Submission Guidelines
Pulse is a creative writing anthology that centres emotional honesty, vulnerability, and shared human experience. It exists as a slow, reflective space for voices that are often overlooked or discouraged from speaking openly. Submissions to Pulse are an invitation, not a demand – contributors are encouraged to share only what they feel ready to offer.
Who Can Submit
Pulse is open to writers aged 16 or over, from all backgrounds, identities, and levels of experience. You do not need to be previously published to submit. Pulse values sincerity and emotional truth over polish or professional credentials.
By submitting, contributors confirm that they are aged 16 or over.
What We're Looking For
Pulse welcomes writing that engages with identity, emotion, lived experience, and the complexities of being human. We are interested in work that invites reflection rather than performance, and honesty rather than perfection. Submissions may explore difficult or uncomfortable subjects provided they are approached with care and intention.
Accepted Forms & Lengths
Pulse is currently accepting the following forms:
-
Poetry (up to 3 poems, or a maximum of 2 pages)
-
Flash fiction (up to 1,000 words)
-
Short stories (up to 2,500 words)
-
Personal essays (up to 2,000 words)
If your work falls slightly outside of these guidelines but feels aligned with Pulse, you are still welcome to submit.
Content Warnings & Sensitivity
Contributors are encouraged, but not required, to include content warnings where appropriate.
The Pulse team would like to reassure submitters that content warnings are an act of care, not censorship. Pulse is an unapologetic space for those who value emotional honesty; however, as creatives, we also recognise a duty of care to our readers and to ourselves.
Examples May Include:
-
Sexual assault
-
Abuse
-
Child abuse, paedophilia and incest
-
Animal cruelty and animal death
-
Self-harm
-
Suicide
-
Eating disorders, body hatred and fat phobia
-
Violence
-
Pornographic content
-
Kidnapping and abduction
-
Death and dying
-
Pregnancy and childbirth
-
Miscarriages
-
Abortion
-
Blood
-
Mental illness
-
Racism and racial slurs
-
Sexism and misogyny
-
Classism
-
Torture
-
Islamophobia and anti-Semitism
-
Hateful language directed at religious groups
-
Transphobia and transmisogyny
-
Homophobia and heterosexist
Ownership & Rights
Contributors retain full ownership of their work at all times. Submissions to Pulse are offered on a loan basis – your writing is shared, not owned.
Pulse requests permission to publish accepted pieces in the anthology and on associated platforms for that edition only.
Contributors may request withdrawal of their work prior to publication.
Editorial Process
Pulse follows a light-touch, collaborative editorial process. Any suggested edits will be discussed with contributors, and no changes will be made without consent.
Contributors will be informed of how their work will be framed and contextualised within the anthology.
On submission selection, contributors will be sent a link to the Pulse discord where information of the editorial process will be shared.
Submission Process
Please submit via the Google Forms link at the bottom of this page
Submission information:
-
Name, chosen name, or pen name
-
Age
-
Pronouns (optional)
-
Your submission
-
Relevant content notes (inc. content/sensitivity warnings)
-
A short bio
-
A photograph to be illustrated as a portrait alongside your work
-
A hand written dedication to be printed below portrait
SUBMISSION OPENING DATE:
12.03.2026
CLOSING DATE:
12.04.2026
Response Time
Pulse aims to respond to submissions within 4-6 weeks of the closing date. While delays may occur, contributors will be notified of the outcome of their submission wherever possible.
Important Information for Contributors
This project is currently part of a university assessment and is being developed as a concept anthology. Submissions will be included in a hand-bound prototype of the Pulse anthology for academic evaluation.
If the project were to develop into a publicly published anthology in the future, contributors would be contacted separately and given the choice to opt in before their work is used.
By submitting, you give permission for your work to be shared on the Pulse Instagram and potentially included in the academic prototype anthology, with full credit given.
Final Note
Pulse recognises that sharing creative work an be an act of vulnerability. Please submit only what you feel comfortable offering. There is no expectation to disclose personal experiences beyond your own boundaries.
Thank you for trusting Pulse with your words.