Submission Guidelines
Welcome to Gleanings, a literary publication celebrating the creativity, experiences, and unique voices of the Garden Spot Communities family. We invite residents to submit original works that reflect the richness of life, imagination, and community.
Eligibility: The inaugural edition of Gleanings is open to residents of Garden Spot Village and Frederick Living.
What You May Submit:
- Prose: short story, essay, memoir
- Maximum of 500 words
- Double-space
- Poetry- Maximum of 100 lines per poem
Formatting Requirements: Please prepare all submissions using the following formatting:
- Typeface: Calibri, - 12-point font
- Spacing: 1.5 line
- Preferred file formats are Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF
- If it is impossible for the writer to submit an electronic file, a hard copy can be submitted to: Heather Reed, 10 Chestnut Drive.
Submission Limits: Each author may submit:
- Up to two prose pieces
- Up to five poems
- Submissions may include both prose and poetry.
Artwork & Illustrations: Gleanings is a literary magazine dedicated to the written word. Photographs, artwork, and illustrations are not accepted for publication.
Editorial Policy:
- Submission does not guarantee publication.
- The Editorial Committee carefully reviews every submission and selects works based on literary quality, originality, and how well they contribute to the overall collection.
- The Editorial Committee reserves the right to:
- Accept or decline submissions
- Edit accepted works for grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and length in consultation with the author when appropriate
- Exercise editorial discretion if a piece is deemed not appropriate for the tone of the publication
- Determine the final placement of accepted works within the magazine
- Previously published work may be submitted if the author holds the necessary permissions and acknowledges its previous publication.
Author Biography: Authors whose work is selected for publication will be asked to provide a biography of 50 words or fewer for inclusion in the magazine.
Rights: Authors retain the copyright to their work. By submitting, authors grant Gleanings: A Garden Spot Communities Literary Magazine permission to publish accepted works in the print edition and in promotional materials related to the magazine.
Submission Process:
- Please submit your work through the online submission form.
- If you are unable to submit online, please inquire about print or electronic file submission with: heatherhreed@gmail.com.
- Print submission, see note above.
- Before submitting, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree to these submission guidelines.
Submission Deadline: September 18, 2026
Thank you for sharing your voice with Gleanings. We look forward to reading your work and celebrating the stories, reflections, and poetry that make our community unique.