Now Accepting Submissions for Winter Issue 2017, CONCRETE, & Cover Art Contest

We're back at it again! Our next print issue comes out in winter 2017, and the team at TSLR have been happily reading incoming submissions. 

The deadline to submit for our winter print issue is September 3. Please mosey on over to our Submittable page to send in your work.

We are interested in art and criticism about urbanism, globalism, identity, and transnationalism, though by no means should submissions be limited to those topics. We'll publish a good story about cats in Africa if it floors us. Selected works will be published online and/or in print and be automatically entered into our annual end-of-year contest where cash prizes will be awarded.

We publish: 

  • Fiction - less than 5,000 words
  • Poetry - 2 poems submission limit per person
  • Non-Fiction & Essay - less than 5,000 words
  • Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction - less than 500 words
  • Visual Art - photography, video, photo essay, collage, painting, sketch, etc.
  • Translation - translation into English of any poetry, essay or short fiction from Asia, or vice versa, along with the original text
  • Book Review - pitch book review ideas to us, on fiction or non-fiction from or about Asia 

To submit online, please visit our online submissions manager

We will only publish previously unpublished pieces. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please just let us know promptly if your submission has been accepted elsewhere. All published authors of the print edition will be mailed a hard copy of their magazine at no cost.

Translators, please provide documentation of authorization to translate and publish from the writer whom you are translating.


*Special Edition: Concrete The Shanghai Literary Review is looking for personal essays and narrative nonfiction of 2,000-8,000 words that capture different facets of various Chinese cities (people, buildings, histories, stories). We are also seeking photography that reflects life in China’s cities. The special TSLR edition, to be published early 2018 between regular issues 2 & 3, will feature essays on various cities with accompanying photography. Submissions are due August 31, 2017 at our Submittable page.


*Winter 2017 Cover Art Contest: TSLR will be running a contest for artists to submit work for the cover of our print issue. Simply upload via Submittable in the Visual category and check the option in the form to be considered for the contest. Details forthcoming.

Same/Difference

Dear TSLR Readers,
 
I want you to watch Same/Difference, Yujin Lee and Nicola Maloof’s video essay submission to TSLR Issue One. It’s a powerful video essay that shares the perspectives of those who are born into separate national and ethnic identities. The two-channel video splits the narrative, just as “third culture kids” must reconcile multiple narratives about who they are and how the world identifies them. To focus on two videos at the same time is just a symbolic aperitif of that life.

click above to watch Same/Difference on Vimeo

click above to watch Same/Difference on Vimeo

When the video shows two women, one a Korean-born American adoptee, and the other a Korean, both dressed in the same clothes, can you tell who is who? Whether you can tell or not, what’s it to them? Maybe you can take an educated guess based off their dance moves.

Above all else, it’s important that the world hear more firsthand perspectives on this experience. The world needs more nuanced takes, like what’s presented in Same/Difference, rather than simple, reductive perspectives. Please do give this video essay a watch and a think.
 
Kenny
TSLR Issue One Nonfiction & Visual Editor

Issue One Release Party - Photo Recap

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night to help us celebrate the release of our first issue. We were floored by the great turnout and it was so great to meet some of our contributors in person for the first time. Here's a quick look at the evening through photos. 

Check out more photos on our Facebook photo album here.

Thanks again to our generous partners: George at Sugar Cube for the amazing cake, Fei at BoBloom for the beautiful flowers, and Josh at My Place Ruin Bar for hosting us. Thanks to Ying Shi for the photos.

To purchase a copy of our magazine, send an email with your order request to shanghailiterary@gmail.com. Alternatively, visit our store for details.

TSLR Store is Live

Hot off the presses! TSLR Issue One is now available for purchase at our online store. We ship internationally, but please give us a week or two to get our babies to you. 

If you're in China and looking to purchase, you can do so either via this website or through our Wedian store.

In addition to our first issue, we've got crystal keychains featuring our magazine's mascot, the baiji dolphin, Goddess of the Yangtze. In case you were going for the 'blinged out yet practical endangered animal / literature lover' look. Please see below for photos of Issue One's Table of Contents.

Issue One Table of Contents

Issue One Launch Party & Open Mic - Saturday, July 1 @My Place Ruin Bar

We can't wait to share our work with you. 

Our Issue 1 Launch Party & Reading will take place on Saturday, July 1st, at My Place Ruin Bar, 1788 Xinzha Lu, Third Floor, at 7:30pm. We'll have magazines for sale, a few giveaways, TSLR swag, readings from contributors, overseas contributors' videos, and of course, an open mic. 

In addition, we'll pop a bottle of champagne and we have a custom TSLR-themed cake being designed by George of Sugar Cube, the home-baking project that makes personalized cakes for any occasion. Check out some of his masterpieces below and scan the QR or email him to get in touch with Sugar Cube for any of your cake needs. :) 

See you on Saturday night!