SouthWest Writers (SWW) and New Mexico Arts are teaming up to publish a new anthology of reflections on military life.
Active-duty military personnel, veterans, family members, and caregivers are all invited to contribute to the anthology, which will feature prose and poetry up to 2,000 words.
Submissions may be uploaded now through March 31. There is no fee to submit and individuals who have never been published are strongly encouraged to participate.
For more information and to submit, go to www.southwestwriters.com/military-anthology/. Membership in SWW is not required.
To get an idea of what such an anthology looks like, the Corrales Community Library has a copy of Holes in Our Hearts, an SWW collection of works written by individuals connected to the United States military that featured eight Correleños.
Submission requirements are:
- Any New Mexican veteran, family member of a New Mexican veteran, or caregiver of a New Mexico veteran may submit. New Mexican means current New Mexican. Current means lives in New Mexico today, votes in New Mexico elections, New Mexica driver’s license, etc. Someone who has lived their entire life in New Mexico but just moved away is not a current New Mexican. Why? Because New Mexico Arts (NMA) is funding how the arts are healing New Mexicans who live here today.
- The individual who submits must be alive – no submissions for someone who has passed on. Why? Because New Mexico Arts (NMA) who funds the anthology only funds art that helps veterans, family members, or caregivers to heal. If the individual has passed on, you can write your own story that involves someone else, but you cannot submit the work of someone who has passed on. You can heal, but anyone who has passed on is beyond that point.
- 2,000-word maximum. You can send in as many pieces you want as long as the total for all submissions does not exceed 2,000 words. Each piece is submitted individually. The words in the title and your name as author do not count nor does the separate file you upload with your bio. Photos are strongly encouraged – either current or you in uniform back in the day.
- All submissions are via the website template. If you gave me your piece and I said it looks good, that still means you have to upload it via the template. There are entries about your address, phone numbers, etc. that only you know.
- If you have served in more than one military service, pick the one you most identify with. Don’t list them all.
- If you have never been published, you are one of the ones we are looking for. Leave a legacy. You will get help getting your ideas into an essay or story if you need it. I will help.
Hello! I am interested in submitting a short story about my experience as a military dependent and daughter of an Air Force colonel. I was born in Albuquerque when my father was stationed here. But once he was transferred in February of 1943, he never returned except to visit. (The Air Force kept sending him other places for 21 years!) However, my husband is a Coast Guard veteran. He and I both meet all the requirements of a current New Mexican. We have lived in New Mexico since 1991. We currently live in Santa Fe. Both of us have current NM driver’s licenses and both vote regularly. My husband also was a volunteer mission pilot for the NM Civil Air Patrol in the past.
I have never been published but am working on a novel based on memoir detailing the military life of a family of four in the 1950s. I am an active member of The Writing Circle at the La Farge Library in Santa Fe. A fellow writer who has been listening to my readings for over a year suggested that I consider submitting something for the upcoming anthology. I read “Holes In Our Hearts”, as research, and found it touching, enlightening, and very relatable!
What do you think? Do I qualify to submit something for your consideration? I believe the deadline is April 1st, 2025?
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Patricia Thurman
Patnmco@msn.com