peculiar is a queer literary journal that aims to showcase the prose, poetry, art, and photography of Utah’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and otherwise queer writers and artists. We hope to recognize the creative talents of the often overlooked queer community within Utah’s unique culture.​

In our first issue, co-editor-in-chief Aaron Gates wrote the following in his foreword: “To belong, isn’t that what we are fighting for, constantly? Every day a wave surges against us, telling us we are too different, telling us we have no place, telling us that something is wrong with us. No one can tell you what you are worth; that is for you to decide.” So we hope you’ll decide to be brave. To be strong. To be beautiful.​

The SUBMISSION DEADLINE for our fifth issue (volume three: issue two) is JULY 16th at MIDNIGHT (MST). After which, peculiar staff will do blind readings to select the pieces to be published. Those chosen will be kept in the loop throughout the editing process, with the journal going to print sometime in the fall. If published, writers and artists will received a FREE copy of the journal. No other compensation will be given. After publication, rights revert back to the author.

Submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, art, and photography can be submitted online at peculiarjournal.com/submit.  We do allow simultaneous submissions and previously published work, but please inform us in both cases. We are interested in many genres and the subject matter does not need to be queer-themed, we only ask that contributors identify as queer and live, or have lived, within Utah.

Further guidelines are given online. Again, to submit work, go to peculiarjournal.com/submit before July 16th.