Ampersand Poetry Journal is an online journal dedicated to the space in between.

the ampersand symbol stands for the space that lies between two concepts that are seemingly very far apart. our aim is to explore and fill in that space, via writing and reading poetry.

ampersand focuses on providing specific prompts for each theme in order to make our publications more structured. As a student, I know writing for one’s own leisure can begin to feel uninspiring and that finding the motivation gets tough when life ‘gets in the way’. I have found that the only way to truly get out of a writer’s block (or a rut of writing similar/redundant works) is to have some sort of assignment at hand. Hence, our push to follow our prompts. That said, don’t feel like you can’t submit because your piece is only loosely based on the theme. The point is just to get people busy, writing things they are proud of !

• each issue’s theme and writing prompts are announced on both the current theme page and our instagram, on the 30th of the month preceding its publication.

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY THE 20th OF THE

CURRENT THEME’S PUBLICATION MONTH.

for example: submissions for the February issue will be open from 30 January

until 20 February, giving you approximately 3 weeks to write.

• you must stick to the monthly theme in some way, and we strongly encourage following one of our accompanying prompts.

• 1500 word limit. title and footnotes do not count.

• cover art: you can attach photos/illustrations of your own or made by a friend, but we can also pick one for you, if you’d prefer.

• proems are also accepted — proems being short, poetic works of prose that DO NOT follow an inherent narrative structure. what falls under this umbrella: creative non-fiction or memoir-esque pieces… what does NOT: essays, fictional short stories, letters, etc.

• three poems maximum (per person, per month). if you submit multiple, submit each of them in separate forms.

• English, please. if you choose to write in any other language, please provide a translation within the poem, on the google doc, or with footnotes.

• anonymous submissions are welcome.

• No AI writing or art whatsoever.

The current theme is:

Pain & Pleasure

You may write any poem relating to ‘pain’ or  ‘pleasure,’ but we strongly encourage you to follow one of our writing prompts below.

PAIN

PAIN 1: write/submit a poem about a “growing pain” you have experienced.

PAIN 2: submit a poem that you wrote with the intention of inflicting pain.

PAIN 3:  write/submit a poem that felt painful to put to paper.

PLEASURE

PLEASURE 1: write/submit a poem about an experience of either giving or receiving pleasure (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.)

PLEASURE 2: write/submit a poem about something you find pleasing that most people do not.

PLEASURE 3: write/submit a poem about a small/simple pleasure you value.

Submissions due 20 April.