WAYWORDS TRIBUTES

This quarterly literary journal welcomes work from writers around the world in all stages of their writing career. Each issue includes a separate space for writers to share tributes in creative nonfiction.

If you have a tribute essay, open letter, or other CNF piece, send it in! Let us help you honor that subject.

Please try to refrain from sending us abuse and suicide topics.

Recovery pieces are welcome!

OPEN through November 20, 2026

Tributes are separate from the theme; they can be for, to, or about anything you want. We've published odes, open letters, personal essays, recipe stories and other creative nonfiction styles in this section since WayWords opened in 2020.

Submissions Guidelines

Submissions must be in English. Send each piece in a separate file.

Limits:

up to 5,000 words of fiction

two poems up to 15 lines each

Formatting

No identifying info inside your file

Include your piece title at top of your doc

Include "TRIBUTE" in all caps below your title

If previously published, include credit below your title

TNR or Arial, 10/12, single spaced

Indent paragraphs

Empty margins on all sides

Empty line for scene breaks

How To Submit

File name: Piece Title - WayWords TRIBUTE

Each piece in a separate file

Submissions accepted by email or Duosuma

submissions [at] writersworkout.net

Include your piece title and WayWords in your subject

Include your name/pseudonym and short bio in the body of your email

Attach your file in .doc/x or .odt OR paste the live, unlocked link to your GDoc or Word file

We must be able to download your file. We will not request access and we are not responsible for locked files.

You can find these settings on the Submissions page.

If using Duosuma, please use the special "Tribute" call.

Duosuma

The Writer's Workout will not review fanfiction, religious, political, erotic, or AI-generated/assisted/copied content.

Rights

The Writer's Workout requests one-time, non-exclusive serial rights with worldwide distribution. We will not retain rights to republish your work in an additional collection.

We accept simultaneous submissions, previously published works, and you retain the right to submit your work elsewhere after we publish it.

AI Statement

AI-generated content is theft. We do not accept anything generated in whole or part by AI.

Works published by The Writer's Workout are for entertainment purposes. These publications should not be used in whole or part for content mills, reproduced without written approval, or for training Artificial Intelligence. Humans work very hard to produce the creative works featured in our publications; they deserve our respect.

If you need to withdraw, please let us know.

This literary journal is published in digital and print. Contributors receive a digital contributor copy. The Writer's Workout is a registered nonprofit organization run by volunteers.

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Since 2020

WayWords Masthead:

Raegan Cole, Seth Cupery, Susan Kier, Jessica Morris-Reade, Michael Parker, Jr., & Cassell Presnell

Readers: Tosin Ebunola, Amelia Napiorkowski, Andrea Tode, Loren Whitmore, & Jesse Wooton

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Issue Info

Check the status of recent, current, and upcoming issues.

Issue 20: Messy

Released!

This issue is available in digital and print. See below for links.

Issue 21: Wonder

in review

October 1 - November 20

Issue 22: Habits

OPEN CALL

January 1 - February 20

Issue 23: Time

April 1 - May 20

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Pick up past issues of WayWords on Amazon.

Recently published:

Issue 20: Messy

This features the collected works of Kevin B., Dru Allyson Burtz, Mary Anna Case, Lisa Colburn, Arvilla Fee, Connie Johnson Hambley, Rebecca Herz, Shana Hollowell, Paul Hostovsky, Charles Leggett, Bil Lepp, Simon MacCulloch, Zoé Mahfouz, Jacqueline Morgan, Amelia Napiorkowski, Arthur Neong, Dimitry Partsi, Susan M. Pendley, Darrell Petska, Louise Piper, Rigo, Cami Rumble, Richard A. Shury, Katie Thorn, K. J. Watson, Sean Whalen, Gregory Whitworth-Neufeld, and Nick Young

Stats and Info:

Published 400+ pieces & counting!

On average, WayWords publishes 25% of submissions received. This journal rarely solicits specific authors for work; everything we publish comes from open calls. We accept unagented submissions.

Submission to WayWords will always be free. WayWords is published in digital and print; contributors receive a digital contributor copy. Learn how to claim your authorship on Amazon here.

Check our FAQ for more information.

YES, we nominate!

Pushcart, Best Microfiction, and others