Thanks for checking us out! We're a small, once-annual print and online publication based out of a little college in Southern California. 

Our small, all volunteer staff is working our way through submissions, and we're hoping to notify folks about decisions soon! Thank you for being patient with us!

Learn more about The Ear by visiting our site: https://www.the-ear.org/ or on Instagram @theearcommunity

Want to help support The Ear? Visit The Ear Foundation page to make a tax-deductible donation to support the journal.

The Ear seeks original, previously unpublished poetry (up to 3 poems, no more than five pages total) from Orange County residents that captures the playful, meditative, incisive, and insightful spirit of Linda Purdy's work. 

To learn more about Linda Purdy and her work, visit our friends at Citric Acid.

Contest is open only to residents of Orange County, California. Members of the IVC community are encouraged to apply, but will not receive priority consideration. 

Submitters must remove any identifying information from submissions, as all submissions will be judged blind, however, name, address, phone number, and email should be included in the space provided. This information will be withheld from reviewers, but is essential to recognizing viable submissions and awarding the prize.

Winner will receive $200 and publication in issue 26 of The Ear. Finalists will be considered for publication.

Prize will be judged by professors emeritus of English and humanities at Irvine Valley College and founding editors of The Ear, Elaine Rubenstein and Peter Morrison.


The Ear seeks original, previously unpublished fiction (4,500 words maximum) from Orange County residents that captures the playful, meditative, incisive, and insightful spirit of Linda Purdy's work. 


To learn more about Linda Purdy and her work, visit our friends at Citric Acid.


Contest is open only to residents of Orange County, California. Members of the IVC community are encouraged to apply, but will not receive priority consideration. 


Submitters must remove any identifying information from submissions, as all submissions will be judged blind, however, name, address, phone number, and email should be included in the space provided. This information will be withheld from reviewers, but is essential to recognizing viable submissions and awarding the prize.


Winner will receive $200 and publication in issue 26 of The Ear. Finalists will be considered for publication.


Prize will be judged by professors emeritus of IVC and founding editors of The Ear, Elaine Rubenstein and Peter Morrison.