Welcome to the Porcupine Review!
Our Mission Statement:
A literary journal dedicated to the advancement of individual liberty, peace and prosperity through short fiction, poetry, art and music.
Why The Porcupine Review was started:
This site was started because the editors at the Porcupine Review believe the ideas of creative conservatives and libertarians are underrepresented in the vast array of on-line literary journals.
At the Porcupine Review, we believe liberty means you, as an individual, have the absolute right to do as you please, when you please and however you please. Individually, we form the bonds of a universal collective governed only by our unique beliefs and upbringing. We reject the concept of large, centralized government and authoritarian societies who seek only to usurp these liberties.
Acceptance of this notion comes with consequences both positive and negative. We believe excellent conservative and libertarian fiction, poetry, art and music should explore this dichotomy in an honest, interesting and dynamic way.
We believe change is within us all, and together our voices can influence our future.
If you are a creative conservative or libertarian seeking a place for like-minded individuals to see your uniqueness on full display, we say to you- “Welcome Home.”
Why the Porcupine?
If you are a conservative or libertarian, you are likely familiar with the allegory of the porcupine. It is the animal version of a pacifist. If left alone it will do no harm. If however it is attacked, it defends itself mightily and in a non-lethal method (generally- they have some serious quills, after all).
What are we seeking?
Written Poetry and Fiction:
We are interested in work that is literary, allegorical, ironic, representative and philosophical. Work that explores the idiosyncrasies of human nature and the impact of society overall. We want to have an emotional reaction to your work, good or bad. If we feel like jumping off a cliff in despair at the end of your story, all the better. If we feel like holding hands and singing together in a circle, all the better. If we feel introspective, all the better.
Spoken Word Poetry:
We don’t just want to hear from you, we want to actually hear you. We believe no one can express the true emotion of poetry better than the author speaking. Indeed, poetry has its origins in this regard. The simple inflection of voice can alter its meaning, and nothing is more beautiful than that. Here’s what you do- Write-Rehearse- Record, then submit your spoken word to the Porcupine Review.
Art:
Seriously, there are no boundaries here (less pornographic- please we don’t want to see your junk or your interpretation of junk). we want art that is symbolic of the theme of liberty. we appreciate complexity in simplicity. We want your art to become the symbol of a movement as familiar as the peace sign.
Photographs are more than welcome. We appreciate a photo that captures a feeling or a reflection of a time that used to be.
Please keep in mind that your work does not have to be political in nature, you can explore the theme of liberty in so many ways.
What we are not seeking:
We get it, you are probably a policy wonk. We do not want economic or policy analysis or essays about Hayek. Publish that elsewhere. We are not looking for analysis of the daily news either.
If however, there is an unjust law or policy in your state or jurisdiction, feel free to create some interesting work on its impact to your liberty.
Though we don’t care if you write it, we are not interested in your bedroom activities, publish that elsewhere.