Guidelines and Editorial Standards
La Lesbienne welcomes submissions from any writer who identifies with lesbianism, from any country. We are an international journal and actively encourage contributions from voices that have historically been underrepresented in mainstream publishing.
Who can submit
Submissions are open to any writer, researcher, artist or thinker who identifies with lesbianism. If you feel that this label applies to you, please apply. We welcome work from both established contributors and those publishing for the first time. You do not need academic credentials to submit; what matters is the quality of the work.
Editorial standards
La Lesbienne is committed to intellectual and honest writing. This journal exists because lesbian lives and lesbian thought deserve to be taken seriously both in academic contexts and in the wider world. We are not interested in clickbait or surface-level commentary. At the same time, we want our writing to be readable and accessible. You do not need to write in dense academic prose, but your arguments should be well-evidenced, thoughtful and carefully made. Opinion pieces are also considered.
Referencing & formatting
Please cite all sources. Every piece should include footnotes and a bibliography at the end where applicable.
We use Chicago referencing style. If you are unfamiliar with Chicago, a guide can be found at chicagomanualofstyle.org. Alternatively, send us an email and we will help you with referencing.
Please submit your piece as a Word document (.docx), double-spaced, in a standard readable font (Times New Roman or similar), 12pt.
Include your name, the section you are submitting to, and word count on the first page.
Please include a short biography of 50–100 words.
If you have links to previously published work, we welcome these but they are not required.
Language
All submissions should be written in English, with one exception: the Country Spotlight section welcomes submissions in any language. Where possible, accepted Country Spotlight pieces will be published alongside an English translation. If you would like to write in another language and work with the editor on translation, please get in touch before submitting.
Remuneration
Every piece selected for publication will receive a payment of €30. This applies to written contributions and visual art equally.
Visual art & photography
We welcome visual art submissions of any genre alongside written pieces. If you create any type of work: illustration, photography, collage, painting, or otherwise, that you feel speaks to the spirit of the journal, we want to see it. Please submit image files at high resolution (300dpi minimum) as JPG or PNG, along with a short description of the work and your biography.
Deadlines
The deadline for Issue One (July–December 2026) is 1 September 2026.
Submissions received after this date will still be read and considered for future issues. We are always recruiting for the next volume, so please do not be discouraged if you miss the deadline.
How to submit
Send all submissions to: adminlalesbienne@gmail.com
Use the subject line: Issue One Submission – [Section] – [Your Name]
Questions? Get in touch at the same address. We read everything.