These are themed calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some of the call themes are: solarpunk; seaside gothic; witchcraft; tributes to late bloomers; epiphany; where legends walk (superhero stories); creature feature; women of the weird west; feast or famine?; (sub)liminal; and eldritch.
THEMED CALLS
Solarpunk Magazine
This is a magazine of solarpunk fiction; they will read fiction, non-fiction and poetry during the first two weeks of April. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Solarpunk Magazine publishes hopeful short stories and poetry that strive for a utopian ideal, that are set in futures where communities are optimistically struggling to solve or adapt to climate change, to create or maintain a world in which humanity, technology, and nature coexist in harmony rather than in conflict. We also publish solarpunk art as well as nonfiction that explores real world, contemporary topics and their intersection with the solarpunk movement for a better future.”
Deadline: 14th April 2025
Length guidelines: 1,500-7,500 words for fiction, 1 poem of up to 3 pages, 1,000-2,000 words for nonfiction
Pay: $0.08/word for fiction; $40/poem; $75/essay or article
Details here and here.
Seaside Gothic
This UK-based magazine publishes art, fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that meet the criteria of seaside gothic literature (it is led by emotion, not reason, exploring the human experience mentally and spiritually as well as physically; It addresses duality—land and sea, love and hate, the beautiful and the grotesque; It connects to the edge, living on the seaside either literally or figuratively, and has one foot in the water and the other on solid ground). They will soon open for submissions.
Reading period: 14 to 20 April 2025
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: £0.01/word
Details here.
Graveside Press: Witchcraft Anthology
Graveside Press is a new imprint focused on horror. They want submissions for a fiction anthology; stories with “Witches! Obviously. Whether you’re going with modern-day witchcraft practices or the fairy-tale evil witch, we’re ready for you.” The central focus of the story has to be witchcraft of some sort. (Graveside Press is also looking for submissions for a Middle Grade & YA horror anthology, as well as a Monster anthology – see their Duosuma page for details.)
Deadline: 15 April 2025
Length: 2,000-6,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here and here.
Translunar Travelers Lounge
They want fun speculative fiction; stories must have elements of science fiction or fantasy. “A fun story, at its core, is one that works on the premise that things aren’t all bad; that ultimately, good wins out. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your story has to be silly or lighthearted (though it certainly can be). Joy can be made all the more powerful when juxtaposed against tragedy. In the end, though, there should be hope, and we want stories that are truly fun for as many different kinds of people as possible.
Swashbuckling adventure, deadly intrigue, and gleeful romance are some of the most obvious examples of what we’re looking for, but we won’t say no to more subtle or complicated topics, as long as they fit under the wider “fun” umbrella.”
Deadline: 15 April 2025
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here and here.
Consequence Magazine
They publish work “that addresses the human experiences, realities, and consequences of war and geopolitical violence through literature and art.” They accept fiction (including flash and excerpts), nonfiction (interviews, essays, and narrative non-fiction), poetry, translations, and art. All works will be considered for online and print.
Deadline: 15 April 2025
Length: Varies
Pay: $30-50 for prose, $20/poem for print poetry, $30-50 for online poetry
Details here and here.
Ghost to Ghost to Ghost Anthology
They want ghost stories from Canadian authors only – flash to short fiction. Stories have to be “Set in Canada, written by Canadian authors. (any author residing in Canada)”.
Deadline: 15 April 2025
Length: 500-1,500 words
Pay: CAD15
Details here and here.
Trans Survivors: Healing in Action zine
This is a call for trans/nonbinary creators. “It’s more important than ever to highlight trans and nonbinary art, to uplift trans joy, and to share stories of healing and connection. Help us share hope through art and writing! We invite you to contribute to a new Trans Survivors Zine titled “Trans Survivors: Healing in Action.”
We welcome content that focuses on trans voices, survivorship and healing from harm/trauma/violence, creative expressions of all kinds. We welcome your full range of emotions and expressions. We encourage content focused on race and anti-racism; bodies and disabilities; class, housing, survival realities; and content that focuses or encompasses our complex, intersectional lives.
We welcome a variety of artforms, including visual art, poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction”. This is a project of FORGE, an organization for trans/non-binary survivors; you can read about them here.
Deadline: 15 April 2025
Length: Up to 1,000 words for prose
Pay: $25
Details here and here.
Rattle
Rattle accepts various kinds of fee-free poetry, including for print and online issues; the next theme for their print issue is Tributes to Late Bloomers (“Our Fall 2025 issue will be dedicated to poems written by “late bloomers”—those who only started publishing poetry regularly after the age of 50. Much ado is made in the literary world of younger poets making waves, but it’s never too late to develop and share your voice, and for many poets, their best work comes at an older age. We hope this issue will be an inspiration to those just starting out, and a counter to age-related biases. Include a contributor’s note about when you starting publishing poetry significantly, and how that prior life experience affects you as a poet. We don’t publish essays, but always include a contributor notes section, which functions as a series of micro-essays about the topic. You may submit up to four previously uncurated poems (or pages of short poems) at the same time”; deadline 15th April 2025). They also accept Rattlecast Prompt Poems; Poets Respond, where poets respond to a news story or an event that happened the previous week; general poems – send up to 4, and a monthly ekphrastic challenge. Currently, they’re also open for a fee-based contest. For their next print edition, with a later deadline, the theme is Tribute to Rebels; see the relevant section on this page.
Deadline: Varies (see website)
Length: Varies
Pay: $100 for poems published online, and $200 for poems published in print
Details here.
Taco Bell Quarterly
They plan to open soon for submissions. “Taco Bell Quarterly seeks literary/creative essays, short stories, fiction/prose, poems, comics, art, one act plays, fever dreams, multimedia, stupid status updates, criticisms, manifestos, recipes and anything else that explore any and all elements of Taco Bell. Or not. Shoehorn a chalupa in your short story. Maybe we’ll love it. An elegy for the discontinued menu items? Fine. An experimental essay about marine biology and the XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito? Awesome. Review the new Beefy Fritos Burrito and how it reminds you of the time your grandma died? We want it. … We lean towards pieces that are queer and center their pain/joy in a Taco Bell.” They will open for submissions on 20th April 2025 – see announcement on BlueSky and on their website; their Submittable portal will open during the reading period. Opens on: 20 April 2025
Length: 500-2,500 words for prose, up to 4 poems
Pay: $150
Details here and here.
Astrolabe
They want “work about how we seek out, discover, and grasp onto connection. Into the woods. Across a line. Beneath the ocean. Along a seam. Into the branches of an alternate present or the crevasse of an alternate future. Across the rifts between one another. And then, once we find one other, the myths we make. We’re excited to see as many interpretations of this broad theme as there are stars in the night sky. We’re open to work of all genres, with a particular fondness for anything that moves beyond realism in form or content or spirit.” And, “We’ll happily consider fiction and CNF in all prose forms—prose poetry, micro, flash, and beyond”. Do not send lineated poetry. Please note, they’ll close submissions of their fee-free reading period earlier than the deadline, if they hit their submission cap.
Deadline: 20 April 2025, or until filled
Length: Up to 3,000 words for prose
Pay: $50
Details here.
Usawa Literary Review: Memories of the Future
Their website says, “The Usawa Literary Review is a bi-annual English language literary magazine dedicated to feminist literature and writings by and about underrepresented communities.” Their submission call says, “Time flows linearly. We move forward and then memories sneak up and take us back or rather, bring to the present what once was. And in dreams instead of falling downwards, the sand in our hourglass may start moving up.
All memory is imagination. All dreams are…well dreams.
Imagining, dreaming, and remembering by their very nature resist censor. Are they acts of resistance then? Then writing in their language must be too.
When we mine your dreams tomorrow what would we find?
For its Summer 2025 Issue, Usawa Literary Review invites contributions in genres of poetry, short fiction, reviews, interviews, essays, and creative non-fiction, based around the theme, ‘Memories of the Future ’.” Submission is via a form on their website.
Deadline: 25 April 2025
Length: 2,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to 5,000 words for creative nonfiction, up to 4 poems
Pay: INR1,000/$12
Details here.
Zoetic Press: Non-Binary Review – Epiphany
They want speculative work – poetry, fiction, essays, translations, and art. They’re reading on the Epiphany theme. They accept submissions until a cap is reached, or the deadline, whichever comes first. All submissions must have a clear relationship to the theme. Apart from the theme, they are also accepting submissions for Dear Horace Greely section. On the Epiphanytheme, they say, “It’s a flash of inspiration. It’s a slow realization of something that was in front of you the whole time. It’s seeing something familiar from an entirely unexpected angle. We have these sudden flashes of inspiration all the time – some as subtle as discovering you like tea with honey, others as momentous as realizing that your idea for a new invention could change the world.
We’re looking for speculative takes on epiphany, from the realization that television is all real and true, to the discovery that the life you live in your dreams is your real life, and this one is the dream. We want to be just as surprised as your narrators by the things they discover and where those discoveries lead them.
We’re NOT looking for “I realized I hated my spouse so I left and my life got better” stories, sexual coming of age stories, or anything else that doesn’t fit the speculative genre.”
Deadline: 30 April 2025, or until filled
Length: Up to 3,000 words for prose; up to 3 pages for poetry
Pay: $0.01/word for prose, $10 for poetry
Details here and here.
(Non-Binary Review is also accepting submissions for the Solarpunk theme with a later deadline – see their Submittable for details.)
Oddity Prodigy Productions: Where Legends Walk
This is an anthology of superhero stories. “We are looking for your best stories featuring heroic feats of derring-do in the face of immeasurable evil. So channel your inner hero, lace up your boots, and join us in the fight for justice.
If you need direction or inspiration, we recommend delving into the world of comics of all genres. We will be looking at the full range of stories, from Golden Age of mystery men such as the Justice Society of America, Silver Age of heroes like the Fantastic Four, the Bronze Age wonders like the New Gods, the grime and grit of the Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, all the way through to the Modern Age.” Do not send fan fiction.
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $10 (or more, depending on the success of their Kickstarter campaign – see guidelines)
Details here.
Shenandoah Valley Fantastic Anthology
While they want speculative fiction that takes place within Shenandoah Valley (see guidelines), this anthology is open to submissions from writers anywhere in the world. “Shenandoah Valley Fantastic seeks strange and wondrous speculative fiction that transforms our beloved region into a realm of mystery, magic, and the unexpected. From witches haunting Winchester’s historic alleys to spectral happenings on the Field of Lost Shoes, we invite you to re-imagine the Valley’s rich landscapes and legends.
Envision Shenandoah National Park as a forbidden, fey-infused forest, where wayward travelers encounter creatures older than the hills. What if Duke Dog Alley were a portal to another world? Suppose Cooter’s become a crossroad for supernatural beings—a place where ghosts and wanderers alike grab a bite before moving on to unknown realms. Picture the storied halls of Washington & Lee as a secret training ground for the next generation of spellcasters, with campus traditions hiding dark rites and hidden powers.” Please see the updates on their guidelines page about the kind of stories they’ve already received, and the kind of work they’re looking for.
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: 1,800-5,500 (with 3,500 being the sweet spot)
Pay: $20
Details here and here.
Graveside Press: Monster Anthology
They want stories of “Monsters! Specifically…people who love monsters.
Like…a lot.
Give us your spicy monster stories, but keep in mind this is still horror; we aren’t looking for sweet urban fantasy tales. Your submission should still have a heavy horror factor.” Stories must contain some kind of monster, creature, or cryptid from folklore, mythology, or your imagination, and also contain some level of spice (all heat ranges accepted). Graveside Press is also looking for submissions for a Middle Grade & YA horror anthology, as well as a Witchcraft anthology – see their Duosuma page for details.
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: 2,000-6,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here and here (scroll down).
Inky Bones Press: Creature Feature Anthology
This is a horror fiction anthology. “Situations where something is being sought out by a person/group. They could be grave robbers, treasure hunters, archaeologists, cryptozoologists, entomologists, biologists, hide-and-seek fanatics, anything you choose—as long as their plans go awry. Get weird and creative!” All stories must include “Bones: you can mention the word itself or be more specific. Ex: spine, skull, vertebrae, ribs, skeleton
A creature of your choice: tiny, monstrous, an alien—just make sure it’s scary!” They want Horror | Science Fiction | Fantasy, and applicable horror sub-genres of these. “Action/Adventure Horror, Creature Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dark Fiction, Dystopian, Gothic, Historical, Paranormal, Science Fiction Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampire, Zombie, etc.”
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: 1,500-3,500 words
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.
Purple Toga Publications: Feast or Famine?
This is a fiction anthology. “Food and meals are central to all cultures. … we are looking for stories where food is a central or pivotal element to the plot. Is it the Last Supper? Court intrigue using poison? This means that all of the stories must have a meal or dish as part of their central theme, and as usual we prefer stories that fall under the speculative fiction umbrella.
Think of how food has been a big part of literature. Where would Snow White be without the apple (or Adam and Eve)? In movies like Thor: The Dark World you have Dr. Strange offered tea and Thor responded he doesn’t drink it and got a big (self-refilling) mug of beer. Where would Star Trek: The Next Generation be without “Earl Grey, hot”? Think of all the meals in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, or how Rincewind fantasizes about potatoes. How much Turkish Delight was a factor in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. These are the kinds of food connections that we are looking for. A recipe for the key element (or one of the dishes if it is a meal – failing that the full menu) would be appreciated.” Please note, you have to send a story synopsis via a form on the website; they will ask for the complete story only if they are interested.
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: 5,000-12,000 words
Pay: $5-10
Details here.
Terrain.org
This magazine focuses on place, climate, and justice. They publish fiction, poetry, essays, articles, artwork, videos, and other contributions, as well as translations. They particularly seek underrepresented voices (see guidelines). Poetry submissions are closed; but general fiction and nonfiction will close end April; submissions for ARTerrain and Letter to America have no deadlines listed.
Deadline: 30 April 2025 for prose
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose
Pay: $50
Details here and here.
(Terrain.org also has an annual Editor’s Prize of $500 per genre for underrepresented writers for which there is no submission fee, and another prize, for all writers, for which there is a submission fee – see guidelines).
Brigids Gate Press: Women of the Weird West
This is a speculative fiction anthology, and they want submissions from writers of marginalized genders only. “Traditionally, women authors have been vastly underrepresented in westerns and weird westerns, so this anthology will highlight authors of marginalized genders and their speculative western short stories. We are looking for original Weird West stories. These should be generally set in what approximates the “Old West” location and timeframe (North America circa late 1800s) and should have a strong speculative element, such as horror, fantasy and/or sci-fi. … We strongly encourage all marginalized genders to submit regardless of writing experience.”
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: Up to 6,000 words
Pay: $0.10/word
Details here.
Belanger Books: Sherlock Holmes – A Year of Mystery 1889 & 1890
This is a call for fiction for a Sherlock Holmes themed anthology. “When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years ’82 and ’90, I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave.” – Dr. Watson
Synopsis: The year 1889 was a particularly busy one for Holmes with a number of cases including The Hound (Sept. 25-Oct. 20); “The Beryl Coronet” (Feb. 19-20); “The Man with the Twisted Lip” (June 18-19); … But what other cases did our heroes encounter in these years? Find out in Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1889 & Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1890. … The stories must be Canonical in nature and fit with the timeline. Holmes and Watson should act like they do in the original stories. As you can see above, a number of the original cases from this period are specifically dated, so please bear that in mind when you are writing your story.” And, “Authors interested in participating should first send a synopsis of their adventure and the month of the year they wish it to take place. If your story does not need a specific month (i.e. it takes place in autumn and could be in September, October, or November) please let us know that as well. Once your synopsis has been accepted, you should begin drafting the story.” Submission deadline for proposals is 30th April 2025. Submission deadline for stories is 30th June 2025.
Deadline: See above
Length: 5,000 – 10,0000 words
Pay: $125
Details here.
(Belanger Books is also open for two other anthologies, with later deadlines – The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes; and Solar Pons: A Year of Mystery 1919; see the guidelines page for details.)
The First Line Journal
They want fiction (any genre) and poetry that begins with pre-set first lines, one for each quarterly issue. For non-fiction, they want critical articles about your favorite first line from a literary work. For fiction and poetry, the first line for the Summer issue is:
‘No one really knows why restoration stopped on the abandoned St. Julian hotel, where commoners and kings once came to relax in luxury.’
Deadline: 1 May 2025 for the Summer issue
Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction; 500-800 words for nonfiction
Pay: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for non-fiction, $10 for poetry (less postage fee for international contributors – see guidelines)
Details here.
Small Harbor Publishing: Harbor Review – (Sub)liminal
This is a magazine of poetry and art; they want submissions on the (Sub)liminal theme. “This issue will explore the hidden layers of thought and emotion that shape our perceptions and experiences. Subliminal messaging, often unnoticed and unacknowledged, influences our beliefs, desires, and interactions in profound ways. Poets are invited to uncover the nuances of what lies beneath the surface of consciousness, examining how unspoken truths and subconscious impulses can manifest in our lives.
The liminal can represent those fleeting moments of change, such as the twilight between day and night, or the emotional space between joy and sorrow. These transitional phases often evoke feelings of uncertainty and possibility, mirroring the subtle nudges of subliminal messaging that guide us without our full awareness.” Please note, “All honorarium payments to contributors and prize winners will be paid through PayPal. Sorry, no exceptions.”
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Length: Up to 3 poems
Pay: $10/poem
Details here and here.
The Other Stories Podcast: World Horror; Eldritch
This is a horror/sci-fi/thriller fiction podcast from Hawk & Cleaver. They accept themed fiction submissions of up to 2,000 words. Two of their upcoming themes are:
— World Horror (“We want to cast a shadow over the entire globe. Bring us tales of the Shakchunni from Bangladesh, the Djinn from the Middle East, the Yokai from Japan. There’s a whole world of horror and fantasy out there and we want to showcase it all.”), deadline 1 May 2025; and
— Eldritch (“Peel back the curtain of reality and reveal the ultimate indifference and the horror of the infinite beyond.”), deadline 1 June 2025.
Deadlines: See above
Length: Up to 2,000 words
Pay: £15
Details here, here, and here.
Flash Fiction Online: Wilderness Horror
They’re open now for unthemed flash fiction (in various genres, including speculative and literary) and also for a wilderness themed horror stories – they have detailed guidelines, including, “The forest can be a magical place. Full of beauty, wonder, fresh air, and escape from the daily grind. However, when the sun sets, the woods take on a different demeanor. That same beautiful wonder from before transforms into a place of uncertainty. A place where one might find themselves lost. A place where you might be alone… or perhaps you’re not. … Wilderness horror tickles that primal part of our brain. Beckoning us to a time without luxuries or modern amenities. Often playing with the theme of isolation, wilderness horror claws through our hubris, showing us in savage fashion just how powerful Mother Nature can be.” Please note, they want horror stories; dark fantasy and fairy tale will be a hard sell, for this call.
Both calls are in separate categories on their Submittable, and will close when their submission quota is filled.
Deadline: Until filled
Length: 500-1,000 words
Pay: $100
Details here.
(And, Fraidy Cat Quarterly wants horror stories and art on the Growth theme. The deadline for general submissions from all writers is 7th April, and they have an extended submission window for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and Palestinian writers till 14 April 2025; they pay $10-20 for fiction of 400-8,000 words; details here.)
THEMED CONTESTS
O’Shaughnessy Fellowships and Grants
The O’Shaughnessy fellowships are for people in various disciplines worldwide, including creative ones; this includes writers and journalists. It is a one-year program. “The Fellowships and Grants empower individuals of the highest caliber whose work positively impacts the world, from scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations to enduring artistic and cultural contributions.” They look for personal agency, exemplary proof-of-work, and resourcefulness in all applicants. “Fellows receive $100,000 to work on any project they choose with and support from OSV’s network of founders, investors, and experts.” They also have a sister grants program, which awards $10,000 each. There is no separate application process for the grants program; winners will be selected on the basis of their fellowship application form. The next steps, for shortlisted individuals, will be group discussions and individual interviews (see guidelines). You can learn more about past fellows and their projects here. They plan to award 10 fellowships and 20 grants each year.
Value: $100,000 each for the fellowships; $10,000 each for the grants
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Open for: Writers and journalists worldwide, as well as people in other disciplines
Details here.
The Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
They want stories in all fantasy genres up to 8,000 words. “It must be a work of fantasy, though all fantasy genres are open, e.g. epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, sword and sorcery, contemporary fantasy, etc.”
Value: “industry-standard rates for professional story submittals” + non-cash prizes
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Open for: Unspecified
Details here (click on contest rules).
Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation: Author of Tomorrow Award
This international contest is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Writers must enter a piece of short fiction. The work must fall within what can be defined as adventure writing (see guidelines). There are three categories: for writers ages 16-21, 12-15, and under 11.
Value: £1,000 in the 16-21 group, £250 in the 12-15 group, £100 in the under-11 group
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Open for: All writers ages 21 and under
Details here and here.
Preservation Foundation Contest: Non-fictional Animal Stories
This is an international contest for unpublished writers (see guidelines). Their upcoming deadline is for the non-fiction animal stories category: “Stories should be factual and true accounts of an encounter or encounters by the author with a wild animal or animals. These include, but are not limited to, birds, fish, butterflies, snails, lions, bears, turtles, wombats, etc., as long as it is not a pet.” Entries should be 1,000-5,000 words. They want all entries, regardless of whether or not they win, to be on their website as long as the Foundation exists (see guidelines). Also see contests in other genres, which will have deadlines later in the year.
Value: $200, $100
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Open for: Unpublished writers
Details here.
New England Crime Bake: Al Blanchard Award
This is a short story award. Their guidelines say it must be a crime story, of up to 5,000 words, by a New England author or have a New England setting if the author is not from New England (the New England states are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island). The story may include the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror. Apart from the cash award, the winner also gets published in an anthology, and admission to the Crime Bake Conference (conference attendance is not a requirement).
Value: $100
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Open for: All writers
Details here.
CNO Naval History Essay Contest – Professional Historian
This contest is supported by the US Naval Institute. Their website says, “The CNO invites entrants to submit essays that apply lessons from throughout naval history to solving today’s Navy challenges.” See guidelines for details on the theme. Essays have to be up to 3,500 words. This contest is open to: professional historians (including history museum curators, archivists, history teachers/professors, persons with history-related doctoral degrees; authors of books on naval history (not including self-published works); civilians who have published articles in an established historical or naval journal or magazine.
Value: $5,000, $2,500
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Open for: See above
Details here and here.
(They invite essays for various other prizes as well – see here.)
Waterston Desert Writing Prize
This prize is for a proposed book of literary non-fiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place, and desert literacy – with the desert both as subject and setting. “It is recommended the writing sample submitted is part of the proposed project or closely represents it in content and style.” Apart from the cash award, there is also a reading and reception at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon.
Value: $3,000
Deadline: 1 May 2025
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.
ABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction
This is a fiction contest for US writers (see guidelines). The ABA Journal is the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association. Send a story of up to 5,000 words that illuminates the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society.
Value: $5,000
Deadline: 1 May 2025
Open for: US writers
Details here.
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.
