Appalachia

Submitting your work

Writers should approach Appalachia with a clear sense of its dual heritage: it publishes both rigorous natural-history essays and personal narratives of mountain travel. Submissions should demonstrate a deep familiarity with the specific landscapes and issues of the Northeast, though pieces on other regions are considered if they resonate with the journal's conservationist mission. Avoid overly romantic or promotional language; the editors favor precise observation, historical awareness, and a reflective tone. Poetry and book reviews are also accepted, but all work should be grounded in actual experience rather than abstract theorizing.

The journal publishes short (about 1,000-word) narratives in its Skyline Sketches department. For longer features, best to query first. Always looking for stories on scientific research about the mountains and climate change. Every story is filtered through the lens of an adventurer. It sponsors the Waterman Fund Essay Contest for emerging writers (those who have not published a feature before) on wilderness topics. See watermanfund.org for submission guidelines and the year's prompt, if any. Deadline usually mid-March. Appalachia cosponsors with the Waterman Fund. First prize is $3,000. Second prize is $1,000.