The Tower 2026-2027 Theme: "Filth"
This year The Tower is seeking fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, visual art, and hybrid submissions from undergraduate students at any university or college in the state of Minnesota pertaining to the theme of “Filth.”
Filth takes many forms. It creeps under our fingernails after a dig in the garden, lingers in the dusty corners of our dining rooms, and spins webs in our minds. Filth is in our bodies; in our sweat and dirt. It’s in the mess we make and the clutter we leave behind. From dirty college houses to raunchy magazines, filth is everywhere.
Just like flowers in the dirt, something beautiful can blossom out of the unpleasant. What gems come out of the muck? Where has filth crawled into your life? What grime can you seem to never get rid of?
We accept submissions starting on October 20th, 2026 through our Submittable, which is accessible on The Tower website. Please include a short cover letter with your contact information and a brief author bio written in the third person, suitable for publication including your year, major, and institute of study. Further specifications are available in each genre’s Submittable. Submissions will be read during the fall semester, and the issue will be published during the spring semester. Please email us at [email protected] with any further questions.
Submissions close January 3rd, 2027.