A literary magazine · Alabama · Issue No. 1

Longleaf

New writing from Alabama. Deep roots, new voices.

Now reading for Issue No. 1  ·  Open to Alabama writers in grades 9–12 & undergrad
Submissions close August 16  ·  Free to submit  ·  Issue launches September 26

§ 01 — The magazine

Named for the pine that once defined this land and is now being restored across it, Longleaf gives young Alabama writers a serious place to be read — work that, like the tree, grows slowly and stands a long time.

Poetry · Fiction · Creative nonfiction · Honest, surprising, rooted in a real voice

Who may submit
Alabama writersGrades 9–12 and undergraduates (≈ ages 14–22)
Cost to enter
FreeNo submission fee, ever
Optional theme
“Roots”Respond to it, or send us anything true

§ 02 — What we read

Five ways into the issue

Send original, previously unpublished work. One piece per category. Simultaneous submissions are welcome — just tell us if it's taken elsewhere.

Verse

Poetry

Poems that echo after the page. Image, music, and a voice we couldn't mistake for anyone else's.

↳ up to 3 poems, 1 page each
Prose · brief

Flash fiction

A whole world in a small frame. Complete pieces, not excerpts.

↳ one piece, ≤ 1,000 words
Prose

Short fiction

Character and voice first. Surprise us with where it goes.

↳ one piece, ≤ 3,000 words
True

Creative nonfiction

Essay, memoir, the lived and remembered — told with craft.

↳ one piece, ≤ 3,000 words
Image

Cover & section art

One image for the cover or the spaces between. Alabama eyes, any medium, sent as a high-resolution file.

↳ one image, 300 dpi or larger

§ 03 — The season

From open call to launch

July 13
Submissions open
The reading period begins.
August 16
Submissions close
Five weeks to send your best work.
Aug 17 – 30
Blind judging
Readers score every piece; a guest judge selects the awards.
Aug 31 – Sept 18
Acceptances & editing
Everyone hears back. Selected work is edited and laid out.
September 26
Issue No. 1 launches
Longleaf goes live, free to read.

§ 04 — Awards

Cash awards for Issue No. 1

Every selected writer is published. A guest judge names the issue's standout work.

$300
The Longleaf Prize
Best in issue, across all categories.
$100
Poetry award
Selected by the guest judge.
$100
Prose award
Fiction or nonfiction.

§ 05 — How to submit

Send us your work

Three steps, about ten minutes. Writers under 18 will be asked for a parent or guardian's consent before publication.

1

Ready your piece

One document per submission — .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Put the title on the work, but leave your name off the manuscript so judging stays blind.

2

Fill the form

Tell us your name, school, county, and category, then upload your file and a 50-word bio.

3

Hear back by Aug 30

Every submitter gets a reply — acceptance or kind decline. Selected work appears in Issue No. 1.

Open the submission form

↳ Replace this button link with your Google Form URL before publishing.

§ 07 — The masthead

Made by readers, for readers

Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Lily Shah
Managing Editor
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Readers
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Design & Layout
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Faculty Advisor
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