Draft #5 COOKED: that (somewhat altered) state of trying out stuff just for the plot, of constant (re)mixing of the same old cultural batter, of concocting a unique delulu milieu from the scraps you have at hand. All in an attempt to soothe an otherwise aggravated ache. In these times of near-total eclipse (of the heart), it’s good to gather together around a dumpster fire and warm ourselves with radiant / incandescent randomness. We’re all cooked anyway, so let’s get to cooking. Time to conjure up those brilliant [(ac)cursed] thoughts and write down some junk analyses. This issue is about sharing that most shiny trinket, plucked from the seabed whilst (sub)cultural scuba diving, and hoping that the joy it gives you is, at least in part, contagious.

Editor: Cristian Drăgan 

Send your proposals (approx. 100-200 words) to draft.theory.fiction@gmail.com by April 15th 2026. If your proposal is selected, you will be notified by April 18th. (We mainly accept texts written in English, but are open to submissions written in other languages too. Poetry or visual submissions can be sent directly, accompanied by a description or artist statement.) 

Send your full texts (approx. 2000-3000 words including bibliography, ASA Citation Style) by May 15th 2026.