2026 Theme - Unseen Spaces
As with the majority of the Midwest, South Dakota is known as part of fly-over country, leaving our patch on the Earth unvisited and unknown by others. With our theme, we challenge the idea that there are places not worthy of note. From below the Earth’s crust, to landscapes, to cities, to a subculture, to attics and basements, and even into minds, we believe there are limitless spaces we can explore. In these areas, we connect with the world, others, and ourselves. Space is an a liminal region which bridges the gap between the greater material world and amorphic ideas.
Due to a high submission rate, we are seeking authors who have lived, are living, or attended secondary and vocational education in South Dakota and/or the states which receive in-state tuition from the University of South Dakota. These states are: Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. We believe this allows room for lesser-heard voices, including international students and those who chose to attend a school in South Dakota's region despite familiarity with a more "known" place. Please include your connection to one of the states listed above in your cover letter.
We use a blind submission process (the editorial staff doesn't know who submitted work), so please give your name and contact information on a SEPARATE page - NO NAMES OR CONTACT INFO SHOULD APPEAR ON THE SUBMISSIONS THEMSELVES or the submissions will be disqualified.
Submissions will close on Dec. 15, 2025 at 11:59PM Central Time OR when the genre reaches 220 submissions--whichever occurs first.
Please submit up to FIVE back-and-white drawings or photographs (or works in color that the photographer authorizes Red Coyote to print as black-and-white) as high-resolution jpg files. No identifying information should appear in or on the images. Images should not be AI generated.
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Please submit up to TWO nonfiction pieces/creative essays of no more than 5,000 words. All submissions should be typed and double-spaced. No identifying information should appear in the manuscript. Manuscripts should not be AI generated.
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Please submit up to TWO short stories of no more than 5,000 words. All submissions should be typed and double-spaced. No identifying information should appear in the manuscript. Manuscripts should not be AI generated.
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Please submit up to THREE poems, one poem per page. All text submissions should be typed. Each poem should be on a separate page. All poems should be included in ONE document. No identifying information should appear in the manuscript. Manuscripts should not be AI generated.
For more information, visit our website.