Submission Guidelines - Monologues:

  • Eligibility: Open to all queer and trans writers currently residing in Canada.

  • Format & Length: Monologue. Maximum 2 pages, or 3-5 minutes of spoken performance. Original pieces only. Please edit your writing. We will not be able to edit submissions.

  • Submission dates: November 11, 2026 - April 11, 2027.

  • We are looking for the voices that refuse to be quieted. The stories that haven’t been told. The truth that only you can speak. The Queer and Trans Legacy Initiative (QTLI) is assembling 50 Monologues celebrating, questioning, and redefining queer and trans life, and we want your voice in it.

    What We Are Looking For

    We want pieces written in the first person. It can be a direct reflection of your lived experience, or an entirely imagined character, life, or history.

    We want monologues that explore:

    • The Unspoken: Secrecy, religion, the soul, and hidden desires.

    • The Shared: Culture, race, politics, war, and chosen families.

    • The Human: Love, children, aging, bodies, and joy.

    • The Complex: Grief, rage, survival, and identity.

    Who Should Apply?

    Everyone. You do not need to be a published writer. We want to hear from:

    • Playwrights and screenwriters

    • Poets and slam artists

    • Novelists and essayists

    • First-time writers who have a story burning inside them but have never put it on paper before.

    Whether you are a pro or an emerging writer with a story to share, your voice belongs here. (Please note: While we wish we could publish everything, space is limited to 50 pieces, but we hope this call inspires you to write regardless!)

  • A Note on Truths vs. Hate Speech: We want raw honesty. We welcome pieces that explore the realities of navigating racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, classism, anti-semitism, ableism, immigration, queer and trans refugees, love, loss, family, chosen family, medical transitions, mental health, belonging, and so much more. However, we will not accept writing that promotes, glorifies, or targets communities with hate speech of any kind.

  • Sensuality vs. Pornography: This project aims to capture the full spectrum of human emotion, intimacy, and bodily autonomy. While we welcome vulnerability, passion, and honest explorations of our bodies, we are not accepting pornographic or sexually explicit material.

  • The Opportunity: 50 selected monologues to be published in an anthology. To maximize our community impact, additional pieces may be selected for our digital archive on the website. Both print and digital publication offer a publishing credit for your writing resume.

  • Compensation: 100% of the proceeds generated from the sale of book will go toward funding future QTLI initiatives (queer and trans writing, events, workshops, etc). No royalties will be managed or paid. Authors retain 100% copyright ownership of their work after the initial publication window. Once all monologues have been selected, we will send you additional forms to be signed as part of the agreement.

  • Ten or more monologues will be selected by QTLI for a future performance at a Toronto Venue/Theatre. We want to have our monologues performed in front of audiences, and keep the momentum going for our work!

    Please include your pen name if different from your legal name, and clearly let us know how you would like to be credited.

    SUBMISSION information:

    Please provide details below. Copy paste your monologue into the message field and click submit. You can submit up to two pieces. Or, email QTLI and in the subject line add, “MONOLOGUE SUBMISSION” with the submission copy pasted inside the body of the email. We cannot open any downloadable links (pdf or word), so please remember to copy paste.

  • In the subject line of the form below, please write: MONOLOGUE SUBMISSION.

  • We will be in touch if your work is selected for the anthology. It may take us some time to finalize the selected pieces and inform, but we will update this page and send out notifications when we are ready to move forward. This is a volunteer effort, so please be patient.

    Thank you and good luck!