Call for papers

Call for Submissions: Texas Folklore Society book on Legends

Got a great spooky story or cryptid lurking in your community? The Texas Folklore Society is currently seeking submissions for a book on legends in Texas and the Southwest.

Legends are short stories that are presented as true and recount incidents that are miraculous, bizarre, uncanny, or humorous. Remember that something being a legend doesn’t mean it’s not true, and at the Texas Folklore Society, we never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Legends may include (but are not limited to):

• • Ghost stories
  • Cryptids/unusual animal tales
  • Historical stories that may not exactly match what the records say/cannot be proven
  • Family legends
  • Stories about the way towns or landmarks got their names
  • Tales about noteworthy local characters

We are looking for two types of submissions:

1. Narrations of legends. These should have a basis in folklore, but can be written in the author’s own words. Alternately, they may be presented in the form of interviews or oral histories. Authors are encouraged to be creative in the presentation of their stories as long as they are faithful to the tradition of the stories they are telling.
2. Essays about legends. Here we are looking for submissions with more of an analytical bent. These might analyze a particular legend or compare similar legends or look at a theme that occurs within different legends.

We seek submissions from scholars, amateur folklorists, and community members alike. You’ll need to be a member to submit your paper, but it is easy and affordable to join on our website, TexasFolkloreSociety.org

Submissions are due August 15, 2025. Submit via email to TexaFolkloreSociety@gmail.com

Guidelines:

• Submissions should have some connection to Texas and/or the Southwest.
• All submissions should have a basis in folklore; purely fictional submissions will not be accepted.
• There are no length requirements, but we recommend submissions be no more than 6,000 words in length.
• All submissions must be written in the author’s own words; all sources should be acknowledged. Individuals are responsible for making sure they have the rights to publish all material included.
• We do not accept AI-generated submissions.

The Texas Folklore Society was founded in 1909 and is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the practices and customs of the people of Texas and the Southwest. We are currently in partnership with Tarleton State University, where our offices are located.