The submission site for the fifteenth edition of So It Goes: The Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum * Library opened January 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. EST and closes March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

In 2026, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum * Library celebrates something even more extraordinary than our fifteenth anniversary: America’s 250th birthday and the enduring power of love. It is a theme that touches on love for nature, love of others (filial, eros, and agape love), self-love, love of the creative arts and free expression, and the love of liberty. We do this for the love of Kurt Vonnegut! He brought us all together. He spoke out for our rights. He put his life at risk for others. He gave us himself with his words and actions. For that, we are grateful. 

As part of a year filled with KVML national festivals, community wellness programs, literary celebrations, exhibitions on human rights expressed through the arts, and events that uplift creativity, courage, and compassion, we also will publish our fifteenth So It Goes journal.

The So It Goes XV: America@250: Vonnegut’s Timeless Call to Love issue recognizes stories of love: soulmates, friends, or that always loyal pet. And don’t forget the importance of self-love/self-care. Then there’s love of community and country—love for the people making a positive difference in our lives: librarians, teachers, environmentalists, tribal members, cultural groups, community leaders and organizers, family members and caregivers, volunteers, and YOU. We know we can all make a difference through Kurt’s timeless call to love. 

 

For additional information, guidelines and rules, go to https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/so-it-goes/#submissions. 

Fan fiction (mention or focus on Kurt Vonnegut) or entries that do not follow theme or guidelines will be disqualified.

Thank you for your interest in and support of KVML. 

If you have any questions, contact us at SoItGoes@vonnegutlibrary.org. Be sure to check out www.vonnegutlibrary.org for more information on the library and other events relating to Kurt Vonnegut.

Sincerely,

The Editors of So It Goes

Ends on $6.00
$6.00
Submit to So It Goes 2026: Artwork and Photography

“I try to keep deep love out of my stories because, once that particular subject comes up, it is almost impossible to talk about anything else. Readers don't want to hear about anything else. They go gaga about love. If a lover in a story wins his true love, that's the end of the tale, even if World War III is about to begin, and the sky is black with flying saucers.”

― Kurt Vonnegut in Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut, edited by William Rodney Allen, University Press of                        Mississippi, 1988, 185.

 

"Be aware of this truth that the people on this earth could be joyous, if only they would live rationally and if they would contribute mutually to each others' welfare."

 ― Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage

 

In 2026, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum * Library celebrates something even more extraordinary than our fifteenth anniversary: America’s 250th birthday and the enduring power of love. It is a theme that touches on love for nature, love of others (filial, eros, and agape love), self-love, love of the creative arts and free expression, and the love of liberty. We do this for the love of Kurt Vonnegut! He brought us all together. He spoke out for our rights. He put his life at risk for others. He gave us himself with his words and actions. For that, we are grateful. 

As part of a year filled with KVML national festivals, community wellness programs, literary celebrations, exhibitions on human rights expressed through the arts, and events that uplift creativity, courage, and compassion, we also will publish our fifteenth So It Goes journal.

The So It Goes XV: America@250: Vonnegut’s Timeless Call to Love issue recognizes stories of love: soulmates, friends, or that always loyal pet. And don’t forget the importance of self-love/self-care. Then there’s love of community and country—love for the people making a positive difference in our lives: librarians, teachers, environmentalists, tribal members, cultural groups, community leaders and organizers, family members and caregivers, volunteers, and YOU. We know we can all make a difference through Kurt’s timeless call to love. 

Submit Here 

So It Goes 2026 Inspiration

Here are some works that have explored aspects of America and love over 250 years to provide inspiration and jump-start your creativity:

__________

Submission Requirements 

  • The submission period for our fifteenth annual edition of So It Goes journal opens January 1, 2026, at 12:00 am EST and ends March 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.
  • Submissions must  incorporate the 2026 theme, America@250: Vonnegut’s Timeless Call to Love.
  • Submissions are limited to one work of prose (fiction or nonfiction) that is 1,250 words max, OR two works of prose (fiction or nonfiction) that are a combined total word count of 1,250 words max, OR up to five poems that are 1,250 words max for all five, OR five photographs or artworks. You may submit both written and visual work. Those submitting written and visual works should complete the separate forms. 
  • Please do not submit Vonnegut fan fiction or fan art (anything that mentions or focuses on Kurt Vonnegut). 
  • Employees of KVML and KVML Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members are not  eligible to participate in the 2026 issue.  
  • Everyone else is encouraged to send in a submission(s): Students; amateur or professional writers, poets, artists, and photographers; young or old; and current/retired military veterans. The veteran community was important to Vonnegut—a veteran and POW—so we imagine he’d love to see literary representation from current and former military personnel. Please let us know if you are associated with the military. 
  • We will accept new and previously published work (simultaneous submissions are allowed with notification) and will credit the original publisher. If your submission(s) has been published elsewhere (even if it is your own work), you may need permission to publish it in this issue of So It Goes.  If this is the case, you must obtain written permission from the rights holder(s) and include this written permission with your submission(s).      Please request worldwide rights for print and electronic formats in all  languages and editions.
  • Please use 1.5 spacing for prose and single spacing for poetry. Use 12-point, Times New Roman font. Group multiple poems into ONE document. Poets: Keep in mind that the journal is 6 x 9 inches. Most submissions come to us set up in an 8 ½ x 11-inch space. Poems with long lines, multiple columns, or specific layouts can be difficult to reproduce in the smaller format.
  • Do NOT group artwork. You will have access to upload up to five works. Artwork must be labeled with titles. If one or multiple are untitled, label as “Untitled 1,” Untitled 2,” etc. DO NOT SUBMIT A PDF, or it will be disqualified. Please include additional information–year of work, size, and whether it’s done in oil, acrylic, pen and ink, etc.
  • All submitters must include a cover letter with a biography (no more than five brief sentences).

Note: Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be automatically disqualified.

Thank you in advance for your submissions to our fifteenth issue of So It Goes. The journal will launch in November 2026. Selected contributors will receive one free hard copy. Previous issues of So It Goes journals are available in the library’s online gift shop through kvmlshop.org. 

Shop Now 

If you have any questions, contact us at SoItGoes@vonnegutlibrary.org.

 

Ends on $6.00
$6.00
Submit to So It Goes 2026: Short Stories, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry

“I try to keep deep love out of my stories because, once that particular subject comes up, it is almost impossible to talk about anything else. Readers don't want to hear about anything else. They go gaga about love. If a lover in a story wins his true love, that's the end of the tale, even if World War III is about to begin, and the sky is black with flying saucers.”

― Kurt Vonnegut in Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut, edited by William Rodney Allen, University Press of                        Mississippi, 1988, 185.

 

"Be aware of this truth that the people on this earth could be joyous, if only they would live rationally and if they would contribute mutually to each others' welfare."

 ― Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage

 

In 2026, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum * Library celebrates something even more extraordinary than our fifteenth anniversary: America’s 250th birthday and the enduring power of love. It is a theme that touches on love for nature, love of others (filial, eros, and agape love), self-love, love of the creative arts and free expression, and the love of liberty. We do this for the love of Kurt Vonnegut! He brought us all together. He spoke out for our rights. He put his life at risk for others. He gave us himself with his words and actions. For that, we are grateful. 

As part of a year filled with KVML national festivals, community wellness programs, literary celebrations, exhibitions on human rights expressed through the arts, and events that uplift creativity, courage, and compassion, we also will publish our fifteenth So It Goes journal.

The So It Goes XV: America@250: Vonnegut’s Timeless Call to Love issue recognizes stories of love: soulmates, friends, or that always loyal pet. And don’t forget the importance of self-love/self-care. Then there’s love of community and country—love for the people making a positive difference in our lives: librarians, teachers, environmentalists, tribal members, cultural groups, community leaders and organizers, family members and caregivers, volunteers, and YOU. We know we can all make a difference through Kurt’s timeless call to love. 

Submit Here 

So It Goes 2026 Inspiration

Here are some works that have explored aspects of America and love over 250 years to provide inspiration and jump-start your creativity:

__________

Submission Requirements 

  • The submission period for our fifteenth annual edition of So It Goes journal opens January 1, 2026, at 12:00 am EST and ends March 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.
  • Submissions must  incorporate the 2026 theme, America@250: Vonnegut’s Timeless Call to Love.
  • Submissions are limited to one work of prose (fiction or nonfiction) that is 1,250 words max, OR two works of prose (fiction or nonfiction) that are a combined total word count of 1,250 words max, OR up to five poems that are 1,250 words max for all five, OR five photographs or artworks. You may submit both written and visual work. Those submitting written and visual works should complete the separate forms. 
  • Please do not submit Vonnegut fan fiction or fan art (anything that mentions or focuses on Kurt Vonnegut). 
  • Employees of KVML and KVML Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members are not  eligible to participate in the 2026 issue.  
  • Everyone else is encouraged to send in a submission(s): Students; amateur or professional writers, poets, artists, and photographers; young or old; and current/retired military veterans. The veteran community was important to Vonnegut—a veteran and POW—so we imagine he’d love to see literary representation from current and former military personnel. Please let us know if you are associated with the military. 
  • We will accept new and previously published work (simultaneous submissions are allowed with notification) and will credit the original publisher. If your submission(s) has been published elsewhere (even if it is your own work), you may need permission to publish it in this issue of So It Goes.  If this is the case, you must obtain written permission from the rights holder(s) and include this written permission with your submission(s).      Please request worldwide rights for print and electronic formats in all  languages and editions.
  • Please use 1.5 spacing for prose and single spacing for poetry. Use 12-point, Times New Roman font. Group multiple poems into ONE document. Poets: Keep in mind that the journal is 6 x 9 inches. Most submissions come to us set up in an 8 ½ x 11-inch space. Poems with long lines, multiple columns, or specific layouts can be difficult to reproduce in the smaller format.
  • Do NOT group artwork. You will have access to upload up to five works. Artwork must be labeled with titles. If one or multiple are untitled, label as “Untitled 1,” Untitled 2,” etc. DO NOT SUBMIT A PDF, or it will be disqualified. Please include additional information–year of work, size, and whether it’s done in oil, acrylic, pen and ink, etc.
  • All submitters must include a cover letter with a biography (no more than five brief sentences).

Note: Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be automatically disqualified.

Thank you in advance for your submissions to our fifteenth issue of So It Goes. The journal will launch in November 2026. Selected contributors will receive one free hard copy. Previous issues of So It Goes journals are available in the library’s online gift shop through kvmlshop.org. 

Shop Now 

If you have any questions, contact us at SoItGoes@vonnegutlibrary.org.

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library