if you are submitting multiple.

    • Can be painted in acrylic paint, watercolor, oil paint, etc., but please make sure to scan the painting in order for it to be reviewed. If it is not scanned, it will not be accepted for review. If the pieces are intended to be a collection, please let us know so that we may appropriately label if needed.

    • Anything AI Generated will not be accepted for review.

  • SLATES OPEN READING PERIOD

    SLATES is open for submissions from:

    Tuesday, February 13, 2026 to Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 11:59pm

    DECISION NOTIFICATIONS

    Submitters will receive decision notifications no later than:
    Tuesday, April 21, 2026

    SPRING 2026 ISSUE RELEASE DATE

    The Spring 2026 Issue will go live on:
    Thursday, April 30, 2026

We want to experience your creative work!