Inkwell Muse

The Inkwell Muse is Propelia’s literary magazine, a home for exceptional student creative writing across fiction, poetry, personal essays, and hybrid forms. 

ELIGIBILITY

Who Can Participate?

The Inkwell Muse is open to all current high school students regardless of prior publication history, academic record, or writing background.

What We Publish

800 — 4,000 words

Short Fiction

Short stories that transport, challenge, or surprise, in any genre, any world.
Up to 3 poems per submission

Poetry

Verses that capture emotion, imagery, and voice
600 — 3,000 words

Personal Essay

Honest reflections that reveal insight, perspective, and lived experience.

Submission Process

How to Submit: Submit via our online submission form

Formatting Requirements

  • File format: .doc or .docx (preferred) or PDF
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
  • Double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced)

 

Originality & Rights

  • All submissions must be original and unpublished
  • Work must be entirely your own (no plagiarism or AI-generated content)
  • By submitting, you grant The Inkwell Muse first publication rights

 

Review Timeline

  • Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis
  • Expected response time: 4–6 weeks

Due to the volume of submissions, we may not be able to provide individual feedback to all applicants.

Publication Schedule

The Inkwell Muse publishes two issues annually, one in spring and one in autumn. Each issue is a curated selection of the strongest work received during that submission window.