Writing The Heroine publishes literary writing by women. Our anthology's particular focus is on telling lost women's history, untold stories, and myths, fairy tales, folklore or legends reimagined from the perspective of their women characters.

Our special theme for this edition is witchcraft: from the history of witches and witch trials, to medicine women, mystics and herbalists, spells and enchantments, shapeshifters and familiars, covens, hags, crones and sabbats. We welcome writing on witchcraft as the old religion, remembered or imagined, and the depiction of witches in fairytale, folklore, literature and film (both good and bad) across cultures.

We accept submissions from women writers from anywhere in the world.

We accept previously published work as long as you retain the right to publish it.

We expect all work to demonstrate respect for others.

We are accepting poetry and short story entries for Volume 6

We will accept submissions of single poems up to 3 pages in a 12-point standard font & 1.5 spacing.

We will accept submissions of short fiction up to 2500 words.

You may submit more than one poem or short fiction; however, each poem/short fiction piece must be attached as a separate document & a submission fee must be paid for each item submitted.

Please note that we do not generally publish memoir, unless it has a strong link to our theme.

Resubmissions & refunds: Submissions are final and fees are non-refundable. It is not possible to amend or alter a submission that has been entered. If you wish to resubmit an altered work, this can be done as a new (additional) submission.

Our special theme for this edition is witchcraft: from the history of witches and witch trials, to medicine women, mystics and herbalists, spells and enchantments, shapeshifters and familiars, covens, hags, crones and sabbats. We welcome writing on witchcraft as the old religion, remembered or imagined, and the depiction of witches in fairytale, folklore, literature and film (both good and bad) across cultures.

This is the Heroines Anthology’s sixth edition.

Before you submit, we strongly suggest that you read a previous volume of Heroines Anthology to get a feel for what we are looking for and to check what stories and myths have already been covered.

Listen to Heroines Women’s Writing Prize poetry winner, Alisha Brown reading her poem Rapunzel here

You can order copies at a 10% discount with the code SUBMIT2024. Order here.

All submissions will be considered for the Heroines Women’s Writing Prize.

First prize winner receives $500.

The first prize may be won by either a poem or a piece of short fiction.

All short-listed entries are published in Volume 6 of the Anthology

Submissions will only be accepted via our web form below. Submissions will close on the 30 June 2025

Submission fee per poem of $ 15 (If you have financial issues & cannot pay this fee, please contact us.

Submission date 30 June 2025

Long-list will be announced 30 September 2025

Short-list and prize announcement dates TBA in 2025

All work accepted for publication will be sent a copy of Heroines Anthology Volume 6.

Heroines Anthology Volume 6 editor is Dr. Sarah Nicholson