Submission Guidelines

Xanadu accepts original unpublished stories, memoirs, essays, and poetry. The magazine also showcases visual art including photography, sketches, paintings, and more, including images of three-dimensional media. Click HERE to enjoy our current and past issues.

Submissions for the 2026 issue of Xanadu will be accepted on a rolling basis until Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Publication is currently planned for April 30, 2026.

Please follow these formatting guidelines for written submissions. Written submissions must take the form of PDF files (no Microsoft Word docs or Google doc links). The text of these submissions should be single space, with one extra space between paragraphs (unless alternate formatting is a design element of the piece). Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be rejected or returned for reformatting and resubmission. Send your submissions as attachments to xanadu.submissions@gmail.com. Questions may be sent to our co-editors: jenna.sweeny@doane.edu and/or chloe.rose@doane.edu.

All submissions are eligible for the annual Xanadu Prizes, one for written entries and one for visual entries. Both awards are selected by a team of student editors and staff each spring. Withdrawal of a submission, for any reason at any time, removes the piece from award consideration.