Journeys 2025 Submission Guidelines (view as PDF)

Friday, December 20, 2024 is this year’s deadline to submit all written and art works.

Eligibility:

• Author or artist must be enrolled in an Adult Basic Education program in Minnesota.
• All submissions must be original material.
• Only one submission per person will be considered. Submissions that are not selected for publication must be resubmitted to be considered for the next edition.
• Literacy Minnesota reserves the right to edit and/or exclude submissions. Submissions not included in the book may be published on our website.
• Submission length should be 400 words or less.

Submission Requirements – Written Work:

• Written works must be submitted via webform.
• Email or USPS submissions will not be accepted.
• Submit a separate webform for each student. Only one submission per student.
• As part of the Journeys book production process, edits may be made for comprehension, clarity and spelling.

Submission Requirements – Art Work:

• Fill out the Journeys Artwork Submission Form (pg. 2), with all areas completed.
• Mail the original artwork with the Journeys Artwork Submission Form to the mailing address listed on the Journeys Artwork Submission Form.

• If the original is not available, contact Sophie Phan, sphan@literacymn.org, to inquire about acceptable alternate formats.
• Pen and ink drawings are encouraged, as they scan to print quality more easily than other media.

If you have any questions, please contact Sophie Phan: sphan@literacymn.org or 651-251-9063.

Journeys 2025 - Letters about Literature

Again this year we invite your learners to submit a written piece on a special theme, called “Letters about Literature.” This is an opportunity for learners to select and read a piece of literature, reflect on it, and write a personal letter to the author explaining how it changed their views of the world and/or themselves.

"Letters about Literature" Special Submission Guidelines:

1. Select a fiction or nonfiction book, short story, poem, essay, speech, or other written work that you have read and which has impacted you. 
2. Imagine sitting down with the author of this work and sharing your personal thoughts. Your letter should be personal and sincere, more like a private conversation than a book report or fan letter.
3. Share specific details both about the work and about your reaction to the work. Write honestly and from your own perspective.
4. Keep in mind that this is a reflective writing contest. Think about what you read and the meaning you gleaned from the author's words.
5. Write your letter, which should be no more than 400 words. 
6. Make sure your letter includes a date, greeting, body, closing, and your name or signature. Please do not include a return address on your letter.
7. Submit your letter using the Journeys 2025 submission webform.

Journeys 2025: Preview of Webform Fields

This is not a submission form. To submit stories, use the online Journeys 2025 submissions form. Email or USPS entries will not be accepted.

Here are the fields you will see in the 2025 Journeys submission webform.

Items marked with a * are required.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Student Information:

Student First Name *

Student Last Name *

Student Age *

Student City of Residence *

Student State of Residence *

Student country of origin (or, if U.S., city and state of origin) *

Student Email

Student Phone

Does the author wish to remain anonymous? *

• No. The author’s name WILL be published in Journeys.

• Yes, the author wishes to remain anonymous. Their name will NOT be published in Journeys. Please note that we prefer this option only be used in cases where the author fears reprisal for sharing their story.

Program Information:

MN ABE Program Name *

Coordinator or Teacher Name *

Coordinator or Teacher Email *

Coordinator or Teacher Phone

Writing Submission:

Title of Story or Poem *

Story Theme: *

• Challenges
• Culture and History
• Family and Friends
• Fiction and Folktales
• Goals, Hopes, and Dreams
• Journey to the U.S.
• Letters about Literature
• Memories
• Social and Racial Justice

Please paste the story or poem here (please remember the 400 word limit): *

By checking this box, the author affirms that the submission is an original story or poem. *

• Yes, the submission is an original story or poem, written by me.

By checking this box, the author gives permission for their story to be published in the 2025 publication of Journeys. Your work may appear online (our website, social media, etc.) or be used in Literacy Minnesota’s print materials to help promote the Journeys book and/or increase awareness of Literacy Minnesota’s mission. *

• Yes, I give permission for my story to be published in the 2025 publication of Journeys.

Submit stories or poems with the online "Journeys 2025 Submissions Form".

A confirmation email of each submission will be sent to the teacher or coordinator’s email. Please review each confirmation for accuracy.

The deadline to submit entries for Journeys 2024 is Friday, December 20, 2024.

Questions about the Journeys submission process or guidelines? Please contact Sophie Phan: sphan@literacymn.org or 651-251-9063.

Submission Instructions – Art Work:

• Fill out the Journeys 2024 Artwork Submission Form (pg. 2), with all areas completed.
• Mail the original artwork with the Journeys Artwork Submission Form to the mailing address listed on the Journeys Artwork Submission Form.
• If the original is not available, contact Sophie Phan, sphan@literacymn.org, to inquire about acceptable alternate formats.
• Pen and ink drawings are encouraged, as they scan to print quality more easily than other media.

The deadline to submit artwork entries for Journeys 2025 is Friday, December 20, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Sophie Phan: sphan@literacymn.org or 651-251-9063.