In case you missed it, Marmalade Lit’s inaugural Spring Contest is now open for submissions until May 31, 2026! The theme is “current” and the prize is $50.

Contest Mission

Our mission for Marmalade Lit has always been about supporting youth writers, whose voices are often overlooked. While visibility, which we aim to provide through our regular issues, is key to uplifting emerging writers, we also recognize the importance of monetary prizes in helping writers grow. As a small literary magazine, we aren’t currently able to compensate all of our contributors. We see this prize as a way to bridge that gap as we work to expand the opportunities we provide.

How It Started

We had been turning the idea of a contest over in our heads for a while, and after the success of Issue 1, we decided it was time to bring it into reality. We spent a lot of time brainstorming the right theme—something fruit-related? Something topical? We wanted it to be narrow enough to spark inspiration, but broad enough to allow for creativity. That’s how we settled on “current.” We invite you to explore and create your own interpretations of this theme, whether that be electrical currents or current events. You can visit the page to learn more about the theme or keep reading to find out what the Editors-in-Chief are looking for.

What We’re Looking For

Lucile: The first thing I notice is form. If you have typos, clunky prose, or misplaced punctuation, it will pull me out of the piece. I can’t help it, that’s just how my brain works! But after you clear that bar, I look for uniqueness. I want to see something I haven’t seen before. That’s part of why I voted to publish pieces like “Self-Portrait as 16 Personalities: Free Personality Test” or “whisper.” I also look for emotional depth and vulnerability. A piece doesn’t have to be explicitly personal, but I want to be able to detect its emotional core. That’s what stuck out to me about “Victor Tries Shell-Shopping” and “SUPERIORITY COMPLEX.” Selfishly, my biggest piece of advice is just for you to submit something! I love getting the opportunity to read your work, and who knows? You might just win.

Sierra: Lucile definitely covered many of the things I pay attention to in pieces as well—from mechanical errors (whether they’re accidental or not) to emotional resonance. I love when a piece utilizes a creative form to actually propel the narrative or message rather than to just “look cool,” much like Nuppu Tanskanen does in her piece “EAT” which gripped me in its crescendos of intensity that lend themselves perfectly to the deliciously weird lines in all-caps. Another thing that stands out to me is when a writer has a good handle on balancing the abstract and concrete—particularly in poetry. This was something I saw and admired in Jisu Yee’s “BEACHCOMBING FANTASY,” and part of why I was so excited to publish it. I can’t wait to read your submissions—they’re always such a joy to read!