Clerestory Magazine publishes essays, photo stories, interviews, audio stories, and poems on subjects at the intersection of action and contemplation.

Clerestory Magazine provides space for writers, artists, and activists to explore subjects at the intersection of action and contemplation through storytelling. Our contributors, through their deep reflection, evoke the most essential parts of the human experience, while engaging larger questions on social healing, human flourishing, and justice. This work serves the greater good because the stories we tell and hold together shape who we become together. Each season, Clerestory contributors respond to a seasonal theme, intentionally broad to leave room for expression.

Most accepted pieces fall between 1,000 and 3,000 words, but this is simply a guide, not a requirement. We have a strong preference for previously unpublished work. We pay $50 per accepted submission.

We ask our writers to grant Clerestory exclusive rights to their published piece for four months following the date of publication. Should the work eventually be re-published, we expect writers to include a note that the work first appeared in Clerestory and a link to the original piece.

To submit your work, please send your submission or pitch pasted in the body of an email. Due to high volume, we will only respond if your work is a good fit for the series.

Call for Submissions

Clerestory is currently accepting submissions and pitches for our autumn issue on “Ecology.” As space on our editorial calendar is limited, please send your pitch no later than August 2, 2021.

Relevant themes include:

Environmental degradation and climate change

Environmental healing or reconciliation

Personal essays on experiences with nature

Contemplative or deep ecology

Place-based essays

Essays responding to a specific subject related to the environment, such as "trees," "water," "air," "biodiversity," etc.

Reflections on "nature's meanings" or ecology as relationality

Themes related to human interconnectedness or interdependence

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