Lavender Rising
The magazine celebrating bold words, vivid art, and unapologetic queer expression.
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Lavender Rising – A Magazine for Queer Creativity
Lavender Rising is the monthly magazine from Once Upon A Queer Publishing, created to spotlight the voices, visions, and artistry of the LGBTQ+ community. Every issue brings together short stories, poems, essays, and artwork that celebrate queer creativity in all its forms—bold, vulnerable, funny, defiant, and unapologetically authentic.
What You’ll Find Inside
Short Stories – Five original queer stories each month, from under-1,000-word flash fiction to longer works that unfold across the page.
Poetry – A showcase of queer poets whose words spark, soothe, and challenge.
Essays – Thoughtful reflections, personal narratives, and bold explorations of queer life and imagination.
Artwork – Visual pieces that bring new worlds to life, with the first-place artist featured on the cover of every issue.
For Readers
If you love discovering fresh queer voices, Lavender Rising offers a monthly collection that feels like opening a treasure chest—stories that resonate, poems that linger, and artwork you’ll want to hang on your wall. Every issue is carefully curated to bring you both rising talent and unique perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.
For Creators
Once Upon A Queer Publishing invites queer writers and artists to share their voices in our monthly contests for short stories, poetry, essays, and artwork. Each month, the top five winners in every category are published in our magazine, Lavender Rising—a space dedicated to showcasing bold, diverse, and authentic queer creativity.
Flash fiction under 1,000 words is published in full, while longer works are featured with an excerpt and link. The first-place artist is spotlighted on the cover of that issue, and one outstanding submission across all categories earns the Grand Prize of $200. More than just a contest, it’s a chance to be seen, celebrated, and connected with readers who value LGBTQ+ voices.
Why Lavender Rising?
We chose lavender because it’s long been a symbol of queer identity, resistance, and pride. Just as lavender thrives in unlikely places, so do the voices in our pages—resilient, daring, and full of life.
Lavender Rising's AI Use Policy
Below is our official policy:
1. We Accept Only Human-Created Writing
All written submissions — short stories, poems, essays — must be created by a human author.
This means:
No AI-written stories, poems, or essays
No “AI first drafts” edited lightly
No copy/paste from AI models
Creative content must come from you, not a machine.
2. We Accept Art Created by Human Artists Only
We do not accept AI-generated images or art that has been produced, composited, or significantly built by image generators (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, etc.).
Human-created digital art is welcome — but the process must be manual, intentional, and artist-driven.
3. Why This Policy Exists
We built Lavender Rising to amplify queer voices, create opportunities for LGBTQ+ writers and artists, pay real creators for real work, support the craft, community, and culture of queer storytelling.
AI cannot replace or represent the lived experience, perspective, and creativity of queer people. Our guidelines exist to protect that.
4. If You’re Unsure, Just Ask
We’re happy to clarify what counts as acceptable assistance versus disallowed generation. Transparency beats guesswork.
Have A Project To Promote?
In addition to showcasing queer stories, poetry, essays, and artwork, Lavender Rising also offers space for creators and businesses to promote their projects.
Whether you’re launching a new book, sharing an art project, or highlighting another creative venture, advertising in the magazine puts you directly in front of readers who are passionate about queer voices and storytelling.
Ad spaces are available in a range of sizes—from small features to full-page spreads—at rates between $25 and $100. It’s an affordable way to support the magazine while connecting your work with a vibrant and engaged LGBTQ+ audience.
