Halfway Down the Stairs is a literary magazine that publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews twice yearly, in June and December. Each issue is organized around a theme, and the forthcoming issue will explore Resilience. This call is specifically for fiction that engages with the theme in nuanced and original ways. The magazine maintains a no-fee submission policy, ensuring that cost is not a barrier for writers. While no monetary prize is offered, publication in a themed issue provides a curated platform for fiction that resonates with the selected motif. The editorial focus is on work that demonstrates both literary merit and a thoughtful response to the theme. With a fixed deadline of November 1, 2026, submissions will be considered for the Resilience issue. The magazine's commitment to thematic coherence suggests that accepted fiction will contribute to a collective meditation on resilience, rather than standing in isolation. Writers are encouraged to submit work that is both artistically rigorous and thematically engaged.