Jelly Bucket
There are presently no open calls for submissions.
Jelly Bucket [jel-ee buhk-it]-noun
- Archaic slang for a lunch pail, formerly used by coal miners and other laborers residing in Appalachia.
- Bluegrass Writers Studio's annual graduate-student-produced literary journal.
Jelly Bucket is published annually by Bluegrass Writers Studio, the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Eastern Kentucky University. Founded in 2009, Jelly Bucket features established and new writers. We accept works of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, as well as visual art. Preference is given to visual art that incorporates text and/or features an aspect of the book arts, but all genres are welcome.
Our reading period for our annual journal's general section runs from July 1st — December 1st.
Jelly Bucket is committed to publishing writers from, and writing about, marginalized and under-represented communities.
Jelly Bucket will make a specific call for work from that community and showcase it alongside our regular, high-quality, general submissions. The special section will comprise roughly 50% of the issue and will be guest-edited by an established writer who is connected in some way to the community being featured.
Issue #14's special section will be Neurodivergent Voices and our guest editor is Nathan Spoon.
Guidelines For Submitting Your Work
Only one submission per genre per reading period. Simultaneous submissions are considered, but if your work is accepted elsewhere please withdraw your submission via Submittable. If you need to withdraw just a portion of a submission, leave a comment on your submission via Submittable.
Previously published work will not be accepted. We define previously published work as a piece published in another journal (paper or electronic), in a book or chapbook (traditionally or self-published), or one that is currently online in a public blog or within a public forum.
With all submissions, please include a short biography (about 50-100 words) in your cover letter. This bio will be included with your piece should you win or place.
To view individual genre guidelines, please scroll and click the links below.
University Disclaimer
Jelly Bucket cannot accept work from current students at Eastern Kentucky University. In addition, a minimum of 4 years must have passed between study at the University and submissions to the journal. There is a publication at the University for student work, titled Aurora Online, whose reading period takes place each Fall.