Current & Recent Submissions
Buckman Journal: CLuster
We are opening submissions to all Portland and Pacific Northwest writers for our anthology’s fifteenth installment of Buckman Journal, which will be released in January 2026. As always, there is no entry fee.
The theme for this Buckman is cluster—think: conglomerates, headaches, brain-matter, trypophobia, compound berries, dinner parties, and all sorts of accumulations. Constellations and asterisms and consonants and atoms and barnacles. A cluster could be a huddle of clouds, an array of aquifers, a pack of microorganisms, maitakes, or a massive human amoeba of bodies raving. Ultimately, it’s a gathering, whether by physics or chance. Because Cluster’s also a verb–uniting a group of things with common origins; beings or bits held together, growing. The term has applications in chemistry, biomedicine, algebra, quantum field theory, urban development, music, Buddhism, astronomy, linguistics, and beyond. So tell us your own covens, clumps, and collections. Your interclusters, subclusters, and super assemblies. We want your best and weirdest. Take the theme loosely, but do take it into consideration. Cluster away~
Writing Submissions: July 1st - 10th
Prose writing of all genres, styles, and lengths (up to ~5,000 words) is welcome. Please adhere to the 5,000-word limit. Please note that we are not accepting poetry submissions during this window.
Artwork Submissions: July 15th - 24th
Accepting 2D and 3D works in any medium (so long as it’s documented suitably for print). Artists can submit up to four images.
See our Submittable for answers to FAQs and more details!
Buckman Publishing Submission Box
located at the Mothership 1033 SE Main St, Suite 4 (inside Honey Latte Cafe).
Our team is always looking for new ways to connect with our creative communities here in Portland and are often overwhelmed with the wealth of talent this city provides. Our schedules are packed with events, readings and art openings, live music and plays, and we are thrilled to launch another avenue for connection: our very own in-person submission box! We invite y’all to drop off sample words, zines, art, etc., for possible future publication with Buckman or as an addition to our Zine Library here at the Mothership. Please include your contact information with the item you drop off. Or, if you want to throw in a postcard / tell us about an event we may not know about, please do!
*DISCLAIMER*: materials will not be returned. As a small team, we will not be able to respond to all submissions. You will hear from us if your work is a good fit for collaboration. Thanks.