Brittle Paper has opened submissions for the fifth volume of its annual festive anthology, inviting African writers to explore the secrets, confessions and mysteries that emerge during festive celebrations. Titled The Festive Anthology: Vol. V, the collection will feature stories, poems and nonfiction works centred on secrets that are revealed, concealed or left unspoken during the holiday season. The publication is particularly interested in the unexpected moments that accompany festive gatherings, from family mysteries unfolding around dinner tables to secret gifts, declarations of love and wishes carrying hidden meanings. Submissions will remain open until November 23, 2026.

The anthology welcomes work across fiction, nonfiction, essays and poetry, with a word limit of 500 words for poetry and 3,500 words for fiction, nonfiction and essays. All submissions must be previously unpublished, and writers are required to include a short biography and their nationality. Each writer may submit only one entry, which must be sent in Word format. Brittle Paper has also stated that the use of AI to construct submitted work is not permitted. Entries should be emailed to submissions@brittlepaper.com with the subject line “Festive Anthology Submission.” Late submissions may not be considered.

Although titled a festive anthology, the call is not restricted to Christmas celebrations. Writers are encouraged to explore any form of festive occasion as a setting for stories about secrets, revelations and the things people choose to leave unsaid. Following four previous volumes, the fifth edition continues Brittle Paper’s annual anthology project, offering writers an opportunity to contribute to a collection that explores the emotional and often unexpected dimensions of celebration. The selection process will begin after the November 23 deadline.

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