- Call for Submissions
Shedding
Shame
- a zine on identity and shame
Have you ever felt the urge to hide your identity, conceal it, masquerading a persona to appeal to others, to yourself?
Have feelings of inadequacy, the shame in existing genuinely ever crossed your mind?
If these words speak to you, you may want to consider contributing to Shedding Shame, a zine exploring the complex and often enough painful relationship between identity and these thoughts/feelings!
On shame
Shame itself is a feeling, a way individuals may perceive themselves in the eyes of their social environment. It may manifest itself through thoughts of self-doubt, uncertainty and fear. Not only that, but feelings of shame in a socio-historical context have been used to manipulate and influence people in order to control them, in modern times most (in)famously through social networks. Shedding Shame is an invitation to express how shame may have affected an individual, the different ways it presents itself and the diverse ways of dealing with the emotion of shame.
Shedding Shame wants to uncover ways in which different people navigate and overcome feelings of shame through artistic expression. Gedankenflux invites artists from all ways of life to share their unique perspectives, their thoughts and feelings by way of short stories, poetry, illustrations and any creative form that resonates with this idea.
Shame and its individual and societal consequences
Submission Guidelines
Gedankenflux is looking for contributions that offer unique perspectives on the theme of identity and shame. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- artistic interpretations of how shame is displayed and resisted
- explorations of how shame manifests in the body and the mind
- personal narratives about situations that caused you to feel ashamed and on overcoming shame
Submissions can be in the form of
- short stories (up to 2,000 words),
- poems,
- visual art,
- comics,
- photography,
or any other piece of art that can be presented in a zine format.
Please submit your work in English. This is to make the content accessible to more people, allowing a diverse range of contributors from different backgrounds to participate and share their unique perspectives.
Please refrain from submitting non-fiction.
Who can contribute?
Shame affects people based on various aspects of their identities, including but not limited to race/ethnicity, class/socio-economic status, and ability. Gedankenflux believes that a wide range of perspectives will enrich the discussion and deepen the understanding of how shame intersects with various aspects of identity. In that regard Shedding Shame emphasizes LGBTQIA+ perspectives – since queer individuals often face internalized shame due to societal discrimination – shame is not limited to queer experiences.
While artists of various backgrounds are invited to contribute, Gedankenflux particularly encourages submissions from LGBTQIA+ individuals and people from other marginalized communities whose voices are often silenced in discussions about identity and shame.
How to Submit
01
Email & deadline
Send your submissions to kooperation@gedankenflux.de by May 31 2025.
02
Bio
Include a brief bio (100 words) and a short description of your work (50 words).
03
Feedback
Submissions will be reviewed and you will be notified of acceptance by June 15 2025.
Impact
All proceeds beyond covering printing and shipping costs will be donated to The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a leading organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQIA+ youth.
Submit your wildest and most daring pieces of art 
Contact
Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact Gedankenflux!
Email: kooperation@gedankenflux.de
Instagram: @gedankenflux