Far More is Happening Here
The Fargo Public Library is seeking submissions for our 9th annual Northern Narratives, a writing project that aims to inspire local and regional writers and serve as a community heirloom. Selected submissions will be included in the library's North Dakota Collection. We are accepting submissions through our online submission form from Feb.1 through March 31, 2025 in three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The program is open to adults and teens 13 years or older and there is no fee to submit your work.
2025 Submission Categories:
• Fiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words
• Nonfiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words
• Poetry: 1,000 words of less per poem
All submissions must be original, unpublished, proofread, and edited works. All rules, guidelines, information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) are available here. The selection committee reserves the right to withhold publication at their discretion. Please see the rubrics the judges will be using for both poetry and prose.
For any questions, please email NorthernNarratives@fargolibrary.org or call Andy at 701.241.1412.
The Northern Narratives project is supported by the Friends of the Fargo Public Library.
Northern Focus is a project conceived by the Fargo Public Library for regional photographers with the aim to provide a free space, for artist and viewer alike, to showcase up-and-coming or recreational photographers and share local perspectives.
The library is hosting the 6th annual Northern Focus photography project this spring. We are asking photographers from the region to send us their best work to grace our downtown location in a photo exhibit. One lucky artist will get their photograph on the front cover of Northern Narratives 2025. We are accepting online submissions from April 1 through May 31, 2025. The program is open to adults and teens 13 years and older. Additional details about the Northern Focus photography project will be available soon.
Grab your pencils and paper, kids! The library is accepting writing and art entries for its kids-only edition of the library’s literature publication. Kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade are welcome to submit entries in any of the categories including short stories, poetry, comics, nonfiction essays, drawing, or photography. Entries will be judged and prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place in each category. All submissions will be included in the online literary magazine (provided they meet eligibility requirements and guidelines).
A full list of guidelines, including how to submit entries and the entry form, is available at www.fargolibrary.org/kids.
• Entries accepted March 1 through April 30, 2025
• Winners announced on May 26
• Northern Narratives Jr. online magazine will be available June 20
Northern Narratives 2024 is the library’s eighth publication of poems, essays, and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online. Please note that the [cover art]( "Northern Narratives 2024 book cover") (titled Heaven on Earth) for this book was by photographer Derrick Mindt and submitted as part of the Northern Focus 2024 photography project.
Northern Narratives 2023 is the library’s seventh publication of poems, essays, and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online. Please note that the cover art (titled Yellowjacket on a Grape Leaf) for this book was by photographer Jeffrey Westgard and submitted as part of the Northern Focus 2023 photography project.
Northern Narratives 2022 is the library’s sixth publication of poems, essays, and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online. Please note that the cover art (titled Milky Way and Meteor) for this book was by photographer Gordon Court and submitted as part of the Northern Focus 2022 photography project.
Northern Narratives Jr. is the library's kids-only, literary magazine. This anthology is available to be read online and features over 50 entries of poems, nonfiction essays, short stories, drawings, photographs, and comics written and created by school-age children from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community in the spring of 2022. Categories had first and second place winners, and some categories also had honorable mentions, as judged by the Fargo Public Library Children's Services Staff. Winners works are indicated by an asterisk.*
Please note: Transcription of each piece is taken directly from the original work, so any creative spelling, grammar, or formatting is considered intentional by the artist.
Northern Narratives 2021 is the library’s fifth publication of poems, essays and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online. Please note that the cover art (titled The Wild Mist) for this book was by photographer Brittani Hovland and submitted as part of the Northern Focus 2021 photography project.
Northern Narratives Jr. is the library's first ever, kids-only, literary magazine. It is available to be read online and features poems, nonfiction essays, short stories, drawings, photographs, and comics written and created by school-age children from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community in the spring of 2021. Each category had first and second place winners as judged by the Fargo Public Library Children's Services Staff. Winning works are indicated by an asterisk.*
Please note: Transcription of each piece was taken directly from the original work, so any creative spelling, grammar, or formatting is considered intentional by the artist.
Northern Narratives 2020 is the library’s fourth publication of poems, essays and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online. Please note that the cover art (titled Home in the Middle of Nowhere) for this book was by photographer Hannah Borsheim submitted as part of the inaugural Northern Focus photography project.
Northern Narratives 2019 is the library’s third publication of poems, essays and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online.
Northern Narratives 2018 is the library’s third publication of poems, essays and short stories produced by local and regional authors. It is available at all three library locations for check out, or it can be read online.
