County Lines
a literary journal

THE CAROLINA PRIZE CONTEST
January 15, 2025 — March 15, 2025

OPEN SUBMISSIONS
March 16, 2025 — August 15, 2025

The Guild publishes a yearly literary journal, County Lines. Two routes exist for journal publication represented by two submission reading windows: first for The Carolina Prize for Writing and then an open submissions window immediately following. The Carolina Prize is competitive, and winners receive a cash prize. The open submissions reading window opens when The Carolina Prize reading window closes. Finish that short story or poem and submit your work for publication. UPDATE: The 2024 windows are CLOSED! See you next year.

Content Warning

County Lines is a literary journal—emphasis, literary. And like all literary journals, the subject matter for any represented work can run the gamut from love to rejection, glee to horror, and chaste to wanton. Characters, settings, and situations are invariably complex and themes are often mature.

Volume 12 (2025) Launch Party was a grand success

The 2025 issue of County Lines: A Literary Journal, launched on December 8, 2024 @ 2pm, at the Youngsville Museum of History with fanfare and good cheer. 40+ writers, poets, and friends were in attendance. The written word was shared as was friendship and camaraderie. Thank you all who attended and those who sent a note of congratulations. Copies of the journal can be purchased via the link provided [here].

See also: [Facebook event link]

County Lines, vol. 12 (2025)
(a literary journal published by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild)

Released Dec 8, 2025! Purchase your copy today [here]!

(Looking for a past issue of County Lines? Please reference the list of released volumes at the bottom of this page.)


Submissions for Volume 13, 2026 Issue will open Jan 15 (Carolina Prize) and Mar 16 (open submissions).

Tell me more about the journal.

County Lines is a literary journal published annually by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild showcasing a curated collection of the finest poetry, prose, and artwork by creators of all ages from all over the North Carolina Piedmont, the United States, and beyond.

The journal features prose, poetry, as well as photography and artwork. Writers and artists whose work is accepted for publication will receive a complimentary copy of the journal. 

All proceeds from sales of the journal help fund the efforts of the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild to encourage and assist writers in reaching their creative potential and in its mission to promote writing and writers in the North Carolina piedmont and beyond.

Past Issues and Contributing Emerita

A comprehensive list of past contributors and works can be found [here].

Volume 12, 2025 - ISBN: 9798343204599 - [amazon], [bookshop.org]
Editorial: Kim Beall, Todd Warner, Jackie Dove-Miller, Kathryn Ewers Bundy, Donna Campbell Smith, Ash Asphros, Cassandra Chambers, and Christy Colebank (art).
Carolina Prize Judges: Law Bullock (poetry), Lori Hayes (prose), Diana Johnson (art).

Volume 11, 2024 - ISBN: 9798864205518 - [amazon]
 Editorial: Kim Beall, Todd Warner, Jackie Dove-Miller, Kathryn Ewers Bundy, Donna Campbell Smith, and Christy Colebank.
Carolina Prize Judges: Valerie Nieman (poetry), Wendy H. Jones (prose), Susie Remkes (art).

Volume 10, 2023 - ISBN 9798356027246 - [amazon], [bookshop.org], [page158]
 Editorial: Kim Beall, Jackie Dove-Miller, Kathryn Ewers Bundy, Donna Campbell Smith, and Kay Whatley.
Carolina Prize Judges: Phillip Shabazz (poetry), John Harrison Meyer (prose), Pamela Andrejev (art).

Volume 9, 2022 - ISBN 9798468515778 - [amazon]

Volume 8, 2021 - ISBN 9798698209874 - [amazon], [bookshop.org], [page158]

Volume 7, 2020 - ISBN 9781700507600 - [amazon]

Volume 6, 2019 - ISBN 9781727390087 - [amazon]

Volume 5, 2018 - ISBN 9781977560773 - [amazon]

Volume 4, 2017 - ISBN 9781540414175 - [amazon]

Volume 3, 2016 - ISBN 9781519132055 - [amazon]

Volume 2, 2015 - ISBN 9781502927491 - [amazon]

Volume 1, 2014 - ISBN 9781492890102 - [amazon]