The first half of this academic year has seen a myriad of students starting their own student magazines and publications. From satire-focused anthologies to online collections of original artworks, there’s a huge array of new platforms for students from Cambridge and beyond to showcase their talents and contribute to the thriving arts scene. Here’s my compilation of the latest places you can submit, pitch to, and read.

Symposium

Symposium is the Divinity Society’s new publication looking for poems, prose, essays, and artwork under the theme of ‘light and dark’. Send submissions to editors@camdivsoc.org.uk — they do not necessarily have to be theological!

Screeve

Screeve, Cambridge’s first queer multimedia platform, aims to create a space for the queer students of Cambridge to share their experiences and showcase their talent. Last term they produced a mini-issue titled ‘Healing’ featuring poetry and art from the queer community. They are relaunching on the 5th of Friday with an exciting social event at Thrive where they will be featuring various performers and creatives. Send any questions or ideas to screevecam@gmail.com!

Dispatches

Dispatches is a new Cambridge zine interested in featuring creative non-fiction prose articles from across the university. Inspired by The New Yorker, the zine hopes to publish regularly online throughout the term and distribute physical issues soon! Write for any of our sections: Personal, Arts, Humour/Satire, Current Affairs and Town Shufflings. We want to hear your voice and see through your eyes! Submissions for Issue One are open until 11th February. Email your pieces to dispatchescontributors@gmail.com. Find us on Facebook and Instagram for more details and inspiration!

Fly Zine

FLY is the network and forum for female and non-binary women of colour, and has recently opened submissions for their next print edition under the theme of ‘work’. They’re seeking contributions ranging from poems, essays, snaps, sketches, to do lists, secret love letters, daydreams, doodles, wishlists, manifestos, playlists, dream diaries and videos. The theme is broad and open to interpretation — and invites deeply personal responses. Submissions open until 31st January; email flyzinecambridge@gmail.com.

Nefarious

Nefarious is Cambridge’s own “little yellow zine”, looking for a variety of creative work which encompasses all things “shocking, interesting, fun and absolutely mad”. They’re particularly looking for dialogues, fiction that falls within the scope of “chaos, outrage & decadence, “hot takes by hot people” from Cambridge, but aren’t limited by place. Their submissions are open until 5th March; send them to nefariouszine@gmail.com.

The Antiquarian

Looking to provide a platform for history and classics writers who may not fit their work under the “arts umbrella”, “a team of Historians and Classicists have set aside our differences and started work on a new journal”. Coming in Lent 2022, the team have posted their first set of commissions and can be found on Facebook.

Sentire

Self-described as a “cambridge-based zine for art, photography, poetry, prose, essays & anything in between”, Sentire opened for submissions last term and its first edition will be centred around four themes: dream, transformed, insect, and gigantic. Keep an eye on their social media for announcements about its release (early March) and any launch-related events!

Catharsis

A new print magazine from students at St Catharine’s college, Catharsis is open for submissions until 18th February. It is looking to publish prose, poetry, essays, interviews, artwork, photography, painting, illustration, musical composition and more under the theme ‘matter’. Submissions are open to all colleges, and should be directed to catharsisprint@gmail.com. Check out their Instagram!

Blackbirds Poetry Society zine

The CU Blackbirds Poetry Society has announced its own zine, the first issue built around the notion of ‘congregation’. It sought a variety of short stories, poetry, and art pieces and also had an exciting term card with events such as writing in the dark featured which suggest the society will be a busy newcomer onto the zine-scene. Submissions closed on the 20th of January; keep an eye on their socials for information about its launch!

Lunulae

This beautifully designed zine carries an ethereal aesthetic and made its print debut last term with a collection of pieces under the theme ‘dreams & nightmares’. With submissions for their second edition ‘ritual’ open until 10th February, it promises to extend its presence in the arts scene further. Send your poetry, prose, and musings to lunulaezine@gmail.com.

The Feminist

An independent zine located in Cambridge, The Feminist recently closed submissions for its first issue ‘entangled selves’. Promoted on zinebridge, the publication sought submissions in any literary form, as well as art and photography related to the zine’s premise and inaugural issue’s theme. Their first issue will be published online on 15th February with an online premiere for the contributors on February 28th. It promises to be a great magazine focused sharply on feminist issues.

Symphony of Art

“Sharing artistic vision and creation”, the Symphony of Art magazine, co-founded by current members of the Vulture team, accepts submissions on a rolling basis. Featuring articles and original pieces of fiction, as well as poetry, the publication has published a "Hallowzine", Autumn, and Christmas edition and is currently online. Find out more at https://symphonyartzine.co.uk and send submissions to symphonyarteditorial@gmail.com.

Aonia

Aonia is a new online journal dedicated to showcasing radically progressive art, fiction and poetry. They will be looking for submissions up to Week 4 of this term. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more information!

Girl Talk

Girl Talk is a uni-wide feminist platform and online magazine that celebrates the voices, achievements and art of all women and non-binary creatives. Though founded in 2016, they’re keen for a greater influx submissions for articles, creative writing, art and personal essays. They also have some really exciting arty events planned for this term, so keep an eye on their social. Follow them on Instagram and read their latest pieces at cambridgegirltalk.com. If you’d like to write for them, email cambridgegirltalk@gmail.com