ELJ: Elm Leaves Journal: Elm Leaves Journal (ELJ)--The "Me" Edition — Poetry
Overview
Elm Leaves Journal (ELJ) is a literary magazine that positions itself as a space for exploring the contours of selfhood. For this edition, the editors have chosen the deceptively simple theme "Me," which they elaborate as encompassing identity, anonymity, and the liminal spaces between—walls, membranes, borders, skulls; here, there, everywhere, past and present and future. The journal welcomes poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction, with this call specifically for poetry. The thematic openness suggests a curatorial interest in work that interrogates the boundaries of the self, whether through personal narrative, experimental form, or conceptual inquiry. As a no-fee publication, ELJ removes economic barriers to submission, aligning with a commitment to accessibility. The journal accepts simultaneous submissions and requests notification if work is accepted elsewhere, indicating a professional and author-friendly approach. While no monetary prize is offered, publication in ELJ provides a platform for poets to engage with a readership attuned to nuanced explorations of identity. The requirement for a third-person bio and mailing address suggests a print or hybrid distribution model, though the location is listed as online/remote. The curatorial vision for this edition appears to favor work that is both personal and expansive, inviting poets to interpret "Me" not as solipsism but as a site of intersection—with history, geography, and the unknown. The editors express openness to suggestion, implying a willingness to consider unconventional approaches within the poetry genre. This is an opportunity for poets whose work delves into the politics of self-representation, the poetics of memory, or the metaphysics of presence.