Call for papers: 

For the first edition of Epitaphs, we invite writers, artists and academics to submit their short form Gothic or Horror work on the following theme: 

Dark Ecologies. 

In his 2016 monograph, Timorthy Morton describes dark ecology, in a highly Gothic manner, as ‘ecological awareness, dark-depressing. Yet ecological awareness is also dark-uncanny. And strangely it is dark-sweet’ (5). Dark ecology constitutes a tension shifting between despair (triggered by the incapacity to act on global issues such as pollution, droughts, or floods), strangeness (linked to the de-familiarisation of our environment, e.g., as summers grow hotter, and winters grow icier), and hope (raised by the countless solutions developed every day to solve aspects of the climate crisis). In Gothic and Horror, dark ecologies also fluctuate between despair, uncanny and sweet as motifs such as forbidden forests, nighttime natures, underground spaces in which to hide or get lost, ,benevolent and vicious creatures populating thedark cornersof labyrinthine cities, all shape the Gothic world and imagination.  

The theme can be understood as literally or as figuratively as needed. Works can relate to:  

• Darkness and nature 

• Subterranean worlds 

• Underworlds 

• Nighttime Wilderness 

• Polluted Landscapes 

• Dark caves, burrows, tunnel systems, colonies 

• Subterranean Wildlife 

• Ruins and desolate graveyards 

• Etc.  

 Length: 

For poetry, send up to two poems, no longer than 30 lines each. 

For prose, your submission should not exceed 500 words. 

For plays, your submission should not exceed one page.  

For visual art pieces, send a single piece which should not exceed one page/image.  

Submission:  

For written submissions, please send one submission (either poetry, prose, play) as a single Word document. 

For visual art pieces, please send one document (PDF or JPEG or PNG).  

Please send your submission to epitaphs.mag@gmail.com. 

ONLY SEND ONE SUBMISSION (either poetry submission, or prose submission or play submission or visual arts submission).  

Please include “Issue 1 Submission” on the object line of your email.  

No need for a cover letter, but include in your email what you imagine your epitaph will read. 

Find below a template email you can use to save time:  

‘Dear editors,  

Please find attached my submission, [SUBMISSION NAME], for issue #1 of Epitaphs. 

I confirm that this work is my own and that I have followed the submission guidelines.  

My chosen epitaph is: “[...]”  

All the best,  

[NAME]’  

If accepted, your submission will be published online alongside your name and chosen epitaph. 

References: 

Include references using the Harvard referencing system where necessary.  

Timeline: 

Deadline for submission:  

August 31st 2024 23.59pm 

Any submission received after the deadline will not be read.  

Response:  

Before 30th September 2024 – please only inquire about your submission outcome if you have not heard back by September 30th 2024. 

November 15th: Updated/edited submissions due (where applicable).  

Publication: 

December 1st: Publication of works on the Epitaphs website.  

Contact address: 

epitaphs.mag@gmail.com 

More details: 

https://epitaphs-magazine.weebly.com/