Tales that Survived the Fire

The editorial staff of Miracle Monocle, the award-winning online literary journal housed at the University of Louisville, is pleased to announce an open call for submissions to the sixth installment of its print micro-anthology series. 

When night falls and the campfire burns out, what stories get buried in the embers and trails of smoke? Tales That Survived the Fire seeks to remember the myths and legends that have been passed down through generations; to resurrect forgotten heroes and gods, and to rewake the creatures that once haunted nightmares. From the Native American wendigo to the Filipino dwende, from the Irish banshee to the African Anansi, we invite mythologies, legends, and folklore that rarely reach Western readers. Although we welcome reimagined stories of Greek and Roman mythology, we encourage retellings of tales that have been sidelined and silenced in mainstream Western media. This anthology is for the readers and writers who are drawn to the stories of their ancestors, and for those who still believe that speaking these tales aloud can summon ancient spirits. 

Please submit no more than three poems, pieces of flash, or short hybrid works; no more than three images in JPEG or TIFF format; and no more than one longer work of fiction or literary nonfiction. If you are submitting multiple short pieces, please include them in the same file. There is no fee for submission and we will remain open for entry until we reach our quota or until 3/1/2026. BIPOC contributors are especially encouraged to submit. We look forward to reading your work.