CURRENT PROJECTS
We invite contributions of material for the following publication projects –
primarily anthologies of both fiction and nonfiction but also lengthier standalone works
to be published within the next twelve months.
The descriptions below contain links you can explore (or ignore, if you prefer)
to learn more about the topic in question.
The usual rules apply.
Email us a brief summary of your work and we’ll let you know if we’re interested in seeing more.
Include the topic number (Topic 0.1 and so forth) on the first page of your submission.
Please do not send us unsolicited manuscripts by mail or email.
You may, however, submit proposals for any sort of work that fits into our 22 main categories.
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April (deadline 30
September)
4.1 National Poetry Month – The Academy of American Poets sponsors a month-long celebration to foster appreciation of this often underappreciated art form. Weird Beard Press publishes poetry. We prefer to intersperse short prose vignettes or essays between blocks of five to ten poems, in part to help readers focus. The prose material may or may not provide a commentary on the poetry, and may be written by another author. Since a poet’s intent is sometimes misunderstood, it can be helpful if the essays at least partially elucidate the subject of the poems. The style may be classical or contemporary but should articulate the joys and the sorrows, the aspirations and the aspirations, of modern living. As new resources for enjoying, studying, and writing poetry, we recommend the following titles: Introduction to Poetry: Forms and Elements Study Guide by Judy Cook, The Art of Poetry: How to Read a Poem by Shira Wolosky, A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver, The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings: Poems, Tales, Essays, and Reviews by Edgar Allan Poe edited by David Galloway, Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries by Helen Vendler, The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged edited by Edward Connery Lathem, The Collected Works by Kahlil Gibran, Jack Kerouac: Collected Poems edited by Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell, and Writing and Enjoying Haiku: A Hands-on Guide by Jane Reichhold.
4.2 Confederate History Month – Six Southern states in the USA that were once part of the Confederate States of America still observe Confederate History Month in April. Controversial because of the pivotal role played by the institution of slavery in the economy of the Confederacy, the commemoration developed from Confederate Memorial Day, originally observed on 26 April to honor those who died fighting for the Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861-5) and to preserve the history of that conflict. Defenders compare the Civil War to the American Revolution as a morally justified rebellion against imperialism. Some romanticize the war as a heroic fight for individual liberties in a loose confederation of independent states instead of strong central bureaucracy. Do you agree? Or do you side with the majority of Americans in viewing Confederate government as its own sort of tyranny? Exactly which “rights” were the Confederate States fighting to secure? Is it true, as many contend, that slavery wasn’t the real issue behind the conflict? Is there an advantage in reenacting the events of the Civil War? What lessons can be learned from this contentious part of American history? How does the Confederate History, including but not limited to the Civil War, shape Southern society today? How are African Americans, key participants in American society since its inception, supposed to regard Confederate History? Had the Confederacy won the war and kept its autonomy, how would the Civil Rights Movement have played out in it? We’re also interested in speculative fiction on the subject.
4.3 Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) sponsors this observance during the month of April to facilitate the prevention of all forms of unwanted sexual violence and coercion. In an 2010 official White House proclamation, President Obama (1961- ) “urge[d] all Americans to reach out to victims, learn more about this crime, and speak out against it” so we can “stop abuse before it starts.” Women have been organizing “Take Back the Night” events for over forty years to put an end to sexual abuse, which includes stalking and taunting. Recent events in India, to cite only one possible example, underscore the need for more widespread and thorough public education on the subject, which is fundamentally a human rights issue. Attention is often focused on childhood sexual abuse. That is unfortunately only one part of the egregious equation.
Have you had any experience with sexual assault or abuse, either directly or indirectly? To what extent, if any, is sexual repression responsible for the attitudes that trigger it, and prompt others to excuse it? Is pornography to blame – or is it only violent sexual imagery? Don’t forget that it isn’t only men who sexually abuse women, even though that’s the most common scenario.
4.4 April Fools’ Day (1 April) – This informal annual celebration tests the public’s credulity by means of practical jokes and hoaxes, a few of which get out of hand from time to time. Are you more likely to be the butt of an April Fools’ Day joke or the perpetrator? What has your experience with April Fools’ pranks been? Do you find them essentially fun, educational, or cruel? What psychological and social purposes do jokes, pranks, and hoaxes of all kinds serve? Have you ever found one particularly clever – or offensive? We’re interested in both fiction and nonfiction on the subject.
4.5 Passover (22-30 April 2024) – The first Easter took place during the Jewish Passover, a full-moon festival that celebrates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt as detailed in the Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible (even though virtually no reliable historical evidence has been provided to substantiate the assertion that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt during the New Kingdom period or earlier). Though still widely celebrated, both holidays have largely escaped the commercialization that has dominated Christmas and Hanukkah for several decades. What do these holidays mean to you, particularly if you’re not otherwise observant? Do you also observe Lent? What is the significance of Easter bunnies, candy, eggs, and lilies? Even if you aren’t Jewish, do you eat haroset, gefilte fish, matzo brei, or matzos during Passover? Will both holidays become more about the sweets than their religious significance?
Easter is observed on different dates in the Eastern Orthodox churches – on 24 April 2022.
4.6 World Semicolon Day (16 April 2022) serves two purposes. The first is the preservation of the semicolon as a viable and productive punctuation mark, whose use is steadily declining. The Times columnist Ben Macintyre, author of The Last Word: Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue, quipped in 2005, “[Ernest] Hemingway, [Raymond] Chandler and Stephen King wouldn't be seen dead in a ditch with a semi-colon (though Truman Capote might). Real men, goes the unwritten rule of American punctuation, don't use semi-colons.” Journalist Lynne Truss, author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation and several cozy mysteries, begs to differ, arguing in favor of the sophistication and resiliency of the semicolon over, for example, the dash.
Because a sentence continues after a semicolon, it has also become a symbol of suicide prevention. Founded in 2013 by Amy Bleuel (1985-2017), Project Semicolon advocates “presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury,” as its founder was during most of her short life. Among its mottoes are “Your Story Isn’t Over,” because “a semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose [instead] not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” Some members raise awareness of the importance of mental health by having semicolons tattooed on their bodies, usually on the wrist.
4.7 Buddha’s Birthday (8 April, though the date varies from country to country) – Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, traditionally about 563 BCE (though contemporary scholarship points to a date closer to 400 BCE). He attained Enlightenment, or bodhi, at the age of 35 and became the Buddha or “Awakened One.” Buddha gathered a following as he preached a gospel of renunciation embodied in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path that ultimately became a major world religion. Buddhism has long been popular on the West Coast and on college campuses across the country, in part because of its inclusive rationalism. What’s your opinion? What about Jews who embrace Buddhism, as either a religion or a philosophy? Should Tibetan Buddhism be considered more authentic than other denominations, such as Zen?
May (deadline 31
October)
5.1 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – The month of May commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese to the United States in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (whose tracks were laid primarily by Chinese immigrants) in 1869. It celebrates the culture of immigrants from Eastern Asia and the Pacific Islands stretching from Papua-New Guinea to Hawai`i. The largest immigrant communities are those originating in the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Samoa. We’re interested in the viewpoints of the immigrants themselves. How easily does each group assimilate into the American mainstream? Do they find the country more of a traditional melting pot (in which cultures coalesce into a new society) or a “me-generation” salad bowl (in which each element retains its distinct identity while mingling)? How has each of these groups enriched American society – in spite of common stereotypes? How have they cooperated among themselves after arriving in their new home? What ties do they maintain with their home countries? Both fiction and nonfiction are welcome. In Canada, May is also South Asian Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions of immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Indian communities in Fiji.
5.2 Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) – Signed into law in 2006, Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the history of Jewish contributions to America society and culture. According to the JAHM Coalition, it “also enables the exploration of the meaning of religious pluralism, cultural diversity, and participation in American civic culture.” Jewish American heritage presents a quandary to some, since not everyone who practices Judaism is ethnically Jewish and not all ethnic Jews practice Judaism, leaving more than one “way” to be Jewish. What’s your opinion of the roles played by Jews in the history of what many consider a Christian or post-Christian nation? Do the media promulgate Jewish cultural values? If so, how long has this been happening? How influential are Jews in politics? How do non-Jewish Americans regard Jews? Jewish culture is about much more than matzo balls and movable holidays. If you are Jewish (according to any shared definition), is your culture still distinct from mainstream American culture? How do most Americans relate to it? As usual both fiction and nonfiction are welcome.
5.3 Mental Health Awareness Month – Launched in the medical community as far back as 1949, National Mental Health Month attempts to raise awareness about mental health issues in the United States. It wasn’t long ago that many people felt ashamed to seek professional help with alcoholism, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, obsessive behavior, schizophrenia, stress, and suicidal thoughts, among other conditions, along with their effects on their relationships and personal ambitions. Waves of misinformation still emanate from the internet and other media outlets specializing in “pop psychology” that ultimately do more harm than good. How do we combat ignorance while respecting the privacy of others? Whose business is it, for example, if a loved one, friend, or coworker seems to be losing control over his or her emotions, reactions, joie de vivre, or memory? What would cause someone to withdraw from others? How can we intervene successfully without intruding where we aren’t wanted? We’re interested in fiction and nonfiction about people who muster the courage to overcome denial and manage to regain control over the course of their lives in spite of obstacles. Above all, emphasize a healthy (but true-to-life) outcome that offers an alternative to current social trends. As usual, be prepared to back up any conclusion that runs counter to prevailing theories on the subject with verifiable facts.
5.4 National Bike Month – This month-long observance is lauded for its benefits to both the body and the environment. Motorists for the most part have learned to share the road with bicyclists, who have petitioned their local governments to designate and maintain bike lanes in major cities to enable bicycle commuting. We’re interested in the pros and cons of bicycling and naturally want to learn more about the attitudes and habits of bicyclists, including (for our Erotica publications) their sexual proclivities. Does regular bicycling improve stamina, for instance, or does it bring cyclists closer to nature?
5.5 National Masturbation Month – Originally designated by retailer Good Vibrations in 1995 after then-President Bill Clinton (1946- ) fired Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders (1933- ) for suggesting that masturbation could be taught as a safer alternative to more risky sexual behavior. Though much maligned and often dismissed as a habit we outgrow, masturbation remains almost everyone’s dirty little secret. While it’s true that there are people who for one reason or another never masturbate, there’s no reason they shouldn’t. As author and former prostitute Xaviera Hollander once pointed out, it “beats pregnancy, rape, incest, and adultery. And it’s legal” (at least as long as you don’t do it in public, which some can’t resist doing). What has been your most satisfying masturbatory experience? Do you consider group or mutual masturbation sex? If a married man does it with someone other than his spouse, is he cheating? We’re looking for imaginative fiction and nonfiction on the subject.
5.6 National Moving Month – The United States is a country on the move. With soaring rents, underwater mortgages, housing shortages, and constant job restructuring, we’ve become a nation of nomads who struggle to maintain family ties and community connections. Millions feel uprooted as a result, and a few are left homeless or, in the parlance of the 2010 and 2020s, unhoused. We’re interested in fiction, nonfiction, and especially memoirs that describe how frequent relocation has changed the national and global landscape. Some of us move around so much we don’t bother to unpack. Can families really keep in touch entirely through the internet? Have you ever had a long-distance relationship? Is it ultimately more frustrating than fulfilling, or does the distance make the limited time you spend together more valuable? Have you been able to prosper in spite of, or perhaps because of, frequent moves? Does your line of work send you abroad? Do you lead one type of life in one city or country and a different one elsewhere?
5.7 Beltane (30 April – 1 May) - This traditional Gaelic spring holiday has been revived in recent years by Neopagans (including Wiccans) who celebrate it with the May Bush, the Maypole, and bonfires, often as the Green Root of May Day. Though largely ignored in the United States and most of Canada, Beltane was a day on which a May basket of flowers, herbs, sweets, or other dainties could be left on the doorstep of a person in whom one is interested as a romantic partner or friend. If the recipient manages to catch the giver of such a gift, a kiss or (more commonly) a hug may be exchanged, all in a spirit of fun. What does this celebration mean to you? How do you observe it? How do your non-pagan family members, friends, and coworkers regard your celebration of the age-old rituals? If you live in the Southern hemisphere, do you celebrate Samhain on 1 May? We’re looking for both fiction and nonfiction on the subject, particularly what might be called Neopagan inspirational literature.
5.8 May Day (1 May) – International Workers’ Day is also commemorated on May Day, mostly outside the United States even though the event that inspired it, the Haymarket affair, took place in Chicago, Illinois, in 1886. The so-called Red Root of May Day traditionally associated with anarchists, communists, leftists, socialists is celebrated as Labor Day in many nations worldwide. It recognizes the rights of the working classes in general and of laborers in particular to organize labor unions to secure safe and equitable working conditions and fight income inequality. The Occupy Movement and various immigrants’ rights groups stage events on May Day. What is your opinion of the labor movement, which has long been controversial in the USA? Why are the working classes, who build and maintain the nation’s infrastructure, held in low regard by members of the middle and upper classes? Is social mobility, long touted as the American Way, still possible? Or are we evolving into a two-tiered society of Eloi and Morlocks as H.G. Wells predicted at the end of the 19th century? As usual we’re looking for an international perspective on the situation, detailed in both fiction and nonfiction.
5.9 Day of the Finnish Language (12 May) - The Republic of Finland has designated 12 May the official Day of the Finnish Language. Finnish has a well-deserved reputation for being difficult for non-native speakers to master. To cite just one example, the title of a popular novel, Nuorena nukkunut translates into “Fallen Asleep While Young.” Efforts were made to suppress the language for centuries in spite of its rich literary history, which includes the national epic Kalevala. Weird Beard Press is interested in phrasebooks and travel guides in any Scandinavian language – Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish (none of which are genetically related to Finnish) and Estonian and Lappish or Sami (which are).
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