In our 2021-2022 annual report, the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes will feature original poems and short prose from writers in our region. Please send us your work!
We’re looking for poems, flash fiction (short-short stories), mini-essays, oral histories, or other pieces that reflect on community in the Southern Tier and Southern Finger Lakes. When we say “community,” we’re thinking of people, animals, the environment—everything that makes up the world where you grew up or where you live now. What is it like to live in this world? What emotions does it evoke?
Your sense of community could involve, for instance: family; a neighborhood; the place where you work, study, worship or hang out with friends; groups you belong to; a club or sports team; the people who know you best; your experience as a volunteer; landscapes or cityscapes that speak to you; or your history in our region. Other subjects are also welcome!
We will choose up to 12 pieces for the annual report. The author of each of those poems will receive $100.
The Details
Who may enter
We welcome submissions from current residents of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, or Yates County, N.Y. You don’t have to be an already-published writer. Whether this is your first literary effort, or you’ve been writing all your life, if you have a compelling piece to share, please send it our way.
What to enter
You may submit up to three short poems (no more than 20 lines each) or three short prose pieces (no more than 200 words each). All styles of poetry are eligible—formal or free verse, rhyming or non-rhyming. Prose can be fiction or non-fiction. The work doesn’t need to specifically mention places in our region, but it should grow out of the experience of belonging to a community here. The tone should be generally positive, although we do understand that community experience, like all of life, often includes sadness. The work must be original—written by you.
Along with your entry, please provide a short statement—no more than 50 words—telling us about yourself. Please also provide your name, address, phone number and (if applicable) e-mail address.
If one of your pieces has already been published, tell us the name of the publication so we can give proper credit if we include that piece in our report.
How to submit
By e-mail: Send your entry to Karah Sheahan, kss@communityfund.org. We must receive it by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, August 1.
By postal mail: Send your entry to:
Karah Sheahan
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.
301 South Main Street
Horseheads, NY 14845
Your entry must be postmarked by Monday, August 1. Please keep a copy of your work, as we are not able to return any entries.
For more information, contact Karah Sheahan, at 607-739-3900, kss@communityfund.org.