A regional literary anthology celebrating the creative voices of Southwest Florida.

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.

We welcome poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid work, visual art, and photography that interprets the annual theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.

Between the Mangroves is an annual anthology showcasing the talent of writers, artists, photographers, and other creatives throughout the Southwest Florida region. If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are 18+, you are eligible to submit your work to our annual print anthology.

We are a regional arts anthology showcasing the best creative talent in Southwest Florida. If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are over the age of 18, you are eligible to submit your work to our annual anthology.

Between the Mangroves

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.<div><br></div><div>For our inaugural anthology, we invite work inspired by the theme Erosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Erosion is both a force of destruction and transformation. It reshapes coastlines, alters ecosystems, and leaves behind evidence of time's relentless passage. Here in Southwest Florida, it evokes the realities of shifting shorelines, hurricanes, rising tides, and a region continually remade by nature. Yet erosion reaches far beyond the physical world.</div><div><br></div><div>We seek work that explores what it means to be worn down, swept away, reclaimed, or transformed. Consider the erosion of memory, identity, relationships, traditions, certainty, justice, or democracy. Write about what disappears slowly over years or vanishes in an instant. Explore the quiet losses that accumulate over time, the forces that reshape us, and the unexpected beauty, resilience, or even resistance that emerges in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>What remains after time, pressure, grief, or change has had its way with us? What survives? What do we protect? What grows in the spaces left behind?</div><div><br></div><div>We welcome up to 5 pieces of your best poetry that interprets the theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.</div><div><br></div>

You must live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and be 18+ to be eligible.

Poetry

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.<div><br></div><div>For our inaugural anthology, we invite work inspired by the theme Erosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Erosion is both a force of destruction and transformation. It reshapes coastlines, alters ecosystems, and leaves behind evidence of time's relentless passage. Here in Southwest Florida, it evokes the realities of shifting shorelines, hurricanes, rising tides, and a region continually remade by nature. Yet erosion reaches far beyond the physical world.</div><div><br></div><div>We seek work that explores what it means to be worn down, swept away, reclaimed, or transformed. Consider the erosion of memory, identity, relationships, traditions, certainty, justice, or democracy. Write about what disappears slowly over years or vanishes in an instant. Explore the quiet losses that accumulate over time, the forces that reshape us, and the unexpected beauty, resilience, or even resistance that emerges in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>What remains after time, pressure, grief, or change has had its way with us? What survives? What do we protect? What grows in the spaces left behind?</div><div><br></div><div>We welcome up to 3,000 words of your best fiction that interprets the theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.</div>

If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are over 18, you are eligible to submit to the anthology.

Short and Flash Fiction

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.<div><br></div><div>For our inaugural anthology, we invite work inspired by the theme Erosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Erosion is both a force of destruction and transformation. It reshapes coastlines, alters ecosystems, and leaves behind evidence of time's relentless passage. Here in Southwest Florida, it evokes the realities of shifting shorelines, hurricanes, rising tides, and a region continually remade by nature. Yet erosion reaches far beyond the physical world.</div><div><br></div><div>We seek work that explores what it means to be worn down, swept away, reclaimed, or transformed. Consider the erosion of memory, identity, relationships, traditions, certainty, justice, or democracy. Write about what disappears slowly over years or vanishes in an instant. Explore the quiet losses that accumulate over time, the forces that reshape us, and the unexpected beauty, resilience, or even resistance that emerges in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>What remains after time, pressure, grief, or change has had its way with us? What survives? What do we protect? What grows in the spaces left behind?</div><div><br></div><div>We welcome up to 3,000 words of your best creative nonfiction, including flash nonfiction, that interprets the theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.</div>

If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are over 18 years old, you are eligible to submit to the anthology.

Creative Nonfiction and Flash Nonfiction

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.<div><br></div><div>For our inaugural anthology, we invite work inspired by the theme Erosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Erosion is both a force of destruction and transformation. It reshapes coastlines, alters ecosystems, and leaves behind evidence of time's relentless passage. Here in Southwest Florida, it evokes the realities of shifting shorelines, hurricanes, rising tides, and a region continually remade by nature. Yet erosion reaches far beyond the physical world.</div><div><br></div><div>We seek work that explores what it means to be worn down, swept away, reclaimed, or transformed. Consider the erosion of memory, identity, relationships, traditions, certainty, justice, or democracy. Write about what disappears slowly over years or vanishes in an instant. Explore the quiet losses that accumulate over time, the forces that reshape us, and the unexpected beauty, resilience, or even resistance that emerges in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>What remains after time, pressure, grief, or change has had its way with us? What survives? What do we protect? What grows in the spaces left behind?</div><div><br></div><div>We welcome up to 3 original pieces of visual art and/or photography that interprets the theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.</div><div><br></div>

If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are over 18 years old, you are eligible to submit to the anthology

Art and Photography

Between the Mangroves is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and creative spirit of Southwest Florida while remaining open to the many ways we experience place, change, and belonging. The anthology takes its name from one of our region's most defining landscapes: the mangroves. These remarkable ecosystems exist in constant conversation with erosion. They are vulnerable to the forces of wind, water, and time, yet they are also one of nature's greatest defenses against them, anchoring shorelines, protecting communities, and creating space for new life to take root. In many ways, they reflect our own human experience: shaped by the very forces we strive to withstand.<div><br></div><div>For our inaugural anthology, we invite work inspired by the theme Erosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Erosion is both a force of destruction and transformation. It reshapes coastlines, alters ecosystems, and leaves behind evidence of time's relentless passage. Here in Southwest Florida, it evokes the realities of shifting shorelines, hurricanes, rising tides, and a region continually remade by nature. Yet erosion reaches far beyond the physical world.</div><div><br></div><div>We seek work that explores what it means to be worn down, swept away, reclaimed, or transformed. Consider the erosion of memory, identity, relationships, traditions, certainty, justice, or democracy. Write about what disappears slowly over years or vanishes in an instant. Explore the quiet losses that accumulate over time, the forces that reshape us, and the unexpected beauty, resilience, or even resistance that emerges in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>What remains after time, pressure, grief, or change has had its way with us? What survives? What do we protect? What grows in the spaces left behind?</div><div><br></div><div>We welcome hybrid work that interprets the theme broadly and boldly. Whether your work is deeply personal, firmly rooted in Southwest Florida, or reaches toward universal questions of loss, endurance, and renewal, we invite you to help us tell the many stories that exist between the mangroves.</div>

If you live, work, study, or worship in Southwest Florida for a significant portion of the year and are over the age of 18, you are eligible to submit to the anthology.

Between the Mangroves

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