Submission Guidelines

Hey, future contributor!

Please submit to our Halloween contest!!

We are currently OPEN for other submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and artwork/photography, but please understand that our editors do not begin their work with us until January 2022, so submissions will not be reviewed until that time. Please let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere.

What to Submit:

At the Hedge Apple, we believe that literature is an essential part of humanity. Literature has power: it can give us hope and healing, bring us together, and give voice to the marginalized. It’s not some highbrow pursuit reserved only for intellectuals—literature is for everyone. Fresh voices are essential, and we love fledgling writers. 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 wordsmiths too, so please send us your stuff as well. There are three of us; we’re friendly and eclectic, and 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.

Submission Guidelines:

Please send fiction, poetry, nonfiction, visual art, and videos to hedgeapple@hagerstowncc.edu with the subject “Submission.” Please include a cover letter with a word count, a brief bio written in the third person, and, if you are writing for one of our themed issues, please mention the theme in the letter. We do accept simultaneous submissions; however, please be courteous and notify us in your cover letter, and withdraw your story from consideration upon acceptance at another venue.

Manuscript Guidelines:

All the standard rules apply. 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 send Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) files. Please do not submit PDFs. While we entertain manuscripts of all lengths, due to publishing constraints, we prefer and are able to more seriously consider works of less than 5,000 words.

Payment and Rights:

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. We ask for the usual North American rights. Copyright remains with the author, but if the work is republished, we ask that the Hedge Apple be credited.

Response Times

Our reading period is from January – April. During that time, we attempt to respond to all submissions within two weeks. If you haven’t heard anything from us within that time frame, don’t be afraid to email us at hedgeapple@hagerstowncc.edu with a clear subject line.