Qissa
for the love of the written word
Submissions open!
Deadline: March 31, 2023 (extended)
Kindly scroll down for Issues and Submission related information!
About Us
Qissa, meaning fable, is a word found in the Malabar dialect of Kerala in south India. The coastal region of Malabar with its endless stories, mangroves, and mangosteen trees has raised many talented writers. Be it poetry or satire, Malabar has its icons. We strive to keep that spirit of storytelling alive.
Qissa is an online literary zine from south India. We accept short fiction, poetry and essays from around the world.
We love gutsy, insightful, and provocative work. There need not be something new for you to say, but the way you say it has to be made anew.
Like a fresh gust of sea-breeze, if your writing refreshes our soul, we’d be happy to give your work a home.
There is no charge for submissions.
Call for Submissions
Qissa invites submissions in both English and Malayalam.
Submissions are now open for Issue 4. Deadline: March 31, 2023.
We are looking for writing that connects effortlessly with its readers through un-synthetic language, that flows with a specific direction to its natural end. In other words, we are looking for poetry, fiction and non-fiction (including book reviews, literary essays, interviews, etc.) that speak to us in memorable ways. We specifically applaud writing that voices the unsaid, ruminates on the unmentionable, and traverses the difficult landscapes of literariness and life.
While we have a specific focus on south India, it is not necessary that your work be based on the many wonders of the southern parts of the subcontinent.
Send in your submissions to submissions.qissa@gmail.com. Make sure you follow the Submission Guidelines thoroughly.
Submission Guidelines
Poetry
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We accept 3 poems per submission, in English or in Malayalam, one submission per language.
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Your poems should not have been published elsewhere. If you have published on personal blogs or social media profiles, that is okay.
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Simultaneous submissions are not allowed.
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Please use Times New Roman 12 pt. font in a Word doc and send to submissions.qissa@gmail.com with Poetry_yourname in the subject line.
Fiction
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Please send only one short story per submission in English, or in Malayalam.
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Your short story must be around 1000-3000 words.
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We do not accept previously published fiction.
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Simultaneous submissions are not allowed.
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Please use Times New Roman 12 pt. font in a Word doc and send to submissions.qissa@gmail.com with Fiction_yourname in the subject line.
Non-Fiction
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This category includes book reviews, interviews, essays, and creative non-fiction in English or Malayalam.
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Your submission should be between 900 to 1200 words.
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Simultaneous submissions are not allowed.
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Please ensure that your submission is in Times New Roman 12 pt. font in a Word doc and is sent to submissions.qissa@gmail.com with Non-Fiction_yourname in the subject line.
Any submission that does not follow the guidelines will be summarily rejected.
Bio
With every submission, please send in a brief bio of 1-2 sentences in the same email.
We endeavour to respond to submissions soon!
Copyright
All copyrights revert back to the author after publication. In case of re-publication, please mention Qissa as the original publisher.
Meet The Team
Athira Unni
Editor
Poetry
Athira Unni is a research scholar and poet. Her debut poetry collection Gaea and Other Poems was published in September 2020. She lives with her anxiety and a few books.
Sukanya Shaji
Editor
Fiction
Sukanya Shaji is a freelance writer, poet and lawyer. She loves rainy days and people who smile with their hearts.
Jinan Ashraf
Editor
Fiction
Jinan Ashraf is a research scholar living in Dublin and researching James Joyce and Anglophone South Asian avant-garde writing. She has recieved the Laura Bassi Scholarship Summer 2021 and has published in leading modernist journals such as The Modernist Review.
Aiswarya Sanath
Editor
Non-Fiction
Aiswarya Sanath is a research scholar and a translator who dabbles in poetry and politics. But on most days you can find her chasing purple sunsets and taking a book large, and a worry small.
Lakshmi Prabha
Editor
Non-Fiction
Lakshmi Prabha is a research scholar and content creator based out of Darjeeling. She is a people person who loves good company and good music.