Salvation South: Essays Gold Star Program Gold Star Free Tip Jar Option

Salvation South publishes personal essays that would appeal to an audience of people living in, or with roots in, the American South.

We care more about the quality of your story and your writing than its length. Submissions of any reasonable size are welcome. The essays we publish typically range from 1,000 to 10,000 words, and they average between 2,500 and 3,000.

Salvation South is produced by a small editorial team, and we work hard to present every story, essay, and poem in a visually engaging way. If you have images you believe could accompany your essay, please note that in your cover letter.

Absent existing images, we may use artificial-intelligence tools to create original illustrative images for publication alongside selected work. These images are intended as visual companions to your writing—not as representations of real people, places, events, or scenes unless clearly identified otherwise. We retain editorial judgment over every image we publish and aim to use AI-generated artwork thoughtfully, transparently, and in a manner that respects the spirit and integrity of each contributor’s work.

If you have concerns about AI-generated imagery appearing with your submission, please note that in your cover letter.