Bleating Thing Magazine

a very strange and beautiful issue full of strange and beautiful work!! 🐑

@anzthabaka
Cyrus Carlson
@avadevries.bsky.social
@keithgaboury.bsky.social
@daragoodale.bsky.social
Scott Hales
Johanna E. Hall
@ivyintheroad.bsky.social
Carella Keil
James Lilliefors
Bruce McRae
@rachelturney
Donna Vitucci

!! ISSUE 04 IS LIVE NOW !! Online or in print

bleatingthingmagazine.com/current.html

Featuring: (see reply)

Day 19: “Noah poem” by @egnlafleur.bsky.social (pgs. 4-5) in @bleatingthing.bsky.social. I may be biased, but I think there’s some pretty cool work in this issue ;) www.bleatingthingmagazine.com/current.html

Bleating Thing runs entirely on the volunteer efforts of a small outfit solely interested in uplifting writers & artists. All positions, including existing editorial staff, are unpaid. Out of respect for the time & labor of our team, we coordinate on scheduling & delegation efforts to ensure that workloads are easy to manage & minimally time-invasive. Applicants should be fluent in English & familiar with our mission statement, submission guidelines, & previous issues. Given the occasionally sensitive nature of the content we receive, we require that staff members be over 18 years of age. Prior literary magazine experience is not required, but preferred.

Close up on a lamb walking away from the camera, off into a field of grass. The overlayed text reads: For application forms & a complete list of necessary skills & software, visit BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM/APPLY

Applicants for both positions must meet the following requirements:
‣ 18 or older
‣ fluent in English
‣ familiar with our mission statement, submission guidelines, & previous issues

For application forms & a complete list of guidelines, visit:
BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM/APPLY

A lamb & ewe stand across a patch of hay from each other, turned toward the viewer with black-spotted eyes. The overlayed text reads: Become a Bleating Thing Staff applications open

A lamb walks alongside it's mother (off screen) through a field of tall grass. The overlayed text reads: Bleating Thing is seeking (com)passionate creatives to round out our operational team. After two years of foundational work building our weird, beautiful, deeply human magazine, we are looking for individuals with the drive & skills to help us expand our audience & strengthen the bonds of our community. To achieve these ends, we are currently in need of at least 1 editorial assistant & at least 1 social media manager.

Close up on lamb standing at wire fence, facing the camera. The overlayed text reads: Bleating Thing is seeking at least 1 editorial assistant to aid editorial staff with the following: ‣ Proofreading & copy approval for submission forms ‣ Sorting submissions & confirming receipt via email ‣ Using/modifying decision letter templates to ensure all submitters receive kind, personal correspondence ‣ Wrangling contributor information such as biographies, social media handles, & methods of contact ‣ Macro proofing of issue builds to ensure that all accepted pieces & contributors are represented correctly, including in the listing information for all associated hosting & distribution sites ‣ Responding to email inquiries regarding the submission & publication process

Close up on a lamb standing in a field, facing the camera. The overlayed text reads: ​Bleating Thing is seeking at least 1 social media manager to coordinate with editorial team on the following: ‣ Proofreading & approval of website copy ‣ Creating brand-consistent graphics for each phase of an issue’s production, from submission call to promotional spotlight ‣ Developing brand-consistent, mission-driven posts to bolster community engagement on a consistent schedule ‣ Managing social media accounts (currently Instagram, BlueSky), including responding to comments, direct messages, & follow requests

We're open for staff applications! After 2 years of building our foundation, we're ready to welcome an editorial assistant & social media manager to our team.

Applications will only be accepted through the associated forms, which will remain open until positions are filled.

(1/2)

Submissions for our 4th issue have officially closed! Thank you to everyone who sent work.

If you submitted and have not received an confirmation email from our Gmail account, please reach out to us by that email or our social media profiles.

Excited to dig in & build this next issue!

Today is the last day to submit to Issue 04! Don't delay

www.bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

Send your fleshy, visceral, human-generated essays to www.bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

Hello! Please do not use AI to generate an essay in time for our submission deadline just because we really need them. 1) we can tell, & 2) our whole deal is deeply human work. Thank you!

SUBMIT ​for our unthemed ISSUE 04 ​ ​SUBMISSION PERIODS S P R I N G (THEMED) ~ DEC 1 - JAN 31 ​F A L L (UNTHEMED) ~ JUN 1 - JUL 31 ​ Click either the buttons or links below to submit:

bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

POETRY:
forms.gle/NQvuiwYDPK2p...

FLASH:
forms.gle/4HeTV44VBtAE...

ESSAYS:
forms.gle/SeF1xKHZ2VPs...

HYBRID WORK:
forms.gle/rzyyNb4LEuA2...

VISUAL ART:
forms.gle/fBLXtPx5MWaX...

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: ONE DAY LEFT TO SUBMIT TO ISSUE 04

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: We accept: lyric-leaning poems, flash fiction, essays, hybrid works (collage poems, visual poetry, essays with poems in the footnotes, poems with essays in the footnotes, etc.), & visual art. If it bleats, we want it

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with, downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: For previous issues & a complete list of guidelines, visit BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

🚨🚨ONE DAY LEFT🚨🚨 to submit to Bleating Thing's unthemed fourth issue!

We are especially in need of:
- Essays
- Hybrid work

Bleat @ us before the end of the day on July 31st!

POETRY:
forms.gle/NQvuiwYDPK2p...

FLASH:
forms.gle/4HeTV44VBtAE...

ESSAYS:
forms.gle/SeF1xKHZ2VPs...

HYBRID WORK:
forms.gle/rzyyNb4LEuA2...

VISUAL ART:
forms.gle/fBLXtPx5MWaX...

Or email us bleatingthingmag@gmail.com

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: ONE WEEK LEFT TO SUBMIT TO ISSUE 04

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: We accept: lyric-leaning poems, flash fiction, essays, hybrid works (collage poems, visual poetry, essays with poems in the footnotes, poems with essays in the footnotes, etc.), & visual art. If it bleats, we want it

Maroon stationary textured like aged paper. In the top left & bottom right corners, a mirrored line art illustration of the head & shoulders of a sheep with, downturned, almost melancholy eyes. In the center of the image, the note reads: For previous issues & a complete list of guidelines, visit BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

ONE WEEK LEFT to submit to Bleating Thing's unthemed fourth issue!

We are especially in need of:
- Essays
- Hybrid work

Bleat @ us before the end of the day on July 31st!

bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, the text reads: Details from "Self-made Solution" by Connor on next slide Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Through a gauze of roses, a clipping of a medicine label for testosterone is visible. Below, a collage of the first few lines of a poem: an injection has shown a restless Animal desire in its heart bleeding freely a body deep in the warmth of this red Lake

Rejoice in the transformative power of medicine alongside @connorsartroom.bsky.social in the final Issue 03 spotlight, "Self-Made Solution."

View the piece in full color: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

We especially need essays! Whatever you were thinking of posting for free on Substack, perhaps consider sending to us instead?

bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, a quote from "Tiny" by Sara Das Gupta: " An ant crawls across my page I carry it into the sunlight " Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Marvel at the wonder of all creatures big & small with Sarah Das Gupta in today's Issue 03 spotlight, "Tiny"

Read it here: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

Apologies if you submitted within the last week & are waiting on a submission confirmation! Real life caught up to us, but we are catching it back!

(Pretend that turn of phrase makes sense & expect outstanding confirmations by end of day)

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, a quote from "An Exaltation In Transition" by Sol Rios: " glory then, the baritone, glory the blunt edge of blade slipped into leather purse, glory the sounds of the night " Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Exalt the body in all its iterations and permutations with @arcanumb.bsky.social in today's Issue 03 spotlight, "An Exaltation In Transition"

Read it here: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

We're open for submissions for our fourth issue!

Guidelines & forms here : bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, a quote from "Pelicans" by Pam Clements: " A line of pelicans passes above us . . . Their legs are pulled up close to their bodies, their outsized beaks pointed home in the syrupy light. " Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Celebrate nature's beauty & humor alongside @nemo52.bsky.social in today's Issue 03 spotlight, "Pelicans"

Read it here: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

Want to see your work in a spotlight like this?

Submit to Issue 04: bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, the text reads: Details from "Beauty Beyond What's Broken" by Rainbow Robbins on next slide Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Close up on a portion of a painting. From the abstract background emerge two distinct shapes: a butterfly heading toward the bottom of the frame, & a humpback wale pointed toward the top of the frame (as if breaching the surface).

Celebrate growth & exuberance against formidable odds alongside @rainbow-robbins.bsky.social 's "Beauty Beyond What's Broken" in today's Issue 03 spotlight.

View the piece in full color: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

Want to have your work spotlit by us? Send to Issue 04: bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, a quote from Elenaor Ball's "The Solstice": " The strawberry moon hanging heavy and low, its edges as sharp as a papercut. " Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Luxuriate in the grotesqueries of the natural & fabricated world with today's Issue 03 spotlight: "The Solstice" by @eleanorball.bsky.social

Read it here: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

We could be spotlighting your work sometime soon!

Send to issue 04: bleatingthingmagazine.com/submit.html

A soapdish sits under a canopy of fabric roses, the dish carved with the small figurine of an angel in a frock gazing down at the lamb nestled at her feet. Above their heads, a quote from Peter Mladinic's "The Two Dollar Bill": " Two dollar bills are little miracles, so are can openers, screwdrivers, and this " Read the issue BLEATINGTHINGMAGAZINE.COM

Celebrate the small & oft-overlooked with today's Issue 03 spotlight: "The Two Dollar Bill" by Peter Mladinic.

Read it here: bleatingthingmagazine.com/issue-03.html

Essayists & multi-disciplinary hybrid creatures, we need you especially 🐑💕

Having said that, we are open for issue 04 submissions! & If you have questions our guidelines do not address, our inbox is open. 🐑💕

Hello all. We've tried to cultivate an ethos of online correspondence that encourages patience, kindness, & receptivity, but will be responding to all future inquiries that are clearly answered in our submission guidelines with a link to those guidelines. Thank you for understanding.