And a quick guide to making your CNF submission stand out

We asked the editors what they love about Creative Nonfiction (CNF), and then we stole their heads to make this post.

Have a question for the editors? Send us a DM or an email!

Today we are featuring the artwork “Depth of Mind” by allison anne alongside the poem “25” by Jon Raimon 🍃 To read more of this poem and the rest of V2.2, visit: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/j...

Everyone who has already submitted during our current reading period will be included in the raffle. We'll pick a name at random once submissions close. We will inform the winner via email! Winner will not be posted on social media without their express permission. (🧵2/2)

The spring Leaflet is now available! turningleafjournal.com/spring-2026/

To celebrate, we’re giving away copies of both Millie’s and Allison’s books to one lucky TTLJ submitter! If you’d like to win free books, you have until May 1st to send us your CNF, Poetry, Art, or Hybrid work. (🧵1/2)

This week, we are featuring the poem “prayer to mazu in mistranslation” by Julie Wong accompanied by a free-use image titled “hand over water” by Juan Gomez. Read the rest and view the rest of issue V2.2: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/j...

Only 3 weeks left to submit!

turningleafjournal.com/submissions/

Send us your work!

We're open and eager to read your work!

V1.1 contributors have patiently waited four issue cycles and are eligible to submit again! We can't wait to see what you've been working on these past two years.

Submission Instructions: turningleafjournal.com/submissions/

Today’s feature is a poem by Kevin Dwyer titled “happening upon a photo of dad before he left mom, before we were born, never to be heard from again [re-remembered as a bird burial]” with an artwork from the public domain by Theo Van Hoytema. Read more: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/k...

This poem from V2.2 by Ellie Cottrell is titled “Fertile Ground.” We’ve paired it with artwork by Of Thousands titled “The Common Insect.” Read this poem and the rest of the issue: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/e...

"SELFISH GIRL" by @suzchef.bsky.social was selected for the Best of Net 2026 Anthology! We're so excited for Suze. This is a huge accomplishment! We're grateful to have played a role in this--it's the outcome we hope for every time we nominate contributors for prizes. 🤍🌿

Honored beyond measure to be included in this year's Best of the Net Anthology. My poem SELFISH GIRL, published by @turningleafjournal.bsky.social, is one of my favorite and most personal pieces. I'm thankful for everyone in the pipeline who made this possible.

Today’s feature from Volume 2, Issue 2 is a poem by Veronica Tucker titled “After Leaving the Sanctuary” paired with a textile sample (Unknown designer, manufactured by J. Claude Frères & Co., in the public domain). Read more, and all of V2.2: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/v...

This excerpt from the poem “earth • en • ware” by Adil Munim is paired with the art piece “At the Fringes” by @allisonanne.com. Read this poem and the rest of V2.2 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/a...

This week, an art piece called “Georges in the Forest” by Cécile Gonneau is paired with the poem “Holding the Sky” by Śivani Howe. Read this, and the rest of V2.2, here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/s...

We're open and eager to read your work!

V1.1 contributors have patiently waited four issue cycles and are eligible to submit again! We can't wait to see what you've been working on these past two years.

Submission Instructions: turningleafjournal.com/submissions/

Check out this feature from Brandy E. Wyant's essay "St. Peter's Bones." Read the full piece here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/b...

And! And! Submissions open tomorrow 👀 So if you've got stuff like this piece, we want it!

Today we are featuring an excerpt from the essay “Things I Observe at my Joint 18th Birthday Party” by Orli Baumgart, paired with art by @allisonanne.com titled “Outgrowth.” Read the full piece, and the rest of V2.2, here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/o...

This week, we are featuring work by Kate Kadleck paired with art by Vidya Murali 🍂 Read the full piece in out newest issue, V2.2, here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/k...

Today's feature from V2.2 is a poem titled "I Can't Find God" by Sukriti Patny. We paired this with artwork from Of Thousands, titled "Self Tenderness."

Read the full piece here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/s...

"All Apologies" is a hybrid piece written by @girlprometheus.bsky.social. This experimental piece makes for an exciting, "choose your own adventure" type of read.

Read the full piece here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/i...

This piece is paired with artwork from the public domain.

Our first feature from Volume 2, Issue 2 is a poem by Kale Hensley titled "un/a/muse." We paired this with artwork from @allisonanne.com titled "sense of duration."

To read the full poem, and the rest of V2.2, use this link: turningleafjournal.com/2025/12/15/k...

It's here! Volume 2, Issue 2 is out! As always, here are the stats. Today we're celebrating each of these contributors, as well as everyone who submitted work to us this past fall.

Check out the issue here: turningleafjournal.com/volume-2-iss...

All submissions have been sent out! If you haven't heard from us yet, that likely means something went wrong. Please reach out!

Hi! We are still finishing our responses to submissions. The good news is, if you haven't heard from us it's because your work is on our shortlist! We've given ourselves until Nov 20th to make final decisions.

If you need to withdraw a piece, please reach out asap!

Autumn 2025 The Autumn 2025 edition of “The Turning Leaflets” craft project is themed around the idea of writing rituals. Two craft essays offer perspectives on ritual as an ingredient for the writing process.…

The Autumn edition of The Turning Leaflets is now available! Visit our website to download the PDF and read it.

Want to be part of the next leaflet? Submissions for craft essays and book reviews are always open!

turningleafjournal.com/autumn-2025/

Submissions are closing in two weeks! Send us your art, CNF, poetry, & hybrid works! We'd love to see more work centered around themes of transitions, environment, & hope--but are open to submissions of any work categorized loosely within themes "Change."

turningleafjournal.com/submissions/

Announcing our nominees for Best of Net! Sending congratulations to these folks!

We believe in celebrating the work that’s touched us most or is doing something unique, and that’s what this list reflects.

Over 200 publications re-opened today, including @ninthletter.bsky.social @utampapress.bsky.social @echapbooks.bsky.social @cosmicrootsonline.bsky.social @trollbreathmag.bsky.social @turningleafjournal.bsky.social @3lobedmag.com @wallstrait.bsky.social https://duotrope.com