Call for Submissions

In its next issue divide will feature work that explores what goes on in a space we call "downtime." We go there when we get pulled out of, or deliberately step off of, the "on-track" mode. The term includes those experiences, involuntary or voluntary, that separate us from the busyness of the hive, from the "up-an'-at-'em and get-out-there-to-get yours" mode of modern life. How do we view and respond to the involuntary downtime of illness, depression, bereavement, unemployment, imprisonment, or just waiting in an airport? What kinds of alchemy happen when we court voluntary downtime through solitude, silence, contact with nature, retreats, reveries, or even a simple long soak in the bath? Whether heavy or light, long or short, downtime offers the possibility of transformation, reconfiguration, and even rebirth of the heart, the mind, and the body. It's not surprising that many artists feel downtime is a muse playing a key role in the creative process.

Why then do we avoid downtime or feel guilty when we want it? How does downtime shape us; how do we shape it? What attitudes does our culture have toward downtime, and how does our culture implant these attitudes? Do some other cultures foster, or at least not shun, downtime?

divide welcomes submissions clearly related to this theme. Our needs include:

• Fiction and poetry
• Personal or critical non-fiction essays
• Black & white photography and line art
• Interviews and group forums

Submissions
Our editorial staff will consider materials for the Downtime issue between October 1, 2007 and March 15, 2008. We encourage you to read a sample issue before submitting. Note that we prefer pieces under 3,000 words in length. We discourage simultaneous submissions. Identify the genre of your submission so it can be directed to the appropriate editors.

Send work to:

divide
ATTN: Travel and Enlightenment
Program for Writing and Rhetoric
University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 317
Boulder, CO 80309-0317
Address queries to: divide@colorado.edu

Note that we do not accept electronic submissions. We are also available by fax at 303/492-7877. See Submissions: General Info for details.