Add Your Words to Our Words

Every writer ignites the circuit.

As the Poetry & Prose Network grows, so does Our Words—a living collection of poems, stories, essays, spoken word, and personal reflections created by our community.

To honor the relationships and creative energy behind this space, submissions to Our Words are reserved for regular PPN participants. If you’ve joined us for an open mic, took part in a workshop, received feedback in PPN Feedback Loop, volunteered, or regularly gather with us, this showcase is for you.

Our Words reflects more than just individual creativity—it captures the conversations, encouragement, and shared moments that keep our creative circuit moving.

You don't need to be a published writer. You just need a voice you’re willing to share.

Whether it’s a quick spark from a writing prompt or a polished piece, we’d love to amplify your work.

We're Especially Looking For

Themes

🤝 Community & Belonging — Connection, shared spaces, and finding home
🌱 Growth & Transformation — Personal journeys, learning, and new beginnings
🧠 Identity & Reflection — Who we are, where we’ve been, and self-discovery
🔥 Courage & Resilience — Overcoming challenges and finding your voice
❤️ Love & Connection — Relationships, romance, friendships, and the bonds that pull us together
🕯️ Grief & Loss — Remembrance, longing, endings, and the human experience of grief
🌲 Place & Roots — Redmond, the Eastside, nature, and local spaces
✨ Hope & Possibility — Dreams, optimism, and future vision

Community-Defining Pieces

We’re also eager to feature works that capture the essence and history of PPN itself, including pieces centered on:

Community Identity (e.g., We Are Poetry & Prose Network)
Community & Event Experiences (e.g., I'll Be Seeing You)
Creative Philosophy (e.g., We Hold the Pen)

Submission Guidelines

Our goal isn't to act as gatekeepers—it's to curate a welcoming, diverse, and inspiring library that reflects the true spirit of our community.

📜 Rights & Ownership

100% Copyright Retention: You keep full copyright of your work.
We also welcome previously published pieces!
Permissions: By submitting, you grant PPN permission to feature your work on our website and consider it for future anthologies, featured readings, exhibits, social media, and community showcases.
Credit & Removal: You will always receive full author credit. If you ever want your work removed from our website in the future, simply let us know.

✍️ Editing & Curation

Formatting: We may make minor formatting tweaks for visual consistency, typography, or accessibility, but we will never make substantial edits to your text without your approval.
Selection: Because Our Words is a curated community collection, we may not publish every submission.
We reserve the right to select, decline, or remove pieces at our discretion.

💬 Tone & Values

Vulnerability & Respect: We welcome honest, vulnerable, and thought-provoking writing.
Content Warnings: For sensitive or challenging topics, we may add a brief content warning so we can explore deep themes while maintaining a safe, respectful environment for every reader.