Welcome!
Vol 3 Submission Window Now Open!
We are an annual, creative nonfiction anthology publishing personal stories, essay, memoirs, poetry, and now photography from Rio Grande Valley natives.Your work becomes part of a growing archive preserving the people, places, and culture of the Rio Grande Valley for future generations.Volume 3 submission window opens August 15, 2026, and closes November 15th, 2026.Submit your final draft to [email protected]
Voices of THe Rgv
Volumes 1 & 2
Since launching in 2024, Voices of the Rio Grande Valley has become home to dozens of authentic stories and poems celebrating the people, places, and culture of the Valley.Volume 1 introduced the project with a collection of creative nonfiction from local voices, laying the foundation for a community anthology rooted in truth, memory, and place.Volume 2 expanded the collection with creative nonfiction and poetry from 22 contributors, deepening our mission to preserve the many perspectives that make the Rio Grande Valley unlike anywhere else.Now, as we prepare Volume 3, we’re excited to welcome photography alongside prose and poetry—inviting even more members of our community to help tell the story of the Valley.
Voices of THe Rgv
Submission Guidelines
Voices of the Rio Grande Valley – Volume 3We are excited to announce that submissions are now open for Volume 3 of Voices of the Rio Grande Valley.This year, for the first time, we are accepting creative nonfiction (prose), poetry, and photography. Our mission remains the same: to amplify authentic voices and images from the Rio Grande Valley—stories rooted in culture, family, struggle, humor, memory, identity, and place.Whether you’re a first-time writer, an experienced storyteller, or a photographer who captures the spirit of the Valley through a lens, we invite you to share your work. We believe every community holds remarkable stories, and we’d be honored to help preserve yours.
⸻General Guidelines*Contributors should have a meaningful connection to the Rio Grande Valley. You don’t have to live here now, but the Valley should be your hometown or cultural home.
*Submit only your own original work.
* Writing submissions (creative nonfiction and poetry) must be previously unpublished. Photography may have been shared on personal websites or social media but may not have been previously published in books, magazines, or other formal publications.
* Multiple submissions are welcome—we encourage you to send your strongest work.
* Spanish and code-switching are encouraged. Written submissions should be primarily in English.
* Include your name (as you’d like it printed) and your hometown with your submission.
* Email your submissions to [email protected].
* All submissions are reviewed by an editorial panel. Selection is based on artistic quality, fit with the vision of the collection, and available space.⸻Creative Nonfiction (Prose)* Maximum length: 4,000 words
* You may submit multiple stories.
* Submit as a .doc, .docx, or PDF using standard manuscript formatting (12-point font, double-spaced).⸻Poetry* Poems should reflect some aspect of the Rio Grande Valley—its people, culture, landscape, history, or spirit.
* Submit 1–3 poems.
* Each poem must be 2 pages or fewer.
* Any style or form is welcome. Keep formatting simple.⸻Photography* Photographs should reflect some aspect of life in the Rio Grande Valley.
* Submit 1–5 photographs.
* Any subject is welcome— landscapes, food, work, celebrations, wildlife, architecture, or everyday life.
* Color and black-and-white images are both welcome.
* Submit high-resolution files (minimum 300 dpi and 1,800 pixels on the longest side) as .jpg, .png, or .tiff.
* For each photograph, include:
* Title
* Location and year taken
* A brief caption (1–2 sentences) sharing the story or context behind the image
* Basic editing (cropping, color correction, exposure adjustments) is welcome. AI-generated, heavily manipulated, or composited images will not be considered.
* If someone is clearly recognizable in your photograph and is not you, please be prepared to provide their permission for publication.⸻Important Dates
• Submission window: August 15 – November 15, 2026
• Responses sent by: End of November 2026
(If there are any delays, we will notify all submitters.)
• Contributors accepted for publication will receive a free copy of the book.
voices of the rgv
About Us
The Rio Grande Valley of south Texas is a most remarkable and unique place, and we want to share true stories of life in the RGV from the people that know it personally.This bordertown region of the world, our homeland, is filled with rich culture, incredible food, striking landscapes, and vibrant, hardworking people creating their own lives in endless ways.Voices of the RGV is here to showcase stories that really portray the dynamicness of the spirit of RGV natives. We want stories of family, friends, and yourselves. Stories of achievement, celebration, loss, and grief. Share with us the good times, or the hard times. We will take it all, but it must have the essence of the emotional range and capacity of the people specific to our beloved deep south Texas.
Our Team
Paul Henning
Founder & Editor in Chief---Mission, Texas
Meagan Mendoza
Editorial and Marketing Coordinator---San Juan, Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
voices of the rgv
What We’re Looking For
We welcome authentic work that reflects life in the Rio Grande Valley. Whether through a personal essay, a poem, or a photograph, we’re looking for work that carries the people, places, memories, humor, hardships, and beauty of the Valley.You don’t need to be a professional writer or photographer. If your work is honest, thoughtfully crafted, and rooted in the Rio Grande Valley, we’d love to see it.
Voices of the Rgv
What Makes a Great Submission?
There isn’t a formula.Some of our favorite submissions are quiet. Others are funny, heartbreaking, surprising, or deeply reflective. What they all have in common is authenticity.We’re looking for work that feels true—stories, poems, and photographs that reveal something meaningful about life in the Rio Grande Valley.Don’t worry about sounding “literary.” Write in your own voice. Tell the story only you can tell.
Contact Us
DM Us and Follow Along on Instagram
@voicesofthergv
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