2026 Summer Issue: Celestial Bodies: Honoring the Stars, the Moon, and Sky Submission Guidelines

On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II crew into space to conduct a flyby of Earth’s moon. During the nine-day mission, photos, videos, and audio were shared that intrigued the world, reminding us, as humans, we are only a small part of the immense history of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, alongside all our Indigenous relatives whose name for Earth is not recorded.

Photos of recent images of the moon’s surface. Videos of joy, of discovery, of creation. A shared moment of grief, a love that does not fade. This occasion served as a reminder of how colossal the galaxy is, how it truly remains a mystery.

We invite our writers to reflect on this current event, how the moon brought you joy, and what you imagine as stars glow above us. For Indigenous people, stories that can include star-beings, stories held in their formation. The moon has her own story, protecting Nihimá Nahasdzáán, producing stories, songs, and poems for centuries.   

As inhabitants of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, etc., we ask contributors to envision a universal experience of warmth where, in darkness, stars appear—glitter above us hold galaxies—and in light, who has been here for millions of years long before us and will be here long after our time.

Open for submissions from May 1 through June 30. 

We invite submissions of creative nonfiction that engage the truth with imagination, precision, and voice. We are interested in work that explores lived Indigenous experience through memory, identity, observation, and the personal in relation to the collective. Whether lyrical, braided, fragmented, or narrative, we welcome inventive forms and styles.

•  Submit one full-length piece or up to three shorter pieces, totaling no more than 5,000 words combined. 
•  We encourage submissions that take risks in form, language, and perspective while remaining grounded in truth. 
•  Please include a cover letter with a brief bio and any relevant context for your work.
•  Double-space your manuscript and use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt).
•  All work must be previously unpublished, including on personal blogs or websites.
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.

We are especially interested in work from Indigenous, Black, Brown, queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, and otherwise marginalized voices. Writers from all backgrounds are welcome to submit.

About Chapter House Journal

Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an online literary journal committed to empowering and uplifting Indigenous and marginalized stories, values, cultures, and art. We publish writers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics whose work aligns with this mission. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis. We accept submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by our dedicated editors, comprised of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We are committed to serving as a literary well for Indigenous and marginalized communities. We warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to contribute to this powerful, dynamic, and ever-growing landscape of art and literature.

Visit our website at chjournal.com

2026 Summer Issue: Celestial Bodies: Honoring the Stars, the Moon, and Sky Submission Guidelines

On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II crew into space to conduct a flyby of Earth’s moon. During the nine-day mission, photos, videos, and audio were shared that intrigued the world, reminding us, as humans, we are only a small part of the immense history of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, alongside all our Indigenous relatives whose name for Earth is not recorded.

Photos of recent images of the moon’s surface. Videos of joy, of discovery, of creation. A shared moment of grief, a love that does not fade. This occasion served as a reminder of how colossal the galaxy is, how it truly remains a mystery.

We invite our writers to reflect on this current event, how the moon brought you joy, what you imagine as stars glow above us. For Indigenous people, stories that can include star-beings, stories held in their formation. The moon has her own story, protecting Nihimá Nahasdzáán producing stories, songs, and poems for centuries.   

As inhabitants of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, etc., we ask contributors to envision a universal experience of warmth where, in darkness, stars appear—glitter above us hold galaxies—and in light, who has been here for millions of years long before us and will be here long after our time.

This issue will prove to be special, one that commences our Inaugural Indigenous Prize for Creative Nonfiction, to be selected by our wonderful guest judge, Cynthia J. Sylvester.

As our guest judge penned in her book, The Half-White Album: “These pieces, poems and stories, are my songs that I offer to the night sky with the hope that at dawn the ancient deities will see me—see us—and remember our names.” Open for submissions from May 1 through June 30. 

Submit one full-length piece or up to three shorter pieces, totaling no more than 5,000 words combined. 

•  We encourage submissions that take risks in form, language, and perspective while remaining grounded in truth. 
• Authors must identify as Indigenous (including Pacific Islander and other Indigenous and Indigenous-adjacent identities).
• Please include a cover letter with a brief bio, identify your tribal affiliation/indigenous ancestory and any relevant context for your work.
•  Double-space your manuscript and use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt).
•  All work must be previously unpublished, including on personal blogs or websites.
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.

We are especially interested in work from Indigenous, Black, Brown, queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, and otherwise marginalized voices. Writers from all backgrounds are welcome to submit.

About Chapter House Journal

Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an online literary journal committed to empowering and uplifting Indigenous and marginalized stories, values, cultures, and art. We publish writers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics whose work aligns with this mission. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis. We accept submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by our dedicated editors, comprised of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We are committed to serving as a literary well for Indigenous and marginalized communities. We warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to contribute to this powerful, dynamic, and ever-growing landscape of art and literature.

Visit our website at chjournal.com

2026 Summer Issue: Celestial Bodies: Honoring the Stars, the Moon, and Sky Submission Guidelines

On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II crew into space to conduct a flyby of Earth’s moon. During the nine-day mission, photos, videos, and audio were shared that intrigued the world, reminding us, as humans, we are only a small part of the immense history of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, alongside all our Indigenous relatives whose name for Earth is not recorded.

Photos of recent images of the moon’s surface. Videos of joy, of discovery, of creation. A shared moment of grief, a love that does not fade. This occasion served as a reminder of how colossal the galaxy is, how it truly remains a mystery.

We invite our writers to reflect on this current event, how the moon brought you joy, and what you imagine as stars glow above us. For Indigenous people, stories that can include star-beings, stories held in their formation. The moon has her own story, protecting Nihimá Nahasdzáán, producing stories, songs, and poems for centuries.   

As inhabitants of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, etc., we ask contributors to envision a universal experience of warmth where, in darkness, stars appear—glitter above us hold galaxies—and in light, who has been here for millions of years long before us and will be here long after our time.

Open for submissions from May 1 through June 30. 

We welcome original works of fiction that engage, challenge, and expand the boundaries of Indigenous narratives. We’re interested in character-driven narratives, experimental forms, flash fiction, and everything in between. Whether your work is grounded in realism or reaches toward the speculative, we are looking for writing that resonates, emotionally, culturally, or politically.

•  Please submit one story, or up to three shorter pieces (such as flash fiction), with a combined word count of no more than 5,000 words.
•  All submissions must be original and unpublished, including online (blogs, websites, or social media).
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us immediately through our submission platform if your work is accepted elsewhere.
•  Include a brief cover letter with your submission, introducing yourself, your background, and any relevant publication history or context for your work. If you identify as an Indigenous writer, please include your tribal affiliation in your letter.
•  Use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt), and format your manuscript with double spacing and page numbers.
•  Please submit your work as a single document (.doc, .docx, or PDF) via our online submission system.

We encourage submissions from writers of all backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on uplifting Indigenous, Black, Brown, queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, and other historically marginalized voices.

About Chapter House Journal

Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an online literary journal committed to empowering and uplifting Indigenous and marginalized stories, values, cultures, and art. We publish writers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics whose work aligns with this mission. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis. We accept submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by our dedicated editors, comprised of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We are committed to serving as a literary well for Indigenous and marginalized communities. We warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to contribute to this powerful, dynamic, and ever-growing landscape of art and literature.

Visit our website at chjournal.com

2026 Summer Issue Blog Call: Interviews & Reviews — Celestial Bodies

In conjunction with our Summer 2026 issue, Celestial Bodies: Honoring the Stars, the Moon, and Sky, Chapter House Journal invites submissions of interviews and reviews centering Indigenous writers, thinkers, and scholars.

Inspired in part by the April 1, 2026 launch of NASA’s Artemis II, we are interested in conversations and critical engagements that reflect on story, knowledge, and relationship—across land, sky, and community. These pieces will be considered for publication on our blog. If selected work aligns with our Summer issue, contributors may be contacted for feature inclusion.

What We’re Looking For We seek interviews and reviews that are thoughtful, relational, and attentive to Indigenous knowledge systems. This includes:

• Interviews with Indigenous writers, artists, scholars, and cultural workers
• Reviews of books by Indigenous authors published within the last 5 years
• Work that engages theme, story, and voice with care and context

Formats Accepted

• Text (interviews or reviews)
• Audio (recorded conversations)
• Video (recorded interviews or visual essays)

Guidelines & Parameters

• Text interviews/reviews: 1,000–2,500 words
• Audio/video: 5-8 minutes in length (include a brief written summary, 150–300 words)
• Up to 2 submissions per contributor
• All interviews and reviews must be original and unpublished
• For interviews, please confirm participant consent prior to submission
• Reviews should focus on a single text or a small grouping of related works

Submission Window May 1 through June 30, 2026

Please include a brief cover letter introducing yourself, your relationship to the work, and any relevant context. If you are an Indigenous contributor, you are welcome to share your tribal affiliation if you wish.

About Chapter House Journal

Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an online literary journal committed to empowering and uplifting Indigenous and marginalized stories, values, cultures, and art. We publish writers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics whose work aligns with this mission. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis. We accept submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by our dedicated editors, comprised of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We are committed to serving as a literary well for Indigenous and marginalized communities. We warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to contribute to this powerful, dynamic, and ever-growing landscape of art and literature.

Visit our website at chjournal.com

2026 Summer Issue: Celestial Bodies: Honoring the Stars, the Moon, and Sky Submission Guidelines

On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II crew into space to conduct a flyby of Earth’s moon. During the nine-day mission, photos, videos, and audio were shared that intrigued the world, reminding us, as humans, we are only a small part of the immense history of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, alongside all our Indigenous relatives whose name for Earth is not recorded.

Photos of recent images of the moon’s surface. Videos of joy, of discovery, of creation. A shared moment of grief, a love that does not fade. This occasion served as a reminder of how colossal the galaxy is, how it truly remains a mystery.

We invite our writers to reflect on this current event, how the moon brought you joy, and what you imagine as stars glow above us. For Indigenous people, stories that can include star-beings, stories held in their formation. The moon has her own story, protecting Nihimá Nahasdzáán, producing stories, songs, and poems for centuries.   

As inhabitants of Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Yethi’nisténha Ohóntsya, Uŋčí Makhá, etc., we ask contributors to envision a universal experience of warmth where, in darkness, stars appear—glitter above us hold galaxies—and in light, who has been here for millions of years long before us and will be here long after our time.

Open for submissions from May 1 through June 30. 

We seek poetry that resonates through voice, form, rhythm, and image. Whether grounded in Indigenous tradition or breaking new ground, we welcome work that speaks truth, challenges boundaries, and evokes the personal, political, and spiritual. Surprise us. Move us. Reshape the silence.

•  Submit 3–5 poems, not exceeding a total of 5 pages.
•  Begin each poem on a new page and include all poems in a single document (.doc, .docx, or PDF).
•  We accept all poetic forms and styles, including hybrid, experimental, and visual poetry—as long as the work can be read in a primarily text-based format.
•  All submissions must be previously unpublished, including on personal blogs or social media.
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please withdraw your work promptly if it is accepted elsewhere.
•  Include a cover letter with a brief bio and any relevant context you'd like to share about your work.
•  Use a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt). If your formatting is integral to the poem, please ensure it appears correctly in your file.

We especially encourage submissions from Indigenous poets, as well as Black, Brown, queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, and other historically marginalized voices.

About Chapter House Journal

Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an online literary journal committed to empowering and uplifting Indigenous and marginalized stories, values, cultures, and art. We publish writers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics whose work aligns with this mission. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis. We accept submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by our dedicated editors, comprised of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We are committed to serving as a literary well for Indigenous and marginalized communities. We warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to contribute to this powerful, dynamic, and ever-growing landscape of art and literature.

Visit our website at chjournal.com