Marmalade is made from condensing fruits into their core qualities of zest and sugar, while still preserving their flavor palette. In this same way, Marmalade Lit seeks creative work that embodies these characteristics – poignant, but honest. Curating works from youth around the globe, these diverse perspectives join together to embody the modern youth experience. In doing so, Marmalade Lit gives hope to young people that they can one day see their work published. “Of course,” comment founding editors Sierra Elman and Lucile Orr, “marmalade is also a spread, so as writers, we couldn’t resist seeing it as a metaphor for spreading voices as well.”
Publishing biannually in an open-access online format, Marmalade Lit accepts submissions of prose (800 words and under) and poetry (100 lines and under) by writers ages 12-22. “We founded Marmalade Lit in 2025,” Elman and Orr explain, “looking to read works from global youth voices we wouldn’t traditionally be exposed to. Our goal is to amplify the ideas, creativity, and output of young writers.”
A Seasoned Masthead
Founder and Editor-in-Chief Sierra Elman is a high school writer based in California. She is the former Youth Poet Laureate of Burlingame-Hillsborough and has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards among others. Her work has appeared in the Blue Marble Review and the Eunoia Review. Her colleague Founder and Editor-in-Chief Lucile Orr is a California-based high school junior. A voracious reader and writer, her work has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation.
For Writers and Readers
For writers looking to submit works, both editors-in-chief read all the submissions, and while they are unable to provide feedback at this time, they generally keep the response time within 3-7 days, although this may vary based on the volume of submissions. For readers, expect works from a new generation of writers, from across the globe. Marmalade Lit specifically looks for pieces with a unique voice and resonant emotional core.
The first issue features work by Genevieve Watson, Prarthana Vijayakumar, Kate Woyicki, Anvi Mathur, Sophie Combes, Jisu Yee, Maury Meyzen, Angie Sokolsky, Nuppu Tanskanen, Mike Liu, and Vesper.
Writers interested in submitting to the second issue of Marmalade Lit can also choose to enter their Spring 2026 Contest themed “Current.” The deadline for this contest is May 31, 2026.
Sample Excerpts
Ask to make a selection of favorites from this issue, Elman and Orr offered these excerpts:
“how peculiar was / i, then, built like a murmur and bent like branches, too young to know wanting / and much too young to know / what it is like to be loved, / only the cold cradle of its / hind, and the screaming sting of needle-pressed fingers / pushed far too deep into / my skin” – “Whisper” by Mike Liu
“There might be something about the water / that my body remembers. I could recover the skill of harvesting clams and sea slugs / from meters below.” – “BEACHCOMBING FANTASY” by Jisu Yee
“Sometimes I make fallen angel silhouettes on the floor with dirty / laundry, let the unwashed dishes watch like circus spectators. I call it / tranquility. My mother prefers depression, unnatural tendencies, etc.” – “Self-Portrait as 16 Personalities: Free Personality Test” by Genevieve Watson
Building a Supportive Future
Reflecting on their start-up experience, Elman and Orr speak highly of the response they’ve received. “The literary community has been so supportive of us! We weren’t expecting to be welcomed with such open arms, but over the course of compiling our inaugural issue, we received so much help. Librarians across the world posted our flyers, creative writing teachers introduced the magazine to their students, and other literary magazines amplified our calls for submissions.”
Continuing to build their role in the community, Marmalade Lit plans to launch a blog and newsletter. Further down the line, the editors hope to create print issues and continue expanding their outreach, so visit their site and share with others!
