Submission Guidelines

Submissions to the digital branch of Humans & Nature Press are currently closed. We will not be hosting an open call in 2026. Stay tuned for the next open call on our social media channels and via our newsletter.

Thank you so much to all who contributed to our 2025 open call! We will provide updates through Submittable as decisions are made in our multi-stage review process.Thank you so much to all who contributed! We are thrilled with your enthusiasm: We received a record-breaking number of submissions. 

Given our multi-step review process and our small editorial team, we are unable to provide a firm date for responses. However, we will provide an update on social media one month before decisions are complete, and all submitters will receive notice via Submittable one month after our social media update.

Please stay tuned on our social media channels and via our newsletter.

We are, as ever, grateful for the thoughtfulness, time and care each submission represents. Thank you for joining us in considering what seeds we are all planting for the future.

Humans & Nature Press Digital publishes creative work that explores and promotes human responsibilities in relation to the whole community of life.

We accept submissions within the following categories:

• Essays: We welcome submissions of original essays, narrative journalism, experimental nonfiction, lyric essays, and personal essays that have not been published elsewhere (including personal blogs, websites, and social media). Essays should be 1,000–2,500 words.
• Poetry: Please submit pairs or groups of up to four poems that complement, contrast, and can be published together and that have not been published elsewhere (including on personal blogs, websites, and social media).
• Artwork: We consider any form of visual or auditory art which can be captured and shared on our digital platform. Please submit at least 3–10 work samples. We are seeking works that speak to the seed theme and display your artistic vision. We accept all media including photography, sculpture, painting, collage, drawing, film, sound art, multimedia, etc. Please include an artist’s statement of 750–1,000 words describing the work and how it relates to the theme of seeds.

We accept only one submission per person within a submission period. We welcome multimedia artwork; please refer to the category definitions above to select a category of best fit for your submission: essay, poetry, or artwork.

Submit documents in a .doc format or as a JPG file via our Submittable account. When you submit, please include a bio and headshot.

Concurrent submissions are welcome. If you have submitted elsewhere, let us know in your cover letter that this is a simultaneous submission and please withdraw it from the Center’s Submittable if you agree to publication elsewhere. Returning contributors are welcome to submit.

Contributors receive an honorarium of $500 USD upon publication.

Please subscribe to the Center’s newsletter or follow us on Instagram to enjoy the essays, poetry, artwork, and books published through Humans & Nature Press

If you have a question that’s not addressed in the guidelines above, please reach out to us through our contact form here and select “Humans & Nature Press Digital” from the dropdown menu.