What I Meant to Tell You
Open call for letters to the living world
An Anthology of Gratitude and Apologies to the Living 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
We are seeking words of gratitude, apology or both to a species, a landscape, a body of water, a single tree, an insect, a season, or any living or once-living thing. A letter,or illustrated letter with a sketch or artwork. No writing or art experience required, submissions are welcome from all ages and all places as long as they are sent through the mail.
Guidelines
Submissions can be handwritten or typed and printed and must be postmarked by October 9, 2026. Contributors must also complete a digital submission form, which handles permissions.
Letters written in languages other than English are welcome with an English translation included. For contributors under 18, a parent or guardian signature is required on the submission form.
Every submission will be included in this project. A curated selection will appear in the printed anthology; the rest will be featured in the online archive. Contributors will be notified by December 15, 2026 whether their submission will appear in the printed anthology or in the online archive.
Contributors retain copyright. The Verdancy Project and Verdant Publishing hold a non-exclusive license to publish submissions in print and/or digitally. This license is limited to publishing and promoting What I Meant to Tell You, including the printed anthology, the online archive, and related promotional materials (such as social media posts and press coverage about the project). We will not use your submission for merchandise, products for sale, or any purpose outside this project without contacting you first for separate permission. Not every letter will appear in the printed anthology, some will be featured in The Verdancy Project's online archive instead. Contributors selected for the printed book receive a complimentary printed copy of the anthology. Contributors featured in the online archive receive a complimentary digital copy of the anthology.
How to Submit
Visit https://forms.gle/hpLTxS1ZXJTcPCp59 and fill out the submission form.
Write, type, illustrate, or create your letter.
Mail it to: The Verdancy Project 30310 SE Division DR. Troutdale, OR 97060
by Oct. 9, 2026
Please send any questions to: info@verdancyproject.com