Anthology aims to capture joy, pain in Rockford’s untold stories: Your submissions are wanted

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new collaborative literary project led by a local writer and editor sets out to have Rockford residents tell the city’s story to a national audience.

“The Rockford Anthology” is being spearheaded by Rockford native Rachel León as part of Belt Publishing’s anthology series. León is collecting submissions now as she sets out to capture the tragedy, joy, drama, humor and pride that comes with living in Rockford.

“Whether it’s a story of pride or a moment of heartbreak, we want to hear from you,” León said. “We’re looking for personal accounts that convey the dreams, frustrations, and hopes of those who call Rockford home.”

Submissions are being accepted through Oct. 15. There’s no set length or genre, you can submit poetry, essays or other prose.

León’s goal is to document the diverse narratives that make up the fabric of the community. Submissions are encouraged from individuals of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexualities, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Doing so can be anything to poking fun at your hometown to confronting some of its toughest issues head on.

“Rockford has a sense of humor and can make fun of itself, but there are a lot of hard things that happen in Rockford and are part of Rockford’s history — and that needs to be there, too,” she said. “Tragedy next to joy.”

The project spurred from León’s interview with Anne Trubek, publisher of “Best of the Rust Belt.” León noted the book and Belt’s anthology series was missing her hometown. Now she’s leading the effort to showcase the city through its stories.

Those interested in submitting a piece are encouraged to reflect on their personal connection to the city. León also wants to see writers explore the local history, points of pride, social challenges and any personal memories.

She said stories can range to the triumphs of Rockford natives such as Academy Award-nominated director Bing Liu and NBA star Fred VanVleet to challenges such as the People Who Care race discrimination lawsuit.

“This anthology is an opportunity for residents past and present to share their experiences and contribute to a broader understanding of our city,” she said.

The anthology is slated for publication in 2026.

How to submit

You can enter your submission for The Rockford Anthology by emailing it to rockfordanthology@gmail.com.

To learn more about the guidelines for submissions, go HERE.

Deadline: Oct. 15

Writing workshops

Rachel León will host two writing workshops next month for those preparing a submission or interesting in improving their writing in general.

Writing on Rockford

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21

Where: Maze Books, 406 E. State St., Rockford

Writing essays

When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Where: Rockford Public Library Montague Branch, 1238 S. Winnebago St., Rockford

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas