Open Call for Letters

What I Meant to Tell You
Open call for letters to the living world 

An Anthology of Gratitude and Apologies to the Natural World
Curated by Shannon Amidon | Verdant Publishing

The Verdancy Project and Verdant Publishing invite submissions for What I Meant to Tell You, a participatory anthology of letters and notes addressed to any element of the natural world. The anthology will be published in February 2027 - International letter writing month

What we're looking for:
Write to a species, a landscape, a body of water, a tree, an insect, a season, a place — anything living or once-living. Address it directly: Dear Ocean, or To the oak tree behind my childhood home. A letter, or a letter with a sketch or illustration — just keep it addressed to something, not written about something in general.

No writing or art experience required. All ages, all places. Free, no submission fee.

Guidelines

• Handwritten or typed, mailed and postmarked by October 9, 2026

• Can't mail it? Email is available as a last resort for contributors without postal access or for whom postage is a barrier — send a photo of your handwritten letter, or a typed version

• Letters in other languages are welcome, with an English translation included

• Contributors under 18 need a parent or guardian signature on the submission form

• Complete the digital submission form (handles permissions)

• Everyone's included — a curated selection appears in the printed anthology, everyone else in the public online archive. You'll hear which by December 15, 2026

• Mailing your letter? We'll send you a confirmation postcard from The Verdancy Project once it arrives

Rights & compensation
You keep copyright. We publish your submission for this project only — the anthology, the archive, and related promotion, never for merchandise or resale without asking you first. This is a non-paying, volunteer project: no payment or royalties. Contributors in the printed anthology receive a complimentary digital copy of the full book; contributors in the online archive receive access to and credit in the archive.

How to Submit

1. Fill out the form

2. Write your letter.

3. Mail to:
   The Verdancy Project,
   30310 SE Division Dr,
   Troutdale, OR 97060
   USA
   or email info@verdancyproject.com — by Oct 9, 2026