Little Kanawha Reading Series Chapbook Contest

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Second Annual Little Kanawha Reading Series Chapbook Contest

Glenville State University’s Little Kanawha Reading Series is proud to host its second annual Chapbook Contest. We invite poets and prose writers to submit works that celebrate and explore the rich cultural tapestry of Appalachia.

Content

  • 15 to 25 pages of poetry or prose
  • Only one manuscript per genre per author per reading period
  • Previously published poems, stories, essays, and excerpts may be included but may not exceed 50% of the material in the submission.
  • Provide publication acknowledgements (place, date) for previously published work.
  • Manuscripts should explore Appalachian themes or address the culture of the Appalachian diaspora.

Prize

  • $200
  • Publication of the winning chapbook
  • Author copies
  • Invitation to be a featured reader for the Little Kanawha Reading Series

Reading Period

November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026

The winning manuscript will be selected by our guest judge, John Hoppenthaler, a professor of English at East Carolina University, and the award-winning author of the poetry collections Night Wing over Metropolitan Area (2023), Domestic Garden (2015), Anticipate the Coming Reservoir (2008), and Lives of Water (2003). Entrants will hear from us within three months after the reading period closes.

Submission

  • A $10 entry fee is payable to the Little Kanawha Reading Series (see form below)
  • Manuscripts are accepted electronically, by email only. Email manuscripts to LKRS@glenville.edu.
  • Enter your contact information, a brief biography, and any publication acknowledgments in the body of the email. Include your name on all manuscript pages.
  • Each poem, story, essay, and excerpt should begin on a new page
  • Do not include any images in your manuscript
  • Attach your manuscript as a single Word .doc or .docx or .rtf file.

We look forward to reading your work and celebrating the vibrant literary voices of Appalachia!

The Little Kanawha Reading Series reserves the right to refuse any manuscript.

Submission Payment