Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem are pleased to announce a call for submissions for “Pieces of Salem,” a literary anthology celebrating the city’s upcoming quadricentennial. Led by Salem’s Inaugural Poet Laureate, J.D. Scrimgeour, the anthology invites residents and those with ties to the city to reflect on their personal experiences of life in Salem through poetry or prose.
“This inclusive collection of prose and poetry will help document life in Salem for future generations.” said Poet Laureate J.D Scrimgeour, “I encourage everyone to make their story part of the fabric of this Salem tapestry.”
Contributors are encouraged to submit original works totaling no more than 400 words. This may take the form of a single piece or multiple shorter works. Submissions should capture what Salem means to them, offering a diverse and heartfelt portrait of the city through its people’s words.
“As Salem prepares to celebrate our quadricentennial next year we’re excited to showcase the stories and reflections of residents,” said Mayor Pangallo. “This publication will offer a chance for community members, through their own stories and their own words, to share what Salem means to them, in a publication that will live on for generations. I’m grateful to Salem Poet Laureate J.D. Scrimgeour for leading this initiative and I very much look forward to reading the final submissions when ‘Pieces of Salem’ is published!”
Those whose work is selected will receive one complimentary copy of the published anthology. Additional copies will be made available for purchase at a discounted author rate.
Submissions are open to anyone who has lived or worked in Salem for at least one year. Contributors will be asked to briefly describe their connection to the city at the time of submission. The deadline to submit work is December 1, 2025. All contributors will be notified of the status of their submission by December 31, 2025. For more information, and to submit your writing, please click here.
Questions about the project can be directed to J.D. Scrimgeour at poet@salem.com.
This initiative is part of a broader citywide celebration honoring Salem’s 400-year history and the voices that have shaped it. We look forward to reading your stories. For more information on Salem’s 400+ celebration visit Salem400.org
