What I Meant to Tell You — Submission FAQ
Is there a fee to submit?
No
What is this anthology?
What I Meant to Tell You is a collection of letters addressed to the natural world. Each piece is written directly to something in nature, a tree, a river, the ocean, a season, a mountain, an animal, a garden, anything you'd speak to if it could listen. The letter form and the natural addressee are the foundation of the whole collection.
This is not an anthology of nature writing in general, essays about nature, or poems. It's letters, written to nature.
How do I start my letter?
Start the way you'd start any letter, with "Dear [tree, river, ocean, moon, whatever you're writing to]." From there, write to it the way you'd write to a person. Tell it what you noticed. Tell it what you never said out loud. Tell it what it's meant to you, or what you wish it knew. The letter should be addressed to and speaking with the natural world throughout, not just mentioning nature along the way.
If you're stuck, think about a specific place, moment, or living thing, not nature in the abstract, and write to that one thing.
Is there a length limit?
Two 6x9" pages (roughly 500-600 words, depending on illustration) is the maximum for consideration in the printed book. Shorter is completely fine, there's no minimum. Letters that run longer than two pages may be considered for excerpting or included the archive.
Does it have to be illustrated?
Not at all. Illustration is welcome but not required.
Can I submit a poem?
No. This collection is letters, not poems. If your piece is closer in form to a poem than a letter, it isn't the right fit here.
What's the deadline?
October 9, 2026.
Can I use a pen name or alternate credit?
Yes. There's a space on the submission form to indicate a pen name, and we'll use that name in the book and any related materials.
Can I submit a letter in a language other than English?
Yes. Letters in other languages are welcome, with an English translation included.
Do I have to mail my letter?
Mail is preferred as it is part of the essence and theme of this anthology. Email is available as a last resort for contributors without postal access or for whom postage is a barrier, send a photo of your letter, or a typed version.
Is there an age limit?
All ages are welcome and encouraged. If your letter is selected for the printed anthology and you are under 18, we'll ask for a parent or guardian's consent before publication.
Can I submit more than one letter?
Yes, but there's no guarantee all of them will end up in the printed anthology.
How do I submit?
Write your letter.
Mail to:
The Verdancy Project,
30310 SE Division Dr,
Troutdale, OR 97060
USA
or email info@verdancyproject.com — by Oct 9, 2026