Humble Pie: Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
Ends on
Call for Submissions
Spring 2026
California College of the Arts’ literary and art journal Humble Pie is currently accepting submissions for its 24th volume.
Our Spring 2026 edition will have the theme of Joint Effort — the soft, strange, collaborative act of being here now; the embodiment of working hand-in-hand; existing and creating in community.
We want to see your passion projects, ideas that came in a dream, breakthroughs & breakdowns, the habit you quit, bombed crit projects that live to see another day, the feeling of those late nights working, the friend holding your hand saying you’re fine, the elephant in the room, the unexpected intimacy of standing shoulder to shoulder while the world keeps moving.
We kindly ask for submissions that relate to Joint Effort, encouraging varied and individual interpretations (look out for our posters around campus and our instagram @ccahumblepie for inspiration!).
We will accept submissions starting Feb 28th until March 30th at 23:59 PST.
Please read the following guidelines before submitting:
- You must be a current or former affiliate with California College of the Arts, as students, faculty or staff. State your affiliation in your biography.
- You can submit up to 3 works in the same or multiple categories or genres. They must be separate uploads.
- We will accept only unpublished works. We will make an exception if you originally self-published on a platform like Instagram or on a personal website or blog. We will also make an exception if you can easily confirm/verify our right to reprint work that has been published elsewhere.
- Please notify us immediately if you need to withdraw your submission.
- NO GEN AI.
Submissions are free.
Decision notifications will be sent out mid to late April 2026. If we need clarification about a submission, we may contact you prior to this date.
Genre Guidelines
Prose
- Works of (but not limited to): flash fiction, short stories, personal essays, op-eds, letters, journal entries, hybrid forms.
- Maximum of 3000 words, 12pt font, double-spaced (roughly 10 pages), in PDF format.
- Translations are welcome — the writer’s own work and the source must be credited.
Poetry
- One poem per submission.
- Maximum of 3 pages per poem, 12pt font and any spacing, in PDF format.
Visual Art & Graphic Narrative
- Works including, but not limited to: painting, drawing, illustration, photographs, film stills, design work, fiber/textile arts (as photograph/scans), collage, sculpture (as photographs), ceramics (as photographs), graphic novel/comic book excerpts/panels, and hybrid forms.
- Graphic/visual narratives spanning more than one page should be uploaded as a print/press resolution 8.5” x 11” PDF (limited to five sequential pages per uploaded title/work).
- Each submission must be uploaded in 300 dpi (print resolution) — must use CMYK.
Additional Uploads & Considerations
Biography
- Provide a biography of up to 100 words, written in 3rd person.
- List your affiliation with CCA (as a current/former student, faculty, or staff) ○ List your year(s) of affiliation with CCA (if past)
- List your Degree and Major/Emphasis (if a student)
- Some details about your upbringing, creativity, career, or passions are strongly encouraged
- Social Media Handle (Instagram and/or Substack)
Pseudonyms
- Pseudonyms (pen names) are permitted
- If you wish to use a pseudonym, inform us and we will help protect your identity
- Biographical information must accurately represent the author’s true identity (in Essence, the only factual “substitute” allowed is the author’s name itself)
- Make sure your pen name isn’t the real name of an actual person affiliated with CCA or a public, literary, artistic, or historical figure
Multilingual Accessibility
- Our staff is fluent in English, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, French, Danish, Quechua.
- To submit writing in any other language, include an English-language translation with your submission, with a footnote indicating whether you would want the translation included (alongside the original) in the final publication.
Print Copies
All published authors and creators will receive one (1) print copy of the publication.
Writing Help For CCA Students
- For help with written submissions, including your biography, visit the Learning Resources Center (in person or online) at CCA
- LRC coaches can help you brainstorm, compose, and communicate your vision to improve your submission, yet they don’t copy-edit your writing
- The LRC is located on the 2nd floor of the Main Building in room 206 (near the Materials Library)
- To book an in-person or online appointment at the LRC visit the following website: https://portal.cca.edu/learning/learning-resources/make-appointment-coach-ACADEMIC/
Questions
- Please contact us at humblepie@cca.edu
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing your contributions.
The Humble Pie Editorial Staff
Volume 24
Spring 2026