The theme for the next issue of Thema literary quarterly, with a deadline of 1 March, is ‘Drop the Zucchini and Run’ and although the theme does not need to be integral to the plot, it should not be merely incidental. Short stories, essays, poems, photographs, art and previously published work can be submitted but all must respond to the theme.
Fiction editor Virginia Howard welcomes both traditional and experimental stories and likes ‘a carefully constructed plot, good character delineation and clever plot twists,’ but does not like ‘bedroom/bathroom profanity’.