We are pleased to announce the call for submissions to Making Space for the Light, the third anthology in our survivor-centered series. Making Space for the Light builds on the work of the first two collections, offering a dedicated space for survivors of sexual violence and abuse to share their writing. In doing so, we underscore the belief that writing can help us reclaim our agency and decide how we will incorporate and make meaning of our trauma, rather than being defined by it. We also recognize that sharing our stories in a communal setting can amplify our capacity for collective reflection and transformation.
USE THIS FORM TO READ THE FULL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS AND SUBMIT YOUR WRITING.
A compelling work that intertwines lyrical poetry, philosophical inquiry, legal critique, and personal narrative. Drawing on Charles W. Mills' concept of epistemologies of ignorance, Simmerling examines the cultural, legal, and institutional forces that silence women's experiences of harm. Through rigorous analysis and poetic precision, she challenges narratives that render gendered violence invisible, offering a language of recognition, accountability, and truth.
We’ve Got Some Things to Say: Reshaping Narratives Around Sexual Violence begins with a simple but profound mission: giving survivors back their stories, in their own words. Read more & purchase.
Mary Was Here is a collection of poetry that powerfully addresses sexual violence as not only an individual trauma but a pervasive societal problem, demanding that we confront the cultural narratives that perpetuate silence and shame. Read more & purchase.
We’ve Been Put Through Fire and Come Out Divine: Stories of Hope & Survival is a raw and powerful anthology that documents the harrowing experiences of survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The collection explores the loss of identity, agency, and voice that often accompanies trauma, painting a stark picture of its damaging effects. Read more & purchase.
