Mulberry Collective
Editorial letter from our founder and executive editor.
Thought-provoking stories that leave a lasting impact.
We're excited to announce the winner of our debut essay contest competion !
What's Inside | March 2025 Edition
Poetry Contributions
February Theme - Love & Loss Contributions from our collective.
Notable Opportunities for Writers
(contest, publications, sholarships & more)
Updates to our Mission as a Nonprofit
501(c)(3)
Monthly Musings
Spring is a season of renewal—a time when the world stretches toward the light, and even the smallest shift can lead to something extraordinary!
This debut issue of Mulberry Collective embraces that spirit of change—not just in the stories we share, but in the foundation of our publication itself.
When we first introduced an editorial space within dosyna COLLECTIVE, our goal was simple: to create a place where stories inspire, connect, and deepen our understanding of one another. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply this idea would resonate. Writers, readers, and creatives from all walks of life found a home here. The momentum was undeniable, and soon, it became clear—this was more than an editorial section. It was something entirely its own.
And so, Mulberry Collective, Inc. was born... Continue Reading....
Introducing Mulberry Bookshelf
Some stories stay with us long after we’ve read them—whether through their deep emotional impact, masterful craft, or powerful themes about the human experience. That’s why I’m excited to introduce Mulberry Bookshelf, a recurring editorial selection where I highlight stories that provoke thought, stir emotion, and challenge us to see the world differently.
For this issue, I’ve chosen two remarkable pieces that explore transformation, identity, and the way we reconcile who we are with who the world expects us to be.
These stories linger—not just in their words, but in the questions they leave behind. What does it mean to change? To be shaped by expectation? To hold onto or surrender pieces of ourselves? Schweblin and Russell offer us worlds where transformation is both beautiful and unsettling, and I hope their stories resonate with you as deeply as they did with me.
"Mouthful of Birds" by Samanta Schweblin
Samanta Schweblin is an Argentine writer known for her unsettling and surreal storytelling. Her novel Fever Dream was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, and her collection Mouthful of Birds, where this story originates, has been widely acclaimed for its haunting and poetic prose.
In "Mouthful of Birds", a father struggles to accept his daughter’s inexplicable nature—one that defies logic and his own understanding of love. The story is a meditation on the limits of acceptance and the radical act of embracing someone exactly as they are. Schweblin’s striking imagery and restrained storytelling leave a lingering emotional weight, reminding us that transformation often demands letting go of preconceived notions and stepping into discomfort.
Excerpt:
"Not far from the TV, beside the window, there was a cage. It was a birdcage-maybe a foot and a half tall-that hung from the ceiling, empty.
"What's that?"
"A cage," Sara said, and smiled.
Silvia motioned for me to follow her to the kitchen. We stood by the window and she checked ot make sure Sara wasn't listening. The girl was still sitting bolt upright on the sofa, looking out toward the street as if we'd never arrived. Silvia spoke to me in a low voice.
"Look, you're going to have to take this calmly."
"Come on, Silvia, stop jerking me around. What's going on?"
"I haven't fed her since yesterday."
"Are you kidding me?"
"So you'll see with your own eyes."
"Uh-huh... Are you crazy?"
She told me to follow her back to the living room, where she pointed
me to the sofa. I sat down across from Sara. Silvia left the house, and we saw her cross in front of the window and go into the garage.
"What's going on with your mom?"
Sara shrugged her shoulders. Her straight black hair was pulled
back into a ponytail, and she had thick bangs that hung down almost over her eyes."
— Samanta Schweblin, "Mouthful of Birds"
Call to Action... I’d love to hear your thoughts—what stories have stayed with you long after reading? If you have a recommendation for a future Mulberry Bookshelf selection, share it with us on social media or send us a message. Let’s keep the conversation (and the storytelling) going.
Join the discussion & submit your recommendations:
SocialGoodness@MulberryCollective.Org
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By LoriAnne Butler
Damonds and Swords
She doesn't know who she is.
Unaware and alone.
She’s at the brink of the abyss.
Chilled to the bone.
Wretched with fear.
She moves on.
With each tear.
She walks into the sun.
As if she was never here.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
She feels the burn of her skin.
The sting of so many years.
Feeding on the blood of sin.
If you look into her eyes.
Is to be caught in the crossfire.
Through her pain she cries.
For her one true heart’s desire.
The glow of her eyes captures and stuns.
The glare of the dark lords.
Because her tears can be diamonds.
Or they can be Swords
Writer's Corner
Notable Contest and Opportunities
Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition
Deadline: Early-Bird: May 5, 2025; Regular: June 5, 2025
Entry Fee: Varies by submission date and category
Prize: Grand Prize of $5,000 and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Deadline: April 1, 2025
Entry Fee: None
Prize: $2,000 for the first prize, with additional prizes totaling $3,500
The Maya Angelou Book Award
Deadline: April 1, 2025
Entry Fee: Varies
Prize: $10,000
Hurston/Wright Crossover Award
Deadline: April 2, 2025
Entry Fee: Varies
Prize: $2,000
Wild Lilacs
By
Bibiana Krall
The uncut forest surrounded me, rich with the scent of earth and damp leaves, burrowing into my blood and bone. The wild lilacs by the barn, delicate and fragrant, sang a different note—yet both stirred something deep within, a quiet renewal. In the open space of nature, I felt free, yet inside our home, it was a different story. I wasn’t born to be a nameless worker bee in a hive, but as the third eldest, life with my seven siblings often felt that way.
Before I left home for good and moved to the Deep South, my formative years were spent on a Michigan farm, tangled in the rhythms of an enormous family. We were connected—to each other, to the land, to the unseen pulse of the seasons. It was immersive, powerful.
Winter came with stealth. The endless cornfields lay fallow, appearing lifeless—gray, colorless, oppressive. The cloying scent of decay clung to the soles of my boots, yet even in its death, the earth whispered a quiet promise: the cycle will continue.
Wild Lilacs
by Bibiana Krall
The uncut forest surrounded me, rich with the scent of earth and damp leaves, burrowing into my blood and bone. The wild lilacs by the barn, delicate and fragrant, sang a different note—yet both stirred something deep within, a quiet renewal. In the open space of nature, I felt free, yet inside our home, it was a different story. I wasn’t born to be a nameless worker bee in a hive, but as the third eldest, life with my seven siblings often felt that way.
Before I left home for good and moved to the Deep South, my formative years were spent on a Michigan farm, tangled in the rhythms of an enormous family. We were connected—to each other, to the land, to the unseen pulse of the seasons. It was immersive, powerful.
Winter came with stealth. The endless cornfields lay fallow, appearing lifeless—gray, colorless, oppressive. The cloying scent of decay clung to the soles of my boots, yet even in its death, the earth whispered a quiet promise: the cycle will continue.
Wild Lilacs - Winner of the Spring 2025 Writing Contest
As we celebrate the winning piece, Wild Lilacs, we want to take a moment to thank every writer who submitted their work to our first-ever Essay Contest. The heartfelt narratives we received were raw, powerful, and profoundly human—a testament to the resilience and deeply personal journeys so many have experienced. Reading them was an emotional experience beyond words. Let’s just say I went through more tissues than I can count.
Your stories remind us of the power of writing— to reflect and to connect us through shared experiences. Thank you for trusting us with your words.
We invite you to read Wild Lilacs, our winning piece, and immerse yourself in a story that captures the essence of transformation through the lens of spring.
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Into the Blaze
By LoriAnne Butler
I tap my fingers. While I listen to music. The memory lingers as I fall for another trick. I crash and burn from yet another craze. I wait for you to join me as we walk Into the Blaze. Should I snap and turn into a monster? Would you let me fall into a cursed creature? I stay inside, hide from the light. My rights denied, I wait for the night. You look for me to find you. As we make it through… Into the Blaze. We bow, we give praise. Because our souls have been freed… Through the Blaze
