Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 11

92 Calls for Submissions in October 2023 - Paying markets

Autumn Beauty: Flickr This October there are more than seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.
Happy submitting!

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Reservoir Road Literary Review. Genre: Literary short stories, lyrical creative non-fiction, photography. Payment: $5. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023. Note: Submission window closes when their cap is reached.

Cutleaf. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction prose, poetry. Payment: $100 to $400 for published nonfiction prose; $50 to $200 for published poetry; $100 to $400 for published fiction. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023. Note: Submission window closes when their cap is reached.

Polar Borealis. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word. $10 for one thousand words or less. $20 for two thousand words or less (but reasonably above one thousand). $30 for three thousand words or less (but reasonably above two thousand). Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023.

Nimrod. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Payment: $10 per page, with a $200 maximum. Deadline: October 1, 2023. Fee to submit online; no fee for postal submissions.

The Iowa Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $1.50 per line for poetry ($100 minimum) and $0.08 per word for prose ($100 minimum). Deadline: October 1, 2023. No fee for snail mail submissions. $4 fee for online submissions.

Cybearpunk. Genre: Science fiction stories that feature and empower large gay/bi/queer men. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works.  Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

little somethings. Genre: Flash fiction, flash memoir, poetry, art. Payment: "Small honorarium." Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Unsettling Reads. Genre: Short story. Theme: Horror vs Thriller. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Negative Creep. Genre: Horror inspired by Nirvana songs. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Coffee House Press is an independent book publisher and arts nonprofit based in Minneapolis, MN. Genre: Full-length fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023. Closes when cap is reached.

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: Opens October1, 2023, and closes when they reach capacity. 

Toronto Journal. Genre: Short stories from anywhere in the world. "We will also consider non-fiction pieces about local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding)." No word limit. Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. $1 a line for poetry. 2 - 8 cents/word for nonfiction. Deadline: October 2, 2023. Accepts reprints.


Invisible City. Genre: All genres. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 5, 2023.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Dark, eerie speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $10 for fiction. Deadline: October 6, 2023.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: October 6, 2023.

Cursed Morsels. Genre: Single-author horror collections with an emphasis on the Weird, queer, splattery, anti-capitalist, and/or anti-fascist. Payment: Advance: $300 + royalties. Deadline: October 7, 2023.

Hauntings and Hoarfrost. Genre: Gothic fiction. See theme, Payment: $50 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for stories. $20 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for poems. Deadline: October 7, 2023. 

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: October 7, 2023. Open to submissions the first week of every month.

Little Bastards: Too-Short Horror Stories Nobody Wants. Genre: Horror. Length: Anywhere between 1000 and 2000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 7, 2023. Extended deadline for  LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and marginalized writers.

Luna Press. Genre: Speculative fiction novels and collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 8, 2023.

Luna Press: The Utopia of Us. Genre: Speculative fiction, 2000-6000 words. Payment: £75 for the story. Given Russia’s current war with Ukraine, royalties from the book will be donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Deadline: October 8, 2023.

Cossmass Infinities. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: October 14, 2023. Note: Open during the first week of February and October for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors then opening to general submission for the second week.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: October 14, 2023. See themes.

DreamForge. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short fiction up to 7000 words. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: October 14, 2023. 

Daikaijuzine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

A Public Space. Genre: Fiction, essays, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. Payment: Honorarium. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Carte Blanche (Canada). Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations. comics, photography. Payment: "Modest" Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Sasee. Genre: First-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their primary editorial focus. Payment: Varies. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Consequence Magazine: The Culture of War. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and visual art mainly focused on the culture of war. Payment: $20 - $60 for prose and poetry, $150 for art. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Tule Publishing. Genre: Romance and mystery ebooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Conium Press. Genre: Magical realist, surrealist, and experimental fiction: Chapbooks. Payment: 
Ten copies and a small honorarium. Deadline: October 15, 2023. 

Feisty Felines. Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, horror, suspense, humor, and romance, appropriate for up to a PG-13 audience. Felines and or familiars (of other types) must be central to the work. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Beyond the Bounds of Infinity. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to marginalized peoples. Genre: Horror. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Jane Nightshade's Serial Encounters Anthology. Genre: Short stories about casual encounters of fictional people with serial killers, that turned creepy or deadly. Stories can be straight crime/thriller stories or ones with a supernatural bent. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Griffith Review: Counterfeit Culture. Genre: Non-fiction, fiction on theme: Past Perfect. "No matter the relentless pace of technological innovation and the digitisation of everything from money to media – our appetites for retro design and aesthetics, for cultural products that reimagine technicolour-dream versions of decades gone by, or for fantasies of a past golden political age are ever on the rise." Payment: Negotiated. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Embodied Exegesis: Transfeminine Speculative Futures. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to people who are transfem: trans women, transfems, nonbinary trans women, etc. Genre: Cyberpunk stories written by transfem authors. Payment: $0.08/word for originals, $0.01/word for reprints. Deadline: October 15, 2023. Accepts reprints. 

Hansen House. Genre: Hansen House is looking for anything with queer protagonists or by queer authors so long as the story does not fall into the “bury your gays” trope. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Fat Coyote. Restrictions: Writers must be neurodivergent. Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF, Art, Photography, Comics. Payment: 3 cents/word for prose. $1 line for poetry. $30 - $40 for art. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Rattle: Tribute to Collaboration. Genre: Poetry. The poems may be any subject, style, or length, but must have been written by two or more co-authors. Payment: $200. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: October 15, 2023. (Note: September 15-21 is reserved for writers of color)

Dose of Dread. Genre: Horror flash fiction. Length: 500 – 1,000 words. Payment: 2c/word. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, there are no submission fees for Latinx writers from September 15th to October 15th.

Electric Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Amplitudes Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity Anthology. Genre: Short fiction. "During a time of rising threat against queer and trans people's flourishing, this anthology project aims to imagine other, better worlds as an act of literary resistance. Inspired by the words of José Esteban Muñoz, “the future is queerness’s domain," these stories explore what might happen if the oppressive status quo of the here and now is rejected—instead asking, but what if things were different?" Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 16, 2023. See themes. Queries only.

Uncanny Magazine. Genre: Speculative short stories. Length: 750 to 10,000 words. Payment: $.10 per word. Deadline: October 16, 2023.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: October 21, 2023. Opens October 1.

Astrolabe. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 22, 2023.

Off Topic Publishing: Poetry Box. Genre: Poetry. Payment $40 CAD. Deadline: October 25, 2023. This is a monthly call. Submit by the 25th of each month.

Mudroom. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: October 25, 2023.


Black Ocean. Restrictions: BIPOC writers only. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: October 27, 2023.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction on theme: November. Length: 1000 words max. Payment: $3. Deadline: October 27, 2023.

Embrace the Silence Anthology. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to Australian and New Zealand authors who identify as neurodivergent. Genre: Apocalyptic stories featuring neurodivergent characters. Payment: $20-$50. Deadline: October 30, 2023.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 30, 2023.

Ofic. Genre: Short fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, art. "Send us your dead doves, your blorbos, your plinkos, your wretched meow meows yearning to be free; that thing you wrote that made you think, “I don’t know where this belongs”; the stuff you’d never show anyone you know IRL. Give us your shameless, self-indulgent smut; the manuscript to the video essay you dictated to your YouTube subscribers in your head; your thoughtful explorations of trauma and identity; your Pepe Silvia wall; your sci-fi, your fantasy, your romance, your realism. We want anything and everything. As long as you identify as a fan, we want to read your work." (Up to 12,000 words). Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Black Lawrence Press: Immigrant Writing Series. Restrictions: Open to any individual living in the U.S. who identifies as an immigrant and who either (i) was born in another country, (ii) has at least one parent who was born in another country (iii) is a refugee, or (iv) lives in the United States under Asylum or a Protection Program, such as TPS or DACA. Genre: books of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), and hybrid texts of poetry and prose. Payment: “In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors.” Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Engen Books: Cryptids from the Rock. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: "Short fiction under 7000 words that focus on cryptids, animals whose existence permeate urban myths but are not recognized within the scientific community. The From the Rock collections are intended to highlight the fantastic, varied writers Newfoundland and Labrador has fostered." Payment: $0.01 CAD per word to an upper limit of 7,000 words. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Diet Milk: ‘In The Bleak Midwinter.' Genre: Gothic micro/flash fiction. Payment: $3 for micro fiction, $5 for flash fiction. Deadline: October 31, 2022. (Runs from October 1 - 31)

bath magg. Genre: Poetry. Payment: £20. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

JMS Books: Your Favorite Trope. Genre: LGBT romance. "A trope is a familiar plot device an author uses to bring two characters together. There are dozens of them -- friends to lovers, second chances, arranged marriages, forbidden love, celebrity falls for fan, love triangle, secret admirer ..." Length: 12,000 words or higher. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Silver Blade. Genre: Science Fiction, Slipstream, Classic and Modern Fantasy; short fiction, flash fiction, novellas, and poetry. Payment: $15 for novellas, $3 for flash fiction, $8 for short stories, $8 for single poems and $15 for Featured Poets (by invitation only). Silver Pen will pay half of these rates for previously published works. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Reprints accepted.

MetaStellar. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy or horror. 1000 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

How2Conquer. Genre: Nonfiction books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Hub City Press publishes books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. "We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Dragon Soul Press: A Winter Promise. Genre: "All Christmas stories. As long as Christmas is involved, the story qualifies. All genres. Happily Ever After not required." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Orison Books. Genre: Novels, short story or flash fiction collections, novellas, personal or lyric essays and memoir. Payment: Small advance and royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Kissing Dynamite. Genre: Poetry microchap manuscripts. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

FIYAH. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to people of the African Diaspora. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Temz Review. Genre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Crimson Quill Quarterly. Genre: Sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and grimdark subgenres of fantasy fiction. Length: Up to 10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $3 minimum. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Accepts reprints.

Infrarrealista Restrictions: They prioritize writers from Texas, especially those from the central Texas area. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics, reviews, and interviews. Payment: 15 cents/word up to 300 words and 5 cents/word after that. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Open Minds Quarterly. Genre: Writing and art from people with lived experience of what is variously called mental health challenges, mental illness, madness, and neurodiversity. Payment: $25 CAD. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Malahat Review. Genre: Fiction. Payment: CAD $70/page. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration all year.

Dragon Soul Press: Dragons & Heroes. Genre: "All dragon stories with a male main character. All genres accepted." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Hearth Stories. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We publish fiction and poetry that explore connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world. The stories often fall into a fantasy, science-fiction, or magical realism sort of “slice of life.” Payment: 1¢ per word for accepted stories (with a minimum of $20 regardless of length. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

New Writing Scotland. Restrictions: Open to writers resident in Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. Genre: All forms of writing. Payment: £25 per published page. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art on theme: Lies for Children. Payment: 1 cent per word for prose, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Closes when cap is reached, so submit early.

Brick. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $55–685, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

From the Yonder. Genre: Horror. The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall-tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest). Payment: $5. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Theatre Phantasmagoria. Genre: Horrror flash fiction up to 2,000 words. Payment: £10. Deadline: October 31, 2023. This is a monthly call. See themes.

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words) Payment: 5 cents per word. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

khōréō. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: Stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and $40-300 for art. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Nine Arches. Genre: Poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Hub City Press. Genre: Books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. "We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Note: Submit nonfiction only.

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Rumpus. Genre: Essays. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Worcester Review. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: November 30, 2023. (No submission fee for BIPOC writers)

And a few more...

The First Line. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

Kelp Journal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Oceanic themes. Payment: $35. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

The Iowa Review. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $0.08 per word for prose ($100 minimum). Deadline: November 1, 2023. No fee for snail mail submissions. $4 fee for online submissions.

Adroit Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: November 1, 2023. Note: Open to high school students and up.

Cutleaf. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction prose, poetry. Payment: $100 to $400 for published nonfiction prose; $50 to $200 for published poetry; $100 to $400 for published fiction. Deadline: Opens November 1, 2023. Note: Submission window closes when their cap is reached.

Thema: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle. Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2023. Accepts reprints.

Olit. Restrictions: Strong preference for Orlando based writers/submissions about Orlando and surrounding areas. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Artwork, Photography. "Send us all kinds of stuff. We love the artfully weird." Payment: $10. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of  queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

The Blue Route. Restrictions: Only the work of current undergraduate writers will be considered. Genres: Fiction, or creative nonfiction totaling no more than 3000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

Heathens and Heroes. Genre: Sword and Sorcery / Heroic Fantasy. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 1, 2023.

46 Writing Contests in October 2023 - No entry fees

Wikimedia Commons This October there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $150,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

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PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative. Restrictions: Applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. Prize: Grant amount not specified. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

New-York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize. Genre: Nonfiction history or historical fiction for middle-grade readers that was published in the US in the current calendar year. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize. Restrictions: Anyone from a refugee or migrant background is eligible to submit an entry for the prize if they are resident in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, whether they have previously been published or not. You do not need to have finished writing your book in order to enter. Genre: Narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Prize: £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Quarterly West.  Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $500. Deadline: No fee days: October 1 -2, 2023. (May or may not be running in 2023)

The Kenan Ince Memorial Prizes in Poetry & Prose. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQIA2S+ writers. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $250. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

The 50 & Up Writer Award. Restrictions: Open to writers aged 50 and up. Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Prize: $50.00 USD, and for any and each year of age past that mark, one additional dollar. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

T Paulo Urcanse Prize For Literary Excellence. Genre: Poetry and prose. " Whether you be a lonely writer looking for community and wanting to make your literary debut, or a similarly eggheaded and celebrated writer in the vein of the namesake of this prize, we welcome your submissions with open arms, without fees or prerequisites, without ever having known you or met you at a cocktail party where we discussed the terror of contemporary history and post-structuralist theory or the pitfalls of the first person perspective in a short story or weird childhood stories that involve stray cats and the throwing of tennis balls at moving vehicles from behind bushes at night in the summer on the Main Street of the provincial town where we were raised." Prize: $50 - $250. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Mallorqueta Inaugural Short Story Contest. Genre: Short story. The narrative must have a connection to Mallorca, either in setting or relevance to Mallorcan culture. Submissions may be in English, Catalan or Spanish. If chosen, stories not in English will be published along with an English translation. Prize: EUR€300. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Recen­t­­ly pub­­lished or soon to be pub­lished nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: October 2, 2023.

Writers & Artists Working-Class Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to unagented and uncontracted UK or Republic of Ireland residents age 18+ who self-identify as a writer from a working-class background. Genre: Unpublished workp-in-progress. Prize: 200 pounds prize, mentoring sessions, networking event opportunities, a complimentary one-year membership to The Society of Authors, and various Bloomsbury books. Deadline: October 2, 2023.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Genre: Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize: CAN $25,000.  Deadline: October 4, 2023. (For books published between April 1, 2023 and October 3, 2023)

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2023.

Embracing Our Differences Quotation Contest. Genre: An original quotation to accompany a piece of artwork. Length: 20 words max. Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 5, 2023.

The Furious Gazelle’s Halloween Writing Contest. Genre: Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays and creative non-fiction. Prize: $50. Deadline: October 6, 2023.

Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to fiction writers aged 21+ who have not yet published a book and have never been enrolled in an MFA program. Writer must not have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher at time of application, and writer cannot have been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Genre: Short fiction that "speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference." Prize: Free tuition for all of One Story's online classes and programming, a travel stipend of $2,000 and tuition to attend week-long summer writers' conference in Brooklyn, and a full manuscript review/consultation of a story collection or novel in progress with an executive editor. Deadline: October 11, 2023. 

Defenestration Flash Suite Contest. Genre: Flash suite. "A series of at least three flash fiction works that correlate, and build to something greater. Recurring characters, extended motifs, harmonious subject matters, and/or sustained narrative are such correlations– but we encourage innovation and new ideas.” Prize: $75. Deadline: October 11, 2023.

Books Like Us. Genre: First novel. "Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is pleased to announce the launch of the third annual BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest. The aim of the contest is to facilitate access to the publishing process for writers from underrepresented groups, and to celebrate the diversity of readers across the United States. As the nation strives for progress, Atria Books and Simon & Schuster aim to help catalyze that change by amplifying voices that represent us, by publishing books like us. A two-week entry period will begin on Friday, September 29, 2023. At that time, writers are invited and encouraged to submit twenty-five pages of an original adult novel using the online form below. The publisher welcomes inclusive, entertaining, and groundbreaking reads with expert pacing, depth as well as heart, and irresistible characters who leap from the page. At the end of the submission period, the editorial, marketing, and publicity team at Atria Books, will review all submissions for originality, relevance to today’s publishing climate, and writing quality. In March 2024, the author of the selected novel will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Atria Books.." Prize: The author of the selected novel will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster." Deadline: October 12, 2023.

Mindfood. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand residents only. Genre: Short story 2000 words in length and previously unpublished. Prize: U$1000 for the Australian winner and one (1) prize money of NZ$1000 for the New Zealand winner. Deadline: October 13, 2023.

Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. Restrictions: Books must be first edition English-language books written by a Canadian or American citizen or permanent resident of either country. Works written by women or non-binary authors are eligible for submission. The Prize welcomes and encourages submissions by transgender woman authors. Genre: Published novel, short story collection or graphic novel. Prize: $150,000 Canadian dollars. Deadline: Entries for books published between August 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023, must be received on or before October 13, 2023.

North Carolina State Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of North Carolina with no published fiction books. Genre: Short stories. Prize: $500 for fiction (up to 5,000 words) and $250 for shorter fiction (up to 1,200 words). Deadline: October 14, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction; under 1,000 words. Prize: $30. Deadline: October 14, 2023. Opens October 1.

The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States.  Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement.  Prize: $60,500 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2023.

Neal Peirce Foundation Journalism Travel Grants. Genre: Journalism. "Grants are intended to support journalists in covering undertold stories about ways to make cities and their metro regions work better for all their people. Grants will cover travel expenses necessary for on-the-ground reporting. Full-time freelancers as well as journalists currently employed by a news organization are eligible to apply. The grants are for journalists to travel to cities within the U.S. to produce one or more stories for publication." Prize: Up to $1500. Deadline: October 16, 20

Zocalo Book Prize. Genre: US-published nonfiction book that best enhances our understanding of community and the forces that strengthen or undermine human connectedness and social cohesion. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 20, 2023.

Storyhouse. Genre: Travel nonfiction. Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts. 1000 - 10,000 words in length. Stories must be suitable for children. Prize: $200. Deadline: October 30, 2023.

Storyhouse: Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $500 in any single year. First prize winners of previous contests, while ineligible for prizes in regular contests, can compete in this one.  Genre: Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $100. Runners-up will receive $50. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Queer Adventurers LGBTQIA Writing Contest. Restrictions; Open to any writer 18+ from anywhere in the world who identifies as LGBTQ+. Genre: 1,000 to 1,500 word personal essays on the theme of Firsts. Prize: $150. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Diann Blakely National Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500 and 25 broadsides of their poem, which will also be archived on the University of Georgia English Department website. Deadline: October 31, 2023. 

The Barbellion Prize. Genre: Fiction, memoir, biography, poetry, or critical non-fiction. “The Barbellion Prize is dedicated to the furtherance of ill and disabled voices in writing. The prize is awarded annually to an author whose work has best spoken of the experience of chronic illness and/or disability." Prize: £600. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Young Walter Scott Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK authors aged 11-19. Genre: Historical fiction between 800 and 2000 words. Prizes: £500 travel and research grant to further explore historical places in the UK, and an invitation to the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Two runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all four winning stories are published in a special YWSP anthology book. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre: Essay: How effective have laws protecting the rights of children been to reduce poverty and support economic development?  How could they be improved? Prize: $500 scholarship. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Solstice Prize. Restrictions: Open to 7-17 year olds. Genre: Short stories, blog posts, and poems. Nature writing. Prize: Publication and cash prizes for winners in three age groups: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-17. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Young Writers Initiative Manuscript / Chapbook Contest. Genre: Fiction in any genre, book length. Poetry. Prize: One winner in each category $225 each. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Bronx Council on the Arts Community Engagement Grants. Restrictions: Open to residents of Bronx County. Genre: All art forms, including writing. Grant: $1000 - $5000. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Disabled Poets Prize. Restrictions: Open to deaf and disabled poets aged 18+ currently living full-time in the UK. Genre: Poetry. Deaf and disabled poets will be able to submit to three categories – best single poem, best unpublished pamphlet, and best poem performed in British Sign Language. Prize: In each category, there will be a first place prize (£500), second prize (£250), third place prize (£100), and three highly commended entries, (£50). Deadline: October 31, 2023.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Volcano Prize Restrictions: Open to a UK or Irish writer, or a writer currently resident in those countries. Genre: A novel focusing on the experience of travel away from home. Inspired by Malcolm Lowry’s novel, Under the Volcano and in celebration of its author, the prize aims to inspire literary excellence and encourage writers to travel and to write from the resulting experience. Publishers must enter the work. Prize: The winner will receive £2,000 and the runner-up £750. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

ACDI Literary Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors with a disability and/or chronic illness. Authors must be a British national OR resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for three years prior to the date of submission for the award, and writing in English and submissions must have been published or self-published in the UK. Genre: Novel which includes a disabled or chronically ill character or characters. Prize: Winner will receive £1,000 and two runners-up £500 each. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

USNI General Prize Essay Contest. Genre: Essay may be on any topic."We are living in an era of intense global competition. Renewed great power competition will require the Sea Services to rethink how to address national, strategic, and operational challenges and the way they will have to fight. Authors may address any topic." Prize: $6,000. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Graybeal-Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets. Restrictions: Poets living in or born in Virginia, as well as those who have lived in Virginia for two or more years in the past, are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 31, 2023. (Closes after 500 submissions)

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: October 31, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

32 Outstanding Writing Conferences and Workshops in October 2023

Martha's Vineyard: Flickr This October there are more than two dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but many will be in-person or hybrid as pandemic restrictions ease. Virtual events still offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early.  

I've included conferences that have early application dates on my list. So, if you have missed a conference that is ideal for you, put the application deadline on your calendar for next year. (Many conferences are annual events.)
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(Image: Martha's Vineyard, Flickr)
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Bookgardan: A Year's Sustenance for Women Writers. October 2023 to October 2024. "Bring your book project and your literary practice to full fruition in Bookgardan, a year-long program of sustained, one-on-one mentorship and advanced craft curriculum created by an acclaimed writer, seasoned editor, and devoted & inspiring literary mentor, shared with an intimate cohort of like-minded literary artists. Hone your work-in-progress, develop your technical expertise, and refine your inimitable artistic process over twelve months bookended by two full retreat weeks as fall writers-in-residence at Craigardan, an interdisciplinary mountainside residency program for artists in the majestic Adirondacks of upstate New York. Now enrolling its fifth cohort, Bookgardan is unlike any other writing program, book incubator, or literary mentorship. Designed for women writers with book-length, literary fiction and creative nonfiction projects, created in partnership with a residential artists’ program that fosters collaboration and cross-fertilization among artists, and intentional in its goal of building a lasting, mutually supportive community of women writers, at Bookgardan’s heart is Kate Moses’ passionate dedication to helping other women writers realize their vision for their work, made manifest in the unstinting one-on-one mentorships she forges with each writer and their book." Applications due September 1, 2023. 

Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat Experience. October 1 - 4, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. OVERVIEW: In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat To write for children, we need to reconnect with the clever, imaginative, and curious core of our childhood selves. Join celebrated middle-grade authors Erin Entrada Kelly and Laurel Snyder for a four-day retreat focused on generative writing inspired by the sleepaway camps of our youths. 

Crash Course in Children's Publishing. October 4 - December 6, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. OVERVIEW: Join lead faculty Harold Underdown and special guests for a Crash Course in Children's Publishing. At the end of the course, you will understand how the children’s book publishing industry works, including submitting, publishing, marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults, and beginning ideas about craft and critique. Multi-Week Online Course 10 weeks.

Write on the Sound Writers' Conference and Pre-Conference. Oct 6- 8, 2023: Edmonds, WA. Founded in 1985, Write on the Sound writers’ conference (WOTS) is a small, affordable conference focused on the craft of writing. A variety of sessions, workshops and panel discussions are available for all levels and interests, including valuable information regarding today’s writing and publishing industry. 

James River Writers Conference. October 6 - 8, 2023: Richmond, Virginia. James River Writers is excited to offer both in-person and online elements for our conference this year. Join us for Master Classes online and in-person, on Friday, October 6. Then, join us at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (in Richmond, Virginia) for a full slate of programs focusing on the craft and business of writing. Look forward to lively panel discussions, live critique sessions with literary agents, fun and engaging plenary sessions, and agent one-on-one meetings (standard with your ticket). In addition, we’ve included opportunities for networking and socializing, because community is at the heart of everything we do.

Picture Book Summit. Oct 7, 2023, Online. A one day live event for picture book writers including author keynotes, interviews, workshops and agent & editor panels. Recordings provided for attendees for four months post-conference.

DFW Writers Conference. October 7 - 8, 2023: Fort Worth TX. Featuring pitch sessions with literary agents, advanced classes, engaging panels, interactive workshops.

Larksong's Bootcamp for Poets with Matt Mason. October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2023: Online. "Are you looking to “level up” on your writing? Maybe you’re looking for a workshop of like-minded writers who want to be the best they can be and you want to join them? Maybe you want just enough instruction and guidance on a particular piece of writing to prepare it for the submittal process. If any of that is true, a Larksong Bootcamp workshop is for you. This limited-enrollment workshop is open to a maximum of 10 writers who are committed to improving their own writing and are willing to read and respond to the work of the other writers in the workshop."

Viable Paradise Science Fiction Writers' Workshop. Oct 8 - 13, 2023: Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Viable Paradise is a unique one-week residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. The workshop is intimate, intense, and features extensive time spent with best-selling and award-winning authors and professional editors currently working in the field. VP concentrates on the art of writing fiction people want to read, and this concentration is reflected in post-workshop professional sales by our alumni. Closed. Applications will re-open in January 2024.

Larksong's Bootcamp for Prose Writers. October 9, 16,  30, & November 6, 2023: Lincoln, NE. This Larksong Bootcamp for Prose Writers will be led by Lucy Adkins. It is a limited-enrollment workshop open to a maximum of 6 writers who are committed to improving their own writing and are willing to read and respond to the work of the other writers in the workshop.

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference. October 12 - 14, 2023: Tempe, AZ. "The Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference creates a unique and intimate creative writing experience where writers of all backgrounds, genres, and skill levels gather together and connect through the celebration and study of literary craft, culture, and community. Featuring over 25 faculty members teaching more than 50 sessions, we seek to create a warm and welcoming environment that meets people wherever they are, where writers can learn from and support each other as they work toward their goals. Beyond regular programming, we also feature advanced pre-conference workshops, an exhibitor fair, scholarships, and fellowships. We also offer opportunities to advertise with or sponsor the conference as well."

Storymakers & Indie Author Hub Writing Conference. October 12 - 14, 2023: Blue Springs, MO. "The SMIAH Writers Conference is a writing event sponsored by both the Storymakers Author Guild and Indie Author Hub Guild. This conference is on it's tenth year of inspiring authors from across the country and around the world, giving them the tools they need to take their writing to the next level. The 2021 will continue to bring a unique spin to the traditional writers conference, offering both in-person and virtual attendance options. With a distinctly Indie flavor and all the traditional building blocks, this is the conference you need to step out of the ruts and see your writing and career clearly." 

Ozark Creative Writers Conference. October 12 - 14, 2023: Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Workshops by published authors, editors and agents; Publishers Row, independent publishers available to hear about your next project.

Women Writing the West 2023 Conference. October 12 – 14, 2023: Online. "This Virtual Conference will feature all the Awards, Workshops, Panels, Book Store, Silent Auction and camaraderie that WWW Members and Guests expect." Will be held virtually.

Georgia Romance Writers: Moonlight and Magnolias. October 12 – 14, 2023: Atlanta, Georgia. Includes keynote speakers, workshops, editor/agent appointments, autographing & bookfair, awards banquet.

New York Comicon. October 12 - 15, 2023. "New York Comic Con is your event. Where you can feel unafraid to geek out. Where you’re accepted and embraced for being yourself. Where you can experience the best in pop culture because no matter what fandom you’re passionate about, we have it waiting here for you. Be inspired by award-winning comic artists and Japanese anime creators. Get star struck over your favorite TV and film idols. Treat yourself to exclusive fandom gear and unique artwork. But most importantly, create all of those memories with the people you care about the most. Because this event is for you. To embrace your inner hero or root for the villain. To geek out as a family. To celebrate a weekend together you’ll never forget."

Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. October 13 - 14, 2023: Dallas, Texas. The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level. Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, and student classes. In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals, who receive hand-made trophies, more than $26,000 in cash awards and have their work published in Mayborn's journal, Ten Spurs, or anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.

Central Coast Writers' Conference. October 14, 2023: San Luis Obispo, CA. "Unlike other Writers' conferences, this year's conference has been expanded to encompass the wider 'Content Creator Community.' Our goal is to amplify the connection of content creators on the Central Coast and beyond including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, influencers, authors, narrators, journalists, artists, screenwriters, musicians, and of course - writers of all genres! As the medium for literary work has expanded beyond the book, content creators from all walks of life are encouraged to attend. There will be 16+ expert panels, featuring 50+ experts & thought leaders." 

Green River Writers Workshops: Memoir Writing Workshop. October 13 - 15, 2023: Santa Fe, New Mexico. Using memory as a starting point, Green River Writers Workshops focus on the craft of storytelling through memoir, fiction, historical writing, and poetry. Both experienced and beginning writers are welcome.

Annual Maryland Writer’s Conference. October 14 - 15, 2023: Baltimore, MD. The Brain to Bookshelf Annual Conference offers over 20 workshops and agent panels. Agent pitches and critiques are available, but agent slots are limited, so register early. New York Times Best Selling Author and Educator Maria V. Snyder will begin with keynote craft workshops each day. Day 1: Emotion is NOT a Dirty Word and Day 2: Writing: The Basics and Not so Basics.

Writing By Writers Workshop Tomales Bay. October 18 - 22, 2023: Tomales Bay, California. Manuscript and poetry workshops are limited to 12 participants and generative workshops are limited to 15 to ensure an intimate setting. 

Colrain Classic. October 20 - 23, 2023: Arlington, Vermont. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3.5 day conference designed for poets with manuscripts in progress. The Classic features in-depth pre-conference work and candid, realistic evaluation and feedback from nationally-known poets, editors and publishers. In preparation, participants work at home on pre-conference assignments and then, in the workshop, review, arrange, and winnow their work based on the pre-conference work. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop and editor sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session." Will be conducted online.

Craft of Writing Conference. October 21, 2023: Glenpool, Oklahoma. The Craft of Writing Conference is focused on learning the skills needed to be an excellent writer. This includes topics such as plot & story structure, character development, conflict & motivation, point of view, editing—facets of the craft. Keynote Speaker; William Bernhardt. 

Annual Florida Writers Conference. October 20 - 22, 2023: Altamonte Springs, Florida. Over 75 workshops, major speakers, agent interviews, professional manuscript critiques, lively social events, and much more.

Youngstown Fall Literary Festival. October 20 - 21, 2023: Youngstown, Ohio. Nearly 150 presenters from throughout the U.S. will present on a wide array of literary topics of interest to readers, writers, translators, educators, editors and publishers.  Saturday, there will be a special track for K-12 language arts educators. The bookfair will include nearly two dozen small presses, booksellers and programs.

Making Magic: Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories. October 23 - 26, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. Deepen the magic in your middle grade or young adult novel with novelists Anna-Marie McLemore and Nova Ren Suma.  In this generative writing workshop, you’ll enjoy in-depth craft lectures from experienced faculty authors, small group workshopping, 1:1 faculty consultations, and ample private time to retreat so that you can write, wander, and connect with fellow magic makers.

Medical Writing and Communication Conference. October 25 - 28, 2023: Baltimore, MD. Workshops in medical writing, designing materials for patients, analysis, clinical reports, and more.

REVISION BOOTCAMP: All-Genre Intensive with Elmaz Abinader and Faith Adiele. October 27 - 28, 2023: Fish Creek, WI. Let’s put your writing through the workout it needs! Elmaz Abinader and Faith Adiele will coach you through editing and revising work of any genre. As multi-genre authors and master teachers, they will take your work through tried-and-true exercises to sculpt and refine your writing. They will help you understand what style of writer you are and which of the five stages of creative work your draft is in. Then they will show you revision strategies for every mode–developmental, stylistic, and structural. Plan to bring a draft manuscript that needs a workout (limited to 10 pages of poetry or 3,000 words of prose) and a laptop. The process will help you explore perspective and point of view, develop and deepen characters, and create contexts and build worlds. You will identify the work’s central questions and emotions, flush out scenes/forms, and harden the structure of your story or poems. You will pump up beginnings and endings and polish your language and metaphors to make your writing more powerful. The two days will be broken into team-taught craft lectures, writing exercises led by each teaching artist, lively Q&A, in-class writing, small group work and shares.

Ossabaw Weekend Writer’s Retreat. October 27 - 29, 2023: Ossabaw Island, GA. Workshops and seminars led by nationally recognized faculty, and evening readings (special emphasis on ghost stories) by faculty and participants. Application deadline: September 15.

The Rochester Writers Fall Conference. October 28, 2023: Rochester, MI. Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions with a focus on nonfiction. Open to new writers, working journalists, and published authors. Professional development to move writers to the next level. 

Craft & Heart of Writing Poetry for Children. October 23 - 26, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. OVERVIEW: In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat If writing poetry for children is your passion, join celebrated poets Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich for this 5-day/4-night retreat to work on your own poetry through guided writing exercises, peer workshopping and sharing, lectures, and a private consultation.

Kentucky State Poetry Society. October 28 - 29, 2023: Online. Readings, workshops, panels, and keynote. "The Kentucky State Poetry Society seeks to inspire, encourage, and develop Kentucky’s poets through a wide variety of workshops, lectures, and publishing opportunities. The Kentucky State Poetry Society publishes the biannual literary journal Pegasus, offers a student and adult poetry contest, and hosts an annual poetry conference." Note: Membership not limited to Kentucky residents. Registration: $15. Will be conducted via Zoom.

8 New Agents Seeking Cookbooks, Kidlit, Horror, LGBTQ, Women's Fiction, SFF, and more

Laura Gruszka Here are eight new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 
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Ms. Laura Gruszka of Writers House

Laura Gruszka is a junior agent at Writer's House.

What she is seeking: Juvenile fiction, Picture books, Middle grade, Young adult, Graphic novel, Graphic memoir, Literary horror, Literary weird, Literary genre. I’m looking for authors and illustrators of children’s books for all ages—picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels. I’m also open to adult graphic novels and adult literary fiction.

My priority as a junior agent is uplifting traditionally underrepresented voices and stories in publishing. This applies to every category of books I am looking for. If you are a creator who is part of a marginalized community—regardless of whether you are specifically writing about identity—please send your work my way!

How to submit: Read query guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Kara Rota of Thompson Literary Agency

Kara Rota has joined Thompson Literary Agency as a senior agent. Previously Kara worked at Macmillan, acquiring and editing cookbooks, mind/body/spirit projects and other nonfiction for multiple Macmillan imprints including Flatiron and St. Martin’s Press.  Most recently, she worked as an Executive Editor at Chicago Review Press, acquiring narrative nonfiction, music, and pop culture titles.

What she is seeking: Kara is excited to represent nonfiction authors including activists, artists, witches, and revolutionaries; cookbooks about more than food, parenting books that see care work as central to social change, illustrated projects that inspire delight, and other nonfiction books that seek to change the world. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE
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Ms. Leah Moss of Steven Literary

Leah Moss graduated from Lake Forest College in 2020, where she studied Creative Writing, Publishing, and Digital Media Design. A lifelong reader, she's spent the past few years working at libraries and has always dreamed of working in the book publishing industry. When she isn't being a professional bookworm, Leah can probably be found playing her harp or tending to her Stardew Valley farm.

What she is seeking: Picture books, YA, new adult, romance, fantasy. Stories from marginalized writers. I’m particularly interested in uplifting BIPOC voices, but I also really want to see work from LGBTQ+. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Ms. Mara Cobb of Martin Literary Management

After earning my master's degree in English, achieving over fifty publications, and serving as the editor-in-chief for a small literary journal, I completed a year-long publishing internship learning the ins and outs of Martin Literary Management. I am thrilled to become part of the MLM family and am most excited about coming alongside fresh and seasoned writers to help them reach their full potential.

What she is seeking: Currently, I am looking for Adult Nonfiction and Women's Driven Fiction. For Women's Driven Fiction, I am particularly interested in books with strong female heroines who are in their 20s. The gap between YA Fiction and Adult Fiction is one that I am passionate about continuing to bridge. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Aiden Siobhan of Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc.

Aiden Siobhan graduated from UNC School of the Arts in 2023 with a Filmmaking BFA specializing in Screenwriting and Animation. Before becoming an agent, they interned at LDLA and were an Author Mentor Match mentee in 2022. When they’re not binge reading an LGBTQ+ YA novel, they work as the Art Director for two alternative newspapers, attend film festivals for their documentary projects, and go on road trips with their fiancé and dog.

What they are seeking: MG and YA fiction: all genres, all fantasy subgenres. Diverse ensemble casts, clever voicey protagonists, action-packed, fast paced, ALL the tropes, high personal stakes, and compelling villains. Not the best fit for multiple POVs or stories about war. NO talking animals. Adult Horror: psychological, cerebral. Contemporary, historical, and/or with speculative/paranormal elements. NO visceral horror/slashers. Adult Romance: LGBTQ+ romances only. All genres. Enemies or friends to lovers, meet-cutes, strong independent women, fresh stories with strong hooks, and genre blending. Graphic Novels: Author-Illustrators only. MG, YA, and Adult in all genres, fiction & nonfiction. Anything that fits categories above.

How to submit: Use their querymanager HERE.
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Mr. Jack Mozley of Perez Literary & Entertainment

The son of a mining engineer and a poet, Jack naturally ended up with a doctorate in quantum physics and a love of Science Fiction, each using, as they do, a little of the extraordinary to understand the everyday.

When not squinting at a spreadsheet, Jack can be found with his nose in a book or graphic novel. He is a huge fan of classic SF, especially Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, as well as Iain M. Banks and China Miéville. Growing up, he devoured every issue of 2000 AD and remains an Alan Moore devotee.

Jack holds a PhD in Quantum Physics from École Normale Supérieure in Paris, France and an MPhys from the University of Oxford. He is fluent in French, speaks basic Spanish, and has lived in four countries.

What he is seeking: Jack is currently open to Science Fiction queries only.

How to submit: Use his querymanager HERE. 
__________________



Ms. Andie Smith of The Booker Albert Literary Agency

​Andie Smith is a Junior Agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency where she started out as a Literary Intern in 2022. She is also a writer and editor of multiple genres. Andie has previously served as an writer and editor for several local newspapers and magazines in Central Florida and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration. When she’s not agenting, she’s spending time with her husband and two kitties or hanging out at Disney World.

​What she is seeking: Andie is currently looking for Young Adult or Adult genres including but not limited to contemporary, romance, thriller, speculative, dystopian, issue-driven, fantasy, eco-fiction, and sci-fi. 

​She loves anything that can transport her into a new world and has a habit of getting emotionally attached to strong characters. Her favorite tropes are enemies-to-lovers and fake-to-real relationships. As an autoimmune advocate, Andie would love to see stories with MC’s embracing life through all disabilities, from those that are more obvious to invisible ones.

Andie is not accepting picture books, middle grade, or nonfiction at this time. She is not the best fit for any genres of religion, horror, poetry/prose, or historical fiction. While not a total dealbreaker, Andie tends to shy away from stories with on-the-page cheating, abuse, rape, and reference to self-harm and/or suicide (off-page references ok)

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
__________________


Ms. Jacklyn Saferstein-Hansen of Renaissance Literary & Talent

Jacklyn Saferstein-Hansen hails from Omaha, Nebraska, and came to Los Angeles by way of Boston University. 

What she is seeking: She's on the hunt for fresh nonfiction in the following areas: wellness/nutrition/food, mental health, history, science, pop culture, and Jewish issues. She's interested in helping academics make the jump to the trade market. In fiction, she's partial to novels with a distinct voice (the weirder the better) and quirky characters in the genres of women's fiction, historical fiction, thriller/mystery, and fantasy.

How to submit: Send your query to query@renaissancemgmt.net

73 Calls for Submissions in September 2023 - Paying markets

Peakpix This September there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

__________________
​
The Wicked Bestiary: An Anthology of Monstrous Folk Tales. Genre: Horror short stories (5,000 - 8,000 words) that include creatures from legend, world myth, and folk tales.  Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy). Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Words and Sports. Genre: Baseball/football/basketball/hockey/soccer stories & comics & poems & collages & cnf & hybrid & other genres we're not even thinking about, but we'd really love to see stuff in any way related to non-major sports! See theme. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Cincinnati Review. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $25/page for prose in journal. $30/page for poetry in journal. Deadline: Opens on September 1, closes when cap is reached.

Alternative Milk. Genre: Short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays and other text based submissions. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2023. 

The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2023, and closes when they reach capacity. 

Bad Day Book. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for themes. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Qwerty. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $15 CAD. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Teach. Write.: A Writing Teachers’ Literary Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. See themes. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2023. 

Orion's Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Lethe Press. Genre: Speculative fiction, especially queer speculative fiction, historical fiction. Full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of Legendary Events. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Honeyguide Magazine is a bi-annual magazine that features fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art, and blog posts about animals and their human neighbors. Payment: $25 for the story, $50 for art. Only pays for featured articles. Deadline: September 2, 2023. See themes.

Tin House. Restrictions: Eligible writers must not currently have an agent, and must not have previously published a book (chapbooks okay). Genre: Nonfiction Nature Writing (including Memoirs, Essay collections, and Graphic nonfiction). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 3, 2023. Opens September 2, 2023.

Electric Literature: Recommended Reading. Genre: Short fiction between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Payment: $300. Deadline: September 3, 2023. Closes when cap is reached.

The Victorian Writer. Genre: Poems and articles. Payment: Poems ($70), and articles of 600 words ($100) and 1200 words ($200) in the print edition with particular interest in the craft of writing and the writing life. Deadline: September 4, 2023. Note: Pitches only. See themes.

Northwords Now. Restrictions: Writing from people living in or inspired by the Highlands and Islands is given prominence, but we also feature material linked to the wider north. That includes both other parts of Scotland and places around the northern world. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 4, 2023.

Hexagon. Genre: Speculative fiction short stories, flash fiction, poetry, graphic stories, and visual art, in English or French. Payment: $5 for accepted poetry and cartoons, 0.01$ per word for all short stories up to 7,500 words, $40/page for comics and $150 for cover art pieces. (Payment in CAD). Deadline: September 7, 2023. 

Planet Scumm. Genre: Hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, speculative fiction, weird fiction, slipstream. Payment: $30. Deadline: Opens September 7, 2023.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: September 7, 2023.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: September 7, 2023. Open to submissions the first week of every month.

Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction Nonfiction. Payment: 40 cents per word for print fiction, with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1500. Fees for print are less the cost of a 4-issue subscription if you are not a current subscriber. Deadline: September 7, 2023.

Fusion Fragment. Genre: Science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction stories and novelettes ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 15,000 words. Payment: Both previously unpublished work and reprints pay 3.5 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $300 (CAD) per story. Deadline: September 8, 2023.

Ampersand Review. Restrictions: Priority is given to Canadians. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, reviews. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem/page to a maximum of $100. Fiction: $100 per story. Non-fiction: $100 per piece. Reviews: $100 per piece. Deadline: September 8, 2023.

Orion's Beau. Genre: LGBTQ fantasy: fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $3. Deadline: September 10, 2023. See theme.

Samjoko Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, play, screenplay. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 10, 2023.

The Quiet Ones. Genre: Quiet Horror and Dystopian genre works that fit the theme, “The End”. "We primarily seek creative work from those who identify as LGBTQIAP+, women, and allies. We’re especially fond of (though do not require) stories that center LGBTQIAP+ and female characters. That said, we welcome work from anyone and everyone, and we do not automatically disqualify any submissions based on the author’s identity, nor do we require our contributors to share their sexual or gender identities." Payment: $25. Deadline: September 10, 2023.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay.  Deadline: September 14, 2023.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 15, 2023. See themes. Queries only.

Sasee. Genre: First-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their primary editorial focus. See theme. Payment: Varies. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

Canthius. Restrictions: Open to women, trans men, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming writers. Genres: Unpublished poetry and prose (both fiction and creative non-fiction – "we welcome experimental works and play excerpts). Please limit prose submissions to 3500 words and poetry submissions to five poems." Payment: $50 for one page, $75 for two pages, $100 for three, $125 for four pages, and $150 for five pages or more, regardless of genre. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

Book Worms Genre: All HORROR sub-genres. No romance or erotica. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

Alien Dimensions. Genre: Science Fiction, 5000-7000 words. Theme: First Contact. "Set the meetings in space in a hyperfuturistic space ship or bio-ball or space station or in a rift outside space and time, etc – whatever you think will shock your protagonists." Payment: $20. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

Penumbric. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art, animation, and music. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

Shortwave Magazine. Genre: Short horror, dark fantasy, and sci-fi fiction between 1,000 and 4,000 words. Payment: $.05/word. Deadline: September 15, 2023.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: September 16, 2023. See themes.

Pyre. Genre: Horror, sci-fi, the weird, the macabre, fantasy, and magical realism: Flash fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, videos. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 18, 2023.

Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. See theme. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: Deadline: September 18, 2023.

Reckoning. Genre: Creative writing and art about environmental justice. Poetry and prose. Payment: 8 cents a word for prose, $30 a page for poetry, art negotiable, minimum $25 per piece. Deadline: September 22, 2023.

Full House Literary. Genre: Prose, poetry, hybrid, photography and artwork. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: September 22, 2023.

Shoreline of Infinity. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, 6000 words max. Payment: £20/1000 words. Deadline: September 22, 2023. Accepts translations of stories originally published in another language.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $50 per essay. Deadline: September 22, 2023.

Shooter. Genre: Stories, essays, memoir and poetry to do with The Unknown. "We’re looking for stories, essays, memoir and poetry on anything to do with unfamiliar people, new places, strange experiences or foreign exploration. Work might revolve around culture clashes, romantic encounters, fears about the future, immigration, travel, or otherworldly realms altogether." Payment: £25 per story and £5 per poem. Stories that fall below the requested minimum of 2,000 words will be paid at poetry rates. Artists will be paid £25 for use of their work as magazine illustration. Deadline: September 24, 2023.

Crab Tales Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 3 cents/word. Deadline: September 24, 2023.

Middleground. Restrictions: Open to mixed-race people. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, ooetry, art. Payment: "it might be less than £10." Deadline: September 24, 2023.

Off Topic Publishing: Poetry Box. Genre: Poetry. Payment $40 CAD. Deadline: September 25, 2023. This is a monthly call. Submit by the 25th of each month.

Story Unlikely. Genre: Creative Nonfiction (including memoir) and fiction (Commercial Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-genre, Experimental, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Short Fiction, Speculative Fiction). Payment: 8 cents/word stories up to 2,000 words. Stories longer than this are capped at $150 payment. Deadline: September 29, 2023. 

A Coup of Owls. Restrictions: Only submit if you are aged 18 or over and belong to an underrepresented or marginalised community. These include, but are not limited to: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disabled people. Genre: Fiction, all genres. Payment: £5 - 15. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Abandon Journal: Abandon Earth. Genre: Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, CNF, hybrid work, art on theme: Abandon Earth. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Clinch Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction (including memoir excerpts, up to 5,000 words), and poetry about the martial arts. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 30, 2023.
​
The Bombay Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. Payment: Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Crystal Lake Publishing. Genre: Book-length dark fiction and horror manuscripts: novels and novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

filling station.  Genre: Stories, poems, CNF, nonfiction, and art on theme: Language. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia). Genre: Children's and YA books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

Creature Publishing. Genre: Feminist horror. Length:  20,000–60,000 words. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: September 30, 2023.


Little Bastards: Too-Short Horror Stories Nobody Wants. Genre: Horror. Length: Anywhere between 1000 and 2000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, messages from heaven, angels. Genre: True stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Malahat Review. Genre: Fiction. Payment: CAD $70/page. Deadline: September 30, 2023. Submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration all year.

Heartlines. Restrictions: 50% of content is from writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. Genre: Speculative fiction and about relationships. "We're looking for short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. We don't want the blaze of new love or the obsession of a new friend. We want pieces that show that comfort that develops when people know each other for years." Stories - 1,000 - 3,500 words. Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction (1,000-3,500 words) and $60 CAD flat per poem. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

Kenyon Review. Genre: Prose, drama, poetry, translations, excerpts. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 30th, 2023. 

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: September 30, 2023. 

Planisphere Quarterly. Genre: Fiction. "Ghosts - theme is hauntings. Any interpretation is welcome." Payment: $25. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: September 30, 2023. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.

Eerie River. Genre: Horror inspired by Tarot: 1500 - 7000 firm. Payment: ¢1 per word CAD. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Red Cape Publishing: A - Z of Horror: U is for Unexplained. Genre: Horror on theme. Payment: £10. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: September 30, 2023.


Small Harbor Publishing. Genre: Chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2023. All fees are waived for BIPOC identifying writers.

Dragon Soul Press: Magick and Mystery. Genre: "All witch stories for all genres." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2023. (Deadline extended)

Fanatical. Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Payment: £20. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 - $75 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: September 30, 2023. Note: Submit early to avoid submission fees.

The Writer’s Chronicle. Genre: Nonfiction articles on writing. Payment: $18 per 100 words for accepted manuscripts. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

So, I Married a Narcissist. Genre: Horror. "It's a golden opportunity to tell your tales of terror and woe at the hands of that most heinous of monsters, a narcissist - not necessarily a spouse - and deliver the most delicious revenge in the form of the written word." Payment: $10. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Polar Borealis. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: 1 cent per word. $10 for one thousand words or less. $20 for two thousand words or less (but reasonably above one thousand). $30 for three thousand words or less (but reasonably above two thousand). Deadline: September 30, 2023

AND  A FEW MORE...

Reservoir Road Literary Review. Genre: Literary short stories, lyrical creative non-fiction, photography. Payment: $5. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023. Note: Submission window closes when their cap is reached.

Polar Borealis. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word. $10 for one thousand words or less. $20 for two thousand words or less (but reasonably above one thousand). $30 for three thousand words or less (but reasonably above two thousand). Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works.  Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

little somethings. Genre: Flash fiction, flash memoir, poetry, art. Payment: "Small honorarium." Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Negartive Creep. Genre: Horror inspired by Nirvana songs. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Coffee House Press is an independent book publisher and arts nonprofit based in Minneapolis, MN. Genre: Full-length fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2023. Closes when cap is reached.

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: Opens October1, 2023, and closes when they reach capacity. 

Toronto Journal. Genre: Short stories from anywhere in the world. "We will also consider non-fiction pieces about local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding)." No word limit. Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

45 Writing Contests in September 2023 - No entry fees

PxHere This September there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $15,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck!

_________________
Stories Out of School. Genre: Flash fiction. The story’s protagonist, or its narrator, must be a K-12 teacher. Stories must be between 6 and 749 words and previously unpublished. Prize: First-prize winners receive $1000; second-prize winners, $500. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Owl Canyon Press – Short Story Hackathon 5. Genre: Short fiction (any genre) written by two writers. Prize: $500 - $2000. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

John Glassco Translation Prize. Sponsored by Literary Translators' Association of Canada. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. Genre: The work submitted must be the translator's first published book-length translation into English or French. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

The Michael Marks Environmental Poet of the Year will be given to a poet whose previously unpublished series of poems brings most powerfully, to a wide readership, the subject of the environment and the place of the human within it. Prize: The Environmental Poet of the Year will have their short portfolio of poems published in a pamphlet that will be sold by Wordsworth Grasmere and the British Library. They will also receive £1,000, and be invited to read at a winner’s event at Wordsworth Grasmere. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

On The Premises Short Story Contest. "For this contest, write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long based on the photograph below. For instance, specific details about the picture can inspire your story. A second approach is to have this photo represent a location where at least part of your story takes place. A third possibility is, one or more of your characters see a digital display, printout, painting, drawing, or other representation of the contents of this photo, and the image itself is somehow important to your story. Any of these approaches will work fine, as long as the judges can tell how the photo below relates to your story." Prize: Winners receive between US$75 and US$250, and publication. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

AILACT Essay Prize. Genre: Papers related to the teaching or theory of informal logic or critical thinking, and papers on argumentation theory. Prize: $700 top prize. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish by a Scandinavian author born after 1800. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: Sept 1, 2023.

Mavis Batey Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to any student, worldwide, registered in a bona-fide university or institute of higher education, or who has recently graduated from such an institution. Genre: Nonfiction. Scholarly essay on gardening history.Prize:  £250, free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year and consideration for publication. Deadline: September 3, 2023.

Shoreline of Infinity Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Science fiction story about a pet. 1000 words max. See theme. Prize: £50. Deadline: September 3, 2023.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. "On each competition weekend, we’ll reveal a set of story prompts and you’ll have 55 hours to submit your best story of 500-words (or fewer)." Prize: $500AUD. Deadline: September 3, 2023. 

Terrain.org Editor’s Prize. Genre: Nonfiction, fiction, and poetry focusing on place, climate, and justice. Prize: $500. Deadline: September 4, 2023.

Debra E. Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize. Genre: Article that furthers the understanding of the history of working people. Articles focused on historical events AND articles about current issues (work, housing, organizing, health, education) that include historical context are both welcome. The work must be published in print or online between August 31, 2022 and August 30, 2023. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 5, 2023.

KSP Short Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open to Australian residents and citizens. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100 first place prize for youth. Deadline: September 6, 2023. (Free entry for youth only)

Spectator Competition No. 3316: Take Five. Genre: "You are invited to recast Rishi Sunak’s five pledges in verse form. Please email entries of up to 16 lines to lucy@spectator.co.uk" Prize: £30. Deadline: September 6, 2023.

Young Lions Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens 35 years of age or younger. Genre: Novel or a collection of short stories. Each year, five young fiction writers are selected as finalists by a reading committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and librarians. Submissions by publisher only. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: September 8, 2023.

International Booker Prize. The International Booker Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. The work must be published by a UK or Ireland publishing house. Authors are not permitted to enter their own works. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: September 8, 2023.

The Russell Freedman Award for Nonfiction for a Better World. Genre: Any nonfiction book published for children or young adults, released between January 1 and December 31, 2023, is eligible. If both an author and illustrator are listed on the book cover, the prize will be split between them. Prize: $2500 plus $1000 to purchase copies of the winning book for distribution to schools and libraries. Deadline: Opens September 12, 2023.

Texas Teen Book Festival Fresh Ink Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to Texas residents enrolled in grades 6 -12. Genre: Fiction, no more than 2,000 words in length. Prize: $150. Deadline: September 13, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction; under 1,000 words based on prompt. Prize: $30. Deadline: September 14, 2023. 

Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, fiction, nonfiction, poetry: adults or children. Prize: Recognition (?) Deadline: September 15, 2023. (For books published June 1-Aug.15, 2023.)

Changing Skies Climate Change Contest. Genre; Art and prose on theme: Climate Change. Prize: $200 - $500. Deadline: September 17, 2023.

Green Stories Short Story Writing Competition. Genre: Short story on Microbes to the Rescue. Prize: £500 prize (or local currency equivalent). Deadline: September 21, 2023.

Michael Marks Award for Poetry Pamphlets. Restrictions: Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom are eligible. Genre: Poetry pamphlet. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: September 22, 2023.

Michael Marks Illustration Award. will recognise outstanding illustration of a poetry pamphlet published between September 18th 2021 and the closing date of September 23rd 2022. The judge will consider illustration in any medium and will be looking for a subtle and sustained relationship between image and text, as well as the overall quality of the images. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: September 22, 2023.

Savage Science Fiction/Fantasy Writing Contest. Genre: Science fiction or fantasy short story. Prize: Winning stories are published in Toasted Cheese. If 50 or fewer eligible entries are received, first place receives a $35 Amazon gift card & second a $10 Amazon gift card. If 51 or more eligible entries are received, first place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second a $15 Amazon gift card & third a $10 Amazon gift card. Deadline: September 24, 2023. Opens September 22, 2023.

Earth's Final Chapter. Genre: All fiction genres and cross genres. Prize: $700. Deadline: September 24, 2023.

International Booker Prize. The International Booker Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. The work must be published by a UK or Ireland publishing house. Authors are not permitted to enter their own works. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: September 29, 2023.

Cullman Center Fellowships. Fellowship. The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Award: A stipend of up to $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources. Deadline: September 29, 2023.


Don't Text and Drive Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about texting while driving. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

The César Egido Serrano Foundation: International Flash Fiction Competition. Genre: Flash fiction. Prize: 20,000 dollars is awarded for the best story in any of the languages authorized in the contest: Spanish, English, Arabic or Hebrew. Three prizes of $ 2,000 each will be awarded for the best stories in each of the other remaining languages admitted in the contest, that are not winners of the main prize. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Shady Grove Literary. Genre: Any style, genre, tone of flash fiction. Length: 300 words max. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions: The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre: Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards. Restrictions: Any writer who has not previously published a volume of prose fiction is eligible to enter the competition. Genre: Short story collection. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press, royalties.  Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Sejong International Sijo Competition. Genre: Sijo poem. Prize: $500. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

The Willie Morris Awards for Southern Fiction and Nonfiction. Genre: Novels and nonfiction books published in 2022. Book has to be set in one of the original eleven states in the Confederacy. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.) Prize: $2,500.00. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry. Genre: Poem that evokes the South. Prize: $2,500 and expenses-paid trip to award ceremony in Oxford, Mississippi. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Kit Sora Flash Fiction Photography Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents in the Atlantic Provinces. Genre: Flash fiction inspired by a Kit Sora photo, 250 words max. Prize: 10 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

SLF Working Class Writers Grant. Genre: Speculative fiction. "These grants are awarded annually, since 2013, to assist writers of speculative literature to working class, blue-collar, poor, and homeless writers who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction, due to the financial barriers which have made it much harder for them to have access to the writing world. Such lack of access might include an inability to attend conventions, to purchase a computer, to buy books, to attend college or high school, to have the time to write (if, for example, you must work two jobs simply to pay rent and feed a family, or if you must spend all your waking hours job-hunting for months on end). " Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Art of Unity Creative Award. Genre: Poetry; essays and short stories (under 2500 words); video; music; dance; performance or visual work around the theme: “Never again: Remembering to heal and overcome.” "The most important hallmark of Holocaust remembrance and education is the phrase ‘never again.’ Unfortunately, tribal divisions, ethnic cleansing and genocides continue in the 21st Century. We are looking for submissions in any creative media (which can be exhibited online), and which highlight aspects of human unity, and positive cross-pollination between groups, ethnicities, religions and/or nations." Prize: First ($100), Second ($75) and Third ($50) place awards, as well as three honorable mentions, in four categories: Poetry, Short Story, Essay. and Youth (18 and under) category. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

International Human Rights Art Festival: Creators of Justice Literary Award. Genre: Poetry, short stories and essays which use the written word to celebrate justice. Prize: First Prize: $150; Second Prize: $100; Third Prize: $50. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the most prestigious literary award in the US. Restrictions: Authors must be living American citizens. Self-published works not accepted. Genres: Novels, novellas, and collections of short stories. Publishers, literary agents, and authors may submit works of fiction (short story collections, novellas, or novels) published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2023. This is a monthly contest.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: September 30, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

31 Spectacular Writing Conferences and Workshops in September 2023

Tutka Bay, Alaska: Flickr This September there are more than two dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but many will be in-person or hybrid as pandemic restrictions ease. Virtual events still offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early.  

I've included conferences that have early application dates on my list. So, if you have missed a conference that is ideal for you, put the application deadline on your calendar for next year. (Many conferences are annual events.)

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Kaz Conference Keep Writing Virtual Nonfiction Cohort. Sept - Oct, 2023. Are you a nonfiction writer working on a memoir? For one month this fall just 6-8 writers will gather via ZOOM -- at each workshop two writers will workshop 10 to 20 pages of a work of creative nonfiction/memoir. The sessions include discussions on the business of being a writer i.e. publishing, legal issues, agents and self promotion.  Will be held online. Apply by August 24, 2023.

WriterCon. September 1 - 4, 2023: Waterford, Oklahoma. Last year's conference featured over 70 presentations from authors, editors, agents, and publishers, opportunities for pitching and private consultations, manuscript review, workshops, master classes, and open mics for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. The faculty included fiction writers Yasmin Angoe and Amy M. Le, and fiction and nonfiction writer Barry Friedman. Poet Billy Collins, novelists Robert Dugoni and Steven James, and literary agent Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberley Cameron & Associates) delivered the keynote addresses. Participating publishing professionals included agents Blythe Daniel (Blythe Daniel Agency) and Abby Saul (Lark Group), and publishers Jeanne Devlin (RoadRunner Press) and Ally Robertson (Wild Rose Press).

The Gathering. September 2 - 4, 2023. Workshops in poetry as well as readings. 2-hour Workshops & Readings Friday night, Saturday , and Sunday. Participant Open Mics Friday and Saturday night. Will be held on Zoom. 

Honing the Muse: An Online Poetry Workshop. September 7 - October 5, 2023. Each Thursday, 7:00-9:00pm EDT. Online. "The major components of our five-week workshops typically include variations of the following elements: inspiring craft models, writing assignments, discussions and sharing. The organization and emphasis of these elements is dependent on the workshop leader’s vision. Their goal is to get you inspired and writing!"

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. September 8 - 10, 2023: Denver, CO. Round Table Critiques, Pitch-Prep Coaching, and One-on-One Mentor appointments, as well as keeping the Saturday Publishing Professionals Panel Luncheon and the Sunday Gold Rush Winners Reading Brunch.

Creatures, Crimes & Creativity. September 8 - 10, 2023: Columbia, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.

The Alabama Writers' Conclave. September 8 - 10, 2023: Mountain Brook, Alabama. The Conclave is today one of the oldest continuing writers' organization in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers and supporters of the writing arts may join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual meeting. 


EPIC: Michele Bombardier Poetry Workshop. September 9, 2023. You won't want to miss this two-hour workshop presented by Award-Winning Poet Michele Bombardier. We will explore the role of vulnerability in the writing process: what kills it, how to connect with it, and how to bring power to the page. We will read examples and discuss aspects of craft. This workshop is for all levels of writers. For EPIC members only. Will be held virtually.

Letters & Lines Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference. September 9 - 10, 2023: Golden, CO. This conference offers you opportunities to learn your craft, boost your career, and get feedback on your work. The schedule includes three keynotes; a industry professionals panel; 33 breakout sessions on writing, illustrating and professional development; intensives on picture books, novels and illustration; as well as critiques, portfolio reviews and showcase, a virtual bookstore of faculty titles hosted by BookBar, and more. 

Orion Online Creative Nonfiction Workshop. September 9 - October 14, 2023: Online. Course: Nature and the Archive. In this class, we will observe ourselves as natural and consider how our relationships with the natural world were formed. Writers will spend time making meaning at the intersection of our lived experience and the historical record. We will consider the role of nature in our sense of self by troubling dominant narratives about nature and ourselves, crafting nature writing from new perspectives. This course is primarily generative and oriented toward creative nonfiction writers but open to all genre expressions. Duration: This class meets over six consecutive Saturdays from 1-4 pm ET from September 9 to October 14, 2023. Apply by August 10th.

Writing by Writers: Lake Superior Writing Adventure. September 10 - 15, 2023: Bayfield, Wisconsin. The Lake Superior Writing Adventure is a week-long workshop with Pam Houston and Luis Alberto Urrea where writers will work with both faculty members to generate new work while hiking, kayaking and exploring the pristine beauty of the Lake Superior and Apostle Islands region. The workshop is limited to 20 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and explore all the outdoor wonders Lake Superior has to offer.

A Weekend For Words. Sept 15 - 17, 2023: Irvine, CA. 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. Manuscript critique & one-on-one consultation additional.]

49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat. September 15 - 17, 2023: Tutka Bay, Alaska. Guest Instructor: Amy Butcher.

Okoboji Writers' in-person Retreat. September 17 - 20, 2023: West Lake, IA. The annual Okoboji Writers’ Retreat, founded in 2021, is open to all skill levels. Columnist Julie Gammack is the producer. Over 30 faculty resources will be on hand to work with participants in small-group settings. Whether you come to find out how to get started or land a book deal, this retreat is a welcoming event for all.

Breakout Novel Graduate Learning Retreat. September 18 - 24, 2023: Sarasota, Florida. An intensive week of critiques, one-on-one sessions, query clinics, brainstorming and writing. Limited to 16 students. "For graduates of our Breakout Novel Weeklong Intensive." Will be held in person.

Orion Online Creative Nonfiction Workshop. September 18 - November 6, 2023. Online. Course: Writing About Food. Just as the climate, soil, and landscape of a place impart unique flavors to traditional foods (if we are wine people, we call this terroir; if we aren’t, we’re still looking for a better word for it), writing about food becomes more than just food writing when it, too, is deeply tied to the places, ecosystems, cultures, and individuals who nurture what we eat. When food is on the table, what ideas can writers have, what worlds can they reveal, what relationships can they probe? How does writing about food help us explore the personal and political forces that tie us together and tear us apart? Throughout the semester we’ll read, research, and write our own food-focused personal essays. Classes will be discussion-based and generative, with time to share work. Readings may include Ligaya Mishan, Rebecca Solnit, John McPhee, Alice B Toklas, Naben Ruthnum, Bill Buford, Ruby Tandoh, and Maya Jewell Zeller. Duration: This class meets over eight consecutive Mondays from 7-9 ET (4-6 PT) from September 18 through November 6th. Apply by August 10th.

The Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop. September 20 - 24, 2023: Algonkian Park, Virginia. "You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, clear your head, have your work read by our writer mentors, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer. You discuss with us ahead of time via the Algonkian Writer Retreat Application the goals you wish to accomplish, and we'll work with you to make it happen. Do you desire a review? A line edit? Do you wish to discuss the reality of the current fiction market, your novel project, plot and characters, or perhaps get feedback on the opening hook or a few sample chapters? Or would you simply like a relaxed and productive dialogue about your goals as a writer?"

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall). September 20 - November 8, 2023: Online. OVERVIEW: Multi-Week Online Course Join novelist Jennifer Gennari for this six-week online course to build the skills needed to revise and enrich your novel. The course features live sessions with faculty, structured assignments, community interaction, and goal-setting. Live Lectures (with closed captioning).

Writing On The Door: Washington Island Literary Festival. September 21 - 23, 2023: Washington Island, Wisconsin. "The Washington Island Literary Festival is a moveable feast of writing, reading, discussion, and thought about the written word. Writers’ workshops, author panels and presentations, readings and parties are scheduled at various quaint, historic and beautiful venues around the Island. Participants have a unique opportunity to share time with prominent authors and dedicated readers in the intimate, friendly setting of Washington Island, a half-hour by ferry from the Door County mainland, in September’s color and warmth." 

PNWA Conference. September 21 - 24, 2023: Lake Washington, Washington, Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. More than 50 seminars, editor/agent forums & appointments, practice pitching, keynote and featured speakers, reception, awards ceremony. Many agents and editors attending. Will be held in person.

LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 22 - 24, 2023: Tieton, WA. The workshop features readings, performances, and meditation for poets. The past faculty included poets included Ching-In Chen, Christopher Howell, Brooke Matson, Diana Khoi Nguyen, Dennis Nurkse, Kelly Schirmann, Chad Sweeney, Dujie Tahat, Alexandra Teague, and Tobias Wray. 

8th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference. September 23 - 24, 2023: Dunwoody, Georgia. "With one of the strongest list of authors you will ever find at a conference, we’ve added even more agents, editors and publisher representatives than ever before! Combined with educational sessions and workshops, the 8th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will offer you all that you need to refine and improve your craft." 

UCLA Extension Writing Retreat at Lake Arrowhead. Sept 24 - 29, 2023: Lake Arrowhead, CA. Join a small group of committed writers for four full days of uninterrupted writing time at UCLA’s beautiful conference center at Lake Arrowhead. Participants will enjoy private bedrooms, private baths, and three gourmet meals each day, along with complimentary beverages all day long. The Writers’ Program will coordinate some structured activities, including pre-dinner social hours and nightly open mic events, but your time will ultimately be yours to accomplish your writing goals at your own pace. 

Brooklyn Book Festival. September 24 - October 2, 2023: Brooklyn, NY. This year’s Festival Day and Literary Marketplace, a day-long celebration of authors and books, will take place in person in Downtown Brooklyn as well as virtually. At our live BKBF Children’s Day, families will enjoy a full day of readings, workshops, performances, book signings, yoga, and art projects with favorite authors and illustrators.  All events are free and open to the public.

Six Bridges Book Festival. Septmeber 25 - October 1, 2023: Little Rock, Arkansas. "Prestigious award-winners, screenwriters, comedians, an expert witness, artists, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions." Free. 

Vermillion Writing and Literature Conference. September 28 - 30, 2023: Vermillion, South Dakota. The 2023 conference theme, “Beginnings: New Approaches in Creative Writing, Literary Studies, and Pedagogy,” looks with hope to possibilities for new voices, ideas, forms, and projects in the literary arts. VWALC’s panel sessions and public readings will address these and other overlapping concerns.


Hedgebrook Writers Conference 2023. September 28 - October 1, 2023, Whidbey Island, WA. "Hedgebrook is a community of visionary women writers whose stories and ideas have shaped our culture in the past, now, and for generations to come. We have tapped into this community to collectively build Hedgebrook’s first-ever Writers Conference – a three-day (virtual) intensive for writers across the globe. If you aspire to improve your craft, come learn from seasoned writers that are equipped to challenge, engage, and inform.  Our illustrious alumnae instructors craft and guide participants through interconnected lessons over the course of three days, proving “No Writer Is An Island.” Will be held online and in person.

Native Creatives: An In-Community Retreat. September 28 - October 1, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. OVERVIEW: In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat “Time with fellow Native creatives helps sustain me along this author’s journey. I look forward to a weekend together to share our stories, write, create art, and talk practically about how we navigate the publishing industry.” —Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) This in-community retreat is for Native writers and illustrators with host Traci Sorell and special guests, author Monique Gray Smith and senior editor Karen Boss.

Algonkian Writer Conference–New York City Pitch. September 28 - October 1, 2023: Ripley-Grier Studios in New York City. The New York Pitch Conference and writers workshop is held four times a year and features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.

Flathead River Writers Conference. September 29 -  October 1, 2023: Kalispell, MT. Writers help writers in this two day conference packed with energizing speakers and workshops. Features: Workshops, MS preparation & submission, working with agents, movie deals, media use, & children's book publishing.

The Creativity Workshop in New York. September 29 - October 2, 2023: NY, NY. "The Creativity Workshop is an experiential course of doing and experimenting. Our exercises and instructors’ talks focus on helping you learn practical techniques to stimulate your imagination and innovative thinking." 

12 New Agents Seeking Fantasy, Kidlit, Picture Books, YA, Nonfiction, Memoir, Romance, Horror and more

Alison Thompson Here are twelve new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 
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Ms. Alison Thompson of The Bukowski Agency (CANADA)

Alison joined the Bukowski Agency as an intern while enrolled in Toronto Metropolitan University’s publishing program. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minor in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. After graduating, Alison spent a few years working in law and in the non-profit arts and culture sector before pursuing her passion for books. 

What she is seeking: Alison is currently building her client list and accepting new submissions. She is primarily looking for character-driven genre fiction and compelling non-fiction.

How to submit: Follow the agency's submission guidelines HERE.
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CoCo Freeman of Linda Chester Literary Agency

CoCo Freeman recently joined the agency. She is a graduate of Bard College with a B.A. in Written Arts. Before joining Linda Chester, CoCo worked for Tom Yoon Productions developing projects and editing existing material.

What she is seeking: CoCo is looking for smart adult commercial fiction, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, young adult, middle grade and select picture books.

How to submit: CoCo Freeman is accepting queries at coco@lindachester.com. Please include a short synopsis along with the first two chapters in the body of the email.

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D. Patrick Miller of Linda Chester Literary Agency

D. Patrick Miller joined the Chester Agency as an Associate Agent in 2023. He continues to independently provide editing, manuscript assessments, and Assisted Publishing services to new and working writers under his long-established company Fearless Literary Services.

Whar he is seeking: His fields of interest include spirituality, human potential, health and wellness, creativity, and the arts. 

How to submit: Patrick Miller is accepting queries at dpatrick@lindachester.com. Please include a short synopsis along with the first two chapters in the body of the email.
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Ms. Valerie Frankel of Aevitas Creative Management

Valerie Frankel has collaborated with celebrities, public figures, and experts on more than thirty books, including two #1 New York Times bestsellers, Unhinged by Omarosa Manigault Newman and Melania and Me by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. Other bestsellers she’s ghostwritten include Stay Hungry by Sebastian Maniscalco and A Shore Thing by Snooki. Before becoming a ghostwriter, Frankel, a Dartmouth grad, has been an award-winning journalist and author (she’s written twenty-one books under her own name, novels, memoirs, and self-help guides), and served as Articles Editor at Condé Nast’s Mademoiselle for a decade. She’s based in Brooklyn, New York, and loves cats.

What she is seeking: Valerie is interested in non-fiction (memoir, health and wellness, business, lifestyle) and fiction (thriller, mystery, romance, YA). 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Ms. Yezanira Venecia of JABberwocky Literary Agency

Yezanira Venecia grew up in Texas and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She started her career in publishing seven years ago and previously held editorial positions at Skyhorse Publishing, Soho Press, and Melville House.

What she is seeking: YA and Adult Fiction: When it comes to fiction, I’m not tied down to one specific genre, although I do love crime fiction/horror, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and graphic novels (including manga).

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Mira Landry of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Born and raised in British Columbia, Mira Landry has lived on four continents, traveled to over eighty countries, and now resides in Colorado with her husband where she still seeks adventure in both real life and on the page. After a decade building her own business as a photographer, she’s eager to help authors turn their art into a career. As a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers member, she’s dedicated to building writing and literary communities through events and educational programming, and was co-chair for their Colorado Gold Conference. She has a Bachelors in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate of Creative Writing from Simon Fraser University.

What she is seeking: Mira is seeking upmarket adult fiction, ideally character-driven literary explorations with efficient, stunning prose and commercially appealing plots. She’d love to see experimental, artful writing that reels her in with continuously building tension and curiosity. She likes when speculative aspects are well-woven amid the protagonist’s journey and mostly set within our current reality without too many dragons, vampires, or aliens. She prefers romance that is embedded in women’s fiction, and mysteries rich in visceral settings and complex characters. Mira would specifically love to see more work from Indigenous/First Nations authors, as well other historically marginalized and underrepresented voices.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Micah Brocker of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Micah Brocker has spent the last five years in the business world helping entrepreneurs and artists fulfill the financial and legal knowledge needed to succeed. It has been her lifelong dream to foster careers for all artists, in particular authors and screenwriters. At Corvisiero Literary Agency, she is interested in fostering her client’s careers from the start and building their businesses with them. Located in Seattle, WA, you can find her hiking or running in the rain when she is not indoors reading with her trusty cat at her side.

What she is seeking: In both film and novels, she is interested in YA contemporary stories that deal with messy relationships and issues that can help young adults put words to their experiences. She is also looking for YA science fiction and urban fantasy that provide an escape while still helping us connect to the everyday troubles of growing up. In adult fiction, she loves women’s fiction and upmarket fiction that deals with burdensome secrets, messy relationships, and a character with a deep desire to change their life, the world etc., especially with a psychological, sci-fi, or romantic twist!

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Catherine Ross of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Catherine is a recent graduate of Howard University School of Law. Always knowing that her love of books would somehow find its way into her career, Catherine strived to learn about publishing and copyrights law. Along the way, she fell in love with agency work as well. Catherine hopes to bridge both legal and agent services together to serve clients at each stage of the process, and is excited to learn more from Corvisiero.

What she is seeking: Catherine loves anything from the fantasy genre, from urban to high fantasy, young adult to new adult, she’ll read it all! But honestly she loves anything that has strong world-building, complex characters, and a twist. When Catherine is not reading (a rarity) she is likely watching old horror films or finding new places to travel.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Alexandra Grana of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Alex is a recent graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law. She has always loved writing and literature, having completed her B.A. in Professional Writing at Miami University, and is excited to dedicate herself to helping fellow writers pursue publication. When she isn’t reading, she can be found trying a new recipe in the kitchen or prepping for her next DnD session.

What she is seeking: Alex’s favorite genres are fantasy and horror. She is a sucker for a good magic system, reimagined fairy tales, and poetic prose. Stories by marginalized writers are of particular interest to her.


How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Morgan Hughes of FinePrint Literary Management

Morgan Hughes grew up in the midwest before relocating to Texas as soon as she turned eighteen. There, she attended Texas Tech University and earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English literature. Morgan was previously an intern and Agency Assistant at Pippin Properties before joining FinePrint Literary in 2023 as an Associate Agent. She currently lives in Texas with her husband and their dog.

What she is seeking: Morgan is seeking Middle Grade and YA fantasy / adventure with a particular interest in graphic novels. She is also interested in YA, New Adult, and Adult romance. She loves unique narratives, strong voices, and impressive world-building, but is also drawn to small town vibes and sports settings. She is currently not seeking picture books, science-fiction, thrillers/mysteries, or nonfiction.

How to submit: To query Morgan, send a query letter to submissions@fineprintlit.com and write "Dear Morgan" in the body of the email. Include the opening 3 or 4 pages embedded in the body of your email. 
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Ms. Lisa Rambert-Valaskova of Transatlantic Literary Agency

Lisa Rambert-Valaskova has a law degree from the University of McGill and a degree in French Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Trinity College. Prior to joining Transatlantic she worked with several agents and authors as an independent literary consultant and editor. After living in Ottawa, Rome, Toronto, Prague, New York and (almost) Paris (twice!) – she now lives in beautiful Montreal with her husband, three children, and a sweet-as-honey Small Munsterlander named Tessa. 

What she is seeking: Lisa is ONLY open to children’s picture book and middle grade queries at the moment.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. 

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Carey Blankenship-Kramer of Belcastro Agency

After growing up surrounded by books and people who loved to read them, Carey dreamed of bringing more books to the hands of avid readers like herself. She graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing. She later received her master’s in Writing and Digital Communications from Agnes Scott College. She has experience working with both publishing houses and literary agencies and loves her role as Junior Agent at Belcastro Agency. As an editorial agent, she loves working closely with her authors to ensure their stories come to life on the page.

What she is seeking: While her sweet spot is horror and middle grade, Carey’s tastes are wide and varied. From mystery to fantasy to science fiction, she loves anything that can draw her in and have her rooting for the main characters. 

Specifics Across All Genres and Age Groups:
Diverse stories from Ownvoices. HORROR. Horror, horror, horror! If you have something remotely spooky, Carey wants to see it. Neurodiversity rep. As someone with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, neurodiversity is extremely important to Carey. Queer stories, especially those with happy endings. Quiet, coming of age stories for MG audiences, especially if the word count is on the smaller side with a twinge of magic.Stories with animal sidekicks / main characters / or just fluffy pals. Especially horses. Video game stories. Dragons! Or anything with mythological creatures. Tennis centered books.Stories set in the South. 
Middle Grade
AdventureContemporaryFantasyGraphic NovelHistoricalHorror MysteryParanormalScience FictionLiterally everything. Carey LOVES Middle Grade. 
Young Adult 
AdventureContemporaryFantasyGraphic NovelHorror MysteryParanormalScience Fiction
New Adult/Adult
ContemporaryFantasyHorrorMysteryRomanceScience Fiction
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

80 Calls for Submissions in August 2023 - Paying markets

PxHere This August there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month’s calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

___________________

The First Line. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

The Polyglot. Genre: Multilingual art, poems, essays, stories, artworks, and translations on any theme. Payment: $100 CAD. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction. Length: Under 3,000 words preferred. Payment: $75. Deadline: They open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their quota.

Fractured Lit: BIPOC Love Story. Genre: Flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $50 for original micro fiction and $75 for original flash fiction. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

We'Moon Lunar Calendar. Restrictions: Open to women only. Genre: Art, poetry and prose, 350 words maximum. Payment: Small honorarium; art up to $500. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Upbeat Tales. Genre: Upbeat and/or comedic fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. Payment: 1 cent/word. Length: 100-6,000 words. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Totally Entwined: Falsely, Madly, Deeply. Genre: Novellas, 30,000 - 50,000 words. Theme: Fake relationships. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Wizards in Space. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. "We’re ready to hear about the chapters of your own journeys. Which pages have you turned, and which are you now opening? We want your cliffhangers, we want your tidy knots, we want your open endings. Fresh starts and sweet farewells." Payment: $40 per original poem or per page of original art; $20 per reprinted poem or per page of reprinted art; $0.04 per word for original prose, based on final published word count; $0.02 per word for reprinted prose, based on final published word count. Deadline: August 1, 2023. Accepts reprints. 

Grimoire: Medusa—The Stone-Cold Bitches. Genre: Short stories, poems, CNF. See theme. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Monosyllabic Queer Theory. Genre: Poem about queer theory using monosyllabic words. Payment: $250 per piece. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Occult Detective Magazine. Genre: Mystery short stories, nonfiction, art. "We love both old-style and modern, cutting edge weird fiction, and we love folk horror; we embrace unashamed arcane adventure, and we also draw gritty noir mysteries into our domain. At the heart of all these tales are the occult detectives." Payment: $0.01/word (up to $50, up to $30 for nonfiction). Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Parenting Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Kids (Written by kids for kids) Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Teenage Years (Written by teenagers for teenagers) Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Propertius Press. Restrictions: We are actively seeking submissions by and about persons who identify as Trans and/or Non-Binary. Genre: Full-length literary fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Propertius Press.  Genre: Cozy mysteries. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023. May close early if cap is reached.

Terrors from the Toy Box. Genre: Horror. Payment: £20 regardless of story length plus a paperback and digital (pdf & Epub.) copy. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Acre Books Genre: Poetry, nonfiction, translation, graphic essays, & fiction by women of color, including writing by trans, nonbinary, & genderqueer writers. Subject line: OPEN CALL. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

L’Esprit Literary Review. Genre: Short fiction, creative non-fiction, novel extracts, drama, art, literary criticism, autotheory, and book reviews "written in the fearless, risk-adept, and revolutionary spirit of High Modernism." Payment: $10. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Madame Gray's Graveyard of Blood. Genre: Horror. "Open to all subgenres of horror, as long as the story takes place in, or is connected in some way to a cemetery. The more ghoulish, the better! The scarier, the merrier! And a bit of gallows humor is always welcome, but not required." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

B Cubed Press: Alternative Leadership. Genre: Stories, poetry, and essays. "This anthology is about leadership. Leadership by the under-represented, by those too often forced to watch as those less qualified, less capable rise in a system that cannot see the value of diversity and change. We’re looking for broken barriers of all kinds. Can a man lead the National Organization of Women? Can a woman lead the NFL Players Association? Not in our current world, perhaps, but maybe in alternative worlds?" Payment: $.03 a word upon publication, plus a share of the profits. Deadline: August 1, 2023. Reprints accepted.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: August 2, 2023. Opens August 1.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $50 per essay. Deadline: August 3, 2023.

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: August 4, 2023.

Alien Magazine. Genre: All types of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 5, 2023.

the other side of hope. Genre: Poetry by refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants only. They accept submissions in any language other than English. Payment: £50. Deadline: August 5, 2023.

The Off-Season. Genre: New Weird horror set in landscapes and communities on the edge of the sea. Word Limit: 2000-4000 words, firm. Payment: $0.08/word, paid prior to publication. Deadline: August 6, 2023, for marginalized voices.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of Legendary Things. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: August 6, 2023.

Flame Tree: Folk Horror. Genre: Folk horror. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word. Deadline: August 6, 2023.

Cirsova. Genre: Genre fiction short stories. Payment: $0.0125 per word. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD150-275 for prose; AUD125-275 for poetry. Deadline: August 9, 2023.

Shub-Niggurath’s Sweater. Genre: Cosmic horror. Short fiction and poetry. Stories should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: August 11, 2023.

Yolk. Restrictions: Print edition is open to residents of Canada. International submissions for digital publication. Genre: Fiction, art, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $100CAD honorarium for digital publication. For print, $30 per page, regardless of genre, up to a maximum of $200. $200 for print cover art. Deadline: August 14, 2023.

Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash fiction. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

Showcase: Object & Idea. Genre: Prose and poetry. "We explore Object & Idea. A poem and a prose piece are selected for each monthly issue, and the authors answer questions about the meaning behind their work." Payment: $50. Deadline: August 12, 2023. Reprints accepted. 

khōréō. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: Stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and $40-300 for art. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: August 15, 2023. See themes. Queries only.

Sasee. Genre: First-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their primary editorial focus. See theme. Payment: Varies. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Cricket Media: ASK Magazine. Genre: Science articles for children 7–10 years old. Theme: Wild in the city. Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Queries only.

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry and art. Payment: $7 per poem, $12 for cover art and $7 for inside art. Deadline: August 15, 2023. See themes.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Accepts reprints.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Some reprints accepted.

Jersey Pines Ink. Genre: Fantasy flash fiction. 1,000 words max. Payment; 1/2 cent/word. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Speculative City. Genre: Speculative fiction set in the city.  Payment: $20-$55 according to the category and length of the submission. Deadline: August 16, 2023.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: August 18, 2023. See themes.

Pseudopod. Genre: Horror (Audio format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: August 21, 2023. Reprints accepted.

Carte Blanche (Canada). Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF, translations. comics, photography. Payment: "Modest" Deadline: August 21, 2023.

The Off-Season. Genre: New Weird horror set in landscapes and communities on the edge of the sea. Word Limit: 2000-4000 words, firm. Payment: $0.08/word, paid prior to publication. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

Tree and Stone: Queer as F*. Restrictions: Open to writers/artists who self-identify as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Our cishet/ cisallohet allies, are welcome to submit, but we ask that the story center around a character who self-identifies as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Genre: Short fiction, CNF, art. This issue is to celebrate queerness in all its forms, experiences, and expressions. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $50 per essay. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

JANE NIGHTSHADE'S SERIAL ENCOUNTERS. Genre: Horror. "For this anthology, we're looking for short stories about casual encounters of fictional people with serial killers, that turned creepy or deadly. Stories can be straight crime/thriller stories or ones with a supernatural bent (haunted objects, ghosts, demons, etc.)." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The power of positive thinking. Genre: True stories and poems. "How did you “think positive” and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of positive thinking!" Payment: $200. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Hellbound Books: Happy Hellidays. Genre: "We want your stories of of holidays (any holiday at all!) filled with terror and dread, blood and guts, ghosts, and demons most foul." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Dragon Soul Press: Magick and Mystery. Genre: "All witch stories for all genres." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sadwrn: Wind Guide You. Genre: Poetic prose in English or Spanish. "Wind Guide You will be a pixelstruck anthology of enchanted texts devoted to exploring these territories and digital ramblings. We want pieces that talk about the most otherwordly and intense settings of virtual universes. We want your beautiful dérives. We want your utter escapism, your childlike stray in the woods." Payment: €40/text and a complimentary copy of the zine. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

B.E.N.T. Flash Novel Challenge. Genre: "Write a 50,000-word novel in the B.E.N.T. universe in 45 days, ready to be reviewed for publication." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

The McNeese Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Broken Antler publishes online and in print. Genre: All genres of horror, as well as sci-fi and dark fantasy. The editors are partial to a wide range of subgenres—body, cosmic, folk, gore, etc. "For poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid submissions, we’re looking for work that is haunting and monstrous, weird and bizarre. Extra points if your work is experimental or doing something unusual with form." Send up to two hybrid submissions. Payment: $10 - $20. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Hidden Villains—Betrayed. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Theme: Hidden Villains: Betrayed– Bold, imaginative fantasy, horror, and sci-fi sculpted to thrill and entertain readers with the bizarre or delve into the shadows. Finish it off with a twist of betrayal!" Word Limit: 2,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: 2+ cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Why Didn’t You Just Leave. Genre: Horror. "There are a lot of reasons why people don’t just leave scary situations, and we’d like to see smart, spooky stories that reflect the complexity behind that question." Length: 500 – 5,000 words. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Solar Press Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror. Length: 1,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Broken Sleep Books. (UK) Genre: Nonfiction prose pamphlets (up to 70 pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023. 

The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $275 for a short story or nonfiction entry, and $50 per poem or postscript story. Deadline: August 31, 2023. 

Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Necronomi-RomCom. Genre: Speculative comic romance. "In this anthology, we’re looking for cosmic tales with a light romantic twist." Payment: 1 cent/word for prose, $5 for poetry. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Quarter Press: Quarter(ly). Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. See themes. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 - $75 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Note: Submit early to avoid submission fees.

The Rumpus. Genre: Fiction. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry on theme of Reclamation. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Opens August 15. Submission periods are extended by a week for BIPOC creators only.

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: 20.00 USD for featured authors, or $10.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $5.00 USD for poems. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words) Payment: 5 cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Fahmidan Publishing is a publisher for all POC & Women ardent in battle against subjugation. Genre: Poetry or fiction chapbook. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

The Underdogs Rise Vol. 2 (Working Title) Genre: Speculative fiction. "This is a sequel to our Current highly reviewed collection.  All stories must have science fiction or fantasy elements. Please no stories dealing with space exploration or colonization in this anthology. We want stories about underdogs that take fantastical worlds or places but want characters to be the focus. We are looking for polished manuscripts of about 3,500 - 12,000 words." Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Queens in Wonderland. Genre: Fiction. This is an LGBTQ+ Alice in Wonderland themed anthology. 1,500-5,000 word count. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sundress Publications. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Publication. Deadline: Submission is free until August 31, 2023 for BIPOC writers only. 

AND A FEW MORE...

The Wicked Bestiary: An Anthology of Monstrous Folk Tales. Genre: Horror short stories (5,000 - 8,000 words) that include creatures from legend, world myth, and folk tales.  Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy). Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Qwerty. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $15 CAD. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Teach. Write.: A Writing Teachers’ Literary Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. See themes. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2023. 

Orion's Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Lethe Press. Genre: Speculative fiction, especially queer speculative fiction, historical fiction. Full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

40 Writing Contests in August 2023 — No entry fees

Pixabay This August there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

_____________________

Source Magazine. Genre: Book reviews, exhibition reviews or texts introducing sets of pictures. "But we are also interested in others forms of writing so if you want to submit something in a different form then please do. Our interest in photography is not only about the photographs that appear in books and exhibitions, it touches most aspects of life and we like to read about those encounters too." Length: 700 words max. Prize: £500. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Lucky Jefferson Poetry and Prose Contest. Restriction: Open to anyone over the age of 10. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100, publication, and a swag box. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Granum Foundation Prize helps U.S.-based writers complete substantive literary works—such as poetry books, essay or short story collections, novels, and memoirs—or to help launch these works. Additionally, a Granum Foundation Translation Prize will be awarded to support the completion of a work translated by a U.S.-based writer. Prize: One winner will receive $5,000; up to three finalists will be awarded $500 or more; $500 or more will be awarded to one writer working in translation. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grants. Restrictions: Open to women and trans artists in Greater Philadelphia to fund art for social change projects. People living in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties Delaware who are 18 years of age or older and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Genres: Art in traditional or nontraditional modes, mediums or disciplines. Prize: $2500. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Delaware poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who have lived in Delaware for at least one year prior to application and who are not enrolled in a degree-granting program. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bennett Nieberg Transpoetic Broadside Prize. Restrictions: Open to trans poets who have yet to publish their first full-length book. Genre: Poem. Prize: $1,000 USD, 25 limited edition letterpress broadsides of the winning poem, and a feature in the upcoming issue of Gasher Journal. Deadline: August 2, 2023.

Oregon Literary Fellowships. Two fellowships (one $10,000 grant and one $3,500 grant) are reserved specifically for writers of color. There are also fellowships for women/gender-nonconforming writers as well as special fellowships for fiction writers who have lived in Oregon over the past 5 years. Deadline: August 4, 2023.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Poetry. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: August 5, 2023. (It is difficult to find this information on their website.) 

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. "On each competition weekend, we’ll reveal a set of story prompts and you’ll have 55 hours to submit your best story of 500-words (or fewer)." Prize: $500AUD. Deadline: Opens August 4, 2023. Closes August 6, 2023. (Australian time)

Live Theatre's North East Playwriting Award. Restrictions: Open to playwrights who are either from or based in the North East of England, age 16 and older. Genre: Full-length play. Prize: £10,000 top prize. A second award will be exclusively for young people aged 16 to 25. This will be a commission fee of £7,000 (under 70 minutes) and a commitment to develop the play at Live Theatre. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

Peter Blazey Fellowship.  Restrictions: Applicants must either be an Australian citizen or have Australian residency. Genre: Non-fiction in the fields of autobiography, biography or life writing. Prize: $15,000, and a one-month writer-in-residency at The Australia Centre. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between  July 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: August 11, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction between 1k words max based on the theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: August 14, 2023.

The Yale Drama Series. Genre: Original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Bruce Piasecki and Andrea Masters Award on Business and Society Writing. Restrictions: Author must be 18-40 years old and have published at least one work prior to the deadline date. Genre: Published work on any theme exploring key business and society issues. Possible themes include climate change, racial/gender equality, sustainability, innovation, and new approaches to lessen war and social stresses. Essays, research papers, books, and articles are eligible. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

The Gotham “Manuscript-to-Market” Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to people of color who have completed a book manuscript (or nonfiction book proposal) and are ready to go to market with their book. Three fellowships will be offered every year. Prize: Admittance to the Gotham Writers Conference—the panels and presentations as well as a seat at a pitching roundtable with two agents in your genre. The Gotham course How to Get Published or Nonfiction Book Proposal. A one-on-one Agent Evaluation session and a Query Letter Coaching session, both with a literary agent. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Ligonier Valley Writers. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of “jack-o’-lanterns”;1000 words max. Prize: The first prize winner will receive $50, second prize $25, and third prize $15. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund. Restrictions: Australian citizens or residents. Applicants must be emerging, midcareer or established Australian writers and literary sector workers (not beginners) with a demonstrated publication and/or career history. Prize: $10,000 for travel expenses. Deadline: August 17, 2023.

Waterford Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Ireland. Genre: Poem. Prize: First prize is €400 plus attendance at a designated writing course. Deadline: August 21, 2023.

DC Reid Poets’ Grant. Restrictions: Open to poets of "modest means." Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, living in Canada, who have published at least two books of poetry with a traditional publishing house. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: August 21, 2023.

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction. Deadline: August 25, 2023.

Nan Shepherd Prize. Restrictions: Open to unpublished, underrepresented nature writers in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Nature writing. Prize: £10,000 and publishing contract with Canongate. Deadline: August  25, 2023.

Storyhouse. Genre: Biographical nonfiction. Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts. 1000 - 10,000 words in length. Stories must be suitable for children. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to poets of color with US citizenship who have not previously published a book-length volume of poetry. Genre: Poetry chapbook. Prize: $500, publication by Northwestern University Press, fifteen copies of the book, and a featured reading at The Poetry Foundation.. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Scifidea Science Fiction Writing Contest. Genre: Science fiction. 'The submitted works should be within the realm of science fiction, and must show a new worldview that conforms with scientific logic. It needs to conform to the concepts and characteristics of Dyson Sphere scientific theory, including the uses, size, structure of a Dyson sphere and other related basic settings, and reflect and expand them in the story." Length: 30,000-100,000 words. Only finished stories will be accepted. Prize: 10 winners will each receive US$20,000. "If your work is one of those winners, you agree to grant SciFidea a ten-year publishing license to that work, with the US$20,000 prize being an advance against royalties. The author will share 50% of the net income on print publishing rights (including foreign languages in foreign countries), and another 30% of the net income from developing your work into other media (film, television, animation, graphic novels/manga, and so on)." Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Morioka International Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. Prize: ? Deadline: August 31, 2023.

“Kusamakura” Haiku Competition. Genre: Haiku. Prize: ? Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sundog Summer Collaboration Contest. Genre: "Sometimes teamwork is what makes the dreamwork, so this summer we want to see what you’ve created with another writer (or two or three⁠ — there’s actually no limit) for our annual Collaboration Contest. Submit your wildest, most inventive work of any or mixed genre. Just keep your hybrid masterpiece to 1,000 words or less." Prize: $300 and publication. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Kindle Storyteller Award (UK). Restrictions: The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk. Genre: Book. Prize: £20,000. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Nat 1 $h!TpOsT Shorts. Genre: Write a 3000+ word story for one of the six provided horrible covers. (See website) (The covers really are horrible) Prize: Publication, royalties and a $25 award. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Preservation Foundation Biographical Nonfiction Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Biographical Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme of Instability. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Arena Fantasy Magazine Competition. Genre: Fantasy. The first line and last line have to be the same - It was the same as it ever was, and nothing changed. Prize: First place wins an annual subscription to AFM.  The 2nd & 3rd place will get a free issue. All entries will be considered for publication in an anthology as well as published in the magazine." Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation or Multi-Lingual Texts. Restrictions: Translators and authors of multi-lingual texts. Genres: Poetry and prose. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Poetry Archive NOW! WordView 2023. Genre: Poetry. "Make a video/film recording of yourself reading or reciting a single poem which you have written in 2022." Prize: £100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. Genre: Scholarly essay. All work submitted must have been written or published within the last year. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story with an overall word-count of 2000 on theme: "The Hungry Tide" Prize: £100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35 as of December 31 of the deadline year. Books must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language, between June 23 of the preceding year and August 31 of the deadline year. Authors must be UK or Irish citizens, or residents for the three years preceding the award. Genre: Published or self-published book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: August 31, 2023.