The Seventh Wave

The Seventh Wave builds community for and with individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to dig deeper into the hard conversations that impact how we view our lives, our environments, and our relationships to one another.

We invite writers, artists, and activists to take part in global conversations that examine the complexities of our deep-seated narratives. All of the information you need to know about each specific opportunity is outlined in detail in its corresponding submission form. Any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to us at submit@seventhwavemag.com.

At The Seventh Wave, intentionality and accessibility are at the heart of everything we do. Ever since we began in 2015, we’ve endeavored to be as inclusive as possible in our offerings, staying nimble to respond to the ever-changing literary landscape. As a BIPOC- and queer-led organization, we are committed to meeting folks wherever they might be in their creative journey, and as such, we offer three ways to get involved with our organization and community:

• The Magazine. We publish one digital issue per year, elevating up to 32 artists and writers. There are two submission windows, one in winter and one in summer. The bedrock of our organization has always been our digital magazine, which seeks to elevate urgent and oft-underrepresented voices. This opportunity is for the writer or artist who has a piece they are ready to work on with our editors toward publication. Upon acceptance, contributors can expect an up-to-four-month editorial process, which kicks off with an orientation session with your fellow contributors, followed by a call with the editor assigned to your piece. To note: we employ a two-editor rule for every piece, so while you will work primarily with one editor, at each stage of revision, you’ll get feedback from two. Our one requirement throughout this whole process is that you are open to feedback and a collaborative editorial environment. If our process, and this aesthetic, feels like home to you, then we welcome you to submit your work. For publication, every contributor is paid $100.

• Digital Residency. Perhaps you’re working on a manuscript, wrestling over an idea for a piece, or looking for a space where you can exchange ideas, words, and inspiration with other writers and artists. Maybe you just finished an MFA and are looking to keep one foot in a literary community, or maybe you’re considering applying to a program, but want to know what that could entail. Or maybe you just need accountability. No matter who or where you are, our Digital Residency, an incubator for creative exchange, could be just what you need. This process-based program is for folks who are seeking community and resources. Our Digital Residency is a months-long, multi-session cohort-based program that deepens your relationship to your work. As such, each session is equally generative and restful, guiding you through one aspect of the writing or creative process, and welcoming in established authors for roundtable talks that bring the publishing process to life. Our first Digital Residency will open for applications in January 2023. This program costs $650, but scholarships and payment plans are available.

• #TSWIRL Community Hub. For folks looking to join or stay connected to a literary community and/or are earlier on in their creative journeys, we’re building an online community hub just for you. The #TSWIRL Community Hub (which stands for The Seventh Wave in real life) provides you with special access to our monthly community offerings; for example, concrete tips for cover letters (and how not to cover up your voice) or 7 ways to make your residency applications stand out; exclusive interviews with renowned authors and artists that will embolden the way you approach your work; and discounted and waived fees for our submissions and events — all for just $7 a month. If you’re a writer or artist out there wishing you had an anchor for your work or creative practice, this hub is for you. #TSWIRL is slated to launch at the end of 2023.

If you are familiar with The Seventh Wave, you may notice that our in-person residencies are only available to our past contributors. Meaning, once you get published in our digital magazine or take part in our Digital Residency, you will then be eligible to apply and attend our three in-person residency programs. To see more info about those, head over to our Residency Page.

To note: We made these critical changes because we are committed to creating community in the digital space, and we are proud that our magazine and our Digital Residency are still open to writers and artists from around the world. We have been heartened by the responsiveness of writers, artists, and creators in these difficult times, and will continue to respond to changing realities as humanly as possible. We look forward to getting to know your voice.