Publications

WATCH FOR OUR RELEASE OF ACCEPTED SUBMISSIONS SOON The Emerald Coast Review (ECR), published by Emerald Coast Writers (ECW; formerly West Florida Literary Federation), has published the voices of regional writers in an anthology since 1989. This year marks the 22nd volume. The publication will feature quality fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including contemporary, emerging, and experimental works, along with the best of art, graphic design, and photography from area writers and artists living along coastal Florida and Alabama. Residents from the following counties are encouraged to submit: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay (Florida); Mobile, Escambia, and Baldwin (Alabama ). Submissions close July 15, 2023. Accepted submissions will be announced and writers will be notified in August, with publication slated for October. Current ECW member and former ECR poet contributor, Debra Stogner, said, “My poem ‘mindLess’ about battle fatigue was published in the 2019 Emerald Coast Review. It was inspired by my father, who was fighting his final battle with cancer.” Stogner was a former active-duty Army Sergeant (E-5) for six years. She is a civil service retiree and now works part-time with Veterans Services. Stogner also spent years traveling with her father’s military career. Now semi-retired, she regularly participates in WFLF workshops and writers’ groups to publish a poetry chapbook. Stogner said, “Everyone has a story to tell and words to share. Whether for pleasure, publication, or record of family history, I strongly encourage people to submit to the ECR and bring a unique perspective to our history, environmental landscape, and shared experiences for all to enjoy.” ECR invites a diverse cross-section of regional writers to share their creative voices and submit their work today. No writing experience or poetic background is required. Share your voice, enthusiasm, and talents.

Within weeks after March 11, 2020 World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, West Florida Literary Federation offered its writers a catharsis. By April, regional writers were submitting words and images to preserve this time in history. The ongoing project began with Phase I, a special edition of The Legend published in May. It featured more than thirty juried submissions. Life in the Time of Corona continues with Phase II, updated as submissions are accepted. Here are the voices of health care workers, poets, essayists, historians, and the images of artists and photographers, documenting this time in Northwest Florida's history. The ongoing project ends with the advent of a vaccine or declaration by the World Health Organization.

Emerald Coast Writers members are encouraged to send work to our editor for publication in ECW’s monthly newsletter The Legend. Send submissions to editor@wflf.org. Please limit word count to 500.

In 2010, when the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill exploded and threatened the way of life that Gulf Coast residents know and love, West Florida Literary Federation offered an outlet for expression. During the six months when the uncapped well gushed, and for one year following the successful capping of the well, writers, poets and photographers from across the country sent us their words, thoughts and feelings, thereby providing a literary record of the Deep Water Horizon environmental disaster. Here are the best of the submissions.