Literary Journal

SPANK the CARP

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Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listedIsrael

About the magazine

SPANK the CARP is an independent, artist-run publication and curatorial platform founded in 2009. Emerging from a DIY ethos, it operates as a collective that produces a quarterly journal, organizes exhibitions, and facilitates public programs. The organization is dedicated to presenting challenging, experimental work that often falls outside the commercial mainstream, with a particular emphasis on poetry, visual art, and cross-disciplinary practices. Its mission is to foster a community of artists and writers who prioritize innovation and critical dialogue over marketability.

Editorial focus

Spank the Carp publishes unique, thought-provoking fiction and poetry that isn’t obscure or pretentious. They look for tight, pithy flash fiction and short stories of any genre, including sci-fi and humor, except fantasy and erotica. They also accept concrete or “shape” poetry, creative nonfiction, and artwork and photos that depict Carp and Koi in artistic and natural settings and have a strong artistic element.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response timeLess than 3 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Artists should approach SPANK the CARP with an understanding of its DIY roots and openness to unconventional work. Submissions are typically reviewed by a collective, so patience is advised. Work that is visually or textually adventurous, politically engaged, or formally experimental is favored. There are no strict thematic guidelines, but a familiarity with the publication's past issues is recommended. Response times vary, and simultaneous submissions are generally acceptable, though notification of acceptance elsewhere is appreciated.

It sounds trite, but please cast around the site to see what gets published.

Read official guidelines