SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

We have saddled ourselves with the absurd task of reviewing works grouped into unnatural clusters: short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, and original reports will all compete against one another for the $2,500 grand prize. Our team will do its best in this assessment. Select runners up will be paid on a per-word basis.

Poems will be assessed independent of the above, competing for a $500 grand prize. Select runners up will be paid on a per-poem basis.

Photography submissions also welcome. Photographers will be compensated on a per-photo basis, dependent on size of placement.

The required specifications and guidelines for submission in each category will be spelled out under the following accordion sections. All submissions due March 11, 2026.

  • No longer than 5,000 words per entry.
  • All unpublished works welcome, written in any year, for any purpose (i.e. a class). Exceptions will be made for self-published work with minimal online traction at time of submission.
  • Maximum three short fiction submissions per writer.
  • As best as one reasonably can, relate the piece to themes, pitfalls, joys, etc. of the day.
  • No AI slop.
  • Submit the document(s) with the following file extension: lastname_shortfiction_entrynumber
  • Grand Prize: $2,500

  • No longer than 5,000 words per entry.
  • All unpublished works welcome, written in any year, for any purpose (i.e. a class). Exceptions will be made for self-published work with minimal online traction at time of submission.
  • Maximum three creative nonfiction/essay submissions per writer.
  • As best as one reasonably can, relate the piece to themes, pitfalls, joys, etc. of the day.
  • No AI slop.
  • Submit the document(s) with the following file extension: lastname_creativenonfiction_entrynumber
  • Grand Prize: $2,500

  • No longer than 5,000 words per entry.
  • Unpublished submissions only.
  • Reports should center on events of either evergreen or timely value.
  • Pieces may be executed in either AP style or in the form of “new journalism.”
  • Maximum one submission per writer.
  • No AI slop.
  • Submit the document with the following file extension: lastname_originalreport_entrynumber
  • Grand Prize: $2,500

  • No word count restrictions.
  • All structures, styles, genres welcome.
  • Unpublished submissions only. Exceptions will be made for self-published work with minimal online traction at time of submission.
  • Maximum ten submissions per writer.
  • No AI slop.
  • Submit the document(s) with the following file extension: lastname_poem_entrynumber
  • Grand Prize: $500

  • All styles welcome.
  • Resolutions between 150-300dpi.
  • Files must be in .jpeg or .tiff forms.
  • Unpublished photos only. Exceptions will be made for self-published works in an online portfolio or shared to personal socials.
  • All subjects welcome. As best as one reasonably can, the subject should evoke the themes, pitfalls, joys, “moments,” etc. of the day.
  • Maximum twenty submissions per photographer.
  • No AI slop.
  • Submit all photos in a file with each photo cataloged the following file extension: lastname_photo_entrynumber, along with a written document either describing or captioning the photo(s) (including a date, location, description of the subject, story behind the photo, etc.)

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UPLOAD DELIVERED

Thank you, and stay tuned.

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*Any and all works will never be published without payment. Unpublished works will enter into a slushpile, and if selected for another addition, writers will be notified and paid accordingly.