Cabrillo College-Watsonville Center-Xinachtli Journal

Journal X

Social Justice Literary Arts Magazine

Founded in 2021

Xinachtli Journal—Journal X—aims to give voice to social justice issues. We accept short fiction, short memoir, short plays and screenplays, short essays, poetry, art, and photography. We encourage experimental submissions. Submissions in English, Spanish, or Spanglish are accepted.

Watsonville Center
Cabrillo College
Poet Ariadna Sanchez
Department Navigation
In the News! Cabrillo Watsonville Center Celebrates 2nd ed. of Literary Arts Journal. Click link below to read!
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Since 2024
Xinachtli Journal (Journal X) is a proud member of Community of Literary Magazines and Presses

Image of Alma Leonor-Sanchez, Journal X Contributor
Photos by Michael Cinque; Video by Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo

Photo Gallery & Video: Journal X - May 9th 2024 Celebration

Snapshots of Journal X (2024 Edition):
Poetry, Art, Photography
"Healing Masculinities" by Victor Manuel Escoto Sánchez
"Hijo del Sol" by Jacob "Jake" Terán
"The Transition" by Guillermo "Yermo" Aranda
"Tonantzin" by Venessa "Nessa" Ledesma
"Pájaro" by Claudia Ramírez Flores (Photo by Claudia Meléndez Salinas)
"Melancholia" by María Belén Irusta
"Corazόn de hierba" by María Magdalena Herrera Reyes (Photo by Huve Rivas)
"Through the Years" by Michelle Lόpez-Rubio
"Letanía para estudiante que se gradúa en plena pandemia" by Maribel Martínez
"Portraits of Angola" by Mary Altier
"Racism or Human Nature?" by Delia Lee
"Dreamland" by Josefina Rocha
"A Toast to Butch Women" by Jace Rowe
"El Pato Trucha" by Enrique Buelna
"I am Black and Now I Love It!" by Ekua Omosupe (photo by Dave de Give)
"El Alcance" by Josefina Rocha
Xinachtli: Nahuatl word that describes the moment a seed germinates
Submit to Journal X 2026! (submission period opens in October)

SUBMISSIONS

  • Send up to 2 submissions of unpublished literary work in one document (RTF or word format)

  • Send up to 10 pieces of art/photography (300+ DPI)

  • Literary submissions should not exceed 10 pages, double-spaced, 12 size font (2500 words or less)

  • Do not include a byline (name or other information that could identify you)

  • Include your name, address, email, + a short bio (50-75 words)

  • Please note that we do not offer compensation for submissions, and all rights revert to writers

SOCIAL THEMES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO)

social justice/inequities; community activism; celebrating cultura; im/migration; spirituality; de/colonization; incarceration; police violence; feminist approaches; lgbtq+ rights; gentrification; environmental justice; indigeneity; intersectionality; race, class, gender, sexuality; etc.

EDITORIAL BOARD

  • The editorial board is composed of a diverse team of English 1B college students and their English faculty mentors, Dr. William Mullaney and Dr. Victoria Bañales, at Cabrillo College's Watsonville Center

SUBMISSION PERIOD

  • October - January

SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR OUR SUMMER/FALL 2026 EDITION

  • Thursday, January 8, 2026

SUBMIT

  • Click the orange button below to submit (October through January only)

QUESTIONS?

Cover of magazine featuring a woman with butterfly wings holding a baby with butterfly wings
Xinachtli: The moment a seed germinates (Nahuatl)

Archive: Journal X Previous Editions