Yellow Ink Stain
General Submission Guidelines
Submission deadline
Midnight, CST October 31, 2025
Entry fee
$10
Limit on submissions
No
What are we looking for?
Yellow Ink Stain is looking for voices that boldly and authentically tell the story of the American South. We are looking for a combination of skillful literary and folk voices (and everything in between). We are looking for writers who want to paint the world in words and characters and vibrant descriptors so that when a reader finishes such a piece, they think—“I feel seen”. All voices, characters, and stories are welcome.
Specifically, stories submitted to Yellow Ink Stain should be related to the American South / Southeast. Stories should capture the culture of the region the way you perceive it. We are looking for writers who:
Currently reside in the American South / Southeast
Were born in or are from the American South / Southeast
Have had an experience in the American South and Southeast or with a Southerner that ties into the issue theme
January 2026 issue theme
Revival. Yellow Ink Stain is looking for stories, essays, poems, and creative works that are thematically related to the concept of “revival”.
Accepted genres
Memoir
Creative nonfiction essay (a non-exhaustive list of examples: personal essay, historical essay, true-crime, travel essay, literary journalism, lyric essay, philosophical, etc.)
Poetry
Fiction genres (a non-exhaustive list of examples: upmarket, literary, southern, historical, mystery, romance, paranormal, steampunk, speculative, psychological thriller, sci-fi, action / adventure, fantasy, horror, etc.)
Photography
Short story
Flash fiction / nonfiction
Technical guidelines
For long-form genres (memoir, creative nonfiction essay, short story), submissions must be no more than 5,000 and no fewer than 1,500 (note that due to space limitations, we have to limit the number of long-form submissions depending on the length of the pieces)
Flash / short-form fiction / nonfiction entires must not exceed 1,000 words
Poetry and prose may can be up to 1,000 words per piece
Photography submissions should be in hi-def .JPG or .PNG formats
Other guidelines / information
Submissions must be sent through the submission portal linked below to be accepted for review
Submissions must be original, unpublished works. If works are published before the announcement of works selected, it is the author’s obligation to notify Yellow Ink.
Submissions with works composed with AI are currently not being considered for publication.
If your work is selected, you will be notified via email when that decision is made.
All works will be reviewed by a panel of professional writers and editors.
ENTER TO WIN NOW!
the Yellow Ink Stain Short Story Contest
Submission Guidelines
Submission deadline
Midnight, CST, September 30, 2025
Winners announced
October 15, 2025
Voting begins
October 15, 2025
Voting ends
Midnight, CST, December 15, 2025
Winners announced
December 31, 2025
Entry fee
$15
Limit on submissions
No
Word count
No fewer than 1,500 and no more than 5,000 words
Contest theme
Revival, renewal, coming back to life, rising, becoming, evolving, transforming
Awards given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
First place prize: $500, center feature in the inaugural issue of Yellow Ink Stain, a shoutout on the Yellow Ink Publishing Company homepage, a complimentary print copy of the magazine, and mention on the front cover
Second place prize: $250, mention in the inaugural issue of Yellow Ink Stain, a shoutout on the Yellow Ink Publishing Company homepage, and a complimentary print copy of the magazine
Third place prize: $125, mention in the inaugural issue of Yellow Ink Stain, a shoutout on the Yellow Ink Publishing Company homepage, and a complimentary print copy of the magazine
Contest description
Writers are told to write the book they want to read while also being told to remember their audience. Can you write a fictional short story based on the theme of revival that will entice the editors reviewers at Yellow Ink Stain to pick your story to win the contest? We will select the top five entrants based on the criteria listed below.
The top 5 winners will be announced, and their stories will be posted on the Yellow Ink Publishing Company website and distributed for public voting. We highly encourage entrants to use this opportunity to build their readership, email list, and audience. PS: If you need help with building your author brand, check out our Author Services page.)
The final decision for who gets published and wins the grand prize will be left up to readers. Prizes to the top three winners will be awarded.
Contest guidelines
Short stories can be in any nonfiction or fiction genre but must authentically reflect Southern culture in terms of plot / story events, character, setting, theme, tone, culture, and dialogue.
Stories that are chosen will reflect the magazine’s tone and overall theme of “true stories well told”. For Yellow Ink, this can include fiction as your personal “truth” is still reflected in fiction, but Yellow Ink seeks stories that feel authentic and genuine.
Stories should be at minimum 1,500 words and at maximum 5,000 words.
Only original stories that have not been previously published elsewhere will be considered. If your story is selected and is published before the magazine runs, please inform your editor. Due to probably copyright restrictions on the part of the other publication, it is likely your submission will be disqualified in such an event.
While there are no specific criteria for strong language, graphic scenes, and explicit scenes, this magazine reserves the right to choose not to publish stories that are gratuitous or sensational in this type of content.
AI-generated content is currently not be accepted for consideration.
To be accepted, files should be uploaded as Microsoft Word documents or submitted as a Google Drive link that open. If your file does not open, it will not be reviewed.
Each entry is $10. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit.
All winners will be notified by email.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to inform all authors if their entry was not selected, but should an entry that is not chosen speak to the Yellow Ink editorial team, an editor will reach out to ask if the submission can be retained for a later issue.
Accepted Genres
Memoir
Creative nonfiction essay
Poetry
Fiction genres (upmarket, literary, southern, historical, mystery, romance, paranormal, steampunk, speculative, psychological thriller, sci-fi, action / adventure, fantasy, horror, etc.)
Photography
Short story
Flash fiction / nonfiction
Selection Process
Only submissions entered by the deadline will be considered. Yellow Ink’s panel of editors and esteemed reviewers will read and rate each entry. The top five entrants will be selected. Those winners will be announced November 15. The top five entries will be shared with the public across multiple platforms for voting, which will help writers build their audience and readership and facilitate and objective selection process for the top three places. Winners will be announced.