Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 16

54 Writing Contests in January 2023 - No entry fees

Peter Janzen This January there are more than four 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 is past, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

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Defenestration Lengthy Poem Contest. Genre: Lengthy poem (at least 3 pages). Prize: $300. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,250 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

Electa Quinney Award for Published American Indian Stories. Genre: Story. "This award seeks to highlight the work of story creators who continue the tradition of teaching through narratives often crossing the boundaries of genres, formats and disciplines. To celebrate the dissemination of stories into spaces where they can be shared all published stories qualify including small press and fine arts printing." Prize: $250. Deadline: January 1, 2023.


The Blossom Contest. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: $200.00 USD Prize in Poetry, $200.00 USD Prize in Prose. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

The European Society of Literature. Genre: Prose. "The theme for this European Writing Prize is ‘Anxiety’. Writers should incorporate the notion of anxiety into their work however they see fit." Length: between 1500 and 3500 words. Prize: 50 euros paid via PayPal or bank transfer and publication. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

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: January 1, 2023.


Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2023.


The Tomorrow Prize & The Green Feather Award. Restrictions: Open to Los Angeles County high school students. Genre: Science fiction, and environmentally focused sci-fi story. Prize: Tomorrow Prize: $250, $150, and $100 USD. Green Feather Award: $250.00 & online publication by the Nature Nexus Institute. Deadline: January 9, 2023.

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art. Prize: 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity. Deadline: January 9, 2023.

Bethesda Urban Partnership Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Essays. Length: 500 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 10, 2023.

Bethesda Magazine Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Short stories. Length: 4000 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 10, 2023.

Spectator Contest No. 3282: new look. Genre: In Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future, one chapter is narrated by a carbon atom, another by the market. You are invited to submit a short story narrated from an unusual perspective. Please email entries of up to 150 words to lucy@spectator.co.uk Prize: £30. Deadline: January 11, 2023.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 13, 2023.

Northern California Book Awards. Restrictions: Books written by authors based in northern California and published for the first time the previous calendar year are eligible for nomination. Genre: Published book. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 13, 2023.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book. Best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 13, 2023.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: January 13, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: January 14, 2023. See themes.

Penrose Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQIA+ writers. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $200 prize, a written review from guest judge + publishing. Deadline: January 15, 2023. 

Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $1,500 top prize. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. Restrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Novel. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the year 2018 considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Novella-in-Flash Award. Genre: Flash fiction/Novella. 6000 to 18000 word limit – each flash should not be more than about 1000 words. Prize: £300 prize for the winner, two runner-up prizes of £100. Deadline: January 15, 2023.


Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Discoveries Prize. Restrictions: Open to female novelists of all ages and backgrounds, from across the UK and Ireland. Genre: Novel in progress. Prize: The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Ballard Spahr Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of MN, IA, ND, SD, WI, or MI. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $10,000 & book publication with Milkweed Editions. Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, all genres. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 16, 2023.

The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. Restrictions: The Orwell Prize for Political Writing is open to nonfiction first published in the UK or Ireland. (See publication deadlines.) Genre: Nonfiction, including entries addressing political, social, cultural, moral and historical subjects. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 16, 2023.

The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Restrictions: The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction is open to novels and short story collections first published in the UK or Ireland. (See publication deadlines.) Genre: Fiction that explores ideas and issues, political themes, dilemmas and injustices through imagined narratives. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 16, 2023.

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Candidates must be: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident; Under the age of 35; Unpublished in book form and without a book contract. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Prizes: Up to C$10,000. Deadline: January 16, 2023.

Bethesda Poetry Contest. Genres: Poetry. Adult and high school student categories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First place: $350, published on The Writer's Center's blog and magazine, and a free class and membership to The Writer's Center. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Prize for high school students, $75. All winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website and honored at a special event during the Local Writer's Showcase. Deadline: January 17, 2023.

Poetry Society of Virginia - Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in Virginia, grades 3 - 12. Prize: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 19, 2023.

Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to authors who either are citizens or permanent residents of Western Australia. Genre: Book published during the preceding calendar year in a variety of genres. Prize: Up to A$60,000. Deadline: January 19, 2023.

Zocalo Public Square Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to US poets only. Genre: Poetry that evokes a connection to place. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 23, 2023. 

Nine Dots Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors age 18+. Genre: Summary response to "Why has the rule of law become so fragile?" The winner will expand on the ideas expressed in their summary response by participating in a seminar at the University of Cambridge and by writing a short book (25,000-40,000 words) to be published by Cambridge University Press. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: January 23, 2023.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships are awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period. Prize: $8,000 cash awards are made to individual originating artists living and working in the state of New York for unrestricted use. These fellowships are not project grants but are intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development. Deadline: January 25, 2023.
Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 26, 2023.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to 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 technology addiction. Prize: $1000 scholarship.  Deadline: January 30, 2023.

The Hillman Prize for Journalism. Genre: Journalism. "Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honored journalists, writers and public figures that pursue investigative journalism and public policy in service of the common good." Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 30, 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: January 30, 2023.


Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada. Self-published books are not eligible. Genre: A 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. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

International Young Theatre Playwriting Contest. Genre: Plays for young audiences (no plays for children or adult audiences, or musicals), written in any official European language. Prize: €2,400 for Category A, €1,000 for Category B and other prizes. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Arnold Bennett Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers based in Stoke on Trent, the wider North Staffordshire area or living anywhere in the world if their work features North Staffordshire. Genre: Published fiction, nonfiction, poetry books, plays, including self-published works. Each submission should have an ISBN number and two copies should be either mailed or delivered to Jenny Amphlett, Staffordshire University, 3rd Floor, The Catalyst Building, Leek Road, Stoke on Trent. ST4 2DF. Prize: £500. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Cheshire Prize for Literature. Restrictions: The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire, UK. Age ranges from 4 to adult. Genre: Short story, piece of poetry, script or children’s literature piece (this can be a script, story or poem, for children ages seven to 14) on the theme of Sustainability. Prize: Cash prizes. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2023. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets. Restrictions: The prize is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: January 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: January 31, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Hurston/Wright Awards for College Writers. Restrictions: Open to Black artists in fiction and poetry enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate school program anywhere in the United States. For the past four years, Amistad, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, has sponsored the award. Genre: Fiction, poetry. 20 pages max for fiction. Up to 3 poems. Prize: Cash prizes. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award. Genre: Any published book, whether fiction or nonfiction, that promotes public understanding of Chicago; titles must be available for purchase by the general public in either hardcover or bound paperback form; All subject areas, disciplines, and genres are eligible, including but not limited to: history, biography, the social sciences, art, architecture, poetry, drama, graphic novels, or fiction; Translations, textbooks, anthologies, reprints or new editions of previously published works, pamphlets, digital publications, travel guides, children’s books, or self-published works are not eligible. Prize: $25,000. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $150.00. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Scriptlab. Genre: TV script or short screenplay. Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Harlequin: Romance Includes You Mentorship. Restrictions: Open to debut writers in Canada and the US. Genre: Romance novel. Prize: A contract advance plus grant with a value of $5,000 U.S. Deadline: January 31, 2023. (?) Opens January 1, so submit early.

11 (Warm) Writing Conferences and Workshops in January 2023

Key West: Flickr We all dream of sunshine during the cold, dark days of winter. Fortunately for writers, there are a nearly a dozen delightful conferences this January held in places we would rather be. If you miss your ideal conference this year, don't worry. Many of these are annual events, and quite a few offer scholarships. (Apply early!) 
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For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. January 5 - 15, 2023: Seaside, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing.

Key West Literary Seminar. January 12–15, 2023: Key West, Florida. Each year, the Key West Literary Seminar explores a particular literary theme. In 2023, we will celebrate our 40th anniversary with “Singing America: A Celebration of Black Literature”

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 13 - 16, 2023, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft talks, one-on-one tutorials, featured readings, and open mics. Tuition, which includes some meals, ranges from $490 to $690, depending on the workshop; lodging is not included. 

TMW January Jumpstart. January 14 - 15, 2023: Oak Ridge, TN. “We will have a “Meet and Greet” session Friday from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern. On Saturday there will be concurrent Poetry and Fiction morning sessions from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern, and afternoon sessions from 1:30 – 4:30 Eastern." Registration $150. Application deadline December 30.

Eckerd College Writers in Paradise Conference. January 14 -21, 2023, St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. The faculty includes Emily Bernard, Laura Lippman, Ann Hood,  Andre Dubus III, Michael Koryta, Stewart O’Nan, Ana Menéndez, and many more. Required mask wearing while indoors.  All faculty, staff, and volunteers must show proof of vaccination, while students must either show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result. Application period runs from August 1 to November 1.

Writing By Writers DRAFT. Lake Tahoe and Boulder, CO. DRAFT is an intensive program for 15 writers who are committed to completing a novel, memoir, short story, or essay collection over the course of two years. Whether starting a first draft, or working through a new revision, this program is appropriate for writers who want a rigorous and supportive community throughout their process.  Application Deadline, January 15, 2023 ; Acceptance Notification, February 1, 2023; Registration Deadline, February 15, 2023; Program Kick Off, February 28, 2023.

Digital Book World Conference. January 16 - 18, 2023: NYC. This is the premier event for digital publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models. 

Jaipur Literature Festival. January 19 - 23, 2023. Presentations, panels, readings, and music performances. In an uplifting celebration of the mind and heart, authors from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe will take part in provocative conversations about life and society, economics and the arts, equity, freedom, and the care of our planet. In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community.

Writing By Writers GET THE LEAD OUT! January 20 - 22, 2023: Online. This workshop brings all levels of writers together for a weekend of inspiration, craft and the generation of new work. Faculty:
Sequoia Nagamatsu, Pam Houston & Chip Livingston. Tuition: $750 includes one three-day workshop, admittance to all craft talks and readings.

Sunshine State Book Festival. January 27 - 28, 2023: Gainesville, Florida. "Our 2023 festival will feature 150 authors writing in 15 genres. Over a third of them have won literary awards. This year’s keynote address will be given by Janis Owens, notable author of four novels, a regional cookbook, and a book of nonfiction. She will speak on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.." Admission is free.

Colrain Classic. January 27 - 30, 2023: Online. "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.

6 New Agents Seeking Genre Fiction, Nonfiction, SFF, Kidlit, YA Fiction, Memoir and more

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

Kate Davids is looking for nonfiction projects, particularly practical nonfiction, in cooking, personal finance, business, pets/animals, gardening, mental health, and new age. She also enjoys history books that delve into interesting subcultures, like anime or tabletop RPGs. In fiction, Kate has a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy. She is also seeking children's books.

Hana El Niwairi is seeking Science Fiction & Fantasy (adult and YA), Romance, Book Club fiction, Thrillers, Well-researched and accessible non-fiction in various topics including but not limited to: politics, social justice issues, pop culture and media, sciences, and history.

Kara Grajkowski wants Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction, Contemporary YA Fiction, Own Voices. Stephanie Stevens loves working with true crime, mystery, thriller, women's fiction, YA (mystery, fantasy, romance) and romance authors.

Lauren Hall is looking for commercial nonfiction, pop culture, pop-science/psychology, cultural criticism, memoir, humor, lifestyle, cookbooks, health and wellness, essay collections, illustrated/gift books, underrepresented voices, and select fiction.

Anjanette Barr loves genre and popular fiction, including gothic novels, romance, and historical fiction. In non-fiction she is looking for biography, popular science and other disciplines titles, and memoir. She's also interested in books that shed light on poverty and justice in a new way. She prefers picture books that are winsome and pleasant to read aloud.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 two 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. Kate Davids of Arc Literary Management

Kate joined Arc Literary in 2022 after 3 years working at Simon & Schuster as part of their Organic Growth Initiative. She uses her background in market research and digital marketing strategy to help her clients find new audiences and better appeal to the audiences they may already have. Prior to working in publishing, Kate worked in marketing strategy and research in a variety of industries for brands like Weight Watchers and Unilever. She loves exploring different cultures, including subcultures. For her, books enable readers to explore new and different perspectives, with authors as the all-important guides and gateways. 

What she is seeking: Kate is looking for nonfiction projects, particularly practical nonfiction, in cooking, personal finance, business, pets/animals, gardening, mental health, and new age. She also enjoys history books that delve into interesting subcultures, like anime or tabletop RPGs. 

In fiction, Kate has a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy that has great action and world building that leverages real world cultures or histories. She loves fiction that represents diverse cultural backgrounds in their settings and characters. 

For children’s books, Kate is looking for titles that can help both parents and their children explore the world together. This includes bi-lingual books and books about travel and multi-culturalism. She also likes a good laugh and an “aww” moment or two.

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Ms. Hana El Niwairi of Cooke McDermid Literary Agency (CANADA)

Hana El Niwairi is the Rights Manager at CookeMcDermid. She leads the rights team in representing the works of agency authors outside of North America: in Asia, Europe, the UK, and more. Since 2017, Hana and her team have placed agency books into over 50 territories around the globe. Prior to joining the publishing industry, she worked in the non-profit, arts, and culture sectors with organizations such as the Book and Periodical Council, Culture Days, and Paprika Festival. She is a graduate of Humber College's Arts Administration and Cultural Management program and holds an Honours BA (Specialization in Creative Writing and English Literature with a Major in Psychology) from Western University. Outside of her role at the agency, Hana is also one of the co-founders of BIPOC of Publishing in Canada.

What she is seeking: Science Fiction & Fantasy (adult and YA), Romance, Book Club fiction, Thrillers, Well-researched and accessible non-fiction in various topics including but not limited to: politics, social justice issues, pop culture and media, sciences, and history. Hana's tastes are eclectic and she reads widely across genres. She has a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy and in recent years has been particularly enjoying romance and thrillers. Across genres, she’s drawn to character-driven stories, featuring morally grey protagonists, ‘difficult’ women, and commercial fiction written by and about marginalized communities. Additionally, in her (somewhat futile) pursuit to learn everything, ever, Hana is an avid reader of non-fiction, particularly politics, social science, media criticism, science, and history. She is keenly interested in non-fiction exploring systemic issues and how they play out in the day-to-day lives of the average person.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. 

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Ms. Kara Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency


"As a child, I remember trips to the post office with my mom, Michelle Grajkowski, multiple times a week to fill our minivan trunk with tons of white USPS bins for her new (super cool) literary agency. The bins would end up in the dark, scary, basement room next to our playroom. I always wondered what secrets were typed in mom’s manuscripts… Years later, as I scanned through the library of mom’s published books in a different dark, scary room in our basement, I fell in love with the secrets that I was learning with every page I turned. Now, as an adult, I have become obsessed with bringing secrets out of the basement library and into my (very colorful) elementary classroom library. When I am not teaching fractions and key details, you can find me singing, trying new restaurants, exploring with my corgi, Momo, or finding the best bargains."

What she is seeking: Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction, Contemporary YA Fiction, Own Voices.


How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Ms. Stephanie Stevens of 3 Seas Literary Agency

Starting with her first word being "book", Stephanie has been an avid reader her whole life. She loves connecting friends and family to fun new books and is excited to use her skills to represent authors. 

What she is seeking: Stephanie loves working with true crime, mystery, thriller, women's fiction, YA (mystery, fantasy, romance) and romance authors especially when the story involves an unexpected twist.


How to submit: Use her query manager HERE. 

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Lauren Hall of Folio Literary Management
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Lauren Hall is a literary agent, executive producer, and multiple #1 New York Times bestselling writer who comes alongside incisive thinkers and writers to bring ideas to life.

Over her ten years in publishing, she has worked on 26 New York Times bestselling books, collaborating with and representing both new and seasoned talent. Having participated in every step of the publishing process—agenting, editing, designing, promoting, and co-writing—has provided her with a deep and holistic insight into what makes a book both commercially and culturally successful. Her comprehensive and integrated approach means she loves being a creative collaborator.

As the former Editorial Director for a full-service literary agency, Lauren wrote and developed proposals and provided editorial for the agency’s larger clients while working closely with both authors and publishers to develop and sell influential books. She trained and managed a team of writers, editors, and designers to take books from concept to completion. In addition, she is a seasoned collaborator and has ghostwritten several bestselling books for select authors.

In 2020, she co-founded Content Capital, a content agency that serves talent through multiple verticals including books, podcasts, television, and film. Prior to her work in literary and talent management, Lauren worked at The Village Voice and literary non-profit, 826NYC.

Lauren joined Folio in 2022 and now resides in Austin, Texas. When not reading books, writing books, or talking about books, she’s ideally on a bike ride, exploring some new city, or hosting a dinner and listening to stories over a long, unhurried meal.

What she is seeking: She is looking for commercial nonfiction, pop culture, pop-science/psychology, cultural criticism, memoir, humor, lifestyle, cookbooks, health and wellness, essay collections, illustrated/gift books, underrepresented voices, and select fiction.

How to Submit: Please query Lauren at lauren@foliolit.com. Please include the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line.

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Ms. Anjanette Barr of Dunham Literary, Inc.

Anjanette Barr is an Associate Literary Agent at Dunham Literary, Inc. She has been working in various branches of the writing and publishing world for over a decade, and being an agent is the perfect way to synthesize her interests and talents. She spent the pandemic earning a certificate in Literary Representation from UCLA Extension. She also holds a B.A. in Japanese Studies from William Jewell College.

What she is seeking: She loves genre and popular fiction, including gothic novels, romance, and historical fiction. In non-fiction she is looking for biography, popular science and other disciplines titles, and memoir. She's also interested in books that shed light on poverty and justice in a new way. She prefers picture books that are winsome and pleasant to read aloud.

How to submit: See submission guidelines HERE. 

15 Literary Magazines Open NOW - SFF, Horror, Essays, Poetry, Genre Fiction, and more - Paying markets

Mary Pickford - Pickpik Here are 15 publications that are open to submissions right now (no deadlines). All are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. You can find upcoming calls for submissions with deadlines on my page: Calls for Submissions. Get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)

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

_________________________

The Anarchist Poetry Project. Genre: Poem Length: 3 poems up to 5 pages total. "The theme of the book is Building Better Worlds. We’re interested in what those better Anarchist worlds and systems look like. Poems that somehow relate to that theme within the context of anarchism will have a better chance of being accepted. In particular, we love speculative literature (scifi, fantasy, hopepunk and other -punk subgenres, magical realism, etc). But even if your poem doesn’t fall into such genres, we still want you to submit it as long as you identify as an anarchist, and your poems are in some way about or related to anarchism and building better worlds." Payment: $30 per poem + contributor copy. Deadline: Open until filled.

Radon. Genre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word for original work, half a cent per word for reprints.

The Hungur Chronicles. Genre: Horror. Vampires or creatures with vampiric themes. Payment: The pay for original stories is $25.00; for reprints, $12.00. Payment for poems is $5. The pay for illustrations is $8.00. The payment for articles is $10. The pay for cover art is $25.00.

The Were-Traveler: Curst & Twysted Tarot. Genre: Short fiction. Choose an image you would like to write a story about. Payment: $10 for flash, $15 for short stories. (Open until filled.)

Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word; $40 per poem. "We plan to stay open to submissions by BIPOC authors for the entirety of 2022."

Through the Gate: Fantastical poetry "We are looking for fantastical poetry of literary and emotional depth from a diversity of voices and perspectives. Our definition of fantastical is quite fluid, encompassing fantasy, magic realism, myth, folklore, surrealism and slipstream. We desire poetry that is atypically beautiful, unconventionally imaginative, and boundary-crossing. We are not interested in work that is strictly science fiction or mainstream, but poetry that blurs the lines between such genres and the fantastical is welcome." Length: Up to three poems. Payment: $20 per poem. Deadline: Open now.

Three-lobed Burning Eye. "Original speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, and science fiction. We're looking for short stories from across the big classifications and those shadowy places between: magical realism, fantastique, slipstream, interstitial, and the Weird. We will consider suspense or western, though we prefer it contain some speculative element. We like voices that are full of feeling, from literary to pulpy, with styles unique and flowing, but not too experimental. All labels aside, we want tales that expand genre, that value imagination in character, narrative, and plot. We want to see something new and different." Length: Short fiction 1000–7000 words, Flash fiction 500–1000 words, (2000–5000 preferred). Payment: $100 for short fiction, $30 for flash fiction; + 1 print annual. Deadline: Open now.

The Dark The Dark publishes dark fantasy and horror. "Don’t be afraid to experiment or to deviate from the ordinary; be different—try us with fiction that may fall out of “regular” categories. However, it is also important to understand that despite the name, The Dark is not a market for graphic, violent horror." Length: 2,000 – 6,000 words. Payment: 6 cents/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words on publication for first world rights; and 1 cent/word for reprint fiction up to 6,000 words on publication for nonexclusive reprint rights. Deadline: Open now.

Neon Door Column - The Immersive Future. "We are currently accepting pitches for essays about the intersection between art and technology for our online column on Neon Door called "The Immersive Future". We’re seeking pieces that explore the potentials that virtual reality, the metaverse, and immersive technologies create for a new form of storytelling." Payment is $250. Pitches only.

Et Sequitur. "We are open to all genres, from literary to speculative and everything in between. Our only requirement is that your submission in some way connect with the latest Et Sequitur story, be that in character (minor, major, protagonist, antagonist), setting (neighborhood, world, workplace, house -- even a certain object could work, if it's featured prominently), or theme. Be creative! Continue the story, tell a side-character's story, take the theme and twist it in a new way. In the submission form, you'll be asked to identify which element of the previous story you've chosen to incorporate in your own." Submissions for the next issue will open once the previous issue is published (expected to be the first day of every-other month). They will temporarily close when a story has been chosen for the next issue. Payment: $25.

Beechwood Review publishes minimalist writing and art. "We’re partial to themes of time, nature, humanity, philosophy, chaos, reason, the ridiculous, and the whimsical. We don’t like work that drones on about fancy table fruit. Although good fruit poems have their place." Payment: $5 per poem, 1 cent/word for fiction and nonfiction, $5 for art.

Assemble Artifacts is looking for stories of wonder and suspense. "We prefer stories of at least 5,000 words, but are open to longer and shorter works. Please include a one to three sentence pitch of your story, and an author bio with your submission. We are open to writers of all levels of experience." Payment: 8-10 cents per word for short fiction.

Jay Henge: The Nameless Songs of Zadok Allen. Genre: Speculative fiction. "What lurks in the deep? Who listens from the shadows? What sorts of abominable experiments are taking place at the mysterious ivy-covered university? We want your Lovecraftian tales. " Payment: $5 USD per 1000 words. Length: Up to 15k words. Open until filled.

Jay Henge: The Back Forty. Genre: Speculative fiction. "In The Back Forty, we are looking for your stories that explore new, lawless frontiers, backwater towns, self-appointed sheriffs, lonesome explorers, bounty hunters, and other Wild West in Outer Space kinds of themes." Payment: $5 USD per 1000 words. Length: Up to 15k words. Open until filled.

Sinister Smile Press: Dead Hookers in Gas Station Bathrooms. Genre: Road trip horror. Payment: $30 - $50. Deadline: Open until filled.

101 Calls for Submissions in December 2022 - Paying markets

Public Domain This December there are more than eight 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 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!

_____________________ 


Extra Teeth. Genre: Short fiction between 800 and 4,000 words. Payment: £100. Deadline: December 14, 2022 (?) Opens December 1.


Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 1, 2022. Submit early to avoid submission fee. 

Empire of Beasts. Genre: Stories about entirely new societies and cultures populated by anthropomorphized creatures. Payment: $40. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Acre Books. Restrictions: BIPOC writers only. Genre: Full-length fiction, nonfiction, poetry and hybrid works. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2022.


The Woodward Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art, and digital media from anyone, anywhere. Payment: $25.  Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 1, 2022. See themes.

The Offing: Wit Tea. Genre: Humor. "Send us your comedic work in any genre. We love strong character voices, absurdity, momentum, vulnerability, and surprise. We want the pieces only you – yes you, weirdo – could write. We want to think, we want to cry, and we want to laugh our butts off. We’ve been attached to our butts for far too long." Payment: $25 - $100. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Toxic Workplaces. Restrictions: Open to women writers. Genre: CNF up to 5,000 words on theme Toxic Workplaces. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Outcast Press: Diner Crime/Noir/Neo-Noir Anthology. Genre: Crime/noir/neo-noir/transgressive short stories in which a diner-like venue plays a major role in the narrative. Length: 2,000 – 7,000 words (3,000 – 4,500 words being the sweet spot). Payment: $25 - $100. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: December 1, 2022. See themes.

Ruminate. Genre: Fiction under 5,500 words. Payment: $20 per 500 words. Deadline: December 1, 2022. 

Air and Nothingness Press: Gargantua. Genre: Speculative stories of massive engineering megastructures that reshape stellar systems. Length: exactly 1000 words. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: December 1, 2022. 

Contrary. Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Payment: $20. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Tomorrow's Hope. Genre: Near Future Hard Science Fiction. Payment: A percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors. Deadline: December 1, 2022. 

Zero Street Fiction. Genre: Full-length LGBTQ fiction. The manuscript must be in English and should be between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Interstellar Flight Press. Genre: Horror including but not limited to: Science Fiction Horror, Fantasy Horror, Supernatural, Weird Horror, Mystery/thrillers with horror elements. Hybrids or difficult to categorize works are welcome. Give us your slashers, zombies, witches, vampires, monsters, demons, devils, horror comedies, psychological thrillers, body horror, crime noir, creature features, aliens, ghosts, haunted houses, creepy carnivals, serial killers, possessed children, shapeshifters, disasters, and viruses. Word Count: 17,500 - 40,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Wandering Wave Press: An Anthology of Unconventional Stories. Genre: Fiction. “We’re looking for genre authors who cross boundaries. Authors whose stories twist the tropes to showcase in a cross-genre anthology of stories that entertain, but read fresh and new. Send us the story that you can’t classify: a story that can’t be pigeon-holed into a single subgenre, or that pushes against your genre’s boundaries. We want to showcase authors who write uncommon fiction.” Some examples are: witches in space, romances that flip gender roles, alternate histories set in the near-future, and fairy tales that start after the ‘happily ever after.’ Length: 1,000-10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Book Worms. Genre: All HORROR sub-genres. No romance or erotica. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

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: December 2, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction Nonfiction. Payment: 20 cents per word, with a minimum of $350 and a maximum of $750. Deadline: December 2, 2022.


Never Wake. Genre: Horror. "We’re looking for scary, mind-bending stories featuring dreams, nightmares, hallucinations, messed-up psychedelic experiences, and various elements of phantasmagoria." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 4, 2022.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of Africa. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: December 4, 2022.

Cordite. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 4, 2022.

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: December 4, 2022. Fiction, completed nonfiction and poetry.

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. Genre: Sword and sorcery fantasy. Payment: $100 for stories and $25 for poems, upon publication. Deadline: December 7, 2022. 

Stone’s Throw. Genre: Dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 7, 2022. 

Revolute. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 8, 2022.

Rabbit: Collaborations. Genre: "For this issue, we are keen to see the wild and wonderful results of two or more minds and/or bodies and/or practices coming together to generate art. Such works might take the form of poetry written collaboratively by two or more people, collaborations between poet/s and other artists, cross-practice experiments, collaborations with non-humans, or any poetry-related collaborations that fall in-between or beyond." Payment: "We are able to pay all Australian contributors. International contributors receive copies of the journal." Deadline: December 9, 2022.

Exposition Review. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, poetry, scripts for stage & screen, experimental narratives, visual art, film, and comics. Theme: Lines. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 10, 2022. (No fee submission day)


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: December 11, 2022. Art, comics and comic pitches only.

Stanchion. Genre: Writing (prose, poetry, etc) & visual art. Payment: $10 to $15. Deadline: December 13, 2022. Submit to stanchionzine@gmail.com (There isn't a lot of information about this call)
 
The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, "and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way.” Payment: $50. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Baffling. Genre: Speculative stories that explore science fiction, fantasy, and horror with a queer bent. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: $.08/word. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Plainsongs. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 for "award" poem. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Copper Nickel. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and translation folios. Payment: $30 per printed page + two copies of the issue in which the author’s work appears + a one-year subscription. Deadline: December 15, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

United Faedom. Genre: Short story collections, novellas and novels. Payment: Collections (minimum of 30k), $75. Novellas and novels (40k-100k) $100. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Journalstone. Genre: Horror novels and novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Channel. Genre: Fiction, art, creative non-fiction, and poetry that engages with the natural world, and have a particular interest in work which encourages reflection on human interaction with plant and animal life, landscape and the self. Payment: €40/poem, and €50/page of prose up to €150. Deadline:  December 15, 2022.

Mizna. Restrictions: In this issue, we are interested in focusing specifically on work by people from Black SWANA communities and their diasporas, to create a gathering space for our voices and ideas. Those submitting work should identify as Black. Genre: Poetry, stories, creative essays, flash fiction, comics. Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: Revenue sharing. Pays for anthologies only. Deadline: December 15, 2022. 


Chicken Soup for the Soul: How stepping outside my comfort zone changed me. Genre: True stories and poems. "Tell us your own stories about stepping outside your comfort zone and how that changed your life." Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

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: December 15, 2022.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: $0.04/word, up to $25. Deadline: December 15, 2022. See theme.

Propagule. Genre: Short stories that are intrepid with regard to experimentation and oddity; the strange, the surreal, the atypical, the unexpected. Payment: $20. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Poetry Wales. Genre: Poetry, reviews, articles. See theme. Payment: Poems £20/page. Reviews £67.50/1500-word review. Articles £200/3000 word, or in that proportion, depending on number of published words. Deadline: December 15, 2022. Submissions in Welsh.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 15, 2022. See themes.

Medusa Tales. Genre: Speculative stories (sci-fi, fantasy, and horror) of human transformation and immobilization. Payment: 1 cent/word, $10 for reprints. Deadline: December 15, 2022. Accepts reprints.

The Offing: Insight. Genre: Creative nonfiction that centers one’s personal experience against the backdrop of art, literature, and culture. Insight essays are generally personal essays that raise questions or address issues about the matters that concern us aesthetically, politically, or ideologically. These essays explore how interacting with this piece of art, literature, or culture changed you, or made a lasting impression. Payment: $25–$100. Deadline: December 16, 2022.

just femme & dandy. Genre: Fashion for the LGBTQIA+ community. Theme: Survive. "For this issue, we want to hear what survival means for you and your queer identity as it relates to all areas of fashion, including but not limited to clothing, cosmetics, skincare, hair (styles and products), shoes, perfumery/cologne, accessories, hosiery, etc. Want to tell us about your favorite chainmail or faux-brass knuckles? What about that shade of red lipstick that feels like armor? How about your favorite bedazzled binder or mobility aid? We’d also love to hear about the roles clothing has played for in surviving (and/or recovering from) harm or protecting oneself against danger, illness, and other threats. Of course, these are just a few examples. We are open to pieces across subjects and genres, but in the spirit of queer and BIPOC celebration, we’re especially interested in pieces that demonstrate triumph and endurance." Payment: 50 USD per text-based submission and 150 USD per multimedia submission (video, photography, image + text, fashion spread + interview, etc.). Deadline: December 17, 2022.

Fulcrum Publishing: Women's Reproductive Health Anthology. Genre: Creative nonfiction personal essays on abortion, contraception, menstruation, infertility, miscarriage, IVF, perimenopause/menopause, pregnancy, fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and any other topic related to women's health. Length: 2,000 words max. Payment: $150. Deadline: December 17, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Fieldnotes is a biannual print journal publishing new writing and artworks with a focus on practices that work between disciplines and against type. Genre: “We are seeking non-conforming submissions: ideas in transition, poetry in translation, collaborations and conversations, works between genres, between fiction and theory, between text and image, new poetic modes and things-in-progress.” Payment: £100-£200. Deadline: December 22, 2022.

Black Ocean. Restrictions: Open to debut (“first book”) collections only. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: December 23, 2022. Opens December 9.

Antimony and Elder Lace. Genre: Full-length books: 60,000 words minimum. Mystery (and all associated subgenres); Horror (and all associated subgenres); Thriller (and all associated subgenres); Dark Fantasy or Science Fiction. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: December 25, 2022.

The Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: December 25, 2022.

Spirit: A White Stag Anthology. Genre: Poetry. " We want poetry that explores the ethereal realm through various mediums whether religious / spiritual, through clairvoyance / meditation, science, & the imagination. We want theology, mysticism & magick, alchemy, explore the ancient mysteries. We want work that goes beyond our sphere & into the void, translating the unknown. Send us your séances, your rituals, your communions with the gods, show us the creatures that lurk in the night (the ones we don’t already know about), tell us of your travels through space & time. We want poetry that is evocative of the otherworldly. Be bold & dare to go beyond." Payment: $5/page. Deadline: December 26, 2022.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction on themes. Length: 1000 words max. Payment: $3. Deadline: December 27, 2022.

For Those Who Deserve to Exist. Restrictions: Those who identify as a marginalized individual or a person from a marginalized community. Genre: Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. Theme: Reclamation by marginalized individuals. Rising up, overcoming, and righting (and rewriting) transgressions. Payment: $30. Deadline: December 30, 2022.

Dragon Soul Press: Liberty. Genre: "All LGBTQ+ stories are welcome. All fantasy genres are accepted." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Dragon Soul Press: Carried Away. Genre: "All romantic comedy stories are welcome. Does not have to be Happily Ever After. All heat levels are accepted." Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Ninth Letter. Genre: Poems, nonfiction, and short fiction. Payment: $25 for poetry, $75 for prose. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Critical Read. Genre: Nonfiction artwork biographies, reported stories, profiles, cultural history, essay, interviews. Payment: Varies. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Pitches only.

Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections. Genre: short stories between 3,000 and 3,500 words on the topic of love lost all genres are accepted. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Path of Absolute Power Superhero Anthology. Genre: Short stories set in the fictional comic book universe of the Absolute Power tabletop role-playing game. Payment: 5 to 12 cents per word. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

King Ludd's Rag. Genre: Long-form fiction, 4,000 words minimum. Payment: $100 per piece. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Tales from the Clergy: Stories Inspired by Ghost. Genre: Horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost. Payment: 3 cents/word, 5,000 words max. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Best Utopian Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. Length: up to 19,000 words (flash fiction, short stories, and novelettes) Payment: $0.01 (USD) per word + contributor copy. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Reprints only.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Meadowlark Reader. Genre: Personal essays, interviews, journalistic pieces. “True stories about Kansas written by Kansans." Payment: $10 plus one contributor copy. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Book XI. Genre: Personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. Payment: $200 for prose; 50 for each poem. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Red Cape Anthologies: R is for Revenge. Genre: Horror. "Revenge can come in many forms so we are looking for clever and unusual stories. Anything goes, so long as the story falls into the horror genre (whether that be human or non-human monsters)." Payment: £10. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Margins. Genre: Poetry, short stories, audio, video, photography, translation, art criticism, artist interviews, essays, and the daring, genre-blurring work that falls outside those categories by emerging and established queer Asian, Asian American, and Asian diasporic writers on the theme of Mehfil: An Evening of Entertainment and Enchantment. Payment: $50 – $100 for a single poem, depending on length. $150 for flash fiction (500 to 1,000 words in length) $300 – $450 for longer works of fiction (up to ~4,000 words). Nonfiction $60 - $450. Deadline: December 31, 2022.


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: December 31, 2022. 

Kaleidotrope. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry—science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but also compelling work that blurs the lines between these and falls outside of neat genre categories. Payment: For fiction, $0.01/word (1 cent a word) USD. For poetry, a flat rate of $5 USD per accepted piece. For artwork, a flat rat of $60 for cover art. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Yay! They're Here! Genre: Speculative fiction. "We are looking for Speculative Fiction stories featuring a Human/Alien first contact that starts optomistically, but then, well, things happen." Payment: $5 plus royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Cutleaf. Genre: Short stories, personal essays, poems, or hybrid work in which beer is featured. Payment: $50 to $200. Deadline: December 31, 2022. (Submit early in the month. Closes when cap is reaached.)

Solar Flare Anthology. Genre: Solarpunk. "Imagine a Solarpunk future where societies value cooperation over consumerism, where technology solves ecological challenges rather than creating them. SOLAR FLARE will envision a future where humanity has embraced the Earth and learned to co-exist with it, not simply on it, where sustainability is a way of life, not merely a catch phrase." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

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: December 31st, 2022. 

Islandia. Restrictions: Preference is given to residents of Florida & the Caribbean but Islandia considers written work and visual art with strong ties to the region. Genre: Poetry, art, and prose on themes of : MYTH, FOLKLORE, HISTORY, ECOLOGY, CRYPTOZOOLOGY, AND THE PARANORMAL. Payment: Pay for poetry and visual art begins at $50 and for prose submissions at $100. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Cincinnati Review. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $25/page for prose in journal. $30/page for poetry in journal. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Submit early in the month. Submissions close when cap is reached.


Threadcount. Genre: Prose, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid text. "We prefer writing that resists such classifications. Primarily we focus on hybrid works between prose poetry and flash fiction.” Payment: $25. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Cloud Lake Literary. Restrictions: Canadian writers. Genre: Fiction, art. creative nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature (up to and including YA). Payment: $50 CAD/per page to a maximum of $150 CAD. Visual Art Submission: $50 CAD/per submission. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Theatre Phantasmagoria. Genre: Horrror flash fiction up to 2,000 words. Payment: £10. Deadline: December 31, 2022. This is a monthly call. See themes.

Dancing Star Press. Genre: Speculative fiction novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Workers Write! Tales from the Club. Genre: Fiction and poetry that contain stories and poems from nightclubs, discotheques, cabarets, pubs, or any nightlife spot. "We're looking for fiction and poetry about club/bar owners, managers, bartenders and barbacks, servers, bouncers, promoters, and entertainers (comedians, DJs, strippers), anyone who makes money in a club or bar.” Payment: $5 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2022. (Or until full.)

Allegory. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Arachne Press: Menopause. Genre: Fiction and poetry on theme: Menopause. Payment: Royalties.  Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Arachne Press: Byways. Genre: Fiction and poetry on theme: Byways. Payment: Royalties.  Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: December 31, 2022.  

Eerie River. Genre: Horror on theme of Wind. Word count: 1500 - 7000 firm. Payment: ¢1 per word CAD. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Mythic. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy short stories. Length: 2,000-5,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word for original fiction, $25 for reprints. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction Anthology Series. Genre: Speculative fiction published in 2021 that implicitly or explicitly explores queerness and/or transness. "We refer to queerness that is inclusive of ace/aro stories, trans and nonbinary stories, and intersex stories." Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Reprints only.

Freeze Frame Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.
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Briar Rose Anthology. Genre: Sci-fi retellings of the first half of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), as it was told by the Grimm Bros. Payment: 1c/word for accepted fiction. Half this for reprints. $100 (negotiable) for the cover illustration. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Reprints accepted. 

Zombies Need Brains: Dragonesque. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or urban fantasy stories where a significant portion of the story is written from the dragon’s point of view. "We would like a wide variety of genre settings for this anthology, specifically science fiction and urban fantasy settings." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Zombies Need Brains: Artifice and Craft. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or urban fantasy stories where the story revolves around some type of artistic object that has been enchanted, cursed, hexed, or imbued with magical properties. "We would like a wide variety of genre settings for this anthology. In other words, we don’t want the entire anthology to be secondary world fantasy settings. As always, we are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark. " Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Zombies Need Brains: Game On! Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or urban fantasy stories where the story revolves around some type of game--be it board game, video game, or RPG. "We do NOT want sports-related stories. We would like a wide variety of genre settings for this anthology. In other words, we don’t want the entire anthology to be urban fantasy settings. As always, we are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Arc Poetry Magazine. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

DMR Books: Die by the Sword. Genre: Sword and sorcery. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 


AND A FEW MORE...

Wyldblood Press. Genre: Speculative novels and novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: Opens in January.

Totally Entwined: Weres Vamps. Genre: Novellas, 30,000 - 50,000 words. Theme: Werewolves and Vampires. LGBTQ focus. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

Mukana Press. Genre: Short stories by African authors to be included in its inaugural Anthology of African Writing. Stories previously published only on online literary platforms are welcome if rights were reverted to the author upon publication. Stories must range between 1000 - 8000 words. Payment: $500 and royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

Mukana Press. Restrictions: Authors from Africa, South America, The Middle East, and Asia. Genre: Full length books (short story collections, memoirs and novels YA and Adult). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2023.


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

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: January 1, 2023. See themes.

Substantially Unlimited. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as part of the disability community. Genre: Prose, up to 15 pages. See themes. Payment: $15. Deadline: January 1, 2023. Reprints accepted.

The Damned & The Divine: Gothic Tales of Broken Gods. Genre: Short stories (5,000 - 8,000 words) that blend mythology with Gothic/literary vibes. Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy). Deadline: January 1, 2023.

Grendel Press. Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror, and Romance.short stories. See themes. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2023.

65 Writing Contests in December 2022 - No entry fees

Pexels This December there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $45,000 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 is past, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 
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Green Stories Writing Competition: Orna Ross Green Stories Novel Prize. Genre: Novel that inspires green behaviour and raises awareness of the necessary transformations towards a sustainable economy. Prize: £1000 for the winner and £500 for runner up. Half price manuscript appraisal (worth £300-400) for top three entries by established literary consultancy Daniel Goldsmith. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Kierkegaard Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry inspired by Kierkegaard. Prize: $500 top prize. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Subnivean New Writers Award: CNY High School Writing Scholarship Competition. Restrictions: Open to high-school-aged writers in Oswego County, Onondaga County, Oneida County, Herkimer County, Madison County, Cayuga County and Cortland County. Genre: Short stories and poetry. Prize: $100 bookstore gift certificate, $1,000 scholarship to attend SUNY Oswego as a creative writing or English major. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Stowe Prize. Restrictions: US authors only. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction or body of work that "makes a tangible impact on a social justice issue critical to contemporary society." Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. Restrictions: Open to published writers who are writing from the region. Genres: All. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 1, 2022. 

The Association of Jewish Libraries Jewish Fiction Award. Genre: All works of fiction with significant Jewish thematic content written in English–novels, short story and flash fiction collections–by a single author published and available for purchase in the United States during 2022 are eligible for the award. Jewish thematic content means an extended grappling with Jewish themes throughout the book, including Judaism, Jewish history and culture, Jewish identity, etc. Prize: The award will include a $1,000 cash prize as well as support to attend the AJL conference to receive the award. Deadline: December 1, 2022. 

The Pushcart Prize honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in small presses and literary magazines. Magazine and small press editors may nominate up to six works. Pushcart Press publishes yearly anthologies of the winning submissions. Prize: Publication. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction is offered annually to the best book in American historical fiction that is both excellent fiction and excellent history. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Schneider Family Book Award is sponsored by the American Library Association. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Prize: Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0-10), middle school (age 11-13) and teens (age 13-18). (Age groupings are approximations).  Genre: May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry. Restrictions: Open to African poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Rise & Shine Mini Contest. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Micro poems, micro essays, and flash fiction. Prize: $75.00 USD Prize in Poetry, $75.00 USD Prize in Prose. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Blossom Contest. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: $200.00 USD Prize in Poetry, $200.00 USD Prize in Prose. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Poetry Center at Smith College Prize. Restrictions: Open to sophomore or junior high school girls in New England. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 March 2023. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: December 2, 2022.

WWPH Writes Holiday Poetry & Prose Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: December 4, 2022.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 5, 2022. Opens December 2.

Quantum Shorts Competition. Genre: Fiction stories, under 1,000 words, that are "clearly inspired by some aspect of quantum physics." For 2020, entries also must contain the phrase "It's a lot to think about." Prize: $1,500 and online publication. Deadline: December 5, 2022.

Globe Soup Alternative Story Titles Challenge. Genre: Alternative title for short story (See site). Prize: £100. Deadline: December 5, 2022.

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: December 6, 2022. (For books published between October 4, 2022 and December 5, 2022)

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. Genre: Nonfiction book. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. Award: $25,000. Deadline: December 8, 2022.

Flo Gault Student Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Full-time undergraduate college students in Kentucky. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 9, 2022.  

Friends of American Writers. Restrictions: The author must be a resident (or previously have been a resident for approximately five years) of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin; or the locale of the book must be in a region identified above. The author must not have published more than three books under his/her own pen name. Genres: Books can be fiction or creative non-fiction and published in 2022. Self-published and e-Books are not eligible. Prize: $500 - $2000. Deadline: December 10, 2022.

Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Award. Restrictions: Open to unpublished prose writers (fiction) living and working in the UK with a collection of short stories or novel in development. Writers can be writing for any age group (including children and young adults) and may have had excerpts or articles published in the past, but have not yet published any major body of work. Genre: Fiction. Prize: “a tailor-made package worth up to £2,000 including tuition via open courses, retreat time and/or mentoring at Moniack Mhor. One highly commended applicant will also receive a course or retreat.” Deadline: December 13, 2022.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: December 14, 2022. See themes.

Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction book in progress. The project should address the history and/or legacy – broadly defined – of the American Revolution and the nation’s founding ideas. It might focus on the founding era itself, or on the myriad ways the questions that preoccupied the nation’s founders have shaped America’s later history. Fellowship amount: $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency (during the academic year) in historic Chestertown, MD. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

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 Shelter. Prize: $150. Deadline: December 15, 2022.

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition. Restrictions: The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 16, 2022.

Spark Award: Held by SCBWI , open to members of SCBWI who are self-published. Genres: Fiction and nonfiction. Prize: Envy. The SCBWI is our most prestigious national organization (US) for children's book and YA writers. Deadline: December 19, 2022.

Roswell Award for Short Science Fiction. Genre: Science fiction, 1500 words max. New Suns Climate Fiction Award, for original short science fiction that reimagines new ways of living and depicts humanity exploring and overcoming today's climate and biodiversity crises. Prize: $500. Finalists have their stories read by celebrities in Hollywood. Deadline: December19, 2022.

Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize. Topic: Essay on theme: Emotions. Prize: £2,500 top prize. Deadline: December 20, 2022.

Rider University Annual High School Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students. Genres: Essays, poetry, fiction. Prizes: 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25. Deadline: December 20, 2022.

Beatrice Medicine Award for Scholarship in American Indian Studies. Genre: Essay and/or book about Native American studies published in 2022. Prize: $250. Deadline: December 20, 2022.

Solarpunk Microfiction Contest. Genre; Microfiction, 250 words max. Prize: $25 and publication on the Solarpunk Magazine website. Deadline: December 22, 2022. See theme. Opens December 16.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published in 2022. No self-published books.  Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 30, 2022.

Shady Grove Literary. Genre: Any style, genre, tone of flash fiction. Length: 300 words max. Prize: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition. Genre: Essay  on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. 600 words. Prize: $200 (R2 000 or £100).  Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Sator New Works Award. Genre: Debut book-length work of fiction or non-fiction by an author who identifies as trans or nonbinary. Prize: $2,500 advance and publication. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The AIIRA Writing Contest 2022. Restrictions: Open to all undergraduate students currently enrolled in an accredited US academic institution and 18+ years old. Genre: Fiction or creative nonfiction that 'explores the relationship between humans, technology, and their food in 2050: what will food look, taste, and feel like; where will it come from; who will produce and transport it; and how will we access and consume it?" Prize: First Place: $2,000 USD; Second Place: $1,500 USD; Third Place: $1,000 USD. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Story Unlikely Short Story Contest. Genre: Short story. Length: 2,250 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Ezra Jack Keats Children's Book Award. Genre: Published or self-published picture books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures. Awards are given for both fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Griffin Poetry Prize. Restrictions: One prize goes to a living Canadian poet or translator, the other to a living poet or translator from any country, which may include Canada. Genre: Poetry. Books must have been published in English during the calendar year preceding the year of the award. Prize: C$200,000, is awarded annually in two categories – International and Canadian. Each prize is worth C$65,000. Deadline: December 31, 2022 for books published between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction prose, up to 17,000 words. Prize: $1,000 with $5,000 grand prize. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Read details HERE.

The Lyric College Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. Sponsored by Rattle. Genre: Poetry. All published submissions during the year are considered for the prize. Follow their regular submission guidelines. Prize: $2,000.  Deadline: December 31, 2022. Read more about the award HERE.

Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Card Contest. Genre: Poem. Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Caribbean Writer Prize. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays or one act plays which explore the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora, written by a US or UK Virgin Islands resident accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer during the deadline year. 2022 theme: "Carrying: Reflection, Recognition and Repair.” Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Olde Wolf Short Story Contest. Genre: Short story. Length: 3,000 words max. Prize: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2022. This is a monthly contest.

Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Prize: $500 and publication in Meridians Journal: feminism, race, transnationalism. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

The Four Quartets Prize. Genre: unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook. Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were brought together and they form a complete sequence. Prize: Three finalists will receive $1,000 each. The winner will receive an additional $20,000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award.  Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Cecil Hemley Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Lyric poem that addresses a philosophical or epistemological concern. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

George Bogin Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry that takes a stand against oppression. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Lucille Medwick Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Original poem in any form on a humanitarian theme. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Lyric Poetry Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: A lyric poem on any subject. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.
The Writer Magazine/Emily Dickinson Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. Others must pay a $10 - $15 entry fee. Genre: A poem inspired by Dickinson though not necessarily in her style. Prize: $250. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Robert H. Winner Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. There is a charge of $10 - $15 for non-members. Open to mid-career poets who have not had substantial recognition, and is over forty, and who have published no more than one book. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Story of interest to Jewish women. Prize: $250. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. Restrictions: Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. Genre: Essay Topic: What challenges awaken your conscience? Is it the conflicts in American society? An international crisis? Maybe a difficult choice you face or a hard decision you had to make? Engage us. Enlighten us. Explore the ethics of any problem, question, or issue, whether close to home or in the world at large. We are eager to learn from you. Prize: First Prize $10,000, 2nd Prize $5,000, 3rd Prize $3,000, two Honorable Mentions $1,000 each. Deadline: December 31, 2022. 

Hooks Institute National Book Award. Genre: Nonfiction book that best furthers understanding of the American Civil Rights Movement and its legacy. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association. BCALA presents four awards to an African American writer published in the United States during the previous year: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction, one for a first novelist and one for poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. Prize: Four $500.00 awards. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

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: December 31, 2022. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction. Genre: Military fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

Tartts Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to Americans. Genre: Short story collection. Prize: Winning short story collection will be published by Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama, in simultaneous library binding and trade paper editions. Winning entry will receive $1000, plus their standard royalty contract, which includes 60 copies of the book. Deadline: December 31, 2022.

5 Distinctive Writing Conferences and Workshops in December 2022

Flickr Because of the holidays, writing conferences are sparse in December. That doesn't mean there are none worth attending.

The New York Pitch Conference is well worth attending if you are ready to publish a book. This conference draws editors from all the major publishing houses, as well as agents who want to hear your pitch. If you write commercial fiction or nonfiction, this conference is a career starter.

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

(Image: St Augustine: Flickr)

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Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers. December 1, 2022: University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Topic: BIPOC Women: Claim Your Voice, Empower Your Writing."Join us for a timely discussion about claiming the power in your voice as a BIPOC woman writer. We’ll talk about ways to claim your voice, empower your writing, and more at this panel discussion. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is destructive for all women, but particularly for those who have few choices, whether geographical, financial, or a combination. Many of those women are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The way we raise our voices will shape the values of this generation and the next, and it’s vital, now more than ever, for BIPOC women’s voices to be heard." $5 fee.

St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop. December 2 - 5, 2022: St. Augustine, Florida. "The St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop creates an intimate and professional environment that combines private meetings with small-group workshops, thus enabling aspiring authors to wisely approach the writing and publication of their novel. At the St. Augustine event, aspiring authors will:
1) Work one-on-one with top authors and savvy market professionals.
2) Apply advanced story and narrative technique to their novel-in-progress.
3) Hone and improve their writer voice and style.
4) Learn the necessary inside mechanics of the publishing business.
5) Leave the workshop with a detailed plan to work towards publication of their novel.
Group workshop sessions will be interspersed with agent and author consultations, workshop assignments, as well as consults with workshop leaders."

The 2022 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. December 10, 2022: Online. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on December 10, 2022. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. And even though this is the “Pittsburgh” Writing Workshop, make no mistake — writers from everywhere are welcome to attend virtually."


New York Pitch Conference. Dec 15 - 18, 2022: NY, NY. 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. 

The Mesa Book Festival. December 17, 2022: Mesa, Arizona. The festival features presentations, readings, visits with authors, and a poetry open mic. "Everyone! Authors, Publishers, and Book Sellers are invited to  register for space to showcase, promote, and sell their books. Readers are invited to come and buy their books direct. We're encouraging a wide variety of literary arts purveyors to share their work to create a bigger audience for everyone." All events are free and open to the public.

6 Literary Agents Seeking SFF, YA, Kidlit, Thrillers, Historical Novels, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction and Nonfiction

Ciara Finan Here are six literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with reputable literary agencies with good track records. 
Ciara Finan is looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. Liz Nealon is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction; True Crime; Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction).

Christabel McKinley is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. Stuti Telidevara is seeking young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. Mina Hamedi represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction. 

Maddy Belton wants SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.

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 two 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. Ciara Finan of Curtis Brown Group, Ltd. (UK)Ciara Finan joined Curtis Brown in 2018 and currently assists literary agent Jonny Geller.


What she is seeking: I am looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. I’m particularly interested in finding and championing stories by writers from underrepresented backgrounds and communities.

How to submit: Please email ciara.finan@curtisbrown.co.uk with a synopsis and sample chapters.

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Liz Nealon of Great Dog Literary

Liz is the former Publisher of StarWalk Kids Media, an award-winning digital publishing company that she co-founded with author Seymour Simon (2012-2016). She has unique and specific experience in children's digital publishing, with extensive knowledge of the US Schools & Libraries sector. Liz is also experienced in working with international partners, generating international reprint and sub-rights deals for dozens of books. In her previous life Liz was an award-winning executive producer and children's media industry leader who played an integral role in shaping the indelible youth brands Sesame Street, Kidz Bop, and MTV. She served as Worldwide Creative Director for Sesame Street and traveled the world as Senior Vice President of MTV International Programming, reconceiving the popular music brand for Europe, Brazil, Japan and Australia.

What she is seeking: Liz is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction (no fantasy or Regency); True Crime with a strong, literary voice; memorable Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction). She is committed to representing diverse voices and would be over the moon if she could acquire a captivating LGBTQ RomCom for YA readers.

How to submit: Read guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Christabel McKinley of David Higham Associates Ltd (UK)

Christabel joined David Higham Associates in 2018, having previously worked in translation rights and at a scouting agency. She graduated with a degree in Russian and English Literature from Trinity College Dublin, after which she spent a year teaching English in South Korea.

What she is seeking: Christabel is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. She is particularly drawn to writing that feels authentically child-oriented with clear insight into the way young people feel and think. Her favourite works for children include Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. She is also building a select list of adult SFF authors. She has recently enjoyed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson.

How to submit: Children’s manuscripts or artwork should be sent to childrenssubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk as per the guidelines here.

For adult fiction: Querying authors should send the opening three chapters, a synopsis and a cover letter to christabelsubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk.

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Ms. Stuti Telidevara of Park & Fine Literary and Media
Prior to joining Park & Fine in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.

What she is seeking: Stuti Telidevara works with Peter Knapp on young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. She is interested in diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. For more about what projects she’s looking for, see here.


How to submit: Please specify the first and last name of the agent to whom you are submitting, as well as the category and genre of your submission (i.e.: “Sarah Passick – Adult Nonfiction” or “Pete Knapp – YA Fantasy”) in the subject line of the email. Send your query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfine.com. All materials must be in the body of the email.
For adult fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For YA & children’s fiction submissions, please include a query letter and the first chapter or approximately the first ten pages of your work.

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Ms. Mina Hamedi of Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Mina Hamedi grew up in Istanbul, Turkey before moving to New York in 2010. She received her BA in Nonfiction and Global Identity from NYU’s Gallatin School and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University. Mina began her career in publishing at David Black Literary Agency and Writers House. She joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2018 where she supports co-founder Lynn Nesbit and her various authors including Andre Aciman, Robert Caro, Ronan Farrow, Andrew Sean Greer, Anand Giridharadas, and Maaza Mengiste, as well as the estates of Joan Didion, Shirley Hazzard, Anne Rice, and Tom Wolfe.

What she is seeking: Mina represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction. She is interested in stories from around the world—particularly her native Turkey and Iran. She loves fiction with Gothic-inspired atmospheres, intergenerational tales, family secrets, and deep excavations into relationships, motivations, and obsessions. She is drawn to nonfiction with a fiercely personal bent and a strong voice, and writers who are working not only to uncover the undercurrents of our world but also to change them. She seeks voices in translation and writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Maddy Belton of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK)


After graduating from St Andrews University with a degree in English Literature and Art History, Maddy followed her love of literature to an internship at non-fiction literary agency Graham Maw Christie. At GMC, Maddy worked her way up to Agent and built a list of authors who wrote for both for adults and children, spanning history, tarot, and nature writing.

What she is seeking: SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.

How to submit: Read the agency guidelines HERE.

5 New Agents Seeking Kidlit, SFF, Mystery, Horror, LGBTQ+, Romance, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction and more

Saffron Dodd
Here are five new agents actively expanding their client lists. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

Saffron Dodd is seeking middle-grade fantasy, contemporary middle-grade, mystery thrillers and rom-coms. Laura Southern wants fantasy, science-fiction, and horror, rom-coms, and narratives set in the South as well as memoir and narrative nonfiction. In young adult and middle grade, Laura is interested in speculative fiction across any subgenre, as well as select contemporary fiction.

Thomas Hill is interested in representing authors in Thriller/Suspense (political, military, religious/cult, psychological, espionage), Historical, Science Fiction (AI, utopian/dystopian societies, alternate history, Western (mountain men, cowboys, Native voices). Thomas also welcomes nonfiction submissions in narrative nonfiction, memoir, and business.
Emma Konn wants LGBTQ+ Focused Stories, Psychological Thrillers, Romance Genre, Enemies to Lovers Trope, Graphic Novels​. Fergus Inder is seeking Shakespeare adaptations, unconventional narrators, heists, Dickensian coming-of-age stories, operas (space or otherwise), metafiction, satire, really good food writing, and sexy and crushingly sad millennial literary fiction.

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 two 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. Saffron Dodd of ASH Literary (UK)
Saffron (she/her) joined the ASH Literary team in 2022 as agency assistant and in now an Associate Agent. She has a background in media and communications and has most recently worked for a children’s education charity.

What she is seeking: I love middle-grade fantasy and I’m looking for something filled with adventure, magic, and intrigue, with a strong and distinct voice, like The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody and Like A Charm by Elle McNicoll. I’m desperate to find a fantasy inspired by Caribbean culture and folklore, in the same vein as The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.

In contemporary middle-grade, I’m looking for witty and sharp protagonists with something to say and an interesting perspective on the world, like Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus or Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, but for a new generation. I’d also love to find a Knives Out-esque mystery (murder, or otherwise) with a Scooby-Doo-type ensemble cast for the middle-grade.

In YA, I lean towards fantasy but would also love a solid mystery thriller or a shenanigan filled rom-com that does or says something new. I’m also keen to see stories set in the UK during the transitional period between sixth form/college and university.

Above all, I’m keen to see work from historically excluded and underrepresented writers in the UK.

How to submit: Please send the first three chapters of your novel and a synopsis to here querymanager HERE.
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Laura Southern of Wolf Literary Services

Laura Southern joined Wolf Literary Services in 2021 as an assistant to Kirsten Wolf and is now building her list as an associate agent. Born and raised in Texas, Laura received her BA in English from Baylor University before moving to New York City, where she earned her MS in Publishing from New York University while assisting at Morhaim Literary.

What she is seeking: Laura loves lyrical prose and character-driven narratives regardless of age group or genre. In adult, she is looking for fantasy, science-fiction, and horror with lush worldbuilding and voice that vibrates off the page. She’s a fan of villains, setting as character, and stories that dive headfirst into the weird or strange. Romcoms and fantasy romcoms with sharp, witty prose are also high on her list, as well as upmarket fiction with off-beat premises. As a Texan native, Laura has a soft spot for narratives set in the South, particularly when told from diverse perspectives and featuring LGBTQ+ narrators.

In young adult and middle grade, Laura is interested in speculative fiction across any subgenre, as well as select contemporary fiction. Laura loves the fae, talking/magical animals, marching band, new twists on quest narratives, genre-blending, found family, mythological retellings, and dragons.

Additionally, Laura is looking for memoir and narrative nonfiction. She’d especially like to work with scientists, journalists, and other experts writing on animal and nature conservation.

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.
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Thomas Hill of Martin Literary Management

Thomas Hill joins MLM after fifteen years in the publishing industry. He began his career while serving as an intern at the University of Virginia Press while pursuing his undergraduate degree in government. Part of that experience enabled him to assess incoming book proposals and advocate for acceptance of nonfiction book projects. He honed his professional editing skills as a copyeditor and proofreader in the workforce, later transitioning into content writing, ghostwriting, and publishing consulting. At Rowman & Littlefield, he edited scholarly and nonfiction titles, and he learned standard protocols for publication production at various nonprofit membership organizations in Washington, DC: the American Staffing Association, Public Broadcasting Service, and the US Chamber of Commerce. His professional experiences enabled him to serve as an editorial consultant to over a dozen publishing entities. Other notable editorial experiences include copyeditor at The Santa Fe New Mexican and, most recently, development editor at John Wiley & Sons.

What he is seeking: He is interested in representing authors in the following fiction genres:

• Thriller/Suspense (political, military, religious/cult, psychological, espionage)
• Historical
• Science Fiction (AI, utopian/dystopian societies, alternate history)
• Western (mountain men, cowboys, Native voices)
Thomas also welcomes nonfiction submissions in narrative nonfiction, memoir, and business.

How to submit: Query Thomas at Thomas@MartinLit.com
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Emma Konn of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Now that Emma is a Literary Agent Apprentice, she has plans to keep educating herself about the publishing and literary realm. With plans to continue within the Literary Agency in future. In 2023 Emma will then be continuing her education by pursuing a Master’s degree. As a part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, Emma supports all people and spreads love to all.

On her own time Emma can be found hiking, reading, writing, or traveling. While Emma currently resides in Ohio, she has found that her home is often her favorite hiking trails in the Rocky Mountains. Hopefully within the next few years Emma can spend a few months backpacking through Europe and exploring cultures around the world. Emma can be found reading a simple novel by a window with a warm cup of Chai tea latte. She also enjoys writing a bit of poetry and painting sunsets.

What she is seeking: LGBTQ+ Focused Stories, Psychological Thrillers, Romance Genre, Enemies to Lovers Trope, Graphic Novels​.

How to submit: Follow the agency’s guidelines HERE.
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Mr. Fergus Inder of High Spot Literary Agency

A graduate of Northwestern University in Chicago, Fergus spent a decade working in the performing arts industry as an actor, grant writer, and producer. He interned at High Spot Literary while working at the University of Auckland Bookstore and recently joined the team as a Junior Agent.
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What he is seeking: Fergus is a sucker for Shakespeare adaptations, unconventional narrators, heists, Dickensian coming-of-age stories, operas (space or otherwise), metafiction, satire, really good food writing, and sexy and crushingly sad millennial literary fiction.

How to submit: Use his query manager form HERE.

Revolutionary Road: The Art of Dialogue

Richard Yates I seldom come across perfect novels. I've read good novels, even great ones, but there is something about perfection that is diffferent from great novel writing. It's simply the quality of having reached the pinnacle of what a novel is all about: the human experience, unhampered by the conventions of literature.

Richard Yates' novel, Revolutionary Road, is a perfect novel. It doesn't have an action-packed plot, filled with twists and turns. Actually, nothing of note happens until nearly the end of the book. (And then it's a doozy!) The setting is mundane, a suburb in the 1950s. The characters are people who aren't particularly passionate, or driven, or even admirable. But Yates' goal in this book is not to develop characters of intellectual or emotional depth. In fact, it's quite the reverse; His aim is to excoriate post-war suburban life, in all its shallowness, it's "hopeless emptiness," and with all its failures.

According to writers of the era, Richard Yates exemplified the "Age of Anxiety"—the 20th century morass of "world wars, hatred, and collective neurosis"—which he somehow manages to capture without directly addressing any of the themes of the era. Yates was greatly admired by Styron and Vonnegut as the voice of their generation. And then Yates died and was forgotten. None of his books sold more than 12,000 copies during his lifetime.

I can't imagine why. Revolutionary Road is brilliant. The prose is so accessible you don't realize you're reading. The descriptions are evocative without descending into self-conscious lyricism. (A fallen stage curtain "that became a dull wall of green velvet, faded and streaked with dust" precisely conveys the dismal failure of a play's performance without using a single word that cries for attention.) And his characters are real; so believable that you'd swear you knew them.
As I read Revolutionary Road, I couldn't help asking myself: "How is he doing this?" How did Yates establish his characters so firmly, so realistically? The answer to that question lies in the fact that Yates is a master of, as one reviewer put it, "terrifyingly accurate" dialogue. Yates deftly establishes who his characters are through speech. 

What Yates successfully pulls off in his dialogue is natural-sounding speech, with all its stress patterns, rhythms, and repetitions, but without the tediousness of actual speech. Yates has a finely tuned ear, He individualizes the speech patterns of each of his characters, so you know who they are by how they sound. You hear them so clearly, it feels as if you are eavesdropping. Then he takes it one step further, letting us in on the thought processes of these characters—how they sound to themselves as they weigh what they want to say, or what they don't want to say, and their reflections on how they speak.

Does that sound boring? It isn't. It's tense, and it is frighteningly realistic, because we already know who these characters are. Not only have we met them, we may even have been some of them. 

How many couples have arguments that devolve into "You always do that..." "There you go again..." "You know how you get..."? How many couples descend into deception to cover transgression? How many weave a web of words around what they should be saying to one another, but can't? Speech is everything in this book. (When you get to the last line, that will be made crystal clear. I was left breathless.)

We don't necessarily like Yates' characters in Revolutionary Road, but I think that may have been the point. The way he delves into their inner and outer lives—with such finesse, and such detail—we can't help but identify with them. We can sympathize with them without expending the emotional effort of needing to see them in a positive light, because they are undeniably human.

As writers, it would do us good to read Revolutionary Road. This book is not only an example of how to artfully, yet without any seeming effort, establish our characters through dialogue, it serves as an example of how to create transparency through using language that cuts to the heart of description without drawing attention to itself. Despite its unpretentious delivery, or, more likely, because of it, that kind of language packs a wallop. 
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Read this book, writers, and then read it again. It contains a lesson worth learning: Don't let your writing get in the way of what you want to say.