The Turning Leaf Journal Gold Star Program Gold Star

A symbol of resilience, the ginkgo leaf carries deep meaning for The Turning Leaf Journal. It’s the icon around which we’ve constructed our branding to visualize the message we wish to convey through each issue: change, in all its shapes and forms, inspires growth. These days it’s easy to focus on the darkest, bleakest changes, the things we can’t change, the things that refuse to be changed. Our publications will always be a safe space to explore that darkness, but the prize issues will focus on the resilience. The endurance. The wisdom. Above all, The Ginkgo Prize is a celebration of hope.

This year's theme is "Yellow." Yellow is such an unusual and rare color that, in the natural world, it always invites intrigue: Yellow always makes me take a moment to pause: What was that catching my eye? Signs of yellow invite investigation, bring joy and hope and newness to a world paler without them. What may often come as a flicker--wildflowers on the side of the road, a sticky note reminder--lingers more and more. Or, at least, the warmth and song of yellow becomes something sought after.

Submissions are open during the month of August only (August 1-31). The prize issue will be published October 15th.

What to Submit

• 1-3 FLASH Creative Nonfictions, each piece no longer 750 words
• Submissions are blind. Please remove identifying information from the document body.

Additionally, each piece should respond to this year’s chosen theme.

Who is Eligible?

Anyone 18 or over may enter, including all previous contributors. Current or former members of the masthead are not eligible. Prize winners will need a Paypal account to receive their prize payment.

Not Open

The Turning Leaf Journal is founded upon the message of change. We want essays, poetry, and hybrid works that explore the turning over of a new leaf through life’s entrances, exits, seasons, formation, and destruction. What happened when you left the religion you grew up in? When you broke generational tradition? When you confronted addiction? When your human rights are under attack? Embrace the uncomfortable and send us the work that was written with tears and through gritted teeth.

We are also looking for art submissions, to be paired with our written publications. We are interested in art that evokes strong emotional reactions through landscapes, collages, sketches, still life, and abstracts. Please view our previous issues and instagram account to get a better sense of our visual aesthetic.

General Guidelines

• Name your submission file “[Genre—[Your Name]
• Send only one submission per genre per submission period. You may submit work for each genre during the same period.
• We do not accept previously published material, including on personal blogs and social media.
• We do not consider work created in full or in part by artificial intelligence (AI).
• If you submit derivative work (ekphrastic, found/blackout, works written “after” some existing inspiration), please include a link or copy of the source material.

Genre Specifics:

• CNF: 5,000 words, or up to 3 flash pieces
• Poetry: 1-3 poems in the same document (page break between poems)
• Visual Art: 1-5 pieces with a unique title for each piece

Not Open