We are currently working our way through all of our submissions. We'll be notifying everyone hopefully by the end of this week. Thanks for your patience. 

* SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED *

Thanks to everyone who submitted work. We look forward to reading your stories. Some of the titles are fucking hilarious. Well done, you guys. We hope to get back to you by August 1st. Or so. 

-Shannon and Shawn )'(

Congrats to those of you who got in under this little gift extension... 

[To honor writers (like me, Shannon) who tend to submit their work at the stroke of 11:59pm followed by spotting six obvious typos followed by if-only-I-had-more-time tears, guess what... you've been gifted 24 more hours. 

You're welcome.]

Soup Dumplings Unlimited seeks stories of Transformation and Discovery inspired by Burning Man for a literary anthology. Writers must have attended at least one burn or an affiliate burn recognized by the BORG. All stories must be set (in part or in full) at Burning Man. We welcome fiction and nonfiction; 4000 word count max. Only previously unpublished (in print or online) stories will be considered.   

We’re looking for well-crafted stories you might hear around the burn barrel, specific moments when the light dawned, when something about you or your life suddenly changed for better or worse, stories that surprise us with their depth and complexity and honor burner culture even if the story ends in disaster.   

Tell us about when you couldn’t bring yourself to enter the Temple with your father’s ashes because you weren’t ready to say goodbye; when you first laid eyes on El Pulpo Mecanico and decided right then to quit your day job; when when you stepped out of the porta-potty to a surprise red carpet and a cheering crowd; when you were lost, or found, in a dust storm; when you decided to get sober; when you decided to get fucked up; when you realized you were Home, or realized you weren’t. 

Assume your readers are burners and hit the dust running. If you don’t kill us on page one, we won’t read on.

We prefer:

• Deeply personal stories that take risks, that tell the untellable
• High stakes
• Well-crafted stories told as if we’re old friends standing around a burn barrel 
• Scenes that immerse us in your world
• Sensual details – touch, taste, scent to help us experience the story with you 
• Meaningful exposition: Why was it important? What impact did it have?
• Insights from burners who build and tear down BRC
• Burner slang

Not preferred:

• Explanations of what Burning Man is
• Why it was better at Baker Beach   
• Clever prose that upstages your story 
• Gratuitous sex, drugs, and alcohol; we want stories that are deeper (in the non-orifice sense) than fucking at ATTOL; yay for orgies, tripping, and alcohol sipped from dildo fountains, feel free to use those details, but we want the story underneath the story 
• Over-use of attributes and/or adverbs in dialogue (e.g., “Oh, but these feathers don’t come off!” she stupidly exclaimed. “Would you like to try the Human Carcass Wash?” he asked creepily. A plain old he said/she said works just fine for us – “Fuck your burn,” she said. See?)  

The submission period runs April 15th - June 30th, 2016. The collection, edited by Shannon Brazil and Shawn Levy, is slated for a 2017 release. Upon publication contributing writers will receive one copy of the anthology and a thank you stipend.   

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

Format:

• Do NOT include your name anywhere on your manuscript; the only place your name should appear is on the Submittable form and in the online comments box.

• Double-spaced, all pages numbered, normal 12 pt. font (Times New Roman preferred).

• Please put the title of your story on each page.

• You may include a cover letter in the “comments” box. Or don’t – what matters most to us is your work. Please don’t tell us what your story is about; we look forward to discovering that on our own.

• Maximum length is 4,000 words, although shorter pieces are strongly encouraged. There is no minimum word count; flash fiction is welcome!

Deadline: Send submissions between April 15th – June 30th.

Miscellaneous:

• Up to two submissions per author.

• It is a requirement that at least some of the story is set at Burning Man.

• Stories must be original and previously unpublished (if your story has appeared anywhere on the internet, we consider that published).

• Simultaneous submissions are okay, as long as you notify us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.

• If accepted, you will be granting first North American rights to Soup Dumplings Unlimited.

• Submissions are read blind; failure to follow this step may disqualify your story from consideration.

It was better next year. 

For more information: http://www.soupdumplings.org

Safety Third  

)'(