Would you like your poetry, fiction, or art to be published in the Detroit Metro Times in print and online to over 700,000 readers? Would you like one of 20 opportunities to win a $100 VISA gift card? Are you a Metro-Detroit youth with something to say?
Detroit Lit is seeking art, poetry, and fiction from youth ages 13-19 to feature in the 2026 Detroit Metro Times Fiction Issue. This year’s theme is “Worthy of Our Eyes” and will feature 20 of metro Detroit’s most creative and innovative emerging voices.
“Worthy of Our Eyes” invites youth artists to uplift the dreams, desires, and concerns you most value. At a time when our attention is being pulled in so many directions, your voices are being neglected and silenced. What are the ideas and subjects that most occupy your intellect? What do you carry into your everyday life? Young artists are the voices that lead tomorrow’s society. We turn to you now to guide the conversation. Let us take a pause in the chaos of these times to focus our attention on the joys, the hardships, and the accomplishments of you!
Each year, Detroit Lit features outstanding fiction, poetry, and art from across the area in the Metro Times Fiction Issue. The publication highlights exceptional artists from the region, and this year, we’re featuring youth voices. Approximately 20 students across the Metro area will be chosen for publication in June. If chosen, your work will reach thousands of people, and you’ll be awarded a $100 Visa gift card upon publication. Support for this year’s fiction issue comes from Detroit Lit, the Metro Times, and Arts Midwest.
You can check out earlier issues at these links: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Submission Guidelines
Submit a single poem, a short story, or a piece of visual art. All submissions should be original work by the student. No work created with the help of AI will be considered. Work can consist of something you’ve created previously, something you’ve been working on for a long time, or something that speaks to this year’s theme, “Worthy of Our Eyes.” We invite you to define the theme any way you like.
Gift cards will be distributed after publication of the piece. All submissions need to be submitted electronically to the submission form. No submissions accepted via post or email. All submissions are due May 24, 2026. No late work will be accepted. If you have your work ready before then, you may submit it as soon as possible.
Eligibility
All applicants must be:
- Currently 13-19 years old.
- Residing in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw counties.
Poetry
- Poems should be no longer than 30 lines. Shorter lines work best.
- Only Microsoft Word documents will be accepted. If you don’t have Microsoft Word, that’s OK. You can write your piece in a free Google Doc and download an MS Word document. See instructions below.
- A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.
- A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age.
Fiction
- Short stories should be no more than 1,000 words.
- Only Microsoft Word documents will be accepted. If you don’t have Microsoft Word, that’s OK. You can write your piece in a free Google Doc and download an MS Word document. See instructions below.
- A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.
- A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age.
Visual Art
- Any discipline (painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, multi-media, etc.).
- A high-resolution photo submitted through the form linked below. Do not send original work.
- Visual artists, please upload your file as a JPEG or PDF. No other formats will be accepted.
- A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.
- A one-sentence description of materials used to create art.
- A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age.
Award: $100 Visa Gift Card. Payments will be paid after publication. You may elect to receive a physical card in the mail or an electronic card through email.
Due Date: May 24, 2026, at 5PM EST. Nothing will be accepted after this date (but we would love to receive it earlier).
Notification: Those who have been selected will be notified by June 6.
Theme: “Worthy of Our Eyes”
Publication Date: July 22, 2026, in print and online.
Legal: You will retain all rights to your work. This means you still own it and can use it however you see fit after publication, including selling it elsewhere.
Permission: For those under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian will need to sign the permission slip. The permission slip may be printed, signed, then uploaded to the submission form at the time of submission. You may take a photograph of the permission slip or scan the slip.
Where To Submit: Submit everything to this submission form. No other form of submission will be accepted. You may only submit one piece for consideration. Duplicate submissions will be disqualified. Written pieces may receive light editing. All information must be complete and uploaded to complete the submission. No submissions accepted via post or email.
The Google Form may be found by typing the below URL into your browser if you are unable to click the link above:
https://forms.gle/7tWv76Q6gjYMMJe68
Questions may be emailed to: metrotimesfictionissue@gmail.com
Thanks! We hope you can participate and look forward to seeing your work!
