The Turning Leaf Journal is a US literary journal that offers space for artists and writers alike to come together to learn from and lean on during life’s most challenging, loneliest, and hopeless moments. In this space, we celebrate growth, mourn loss, and reflect on the things that have changed us. 

The Turning Leaf Journal is founded upon the message of change. We want essays, poetry, and hybrid works that explore the turning over of a new leaf through life’s entrances, exits, seasons, formation, and destruction. What happened when you left the religion you grew up in? When you broke generational tradition? When you confronted addiction? When your human rights are under attack? Embrace the uncomfortable and send us the work that was written with tears and through gritted teeth.

Our community is a safe and inclusive space. We’re loudly committed to publishing work that further our goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As such, we do not tolerate bigotry or hateful speech, especially against marginalized/oppressed groups.

We are also looking for art submissions, to be paired with our written publications. We are interested in art that evokes strong emotional reactions through landscapes, collages, sketches, still life, and abstracts. Please view our previous issues and instagram account to get a better sense of our visual aesthetic.

For more information, you can also review our FAQ page.

If you are looking to submit a craft essay, or book review, follow this link.

General Submission Guidelines

Please carefully review the following guidelines. Submissions should be emailed to theturningleafjournal@gmail.com with the following subject line adjusted to your submission: [Genre–Nonfiction/Poetry/Hybrid/Art]–[Your Name]

Example: Nonfiction–Jane Doe 

• Name your submission file “Genre-FirstNameLastName.” For example, “Nonfiction-JaneDoe.docx”
• Send only one submission per genre per submission period (you may submit work for each genre during the same period). 
• Simultaneous submissions are allowed. If your work is accepted elsewhere, notify us via email as soon as possible so we can celebrate your success and withdraw your submission.
• We do not accept previously published material, including on personal blogs and social media.
• We do not consider work created in full or in part by artificial intelligence (AI). 
• If you submit derivative work (ekphrastic, found/blackout, works written “after” some existing inspiration), please include a link or copy of the source material. 

We may reject submissions that do not follow the guidelines as outlined.

Questions are always welcome! Please email us at theturningleafjournal@gmail.com.

Genre Guidelines

Poetry

• You may include up to 3 poems in one submission. This category includes visual and found poetry.
• Include all poems in one document with page breaks between poems.
• Format your document into .doc or .docx

Hybrid

• Hybrid works can be loosely defined as: visual work, genre-bends, something existing beyond a label, experimental work, etc. Sometimes this means lyric, speculative, or even script work, but should generally be some combination/genre bend of nonfiction and poetry.
• You may include up to 3 hybrid pieces in one submission, totaling no more than 5,000 words.
• Format your document into .doc or .docx, or .pdf