2025 Submission Guidelines

Submission Period: January 1st - April 30th
Unthemed

Exclusively for Ludington Writers members, Beach Combings seeks to highlight previously unpublished poetry, prose, and artwork from our local community. Members are defined as those who have attended at least one meeting in the last 12 months.

DEADLINE

Submissions will open January 1st through April 30th for September print and electronic publication.

We aim to have a determination within three weeks of your date of submission. However, submissions for cover art will not be decided on until after submissions close.

REQUIREMENTS

Unpublished, non-AI generated works only. Simultaneous and multiple submissions allowed; notify if accepted elsewhere.

We try to read our submissions blind. Do not include your contact information or bio in your electronic attachment(s). Contact information and bio must be included in the designated Submittable fields, or on a separate, printed cover page (for mailed submissions).

SUBMISSION FEES

Only members of Ludington Writers are eligible to submit. There are no fees to submit to Beach Combings.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

Submit via WavesReview.Submittable.com.

USPS-MAILED SUBMISSIONS

Include a separate cover page with author details and any links/handles. The title(s) of the submitted piece(s) should follow along with a short (80 words or fewer) author bio (in the third person). If submitting visual art, please include the medium(s) used.

If you prefer a mailed response, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE):

Ludington Writers c/o LACA
107 S. Harrison St.
Ludington, MI  49431

RIGHTS

Submitters grant First Rights to publish to Beach Combings. We may reprint accepted work on our website and/or social media accounts, LudingtonWriters.org. Otherwise, all rights revert to the author upon publications.

FORMATTING

.doc, .docx, or .pdf files for creative writing. Titles in all caps unless author prefers otherwise. Font preferences: Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Arial.

POETRY

Up to three (3) poems may be submitted. Pieces should be print-ready: single spaced and aligned as required by the form chosen.

Space limitations allow for no more than 60 characters per line and 30 lines per page.

PROSE

Up to two (2) pieces, 1,500-word max. Prose should be double spaced.

VISUAL ART

.tiff, .jpeg, or .jpg files, at least 300 dpi. Max four (4) pre-formatted black and white and/or one (1) color images. Our layout is a 6x9 portrait orientation.

FILE NAMES

Include last name, number of submissions, and first words of the title(s). Avoid special characters.

For example, “LastName 3 TitleA TitleB TitleC.”