About Fahmidan
Founded in the Summer of 2020 by Ranna Kisswani & A.R. Arthur (formerly A.R. Salandy), Fahmidan Journal hopes to bring out diverse voices and their cacophonous words. Our Press, founded in 2021 is focused on the publication of POC & Women Identifying voices ardent in battle against subjugation! Now almost five years old, Fahmidan Journal is now a paying market! 

We publish quarterly.
Send us your thought-provoking existentialism, your phobias, your darkest moments.  Entrance us with your whimsical fantasy. Move us to tears with your truth in a world of suffering. Captivate and intrigue us with your hopes and dreams.

Current Vacancies (May 2025)

Prose Editor (Paid) June 2025 Start (3-5 hours per month)

- assign readers prose submissions weekly 

- ⁠adhering to our 25 day response turnaround; ensuring all rejections and shortlist requests are send in a timely fashion 

- ⁠ensuring all trackers are up to date with readers breaks, weekly submission count etc 

- ⁠reading and responding to prose submissions in our 24hr response event

- ⁠maintaining communication with prose readers and scheduling breaks accordingly 

- ⁠providing feedback on shortlist for final journal issues 

- ⁠maintaining any and all administrative support for prose readers

Benefits: References, Digital Chapbooks & Letter of Recommendation, Workshop free or heavily discounted access (depending on facilitator)

Assistant Managing Editor (Paid) Sept 2025 Start (2-4 hours per month)
- occasionally assisting managing editor in any and all administrative tasks across Fahmidan journal, publishing and education 

- ⁠occasionally responding to emails from third parties 

- ⁠scheduling zoom meetings 

- ⁠ensuring emails are checked regularly within 48-72 hours

- ⁠maintaining communication with managing editor 

- ⁠occasionally overseeing journal operations in managing editor's absence

Benefits: References, Digital Chapbooks & Letter of Recommendation, Workshop free or heavily discounted access (depending on facilitator)

Social Media Intern (Volunteer) June 2025 Start (2.5-4.5 hours per month for 3 months)

- Make social media content posts (majority already have templates)

- Schedule posts on Buffer scheduling 

- Engage with content/individuals on our social media at least once a week.

- Be able to communicate clearly and update once a week.

Benefits: References, Digital Chapbooks & Letter of Recommendation etc

Fahmidan Education: Unlocking Knowledge, Inspiring Growth

Rooted in Fahmidan’s desire to spread knowledge and literary excellence, Fahmidan Education is dedicated to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Fahmidan Education strives to further understanding and the pursuit of knowledge across cultures and societies, we design and deliver high-impact educational workshops that empower learners of all ages.

Our workshops blend innovative teaching methodologies with engaging, hands-on experiences, ensuring that participants don’t just learn but truly understand. Fahmidan Education desires to transform one’s learning experience into an immersive journey, equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

At Fahmidan Education, we believe that learning should be more than memorization—it should be a gateway to deeper insight, creativity, and personal growth. Fahmidan, meaning "to understand" in Farsi, reflects our commitment to true comprehension and intellectual exploration. Currently specializing in literary workshops, we create spaces where participants can engage deeply with texts, storytelling, and critical analysis. Join us in the pursuit of understanding, and let’s redefine literary education together.

Our current roster includes Workshops by: (Please checkout the subsequent form page to sign up!)

Ally Ang

A.R.Arthur

CD Eskilson

Cass Garison

Donna J. Vorreyer

Elizabeth M. Castillo

(Sign Up by May 30th 2025)

Join us for the Fahmidan 2025 Amsterdam Retreat – a unique literary getaway where creativity and culture converge in one of Europe's most inspiring cities. From July 27th to August 3rd, immerse yourself in workshops, excursions, and an enriching literary experience like no other! With three different packages ranging from Bare Bones to the Full Experience, we want to make this retreat accessible to all!

With talented international literary citizen facilitators A.R.Arthur, Cass Garison, Rashna Wadia Yasmine Dashti & Elizabeth M Castillo.

Fahmidan is committed to accessibility which means we have a tiered approach to this retreat to ensure all can attend. Fahmidan will not book hotels/flights but will provide a list of recommendations including support with reliable Travel Insurance and Internet access. 

Tentative Workshop Titles include: 

1. Writing with Purpose, finding the extraordinary in the Mundane

2. Becoming a Global Literary Citizen: Writing beyond our Society  -A.R.Arthur

3. The Chapbook/Full Length Workshop (Simultaneously running depending on level) -A.R.Arthur

4. Writing the weather within: emotional forecasts - Elizabeth M Castillo

5. Ecopoetry & prose: writing the earth  - Elizabeth M Castillo

6. Where Lyric & Image Meet: Exploring Intermedial Creation

7. On Desire & Destruction: Writing the Complex Love Poem - Cass Garison

“I’m in love, I’m not in love! I’m insane, I’m not insane!” — Anne Carson, Eros the Bittersweet: An Essay

This workshop invites participants to engage with the intoxicating tensions that exist within the impulse of love. We will explore poetic expressions of intimate tension, erotic contradiction, adoration-incited insanity, and the delicate threshold between desire and destruction. With generative prompts, curated readings, thought experiments, micro-lessons, and group discussions, we will read, analyze, and draft love poems that entangle and disentangle the complexities of human connection.

8. Where Lyric & Image Meet: Exploring Intermedial Creation- Cass Garison

This workshop delves into the intersection of written language and visual art, blurring the boundaries between mediums and inviting them to collaborate and transform each other. With visual poetry, hybrid forms, ekphrasis, and verbal-imagistic experimentation, we will explore, discuss, and create at the meeting point of lyric and image. Designed for participants expanding their practice to include visual elements as well as those with prior experience in hybrid creation. This workshop emphasizes play, hands-on exploration, and collaborative experimentation. Sessions will focus on intermedial possibilities while encouraging attuneness to individual creative instincts.

Note: A variety of other inclusions including Editorial Feedback/ Retreat Facilitator 1 on 1 sessions and more will be included depending on the tier. 

Full Experience (7 Days - $1000):

· Indulge in two exquisite dinners, including the celebrated Sampurna and the renowned De Vijf Vlieghen’s 6-course tasting menu

· Enjoy three exciting excursions and explore the best of Amsterdam

· Receive a 5-day I Amsterdam Card for free entry to top attractions

· Access to all workshops, plus an Amsterdam Literary swag bag

· Four digital chapbooks of your choice

· Optional writing and critique sessions

· Editorial feedback and an exclusive Editor Walk

Craft Focus (5 Days - $800):

· Savor a delicious dinner at Sampurna.

· Explore Amsterdam with one exciting excursion

· Enjoy a 5-day I Amsterdam Card for unlimited access

· Full access to workshops and an Amsterdam Literary swag bag

· Three digital chapbooks of your choice

· Optional writing session and editorial feedback

Bare Bones (4 Days - $600):

· Delight in a dinner at Sampurna 

· 4-day I Amsterdam Card included

· Access all workshops and receive two digital chapbooks of your choice

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to hone your craft, immerse in Dutch culture, and make lasting literary connections. Reserve your spot for the Fahmidan Amsterdam Retreat 2025 today!

Please note: In the event of a delay or rescheduling of the retreat, the full cost payment minus admin fees will be refunded.

Submit up to 3 Poems for Free

Poetry: Submit up to seven poems (three for free submissions). Poems should be no longer than 6 A4 pages but we’re open to diverse formats as. Poems should be single-spaced and each begin on a new page. Please clearly indicate when a poem goes beyond one page. We prefer submissions that consist of more than one poem to better understand your style and the influence of your authorial intent even if your poems are on different topics.

Note: Any and all submission fees paid (including feedback are non refundable)

Submit up to 2 Flash Fiction/Non-Fiction Pieces or 1 Prose Fiction/Non-Fiction Piece for Free

Prose: Submit one piece of between 1000 and 2500 words. We accept both fiction and nonfiction prose submissions. Unfortunately, we do not accept excerpts of longer works.

Flash: Submit up to five pieces (two for free submissions) of no more than 800 words. We publish both fiction and nonfiction flash submissions. 

Note: Any and all submission fees paid (including feedback are non refundable)

 Fahmidan has always believed in supporting writers through fair, equitable and inclusive practices. Part of this has meant that we have never received funding externally. Our former Co-Editor in Chief Ranna and current sole Editor in Chief, A.R.Arthur have always maintained Fahmidan. With this in mind, our Editors Rashna & A.R. will now both be offering Editorial Consulations.

A.R.Arthur will be providing Editorial Feedback, Chapbook & Full Length Poetry Collection Editing and Feedback. 

Reasons to trust us with your manuscript:

• Our EIC has read several 1000 chapbooks in global contests as a reader and editor.
• Our EIC has provided chapbook Feedback on 100s of manuscripts and has regularly held chapbook workshops which have multiple led participants to get published. 
• Our EIC has provided Editorial Feedback to countless writers in both prose and poetry. 
• Our EIC has 3 published chapbooks, including one prize winner so understands the difficulties writers face in getting a manuscript formed, submitted and published.

Reasons to sign up for Consultations:

• Our EIC has regularly consulted writers of all stages of their career from those with multiple books to those with none and from literary prose and poetry writers to ghostwriters. 
• Our Editors have a wealth of experience and over 400 publications, including reviews, poetry, prose and books between them. 
• Our Editors are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion that is culturally inclusive. We say culturally      inclusive as we know how hard it can be to get writing published that doesn't fit neatly into a box.
• We don't believe in price-gouging. As writers, we've seen the ludicrous, exclusive and unfair pricing that is so      rampant in the literary world. We want to remedy this by offering fair pricing that values the writer as much as our Editors' time. 
• Our consultations can be used for anything literary and act as a means of helping you achieve your goals.