This project is open to all Elizabethtown Community & Technical College Students.  

This is a free open call. Because we do not charge for submission, there is not a monetary payment for this contest.

Formatting Guidelines

1. Submit 1 piece of creative nonfiction up to 5000 words. We do not read fantasy, medieval, sci-fi, vampire novels or fan fiction.
2. Submissions must be in a Word compatible file (.docx, .doc, and .rtf). PDFs will not be read.
3. The Word file must be double spaced uniformly in MLA format. Single spaced entries will not be read. Do not put in extra spaces or have double with single spacing. Do ​not insert your own "enters" at the end of each line. Ensure Word wraps the text automatically. Use left align, not justification.
4. Submittable will request authors to compose a short cover letter and biography. The bio should be 30-40 words and include contact information along with your original creative work.
5. The file name should include the date (year and month) and the author’s name. For example, 2018_6_John Smith. This helps us keep the files organized. Do not label the files with our name; we know who we are.

All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification.  Excessive violence or sex and the use of profane, vulgar, racist or offensive words, determined by the judges, will result in the story being rejected.

Writers under the age of 18 can submit but will need to have our special form notarized by their guardian before we can publish the work or we can hold it until the writer is 18.  There is a notary at your local bank which is often free, and there is a notary on campus. There is a place on our website where you can request the form:  

After you create a Submittable account and submit your work, you will receive an email from us letting you know that you submitted successfully.  Once we pull your work to review it, you will receive another email letting you know of that your work is in progress.  Then you will receive a final email informing you of the disposition (accept/decline). If we have questions, we'll be in touch with you via email through Submittable.

We look forward to reading your work!  

Editor in Chief

Amy Fox-Angerer

This project is open to all Elizabethtown Community & Technical College Students.  

This is a free open call. Because we do not charge for submission, there is not a monetary payment for this contest.

Formatting Guidelines

1. Submit 1-3 pieces of poetry. 
2. Submissions must be in a Word compatible file (.docx, .doc, and .rtf). PDFs will not be read.
3. The Word file must be double spaced uniformly in MLA format. Single spaced entries will not be read. Do not put in extra spaces or have double with single spacing. Do ​not insert your own "enters" at the end of each line. Ensure Word wraps the text automatically. Use left align, not justification.
4. Submittable will request authors to compose a short cover letter and biography. The bio should be 30-40 words and include contact information along with your original creative work.
5. The file name should include the date (year and month) and the author’s name. For example, 2018_6_John Smith. This helps us keep the files organized. Do not label the files with our name; we know who we are.

All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification.  Excessive violence or sex and the use of profane, vulgar, racist or offensive words, determined by the judges, will result in the story being rejected.

Writers under the age of 18 can submit but will need to have our special form notarized by their guardian before we can publish the work or we can hold it until the writer is 18.  There is a notary at your local bank which is often free, and there is a notary on campus. There is a place on our website where you can request the form:  

After you create a Submittable account and submit your work, you will receive an email from us letting you know that you submitted successfully.  Once we pull your work to review it, you will receive another email letting you know of that your work is in progress.  Then you will receive a final email informing you of the disposition (accept/decline). If we have questions, we'll be in touch with you via email through Submittable.

We look forward to reading your work!  

Editor in Chief

Amy Fox-Angerer

This project is open to all Elizabethtown Community & Technical College Students.  

This is a free open call. Because we do not charge for submission, there is not a monetary payment for this contest.

Formatting Guidelines

1. Submit 1 piece of fiction up to 5000 words. We do not read fantasy, medieval, sci-fi, vampire novels or fan fiction.
2. Submissions must be in a Word compatible file (.docx, .doc, and .rtf). PDFs will not be read.
3. The Word file must be double spaced uniformly in MLA format. Single spaced entries will not be read. Do not put in extra spaces or have double with single spacing. Do ​not insert your own "enters" at the end of each line. Ensure Word wraps the text automatically. Use left align, not justification.
4. Submittable will request authors to compose a short cover letter and biography. The bio should be 30-40 words and include contact information along with your original creative work.
5. The file name should include the date (year and month) and the author’s name. For example, 2018_6_John Smith. This helps us keep the files organized. Do not label the files with our name; we know who we are.

All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification.  Excessive violence or sex and the use of profane, vulgar, racist or offensive words, determined by the judges, will result in the story being rejected.

Writers under the age of 18 can submit but will need to have our special form notarized by their guardian before we can publish the work or we can hold it until the writer is 18.  There is a notary at your local bank which is often free, and there is a notary on campus. There is a place on our website where you can request the form:  

After you create a Submittable account and submit your work, you will receive an email from us letting you know that you submitted successfully.  Once we pull your work to review it, you will receive another email letting you know of that your work is in progress.  Then you will receive a final email informing you of the disposition (accept/decline). If we have questions, we'll be in touch with you via email through Submittable.

We look forward to reading your work!  

Editor in Chief

Amy Fox-Angerer

Please read the guidelines posted on our website: https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/community/theheartlandreviewpress/poetry-prize.aspx

This contest opens July 1 and closes October 1, 2025. 

This contest does require a $10 fee through Paypal.  We usually have between 70-80 submissions, so the odds are pretty good! 

Your work will be throughout this timeframe and all work will be read no later than early December. Winners are notified after the first of the year. We're working on a new timeframe for this; in 2025 it was February or March that we made our press release and mailed the prizes, but we hope to do this earlier in the year. 

Those accepted for publication and finalists will be printed in the Spring 2026 issue, which we hope to have out by late March.

Please read our website for all of the details. https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/community/theheartlandreviewpress/poetry-prize.aspx

We look forward to reading your work!

Amy Fox-Angerer

Editor in Chief