Theme for Issue 04: Radical Joy We Cultivate

For our fourth edition, Thorn & Bloom is diving into the heart of what makes life feel vibrant, soft, and truly our own. We're shifting our gaze to the lighter, loving side of liberation.

We believe that self-care is not just a healing balm for wounds but the daily practice of filling your cup with pure, unadulterated joy. It is a radical act to choose play over productivity, to prioritise pleasure, and to find yourself in the moments that make your soul spark. It is the deliberate, often rebellious, act of planting and nurturing seeds of fun and delight in our daily lives—the deeply personal habits that return us to ourselves, not to be more productive, but to be more present, free, and authentically us.​

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We welcome submissions in any genre and style that explore the things we do not because we should, but because we must—for the sheer delight of it. Show us:

• What makes you feel most like yourself? Is it dancing in the kitchen, getting your hands dirty in the garden, in a moment with a loved one, or getting lost in a comic book?

• Where do you find your sanctuary of silliness—the place or practice where you feel completely unguarded and free?

• The hobbies that are pure pleasure. Not the ones for a side hustle or optimisation, but the ones you lose yourself in for the simple fun of it.

• The moments of everyday magic. Where do you find comfort, connection, and a sense of rightness in the world?

• How does play become a pathway back to your most authentic self?

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Let’s create an issue that serves as a testament to the light, loving, and liberating side of our journeys. We are ready to be inspired by the joy you are growing.​​

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DEADLINE: 15 November 2025

PUBLICATION: December 2025

Please read the guidelines before submitting your work. Any work that does not meet our guidelines will automatically be disqualified.

redrosethorns publishes original short stories, creative non-fiction, fiction, poems, prose, memoirs, academia and more.

• 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.)

• 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.

• Only submit work that has not previously been published, in print or online.

• You retain all copyrights of your work and full license to use your work after Thorn & Bloom publication.

• All written work needs to be 2500 words max.

• 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. 

• We do not charge for submissions; however, donations are always appreciated. 

• Please note that we do not offer compensation for pieces published in our publications. Nor do we offer complimentary print publications.

• DEADLINE for all submissions: 15 November 2025

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.​

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Please get in touch with us with any questions, concerns, or compliments at contact@redrosethorns.com

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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.