Coffee or tea? Apples or oranges? Poetry or Prose? 

There are some things people just expect to be rivalries, but here at eMerge Literary Magazine, we hold the conviction that you don’t have to choose sides. You can drink that coffee and follow it up with a tea. Mix those apples and oranges (oh, and maybe some strawberries). And enjoy some Nikki Hanna Literary Challenge–winning prose, just before we launch into the Woody Barlow Poetry Contest. 

In this issue, you will find our five Challenge winners, along with a delightful blend of other poetry and prose. Each of the winners had wildly different stories, but they all stood out to our judges for originality, creativity, and some for either humor or deep emotional resonance. All were read by the woman herself, Nikki Hanna, and given her stamp of approval. Thanks again to everyone who submitted—we are consistently blown away by the talent of our readers. 

But wait! There’s more!

The Woody Barlow Poetry Contest will begin June 1st, and we expect this to be the largest one yet. We even have two back-up judges on call, just in case the submissions are overwhelming! We have found so many of our regular contributors through this contest, so if you’ve been considering throwing a bit of ink to paper (digitally speaking), this is your moment. Submissions will be open from June 1st to the 30th.

Until then, enjoy this fresh offering of the best poetry and prose to be found from some of the best people on planet earth. As always, we can only do what we do through the generosity of readers like you, so thank you. And thank you to all the featured partners sharing the love. 

We’d have a cup of coffee (or tea) with you anytime.

Aubrey Green

Contests

Take Note - Opportunities

Announcements from our Featured Partners

2025 OWL (Ozark Writers League) Adult Writing Contest is accepting submissions. Over $2,000 in prize money! Best Book of 2024 (fiction and nonfiction) submissions are accepted until August 1, 2025; all other writing submissions are due by August 31, 2025. Learn more and submit at https://ozarkswritersleague.com/2025-Adult-Writing-Contests.php

WriterCon Conference 2025 - Early Bird Registration now open. The WriterCon 2025 Conference will take place  August 29– September 1, 2025 at the Historic Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK. WriterCon will provide education and opportunities for writers and aspiring writers. Learn more at https://writercon.com/conference/

Poetluck at the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, June 19, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Featuring Patricia Evans, (Evans, They/Them,) who is the author of ten bestselling novels in the Travel Romance genre, all with an emphasis on modern queer culture and strong characterization. Evans is currently working in television and is contracted as the Lead Dialogist for the House of the Dragon series, HBO's biggest show. Learn more at https://www.writerscolony.org/event-details/june-poetluck-1

ESSA Summer Workshops - Get creative! In the belief that art is vital to the human spirit, the Eureka Springs School of the Arts commits itself to cultivating, promoting, and encouraging artistic expression by providing art and fine craft education opportunities for students of all levels in a unique environment of beauty and creativity. Check out upcoming workshops at https://reg131.imperisoft.com/essa-art/Search/Registration.aspx

TLAN 2025 Power of Words Conference - Join the Power of Words Conference October 3 - 5 at Unity Village in the Kansas City, Missouri metro area to explore the written, spoken and sung word to find how it can bring liberation, celebration and transformation within our communities. Network with writers, storytellers, performers, musicians, health professionals, educators, and change-makers to connect with those who share your passion of making a difference with words. Learn more and register at https://tlanetwork.org/POW-2025