General & Theme Submission Guidelines for Art and Writing
We love to see work from Hagerstown Community College students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members, but we also love showcasing work from authors and artists around the world.
In other words, if you are reading this, we are interested in seeing your work!
Email your work to [email protected]. Scroll down for details!
Spring 2024 Theme (NOW CLOSED):
Once Upon a Dream
Burst into creativity and delve into the inner depths of your being. Release inhibitions through your art whether it be written, painted, sculpted, you name it. Let adventure and whimsy guide the creating process. Let the magic in life enflame you and envelope every cell in your body. Masquerade through dreams, nightmares, and everything in between. No matter which form of art you choose to ensnare the senses with, Once Upon a Dream offers infinite possibilities to be anything and everything. Do you dare to dream?
- General submissions on any theme are welcome until March 1st, too!
- No cover letter is necessary, although you are welcome to send us a few sentences of artist/author bio if you want to.
- By sending us your work, you grant us permission to publish it both online and in print, but you retain the rights to publish or show it anywhere else that you wish.
- FICTION/POETRY SUBMISSIONS: Please stay under 2000 words.
- ART SUBMISSIONS: Files (photos, 2D art, photos of 3D art, digital art) should be clear, professional JPEG, PNG, or TIFF files.
GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
CLOSED UNTIL September 1, 2024
At the Hedge Apple, we believe that literature and artwork are essential parts of humanity. These powerful channels can offer us hope and healing, bring us together, and give voice to the marginalized. They aren’t highbrow pursuits reserved only for intellectuals—literature and art are for everyone. Fresh voices are essential, and we love fledgling artists. We are passionate about helping you find your niche, whether it’s through our feedback or the resources provided on our website, and yes, we want to hear from you veteran crafters too, so please send us your stuff as well. We want to hear what you have to say.
We are looking for mixed media submissions (prose, poetry, art, photography, and videos) of all genres. We are especially drawn to pieces that showcase vulnerability and draw from real life experiences. That does not mean we don’t enjoy comedic takes on life, fantasy epics, and unconventional pieces. We like to uphold the unique, showcase the weird, and embrace the uncomfortable.
Response times:
Contributors will receive a complimentary copy of their work if it is published in print. With deep apologies to our international contributors, we are unable to mail copies outside of the United States at this time.
Payment:
Contributors will receive a complimentary copy of their work if it is published in print. With deep apologies to our international contributors, we are unable to mail copies outside of the United States at this time.
Submission Guidelines for WRITING:
Please send fiction, poetry and nonfiction to [email protected] with the subject “Fiction/Poetry Submission.” Please feel free to include a brief bio written in the third person, pasted into the body of your email, if you’d like. If you choose not to include an author bio in your email, please understand that it be understood that you are choosing not to have one published with your work.
If you are writing for one of our themed issues, please mention the theme in the subject line. We do accept simultaneous submissions; however, please be courteous and withdraw your story/poem from consideration upon acceptance at another venue.
By submitting, you are agreeing to light editing that does not change the meaning or style. If your work is accepted for publication, you will receive a galley of your submission. We encourage you to review this email and respond with either corrections or approval. However, nonresponse will be considered approval of minor editing changes.
Manuscript Guidelines:
Please use Times New Roman or some similarly legible font, and please label all files with your name and the title of the work. Please simply paste your work into the body of an email or attach a Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) files. Please do not submit PDFs. Please stay under 2,000 words.
Payment and Rights:
By sending your work to be considered for publication in our magazine, you are granting us North American serial rights, which means that we will publish the work online and in print, and then the copyright will return to you. If the work is republished, we ask that the Hedge Apple be credited.
Response Times
Our reading period is from September – March 1st, and we won’t send any acceptances or rejections until the reading period is over. If you haven’t heard anything from us by April 15th, don’t be afraid to email us at [email protected] with a clear subject line.
Submission Guidelines for ART:
Please send visual art (photos, 2D art, photos of 3D art, digital art) to [email protected] with the subject “Art Submission.” Files should be clear, professional JPEG, PNG, or TIFF files.
No cover letter is necessary, although you are welcome to send us a few sentences of artist bio if you want to.
By sending us your work, you do grant us permission to publish it both online and in print, but you retain rights to publish or show it anywhere else that you wish.
Please note: the 2023 Halloween contest is now closed. We will open the 2024 Halloween contest in September of 2024.