Call for Submissions

Dec 2025 / Jan 2026

Vol 10, Issue No. 6

Guest Editor: Lisa Orr, Brand Director, at Elephants and Tea

METAMORPHOSIS

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” -Maya Angelou

Metamorphosis is a powerful theme exploring the transformations - both subtle and seismic - that happen during and after a breast cancer diagnosis. We invite you to reflect on the ways your life, body, relationships, or sense of self have shifted, or perhaps remained surprisingly the same. Whether you leaned into change or held on tightly to who you were, your story matters.

This issue will lean towards hope while honoring the fear, uncertainty, and courage that often fuel or complicate the process of change.

A Message From Guest Editor, Lisa Orr

“Six years ago, I found a lump in my breast that changed everything. I was a 31-year-old with no family history of cancer, a 3-year-old and 1-year-old in tow, and suddenly I was navigating the chaos of triple negative breast cancer. Cancer didn’t just happen to my body - it cracked open my entire life. Since then, everything has shifted. My career path veered into something more aligned with who I am now. My priorities got sharper. I’ve learned to say no, to protect my peace, to hold close to the people and things that truly matter to me. This clarity is a gift, but it comes with a cost.

Alongside all the transformation - some of it beautiful, some of it necessary, all of it scary - there’s the shadow that never fully leaves. The fear. The anxiety. The loss of that easy, unquestioning sense of health and safety. I have changed, absolutely. But part of that change is learning to carry both light and darkness at once, to move forward while still feeling the weight of what I have been through. That is my metamorphosis.” ~ Lisa

We accept:

Essays: 650-1200 words
Poems: 50 line maximum
Artwork: high-resolution along with a written Artist Statement

Submission Deadline: October 25, 2025

Ready to submit your story? Fill out the submission form at the bottom of the Submission page.

SUBMIT NOW

Need inspiration to write your story in the Wildfire Journal way? We’ve got you. Scroll down for resources.

**🎧Listen to past episodes of The Burn related to the Metamorphosis theme.**

✏️Use writing prompts:

● Describe a moment during your cancer experience when everything changed - what sparked that transformation?
● What is something about yourself that stayed exactly the same, even as everything else shifted?
● How do fear and uncertainty shape your path - do they hold you back, or push you forward?
● Tell the story of an unexpected transformation - something you never thought would change, but did.
● Describe a moment you resisted change. Explore what you were afraid of losing.
● How did your relationships transform during your experience? Who changed, who didn’t, and what did/does that mean to you?
● Reflect on a symbol of metamorphosis in your life - something physical or emotional that represents your evolution.
I realized I was growing up when...
What my cancer experience taught me about myself (or family, or the world, or...) and how…

Tip: As you're writing your transformation stories, try ending your piece with a silent "... and nothing was ever the same again," to see if that rings true for you. Keep digging for how your life is different now.

Remember, we are looking for cancer-related stories, so no matter where your story begins, don’t forget to include how your experience of cancer has affected you, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Read more writing tips here.