Amherst Writers Press

AWA's Substack is a celebration of writers and writing. We are a small, volunteer-run publication, so to keep our workload manageable and ensure we can publish a wide range of writers, we have a few guidelines. 

Who May Submit?

• We only accept submissions from AWA affiliates, writer members, and AWA writing workshop participants whose submission was generated, revised, or manuscript reviewed in an AWA workshop. 

What Can be Submitted?

• All submissions must be related to the mission or work of AWA or be the product or outcome of an AWA workshop, event, or service. 
• There are two streams. The first is Substack Articles, which are essay or blog-style articles. Examples include: * AWA workshop facilitation and training *AWA affinity groups *Impacts or outcomes stemming from AWA writing workshops or other AWA projects/offerings *Writing craft *Revising and editing, including AWA’s manuscript review process and Blue Pencil Sessions *Publishing. 
• The second is Literary Writing, which includes original poetry, short fiction, and short creative non-fiction from AWA affiliates, writer members, and AWA writing workshop participants. The work must have been started in an AWA workshop. Collaboration between the writer and the workshop facilitator is strongly encouraged. Typically, the facilitator would write an introduction to the piece, usually describing the workshop and the prompt that inspired the writer's piece. The writer provides a finished, polished version of the piece they started in response to the prompt. The two parts should be combined into one document. Writers submitting without involvement from an AWA facilitator must include a narrative or reflective introduction about the AWA workshop or prompt that sparked its creation.
• Board members may not submit to the Literary Writing category. They may submit to the Substack Articles category.
• Submissions should be 1,500 words or fewer. We welcome shorter pieces (under 1,000 is ideal). We will consider longer pieces on a case-by-case basis. 
• We do not publish promotional pieces about publications, writing groups, or self-promotion. We do publish pieces that share knowledge, wisdom, and insight about leading a group, writing craft, finishing, and/or publishing a writing project. You may use your experience, writing group, and/or published work to illustrate the process. 
• We welcome writing that deals with difficult subject matter. We will not accept pieces that promote hatred, violence, oppression, or dehumanization. 
• We reserve the right to decline any piece or element for any reason.
• Not sure if your idea fits? Email a brief description of your proposed piece to substack@amherstwriters.org

How Often Can I Submit?

• To keep our slush pile less slushy, you may submit one piece every six months. 

How Should I Format My Piece?

• Include a title, the name of the author or authors of the article as it should appear in publication at the beginning of the piece. 
• At the end of the piece, include author bio(s), author headshots, and any other images or enhancements you would like to include with a brief note indicating where in the piece you'd like them to appear. If the piece features writing from AWA workshop participants (with their permission), include the title of each piece and the writer's name before the piece of writing and add their bio and headshot at the end of the article (if they wish).
• If your piece describes the process of writing, finishing, or publishing a writing project, you may include the book title, cover image, and link to purchase from a reputable book seller at the end of the piece. 
• Poems should be formatted the way in which you would like them to appear.
• Use a readable font (preferably Times New Roman 12 point).
• If there is more than one page, please number the pages.
• Please submit the piece in a Word or Word-compatible format (e.g., .doc, .docx, .rtf, .gdoc). 

How Do You Prepare Accepted Pieces for Publication?

• We provide limited editing. Please ensure the submission is your very best work and is finished, revised, edited, and proofread. 
• We will format the piece and may add visual enhancements such as images or pull quotes. You may include suggested images or pull quote text in your submission file. 

Permissions

• By submitting, you agree to give us the right to publish the piece. You retain the copyright, which means you are free to publish it elsewhere. However, you should know that many literary magazines will not consider work published on Substack.
• Confidentiality is a core component of an AWA workshop. If a submission specifically refers to or quotes a piece of writing shared by another writer in an AWA workshop, you are required to secure permission from the writer before submitting the piece. You may write about a workshop in general terms without permission (i.e., without referring to any specific piece(s) of writing or identifiable individuals). 
•  We respect the rights of other artists. Always credit the original creator and, where possible, the source. Fair Use generally allows the inclusion of short excerpts of published works for non-profit educational purposes (find additional detail here). You must secure permission to use copyrighted works that do not fall under Fair Use. Works in the public domain do not require permission. 

Statement on the Use of AI

• We celebrate writing created by human beings. We will not publish pieces written in whole or in part by artificial intelligence (AI).

AWA's Substack is a celebration of writers and writing. We are a small, volunteer-run publication, so to keep our workload manageable and ensure we can publish a wide range of writers, we have a few guidelines. 

Who May Submit?

• We only accept submissions from AWA affiliates, writer members, and AWA writing workshop participants whose submission was generated, revised, or manuscript reviewed in an AWA workshop. 

What Can be Submitted?

• All submissions must be related to the mission or work of AWA or be the product or outcome of an AWA workshop, event, or service. 
• There are two streams. The first is Substack Articles, which are essay or blog-style articles. Examples include: * AWA workshop facilitation and training *AWA affinity groups *Impacts or outcomes stemming from AWA writing workshops or other AWA projects/offerings *Writing craft *Revising and editing, including AWA’s manuscript review process and Blue Pencil Sessions *Publishing. 
• The second is Literary Writing, which includes original poetry, short fiction, and short creative non-fiction from AWA affiliates, writer members, and AWA writing workshop participants. The work must have been started in an AWA workshop. Collaboration between the writer and the workshop facilitator is strongly encouraged. Typically, the facilitator would write an introduction to the piece, usually describing the workshop and the prompt that inspired the writer's piece. The writer provides a finished, polished version of the piece they started in response to the prompt. The two parts should be combined into one document. Writers submitting without involvement from an AWA facilitator must include a narrative or reflective introduction about the AWA workshop or prompt that sparked its creation.
• Board members may not submit to the Literary Writing category. They may submit to the Substack Articles category.
• Submissions should be 1,500 words or fewer. We welcome shorter pieces (under 1,000 is ideal). We will consider longer pieces on a case-by-case basis. 
• We do not publish promotional pieces about publications, writing groups, or self-promotion. We do publish pieces that share knowledge, wisdom, and insight about leading a group, writing craft, finishing, and/or publishing a writing project. You may use your experience, writing group, and/or published work to illustrate the process. 
• We welcome writing that deals with difficult subject matter. We will not accept pieces that promote hatred, violence, oppression, or dehumanization. 
• We reserve the right to decline any piece or element for any reason.
• Not sure if your idea fits? Email a brief description of your proposed piece to substack@amherstwriters.org

How Often Can I Submit?

• To keep our slush pile less slushy, you may submit one piece every six months. 

How Should I Format My Piece?

• Include a title, the name of the author or authors of the article as it should appear in publication at the beginning of the piece. 
• At the end of the piece, include author bio(s), author headshots, and any other images or enhancements you would like to include with a brief note indicating where in the piece you'd like them to appear. If the piece features writing from AWA workshop participants (with their permission), include the title of each piece and the writer's name before the piece of writing and add their bio and headshot at the end of the article (if they wish).
• If your piece describes the process of writing, finishing, or publishing a writing project, you may include the book title, cover image, and link to purchase from a reputable book seller at the end of the piece. 
• Poems should be formatted the way in which you would like them to appear.
• Use a readable font (preferably Times New Roman 12 point).
• If there is more than one page, please number the pages.
• Please submit the piece in a Word or Word-compatible format (e.g., .doc, .docx, .rtf, .gdoc). 

How Do You Prepare Accepted Pieces for Publication?

• We provide limited editing. Please ensure the submission is your very best work and is finished, revised, edited, and proofread. 
• We will format the piece and may add visual enhancements such as images or pull quotes. You may include suggested images or pull quote text in your submission file. 

Permissions

• By submitting, you agree to give us the right to publish the piece. You retain the copyright, which means you are free to publish it elsewhere. However, you should know that many literary magazines will not consider work published on Substack.
• Confidentiality is a core component of an AWA workshop. If a submission specifically refers to or quotes a piece of writing shared by another writer in an AWA workshop, you are required to secure permission from the writer before submitting the piece. You may write about a workshop in general terms without permission (i.e., without referring to any specific piece(s) of writing or identifiable individuals). 
•  We respect the rights of other artists. Always credit the original creator and, where possible, the source. Fair Use generally allows the inclusion of short excerpts of published works for non-profit educational purposes (find additional detail here). You must secure permission to use copyrighted works that do not fall under Fair Use. Works in the public domain do not require permission. 

Statement on the Use of AI

• We celebrate writing created by human beings. We will not publish pieces written in whole or in part by artificial intelligence (AI).

Amherst Writers & Artists, publisher of the annual journal Peregrine, is seeking submissions around the theme of “peregrinations” for its 2026 edition.

As defined by Merriam Webster, peregrinations are long, meandering journeys or wanderings, often undertaken on foot and characterized by extensive exploration or travel through various, frequently foreign, locations. Rooted in the Latin peregrinari, the word can also reflect the period of human life on earth. But they can be metaphorical journeys as well.

The editors will consider poetry, short fiction and short creative nonfiction/memoir about peregrinations for the edition to be published at the end of 2026. Peregrine is looking for stories and poems about journeys in any form—bird (like our namesake peregrine falcon), human, animal, plant life, on Earth or in the universe. 

We are looking for well-written, thoughtful, previously unpublished pieces that inform and surprise us. We appreciate fresh and specific imagery and layered metaphors (but not excessive verbiage, abstractions or clichés). We will not consider inspirational poetry, greeting card verse, religious tirades, or nostalgia.

Writers may submit up to 3 pieces of poetry, creative nonfiction/memoir, or fiction, or a combination of those genres. Creative nonfiction/memoir/fiction pieces should be no longer than 750 words. Shorter pieces are appreciated. Poems no longer than one page are preferred.

Peregrine has a mandate of inclusivity that encourages writing by emerging as well as established writers. We encourage submissions from writers of all ethnicities and backgrounds, including writers with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent writers.

Writers do not have to be members of or affiliated with Amherst Writers & Artists to submit work, though they can be. (However, work by the reading and editing staff of Peregrine—as well as members of the Amherst Writers & Artists board of directors and staff—is not eligible for submission to this journal.)

Peregrine accepts only electronic submissions through Submittable. 

A $3 entry fee is required for a single submission of up to 3 pieces. Editors will not consider more than 3 pieces from an individual writer.

Include your name and email address at the top of each submitted piece as a Microsoft Word document or as a pdf. Please include a biography of no more than 50 words with your submission. Exceeding the word and line limits can result in the rejection of your submission.

Peregrine welcomes simultaneous submissions. Decisions will be made by the editors after the deadline, so our response time may be slower than that of other literary journals. Writers can expect responses by September. Please inform Peregrine if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Contributors whose work is accepted for publication will receive one copy of the 2026 Peregrine print edition. 

Amherst Writers & Artists, publisher of the annual journal Peregrine, is seeking submissions around the theme of “peregrinations” for its 2026 edition.

As defined by Merriam Webster, peregrinations are long, meandering journeys or wanderings, often undertaken on foot and characterized by extensive exploration or travel through various, frequently foreign, locations. Rooted in the Latin peregrinari, the word can also reflect the period of human life on earth. But they can be metaphorical journeys as well.

The editors will consider poetry, short fiction and short creative nonfiction/memoir about peregrinations for the edition to be published at the end of 2026. Peregrine is looking for stories and poems about journeys in any form—bird (like our namesake peregrine falcon), human, animal, plant life, on Earth or in the universe. 

We are looking for well-written, thoughtful, previously unpublished pieces that inform and surprise us. We appreciate fresh and specific imagery and layered metaphors (but not excessive verbiage, abstractions or clichés). We will not consider inspirational poetry, greeting card verse, religious tirades, or nostalgia.

Writers may submit up to 3 pieces of poetry, creative nonfiction/memoir, or fiction, or a combination of those genres. Creative nonfiction/memoir/fiction pieces should be no longer than 750 words. Shorter pieces are appreciated. Poems no longer than one page are preferred.

Peregrine has a mandate of inclusivity that encourages writing by emerging as well as established writers. We encourage submissions from writers of all ethnicities and backgrounds, including writers with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent writers.

Writers do not have to be members of or affiliated with Amherst Writers & Artists to submit work, though they can be. (However, work by the reading and editing staff of Peregrine—as well as members of the Amherst Writers & Artists board of directors and staff—is not eligible for submission to this journal.)

Peregrine accepts only electronic submissions through Submittable. 

A $3 entry fee is required for a single submission of up to 3 pieces. Editors will not consider more than 3 pieces from an individual writer.

Include your name and email address at the top of each submitted piece as a Microsoft Word document or as a pdf. Please include a biography of no more than 50 words with your submission. Exceeding the word and line limits can result in the rejection of your submission.

Peregrine welcomes simultaneous submissions. Decisions will be made by the editors after the deadline, so our response time may be slower than that of other literary journals. Writers can expect responses by September. Please inform Peregrine if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Contributors whose work is accepted for publication will receive one copy of the 2026 Peregrine print edition.