Scribeworth Magazine Announces Its 2026 Pushcart Prize Nominees

Each of these works captures something elemental—whether it’s a sharp truth, a haunting moment, a quiet act of defiance, or a deeply human experience that lingers in the mind long after the last line. Together, they reveal why independent literature remains the heart of contemporary storytelling: unfiltered, unapologetically honest, and alive with voices that aren’t afraid to stretch beyond the expected. Below are this year’s nominees and a short glimpse into why their work moved us.

POETRY

“Beige” by Alina Kalontarov (Vol. 1, Issue 1 )

FICTION

“Release” by Joie Lesin (Vol. 1, Issue 2)

“The Garden Apartment” by Bridget Goldschmidt (Vol.1, Issue 1)

“Off Her Chest” by Barbara Coles (Vol. 1, Issue 2)

“Feedback” by B.K. Bach (Vol. 1, Issue 2)

About the Pushcart Prize

The Pushcart Prize, established in 1976, honors exceptional poetry, short stories, essays, and other literary work published by small presses across the United States. Each year, magazine and small-press editors can nominate up to six pieces, and the selected works are collected in the annual Pushcart Prize anthology. Over time, the award has become a respected platform for showcasing emerging writers and championing the vitality of independent publishing.