Instant Noodles Current Words Publishing Gold Star Program Gold Star

Old Scratch Press (OSP), a poetry and short-form collective sponsored by Current Words Publishing, is seeking two new members to join us starting at the end of 2025. Your book would be slated for publication in 2026–2027, pending a successful trial period.

OSP is a collaborative, grassroots press focused on uplifting fresh, bold voices in poetry, flash fiction, and creative non-fiction. We publish three books per year, along with Instant Noodles Lit Mag (3 issues/year), which is curated and edited by our members. To learn more about our work, we invite you to explore past editions of Instant Noodles https://instantnoodleslitmag.com/ and OSP-published books https://oldscratchpress.com/catalog/.

As a member of OSP, you will:

• Receive a free publication of your manuscript (poetry, short prose, hybrid, or a mix of writing and art).
• Get 10 free copies of your book and keep 100% of your royalties.
• Participate in monthly OSP meetings (except December and August).
• Proofread and support fellow members’ books and contribute to blog and promo efforts.
• Be invited to monthly marketing meetings hosted by Current Words Publishing.
• Join a supportive community of working writers committed to mutual aid, creativity, and literary growth.

• Writers with a completed or nearly completed manuscript ready for publication in 2026–2027.
• People who can commit to at least two years of active participation.
• We will be happy to consider all talented authors, and we are very interested in adding writers who reflect diversity in identity, perspective, or experience—including (but not limited to) people of color, LGBTQ+ writers, disabled writers, and others underrepresented in publishing.
• Applicants who are not full-time creative writing faculty. We aim to support writers who do not already have institutional resources or access.
• Writers who have a track record of publication (a few poems, flash pieces, essays, etc.), and a clear desire to communicate something meaningful through their work—someone we can respect as a fellow writer and collaborator.
• Members who are kind, reliable, and team-oriented.

Please send the following:

• A brief cover letter introducing yourself, why you’re interested in joining OSP, and how you’d contribute to the group.
• A short author bio (3–5 sentences).
• A brief personal essay (500–750 words) about your writing journey. Feel free to include publication history (with links or footnotes) and anything you’d like to share about the manuscript you hope to publish.
• A sample of your manuscript-in-progress (up to 10 pages).

Applications will be reviewed collectively by current OSP members. Finalists will be invited for a short conversation via Zoom.

If this sounds like your kind of creative home, we’d love to hear from you.

Not Open

The Old Scratch Press team asks that all fiction/non-fiction pieces adhere to a word count of 1000 words or less.

The second theme for 2025 is SANCTUARY. “Start thinking now,” says contributing editor Nadja Maril.

What ideas does the word sanctuary evoke for you? Are you thinking about being rescued, or offering rescue? Where do you find sanctuary? Where does the word take you? Try writing a story about yourself, something you observed, or something entirely imaginary. Create a video, a picture, even combine two mediums.

Please don't use AI to make your writing or your art.

Do look at the magazine. We have unusual covers, great writing and art, and we always submit to Best of the Net.

All work must be original and must belong to the author. Works that have been previously published will not be considered. Stories must be complete and self-contained (i.e., do not submit chapters of a larger work). NOTE: Accepted works will be published as submitted without editing; as such, in addition to the originality of the work itself, we are looking for manuscripts that are clean and press ready. Be sure to review your grammar, spelling, tenses, proper punctuation, and other general rules of the written word before hitting “Send.”

Please include a brief bio (0-200 words, with links) to be included on the contributors' page of the magazine if your work is chosen. Feel free to use AI to write, edit, or tighten up your bio.

We follow up each issue with a live Zoom reading!

Not Open

Maybe you love to travel or maybe you like to stay at home, but when you venture out— what kind of transportation takes you on your journey? Are you invigorated by the open water, frantic following road signs, anonymous on a plane, or comforted by the train station whistle? In the process of getting to your destination, how did the vehicle you’re traveling in affect the outcome?

We’re looking for flash prose (up to 500 words) fiction and nonfiction, as well as poetry, drama, visual art, and multi-media submissions. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

PUBLISH May 1, 2026

When you send in your submission, as you should with any submission, the piece should be polished and complete with no grammar mistakes and no misspellings.

Please don't use AI to make your submission.

YES! Do look at the magazine. We have unusual covers, great writing and art, and we always submit to Best of the Net & Pushcart.

All work must be original and must belong to the author. Works that have been previously published will not be considered. Stories must be complete and self-contained (i.e., do not submit chapters of a larger work). NOTE: Accepted works will be published as submitted without editing; as such, in addition to the originality of the work itself, we are looking for manuscripts that are clean and press ready. Be sure to review your grammar, spelling, tenses, proper punctuation, and other general rules of the written word before hitting “Send.”

Please include a brief bio (0-200 words, with links) to be included on the contributors' page of the magazine if your work is chosen. Feel free to use AI to write, edit, or tighten up your bio.

We will potentially follow up each issue with a live Zoom reading if authors are interested.

Not Open

500 words max

AL DENTE In cooking, pasta or risotto al dente (/æl'd?nte?/, Italian: [al 'd?nte]; lit.?'to the tooth') is cooked to be firm to the bite, requiring a brief cooking time. The term also extends to firmly-cooked vegetables. In contemporary Italian cooking, it is considered to be the ideal consistency for pasta.

What does al dente mean to you? To your neighborhood vampire it probably means something different. How about to the prospector mining gold?

Send us something that you haven't overcooked!

We’re looking for flash prose (up to 500 words) fiction and nonfiction, as well as poetry, drama, visual art, and multi-media submissions. Deadline: July 5, 2026.

PUBLISH 9/1/2026

When you send in your submission, as you should with any submission, the piece should be polished and complete with no grammar mistakes and no misspellings.

Please don't use AI to make your submission.

YES! Do look at the magazine. We have unusual covers, great writing and art, and we always submit to Best of the Net & Pushcart.

All work must be original and must belong to the author. Works that have been previously published will not be considered. Stories must be complete and self-contained (i.e., do not submit chapters of a larger work). NOTE: Accepted works will be published as submitted without editing; as such, in addition to the originality of the work itself, we are looking for manuscripts that are clean and press ready. Be sure to review your grammar, spelling, tenses, proper punctuation, and other general rules of the written word before hitting “Send.”

Please include a brief bio (0-200 words, with links) to be included on the contributors' page of the magazine if your work is chosen. Feel free to use AI to write, edit, or tighten up your bio.

We will potentially follow up each issue with a live Zoom reading if authors are interested.

Not Open