Submissions:
https://fallentreepress.com/nonwp/submgr/
Payment Link:
https://square.link/u/pq9hK4hS?src=webqr
Contest Overview
The leaves of life theme tell stories of the fragility and renewal of our experiences throughout life. Like leaves that bud, flourish, wither, and fall – so do moments, phases and relationships of our lives. Each leaf represents a story, a memory, a lesson, or a turning point. This theme invites reflection on how we grow, shed. and regenerate through time.
Judge – Baltimore Native – Kathleen Hellen
This year’s contest will be judged by Kathleen Hellen. Her newest book is Meet Me at the Bottom (Main Street Rag Publishing Co.), and you might recognize her from The Only Country Was the Color of My Skin, or the prize-winning Umberto’s Night (Washington Writers’ Publishing House). She’s also the author of The Girl Who Loved Mothra and Pentimento. Kathleen’s won the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred, plus awards from the H.O.W. Journal, Washington Square Review, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts.
Contest Timeline
- Submissions open: October 1–31, 2025
- Winners announced: January 1, 2026
- Book release: Mid-March 2026—just in time for National Poetry Month!
How to Enter
- Send in one Micro-Chapbook (13–16 poems) (use the submission link above)
- Entry fee: $15 (use the payment link above)
Prizes
- 5 copies of your book
- Zoom book launch
- A certificate of recognition
- Your win announced on literary websites