FAQ

Q: How do I submit?

A: Head over to submissions, read the guidelines, and fill out the Google form at the bottom of the page. You'll need your piece(s) in a PDF or document file, a cover letter, and a short, <50 word author bio.

Q: Reading fees? Subscription fees?

A: Nope, nope, nope. I want this journal to be as accessible as possible, and in this current climate, that means trying to keep everything cost-free.

Q: Are you a paying market?

A: Unfortunately, no, though once I get this thing off the ground, I'd like to open up donations that I could use to adequately compensate contributors for their beautiful work. Maybe something like an expedited response time for a few bucks, or the option to request feedback on pieces for a higher amount.

Q: When's the next issue coming out?

That's gonna vary. I'm pretty much accepting rolling submissions and publishing an issue when I have enough quality material. This is still very early in the project, so I don't exactly know what that's gonna look like yet. To be notified of a new issue coming out, feel free to add your email to the mailing list here.

Q: What will the issue look like?

A: Definitely digital only, most likely a PDF. I'm still experimenting.

Q: I want to add/remove my email from the mailing list.

A: You can do that here.

Q: Why did you start 25:05?

After the results of the 2025 election were announced, I, as a trans man, wanted to take some steps for my own safety. I started a long-overdue micro-library and began saving not only practical resources, but literary works of art that I wanted to keep. As I explored smaller queer-focused literary journals, I realized that a lot of them were defunct, so I saved what I could and moved on. But the thought kept nagging at me: we're all quite scared right now, but we're also seeing acts of resistance popping up all over the country, and I wanted to be a part of that. Perhaps, then, I could try starting a new platform that would champion the community's artistic efforts.

Q: What's with the name?

The journal takes its name from Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Inspired by countless calls to action, Booker and his team worked to produce a speech to be given on the United States Senate floor. On March 31st, 2025, Booker began speaking at 7PM, stating his intentions to disrupt the Senate proceedings for as long as he was physically able in order to protest the Trump Administration. Whilst staying on topic, outlining specific instances of the Trump Administration's misuse of power, and reading from several witness accounts, Booker spoke until 8:06 PM the following day. His official website named the speech's duration as 25 hours and 5 minutes*, which takes first place in the longest U.S. Senate speeches in history, surpassing Strom Thurmond's 24 hour and 18 minute filibuster against the Civil Rights Act.

I was there for the tail end of his speech, and what I saw was a man sacrificing his comfort, staking his reputation, and jeopardizing his health to call attention to the nation's needs and the treatment of my community. I had had this project in the back of my mind for a while, but it was that speech that prompted me to try turning it into reality, and a name is the least I could give in gratitude.

Q: What gives you the right to run a literary journal?

A: Not much, really, though I completed a BA in creative writing and I did serve on my university's literary journal as a poetry editor. I missed that, so when I saw an opportunity to lift some voices, I took it.

*Some sources say 25:04 or 25:06. I decided on 05 because the number feels better.