Each year since 1976, small presses and journals are invited to nominate 6 pieces they have published that year for a Pushcart Prize.
So far, The Storms has managed to submit nominations from three of our four issues and below is a look at our nominations so far.
Each issue has seen an overwhelming amount of submissions, starting with just over 500 for our inaugural issue and surpassing 2000 for issue 2, Sometimes, we have a theme for the issue, which reduces the subs slightly, but sometimes not and I get a new subscription for my glasses! But each time, the judging process is almost as overwhelming as the amount to wade through, having to say ‘not now‘ to so many exceptional pieces of writing and so many extraordinary visual arts submissions. This is partly why each issue I am joined by a different subeditor, to ensure the selection process is given another set of eyes, ears and tastes. For our latest issue I am honoured to be joined by Rhona Greene as subeditor.
But then, once all the decision making is done, the quarrelling, the pleading, the gentle fighting between editor and subeditor, once you’ve let go all the gems you couldn’t handle this time, you have to then pick 6, 6 of your beloveds from the issue which can have over 70 pieces inside and all of which you love dearly.
This is all to say, we wish we could nominate every piece from every issue. So these ones that were nominated are just a selection of the shimmering Stars that exist inside this Storm that is truly based on community and celebrating their creativity…
Thank you to our nominees Mark Ward, Alice Stainer, Lynn Valentine, Tara A. Elliot, Doreen Duffy, Vicky Allen, Emily Roys, Elizabeth Gibson, Clodagh Healy, Fiona O;Rourke, Bex Hainsworth, Robert Frede Kenter, Ruby Murphy, Sree Sen, Nasouh Hossari, Mai Ishikawa, Clodagh O’Connor and Joanne Hayden.
Previous issues are available to buy here and you can submit to issue 5 here but remember, the deadline for submissions is 8 June, 2025.
See you soon in the next Storm, Damien
Storm Shelter 