WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Poetry that is accessible, prose that is poetic, and artwork of the natural world that will wow us.

We’re looking for work that is nuanced, raw, and imagistic with strong elements of the natural world or hints to the human-nature relationship. We tend to favor work that is unexpected, evocative, yet subtle, with a strong sense of place and strong imagery.

We prefer shorter works that use brevity to its advantage, with simple formatting and uncomplicated language.

Please keep in mind the seasonal nature of the issue you’re submitting to.

Poetry & Prose

We prefer free-verse poetry and prose that is accessible to readers, is straightforward, and avoids fancy language.

We opt for the less traditional, Westernized style of haiku and tanka that does not follow strict syllable structures, while honoring the haiku aesthetic and characteristics.

We do not publish experimental work, and very rarely do we publish poems longer than one page.

Please edit your work before submitting. While typos aren’t enough to automatically reject your work, it is important to submit your final, edited piece(s). Upon acceptance, we may suggest minor edits to your work.

Visual Art

When it comes to art, we like both the realistic and the abstract—think out-of-focus photography, minimalism, intentional camera movement, and impressionistic smears of colors on a canvas. We love photographs of nature, be it landscapes, animals, or otherwise.

What We’re NOT Looking For

We like contemporary, but we shy away from human elements, like work that references technology—like your iPhone or Tinder or TikTok.

We will not publish profanity, discriminatory work of any kind, political pieces, or work that is fantastical in nature or of the horror genre. We steer away from work that is entirely anthropocentric. We don’t like personification, unless done subtly and skillfully.

We will not accept works created by robots, such as those created using AI technology like ChatGPT or similar means. Your work must be wholly created by you. 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Poetry – Up to 5 poems (or up to 10 haiku, tanka, or micropoetry 5 lines or less). Please include all poems in one document.

• Prose – No more than 2 pieces, 500 words maximum per piece. 

• Artwork & Photos – Up to 8 works, high resolution (300dpi). Be sure that the titles of your artwork are included in the file name.

READING PERIODS

• Spring issue – December 1st - February 1st, published in March

• Summer issue – March 1st - May 1st, published in June

• Fall issue – June 1st - August 1st, published in September

• Winter issue – September 1st - November 1st, published in December

Submissions. We only consider submissions sent through our online submission manager (Submittable). Emailed submissions will not be considered. Submissions must be accompanied by a brief 50 to 100 word third-person bio. Poetry and prose submissions should be sent in a single document (.doc or .docx formats preferred). Art must be high resolution (300dpi, .jpg or .jpeg formats preferred). Response time varies depending on where we are in our review cycle, but please allow up to three months for a response. Before submitting, please see our past issues for the type of work we publish.

Simultaneous Submissions & Withdrawals. We accept simultaneous submissions, but we must be immediately notified if a piece is accepted elsewhere. If you wish to withdraw one or several pieces from your submission, please email us directly with the titles of the work(s) you are withdrawing. If you wish to withdraw your entire submission, please use Submittable’s “Withdraw” option. 

Previously Published Work. We will not accept work previously published in an online or print magazine. We do not consider work posted to a blog, social media account, or personal website as published.

Publishing Rights. We ask for first time worldwide rights for accepted pieces. Following publication, all rights revert back to the contributor. Please note that your work first appeared in Humana Obscura if it is reprinted elsewhere on the web or in print. By submitting to Humana Obscura, you affirm that you are the sole owner of the work and that the work does not infringe upon the copyright or other rights of anyone. By submitting, you grant permission to the publisher to share the published material(s), and in some cases the contributors’ name, image, or likeness, in the publication as well as on the publisher’s digital platforms, including through digital mail and on its website and social media accounts, for the sole purpose of promoting the work and/or the creator.

Payment. At this time, we are not able to offer payment to our contributors for published works; however, we frequently and vigorously promote our writers/artists and their work (both within Humana Obscura as well as outside our magazine), so be sure to subscribe to our magazine and connect with us on Twitter (@humanaobscura), Instagram (@humanaobscura), and Facebook.

Please do not submit more than once per genre per reading period. You may, however, submit to more than one genre within one reading period. Additional submissions will not be read. Submissions received outside of our reading period will not be read.

INTERVIEW SERIES (Beginning January 1st, 2024)
Starting in January, we will choose 1 to 2 contributors for the interview series through an application process based on several questions. In order to be considered for an interview, you must submit work to the current issue. Only applications sent via Submittable will be considered. 

ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY (2024, Theme: “Blue”)
Humana Obscura is open to submissions of poetry and art year-round for it’s annual anthology, published in January and featuring work received during the previous year. Our first anthology will be released in January of 2025. Our first anthology will focus on a theme of “blue,” and however you interpret it—as the sky, the ocean, the shade of a particular flower, or an emotion. In keeping with this theme, a percentage of submission fees will be donated to Ocean Conservancy.

Please send any inquiries to editor[at]humanaobscura[dot]com.