HOT NEWS FROM SWING: You can now submit your best story, essay, or poem to the 2026 Porch Prize through SWING. The deadline is October 1, 2025. Click here for more details.
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SWING is home for the emerging writer to the renowned, the discovered to the too-long neglected. We've created a magazine with the energy and verve of its home city, Nashville, a town of vagabonds and roots, where new influences course through the old.
So make your mark with us! SWING wants the poetry, fiction (auto-, hybrid, very short, or regular but extraordinary), nonfiction (creative, travel, personal, hybrid, surely there are other variations), and comics that could only have been written by you. Because, even though art is not confession (and we firmly believe this), reading is intimate. We want to hear your voice, your complex, messy human voice, in our ears as we lean back. Then we want to be pushed. We read for that moment of flight, where we have no idea where we are going, but trust the hand on our backs pushing higher. This is hard to explain, most important things are, but don’t send us anything as-good-as—send us your best.
Like the thriving organization it’s rooted in, SWING reflects its regional identity and its national sway. The Porch in Nashville is a gathering place for writers all over the country to read together, write together, share resources, find help, and revel in the joy of the made thing. The Porch provides an ecosystem for writers at any stage in their practice; publication is a natural progression. If you are a Porch poet, story-writer, essayist, or graphic storyteller (student or teacher) Swing wants to hear from you. If you are from a marginalized or underrepresented community, we want to hear your voice. We are committed to being responsive to issues of equity and inclusion on all fronts.
Forms of flight:
*Poetry (up to 5 poems, all types and length)
*Fiction (up to 8000 words; see above for various types; in general, we are not looking for sci-fi or fantasy)
*Nonfiction (up to 8000 words; see above for the various types)
*Comics (For our first few issues we’re looking for comics in black and white. We are hoping to move into more developed graphic storytelling. And remember, we come out only twice a year; the political is ephemeral—thank heavens—and comics that only work on a political level might not land three months after the reference.)
The guy-wires:
*We only consider unpublished work. If it has been in an online zine, in an anthology, book or chapbook we will not consider it for SWING.
*We do not receive submissions through email or post, only through Submittable.
*Per reading period, we will consider only one prose piece and one poetry submission per author. Please group all poems (up to 5) in one submission. Multiple submissions in one genre will be returned.
*All files must be saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Plain Text (.txt) formats. Please don’t get fancy with fonts or otherwise gild the lily.
*Simultaneous submissions are fine.
*We want, as much as possible, a direct, unchoreographed experience with your writing. Please do not include your name on the manuscript, in the title of the manuscript (that you enter on Submittable), or in the name of the saved file.
*If you have work submitted to us that has been accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know immediately by adding a note to your poetry submission on Submittable (if one poem out of the batch needs to be withdrawn) or by withdrawing the submission through Submittable.
*We cannot respond personally to every submission.
* We will try our best to respond within four months, but please be patient. If we have to respond to queries about the progress of the manuscript, that takes us away from the reading. All responses will be through Submittable.
*Trust the system (I know, I know—until it breaks down). If Submittable sends a confirmation, don’t double back and email us to make sure.
For our first few issues we’re looking for COMICS in black and white. We are hoping to move into more developed graphic storytelling soon, but for now, show us what you can do in a few frames. And remember, we come out only twice a year; the political is ephemeral (thank heavens) and comics that only work on a political level won't land three months after the reference.
Guidelines
*We only consider unpublished work. If it has been in an online zine, in an anthology, book or chapbook we will not consider it for SWING.
*We do not receive submissions through email or post, only through Submittable.
*Per reading period, we will consider a maximum of one submission each in two genres. Please group all poems (up to 5) in one submission. Multiple submissions in one genre will be returned.
*All files must be uploaded as .jpg or .png files.
*Simultaneous submissions are fine.
*We want, as much as possible, a direct, unchoreographed experience with your writing. Please do not include your name on the manuscript, in the title of the manuscript (that you enter on Submittable), or in the name of the saved file.
*If you have work submitted to us that has been accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know immediately by adding a note to your poetry submission on Submittable (if one poem out of the batch needs to be withdrawn) or by withdrawing the submission through Submittable.
*We cannot respond personally to every submission.
* We will try our best to respond within three months, but please be patient. If we have to respond to queries about the progress of the manuscript, that takes us away from the reading. All responses will be through Submittable.
*Trust the system (I know, I know—until it breaks down). If Submittable sends a confirmation, don’t double back and email us to make sure.
We are looking for nonfiction (up to 8000 words) that is creative, travel, personal, hybrid, and surely there are other variations.
Guidelines
*We only consider unpublished work. If it has been in an online zine, in an anthology, book or chapbook we will not consider it for SWING.
*We do not receive submissions through email or post, only through Submittable.
*Per reading period, we will consider a maximum of one submission each in two genres. Please group all poems (up to 5) in one submission. Multiple submissions in one genre will be returned.
*All files must be saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Plain Text (.txt) formats. Please don’t get fancy with fonts or otherwise guild the lily.
*Simultaneous submissions are fine.
*We want, as much as possible, a direct, unchoreographed experience with your writing. Please do not include your name on the manuscript, in the title of the manuscript (that you enter on Submittable), or in the name of the saved file.
*If you have work submitted to us that has been accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know immediately by adding a note to your poetry submission on Submittable (if one poem out of the batch needs to be withdrawn) or by withdrawing the submission through Submittable.
*We cannot respond personally to every submission.
* We will try our best to respond within four months, but please be patient. If we have to respond to queries about the progress of the manuscript, that takes us away from the reading. All responses will be through Submittable.
*Trust the system (I know, I know—until it breaks down). If Submittable sends a confirmation, don’t double back and email us to make sure.
2025 PORCH PRIZE in NONFICTION (you know it's good enough)
If you'd like this submission to be considered for the 2026 Porch Prize, make sure you click the Porch Prize box below under "Have You Visited Our Porch?" Established in 2019 and open to published and unpublished writers over the age of 18, The Porch Prize honors fresh voices and excellent writing. In years past, our judges have included the notable writers Megan Stielstra, Tiana Clark, Silas House, Edgar Kunz, Kristen Arnett, Margaret Renkl, David James Poissant, Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezukhumatathil, Natalie Lima, Marianne Worthington, and Kevin Wilson. We award a cash prize and Porch gift certificate to one winner in each category, and all finalists are acknowledged at our annual fundraiser. Winning entries are, of course, published in SWING.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to published and unpublished authors over the age of 18 who have not received The Porch Prize in a previous year. The manuscript entered must be the author’s original work and be unpublished and uncontracted at the time of deadline and unpublished during the contest judging time itself. If you submit an entry that is accepted for publication prior to our announcement of the winners, please contact us to withdraw the entry. Entry fee is $15.
Contact swingeditors@porchtn.org with any questions.
We are looking for fiction (auto-, hybrid, very short, or regular but extraordinary) that is up to 8000 words (flash is great!). In general, we are not looking for sci-fi or fantasy.
Guidelines
*We only consider unpublished work. If it has been in an online zine, in an anthology, book or chapbook we will not consider it for SWING.
*We do not receive submissions through email or post, only through Submittable.
*Per reading period, we will consider a maximum of one submission each in two genres. Please group all poems (up to 5) in one submission. Multiple submissions in one genre will be returned.
*All files must be saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Plain Text (.txt) formats. Please don’t get fancy with fonts or otherwise guild the lily.
*Simultaneous submissions are fine.
*We want, as much as possible, a direct, unchoreographed experience with your writing. Please do not include your name on the manuscript, in the title of the manuscript (that you enter on Submittable), or in the name of the saved file.
*If you have work submitted to us that has been accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know immediately by adding a note to your poetry submission on Submittable (if one poem out of the batch needs to be withdrawn) or by withdrawing the submission through Submittable.
*We cannot respond personally to every submission.
* We will try our best to respond within three months, but please be patient. If we have to respond to queries about the progress of the manuscript, that takes us away from the reading. All responses will be through Submittable.
*Trust the system (I know, I know—until it breaks down). If Submittable sends a confirmation, don’t double back and email us to make sure.
2025 PORCH PRIZE in FICTION (you know it's good enough!)
If you'd like this submission to be considered for the 2026 Porch Prize, make sure you click the Porch Prize box below under "Have You Visited Our Porch?" Established in 2019 and open to published and unpublished writers over the age of 18, The Porch Prize honors fresh voices and excellent writing. In years past, our judges have included the notable writers Megan Stielstra, Tiana Clark, Silas House, Edgar Kunz, Kristen Arnett, Margaret Renkl, David James Poissant, Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezukhumatathil, Natalie Lima, Marianne Worthington, and Kevin Wilson. We award a cash prize and Porch gift certificate to one winner in each category, and all finalists are acknowledged at our annual fundraiser. Winning entries are, of course, published in SWING.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to published and unpublished authors over the age of 18 who have not received The Porch Prize in a previous year. The manuscript entered must be the author’s original work and be unpublished and uncontracted at the time of deadline and unpublished during the contest judging time itself. If you submit an entry that is accepted for publication prior to our announcement of the winners, please contact us to withdraw the entry. Entry fee is $15.
Contact swingeditors@porchtn.org with any questions.
We are looking for poetry of all types, though poems over 75 lines are tough for us to publish.
Guidelines
*Please group up to 5 poems in one submission.
*Per reading period, we will consider a maximum of one submission each in two genres. Please group all poems (up to 5) in one submission. Multiple submissions in one genre will be returned.
*We only consider unpublished work. If it has been in an online zine, in an anthology, book or chapbook we will not consider it for SWING.
*All files must be saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Plain Text (.txt) formats. Please don’t get fancy with fonts or otherwise guild the lily.
*Simultaneous submissions are fine.
*We want, as much as possible, a direct, unchoreographed experience with your writing. Please do not include your name on the manuscript, in the title of the manuscript (that you enter on Submittable), or in the name of the saved file.
*If you have work submitted to us that has been accepted for publication elsewhere, please let us know immediately by adding a note to your poetry submission on Submittable (if one poem out of the batch needs to be withdrawn) or by withdrawing the submission through Submittable.
* We will try our best to respond within three months, but please be patient. If we have to respond to queries about the progress of the manuscript, that takes us away from the reading. All responses will be through Submittable. We cannot respond personally to every submission.
*Trust the system (I know, I know—until it breaks down). If Submittable sends a confirmation, don’t double back and email us to make sure.
2025 PORCH PRIZE in POETRY (you know it's good enough)
If you'd like ONE OF THE POEMS in your submission to be considered for the 2026 Porch Prize, make sure you click the Porch Prize box below under "Have You Visited Our Porch?" AND do the following three things: 1) make the title of your Manuscript in Submittable the title of the poem you are submitting for Porch Prize consideration; 2) indicate in your bio that you are entering a poem in the Porch Prize; 3) indicate in the top corner of the poem itself that this poem is to be considered for the Porch Prize.
Established in 2019 and open to published and unpublished writers over the age of 18, The Porch Prize honors fresh voices and excellent writing. In years past, our judges have included the notable writers Megan Stielstra, Tiana Clark, Silas House, Edgar Kunz, Kristen Arnett, Margaret Renkl, David James Poissant, Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezukhumatathil, Natalie Lima, Marianne Worthington, and Kevin Wilson. We award a cash prize and Porch gift certificate to one winner in each category, and all finalists are acknowledged at our annual fundraiser. Winning entries are, of course, published in SWING.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to published and unpublished authors over the age of 18 who have not received The Porch Prize in a previous year. The manuscript entered must be the author’s original work and be unpublished and uncontracted at the time of deadline and unpublished during the contest judging time itself. If you submit an entry that is accepted for publication prior to our announcement of the winners, please contact us to withdraw the entry. Entry fee is $15.
Contact swingeditors@porchtn.org with any questions.