Submissions

The Hellmo meme has long been an evocative symbol at We Write at Dawn, one that gets to the heart of our community's purpose. We write because we are empowered. We laugh triumphantly in the face of the fire, a crucible into which authors and artists are forged.

We are licked with the flames of society's expectations. The "should bes" and "musts" and rules and requirements. The barriers to entry. The closed doors. The no-reply emails. The systems of authority don't expect Hellmo to thrive in the pyre. He's just a muppet, a weird little guy with a hand up his butt.

And yet, here we are. We Write at Dawn, or whenever we can, around the lost hours dedicated to day jobs or moonlighting. We write on planes, trains, and automobiles. We write to save our souls. We write to ease the pain. We write to entertain, and to understand each other and ourselves. We write because it is a core facet of our humanity.

Now more than ever, we need artists. That is why our community is coming together to create this anthology where no one can tell us "no" because we tell ourselves "yes" right here and now. We come together to share in the triumphs and tribulations. We talk about our characters like they are pieces of our own souls. We collaborate, cocreate, talk shop. We support each other, through light and darkness. We do so in chaos, at the grassroots level.

In the face of oppression and marginalization, we shape our stories in defiance. This is We Write at Dawn, An Anthology, Volume 1.