Kennesaw State University

Nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains and north of Atlanta, Kennesaw State University houses Waymark Literary Magazine. Waymark is a literary magazine run by students that accepts fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art submissions from undergraduate students.

Waymark Literary Magazine is a fully online magazine in html format. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.

Waymark accepts submissions from undergraduate students from North America (Canada, Mexico, North America) and its affiliated territories. Work submitted by students residing outside of North America or work from non-undergraduate students will not be considered for revision.

All pieces should be submitted with adherence to MLA formatting: 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, page numbers in the top-left.

Waymark

The Georgia Writers Association's John Lewis Writing Grants are inspired by the late civil rights icon and his more than three decades of service as Georgia’s 5th District representative. The John Lewis Writing Grants will be awarded annually in the categories of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screen/playwriting.
 
The purpose of the John Lewis Writing Grants is to elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of promising Black writers in Georgia. Applicants must be emerging writers who are Black or African-American residents of Georgia for at least one year, or full-time students at a Georgia college or university at the time of application and on the date of the award. Writers who are eligible may apply annually but may only win the John Lewis Grant one time.
 
The winning recipients will receive $500, and an invitation to read from their work at the next Red Clay Writers Conference.
There is no submission fee to enter.
Deadline: October 10th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
 
Qualifications: 
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and emerging writers who are Black or African-American residents of Georgia for at least one year, or full-time students at a Georgia college or university at the time of application and on the date of the award. Applicants are ineligible if they have published more than one traditionally published book. Promising writers without publication will be considered. Writers who are eligible may apply annually but may only win a grant once. There is no submission fee to enter. Applicants are ineligible if they are of relations to any of the Georgia Writers staff or board of directors.

 Guidelines: 
Writers may apply in only one genre and must submit the following:
—A completed grant application
—An artist statement of 500 words (max.) as a concise description of your work and goals as a writer. Tell us what inspires your writing career, and how your work engages (directly or indirectly) with the legacy of John Lewis.
—A writing sample of 10 pages (max.) of a published or unpublished piece in the genre in which you are applying: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or screen/playwriting. If submitting poetry, one poem per page please. 
*Do not include your name or any identifying information in the writing sample.

2025 John Lewis Writing Grants

Peripheral Visions by Gail Griffin

Good Mother Lizard by Lisa Alletson

We Believe That Anyone Can Be a Storyteller.
 
About our Publication

  Waymark Literary Magazine is a fully online magazine in html format. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.
  Waymark accepts submissions from undergraduate students from North America (Canada, Mexico, North America, the Caribbean islands) and its affiliated territories. Work submitted by students residing outside of North America or work from non-undergraduate students will not be considered for publication.
 
About Our Issues

  Waymark publishes two issues every academic year, one per semester. Submissions for our Spring '26 issue open December 28, 2025 and close on April 19, 2026. Due to winter break, Waymark staff will return to reading submissions in late January. Any submissions turned in prior to the staff's return will be read ASAP.
  Please expect a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks for decisions on submissions. If you have not heard back within this time frame, please feel free to reach out to us at waymarkmagazine@gmail.com
  Any submissions submitted after the April 19th deadline can still be considered for the next issue instead. 

Submission Guidelines

  All pieces should be submitted with adherence to MLA formatting: 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, page numbers in the top-left.
  Waymark does not publish erotica or fan fiction of any kind. We reject works with excessive violence, hate speech, and unnecessary gore.
  All submitted works should be self-contained stories that are not parts of larger works. Waymark does not publish chapters of books or book excerpts.
  To see our guidelines for specific genres, please check out our website: https://waymarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Creative Nonfiction
We are seeking coming of age tales, memoirs, travel writing, profiles, food writing, reflections, etc.
We do not publish academic essays; however, we welcome reflections on research processes or academic experiences.
Word limit: 2-3,000 words.
Only submit one story per submission.

Waymark Literary Magazine Submissions

We Believe That Anyone Can Be a Storyteller.
 
About our Publication

  Waymark Literary Magazine is a fully online magazine in html format. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.
  Waymark accepts submissions from undergraduate students from North America (Canada, Mexico, North America, the Caribbean islands) and its affiliated territories. Work submitted by students residing outside of North America or work from non-undergraduate students will not be considered for publication.
 
About Our Issues

  Waymark publishes two issues every academic year, one per semester. Submissions for our Spring '26 issue open December 28, 2025 and close on April 19, 2026. Due to winter break, Waymark staff will return to reading submissions in late January. Any submissions turned in prior to the staff's return will be read ASAP.
  Please expect a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks for decisions on submissions. If you have not heard back within this time frame, please feel free to reach out to us at waymarkmagazine@gmail.com
  Any submissions submitted after the April 19th deadline can still be considered for the next issue instead. 

Submission Guidelines

  All pieces should be submitted with adherence to MLA formatting: 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, page numbers in the top-left.
  Waymark does not publish erotica or fan fiction of any kind. We reject works with excessive violence, hate speech, and unnecessary gore.
  All submitted works should be self-contained stories that are not parts of larger works. Waymark does not publish chapters of books or book excerpts.
  To see our guidelines for specific genres, please check out our website: https://waymarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Fiction
We look for works in a variety of genres, including romance, adventure, horror, etc.
Word limit: 2-3,000 words.
Please submit one story per submission.

We Believe That Anyone Can Be a Storyteller.
 
About our Publication

  Waymark Literary Magazine is a fully online magazine in html format. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.
  Waymark accepts submissions from undergraduate students from North America (Canada, Mexico, North America, the Caribbean islands) and its affiliated territories. Work submitted by students residing outside of North America or work from non-undergraduate students will not be considered for publication.
 
About Our Issues

  Waymark publishes two issues every academic year, one per semester. Submissions for our Spring '26 issue open December 28, 2025 and close on April 19, 2026. Due to winter break, Waymark staff will return to reading submissions in late January. Any submissions turned in prior to the staff's return will be read ASAP.
  Please expect a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks for decisions on submissions. If you have not heard back within this time frame, please feel free to reach out to us at waymarkmagazine@gmail.com
  Any submissions submitted after the April 19th deadline can still be considered for the next issue instead. 

Submission Guidelines

  All pieces should be submitted with adherence to MLA formatting: 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, page numbers in the top-left.
  Waymark does not publish erotica or fan fiction of any kind. We reject works with excessive violence, hate speech, and unnecessary gore.
  All submitted works should be self-contained stories that are not parts of larger works. Waymark does not publish chapters of books or book excerpts.
  To see our guidelines for specific genres, please check out our website: https://waymarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Poetry 
We are seeking new voices in formal and free verse poetry. Send us your spoken word, sonnets, rondels, haikus, etc.
Please submit up to 3 poems in a Word document. No one poem should be longer than 3 double-spaced pages.

We Believe That Anyone Can Be a Storyteller.
 
About our Publication

  Waymark Literary Magazine is a fully online magazine in html format. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.
  Waymark accepts submissions from undergraduate students from North America (Canada, Mexico, North America, the Caribbean islands) and its affiliated territories. Work submitted by students residing outside of North America or work from non-undergraduate students will not be considered for publication.
 
About Our Issues

  Waymark publishes two issues every academic year, one per semester. Submissions for our Spring '26 issue open December 28, 2025 and close on April 19, 2026. Due to winter break, Waymark staff will return to reading submissions in late January. Any submissions turned in prior to the staff's return will be read ASAP.
  Please expect a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks for decisions on submissions. If you have not heard back within this time frame, please feel free to reach out to us at waymarkmagazine@gmail.com
  Any submissions submitted after the April 19th deadline can still be considered for the next issue instead. 

Submission Guidelines

  All pieces should be submitted with adherence to MLA formatting: 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, page numbers in the top-left.
  Waymark does not publish erotica or fan fiction of any kind. We reject works with excessive violence, hate speech, and unnecessary gore.
  All submitted works should be self-contained stories that are not parts of larger works. Waymark does not publish chapters of books or book excerpts.
  To see our guidelines for specific genres, please check out our website: https://waymarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Visual Art
All mediums are welcome; however, AI-generated art is not accepted.
Entry limit: no more than 3 photographed or scanned pieces per submission.
All submissions must include the artist’s name, the title, the medium, the size of the work, and the year created. You may include a short description if needed.

Please carefully review these guidelines before submitting a nomination. Please note that you must have a Submittable account prior to filling out the nomination form. You may create a free account here.
Nomination Fee
$65 per nomination
Deadline
Sunday, February 15, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. EST.
Eligibility

  Books and chapbooks published within the 2025 calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Reprints and second editions are not eligible.
  Books will not be considered nominated if any of these guidelines are not met and materials and payment are not postmarked by February 15, 2026. 

Required Materials
The following required materials must be received by February 15, 2026 (postmarked).

  Nomination form;
  $65 nomination fee;
  A copy of the book (digital preferred, though you may mail a hard copy).

Definition of a Georgia Author for the 61st GAYA
To be considered a Georgia author and thus eligible for nomination for GAYA, an author must meet one of the following criteria: 

  The author must have been a resident of Georgia when the nominated book was written, though they may have since moved out of state; or 
  The author must currently live in Georgia when the book is nominated.

Definitions of GAYA Categories for the 62nd GAYA
A book may be nominated in only one category and is selected by the nominator.
Categories:

  Fiction (subcategories) 


  First Novel—First published novel by a single author (any genre)
  Literary Novel—A non-genre novel by a single author
  Short Story Collection—A collection of short stories by a single author
  Detective/Mystery—A novel by a single author featuring a crime or crimes
  Horror--A novel by a single author that includes horror and/or supernatural elements
  Romance—A novel by a single author intended for the mass-market and involving a primary focus on relationships
  Science Fiction/Fantasy— A novel by a single author that is grounded in the science or technology of the future, and/or fantastical elements
  Graphic Novel—A narrative work where the story is told not only through words, but also sequential art and can be fiction or nonfiction


  Nonfiction (subcategories) 


  Biography—A life history that is a fact-based, referenced life story of a person, a group of people, or a family;  category does not include autobiography, which should be nominated under memoir
  History—Research-based books which use narratives to examine and analyze past events
  Inspirational—Books on topics in self-help, life improvement, motivational, religious, or spiritual
  Memoir—A book that is an account of one’s personal life and experiences
  Essay Collection—A collection by a single author. It may not be an anthology of essays by multiple authors


  Poetry (subcategories) 


  Chapbook—By a single poet and generally no more than 40 pages
  Full-Length Book—By a single poet


  Children’s Book—Books written for ages 9 and younger, including picture books, fiction or nonfiction
  Young Adult—Books written for ages 10 and older and are either fiction or nonfiction
  Cookbook/Culinary—Books that contain a collection of recipes, techniques, or focus on the exploration of food, cooking, and culture of food
  Specialty Book—Anthologies of poetry, creative non-fiction, and fiction, and books that include a visual element such as art or photography

In the Event a Category Has Fewer than Four Nominees
If a category has fewer than four nominees, authors will have the opportunity to move their books to the next best category. For example, if there are only two books in the Cookbook category, authors will be notified and may choose to place the book in the Specialty Book category.
In the Event an Award Is Not Made in a Category
Georgia Writers Association reserves the right to not award a winner in a category if it is determined that none of the nominations should win. If no winner is selected due to a lack of sufficient nominations in a category, the nomination fee will be refunded. However, if the category judge determines that a category has no first– or second–place winner, the nomination fee will not be refunded.
Breach of Eligibility
If authors are no longer residents of Georgia, they may be asked to provide proof that their book was written or published while living in the state of Georgia. In the event an author is determined to be GAYA-ineligible, the author will be disqualified, and the nomination fee will not be refunded.
Special Payment Requirements
If entities or authors are unable to pay the nomination fee through the Submittable portal (e.g., a university press which requires a vendor form and can only mail a check), please email administrator@georgiawriters.org. We will send you a link to submit your nomination and make arrangements to receive your nomination fee.

Definition of a Georgia Author for the 61st GAYA

To be considered a Georgia author and thus eligible for nomination for GAYA, an author must meet one of the following criteria: 

The author must have been a resident of Georgia when the nominated book was written, though they may have since moved out of state; or 
The author must currently live in Georgia when the book is nominated.

Waymark

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