Welcome!
We are currently seeking themed submissions for our next issue, Kindred: Poems on Platonic Love.
All works of platonic love will be considered, but we are especially interested in works that highlight friendship and community.
Deadline for themed submissions: July 1, 2025.
Regular submissions will reopen August 1, 2025.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw accepted pieces promptly from consideration.
We will try to respond to your submission in less than 30 days. After 60 days query to upthestaircase [at] gmail [dot] com.
Please submit only once per quarter (or wait three months).
We do not accept previously published poetry for regular issues, but previously published artwork is okay.
If your work does not fit into a category below, please send us a query at upthestaircase
[at] gmail [dot] com.
Up the Staircase Quarterly obtains first serial publishing rights. After a piece runs, all rights revert back to the author.
Unfortunately, we cannot currently pay writers for the work we accept.
Follow us on Twitter @upthestaircase for more info and update
We are open for themed poetry submissions on your interpretation of platonic love for our Kindred issue.
All poems about platonic love will be considered for this issue, but we are especially seeking works highlighting friendship and community.
Submit one to six poems in a single document.
Note: Regular submissions will reopen on August 1st. Please only submit themed poetry for this reading period. Thank you.
We are open for themed art submissions with your interpretation of platonic love for our Kindred issue.
All works about platonic love will be considered for this issue, but we are especially seeking art highlighting friendship and community.
Submit one to 12 pieces.
Note: Regular submissions will reopen on August 1st. Please only submit themed art for this reading period. Thank you.
We are seeking cover art submissions for our future issues!
Cover art can be of any genre or discipline and must contain a staircase somewhere in the work (but does not have to be the focal point).
Submit up to 10 .jpg attachments.
Would you like to join our team?
Anyone can apply!
Our 4 reading periods are: February 1st-March 15th, May 1st-June 15th, August 1st-September 15th, and November 1st-December 15th, unless otherwise stated. We ask that Readers dedicate at least 1 hour per week to reading submissions during these periods.
If you are interested in joining us, please submit a document that includes your 3rd person bio and your responses to the following:
1. Who are your favorite contemporary poets? What do you enjoy about their work?
2. Which online journals do you love and what draws you to these publications?
3. Please choose a poem from Up the Staircase Quarterly's archives that you enjoy and let us know why it stands out for you and why you enjoy the poem.
We look forward to hearing from you and will get back to you as soon as we can!
UtSQ.
Our Tip Jar is available for any of the above submission types and goes towards offsetting site costs. It won't entitle your work to any special treatment nor will we think any less if you decide to submit for free instead. Tips are simply one small way to show support and help our continued growth.
Make sure to check out the guidelines for your chosen genre.