Each year the Board of Directors chooses the theme and other requirements

We publish biennually and all members in good standing are invited to submit.

Technical SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Only submissions that adhere to the guidelines will be accepted.
• Submissions for 14th Edition open on May 1, 2026, and close on October 31, 2026. The date of your email will determine submission date.
• Total word count may not exceed 3,500 words.
• Multiple submissions must be emailed individually.

IMPORTANT: All submissions must:

• Be received, by email, within the Open Submission period - May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026
• Use one of the five prompts below for each piece submitted. You may use the prompt for your first sentence, or incorporate it in the body of the story so long as the prompt appears in the body and it supports the story.
  
  *As soon as I walked into the room, I knew something was wrong.
  *How the hell did I get here?
  *The book had been sitting on the shelf for years, but today I decided to open it.
  *The phone rang in the middle of the night, and I knew it couldn't be good news.
  *It was a hot summer day, and all I could think about was...
  
• The author understands that further copyediting may take place after submission is accepted.
• Be double-spaced
• Use Times New Roman, 12-point font
• Have 1-inch margins on all sides
• Be a word document with .doc or .docx, no PDF or Pages documents will be accepted.
• Not contain headers or footers
• Not have page numeration
• Not show the Author’s name on any of the manuscript pages submitted
• Be edited for spelling, punctuation, verb tense and other grammar issues prior to submission

Include a cover page that is NOT part of the manuscript. This page must include:

• Title
• Brief statement telling us why you believe your story reflects the theme
• Word Count
• Author Name and Pen Name if different
• Contact email
• Contact phone number.

IMPORTANT: If you find you need help with any of the technical aspects of the guidelines or with finding a good person to look over your piece before submitting it, remember that you are member of a group of dedicated writers and editors. Contact a fellow Guild member for assistance. If you are unsure who to ask and you have checked the website, PLEASE contact someone on the Board of Directors and they will be more than happy to offer names of prospective writers and/or editors for you to contact.

We welcome members to join the anthology production team. If you are willing to review submissions, edit submissions, design the interior or the cover of the book, proofread the submissions, or contribute in another way, please add your name to this volunteer worksheet.

We hope you will step up to the challenge and submit your short stories to our 14th Edition Anthology.

On a personal note, it’s a great way to add to those publishing credits; and, as our major fundraiser, your contribution will help support the mission of the SDWEG which is: To Promote, Support, and Encourage the Writing Arts.

So, get writing!

Audrey Walz
Managing Editor

If you are not a member and would like to submit your work for consideration, please follow the link below to join the Guild.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Guild Members in good standing that follow all of the submission guidelines will be considered.

The submission period is open from May 1, 2026, to midnight on October 31, 2026.

Email your submissions to: anthology@sdwritersguild.org

SUBMIT NOW

Audrey Walz - Managing Editor

You may contact Audrey by email at:

anthology@sdwritersguild.org