About Fickle Muses
Fickle Muses is an online journal of poetry and fiction engaged with myth and legend. Fickle Muses publishes writing that connects the contemporary reader with ancient tradition.
A poet or fiction writer is featured each week, with new selections posted on Sundays. New selections of nonfiction are occasionally published. All work will also be archived quarterly in a printable pdf edition.
To receive notice of weekly updates, contact Fickle Muses at: editor@ficklemuses.com with the subject line "Subscribe." To receive notice only when quarterly printable pdf editions are released, use the subject line "Subscribe Quarterly."
Fickle Muses welcomes submissions of poetry, fiction, book reviews, essays and art. Submissions are considered year-round and are open to all mythic traditions. Simultaneous and previously published submissions will be considered. Please send no more than one submission per genre per year unless requested.
Submissions will be accepted by email only. Paste submission into the body of the email or attach as a Word or RTF document. Please format subject line as follows: Your Name, Poetry/Fiction/Nonfiction/Art. Send fiction submissions to fiction@ficklemuses.com; send all other submissions to editor@ficklemuses.com. Fickle Muses acquires one-time and archive rights. No payment is offered at this time.
Poetry: Send up to 5 poems per submission. Poems that creatively incorporate myth or legend (e.g. by retelling ancient myths or exploring myth in the context of the contemporary world) are welcome.
Fiction: Send 1 short story per submission, maximum 5,000 words. Stories that creatively incorporate myth or legend (e.g. stories which combine contemporary or historical settings with mythic elements; fantasy which consciously evokes its mythic roots) are welcome.
Book Reviews: Send 1 book review per submission, maximum 500 words. Reviews of books of fiction or poetry in which myth or legend plays a significant role or nonfiction books on myth or legend are welcome.
To submit a book for review by the editor, send a query with a brief description to the email address below.
Essays: Send 1 essay per submission, maximum 1,000 words. Essays on specific mythic traditions, comparative mythology, or the use of myth in contemporary writing are welcome.
Art: Send up to 3 pieces per submission in jpeg format. No restrictions on subject or style.
Send fiction submissions to fiction@ficklemuses.com; send all other submissions and queries to editor@ficklemuses.com.
After submitting, you can report Fickle Muses' response time on Duotrope's Digest.
Current Feature:
"From Gods’ Mouths to My Ears"
a poem
by Michele Madigan Somerville