Women Speak Submissions: June 29 & 30, 2026
The Women of Appalachia Project™ will celebrate its 18th season beginning March 2027. Submit your work for inclusion in the Women of Appalachia Project’s Women Speak, Volume Twelve Anthology.
150 SUBMISSIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED: JUNE 29 and 30, 2026
ELIGIBILITY:
• Women residing in or having strong ties to any of the 420 Appalachian counties are eligible to submit. Also women whose ancestors identified as Appalachian.
• Entrants must be at least 16 years or older.
• Only previously unpublished work will be accepted.
• Media accepted include poetry OR short story, essay, memoir (max. 2500 words) OR song.
• ORIGINAL WORK ONLY. ABSOLUTELY NO AI GENERATED WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.
GUIDELINES:
Writers may enter a maximum of three (3) poems OR (3) songs OR one (1) short story OR 1) essay or memoir, MAXIMUM 2500 WORDS. Both fiction and non-fiction will be considered. DO not mix genres.
• Musicians must upload all lyrics AND email audio MP3 format files of each piece submitted to: womenofappalachia@gmail.com.
Attach ONLY ONE WORD DOCUMENT WITH ALL OF YOUR SUBMISSIONs INCLUDED
Use Times font, 12 pt., single spaced:
at the top of the page
1. type your name
2. your address
3. next, the title of your piece
4. next, flow the body of your work/pieces
Provide a 50-word, third person bio in the box provided. A cover letter is not required.
The anthology of accepted work will be published by Sheila-Na-Gig editions and marketed on Amazon, in bookstores and gift shops. Those selected for publication will receive one contributor copy and discount author pricing for any additional copies you wish to purchase.
ACCEPTANCE
• Writers/poets/musicians who are accepted will be notified by email by September 15, 2026.
Readings from the anthology in progress are:
February 2027 —I will schedule a virtual reading for those unable to travel
March 2027—I will submit a proposal for a possible reading at the 2027 Appalachian Studies Association Conference, Lewisburg, PA
April 2027: Word of South Festival, Tallahassee, FL
DTBD 2027: Loyal Jones Appalachian Center, Berea ,KY
DTBD 2027: Hindman Settlement School, KY
DTBD 2027: Clarksburg-Harrison Library, Clarksburg, WV
