Rawhead

We are accepting submissions for the 2026 42 Miles Press Poetry Award! Check our website or Submittable for more details and to view our past winners. Submissions are open until June 15th so you have just over a month to send us your manuscripts! This contest is judged by series editor David Dodd Lee @davidlee2588 . The winning poet will receive $1,000, publication of their book, and 50 author copies. The winner will also be invited to give a reading at Indiana University South Bend as part of the release of the book. /submit #poetrycontest #poetrypublisher #smallpress #poetryprize #smallpresspublishing

Want to join the team? Rawhead is growing, and we’d love to bring others into the fold. We’re looking for thoughtful, curious, and committed people to help shape the journal’s future. Whether your strengths are in editing, reviewing submissions, graphic design, outreach, or helping behind the scenes, we want to hear from you. No publishing experience is required. We just want to work with people who have a passion for art and literature that challenges, connects, and endures. If our mission speaks to you, submit an application today at the link in our bio! Note: To preserve editorial integrity and avoid conflicts of interest, staff members are not permitted to publish their own creative work in Rawhead. #rawheadjournal #litmag #literaryjournal #callforvolunteers #editorialopportunity #joinourteam #poetryreader #fictionreader #nonfictionreader #copyeditor #fictioneditor #nonfictioneditor #productioneditor #publicitymanager #litmaglife #openpositions #literarycommunity #volunteereditors #indielit #writingcommunity #litmagcall #artandliterature #editorialteam #literaryeditors #poetrycommunity #fictioncommunity #nonfictionwriters #submitlit #writersofinstagram #readerswanted Artwork by David Dodd Lee, “Ice cream in time of Covid 19”

Congratulations to past contributor, Amy Kesegich, whose latest poetry collection is now available for pre-order. “Some Complaints About Time” (Finishing Line Press) will be released on Sept. 11 and pre-order pricing is guaranteed until July 17. Order your copy today! @akesegich @flpbooks /product/some-complaints-about-time-by-amy-kesegich/ If you’re a former or upcoming Rawhead contributor and have a project you’re excited about, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to celebrate/promote your accomplishments! #newpoetrybook #poetrycollection #finishinglinepress #newpoetry #poetrycommunityofinstagram

From Issue Two of Rawhead: An excerpt from Arlie Moberly’s short story, “Palace”. Read the full story here: /rawhead-issue-two/arlie-moberly-issue-two/ Arlie Moberly is a writer based in London. Her work has been published in Five on the Fifth, the Kindling, and Our Culture, among others. #shortstorywriter #londonwriters #newstories #litmags #creativewritingcommunit

“Man with Cigarette”, by Marc Shanker, from Issue Two of Rawhead. @marcshanker Marc is the author of Traces of Sepharad (Huellas de Sefarad), Etchings of Judeo-Spanish Proverbs. Artist Books include: But a Bubble; Man, A Machine of Absurdities; Signs; Cheap Gems, Precious Stones; Prometheus’ Gifts; White Rose; Luna Park; Prints and Poets; The Orestia Trilogy; Message from the Memoirist, Poems by Paul Pines, published by Dos Madres Press; Bunkum, Blather, Balderdash (2019), The End of the Beginning (2020), Bring Me a Toothpick: Homo Absurdus (2020), Who Me? Yes You. (2021), Steal the Cheese (2022), Proletarians (2022), Proletarians (2022), Mediations on Humpty Dumpty (2022), Bloody Traps (2022), Ubu Rex (2023), Pointless (2024), And All Will Be As Mirrors (2024), Postcards of the Mind (2025), Atlas of the Mind (2025), *GS 1 (2026), and Paradise Lost: More Fun, Dick with Jane (2026). In 2008 Marc founded Gravity Free Press to show, publish and distribute his artwork, books, broadsides, and to serve as a platform for collaborative projects with other artists, especially writers and poets. Website: #paintings #paintingcommunity #nycpainter #artcommunity #painters

From Issue Two of Rawhead - Neriza Gueta’s poem “What They Don’t Tell You About Lobotomy” Bio: Neriza Gueta is a writer and translator with a degree in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines. Her work spans educational publishing, media, and development, including subtitling for international film and television. On the side, Neriza studies German and writes poetry, often romanticizing her life as she sits with a cup of coffee on her sunny roof deck. #newpoetry #poetrycommunity #poemoftheday #rawheadjournal #poetsandwriters

We’re excited to share with you our second April Rawhead: Point Blank feature- poet Dane Lyn. @punkhippypoet has five poems featured on our website that we hope you’ll take some time today to read and share. We also ask you to consider a donation to The Trevor Project and help support LGBTQ+ youth advocacy and crisis services. Thank you for sharing your work, Dane. And thank you to all of our readers! /pride/ Bio: Dane Lyn (they/them) is a neurosparkly, disabled poet, educator, and glitter enthusiast. They hold an MFA from Lindenwood University and have been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. Dane teaches poetry, founded Ink & Marrow and now serves as managing editor, keeps a ridiculous succulent collection, and owns five scavenger hunt runner-up ribbons. Find them at danelyn.net and on Instagram @punkhippypoet . #thetrevorproject #poetryfeature #newpoetry #poetrycommunity #featuredpoems

Please join us in welcoming to the team, Natascha Holenstein! As our Nonfiction Editor, @natascha.h is expanding and refining our creative nonfiction program by curating deeply resonant pieces that elevate both the genre and the journal. A few words from Natascha about what she looks for in a CNF piece - “What excites me about creative nonfiction is the freedom that it offers writers to explore true, lived experiences. I am interested in reading works that make use of the creative elements that you would find in fiction and poetry, such as lyrical essays and speculative nonfiction. Let your writing feel raw and embrace the parts of ourselves and our world that often remain hidden and suppressed. Your work should thrum with intense emotion and elicit a visceral response from the reader. I am particularly looking to read from unique and overlooked perspectives that showcase the different forms that artistic resistance can take. I enjoy writing that integrates themes of identity, moral complexities, coming of age, power dynamics, and mental illness, though any theme can be done well with the right vision.“ #cnf #nonfictioneditor #creativenonfiction #creativewritingcommunity #essayist

Our Issue Two virtual launch event/open mic is this Friday, May 1st from 6-7 PM CST. We’re excited to feature Jason Davidson, Katie Baker, Pelumi Sholagbade, and Jeff Thomas reading/discussing their work. Following that will be an open mic. If you’d like to RSVP, please find the link in the comments and our bio. We hope to see you there! @jeffthomasthumb @pelum111 @katiebakerart @jasonwriteswords #virtualopenmic #poetryreading #flashfiction #creativewritingcommunity #openmicpoetry

From Issue Two of Rawhead, Joe Barca’s poem “Birds Fail Me”. Thanks for being part of the new issue @joebarca13 Bio: Joe Barca is a poet from the Boston area. He has a partner, two children, and a wheaten terrier named Brady. He is a regular contributor to The Poetry Space podcast, and he reads for Whale Road Review. His work has been included in Rattle, One Art, and South Florida Poetry Journal. Some of his favorite poets are Mai Der Vang, Kevin Young, and Alexis Sears.

Please join us in welcoming, Micah Ruelle to the Rawhead Team! Micah is helping us read poetry submissions and providing expert insight into the work we received for Issue Three. Thanks for all you’re doing in the literary world, @mruellewrites Micah Ruelle is a queer poet, editor, and educator residing in the Twin Cities. Their first chapbook, Failure to Merge, was published in 2019 by Finishing Line Press. Their second chapbook, Clean Getaway, has been a finalist and semifinalist in 5 competitions. You can find their work in Chicago Quarterly, About Place, Jet Fuel, and elsewhere. Micah is also the founder of Ruelle Creative Solutions, and launched its first project: “The DRAFT Season: 12 months. 1 Poetry Collection” — a free, online course in which students attempt to write a book of poems in a year. Additionally, Micah is also a youth writing mentor in partnership with Chiwan Choi and Cultural Daily. You can learn more about them and their work at #poets #litmag #welcometotheteam #poetrycommunity #poet