In this dumpster fire of an election year in the United States we have heard a lot of dangerous #rapeculture rhetoric from Donald Trump. After Trump’s “grab them by the pussy” statement, writer Kelly Oxford responded on Twitter, putting a solicitation out for people to name their first sexual assaults (which certainly are/were probably not their last). Read the NPR article HERE. The response to her call was/is overwhelming, staggering, heartbreaking, and not in the least surprising to other folks who have also had these experiences and/or are aware of every facet of this culture. As Oxford stated in her tweets, these stories are not just dry, dead statistics, these stories are true, horrifying, and all too common. This is a reality for so many people.

In a poignant and much needed call for submissions, Joanna C. Valente, the new Managing Editor of Civil Coping Mechanisms, is editing an anthology called A Shadow Map: an Anthology by Survivors of Sexual Assault, to be published in February 2017 by Civil Coping Mechanisms.

Here are some words from Valente and CCM:

“ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY AND AN OPEN CALL:

We believe in creating a necessary space for those who have experienced assault to give voice to their experiences. We believe in shifting the literary landscape to highlight a plurality of voices, particularly those that have experienced trauma, as a way to connect us together as a community through our struggles, but to also transcend them beyond the page. We are particularly interested in illuminating unique poets’ voices, including those who identify as POC, women, non-binary, and LGBTQ.

CCM believes providing a space in the literary community where we can not only talk about painful experiences and issues is not just paramount, but necessary considering the current political climate. Proceeds of the anthology will be donated to Planned Parenthood and RAINN.

We ask you to submit 3-5 poems or 1 essay 1000 words or less, along with a brief cover letter and third person biography to ccmopencall@gmail.com. Previously published works are welcome, just tell us where it appeared. Please allow for up to 2 months before querying. We will, of course, respond to each submission and announce the writers who will be published in the anthology shortly after. Deadline 12/1.”