boats against the current is a magazine that positions itself within the lineage of queer literary expression, taking its name from the closing lines of The Great Gatsby—a phrase that has long resonated with artists navigating the pull between past and future, desire and loss. Issue III continues this editorial project, seeking poetry and writing that engages with LGBTQ+ experience not as a thematic checkbox but as a lived, complex, and formally inventive reality. The magazine operates online, without a physical office, which allows it to remain nimble and attuned to voices beyond traditional geographic centers. The journal publishes poetry and writing, with a clear emphasis on queer and LGBTQ+ perspectives. While the guidelines do not specify a particular aesthetic or school, the title suggests a curatorial interest in work that contends with tension—between intimacy and politics, memory and becoming, the personal and the historical. Contributors can expect to join a conversation that values craft, risk, and emotional precision over trend or topicality. As a no-fee publication, boats against the current removes a common barrier to entry, signaling a commitment to accessibility and to reading widely. The magazine does not charge for submissions, and while no prize or payment is indicated, the opportunity lies in publication within a focused, discerning context. The deadline of November 1, 2026, provides ample time for writers to refine and submit work that speaks to the magazine's queer literary sensibility.