Connections Literary Magazine is a print publication with a distinct material constraint: its pages measure 8.5 by 5.5 inches, a format that privileges concision and formal discipline. For the Fall 2026 reading period, the editors seek up to two short prose pieces—fiction or creative nonfiction—submitted in a single file, each beginning on a separate page. The magazine's stated preference for work under 2,000 words is not merely a guideline but a curatorial position: the limited margins of the printed page reward writing that earns its space through precision rather than expanse. The submission process is deliberately straightforward. There is no fee. Manuscripts should be double-spaced in a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman, Garamond, or Aptos) and must not exceed ten pages. The editors request .doc or .docx files, noting that PDFs complicate conversion for print. This attention to production detail reflects a publication that treats the physical object as integral to the reading experience—a stance familiar to readers of literary journals where design and text are in conversation. Writers may submit only once per category during the Fall/Spring period, though they are welcome to submit to other genres under their respective guidelines. The magazine does not announce a prize or payment in the provided materials, and no location is specified. What is clear is the editorial emphasis: short prose that fits the intimate scale of the printed page, offered without financial barrier to entry.