Thorn & Bloom
Submission Portal
Thorn & Bloom Magazine is our quarterly publication dedicated to exploring the transformative power of self-care as a pathway to personal and collective liberation. At its core, this publication interrogates the political and psychological by challenging how societal norms and socialisation suppress individuality, autonomy, and self-worth. By embracing self-care as an act of resistance and a tool for healing, Thorn & Bloom seeks to inspire readers to break free from expectations and redefine their lives on their own terms. We invite you to share your voice and creativity in this space dedicated to balancing struggle and growth. Whether through personal essays, poetry, fiction, memoirs, academic or expert insights, we want to hear how you navigate the journey toward mindfulness, balance, and authenticity.
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The Details
Theme for Issue 07: Postcards From the Past
Thorn & Bloom Magazine Issue 07 explores the past, not as a place to stay, but as a landscape to revisit, re-examine, and reimagine.
The past is never truly behind us. It lives in the stories we tell, the wounds we carry, the love we still reach for, and the patterns we are still learning to break. Some moments shape us without our permission. Others we choose to carry forward, deliberately and with care.
For this issue, we are looking for writing that reckons with the past in all its complexity. We welcome submissions that explore:
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What we carry — The memories, beliefs, or relationships that have shaped who you are, for better or worse
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What we unlearn — The lessons, expectations, or patterns you have had to actively release
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What we reclaim — The parts of your past you have chosen to honour, reframe, or bring forward
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What we learn — The wisdom you have gained from looking back
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What we leave behind — The things you have decided no longer serve you
This is not about nostalgia. It is about honest reflection, the kind that asks: what is worth keeping, and what is ready to be let go?
DEADLINE: 15 August 2026
PUBLICATION: September 2026
We welcome submissions in any genre and style. Please read the guidelines before submitting your work. Any work that does not meet our guidelines will automatically be disqualified.
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Guidelines
redrosethorns publishes original short stories, creative non-fiction, fiction, poems, prose, memoirs, academia and more.
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Please submit your work through our secure online forms found on the right side of this page. You may submit your work either by uploading documents in PDF or Word format. (If you experience any issues with uploading your document, please reach out to us at contact@redrosethorns.com.)
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All submissions must be uploaded to the forms portal on the right side of this page. To comply with GDPR and CCPA requirements regarding the secure handling of personal data, we can only consider work submitted through our official submission portal. Please do not email your manuscript to our email address.
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redrosethorns (including this publication, Thorn & Bloom) only considers original, unpublished work. We do not accept pieces that have appeared anywhere else, including on personal websites, blogs, or social media.
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In alignment with our mission to champion authentic human voices, we do not accept submissions written or edited by generative artificial intelligence. Furthermore, our editorial process is entirely human-led; we do not use generative AI to evaluate, edit, or select work.
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You retain all copyrights of your work and full license to use your work after Thorn & Bloom publication. We require First Publication Rights, so please only submit work that has not been published elsewhere.
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By submitting, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older. We are unable to accept work from minors.
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All written work needs to be 2500 words max.
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You can submit as many pieces as you wish, though only submit one piece at a time. Please note that not all pieces submitted may be selected.
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We do not charge for submissions; however, donations are always appreciated.
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Please note that we do not offer compensation for pieces published in our publications. Nor do we offer complimentary print publications.
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DEADLINE for all submissions: 15 August 2026
We encourage folks of marginalised communities, including but not limited to women - both cisgender and transgender women, transgender men, non-binary, gender neutral, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to contribute their work.
Please get in touch with us with any questions, concerns, or compliments at contact@redrosethorns.com
redrosethorns does not tolerate any rudeness, discrimination, or aggressive behaviour of any kind for any reason. Only love and kindness are accepted in this space.
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Bring Your Words to Life
Your submission is the start of your journey with us. The next step is to join the conversation that brings our pages to life. Connect with our community of writers and readers at our virtual events and workshops to develop your craft and find your people.
Want the full experience?
Rose Bush members enjoy free access to all online events, a quarterly print magazine, and exclusive weekly essays. Rose Blossom members receive exclusive essays, our quarterly PDF magazine, and curated content.
Find the tier that's right for you here.
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Advertise with us
If you would like to purchase an advertisement space or to learn more about advertising in our publication, please contact us at contact@redrosethorns.com.
A publication of redrosethorns Ltd. Liability Co. (USA), with editorial operations in the UK.