About Tidepools
Tidepools is the annual literary and art magazine of Peninsula College, celebrating the creativity of the North Olympic Peninsula since 1964. The magazine is produced by students and supported by the Associated Student Council, Peninsula Daily News, and The Buccaneer.
Eligibility
Submissions are open to residents of Clallam and Jefferson counties in Washington State. Previous contributors and contest winners are welcome to enter.
Submission Deadline
All submissions must be received or postmarked by 11:59 PM (PST) on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Entry Fees
Entry fees help fund publication costs and cash prizes.
- Peninsula College Students – Free
- Youth (under 18) – $5.00 per entry
- Adults (18+) – $7.50 per entry
- Non-contest submissions – Free (considered for publication, not eligible for prizes)
A separate entry form and fee are required for each submission.
Awards
- First place (PC Student & Adult categories): $100
- First place (Youth categories): $25
- All winners are guaranteed publication and receive a complimentary copy of the magazine.
- Contest entries are judged blind by respected community members.
Submission Policies
- Your name should not appear on or in your submission file.
- Online submission through Submittable is preferred. Mailed entries are accepted (see below).
- You retain copyright to your work. By submitting, you grant Peninsula College permission to use your work for publication, records, educational purposes, and promotional materials.
- AI-generated art will not be considered.
- Peninsula College is not responsible for lost or damaged work.
- By submitting, you acknowledge that your work is original and free from plagiarism.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please withdraw your entry immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
Mailed Submissions
If you are unable to submit online, you may mail your entry to:
Tidepools Magazine 2026
Peninsula College
1502 E Lauridsen Blvd.
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Include:
- A printed copy of your entry (typed for written submissions)
- A separate entry form for each submission
- A check payable to Peninsula College for total entry fees (no cash)
Mailed entries will be manually entered into Submittable by staff.
Publication & Launch Event
Winners will be announced in Spring 2026 and honored at the Tidepools Launch Event on Friday, June 5, 2026. Published contributors will receive a complimentary copy.
Questions?
Contact us at TidepoolsMagazine@gmail.com
🎨Visual Art
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
📸 Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
🎨Visual Art
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
📸 Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
🎨Visual Art
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
📸 Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Visual Art
We accept most forms of visual art, including fine, digital, 2D, 3D, color, and black & white.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Visual Art
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Music
We welcome original compositions in all genres. (Covers are not accepted.)
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 original compositions
- File format: .mp3
- Include song title(s) in the file name
- Do not include your name in the file name
Non-contest submissions are free and considered for publication, but ineligible to win prizes.
Poetry
We welcome all poetic forms and styles.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or header
Prose
We accept short fiction and creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words.
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 pieces
- Typed and double-spaced
- Include title and page number in the header
- File format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf
- Do not include your name in the file or headeretry & Prose
- We accept all forms of poetry and short stories of 3000 words or less.
- Your name should not appear on or in the work.
- Entries must be typed and double-spaced.
- Typed entries must include the title and page numbers on each page.
- Files must be in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.
Non-contest submissions are free and considered for publication, but ineligible to win prizes.
🎨Visual Art
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 works
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the artwork or in the file name
- AI-generated art will not be considered
Optional Resource: Watch How to Photograph Your Art (Saatchi Online) for tips on creating high-quality images.
If you’re unable to photograph your work, the Tidepools team can help. Contact dfrank@pencol.edu for assistance.
📸 Photography
We accept all forms of photography (color, black & white, digital, and film).
Requirements:
- Submit up to 3 photographs
- File format: .jpg only
- Minimum file size: 1MB
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
- Do not include your name on the image or in the file name
Non-contest submissions are free and considered for publication, but ineligible to win prizes.
Music
We welcome original compositions in all genres. (Covers are not accepted.)
Requirements:
- Submit up to 2 original compositions
- File format: .mp3
- Include song title(s) in the file name
- Do not include your name in the file name