The Hemlock Journal proudly announces that submissions for Poetry Writing Contest, 2026 ‘Still I Rise’ are now open. Writers from around the world are invited to participate in this meaningful literary event.

Theme :

The theme of the contest focuses on women’s rights, gender equality, feminism, and the struggles women continue to face in society. Inspired by the spirit of “Still I Rise”, the contest aims to encourage poetry that speaks of resilience, courage, resistance, and hope.

How to Submit?

Click the link below to fill the submission form.

Winners Get :

• First Prize: Cash prize worth $125, Publication, Hemlock Membership.
• Second Prize: Cash Prize worth $50, Publication, Hemlock Membership.
• Third Prize: Cash Prize worth $25, Publication, Hemlock Membership.
• Participants securing 4th to 7th positions will receive a full refund of their entry fee. All the seven winners of the contest will be invited for an exclusive interview.

Publication :

The top 25 shortlisted poems will be featured in the Poetry Special Issue to be published by Quillkeepers Press, an independent traditional publication house and will released on August 26 in honor of Women’s Equality Day.

This contest is more than a competition—it is an opportunity for writers to raise awareness, inspire conversations, and use poetry as a tool for social change. Writers across the globe are encouraged to participate and share their voices with the world.

Submissions are accepted from May 15th to June 30th

Who can submit? :

Anyone of any gender, nationality, or identity is welcome to participate in the contest as long as they are an adult or minimum of the age of eighteen. Each participant may submit up to two poems for the contest.

Entry Fees :

• General Participants: $5 per poem
• Creative Writing Students at Cumberland University: $2 per poem
• Members of The Hemlock Journal: Free Entry

The competition will be judged by Sandee Gerts, an accomplished author who teaches creative writing at Cumberland University.

Know your judge :

Sandee Gertz is a Western Pennsylvania/Urban Appalachian writer native living in Nashville and the author of The Pattern Maker’s Daughter, a poetry collection published by Bottom Dog Press.She has published her work for over 25 years, in journals such as Green Mountains Review, Gargoyle, Poet Lore, Northern Appalachia Review, Wildroof Journal, Cathexis Northwest Press,and most recently in The Pittsburgh Quarterly where she explored her “North/South” divide in a Creative Nonfiction piece titled “Nashville, Pennsylvania.” She has been recognized as one of 16 Working Class Poets in World Literature Today, is a Sandburg-Livesay Poetry Award winner, and a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Fellowship recipient for Poetry. Her most recent award is the Mary Jean Irion Prize in Poetry. She has completed a memoir manuscript chronicling a coming of age with an atypical seizure disorder and has recently finished a novel for which she has secured representation with the D4EO Literary Agency. Sandee teaches Creative Writing at Cumberland University as an Associate Professor and is the Managing Editor of Novus Literary Arts Journal and the Poetry Editor for New Square. Each summer, she co-teaches a poetry workshop with the Sancho Panza Literary Society in Dublin, Ireland. Know more : https://sandeegertz.com/

Know your publisher :

Quillkeepers Press is a traditional publishing company and indie/self-publishing consulting group. They offer traditional publishing as well as anthology collaboration opportunities for indie artists who are seeking publication. Their traditional publishing services are industry-standard, where we assume the financial liability of publishing your work, and you receive competitive royalties from the sales of your collection. We design a contract to fit your individual needs, as we know all artists are unique. Traditional publishing with Quillkeepers will include coaching, editing, formatting, cover design, and extended marketing. Know more : https://www.quillkeeperspress.com/