Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 18

2 New Agents Seeking Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s History and more

Allson Malecha Here are two 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.

Allison Malecha is is especially drawn to authors writing literary or upmarket adult fiction; narrative nonfiction, particularly with a historical or international dimension; social science; pop science; pop psychology; and memoir that touches on larger current issues or on the author's field of expertise.

Rebecca Sandell is looking for writing on art history, architecture, and women’s history as well as unusual memoir and 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.
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 


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Allison Malecha of Trellis Literary Management 

Allison Malecha joined Trellis Literary Management as Director of Foreign Rights after several years at Bettina Schrewe Literary Scouting, where she worked with major publishing clients in over twenty markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as with an independent film client. Prior to working as a literary scout, she spent five years in editorial at independent publishing house Grove Atlantic, where she began building her own list under the publisher and was the in-house manager for Freeman's and The Mysterious Press. Allison grew up between the middle of Canada and the middle of the U.S, but has always found home between the covers of a book. She has a BA in Comparative Literature & Society from Columbia University, where she studied French and Czech.  

What she is seeking: Allison will be looking to represent a small, selective list of domestic clients. She is especially drawn to authors writing literary or upmarket adult fiction; narrative nonfiction, particularly with a historical or international dimension; social science; pop science; pop psychology; and memoir that touches on larger current issues or on the author's field of expertise. She likes writing that crackles, and that has wells of empathy that run deep.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE. (Note: Allison is open to queries until September 1)

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Rebecca Sandell of Pew Literary (UK)  

Rebecca Sandell joined PEW at the beginning of 2020. As an undergraduate she studied English at King’s College London where she also obtained her Master’s degree in eighteenth-century literature with a dissertation on William Blake’s architectural influences. She works as an assistant across all aspects of the agency with a particular focus on international rights. 

What she is seeking: She is beginning to build her own list, and is looking for writing on art history, architecture, and women’s history as well as unusual memoir and literary fiction.

How to submit: Send your proposal to submissions@pewliterary.com . Your submission should be in Word or PDF format and 1.5 or double-spaced. Accompany your submission with a cover letter that tells us a little about you as a writer.

81 Calls for Submissions in August 2022 - Paying Markets

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

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

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

Happy submitting!

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Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word; $40 per poem. Deadline: "We plan to stay open to submissions by BIPOC authors for the entirety of 2022."
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The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction. Length: Under 3,000 words preferred. Payment: $75. Deadline: They open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their quota.

Diabolical Plots. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy and horror up to 3,500 words. See theme. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: August 1, 2022. See theme.

Wizards in Space. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. "What does it mean to be empowered, to revel in your own strength? How do you take the abundance of yourself and share it freely with others? When have you felt most like dancing and singing? For our eighth issue, we want your power. Your exhalation. We want to know how your Scorpio heart and your August body take up space in this wind-tossed world." Payment: $40 per original poem or per page of original art; $20 per reprinted poem or per page of reprinted art; $0.04 per word for original prose, based on final published word count; $0.02 per word for reprinted prose, based on final published word count. Deadline: August 1, 2022. Accepts reprints. 

Sims Library of Poetry. Restrictions: Open to African-American writers. Genre: Poetry, prose, and visual art submissions that are “an homage to an African-American poet of the past.” Payment: $50. Deadline: August 1, 2022.


Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

We'Moon Lunar Calendar. Restrictions: Open to women only. Genre: Art, poetry and prose, 350 words maximum. Payment: Small honorarium; art up to $500. Deadline: August 1, 2022.


Liquid Imagination: Silver Pen. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry. Payment: $3 - $8. Deadline: August 1, 2022.


Embers of Corsari. Genre: High fantasy set in a new world. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Propertius Press. Genre: Creative Nonfiction, full-length manuscripts. "We are actively seeking submissions from Black, Minority, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color in all categories." Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

The First Line. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic: An Anthology of Hysteria Fiction will benefit the Chicago Abortion Fund. Genre: Dark speculative fiction from anyone directly at risk as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade, defined inclusively. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Brute: Raunch, Scares, and Rough Trade. Genre: Gay sexuality, desire, masculinity, and the aesthetics of "rough trade." Stories must have speculative elements: horror, dark fantasy, weirdness. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Longleaf Review. Genre: Horror flash fiction, 1000 words max. Payment: $20. (?) Deadline: Opens August 1, 2022. Submit early in the month. Submissions close after they reach 300.

Fear Street: Reader Beware! Genre: Horror. YA horror steeped in late 80s-90s nostalgia. Payment: $0.01 per word for new stories and/or $25 for reprints. Deadline: August 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.
Tamarind. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction about science and scientists. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 2, 2022.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: August 2, 2022.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry on theme: Weeds. Payment: AUD150-275 for prose; AUD125-275 for poetry. Deadline: August 3, 2022.

Yellow Arrow. Genre: Poetry chapbooks by women writers. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: August 4, 2022.  

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: August 4, 2022.  

The Victorian Writer. Genre: Poems and articles. Payment: Poems ($70), and articles of 600 words ($100) and 1200 words ($200) in the print edition with particular interest in the craft of writing and the writing life. Deadline: August 5, 2022. Note: Pitches only. See themes.

Lucent Dreaming. Restrictions: Open to new and emerging writers only. "We consider a new/emerging writer someone who has been published in 15 or fewer publications in the past 5 years, and has not published a book or full collection." Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, poetry. Also accepts art. Payment: £100 (£200 for low-income writers in the UK) and a free contributor copy. Deadline: August 6, 2022. 

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of  RAGE / PEACE. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: August 7, 2022.

Fusion Fragment. Genre: Science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction stories and novelettes ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 15,000 words. Payment: Both previously unpublished work and reprints pay 3.5 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $300 (CAD) per story. Deadline: August 7, 2022. 

MacroMicroCosm. Genre: Speculative fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 7, 2022. See themes.

Cossmass Infinities. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: August 7, 2022.

MacroMicroCosm. Genre: Speculative fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 7, 2022. See themes.


Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: August 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on August 1.

Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. Theme: Grain. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: August 7, 2022. Fiction, completed nonfiction and poetry.

Poetry Wales. Genre: Poetry, reviews, articles. "This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent and the emergence of India and Pakistan as independent nation-states. We intend to mark this anniversary with related articles and poems, so for this issue we are especially interested in hearing from writers with links to India and Pakistan, although writing is not limited to the topic of Partition and we welcome submissions on any 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: August 8, 2022.

GreenPrints. Genre: Personal essays about gardening. Payment: $100 - $150. Deadline: August 9, 2022.

SAND is a Berlin publication that "looks for submissions that push the boundaries of form, message, and voice in fresh and unpredictable ways—work that is haunting for its soul, edge, and truth." Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, art, poetry, translations. Payment: Semi-professional rates. Deadline: August 10, 2022. 

Bermuda Triangle. Genre: Horror. "For decades, boats, ships and more have passed through the Bermuda Triangle never to return. But why? What’s down there, just below the surface? What happens to the loved ones left behind? You decide!" Payment: $10. Deadline: August 13, 2022.

Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. Theme: Grain. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: August 14, 2022. Art, comics and comic pitches.


Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction.   Payment: $5. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Some reprints accepted.

Delicate Friend. Restrictions: Open to trans people only. Genre: Intimate art and literature. "Our current theme — guest-edited by Ale Canales — is “ANTIMATTER,” extending the intimacy of our T4T issue across the ever-expanding universe. Is your erotic imagination haunted by sentient artificial intelligence? Have you dreamed of traversing the blank spaces between stars with your lovers? Is your gender too alien for mere earthlings to comprehend? We want to hear from you!" Payment: $10. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Cricket Media: ASK Magazine. Genre: Science articles for children 7–10 years old. Theme: Sky at Play (Clouds/Wind). Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Queries only.

Sasee. Genre: First-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their primary editorial focus. Theme: “Renew & Revamp.” 500 to 1000 words. Payment: Varies. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Accepts reprints.

The Haunted Train: Creepy Tales from the Railways. Genre: Stories about trains, tracks and railway stations, especially creepy, spooky tales about haunted trains. Payment: 10 Euro. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Accepts reprints.

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

Dark Recesses Press. Genre: Horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Note: Only pays for print magazine.

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry and art. Payment: $7 per poem, $12 for cover art and $7 for inside art. Deadline: August 15, 2022. See themes.

Guernica. Genre: Poetry. "We’d love to read poems that congregate around (or refuse) questions of desire, language, or form, but most importantly, that speak to the wild capaciousness of your work.
Submit 3-10 poems that shape each other in some way; they could accumulate, thicken, complicate, and make spare — or make inverse — the questions that drive them." Payment: $150. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

The Waking. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction, image text/hybrid work. "The Waking is Ruminate Community's online literary magazine that houses high-quality literary writing about what it’s like to be human. We are interested in short-form and flash prose as well as image-text/hybrid work. This art can be beautiful, it can be strange, we just ask that it feels true." 1500 words max. Payment: $10. Deadline: August 15, 2022. Opens August 1.

Westerly. Genre: Short stories, poetry, memoir and creative non-fiction, essays and literary criticism. Payment: Poems: $120 for one poem or $150 for two or more poems; Stories: $180; Articles: $180; Visual art/Intro essay: $120; Reviews: $100; Online Publication: $100. "We expect our contributors to be subscribers of the Magazine. While we will accept submissions from non-subscribers, should your work be accepted for publication in this instance, you will be asked to accept a subscription to the Magazine as part payment for your work." Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Cemetery Gates: Campfire Macabre: Volume 2. Genre: Flash Horror. See themes. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: August 15, 2022.
Grumpy Old Gods Flash Fiction: Pesky Pestilence. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 - 1500 words. "Halloween flash fiction with a Grumpy TWIST. We’re searching for stories to delight and amuse for the upcoming Halloween season: Does your healing God in training keep accidentally raising zombies? Did a sun God accidentally set off an apocalypse and try to hide it? Is there something giving a divine pantheon the sniffles with hilarious results? Is Death taking a much-needed vacation in the mortal world – but keeps bringing his work along for the ride?" Payment: Profit sharing. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: August 16, 2022. See themes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cats. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about all the simply amazing things that your cat does. What have you learned from your cat? How does your cat improve your life? What crazy things does your cat do? Has your cat ever done anything heroic? How does your cat warm your heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and insightful behavior of your cat." Payment: $200. Deadline: August 19, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dogs. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about all the simply amazing things that your dog does. What have you learned from your dog? How does your dog improve your life? What crazy things does your dog do? Has your dog ever done anything heroic? How does your dog warm your heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and insightful behavior of your dog. Stories can be serious or humorous." Payment: $200. Deadline: August 19, 2022.

Shakespeare Unleashed. Genre: Horror based on Shakespeare’s plays and characters, as well as Shakespearean (horror) sonnets. For fiction, ”We’re looking for dark and scary stories — no parodies or humor pieces. Stories can be set in time periods other than the Elizabethan era, and can be updated or reimagined or merely “based on.”” For poetry, “We’re looking for horror sonnets — no parodies or humor pieces. Sonnets can be based on one of Shakespeare’s sonnets or plays or characters (let us know which one when you submit) or they can be totally original, but they should still evoke Shakespeare in some way.” Payment: $0.06/word for fiction; $35 for poems. Deadline: August 21, 2022.

berlin lit. Genre: Poetry. Payment: 20 euros per poem. Deadline: August 21, 2022.


Metaphysical Times. Genre: Pagan and metaphysical topics, including spirituality, religion, divination, witchcraft, and more. Payment: $0.05 USD per word up to 1200 words after editing. Deadline: August 24, 2022.

Unidentified Funny Objects. Genre: Funny science fiction and fantasy. Length: 500-5,000 words. Payment: $0.10/word. Deadline: August 25, 2022.

The Storyteller Series (Podcast and Print) Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, memoir up to 10,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 28, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Inked in Gray: Reclaiming Joy. Genre:  Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction, up to 8,000 words. "These past few years have brought more fear than hope. It seems as though our world is becoming a scary place, especially for marginalized individuals. As people and as an organization we will keep fighting against the wrongs that permeate our society. We must continue to protest but we also must continue to find joy and happiness in the moments between." Payment: $45. Deadline: August 30, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Funny Stories. Genre: True stories. "Share your funny stories about something that happened to you in your life – in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Did the other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Did a misunderstanding turn into a comedy of errors?" Payment: $200. Deadline: August 30, 2022. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Impact of a Chicken Soup for the Soul story on me. Genre: True stories. "Have you read a Chicken Soup for the Soul story that had an impact on your life? A story that made you think twice about a similar situation in your own life? That changed your outlook? Helped you solve a problem? Encouraged you to try something new and different? Encouraged you to go ahead and make that life-changing decision? Altered how you treat a person or a situation? Revealed to you how just a shift in your attitude could improve things? Showed you that you are not alone? Showed you that others who have gone through similar situations did it, what they did to get through and gave you hope?" Payment: $200. Deadline: August 30, 2022.

Les Petites Morts: An Anthology of Erotic Horror Inspired by Fairy Tales, Mythology & Folklore. Genre: Erotic horror stories inspired by fairy tales, mythologies, and folklore from around the world. Payment: 0.06 USD per word (via PayPal) and a paperback contributor’s copy. Deadline: August 30, 2022.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 31, 2022. Opens August 15. See themes. 
Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Broken Sleep Books. Genre: Non-fiction pamphlets (up to 70 pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2022.


The Quiet Ones. Genre: Quiet Horror and Dystopian genre works that fit the theme, “Nocturnal Animals.” "We primarily seek creative work from those who identify as LGBTQIAP+, women, and allies. We’re especially fond of (though do not require) stories that center LGBTQIAP+ and female characters. That said, we welcome work from anyone and everyone, and we do not automatically disqualify any submissions based on the author’s identity, nor do we require our contributors to share their sexual or gender identities." Payment: $25. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Longleaf Review. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Theme: Nostalgia. "Don’t be afraid to get a little speculative, a little retro, a little sci-fi. Revise history — new endings most welcome. Tell us about your firsts, your lasts, your just-can’t-get-you-out-of-my-heads. Show us the dark side of nostalgia, all its risks and rewards." Payment: $20 (?) Deadline: August 31, 2022.

From the Depths. Genre: Fantasy. "Monsters and mermaids, sea serpents and sailors, the deep dank dark and the glistening coral; if you’ve got a fantasy story that reeks of seaweed and intrigue, we want to see it." Length: 1,000-12,000 words. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: August 31, 2022.


Dragon Soul Press: Magick and Mistletoe. Genre: "All Christmas stories. As long as Christmas is involved, the story qualifies. All genres. Happily Ever After not required." Payment:  Royalties.  Deadline: August 31, 2022. 

Both/And. Genre: Essays focused on personal narrative from trans and gender non-conforming writers of color. "Both/And is an essay series that seeks to elevate the stories of those at the forefront of the fight for racial and transgender equality. We want to hear from, and work with trans writers of color, so we can uplift those most targeted by the larger cultural obsession with transness, but whose voices are rarely centered in it." Payment: $500. Deadline: August 31, 2022. Pitches only.

Quarter Press. Genre: Stories, art, poetry, nonfiction on theme: Let’s Get Weird. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 31, 2022. 

Broken Sleep Books. Genre: Nonfiction pamphlets (up to 70 pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2022. 

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: August 31, 2022. Note: Submit early in the month.

Typehouse. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: August 31, 2022. No-fee submissions open for all contributors starting July 1.

Gwyllion. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: £10 per accepted story or poem. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Strange Sunests: Terrors on Distant Planets. Genre: Science fiction stories that take place on another planet. There must be an element of horror. Gore and splatterpunk is welcome, but may not be a first choice. Payment: $30USD. Deadline: August 31, 2022. 

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

Hidden Villains: Arise. Genre: Fantasy, horror, and sci-fi "sculpted to thrill and entertain readers with the bizarre or delve into the shadows." Length: Up to 7,000 words. Payment: Between $0.05 and $0.08 per word. Deadline: August 31, 2022. 

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

Creature Publishing. Genre: Feminist horror. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Timber Ghost Press: Along Harrowed Trails. Genre: Horror set in the Old West. "We are seeking well-crafted stories and poems that are creepy, disturbing, and weird that embrace the Old West aesthetic from around 1800-1900." Payment: Poetry - $10 USD. Flash - $15 USD. Short Fiction - $35 USD. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

The McNeese Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Strange Sunsets – Terrors on Distant Planets. Genre: Science fiction stories that take place on another planet. There must be an element of horror. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

The Rumpus. Genre: Fiction "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

2,000-word Terrors. Genre: Horror short stories. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: August 31, 2022.


And a few more...


Escape Pod. Genre: Science fiction (Audio and written format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Bleed Error. Genre: Short stories, flash fiction, and poetry that runs the gamut of everything from absurdist horror to bizarre science-fiction to unsettling dark fantasy. "We love the uncanny." Payment: 1c per word, and $15 per poem (Canadian dollars.) Deadline: September 1, 2022.
Not a Pipe Publishing. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ writers. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, or any other works with a speculative element. Payment: A copy of the anthology and an equal portion of profits from the sale of the anthology. Deadline: September 1, 2022.
 
Madame Gray's Poe Pourri of Terror. Genre: Horror, 3K - 8K word count. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

Orion’s Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry. 1,200 words max for prose. Payment: 8 cents/word. $25 for art. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

Farmer-ish. Genre: Nonfiction, CNF, poetry related to farming (including recipes). Payment: $25 or copy of book (print only). Deadline: September 1, 2022. See themes.

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

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: 20.00 USD for featured authors, or $10.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $5.00 USD for poems. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

Blood, Sweat, and Steel. Genre: Military Science Fiction. Word Count: 7,000 – 10,000. Payment: A percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

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

Bang!: An Anthology of Noir Fiction. Genre: Noir fiction. "Stories must adhere to the noir genre (although we’re not beyond including neo-noir or hard-boiled in that ball park), however we don’t want slavish reproductions or carbon cut-outs of genre classics. We want new spins on old themes. We want nihilism." Payment: £10 per story plus one contributor copy of the paperback. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

Hellbound Sci-Fi. Genre: Science fiction. 4K - 10K word count. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

Eerie River: It Calls from Below. Genre: Horror. "Think subterranean, buried alive, ancient buried treasure, something lost now found, underground, in basements, crawlspaces, caves, under a bed and dark places." Payment: Flat rate payment ¢1 per word CAD after approved edits - up to $70 CAD. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

And the Dead Shall Sleep No More. Genre: Dark fiction about Vampires. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 1, 2022.

39 Writing Contests in August 2022 - No entry fees

Pxhere This August there over three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to a free writing class. None charge entry fees.
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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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Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grants. Restrictions: Open to women and trans artists in Greater Philadelphia to fund art for social change projects. People living in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties Delaware who are 18 years of age or older and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Genres: Art in traditional or nontraditional modes, mediums or disciplines. Prize: $2500. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Source Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not written for Source before. Genre: Book reviews, exhibition reviews or texts introducing sets of pictures, so these would be good models to follow. "But we are also interested in others forms of writing so if you want to submit something in a different form then please do." Prize: £500 / 570 euro. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Lee & Low Books New Voices Award is sponsored by Lee &Low Publishers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published. Genre: Children's books - fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Delaware poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who have lived in Delaware for at least one year prior to application and who are not enrolled in a degree-granting program. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Epigram Books Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be Singaporean, Singaporean permanent resident or Singapore-born. Genre: A full-length, original and unpublished novel written in the English language. Prize: $20,000. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Granum Foundation Prize helps U.S.-based writers complete substantive literary works—such as poetry books, essay or short story collections, novels, and memoirs—or to help launch these works. Additionally, a Granum Foundation Translation Prize will be awarded to support the completion of a work translated by a U.S.-based writer. Prize: One winner will receive $5,000; up to three finalists will be awarded $500 or more; $500 or more will be awarded to one writer working in translation. Deadline: August 2, 2022.

Oregon Literary Fellowships. Two fellowships (one $10,000 grant and one $3,500 grant) are reserved specifically for writers of color. There are also fellowships for women/gender-nonconforming writers as well as special fellowships for fiction writers who have lived in Oregon over the past 5 years. Deadline: August 5, 2022.

Peter Blazey Fellowship.  Restrictions: Applicants must either be an Australian citizen or have Australian residency. Genre: Non-fiction in the fields of autobiography, biography or life writing. Prize: $15 000, and a one-month writer-in-residency at The Australia Centre. Deadline: August 8, 2022.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: August 8, 2022 for poetry. (It is difficult to find this information on their website.) 

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between  July 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: August 12, 2022.

Rebecca Swift Women's Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to women poets in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: August 12, 2022.

Waterford Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Ireland. Genre: Poem. Prize: First prize is €400 plus attendance at a designated writing course. Deadline: August 12, 2022.

4thWrite Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic writers aged 18+ living in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Short story, 6,000 words maximum. Prize: £1,000, a one-day publishing workshop at 4th Estate and publication of their story on the Guardian website. Deadline: August 14, 2022.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction between 1k words max based on the theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: August 14, 2022.

Wintermute Lit. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers who have not published a full-length manuscript or chapbook. The work you submit can have been previously published but not awarded large national/international awards. Genre: Speculative fiction, maximum of 4500 words. Prize: Winners receive cash prizes, speculative books of their choice, and publication in Wintermute. Deadline: August 14, 2022. Reprints accepted.

The Yale Drama Series. Genre: Original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Society of Classical Poets Haiku Competition. Genre: Haiku. Prize: $100. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

The Gotham “Manuscript-to-Market” Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to people of color who have completed a book manuscript (or nonfiction book proposal) and are ready to go to market with their book. Three fellowships will be offered every year. Prize: Admittance to the Gotham Writers Conference—the panels and presentations as well as a seat at a pitching roundtable with two agents in your genre. The Gotham course How to Get Published or Nonfiction Book Proposal. A one-on-one Agent Evaluation session and a Query Letter Coaching session, both with a literary agent. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Quarterly West.  Genre: Poetry chapbook. Prize: $500. Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Restrictions: Emerging African American writers.  Genres: Short story collection or novel published in the current year. Prize: $10,000.  Deadline: August 15, 2022.

Ligonier Valley Writers. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of "mermaids, selkies, and other water dwellers";1000 words max. Prize: The first prize winner will receive $50, second prize $25, and third prize $15. Deadline: August 15, 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 April 2022 and 30 September 2022. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: August 26, 2022.

Frank O’Connor International Short Story Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to writers living within Munster and a commuting distance from Cork City. "The Short Story Fellow must have at least two full-length works of fiction published at the time of deadline, of which at least one must be a short story collection. The ideal candidate will be a writer respected by peers and experienced in the giving of writing workshops." Genre: Short fiction. Fellowship: A stipend of €8000, in four monthly instalments of €2000. Deadline: August 29, 2022.

The Canadian Women Artists’ Award. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women living in New York who are between the ages of 21 and 35 before the application deadline. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Grant: $5,000. Deadline: August 30, 2022.

Debra E. Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize. Genre: Article that furthers the understanding of the history of working people. Articles focused on historical events AND articles about current issues (work, housing, organizing, health, education) that include historical context are both welcome. The work should be published in print or online between August 31, 2021 and August 30, 2022. Prize: $1000. Deadline: August 30, 2022.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation or Multi-Lingual Texts. Restrictions: Translators and authors of multi-lingual texts. Genres: Poetry and prose. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Storyhouse. Genre: Biographical nonfiction. Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts. 1000 - 10,000 words in length. Stories must be suitable for children. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

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

Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry collection (in English), at least 48 pages long, published between July 1 of the previous year and June 30 of the deadline year by an upstate New York author. Prize: $2000. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

What’s Your Story? Restrictions: Open to Victorian residents. (Australia) Genre: Poetry, short stories, CNF. Prize: $500. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Kindle Storyteller Award (UK). Restrictions: The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk. Genre: Book. Prize: £20,000. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Biographical Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 31, 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: August 31, 2022. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35 as of December 31 of the deadline year. Books must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language, between June 23 of the preceding year and August 31 of the deadline year. Authors must be UK or Irish citizens, or residents for the three years preceding the award. Genre: Published or self-published book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. Genre: Scholarly essay. All work submitted must have been written or published within the last year. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story with an overall word-count of 2000 on theme: ‘Storytelling" Prize: £100. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

YORKSHIRE PRIZE: The Good Old Days. Restrictions: The Yorkshire Prize  is open to residents of Yorkshire, UK. Genre: Short story set in Yorshire, maximum word count of 2000 per entry. Prize: £100, and two further commendations of £25. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme of Dreamy. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: August 31, 2022.

26 Awesome Writing Conferences in August 2022

Mendocino Coast: Flickr August is hot hot, hot! This August there are more than two dozen writing conferences. Many conferences and workshops will be held online, but some will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

(Image: Mendocino Coast: Flickr)

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Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 5 - August 19, 2022: Provincetown, Massachusetts. Last year's faculty included David Baker, Samiya Bashir, Jill Bialosky, Sophie Cabot Black, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Martha Collins, Kate Daniels, Nick Flynn, Vievee Francis, Gabriel Fried, Jorie Graham, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Fred Marchant, Gail Mazur, Jane Mead, John Murillo, Eileen Myles, Matthew Olzmann, Gregory Pardlo, Carl Phillips, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Victoria Redel, Martha Rhodes, Brenda Shaughnessy, Nicole Sealey, Alan Shapiro, Carmen Giménez Smith, Craig Morgan Teicher and many more. See individual workshops for dates.

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 4 -  August 6, 2022: Mendocino, California. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft seminars, panels, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and open mics. The faculty includes poet Claudia Castro Luna, fiction writers Jean Chen Ho and Lydia Kiesling, creative nonfiction writer Faith Adiele, and cross-genre writer Anastacia-Reneé. Fiction writer Karen Tei Yamashita will give the keynote address. Participating publishing professionals include agent Jonah Straus (Straus Literary). The registration fee is $675 and includes morning workshops, all afternoon events, and breakfast and lunch each day. One-on-one manuscript consultations are available for an additional $60. Lodging is available at a wide range of accommodations on the Mendocino Coast, including oceanfront inns, campgrounds, glamping facilities, and motels. The registration deadline is June 30.

Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 4 - 6, 2022: Hyannis, Massachusetts. Supporting published and aspiring writers. Featuring distinguished authors, editors and agents in workshops on fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry, mysteries and thrillers, social media, promotion and more! Will be held virtually.

Ocean View Writing Getaway. August 4 - 7, 2022: Atlantic City, NJ. "Our experienced workshop leaders plan their sessions to benefit both beginning and experienced writers. We pride ourselves on building an encouraging community of writers where all feel welcome." This program is presented by Murphy Writing of Stockton University in collaboration with AC Residential Life.

Kansas City Writing Workshop. August 5 - 6, 2022: Kansas City. This is an online “How to Get Published” writing event on August 5-6, 2022. (Writers are welcome to attend virtually from everywhere and anywhere.) This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). Will be held virtually.

Into the Springs Writers Workshop. August 5 - 7, 2022: Yellow Springs, OH. Faculty for 2022 are John Kachuba, Raul Ramos, and Juliette Hyland.

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Via Zoom. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions. Will be held online.

Willamette Writers Conference. August  5 -7, 2022: Portland, Oregon. Three full days of classes, workshops, keynotes, critiques, and events. There are also Master Classes with industry professionals in which you can learn from top instructors in a small group setting and many options for one on one critique, including On the Spot Critiques and Advance Manuscript Critique. As always, they will have a roster of agents, editors and film executives ready to hear about your project. Will be held online and in person.

The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference, August 5 - 7, 2022: West Coast Writers Conferences presents a full weekend of panels, workshops and presentations by educators, noted speakers, and industry professionals focused on the craft and business of writing.

Mystery Writers Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Corte Madera, CA. In this conference, mystery writers learn the clues to a successful writing career. Editors, agents, and publishers tell participants what they need to know to get published. Authors offer classes on setting, dialogue, suspense, point of view, and openings. They tell how to write about private eyes, amateur sleuths, and police protagonists, and how to create thrillers and historical mysteries. Panels of detectives, forensic experts, police, and other crime-fighting professionals provide information that allows crime fiction writers to put realism in their work. 

Colrain Classic. August 5 - 8, 2022. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3-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, manuscript workshop and editorial sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session."

The Writer's Hotel Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop. August 6 - 28, 2022. All fiction genres. "TWH Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop program centers on weekend writing workshops and lectures over four weeks, plus two full manuscript readings by TWH Editors, one-on-one agent pitching sessions and attendee readings. Space is extremely limited. There will be two cohorts of just 14 people each." App deadline: May 16, 2022

EPIC: Elena Hartwell Taylor Writing Workshop. August 6, 2022. Fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir manuscripts that lack a solid foundation are a common problem for writers, and an issue that developmental editors see over and over again. Flawed stucture can impact even a "well-written" manuscript, as beautiful sentences can't cover flaws in foundation. Join author and developmental editor Elena Hartwell Taylor for a two-hour virtual writers' workshop to analyze issues in structure, such as scenes unrelated to the plot, or starting too soon in your story, no clear inciting incident; discover the difference between plot and story; and develop strategies to complete a first draft or for approaching rewrites.


PJ Library Retreat: Picture Book Summer Camp for Emerging Writers. August 7 - 11, 2022: Honesdale, PA. "If you’re a pre-published author with a Jewish picture book in progress (or no more than one published book) we invite you to apply for five-days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity on the beautiful campus of the Highlights Foundation." Application Deadline: on or before April 28, 2022.

Elk River Writers Workshop. August 7 - 12, 2022: Chico Hot Springs, MT. The Elk River Writers Workshop embodies the idea that deep, communal experiences with the wild open the door to creativity. We bring together some of the most celebrated nature writers in the United States with students who are serious about fostering a connection with the environment in their writing. It all happens at Chico Hot Springs, a historic retreat just north of Yellowstone National Park. Faculty members Camille Dungy, Sean Hill, J. Drew Lanham, Beth Piatote, and Laura Pritchett.

Writing on the Door: "August Master Class Series," August 8-12, 2022: Fish Creek, WI. With Lan Samantha Chang (Fiction), Nan Cohen (Poetry), & Kyoko Mori (Nonfiction)  The Writing On The Door Week-Long Master Class Series offers intensive sessions in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for intermediate to advanced writers.

Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 8 - 14, 2022: Montpelier, Vermont. The conference is designed for writers with graduate degrees or equivalent experience. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, craft classes, and individual consultations with faculty members. "At the heart of the Postgraduate Writers' Conference's unique model is the small workshop size, with groups led by acclaimed faculty limited to five or six writers. The intimate format allows for an extraordinarily in-depth, far-reaching discussion of participants’ work. Beyond the daily group sessions, each member has an individual consultation with the workshop instructor. The schedule also features a rich menu of readings by faculty and participants, craft talks, generative writing sessions and social events that galvanize our vibrant, inclusive community." \

So You Want to be an Author/Illustrator? Online Course. August 11 - September 15, 2022. Explore the possibilities of moving from Illustrator to Author/Illustrator, or becoming an Author/Illustrator. Learn how to find ideas and move from sketch to story ideas. Explore narrative drawing, pagination, thumbnail sketches and dummy (mock-up) creation. Will be held online. 

HippoCamp Creative Nonfiction Conference. August 12 - 14, 2022: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This three-day creative writing conference in PA features 50+ notable speakers, engaging sessions in four tracks, interactive panels, readings, social activities, networking opps and optional, intimate pre-conference workshops. 

The Whole Novel Workshop. August 12 - 16, 2022: Honesdale, PA. This intensive Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens. Application Deadline: May 20, 2022. 

Horror Bites. August 13, 2022. "Horror Bites serves up a series of short horror writing workshops, covering some of the most essentials elements of the genre, including atmosphere, characterisation, pacing, writing violence and more. Led by horror writer, workshopper and Creative Writing Lecturer Alex Davis, HORROR BITES gives you the chance to take a big bite of horror or select some light bites from the workshop buffet…" Tickets £28 for full day or £7 per workshop session. Virtual.

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 17 - 27, 2022: Ripton, VT. Workshops in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days. Groups are kept small to facilitate discussion, and all participants meet individually with their faculty leaders to elaborate on workshop comments. Faculty members also offer lectures on issues around literary writing and one-hour classes on specific aspects of the craft. Readings by the faculty, conference participants, and guests take place throughout the day and into the night. Participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and publishers who provide information and answer questions, individually or in small groups. 

Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 18 - 21, 2022: Nashville, TN. The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. "At the conference, we try diligently to ensure that the weekend has something for every writer and lover of literature, and our sessions are structured to assist writers on multiple career levels. Our learning tracks tackle the craft of writing, business of writing, marketing, and forensics. Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, live music performances and—of course—all the great activities one can enjoy in downtown Nashville."

Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. August 18– 21, 2022: Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restaurateurs, guidebook writers, and more. 

Poetry at the Frost Farm. August 19 - 21, 2022:  Derry, New Hampshire. The retreat offers workshops, readings, and one-on-one consultations for formalist poets. "Join a small community of people at the historic Robert Frost Farm learning, reading and writing formal poetry with contemporary award-winning poets. Choose your focus from a series of offerings designed to provide tools for beginning poets as well as perfect the mastery of published poets." 

The Alabama Writers' Conclave. August 26 - 28, 2022: Mountain Brook, Alabama. The Conclave is today one of the oldest continuing writers' organization in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers and supporters of the writing arts may join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual meeting. 

5 Literary Agents Seeking Romance, Sci-fi, Literary Fiction, YA, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir and more

Alyssa Maltese Here are five literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with established agencies with good track records.

Alyssa Maltese is seeking YA: Contemporary fiction with speculative, romantic, or light fantasy elements. Adult: High-concept commercial thriller & domestic suspense, Speculative fiction with female-centric concepts & sci-fi elements, Commercial suburban horror with a sense of humor; Prescriptive & research-driven narrative nonfiction from authors with an established expertise & audience. 

Cindy Uh is interested in fiction and nonfiction. For non-fiction submissions, Uh is interested in narrative non-fiction, memoir, essay collections, and illustrated titles in categories ranging from inspirational, pop-science and psychology, and cultural criticism to self-help, wellness/spirituality, social justice, and women’s issues. In fiction, Uh is looking for upmarket women’s fiction  For YA submissions, Uh is interested in contemporary stories that center BIPOC characters, and humor and quirk are always a plus.

Broo Doherty handles all genres, excluding children’s books, screenplays and sci-fi, but particularly enjoys crime, women's commercial fiction, literary fiction and quirky non-fiction. Rebeka Finch is looking for character driven contemporary romances. Rebeka is also looking for contemporary new adult romance that bridges the gap between YA and adult fiction, for the 20 something lover of modern romantic novels. Brady McReynolds represents science fiction, weird 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.
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 

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Alyssa Maltese of Root Literary Agency

Getting to be an early champion for authors' work is a huge privilege, and a responsibility for which I am deeply grateful. I'm excited to find and uplift books that you can’t put down, books that surprise you, books that make you think, and, above all else, books that help people.

What she is seeking: YA: Contemporary fiction with speculative, romantic, or light fantasy elements. Adult: High-concept commercial thriller & domestic suspense, Speculative fiction with female-centric concepts & sci-fi elements, Commercial suburban horror with a sense of humor; Prescriptive & research-driven narrative nonfiction from authors with an established expertise & audience.

How to submit: Please send a query letter and the first 10 pages of your manuscript to submissions@rootliterary.com.

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Cindy Uh of Creative Artists Agency

Uh graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Faith, Peace, and Justice. She went on to receive her J.D. from UCLA School of Law with a concentration in Critical Race Studies. Following her career as an employment discrimination attorney, Uh became a literary agent in 2015 and served as Counsel at the publishing law firm of Lyons & Salky Law LLP. She joined CAA in 2019.

Uh is based in the New York office with a client list that focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices. She works with many of the world’s leading activists, journalists, thought leaders, illustrators, artists, and actors, including Lupita Nyong’o, Simu Liu, Jonathan Van Ness, Tabitha Brown, Cecily Strong, Tarana Burke, Enrique Acevedo, Stephen Satterfield, Christopher Griffin, Mari Andrew, James Whiteside, Mónica Ramírez, Cecilia Muñoz, Alex Elle, Erica Chidi, among others.

What she is seeking: For non-fiction submissions, Uh is interested in narrative non-fiction, memoir, essay collections, and illustrated titles in categories ranging from inspirational, pop-science and psychology, and cultural criticism to self-help, wellness/spirituality, social justice, and women’s issues.

In fiction, Uh is looking for upmarket women’s fiction with an emotional plot, well-drawn characters, and distinctive voices and worldviews. She’s particularly drawn to stories that examine complex female and family dynamics, grapple with cultural and generational divides, and explore issues of identity and belonging. While she’s also interested in speculative fiction and magical realism, she’s not actively seeking historical fiction, sci-fi or fantasy at this time.

For YA submissions, Uh is interested in contemporary stories that center BIPOC characters, and humor and quirk are always a plus.


How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.

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Broo Doherty of DHH Literary Agency (UK)

Broo Doherty graduated from Downing College Cambridge and then started working in publishing, where she has worked for the last twenty years. She has worked right across the board in publishing houses and as an agent. 

What she is seeking: She handles all genres, excluding children’s books, screenplays and sci-fi, but particularly enjoys crime, women's commercial fiction, literary fiction and quirky non-fiction. In 2017 she was voted Literary Agent of the Year at the Romantic Novelist's Association. ​

How to submit: Send submissions to: bd.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com
For fiction please send your cover letter, first three chapters (or about 10,000 words) and a synopsis. For non-fiction please send a covering letter; a proposal for the book including an overview of its themes and story and your sources.

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Ms. Rebeka Finch of Darley Anderson Literary (UK)

Rebeka joined the Agency as Darley's Assistant in November 2019. Rebeka has a degree in History from the University of Exeter, and spent a semester abroad studying in America before graduating in July 2019. She enjoys reading submissions, particularly new adult, contemporary romance fiction, and fantasy/romantasy fiction, and working on the Agency's social media.

What she is seeking: Rebeka is looking for character driven contemporary romances. Rebeka is also looking for contemporary new adult romance that bridges the gap between YA and adult fiction, for the 20 something lover of modern romantic novels. For Rebeka's submission wishlist click here.
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How to submit: Send one page synopsis and the first three consecutive chapters (or the first 50 pages, whichever comes first). Please email your material as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment. Rebeka will only consider submissions with material attached. Send your query to  rebeka@darleyanderson.com

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Mr. Brady McReynolds of JABberwocky Literary Agency

Growing up in rural Georgia and North Carolina, he started reading books (especially science-fiction and fantasy) at an early age because there was little else to do. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he double majored in Communication Studies and Sociology. 

What he is seeking: Science fiction, weird fiction.

How to submit: Use his query manager HERE.

6 New Literary Agents Seeking Nonfiction, Memoir, Literary Fiction, YA, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy and more

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

Allison Hegan's interests include young adult fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, mystery, fantasy, suspense, and environmental topics. Dr. Emma Wood is primarily drawn to excellent characterization and a strong voice.

Sydnie Thornton is interested in YA across all genres: fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary that leans literary, as well as thrillers with upmarket qualities and distinctive characterization. As for the adult side, Sydnie is actively looking for historical fiction and whimsical contemporary fantasy.

Maria Alcantara is looking for New Adult upmarket fiction, mystery full of complicated characters and page-turning plot twists, and women’s contemporary or commercial romance and horror with inclusive voices of Latinos and the LGBTQ community. Rachel Petty represents children’s fiction and non-fiction, from picture books up to YA and crossover. 

Rachel Yeoh is actively looking for: literary, upmarket, book club, autobiographical fiction, political perspectives, social critiques, postcolonial literature, magical realism, nature writing, philosophical themes, classical retellings, character-driven stories, topical issues, narrative memoir, global voices, diaspora.

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.
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 


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Allison Hegan of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management 

Originally from Pasadena, California, Allison received her B.A. degree in Geography-Environment and People, and completed both the environmental studies and African studies certificate programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While studying abroad in Australia, she volunteered with Conservation Volunteers Australia and helped preserve a section of rainforest. Since then, Allison has worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City, the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy in Virginia, and volunteered as a researcher and consultant for World Vision’s Natural Environment & Climate Issues department in California. She loves exploring new places and has lived in several cities around the country and abroad.

What she is seeking: Drawn into novels with emotionally vibrant, compelling, and often flawed characters, Allison believes the best books are those that stay with the reader long after they have been read. Her current interests include young adult fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, mystery, fantasy, suspense, and environmental topics.

How to submit: Please email a query to Submissions@ghliterary.com 

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Dr. Emma Wood of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management (UK)

Based in the UK, Emma, holds a PhD in environmental physiology and a black belt in karate. She is an editor, technical writer, and part of the Scribophile community. She is a voracious reader, both for fun and analytically, and enjoys pulling books apart to identify what works and what doesn’t in both Children’s and Adult genres. 

What she is seeking: She loves novelty and quirkiness in all things, cracking characters, and spectacular stories. She is primarily drawn to excellent characterization and a strong voice.

How to submit: Please email a query to Submissions@ghliterary.com 

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Ms. Sydnie Thornton of Irene Goodman Literary Agency

A native Memphian, Sydnie majored in English Literature at Rhodes College. Every summer, she escaped the Memphis heat to intern at various NYC agencies and eventually joined IGLA in 2021. She does not miss the humidity. She does miss her dog. On the weekends, you can find her baking or curled up with hot chocolate and a good book. She’s taking on select co-agenting projects with Barbara Poelle.

What she is seeking: Sydnie is interested in YA across all genres: fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary that leans literary, as well as thrillers with upmarket qualities and distinctive characterization. As for the adult side, Sydnie is actively looking for transportive, complex historical fiction and whimsical contemporary fantasy. Regardless of genre, she’s very likely to connect with manuscripts that bridge the YA/Adult divide. She’s also eager to champion any book that prominently features disability representation.

How to submit: Send your query to: sydnie.queries@irenegoodman.com

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Maria Alcantara of ArtHouse Lit

Maria graduated Cum Laude from Rutgers University with a Degree in English and Digital Studies. Getting her start as an editorial intern and a #RevPit First Reader, Maria has curated a particular taste for the kinds of books she aims to help bring to the masses. When she’s not working as a software engineer, you might find her cuddled up with her orange tabby and a good thriller.

What she is seeking: Maria is looking for New Adult upmarket fiction, either character-driven or plot-driven. She loves to cozy up with a good mystery full of complicated characters and page-turning plot twists. If these novels are contemporary with Millennial leads then that’s even better. Examples of this genre currently on her bookshelf include: YOU by Caroline Kepnes, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh.

Maria is also looking for women’s contemporary or commercial romance and horror with inclusive voices of Latinos and the LGBTQ community. Maria loves reading stories of marginalized voices in modern-day settings that are relatable and swoonworthy. Some favorites in this genre include: Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.

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Ms. Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership (UK)

Before joining The Blair Partnership Rachel was editorial director at Macmillan Children’s Books, working with authors such as Frances Hardinge, Chris Riddell and Tomi Adeyemi.

What she is seeking: I represent children’s fiction and non-fiction, from picture books up to YA and crossover. I am looking for ambitious storytelling, a bold approach to structure and voice and a fresh take on genre, and I’m particularly interested in submissions from author/illustrators and people from underrepresented and marginalised communities. I like YA romance, horror and thrillers (or a combination of all three, especially with a twist), hooky sweeping fantasy (I want excellent world building with a simple, clever pitch), hilarious middle grade, bold graphic picture books, and anything that has the potential to jump off the page and onto the screen.
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How to submit: Please attach the first thirty pages of your manuscript and a one-page synopsis in one Word document or PDF along with your query letter to rachelsubmissions@theblairpartnership.com.

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Ms. Rachel Yeoh of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK)

Rachel graduated from Durham University with a Politics degree, and then read Law at the National University of Singapore, completing internships at Baker McKenzie, Wong Partnership and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Upon receiving a training contract offer, Rachel decided she did not want to use her love for words to structure corporate deals, but rather, to discover and share compelling stories that reflect the human experience. She first joined the agency as an intern, and went on to assist Madeleine before becoming an Associate Agent in 2021.

What she is seeking: Actively looking for: literary, upmarket, book club, autobiographical fiction, political perspectives, social critiques, postcolonial literature, magical realism, nature writing, philosophical themes, classical retellings, character-driven stories, topical issues, narrative memoir, global voices, diaspora.

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

105 Calls for Submissions in July 2022 - Paying markets

Public Domain Pictures This July 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 a few days prior to the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

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

Happy submitting!

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Les Petites Morts: An Anthology of Erotic Horror Inspired by Fairy Tales, Mythology & Folklore. Opens July 1. Deadline: TBA

Broken Glass. Genre: Art, video, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, interviews, investigative reporting, fashion, design, book reviews and more - "if it fits our focus, we’d love to see your work." Payment: $50-200. Deadline: Opens July 1, 2022.

Augur Magazine. Restrictions: Creators who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Disabled, and/or Trans, who are also Canadian citizens/permanent residents and/or who are living within the settler-defined borders of the land colonially known as Canada. Genre: dream-touched realism, slipstream, fabulism, magical realism (note: educate yourself before you claim this term) and, for lack of a better descriptor, “literary” speculative fiction. Payment: $0.11 cents (CAD) per word for short fiction (1000+ words), and a flat fee of $110.00 per flash fiction piece (1000 words and under). Deadline: Opens June 30th, 2022.

Flash Point Science Fiction. Genre: Speculative fiction stories from 100 to 1,000 words in length. "Send us your science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and everything in between, so long as it’s short." Payment: $15. Deadline: Opens July 1.


Substantially Unlimited. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as part of the disability community. Genre: Prose, up to 15 pages. Theme: Stigma. Payment: $15. Deadline: July 1, 2022. Reprints accepted. 

Haunt Publishing. Genre: Gothic, horror and dark fiction, full-length manuscripts. Payment: £200 advance and royalties. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

The Cafe Irreal. Genre: Magical realism. 2,000 words max. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Minola Review. Restrictions: Open to women and non-binary writers. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $25. Deadline: July 1, 2022. 

Totally Entwined: Cupid's Academy. Genre: Novellas, 30,000 - 50,000 words. Theme: Enemies to lovers. LGBTQ focus. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

The Twin Bill. Genre: Fiction, CNF, poetry, art about baseball. Payment: $10. Deadline: July 1, 2022.


Thema: The Crumpled Yellow Paper. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: The Crumpled Yellow Paper. Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: July 1, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Horror Oasis: Darklit Press: The Sacrament. Genre: Religious Horror. Payment: $0.01 per word for new stories and/or $25 for reprints. Deadline: July 1, 2022. Accepts reprints.

It Came From the Trailer Park: Volume 2. Genre: Horror. Theme: Horror Comedy / Creature Feature. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 1, 2022. 

Eerie River. Genre: Folk Horror. Word count: 1500 - 7000 firm. Payment: ¢1 per word CAD.  Deadline: Deadline: July 1, 2022. 


Alien Magazine. Genre: All types of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art. Payment: $20. Deadline: July 1, 2022. 

Unsettling Reads: Still of Winter. Genre: Horror, fantasy, scifi stories, poems, art. "Stories that unsettle, unnerve, frighten, discomfit, challenge, and/or just generally entertain on theme of Winter." Payment: $20. Deadline: July 1, 2022. 

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: July 1 - 2, 2022.

Pillow Talking (Podcast). Genre: First person, narrative/creative nonfiction stories of real-life bedroom conversations. Theme: Sanctuary. Payment: $25AUD. Deadline: July 2, 2022.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of  PRIDE / HUMILITY. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: July 3, 2022.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of “Weather.” Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: July 3, 2022.
Luna Press. Genre: Speculative fiction novels. Theme: Horror/gothic/folk horror, dark fantasy novel set in a haunted location (by 'location' we mean a dwelling, an institution, a hotel, a factory, a ship/ferry, a train -  in short a building/structure where people have lived, worked, died, grew up, etc.) Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 3, 2022.

Maine Review. Genre: Short fiction, poetry. Payment: Fiction and Nonfiction writers receive a $25 honorarium per published flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more. Poets receive a $25 honorarium per published poem. Deadline: July 3, 2022.  (Opens June 27)
Mslexia. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction by women. Payment: £25. Deadline: July 4, 2022.

Pulp Modern. Genre: Horror and Weird Fiction. (3,500-5,000 words). Payment: $10. Deadline: July 4, 2022. (Open one day only)

Pillow Talking (Podcast). Genre: First person, narrative/creative nonfiction stories of real-life bedroom conversations. Theme: Blue. Payment: $25AUD. Deadline: July 4, 2022.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay.  Deadline: July 4, 2022.


Cossmass Infinities. Restrictions: Open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: July 7, 2022.

Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: July 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on July 1.

Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word; $40 per poem. Deadline: July 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on July 1.


The Fantastic Other. Genre: Mainstream and surrealist short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, and art. Payment: $5. Deadline: July 10, 2022.

Fall Into Fantasy. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: $15. Deadline: July 10, 2022.

swim meet lit mag. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction (think memoir and personal essay), visual art and photography. "Send us hybrids, work that pushes the boundaries of creativity, that you’d be proud to see published!" Payment: $30 AUD per poem and visual art piece, $50 AUD for prose and cover art. Only pays Australian writers. Deadline: July 10, 2022.

Flame Tree Publishing: Alternate History Anthology. Genre: Alternate history short stories. Length: 2,000 - 4,000 words. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: July 11, 2022. Accepts reprints.

The Bloop. Genre: Horror. "1997: The Bloop is heard on audio recording stations across the pacific. In the years that follow, the mysterious sound will be attributed to giant creatures, a cataclysmic weather event, ice quakes… but what really happened? What could possibly have made a sound loud enough to be heard across the ocean? That’s up to you!" Payment: $10. Deadline: July 13, 2022.


Cosmic Horror Monthly. Genre: Cosmic horror, Lovecraftian, Weird, and dark science fiction stories, original and reprints. Art accepted as well. Payment: 3 cents per word for original fiction. 5k words = $150; 1 cent per word for reprints. Deadline: July 14, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Diabolical Plots. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy and horror up to 3,500 words. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: July 14, 2022.

The Cellar Door: Dark Highways. Genre: Horror/suspense stories that take place on a highway, road, or inside a vehicle. Payment: $25. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

34 Orchard. Genre: Fiction and poetry. "We like dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad." Length: Up to 7,500 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: July 15, 2022. Opens July 1.


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

Are You a Robot? Genre: Open. "Whatever you can imagine except erotica. Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Urban, Mystery, Adventure, Cyberpunk, and even western, if you can figure that out. Send us your story about raging against the machines, surviving attacks on your privacy, navigating the deliberately confusing systems out there, or dealing with the trials and tribulations of ever advancing technology." Payment: $5. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Able Muse. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 15, 2022.


Lupercalia. Genre: Chapbooks. Art and writing by trans and queer creators that focuses on themes of transgender and queer sex/sexuality/excess/celebration. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Hansen House. Genre: Fiction manuscripts with queer protagonists. "Commercial, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy (LitRPG included), New Adult (all genres), YA (all genres), anything sapphic, and anything else that gives queer characters some sort of happy ending." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Electric Spec. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre. Length: 250 to 7000 words. Payment: $20. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Dose of Dread. Genre: Horror flash fiction. Preference for dread-inducing stories. Length: 500 - 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Tales of Sley House. Restrictions: College students only. Graduate or undergraduate. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, or thriller, or some blend of genres. Payment: $25. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Never Cheat a Witch. Genre: Stories that feature mere mortals using their cunning, and whatever other assets and skills they may have to put one over a witch, wizard, or other powerful magical entity. Payment: $15.00 plus equal share of 50% of the anthology’s royalties. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Samjoko Magazine is devoted to publishing "exemplary work from content creators around the world. Focusing mainly upon the written word, we hope to create an immersive digital and print platform that stands out for its honesty and desire to take risks for the sake of artistic expression. We have no set aesthetic, though different themes will be focused upon periodically. We aim to publish seasonally, with our inaugural issue expected to be released early 2022. Response times vary  between 1 day to 4 months. Apologies in advance for form rejections. Our goal is to publish 15 pieces per issue." Payment: $20. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Timber Ghost Press. Genre: Novels and novellas, including cosmic horror, weird horror, sci-fi/horror, gothic, and contemporary. "We especially love Old West mixed with horror." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 15, 2022. Opens July 1.

If there’s anyone left. Restrictions: Marginalized members of the sci-fi/spec community—this includes people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, members of marginalized genders, and disabled people. Genre: Science fiction and speculative flash fiction. 1000 words max. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: July 15, 2022


From the Ashes An Anthology of Elemental Urban Fantasy. Genre: Urban Fantasy. Must contain fire-based elemental magic in an urban fantasy setting. Length: Flash (1,000 words) up to novella length (39,999 words). Payment: Original Fiction: $0.08/word up to 1,000 words, and $0.01/word after. Reprints: $0.01/word. Deadline: July 16, 2022.

Pillow Talking (Podcast). Genre: First person, narrative/creative nonfiction stories of real-life bedroom conversations. Theme: I remember... Payment: $25AUD. Deadline: July 16, 2022.

Sovereign: An Anthology of Black Fantasy Fiction. Genre: Fantasy by Black writers only, from flash to novella-length. The sub-genres are: Heroic; Mythic; Flintlock; Gaslamp; Medieval; Religious; Weird West; Arcanepunk; High/Epic Fantasy; Sword and Soul/Planet; Noblebright/Nobledark; Fables/Fairytale Retellings. Length: 1K - 4-K words. Payment: $0.08/word for the first 1,000 words, $0.01/word thereafter. Deadline: July 16, 2022. 

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: July 17, 2022.

Jaggery. Restrictions: Jaggery connects South Asian diasporic writers and homeland writers; we also welcome non-South Asians with a deep and thoughtful connection to South Asian countries, who bring their own intersecting perspectives to the conversation. (By South Asia we mean Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.) Genre: Fiction, essays and interviews, poetry, and reviews. Payment: $100 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction/poetry/art/reviews.  Deadline: July 17, 2022.

Riddled With Arrows. “For our Open-Theme Summer Issue we are prioritizing prose over poetry, but we will consider any manner of works on any subject, so long as it meets our primary objective: we want writing and art that centers the process and product of writing as art." Payment: Unpublished Poetry & Prose – USD 3¢/word, minimum $5, maximum $25. Art $10. Reprints $5. Deadline: July 19, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: July 21, 2022.
Ofic. Genre: Short fiction (up to 12,000 words), nonfiction (CNF, etc.), art. "Send us your dead doves, your blorbos, your plinkos, your wretched meow meows yearning to be free; that thing you wrote that made you think, “I don’t know where this belongs”; the stuff you’d never show anyone you know IRL. Give us your shameless, self-indulgent smut; the manuscript to the video essay you dictated to your YouTube subscribers in your head; your thoughtful explorations of trauma and identity; your Pepe Silvia wall; your sci-fi, your fantasy, your romance, your realism. We want anything and everything. As long as you identify as a fan, we want to read your work." Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: July 24, 2022.

Mudroom. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: July 25, 2022.


Dragon Soul Press: Life at Its Best. Genre: "These women are navigating through the ups and downs of life whether it be relationships, children, health, etc. Note: This is Women’s Contemporary ‘Realistic’ Fiction only." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: July 30th, 2022.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: July 30, 2022.
midnight & indigo. Restrictions: Open to Black women writers. Genre: Short story, speculative, and narrative essay. Payment: $50 - $75. Deadline: July 30, 2022.
Corporate Catharsis — The Work From Home Edition. Genre: Speculative fiction. "The pandemic came and the world changed. Lives have changed; work has changed. The boundaries between reality and fantasy have become as blurred as those between life and work. Corporate Catharsis: The Work From Home Edition gives you the opportunity to explore the impact of the COVID pandemic on your personal and professional life through speculative fiction." Length: 2,000 – 10,000 words.  Payment: $0.02 per word + two (2) contributor copies. Deadline: July 30, 2022.

Madness Heart: Trigger Warning. Genre: Horror. This year the theme is CURSES. "This collection is for the stomach-churning, the ultra-violent, the painful to read. These stories require trigger warnings." Payment: $10. Deadline: July 30, 2022.

khōréō. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and  $40-300 for art. Deadline: July 30, 2022.

Superlative Literary Journal. Genre: Short stories. Theme: Futures. Payment: £10. Deadline: July 30, 2022.

Welkin. Genre: Magical realist, fabulist, fairy tale, fantasy, gothic, metafictional, slipstream, fantastic, weird, surrealist, and experimental genres. Payment: 1cent/word. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Otoroshi Journal. Genre: Horrorku, horror tanka, and horror haibun, art. Payment: Poetry, $1. Art, $10. Deadline: July 31st, 2022.


Museum Piece Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction. "The story must be about (and likely take place in) a museum with an interesting concept, which should be essential to the plot, not just background. Stories should be between 1,000 and 6,000 words in length." Payment: $.01/word. Reprints will be paid a flat rate of $20/story. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Socrates on the Beach. Genre: Longer essays and fiction at least 3000 to 10,000 words. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Tales from the Ruins: A Post-Apocalyptic Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We're looking for tales of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. There are no specific thematic guidelines and we're open to submissions featuring sci-fi elements, but at the heart of your story must be a human struggle." Payment: 20€ for original stories and 5€ for reprints regardless of length, plus one print copy. Preferred word count between 5,000 and 10,000 words. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Bound in Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as Transgender and Non-Binary. Genre: Body Horror. Word count: 3k-5k. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

The Sprawl Mag. Genre: Speculative poetry, short fiction, and visual art. "Whether it is utopic, dystopic, magical, or sci-fi, we look forward to seeing your work." Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: July 31, 2022.


Diabolical Plots. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy and horror up to 3,500 words. See theme. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Valkyries. Genre: "Tell us the stories of the choosers of the fallen. Valkyries ride into battle, choosing Odin’s favorites to come to Valhalla, or protecting those they deem worthy to fight another day. Perhaps sometimes they use their calling for more sinister deeds. Give us your story of these maidens of war, the agents of the gods." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Nosetouch Press: FIENDS IN THE FURROWS III. Genre: Folk horror. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Alien Dimensions. Genre: Science Fiction. Payment: $10. Minimum 3500 words, maximum 4,500 words. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Podcastle. Genre: Fantasy podcast. Theme: Indigenous Magic. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word for original; $100 for reprints, $20 for flash fiction reprints. Deadline: July 31, 2022. 


Wolfsinger Publications: Ring of Fire. Genre: Science Fiction and all sub genres, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal or Gothic romance, Mystery or even mixed genres. on theme Ring of Fire. Payment: $15.00 plus equal share of 50% of the anthology’s royalties for stories. Deadline: July 31, 2022.


Silver Blade. Genre: Science Fiction, Slipstream, Classic and Modern Fantasy; short fiction, flash fiction, novellas, and poetry. Payment: $15 for novellas, $3 for flash fiction, $8 for short stories, $8 for single poems and $15 for Featured Poets (by invitation only). Silver Pen will pay half of these rates for previously published works. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Reprints accepted.

parABnormal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry on the paranormal. "For us, this includes ghosts, spectres, haunts, various whisperers, and so forth. It also includes shapeshifters and creatures from various folklores." Payment: $25.00 for original stories, $7.00 for reprints.$6.00 for each poem. $20.00 for original articles, $6.00 for reprints. $7.00 for reviews and interviews. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

EX/POST. Genre: Poetry, prose, drama, art, essays. Payment: "Modest honorarium." Deadline: July 31st, 2022.


Reservoir Road Literary Review. Genre: Literary short stories, lyrical creative non-fiction, photography. Payment: $5. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Note: Submit early in the month. Submission window closes when their cap is reached.

Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Reliquiae. Genre: "Reliquiae is a journal of landscape, nature and mythology. Your work must engage with these themes. We are particularly interested in visionary and mythopoeic writing, and in work that embraces ritual practice and esoteric philosophy. We’re also excited by translations, especially if the work has never been translated into English before." Payment: "Small." Deadline:  July 31, 2022.

FIYAH. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Theme: Hauntings and Horrors. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

The Rumpus. Genre: Essays and poetry. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Raven Canticle Press. Genre: Speculative fiction in the following genres: Fantasy, Horror, Espionage/Thriller, Science Fiction. Up to 80,000 words, minimum of 15,000 words (novellas).  Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: July 31, 2022. 

LGBTQIA Fiction Anthology – Of Rust and Glass Pride. Genre: Poetry, short fiction (up to 10,000 words), nonfiction, artwork, and photography. Payment: This is a royalty sharing project for anyone who considers themselves a member of the Midwest LGBTQIA community. Deadline: July 31, 2022. 

In Celebration of Splatterpunk. Genre: Splatterpunk. 4K - 10K word count. Payment: $5. Deadline: July 31, 2022. 

Little Blue Marble. Genre: Speculative fiction that examines humanity's possible futures living with anthropogenic climate change. Also accepts nonfiction. Payment: $0.11 a word for original works up to 2000 words. If the CAD/USD exchange rate dips below that which would match SFWA's 8¢/word pro rate, they will amend contracts to offer USD 8¢/word at time of payment. $0.01 a word for reprints. Deadline: July 31, 2022. 

Gwyllion. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: £10 per accepted story or poem. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

New Myths. Genre: Speculative fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: 1.5 cents/word with a minimum payment of $30 for all submissions, fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry; $30 for book reviews; $60 for art. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

VQR. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, personal essays, literary criticism, reporting. Payment: For poetry, $200 per poem, up to 4 poems; for a suite of 5 or more poems, $1,000. For short fiction, $1,000 and above. For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Note: Genre fiction is not accepted. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Opens July 1.

Phantasmical Contraptions & More Errors. Genre: "Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Decopunk, Biopunk, Steelpunk, Islandpunk, whatever your favorite flavor of punk, we want your punk stories!" Payment: $5 USD per 1000 words. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Jay Henge Publishing: Professor Feiff's Compleat Pocket Guide to Xenobiology for the Galactic Traveller on the Move: Containing Divers Works Hitherto Unpublished by Scholars of Moderne Sciences, Herbarisme and Exoticks, with Thorough Explication of Chymicall Principles Terrestrial and Alien. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5 USD per 1000 words up to 15k words. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The advice that changed my life. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for stories that contain a great piece of advice that you were given or advice that you gave to someone else. Whether the advice is about a little thing that improve your everyday life, or major epiphanies that can change a life completely, we want to hear about them and how they made a difference." Payment: $200. Deadline: July 31, 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: July 31, 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: July 31, 2022.

Nonbinary Review: In Motion Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art around the theme of In Motion. "We want stories, poems and art that put us in the process of travel, whether it’s on a starship, a railway, a frigate, or even a meditative walk from one setting to another." Payment: 1 cent per word for prose, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Red Cape Publishing: A - Z of Horror: P is for Poltergeist. Genre: Horror. "Think outside the box for this one." Payment:  £10. Deadline:  July 31, 2022.

Sliced Up Press: Bloodless. Genre: Horror short stories & poetry that terrify without a single mention of blood or gore. Length: 1,000 words minimum, 3,000 words maximum for stories. Payment: $30 for stories and poems. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

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

Jellyfish Review. Genre: Flash fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, essay and prose poetry, 1000 words max. Payment: $25. Deadline: July 31, 2022. See theme.

Temz Review. Genre: Poetry and prose up to 10,000 words. Payment: $20. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

And a few more...

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: August ? See themes. Queries only.

Wizards in Space. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. "What does it mean to be empowered, to revel in your own strength? How do you take the abundance of yourself and share it freely with others? When have you felt most like dancing and singing? For our eighth issue, we want your power. Your exhalation. We want to know how your Scorpio heart and your August body take up space in this wind-tossed world." Payment: $40 per original poem or per page of original art; $20 per reprinted poem or per page of reprinted art; $0.04 per word for original prose, based on final published word count; $0.02 per word for reprinted prose, based on final published word count. Deadline: August 1, 2022. Accepts reprints. 

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

We'Moon Lunar Calendar. Restrictions: Open to women only. Genre: Art, poetry and prose, 350 words maximum. Payment: Small honorarium; art up to $500. Deadline: August 1, 2022.


Liquid Imagination: Silver Pen. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry. Payment: $3 - $8. Deadline: August 1, 2022.


Embers of Corsari. Genre: High fantasy set in a new world. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Propertius Press. Genre: Creative Nonfiction, full-length manuscripts. "We are actively seeking submissions from Black, Minority, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color in all categories." Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

The First Line. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Brute: Raunch, Scares, and Rough Trade. Genre: Gay sexuality, desire, masculinity, and the aesthetics of "rough trade." Stories must have speculative elements: horror, dark fantasy, weirdness. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 1, 2022.

Fear Street: Reader Beware! Genre: Horror. YA horror steeped in late 80s-90s nostalgia. Payment: $0.01 per word for new stories and/or $25 for reprints. Deadline: August 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

41 Writing Contests in July 2022 - No entry fees

Pxhere This July there over three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to a free writing class. 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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Woolgathering. Restrictions: All poets under 22 years old are eligible for this competition. Genre: Poetry. "As students who have lived in the Philippines, the political climate in our country is volatile. From the unending “War on Drugs” to political killings and media censorship, the liberty of Filipinos is continually diminishing. However, this issue is not exclusive to the Philippines, and instances of political injustice are evident everywhere. As young writers we can use words to challenge political injustice and propagate change. This scholarship is dedicated to uphold the voices of the unheard, and to seek the truth in times of repression." Prize: 1st Place: $200.00; 2nd Place: $40.00; 3rd Place: $10.00. All ten finalists will be featured in the Woolgathering Young Voices Anthology. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Langdon Review Writer-in-Residence Program. This is a two-week residency at Texas-based Tarleton State University, providing an opportunity to present at the Langdon Review Weekend festival, and publication in the school's Langdon Review journal. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 1, 2022 (?)

John Glassco Translation Prize. Sponsored by Literary Translators' Association of Canada.  Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. Genre: The work submitted must be the translator's first published book-length translation into English or French. Prize: $1000. Deadline: July 1, 2022.


Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. Book must be author's first full-length book of poetry, published between between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Self-published books are accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Booth Summer Writing Contest: Beyond the Margins. Genre: "Send us your work that lives outside of the box, whether in content, in form, or both. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics, lists, hybrid work, recipes, maps to hidden treasure or the secrets of the universe. The work that lives, has been made to live, on the margins and beyond. We want to champion work that does not receive the seat at the table where it rightfully belongs." Prize: $500 + publication. Deadline: July 1, 2022. Note: Free submission for all BIPOC writers. 

BCLF Short Fiction Story Contest (BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize and BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean). Genre: Unpublished short fiction (3000 words max). Prize: US$1750 for each contest. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Saudi Historical Novel Award. Co-sponsored by the Historical Novel Society and The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (DARAH). Genre: Historical novel, 60,000-150,000 words, that is set in the Arabian Peninsula in the Saudi period, 1700-1975. Prize: £10,000 prize. 2 runners up will be awarded £3,000 prizes and £2,000 respectively. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Richard J. Margolis Award. Genre: Journalism. Prize is awarded annually to a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social justice. Prize: $5,000 and one month of residency at Blue Mountain Center. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

#PassOrPages Query Contest. Participating agents give brief feedback on a handful of entries, explaining why they're passing ... or requesting pages! The queries and accompanying feedback are posted on our blog anonymously, which helps querying authors get a peek into agents' minds as they go through their slush piles. Genre: Revealed on June 21. Deadline: July 4 - 8, 2022.

The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers 2022. Restrictions: Open to unpublished Australian residents aged 18 years or older. Genre: Fiction and narrative non-fiction, the first three chapters plus synopsis (max 20,000 words). Prize: $10,000 and a year’s mentorship with one of Hachette Australia’s publishers. The Guardian Australia will publish an extract of the first chapter of the winning work on its website. Deadline: July 8, 2022.

The Margaret and Reg Turnill Competition. Restrictions: Writers must be 21 or under on July 11. (Those over 21 can enter for a fee.) Genre: Short story on theme of "Switch." Length: 1,500 to 5,000 words. Prize: £1,000 and publication in the annual HG Wells Short Story Competition Anthology.  Deadline: July 11, 2022.

Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awards. Restrictions: Scottish writers over 18 years of age. Genres: The awards are divided into three different categories.: Fiction and Narrative Non-fiction in English and Scots, Poetry in English and Scots, Children’s and Young Adult Fiction in English and Scots. Prize: £2,000 and personal development opportunities, which can include mentoring from writers and industry professionals. Training in PR, performance and presentation training, and the opportunity to showcase work to publishers and agents. Deadline: July 13, 2022. (midday)

Stony Brook Short Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Only undergraduates enrolled full time in United States and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2020- 21 are eligible. "This Prize has traditionally encouraged submissions from students with an Asian background, but we urge all students to enter." Genre: Fiction of no more than 7,500 words. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: July 14, 2022.  

The Governor General’s Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written, translated or illustrated by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Genre: Best English-language and the best French-language book will be chosen in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Children’s Literature (text), Children’s Literature (illustrated books) and Translation (from French to English). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: July 15, 2022 for fiction - August 8, 2022 for poetry. (It is difficult to find this information on their website.) 

The 1729 Book Prize in Prose. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. "We're open to most prose genres, though we tend to lean toward semi-experimental works with a strong literary bent. Hybrid works are welcome." Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: July 15, 2022.

Iron Horse Prize. Genre: First book of collected prose. Prize: The author of the winning entry will receive $1000, and their collection will be published in the summer of 2023 by Texas Tech University Press. Deadline: July 15, 2022. Free submissions on July 15 only.

Boardman Tasker Prize. Restrictions: The prize will be awarded for a work first published or distributed in the United Kingdom between July 17th 2021 and July 16th 2022. Genre: Books with a mountain, not necessarily mountaineering, theme whether fiction, non-fiction, drama or poetry, written in the English language. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: July 16, 2022.

Donn Goodwin and Joseph Gahagen Poetry Prizes: Milwaukee Irish Fest. Genre: Poetry. Entries should have a culture/literary relation to either Ireland, Irish-America, or to Irish poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: July 17, 2022.

W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to working class writers over 18 and living in the UK or ROI. Genre: All genres. Submit the beginning of an unpublished work-in-progress no more than 2,000 words in length and a one-page synopsis for the full manuscript. You must also include a short piece of writing (200 words) in the Covering Letter section of our online entry form about yourself and why this prize speaks to you. Prize: £200 and a mentoring session with judge and author Paul Mendez. Deadline: July 18, 2022.

Arablit Story Prize. Genre: Short story translated from Arabic. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 20, 2022.

Boroondara Literary Awards. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Short fiction and poetry. Prize: More than $5,000 in prize money across various age groups in the Young Writers’ category. More than $3,500 in prize money in the Open Short Story category. Deadline: July 29, 2022.

Singapore Unbound. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates. Genre: Critical essays on topics in Singapore literature. Prize: $250. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Superlative Literary Journal. Genre: Mini-Saga. Exactly 50 words (including the title). Theme: Futures. Payment: £10. Deadline: July 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: July 31, 2022. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Ann Petry Award. Restrictions: Open to Black authors. Genre: Previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages. Prize: $3000 and publication. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Crossing the Tees Book Festival. Genre: Short stories, 3000 words max. Prize: Cash prize. Deadline: July 31, 2022.
Rachel Wetzsteon Chapbook Award. Genre: Poetry collection, around 30 pages. Prize: $1010.10 publication, and 25 copies. Deadline: July 31, 2022. Entry is free until July 31, after that there is a fee.

Briefly Write. Genre: Poetry up to 10 lines. Prize: 1st – £30 / 2nd – £15 / 3rd (x3) – £5. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Crossing the Tees. Genre: Short story, 3000 words max. Prize: "Cash award." Deadline: July 31, 2022.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme of Kid Stuff. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Polar Expressions Publications Short Story and Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to Canadians only. Genre: Short story, poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Landfall Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to New Zealand writers. Genre: Essay about New Zealand. Prize: The winner will receive $3000 and a year’s subscription to Landfall. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to young poets age 11 - 17. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Publication. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

SLF Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants. Restrictions: Open to writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, such as writers of color, women, queer writers, disabled writers, working-class writers, etc. -- those whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing / publishing process. Genres: Book-length works (novels, collections of short stories) of speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students who are FULL TIME, undergraduate students in an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the Spring 2021 semester. Genre: Essay on topic: “The year 2022 is the anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. How has the whole question of memorializing leading figures of the Civil War, including Lincoln, changed in the hundred years since then?” Prize: 1st Prize $1500 | 2nd Prize $750 | 3rd Prize $500. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Biopage. Genre: Personal essays about the pandemic. Prizes: Up to $1000. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Lune Spark Young Writers' Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to writers 10-13 years old, and 13-16 years old. (Two categories.) Genre: Short story. Prize: $500 for first place; $250, 2nd place; $100, 3rd place. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Poets living in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., or West Virginia. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500, publication by Broadkill River Press, ten author copies, and two cases of Dogfish Head craft beer. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Sisters in Crime: Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers. Genre: An unpublished work of crime fiction, aimed at readers from children’s chapter books through adults. This may be a short story or first chapter(s) of a manuscript in-progress of 2,500 to 5,000 words. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

32 Great Writing Conferences in July 2022

Wallowa Lake, Oregon: Flickr
Summer is in full swing, and so are writing conferences. This July there are more than two dozen writing conferences. Many conferences and workshops will be held online, but some will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early.
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Southampton Writers Conference. July 6 - 10, 2022: Long Island, NY. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and publishing, as well as readings, lectures, and a master class series. Creative writing workshops are the heart and soul of the summer experience, meeting four afternoons or mornings throughout the session. Enrollment is limited to 13 lucky writers who have applied with writing samples. Those accepted have the privilege of sharing their work in an intimate, rigorous and friendly setting. 

Sleuthfest. July 7 - 10, 2022: Boca Raton, FL. Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America a conference for writers and fans. Features writing workshops, social events, and pitch sessions, including:
* Agent Appointments to pitch your finished work
* Critiques of your 10 page manuscript submission
* Forensic track with current forensic techniques & hands-on workshops
* Social events to mingle with agents, editors and your favorite authors
* Auction to purchase critiques of your work by bestselling authors
* Sessions on the craft of writing
* Sessions on marketing and promoting your work
* Practice your Pitch sessions with experienced authors

Florida Writing Workshop. July 8 - 9, 2022. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on June 12, 2021. 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 “Florida” Writing Workshop, make no mistake — writers from everywhere are welcome to attend virtually."

Northwestern University Summer Writers’ Conference. July 8 - 9, 2022: Chicago, Illinois. "This year’s schedule offers presentations for writers of all genres and backgrounds. Learn how to write your life in 750 words or less, structure your chapbook, and infuse your writing with revolution. Hear from award-winning authors on how to generate dramatically rich scenes, evoke memories through metaphors, and layer your writing with suspense. Get some pro tips for interviewing and advice on how and when to submit to literary journals, agents, and contests." Will be held online.

Imaginarium. July 8 - 10, 2022: Louisville, KY. A three day annual event held in Louisville, Kentucky centered entirely around creative writing, including the worlds of books, movies, gaming, music, and comics/graphic novels. Imaginarium Convention features extensive programming content, with panels and workshops presented by over 150 professional guests covering everything from the craft of writing to various genres, industry-specific topics, publishing, and social media/publicity. The convention features a film festival with a full array of awards, a masquerade/costume contest, live music, gaming, an expo open to the general public, an awards banquet, a series of literary awards called the Imadjinns, and many more activities, creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that is content-rich and ideal for networking, promotion and personal development. 

Kenyon Review Writers Workshops. July 10 - 16, 2022: Gambier, Ohio. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction led by an accomplished faculty. Genre workshops (Fiction, Literary Nonfiction, and Poetry) are held for three hours each morning. (See individual workshops for dates.)

Tin House Summer Workshop. July 10 - 17, 2022: Portland, Oregon.  Closed.  Workshops with afternoon craft seminars and career panels. Evenings are reserved for author readings and revelry. Tin House editors and guest agents are available to meet individually with students throughout the week.  Participating writers include poets Hanif Abdurraqib, Jericho Brown, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil; fiction writers Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Kristen Arnett, Matt Bell, Jennine Capó Crucet, Renee Gladman, Manuel Gonzales, Catherine Lacey, Carmen Maria Machado, Tommy Orange, Matthew Salesses, Rion Amilcar Scott, and Leni Zumas; creative nonfiction writers Melissa Febos, Saeed Jones, Kiese Laymon, Jeannie Vanasco, and Elissa Washuta; and graphic narrative writer Mira Jacob. Tuition is $1,600. Scholarships and payment plans are available.  Closed.

Young Writers Workshop. July 10 - 30, 2022: Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Restrictions: For students completing grades 9, 10, 11. Three 90-minute workshop sessions daily, including imaginative writing activities and discussion of readings. Weekly individual meetings with workshop instructor. Focus is on using various forms of creative writing to develop language and thinking skills. 

Victorian Chautauqua Writers Workshop. July 11 - 15: Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. The 2021 summer program includes adult personal essays, teen and adult playwriting, teen creative writing, and youth creative writing. Faculty: Diana Hume George, A.J. DeLauder, Mary McEwen, Kimberly Weimer.

Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers. July 11 - 17, 2022: Wallowa Lake, Oregon. Take a weeklong writing workshop in your favorite genre: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, or short story. Each workshop is limited to no more than 13 participants, giving you the opportunity to build connections with a world-class instructor and your fellow writers. Throughout the week, we’ll bring the best of Summer Fishtrap to you through craft talks, discussions, open mics, readings, and a special 35th Anniversary Celebration.

The Summer Writers Institute. July 11 - 31, 2022: St. Louis, Missouri. The Washington University Summer Writers Institute is an intensive, two-week program featuring workshops in fiction, micro fiction, modern humor, personal narrative, playwriting, and poetry, as well as reading and individual conferences with instructors. Adult writers of all levels of experience work together with published authors and exceptional teachers in a supportive, non-competitive format that allows for personalized attention and constructive feedback. 

Midwest Writers Workshop: Virtual Conference: Craft + Community. July 14 - 16, 2022: Muncie, Indiana. Craft and business sessions, agent pitches, manuscript evaluations. MWW includes quality instruction by a faculty of authors, agents, editors, and specialists. Will be held online and in person.

Saskatchewan Festival of Words. July 14 - 17, 2022: Moose Jaw, Canada. Workshops for all ages, reading sessions, concerts, film, panel discussions, interviews, music, theatre, a slam poetry competition as well as workshops and author readings.

North Carolina Writers' Network Squire Summer Writing Residency. July 14 - 17, 2022: Davidson, North Carolina. This workshop will explore how to write about places and spaces, while remaining mindful of the interconnections between the natural and cultural, the built and non-built, the human and animal. We will investigate how notions of home and belonging are created and maintained as well as how they can be disrupted by alterations to the cultural traditions and physical environments that surround us and inform our sense of place. During the workshop, we will read and write about the places that have made us who we are today. We will also consider our responsibilities to those places and how to preserve them both in reality and on the page.

Cascade Three-day Writing Workshop. July 15 – 17, 2022: Bremerton, WA. "Our Three-Day Critique Workshop is an opportunity for you to submit the first 4000 words of your novel, short story, or whatever project you are working on, for critique in a group of up to 8 peers led by an industry professional. This is a great way to polish up those first pages and first chapter. Submissions are due six weeks before the event via our ProBoards. Registrants will receive login information a few weeks before submissions are due. There will also be one-hour workshops and panel presentations on craft, querying, the publishing industry, and more. Optional casual gatherings provide opportunities to get to know other writers as well as authors, editors, and agents." 

Green River Writers Workshops:Turning Memory into Story: Memoir Writing Workshop. July 16 - 17, 2022: Las Vegas, New Mexico. Using memory as a starting point, Green River Writers Workshops focus on the craft of storytelling through memoir, fiction, historical writing, and poetry. Both experienced and beginning writers are welcome.

Port Townsend Writers’ Conference. July 17 - 23, 2022: Port Townsend, Washington. workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft lectures, readings, open mics, and time to write. "The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference has been since 1974 at the wild heart of the thriving Pacific Northwest literary scene. With a focus on community and rigorous attention to craft, the Conference offers morning workshops, afternoon workshops, residencies, guided freewrites, and a vibrant readings and lectures series presented by vital, contemporary writers."

Sewanee Writers’ Conference. July 19 -  31, 2022: Sewanee, TN. Faculty will give readings and provide instruction and criticism through workshops and craft lectures, as well as meet individually with participants to discuss their manuscripts. The Conference will offer five fiction workshops, four poetry workshops, and a playwriting workshop supported by two professional actors. In addition, a substantial number of literary agents will attend.

Steamboat Springs Writers Conference. July 22 - 23, 2022: Steamboat Springs, CO. Two instructors, seminar-type workshops for all levels, beginning to professional. Topics change each year. Limited enrollment. 

IWWG Summer Writers Conference. July 22 - 28, 2022: Beverly, MA. The International Women's Writing Guild sponsors this residential writing program for women. Features: Over two dozen workshops ranging from three to six days in length and spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, writing as performance, social justice, multi-genre, and mixed media; Critique sessions in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting; A multimedia open studio and Two book fairs.

Napa Valley Writers’ Conference. July 24 - 29, 2022: Napa, California. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and translation, as well as craft talks and evening readings. The faculty includes poets Jane Hirshfield and Major Jackson, fiction writers Lan Samantha Chang and ZZ Packer, and translator Forrest Gander. The cost of the conference is $1,100, which includes tuition, daily breakfast and lunch, two dinners, and wine tastings. Apply by May 2.

The Sitka Writing Adventure. July 24 - 29, 2022: Sitka, Alaska. A week-long workshop with Pam Houston where writers will generate new work while hiking, kayaking and exploring the pristine beauty of Sitka, Alaska. The workshop is limited to 15 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and explore all the outdoor wonders Sitka has to offer. Tuition: $2,000 includes four full days of workshop, all group excursions (hiking, kayaking, boat tour), airport transfer, lodging in a single room and meals.
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Frost Place Conference on Poetry and Teaching. June 25-29, 2022 | Writing Intensive June 29- June 30, 2022: Franconia, NH. Held each year in June, the Conference on Poetry and Teaching (CPT) is a unique opportunity for teachers to work closely with both their peers and a team of illustrious poets who have particular expertise in working with teachers at all levels: K–12, graduate and undergraduate, and nontraditional and community-based instructors.

Romance Writers of America. July 28 - 30, 2022: National Harbor, Maryland. Opening Session Speaker: Alex Lidell: Map Your Route to Success in Romance Writing. Workshop leaders: Amanda Arista, Maggie K. Black, Karen Bonnick writing as KT Bond, Michael Buzzelli, and many more.

Writer’s Digest Conference. July 28 - 31, 2022: New York City. Annual Writer's Digest Conference featuring: Pitch Slam, with more than fifty agents and editors in attendance, educational tracks devoted to publishing and self-publishing, platform and promotion, and the craft of writing,  speakers and instructors. 

Taylor's Professional Writers Conference. July 29 - 30, 2022: Upland, Indiana. 35 seminars covering General & First-timers, Fiction, Nonfiction, Platform & Marketing and Specialty Writing. 

Confluence-SFF. July 29 - 31, 2022: Pittsburgh, PA. Located at the birthplace of the Ohio River, Confluence is Pittsburgh’s longest-running literary conference with a strong focus on science fiction, fantasy and horror. Award-winning authors, editors, artists and song-writers gather for three full days.

Perfecting the Manuscript, Publishing the Book: A Workshop for Poets. July 29 - 31, 2022: Austerlitz, NY. "This workshop will provide detailed feedback on individual poems, as well as offering students a variety of strategies for sequencing, structuring, sectioning, and titling a full-length poetry manuscript. We will glean insights about these elements of craft from a wide range of published collections, which include Julianna Baggott’s Lizzie Borden in Love, Lucie Brock Broido’s The Master Letters, Shane McCrae’s In the Language of My Captor, Ruth Ellen Kocher’s Domina Un/blued, Krisin Bock’s Cloisters, Jen Moore’s The Veronica Maneuver, Jennifer S. Cheng’s House A, and other texts as determined by student interests. We will discuss the steps one takes to build an audience for a book prior to publication, strategies for effective pitches to publishers, and standard submissions procedures within the industry, in addition to offering personally tailored journal and publisher recommendations." Space is limited. Deadline to register is July 16.


Florida Authors and Publishers Association Annual Conference. July 30 - 31, 2022: Orlando, Florida. "Six (6) optional small-group workshops are being scheduled, offering attendees options a more intimate setting to learn about specific topics related to the publishing industry.  These focused workshops will be offered a la carte and are scheduled so that you may register for up to three (3)."

Catamaran Writing Conference: Poetry. July 30 - August 4, 2022: Pebble Beach, CA. The workshop meets four mornings and each participant will receive focused feedback from the group on their poems. You'll be invited to submit a writing sample for group feedback. Optional participant readings will be held. During registration you will be invited to indicate your poetry workshop instructor preference. 

Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Week. July 30  - August 5, 2022: Howard University. For more than 20 years, the Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Workshop has offered a safe space for Black writers in intensive workshop sessions and master classes. Workshops are led by award-winning writers who are influencing today’s literature. The program features critiques, craft talks, writing time and public readings. Hurston/Wright workshops serve emerging and experienced writers who are starting projects, developing projects or seeking to polish projects. More than a thousand writers have participated in workshops since the first session in 1996. 

Speculative Fiction NIP Bookcamp & Writing Retreat Work Week. July 31 - August 6, 2022: West Bend, Wisconsin. Six days of personal writing time with opportunities to discuss writing issues with the Retreat Mentor (an award-winning novelist and editor), opportunities to attend certain Bookcamp presentations, all social activities, critiques, and chat with fellow writers and publishing professionals in a relaxed environment.

4 Agents Seeking Screenplays, Memoir, Kidlit, YA, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Speculative Fiction and more

Here are four literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with established agencies with good track records.

Tessa Shaffer is looking for multi-POV stories, YA, middle grade, inspirational memoirs, non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, family sagas with lots of secrets, time travel, and anything universally cosmic/spiritual that is also strongly grounded in reality. Screenplays in the following genres: Comedy, Dramedy, Family, Romantic Comedy, TV—half hour, TV—one hour.

Millie Hoskins wants fiction - commercial and literary- and narrative non-fiction of most genres, excluding SFF. Cait Hoyt is interested in memoir, collections of essays, inspirational non-fiction, middle grade and children’s picture books.
Maria Bell is drawn to adult literary fiction and YA that break conventions in form, voice and character. In both fiction and nonfiction, she’s partial to stories involving the natural world, queer identities, baseball, and all those that grapple with conflicts and truths from which most of us instinctively distance ourselves.

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.
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients. 

__________________________ Ms. Maria Bell of Sterling Lord Literistic

Maria joined Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. in 2019 and works with Doug Stewart and Neeti Madan.  Maria graduated from Vassar College with a degree in English and sociology. She grew up in Minnesota with goats as pets, and now lives with her rabbit in West Harlem.

What she is seeking: Maria is drawn to adult literary fiction and YA that break conventions in form, voice and character. In both fiction and nonfiction, she’s partial to stories involving the natural world, queer identities, baseball, and all those that grapple with conflicts and truths from which most of us instinctively distance ourselves.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE. Ms. Tessa Shaffer of Corvisiero Literary Agency
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Tessa Shaffer is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter who searches for universal truths that bleed through any genre. Whether it’s finding the humor in the hurt, the evil in the good, or the strange in the familiar—she searches for writing that leaves audiences with a changed perspective. Recognized as an Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, Journey Awards Finalist, and by the Writer’s Digest Awards in 2019, 2018, and 2016, her work has also appeared in GirlsLIFE magazine, Authors Publish, and Indie Chicks magazine.

Tessa has a passion for translating books to film and bridging the two industries for the clients of Corvisiero Literary Agency. She’s an accomplished writing coach with her past writing clients having won awards for both books and screenplays.

What she is seeking: Tessa’s looking for multi-POV stories, YA, middle grade, inspirational memoirs, non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, family sagas with lots of secrets, time travel, and anything universally cosmic/spiritual that is also strongly grounded in reality. Screenplays in the following genres: Comedy, Dramedy, Family, Romantic Comedy, TV—half hour, TV—one hour.

How to submit: Use her form HERE. Ms. Millie Hoskins of United Agents, LLP (UK)

I joined United Agents in 2014 after studying English Literature at Exeter University and have been building my list of authors since 2017 whilst continuing to work closely with many of UA's long-standing bestselling clients. 

What she is seeking: I'm looking for exciting new writers of fiction - commercial and literary- and narrative non-fiction of most genres, excluding SFF.

How to submit: For submissions, please send in a synopsis and the first three chapters for a novel or a proposal for non-fiction to mhoskins@unitedagents.co.uk Cait Hoyt of Creative Artists Agency

Cait Hoyt began her career at Paradigm. She joined CAA in 2009, and in 2012 was named one of Variety’s “10 Assistants to Watch.” She was promoted to Agent in ­­­2013 and named one of Variety’s “Power Women of New York” in 2016. Hoyt graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Political Science. Hoyt works in every genre and represents many of the world’s leading activists, journalists, actors, musicians, writers, directors and producers in the publishing industry, including Will Smith, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Reese Witherspoon, Darren Aronofsky, Cleo Wade, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Kerry Washington, Channing Tatum, Eva Chen, Tim McGraw, Reese Witherspoon, and Jimmy Fallon.

What she is seeking: She is interested in memoir, collections of essays, inspirational non-fiction, middle grade and children’s picture books.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.