Ink & Consequences Gold Star Program Gold Star

Rebirth. Renewal. Transformation. Beginning again after destruction, loss, or change. We're looking for artwork that captures the moment something new emerges from what came before.

Phoenix imagery is welcome, but not required. We encourage artists to interpret the theme in their own way.

Please take a moment to visit our website to see a template that displays our typography and placement.

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We're looking for stories of luck, mischief, misunderstandings, unexpected opportunities, and plans that go gloriously sideways. The outcome may be humorous, dramatic, fortunate, unfortunate—or a little of all four.

This month's Golden Rule: Hijinks must create consequences.

The hijinks, stroke of luck, act of mischief, or plan gone sideways should create and explore meaningful consequences for the characters or the story. If those events were removed, the story itself should be fundamentally different.

Any genre. Up to 6,000 words.

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What do you want to read in January?

I & C Stories is looking for short fiction for our January 2027 issue.

We're not giving you a theme this time.

Instead, send us the story you'd want to read in January.

Cozy or unsettling. Hopeful or heartbreaking. Speculative, romantic, funny, strange, or something we haven't anticipated. We're interested in the stories you think belong at the start of a new year.

We'll read the stories, select the strongest work, and let the issue's theme emerge from what we choose.

We review blind, please do not include your name, email address, or other identifying information in the manuscript.

Any genre. Up to 6,000 words.

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For a limited time, I & C Stories is opening our doors specifically to romance short stories. Whether your characters find love in a small town, across the stars, in a magical kingdom, or somewhere entirely unexpected, we want stories where romance plays a central role.

Don't worry about matching your story to one of our monthly themes—that's our job. Stories submitted through this special call will be considered for any open I & C Stories issue where the theme and story are a good fit.

Submissions will remain open until August 15, 2026, or we've reached capacity, whichever comes first.

Please review the guidelines below carefully before submitting.

• Original short fiction only.
• Maximum 6,000 words.
• One story per submission.
• No fan fiction.
• No poetry.
• No novellas or novels.
• Submit as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).
• Begin with a blank first page.
• Do not include your name or identifying information in the manuscript. All submissions are evaluated blind.

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Love without apology. Love without shame. Love that refuses to shrink, hide, or make itself smaller for someone else's comfort. We're looking for artwork that captures love expressed openly and authentically—romantic, platonic, familial, communal, or otherwise.

Traditional romantic imagery is welcome, but not required. We encourage artists to interpret the theme in their own way.

Dimensions: 1410 × 1948 pixels (Portrait)
Resolution: 300 DPI recommended
Format: PNG preferred, JPG accepted
No text, logos, or watermarks on the artwork.

Please take a moment to visit our website to see a template that displays our typography and placement.

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Every ending creates the possibility of a beginning. While stories may be set around the New Year, they do not have to be. New beginnings can happen on any day of the year. We are looking for stories about characters at a crossroads, deciding what comes next. Whether they are rebuilding after tragedy, starting over in a new place, or pursuing a long-delayed dream, something new should emerge because of the choices they make.

By that, we mean the choice must have meaningful consequences. The choice between pancakes and waffles is not the point; the choice between staying and leaving is. A new beginning should require something of the character. It should involve risk, sacrifice, uncertainty, or change. The outcome does not have to be positive, but the decision should matter. If the choice were removed from the story, the story itself would be fundamentally different.

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Welcome to the I & C Stories Annual Cover Art Call.

We are currently seeking original cover artwork for upcoming issues of Ink & Consequences Stories.

Before submitting, please review the Cover Art Guidelines and Annual Themes pages on our website. These resources contain important information regarding:

• Theme descriptions
• Technical specifications
• Rights and usage
• Content requirements
• AI policy

2027 Covers Currently Still Open:
March — Hijinks & (Mis)Fortune
August — Breaking Point
September — Just for Laughs
November — Harvest Season
December — Winter’s Promise

Themes are removed from this list as covers are selected..

Submission Requirements:

• Original, human-created artwork only
• JPG or PNG format
• Multiple submissions welcome
• Please indicate the theme(s) that inspired your artwork
• Please submit in portrait dimensions rather than landscape.
  

Selected artists will receive credit within the issue and in the annual Contributors Directory.

We look forward to seeing your work.

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