We seek creative works of fiction, nonfiction/memoir, poetry, and B&W art that communicate subversively, intimately, and joyously about women (as broadly defined) entering the third act of life. The menopause experience encompasses characters and images who rage, explode with laughter, cry about the beauty of a leaf, and experience everything in between. We want pieces that redefine menopause not as the beginning of the end but as reinvention, reclamation, and affirmation of womanhood.
While menopause is a universal human experience, there seems to be a recent shift in public discourse regarding menopause. It is now trendy for celebrities to talk about menopause, campaign for menopause research and women’s health, and sell products managing menopause, from Oprah to Naomi Watts to Halle Berry to Drew Barrymore; we are also witnessing the rise of social media “meno-influencers,” the proliferation of menopause management apps and products targeting menopausal women, and a resurgence of hormonal therapies for menopause. We welcome pieces that are in conversation with these recent trends.
Join us as we explore all aspects of menopause as the crucible of radical self-discovery that allows us to emerge stronger and more actualized than ever.
Who we are: The Crone Collective is a group of six women (Ann Green, Cristina Hanganu-Bresch, Leslie Johnson, April Lindner, Amanda Hart Miller, and Jamie White-Farnham) who bring together over 100 years of experience in teaching, writing, editing, and publishing to curate this creative collection.
Submission deadline: May 1, 2026
Publication timeline: This anthology will be published in Fall 2026. In the event the editorial team doesn’t find a traditional publisher, the anthology will be published by Proof Rock, LLC. Either way, the anthology will be published.
Payment: Contributors will receive a complimentary print copy of their work. At this time, we cannot offer a monetary payment, though if we sign with a traditional publisher, this might change.
Rights: By sending your work to be considered for publication in our creative collection, you are granting us permission to publish it in the menopause anthology. Other than this one-time publication, you retain all rights to your piece.
Agreement to light editing / galley approval: By submitting, you are agreeing to light editing that does not change the meaning or style. If your work is accepted for publication, you will receive a galley of your submission and be given a chance to review edits and then respond with either corrections or approval. However, nonresponse will be considered approval of minor editing changes.
Submission Guidelines:
All work must be submitted by May 1, 2026 through Duosuma using this link:
Prose/poetry: Please stay under 2000 words. Most pieces we publish are under 1000 words. Please attach your work as a docx file rather than a pdf or pages file.
Visual art: Files (photos, 2D art, photos of 3D art, digital art) should be clear, professional JPEG, PNG, or TIFF files. Work will be printed in B&W.
We welcome people and works from all walks of life, and greet all marginalized communities — such as trans* nonbinary and gender nonconforming people, working-class, and BIPOC people who identify as women — with open arms. Every person, no matter their identity, has a right to their own voice. Please, submit your works, and allow us to help your voice be heard.
We will not consider any submissions written, developed, or assisted by generative AI. Those who submit AI-enhanced works will have their submission discarded.
No cover letter is necessary, although you are welcome to send us a few sentences of artist/author bio if you want to. If your piece is accepted, we may ask for a bio later.
We accept previously published work!: We do accept previously published work, though we ask that you tell us where it was published previously so we can credit the initial publication.
Proof Rock 