The Obsidian Cycle
An editorial journey shaped across time
New Moon — Beginning
A new theme is introduced. Submissions open.
Waxing Crescent — Gathering
Writers begin to respond, drafting and shaping their work.
First Quarter — Selection
Early pieces are noticed; the editorial eye starts to focus.
Waxing Gibbous — Refinement
Promising work is revised, deepened, and clarified.
Full Moon — Illumination
The strongest pieces come into full view, ready for curation.
Waning Gibbous — Curation
Editors assemble the issue, balancing voices and forms.
Last Quarter — Distillation
Final decisions are made; the issue takes its final shape.
Waning Crescent — Quiet Afterglow
The cycle settles as the Lunar Book is released and received.
Across eight months, the Obsidian Cycle unfolds gradually—allowing writing to develop, settle, and be brought into light through careful selection.
Note: The moon images are for reference only, not to scale and not real astronomical images.
Important Note
This theme runs from May 1st to August 1st. Monthly selections will be announced according to the lunar cycle.
The Weight of Memory
A study of what remains, what fades, and what refuses to be forgotten.
Memory is not static.
It shifts, distorts, softens, and sharpens over time—
holding onto certain moments while letting others disappear.
This theme invites exploration of the emotional, psychological, and narrative weight that memory carries.
What do we remember—and why?
What is lost in the process of remembering?
And what remains, even when we try to let it go?
Creative Writing
Stories that explore memory as a force—whether through personal reflection, fictional narratives, or imagined worlds shaped by the past.
Non-Fiction / Personal Essays
Thoughtful reflections on lived experiences, identity, and the way memory shapes understanding over time.
Poetry
Pieces that capture fragments, impressions, and emotional echoes—focusing on the texture and feeling of memory.
Argumentative / Analytical
Explorations of memory through a critical lens—its reliability, its influence, and its role in shaping truth.
“Submissions must engage meaningfully with the theme. Work that does not clearly connect to the theme will not be considered.”