Electric Literature Essay Submissions Are Open!

Electric Literature is opening submissions of personal and critical essays starting today, March 26. We’re particularly interested in pieces that examine the intersection of the literary experience and other creative endeavors: film, fine art, music, video games, science, tech, architecture. Submissions will close April 13 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

Some of our favorite recent personal essays include pieces about seeing yourself in Sailor Moon, loving the Titanic before it was cool, and reading The Odyssey in a place that doesn’t yet feel like home. Has a book changed your life, or has your life changed how you read a book? Do you have a personal story about your favorite story? Bring us your sad, thoughtful, funny, illuminating experiences.

Critical essays may cover a single book, multiple books, a whole genre, or non-book pop culture like TV, music, and games. Recently we’ve been interested in reproductive dystopias, death-positive novels, the whitewashing of Annihilation, and the medieval roots of bro culture. Some essays may be both personal and critical, like an essay about J.D. Salinger and why women don’t get to be asshole geniuses.

Payment for essays is $50. Length is up to you, but we suggest aiming for 1,500–4,000 words.

Submissions will be accepted on our submittable account here.