The Truth We Carry: An Anthology of Survivor Voices is published once a year, with its debut issue forthcoming in March 2027. The anthology is focused on publishing creative work from survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. While survivorship and/or lived experience with abuse or exploitation is a prerequisite to being published with The Truth We Carry, and we do expect submissions to deal with some aspect of being a survivor, your submission does not have to be autobiographical, and it can be fiction. The consistent element we look for an “aha!” moment about the survivor experience.
Philosophy:
The Truth We Carry, and the larger Survivor Storytellers Project at Safe Voices, are inspired by the belief that stories can change (and save) lives and the desire to create safe, nonjudgmental, and non-coercive opportunities for survivors to engage in storytelling.
Open Submission Period:
Submissions are accepted from late April through June 30 or until a cap of 300 submissions is reached, whichever comes first.
Submission Guidelines:
The basic guidelines for submissions are:
- The Truth We Carry publishes works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Works of flash and micro lengths are welcome.
- We prefer work that is under 3,000 words in length.
- We will consider previously published work as long as 12 months or more has passed since publication.
- Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please withdraw your submission if it’s published elsewhere.
- Please only submit one piece for consideration at a time.
- Do not send us anything that was created with AI. We reserve the right to rescind acceptances from any work found to be AI-generated.
- Please wait six weeks after submissions close before you inquire about your piece.
- Formatting requirements: Please submit .doc or .pdf files in 12-point easy-to-read (Times New Roman, Helvetica, or similar) font, double spaced.
- Safe Voices staff and volunteers who are working on the current issue of The Truth We Carry are ineligible to submit work. Those not involved with the current issue are welcome to submit work!
- There is no submission/reading fee to submit work.
- Please note: We aim for ~75% of published work to be from Maine survivors.
Submit work through our submission manager below:
Payment:
Authors selected for publication will receive payment of $100 and a copy of the anthology.
Rights:
The Truth We Carry purchases First Serial Rights for submissions, while copyright remains with the author. Upon publication, rights revert to the author, though the journal retains the non-exclusive right to reprint the work online or in print with the author’s consent. Authors may reprint work elsewhere afterward, provided they credit The Truth We Carry with first publication.
Publication Information:
The Truth We Carry is published by Safe Voices, a nonprofit domestic violence and sex trafficking resource center serving survivors and our communities in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties in Maine.
Managing Editor: Grace Kendall
Safe Voices Executive Director: Rebecca Austin
Email the team: storytellers@safevoices.org
Write to the team: Safe Voices, ATTN: Survivor Storytellers, P.O. Box 713, Auburn, ME 04212
The Truth We Carry is printed in Lewiston, Maine by Penmor Lithographers.
Distribution Plans:
The book launch for each issue of The Truth We Carry is the annual Safe Voices Grown-Up Book Fair, which traditionally takes place in mid-March in Auburn, Maine. The anthology will be sold at the event, via local book stores and events, online (both printed copies and e-books), stocked in local libraries, and promoted via book tour events throughout the year in which included authors are invited to participate in readings and book signings.