Submissions

The Collective Consciousness publishes on a quarterly basis with several of our issues open to poetry, fiction, non-fiction and drama, as well as book and workshop reviews.  Unsolicited submissions are welcomed.

Authors should be prepared for editorial suggestions regarding length and tone. As is standard for all publications, the CC editorial board will also edit accepted submissions for grammar and formatting. If significant changes are required, the author will be contacted prior to publication.

The Collective Consciousness does not accept simultaneous submissions and will reject outright any rants, flames or any submission that is sexist or racist in nature.

Email Submissions

Unlike many publications, the CC Journal welcomes emailed submissions and queries. Please send your submission as a single attachment of a Microsoft Word or RTF (rich text) document to with the words “Collective Consciousness Submission” in the subject line.

Mailed Submissions

Submissions sent by mail should be addressed to The Writers’ Collective, University of Winnipeg, 4th Floor Library, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2E9 and must include a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient Canadian postage for our response. Do not send your original – manuscripts will not be returned unless an evaluation service has been requested (our Evaluation Services Guidelines and Fee Schedule is available by contacting our office).

Cover Letter

A cover letter which includes your name, full mailing address, phone number, email address (if available) and a brief author bio, must accompany each submission. Also include the title(s) of the piece(s) you are submitting, the genre and word count for each.

Manuscripts

Your manuscript must be single sided, single column 8½ x11 (plain white bond if mailed), typewritten in 12 point font, and double spaced (*poetry may be single spaced). Your name and address, and the manuscript’s word count must appear on the title page. Your name and page number must appear on all subsequent pages.

Length of Submissions

  • Poetry — We suggest groups of not more than 4 poems per submission (no single poem should be longer than 3 pages).
  • Fiction — Maximum 2,500 words.
  • Drama — “Short shots” (maximum reading length of 10 minutes) in Playwrights Guild of Canada format.
  • Non-Fiction — Maximum 2,500 words plus no more than 2 applicable photographs (refer to Artwork Submissions before sending photographs). Queries suggested.
  • Interviews, Book and Workshop reviews — Maximum 1,000 words plus NO more than 2 applicable photographs (refer to Artwork Submissions before sending photographs). Queries suggested.

Artwork Submissions

  • Photographs must be black & white only.
  • Artwork must be suitable for presentation in black and white.
  • Photo/Artwork must be preceded by a query letter.
  • If called, each photograph must be sent as a single attachment in a low-resolution digital file (.jpg or PDF), 1 MB maximum size, and artwork must be sent as a single attachment (.tif). Submit only to the address specified in our Response-to-Query letter.

General Terms

Each submission, manuscript, photograph and original artwork remains the property of the author, photographer and artist who gives permission to the CC Journal for its one-time-only use, without financial compensation. Contributors selected for publication will receive two complimentary copies of the issue in which their work appears.

All submissions not accepted for publication will receive a succinct constructive critique.

Editorial Committee
Collective Consciousness
The Writers’ Collective

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