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Literary Journal

The Keepthings

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About the magazine

The Keepthings is a contemporary arts organization that operates at the intersection of material inquiry and critical practice. Founded on the principle that objects and archives are not passive repositories but active agents in cultural production, the organization supports artists who engage with preservation, ephemerality, and the politics of collection. Its mission is to foster work that interrogates how we keep, discard, and assign value to things—both tangible and intangible—through exhibitions, residencies, and publications.

Editorial focus

The Keepthings is a digital memoir project that publishes stories of lost loved ones, inspired by the things they left behind. In essence, they’re love stories told through objects. Though small in size—600 words max—the stories are deeply moving and impactful. They vary widely in subject and tone, from funny and wry to matter-of-fact to resonantly sad. Contributors range from acclaimed novelists to non-writers who happen to have a moving story to tell.

Creative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
PaymentNo payment
Response timeLess than 3 months
Simultaneous submissionsNo
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Artists approaching The Keepthings should demonstrate a clear engagement with materiality, preservation, or archival logic. Submissions should articulate how the proposed work extends the organization's inquiry into what it means to keep. Avoid generic portfolio dumps; instead, provide a focused project proposal or a cohesive body of work that speaks to the thematic concerns. The organization values conceptual rigor and practical feasibility, so include a realistic budget and timeline if applying for a residency or exhibition. Review past projects on the website to align your language with their curatorial tone.

The object you write about need not be fancy; ditto for the person associated with the object. What matters is that you include the kind of rich and telling detail that brings your person and your relationship with them to life. The best way to get a sense of what makes a compelling Keepthings story is to subscribe to The Keepthings on Substack or follow us on Instagram (@TheKeepthings) and read the stories for yourself. Complete submission guidelines are available at https://thekeepthings.com . Be sure to follow the photo guidelines when submitting.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

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The Keepthings — Submissions

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