Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild publishes the print-only journal County Lines annually and has since 2014. For inclusion, we look for works that grab us, move us, wow us, and make us laugh, cry and everything in between. Don't doubt your work. Polish it, then send it in for consideration.

Reading windows (2026):

  1. The Carolina Prize for Writing, Poetry, and Art: March 1 to April 30 —competitive entry, up to three winners each, cash prizes
  2. County Lines: a Literary Journal (prose, poetry, art): June 1 to July 31 —open submissions
Ends on This opportunity will close after 100 submissions have been received.$10.00
$10.00
Submit to Short Prose for the Carolina Prize for Writing 2026

3000 words or fewer.

Short Stories, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Essays, …

The Carolina Prize is annual contest sponsored by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild. A winner (publication, $100, two printed journals), and two honorable mentions (publication, two printed journals) will be selected.

Information and guidelines can be found here: https://www.cpwriters.org/carolina-prize

Winning entries receive:

Honorable mentions receive:

  • Publication and recognition in the next volume of County Lines: A Literary Journal
  • One copy of the journal

General Restrictions

  • Entrants can be of any age or from any location worldwide.
  • Work must be original and previously unpublished (including online publication).
  • Work may not contain erotica, violence, hate, political editorial, or excessive profanity.
  • Entry window closes on the close date, or when the entry cap is hit: 100 entries

 

Responses should be completed within 4 weeks of close of the submissions window. Each volume of County Lines is published in late November or early December.

Detailed guidelines can be found here.

Ends on This opportunity will close after 100 submissions have been received.$10.00
$10.00
Submit to Poetry for the Carolina Prize for Poetry 2026

30 lines or fewer. 1 poem per entry.

The Carolina Prize is an annual contest sponsored by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild. A winner (publication, $100, two printed journals), and two honorable mentions (publication, two printed journals) will be selected.

Information and guidelines can be found here: https://www.cpwriters.org/carolina-prize

Winning entries receive:

 Honorable mentions receive:

  • Publication and recognition in the next volume of County Lines: A Literary Journal
  • One copy of the journal

 General Restrictions

  • Entrants can be of any age or from any location worldwide.
  • Work must be original and previously unpublished (including online publication).
  • Work may not contain erotica, violence, hate, political editorial, or excessive profanity.
  • Entry window closes on the close date, or when the entry cap is hit: 100 entries

Responses should be completed within 4 weeks of close of the submissions window. Each volume of County Lines is published in late November or early December.

Detailed guidelines can be found here.

Ends on This opportunity will close after 200 submissions have been received.$10.00
$10.00
Submit to Cover Art for the Carolina Prize for Art 2026

The Carolina Prize is an annual contest sponsored by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild. A winner (publication, $100, two printed journals), and two honorable mentions (publication, two printed journals) will be selected.

Information and guidelines can be found here: https://www.cpwriters.org/carolina-prize and https://www.cpwriters.org/art-guidelines

Winning entries will receive:

Honorable mentions will receive:

  • Publication and recognition in the next volume of County Lines: A Literary Journal
  • One copy of the journal

General Restrictions

  • Entrants can be of any age or from any location worldwide.
  • Work must be original and previously unpublished (including online publication).
  • Work may not contain erotica, violence, hate, political editorial, or excessive profanity.
  • Entry window closes on the close date, or when the entry cap is hit: 200 entries

 

Responses should be completed within 4 weeks of close of the submissions window. Each volume of County Lines is published in late November or early December.

Detailed guidelines can be found here.