The River Heron Editors’ Prize

Submissions open September 1 through November 30, 2025
The 2025 Winners will be published in a contest issue on February 1, 2026

 
 

The River Heron Editors’ Prize awards the
winning poet $500 plus publication.
Four finalists will also be named and published.

2025 CONTEST INFORMATION

  • Submissions open September 1 through November 30, 2025.

  • Name or initials should not appear on any part of the poetry submission. We ask that submissions remain anonymous so that we may make our selections based on the quality of the writing. Submissions will be assigned an auto-generated number by Submittable. Submissions not adhering to this guideline will be declined.

  • Judging will be done by the editors of River Heron Review, Robbin Farr and Dawn Terpstra.

  • Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Let us know immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere by sending us a note through the “Messages” section of Submittable.

  • Poets should refrain from entering the contest if their relationship with either judge constitutes a conflict of interest. This includes close personal friends and current RHR associates. Please see our statement at the bottom of this listing regarding the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Contests Code of Ethics. Any questions may be directed to editors@riverheronreview.com

  • There is a $15 submission fee. Multiple submissions require an additional form and fee.

  • Poets may submit up to 3 poems. Previously published poems are not eligible. Entries must not have been previously chosen as winners, finalists, or honorable mentions in other contests.

  • The winning poem and four finalists’ poems will be announced in January 2026. The selected poems will be published on February 1, 2026.

  • All submissions through Submittable.


    Originality and Contest Integrity

    By entering a River Heron poetry contest, all participants affirm that each submitted work is their own original creation, not previously published and not generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence tools or copied from another source.

    River Heron Review reserves the right to disqualify any entry, rescind recognition, or remove a winning piece from publication at any time if it is determined that the submission violates these terms. This right extends beyond the close of the contest and includes the ability to revoke awards if questions of originality or authorship cannot be satisfactorily resolved.

    We may request verification of authorship when necessary. Entrants who cannot provide satisfactory proof may have their submissions disqualified without refund.


    Council of Literary Magazines and Presses Contests Code of Ethics

    CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.

    River Heron Review is not funded by any university, college, or organization. We do not receive any grants.

 
submit