We are seeking submissions for Metaphorically Speaking, an anthology devoted to the power of the single, sustained metaphor.

This collection celebrates flash fiction, short stories, prose, and poems that know precisely what they are doing and do it well. We are looking for **tightly written works centered on **a single strong metaphor, thoughtfully explored and carried through with intention from beginning to end. The metaphor should act as the work's spine, not a scatter of competing images.

We are not seeking writing overloaded with metaphors or figurative language that obscures meaning. Clarity, control, and cohesion matter. Let the metaphor deepen the poem's emotional resonance, not distract from it.

We welcome a wide range of styles, subjects, and voices, but each submission should demonstrate:

• A clear, central metaphor
• Purposeful language and restraint
• Emotional or intellectual payoff grounded in the metaphor itself

If your work can hold its breath, trust its image, and let one metaphor speak volumes, this anthology is for you.

We look forward to reading your work. 

Please read our guidelines below before submitting:

Submission Deadline: March 29, 2026. General Guidelines

• You must be 18 or older to submit.
• We accept previously published work for our anthology and journal opportunities. Given that the previous publishers allow it.
• Please include all previously published credits at the bottom of the correlating title in the body of the submission, not in the bio, subject line, separate messages, or anywhere else.  
• We do not accept previously published work for our traditional and chapbook publishing opportunities.
• Once accepted, you will be added to our email newsletter, and we will contact you about developments via the email you have listed on your submittable account. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time.
• Please send any follow-up inquiries through your Submittable submissions portal.
• We are not yet a paying market for our anthology opportunities. Contributors will receive a PDF version of anthology collections unless otherwise indicated.
• If you need to withdraw the submission, please notify us through submittable.
• Contributor or Publisher may withdraw the offer of publication at any time before print.
• By submitting your work, you are agreeing to give us non-exclusive rights to publish it/them, if selected, in the anthology described above. Traditional publishing of full collections or novels requires exclusive rights.
• You may submit to more than one genre, but please do so in separate submissions. Multiple files or subs will be automatically rejected.
• Edit your work before submitting it. Please make sure the line breaks, stanza breaks, spelling, and grammar are EXACTLY how you want them. We will publish it as it is (except for glaring mistakes). We want to stay true to your formatting as closely as possible and will assume minor variations are for artistic flair. There will not be an opportunity to make changes. If you need to make changes, please request that we open the submission for editing via your Submittable submissions portal. This also prevents you from having to withdraw the submission to edit and saves you a 2nd submission fee.
• Quillkeepers Press reserves the right to make revisions to the work for uniformity and style (including capitalization of titles). However, we will solicit the Contributor’s approval for any significant changes.
• We are not babysitters. Please check your email for updates, release letters, and related materials. If we don't receive the release letter by the date listed on the document, we will assume you no longer wish to be part of the anthology, and your work will not be included in the manuscript.
• We cannot grant fee waivers without complicating our submission and project processes, so we do not honor such requests. We are genuinely sorry.

Submission Specifications:

• 1 flash fiction or short story up to 4k words.
• Up to 5 poems or prose poetry in a single document. Please ensure each selection starts on a new page. Anything over those numbers will not be read.
• Please use a 12pt, serif family font, standard size print paper (8.5x11), and 1.5 or double-spaced. 
• Please only include a short 3rd person bio starting with your name in the application part of the submission. Include any information you would like the readers to know about you, including any previous publications (this will not hinder or increase your chances of acceptance. We enjoy celebrating your wins in our publication.)
• Please include an author picture (if you want it in the anthology)
• Allow 4-8 weeks after the submission deadline date to receive a response.
• Reader fees cover this ad space and other overhead costs associated with the project.