LIGONIER VALLEY
WRITERS
It is a year of anniversaries.
America’s Semiquincentennial: celebrating 250 years since the Declaration of Independence told the world that citizens of the United States would no longer be colonies of the British Empire, subject to the rule of a king.
Ligonier Valley Writers, established in 1986, is celebrating forty years of promoting the literary arts, reading, writing, and publishing. Though much has changed over the years, the LVW is still sponsoring workshops, contests, and support for local authors.
And The Loyalhanna Review is marking 25 years as a regional literary magazine.
So, as the call opens for the 2026 Loyalhanna Review, we are encouraging submissions on the themes of celebration, anniversaries, and freedom. We are especially interested in seeing items that highlight life in Western Pennsylvania.
Of course, all submissions that follow the posted guidelines will be considered.
Send us your best and help celebrate our milestones.
--Rebecca E. Dunn, Editor-in-Chief
The Loyalhanna Review
New Guidelines for 2026
The Loyalhanna Review is accepting submissions for Poetry, Prose, and Art/Photography from January 23 – April 3, 2026.
Submissions must be made only by the author/artist. The Loyalhanna Review does not accept work that has been previously published, in print or online. Poems or prose can be previously posted to your social media or blogs, but cannot have been published in books, magazines, or similar collections. If you have questions or concerns, email us at info@lvwonline.org. The Loyalhanna Review does not consider or review AI-generated or AI-assisted writing. Submissions using AI tools will be declined.
Literature Entry Requirements
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Prose: one piece no longer than 1,500 words.
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Poetry: Up to three poems, not to exceed 500 words per poem.
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Use 12-point Times New Roman, single spaced. No page numbers. No author name. Please save your work in a Word.docx or RTF format only.
Photography/Art Entry Requirements
Original Work
• All photos must have been taken by the submitting photographer.
• AI-generated images will not be accepted.
• Images must not infringe on any copyright or intellectual property rights.
Technical Requirements
• Resolution: Minimum 3000 pixels on the longest side (suitable for print). • Format: High-quality JPEG or PNG. RAW files may be requested for finalists.
• Color Space: sRGB or AdobeRGB.
• No heavy compression or low-resolution files.
Editing Rules
• Basic adjustments are allowed (exposure, contrast, color balance, and cropping).
• Creative edits are allowed if they fit a designated “Creative/Composite” category.
• No excessive AI editing or generative fill unless disclosed and permitted.
• Photography/Art must still reflect the artist’s work and vision.
Ethical Guidelines
• No photos that harm wildlife or disturb natural environments.
• Portrait entries must have a model release if a person is identifiable.
• Minor subjects must have parental/guardian consent.
Timeframe
• Photos must have been taken within the last two years.
Submission Limit
• Limit of 5 photos per photographer. Use the name of your piece as the file name of the attachment.
Submit!
To ensure that all submissions are received, organized, and reviewed consistently, we require that all work be submitted through our online submission form.
If you are unable to submit through the form due to technical issues, please feel free to reach out to us at info@lvwonline.org. We’ll be glad to help troubleshoot or advise on next steps.