Boars Tusk Literary Journal

Note: To submit, scroll to the bottom of the page.

  • Before you do, check out our recent issues and prize-winning work.
  • We offer prizes for fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art and photography each year. Each first-prize winner will receive $75, and second-prize winners $30. 
  • Deadline for the 2025 edition is January, 15 2025.

Interested in helping produce the 2025 Edition of Boars Tusk? 

Take the class ENGL 2471: Literary Journal, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:15 PM in Spring 2025. It's an excellent resume builder and a worthwhile experience. You'll be part of a talented team.

 

Boars Tusk is a literary journal publishing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, artwork, and photography by Western Wyoming Community Collegecover of journal featuring a strong woman in profile students and residents of Sweetwater County. The journal provides a forum for students and community members to showcase their work and gives the journal's staff members hands-on experience in producing, editing, designing, and publicizing the journal, skills that will be valuable in the workplace.

Boars Tusk 2023-2024 Issue

2023-2024 Prize Winners

Fiction

2024
  • Brandon Finley, "Having a Hell of a Time," First Prize
  • Nyah Bowhay, "One More Year," Second Prize
2023
  • Cameron Ribordy, "What for Dessert," First Prize
  • Terri Thomas, "The Red Logo," Second Prize

Art

2024
  • Ariana Kuhn, "Golden Hour," First Prize
  • Allison Murray, "Little Guy" Second Prize
2023
  • Zach Birch, "Self Portrait," First Prize
  • Zach Birch, "A Coign of Vantage, Master Copy," Second Prize

Poetry

2024
  • Krystal Carmine, "It's 5pm in the grocery line and my uncertainty is eating me," First Prize
  • Aaron Petrich, "Recreating Destruction," Second Prize
2023
  • Madison Petty, "Water and Stone," First Prize
  • Carria Desmond, "Thinking Bird, Happy Song," Second Prize

Photography

2024
  • Ellie Croft, "Rows and Columns," First Prize
  • Emma Granthem, "North Shore," Second Prize
2023
  • Emilee Thomas, "Antics in Austin," First Prize
  • Emilee Thomas, "Isolation," Second Prize

Nonfiction

2024
  • Mya Boren, "Lessons in Death," First Prize
  • Jessica Lewis, "Not in Spite of My Struggles, But Because of Them, I Am Who I Am," Second Prize
2023
  • Ethan Nelson, "Impaired Driving: An Action with Dire Consequences," First Prize
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Boars Tusk 2022 Issue

Boars Tusk cover

2022 Prize Winners

Poetry
  • Zach Birch "Realization," First Prize
  • Myra Peak "Center of Gravity," Second Prize
Photography
  • Patricia Swan-Smith "Morning Pose," First Prize
  • Michele Irwin, "MT Land Acknowledgement," Second Prize
Fiction
  • Zach Birch "Stepping into Reality," First Prize
  • Patricia Swan-Smith "The Bird Feeder," Second Prize
Art
  • Abbie Barajas "Bella and Bessie," First Prize
  • Patricia Swan-Smith "The Bird Feeder," Second Prize
Nonfiction
  • Scott Varley "Romantic Ideal or Realistic Ordeal," First Prize
  • Duncan Elder "Sexual Orientation Does Not Contaminate Blood," Second Prize

Boars Tusk cover featuring a photo of a cliff overlooking waterBoars Tusk 2021 Issue 

2021 Prize Winners

Fiction
  • A. Balaskovits “Vivisection,” First Prize 
  • Joe Gibbs “The Hunter,” Second Prize
Artwork/Photography
  • Michele Irwin “Tanktaka,” First Prize
  • Kathryn Hoefler “Introspection,” Second Prize
Poetry
  • Brandon Marlo “WITH SCARS ON YOUR CHEEKS LIKE POMEGRANATE SEEDS AND VILLAGES OF FRECKLES OVER YOUR NOSE,” First Prize
  • Jon Howard “The Curse Record,” Second Prize
Nonfiction
  • Alexandrea Harper, “Raisins,” First Prize
  • Patricia Swan-Smith “A Vacation Guide for the Anxious Mind,” Second Prize

2020 Issue

The 2020 issue can be read at SweetwaterNow

2020 Prize Winners

Fiction
  • First Prize: Joe Gibbs, “The Harvester”
  • Second Prize: Savannah Walker, “The End of God”
Poetry
  • First Prize: Myra Peak, “The Road”
  • Second Prize: Joe Gibbs, “Life”
  • Honorable Mention: Savannah Walker, “The creatures in my bathtub”

Submit

Boar’s Tusk will be open for submissions from September 1 - January 15. Use our online Submissions Form or email us at boarstusk@westernwyoming.edu . Acceptances will be issued in March - April. We appreciate your patience.

Join our Editorial Team

  • To help edit Boars Tusk, register for English 2100, Literary Journal. The course can be taken for one or two credits.
  • Volunteer editors are also welcome. To volunteer, contact boarstusk@westernwyoming.eduor faculty advisor Michelle Zuppa at mzuppa@westernwyoming.edu