Hedge Apple is a literary annual published by Hagerstown Community College in Maryland. Students and faculty work together to produce the journal, which is published both online and in print. Some issues are themed, and past themes include: “The Wilderness/The City,” “Personal Identity,” and “Paradigm Shift.” You can read the journal online to get a sense of what they publish.
Right now through October 15th, Hedge Apple is seeking submissions for their Halloween Contest. Submissions can be “festive or fierce,” but should broadly address the theme of Halloween and/or October. Authors may submit via email, 1,000 words or fewer of poetry or prose. Hedge Apple does not accept submissions with gratuitous gore.
The winners of the Halloween Contest will be announced on Halloween morning and published on Hedge Apple’s website.
Hedge Apple is also open for general submissions, but please note that they only read these submissions from January through April. This means that although authors may submit now, Hedge Apple won’t respond to general submissions until January 2023. (Again, this is for general submissions only. Hedge Apple will respond to Halloween Contest submissions by October 31st.) Authors submitting from January through April, however, can expect a response within two weeks.
For general submissions: Authors may submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Although Hedge Apple considers manuscripts of all lengths, they prefer writing that’s 5,000 words or fewer. Authors published in Hedge Apple’s print edition receive a complimentary copy.
Hedge Apple accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw work published elsewhere.
Hedge Apple only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.
If you would like to learn more or submit to the Hedge Apple Halloween Contest, please visit their website here.
For more information about general submissions, please click here.
Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.
