Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 25

7 Million Pageviews ... and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog

I blame my children. Nine years ago, they said, "Mom, you need to start a blog." And I listened to them. Those innocent eyes, those sweet little faces ...  no, wait. They weren't kids anymore. They were adults, and they knew exactly what they were doing. 

Now, nearly a decade later, I've caught a tiger by its tail. And if I let go, it will eat me. 

My goals were humble when I began Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity. I simply wished to share some of my insights about the publishing process with the world or, more specifically, with writers. But I had to admit that the brave new world of the Internet was beyond me. So, I simply began by shedding light on all the mistakes I was making. 
Lord, there were so many of them.

Eventually, I realized that humorous as they were (and continue to be), my mistakes were not only limited in scope, they didn't get at what my blog was actually for, which was to impose order on the disorganized mess I affectionately call "my files." What the Internet is for, I realized somewhat belatedly, is not to watch cute ducklings with arms chase a cat around (although it's really very funny), nor is it for being outraged on Twitter (which is not nearly as entertaining as those ducklings or - even more amusing - watching a teenager try to figure out how to work a rotary phone). No, dear distracted readers, the Internet is for organizing and storing things which are more useful once they are not in a file drawer gathering dust. 

In particular, this blog which my spawnlings roped me into is useful for assembling places to submit writing, keeping track of agents who are looking for precisely what I have written, along with publishers that don't require those feckless agents who have so heartlessly rejected my queries, even though I really did write precisely what they were looking for.  (Oh, shoot, I missed it again! No matter how closely I watch that pageview count, I never quite catch it.)

So now, I am bravely going where I have repeatedly gone before, and like Mickey Mouse with those brooms that kept multiplying in Fantasia, I keep finding more calls for submissions every month (even though you'd think that the caveat of having to pay writers would diminish their numbers), and more fee-free writing contests (same as above, more or less), and more agents (so many of them ... how do they find enough publishers to keep themselves busy?) and more godawful news about the latest mergers, buy-outs, and increasing monopolization in the publishing industry (oh, it's enough to make you want to self-publish). 
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My hope is that in my quest to keep my file cabinet relatively uncrowded (that's a blatant lie), this blog has been useful to you, beloved writers. Don't stop writing!

5 New Agents Seeking Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Thrillers, Romance, SFF, YA, Kidlit and more

Helena Sandlyng Jacobsen Here are five new literary agents actively seeking clients. Bethany Fulk wants MG, YA and adult fantasy Historical Fiction/Fantasy, Retellings (myth, folklore, legends, fairytales), Mysteries/Speculative/Suspense. Susan Velazquez is looking for upmarket/book club fiction and women’s fiction, thrillers and horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy, YA, and narrative non-fiction that explores little-known time periods, historical events, or historical figures. Annie Romano is seeking adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. Juliana McBride loves commercial and literary fiction, young adult novels, and fantasy

Helena Sandlyng Jacobsen has a special interest in translated literature. She is particularly loves narratives involving complicated heroines, characters caught between two (or more) cultures, and the occasional blood-curdling, but impeccably constructed thriller. As for nonfiction, memoir and personal essay are her favorite genres, but she loves to explore new ideas in popular science and delve into historical biographies.

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.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Helena Sandlyng Jacobsen of Susanna Lea Associates - New York

​Helena Sandlyng Jacobsen is an assistant agent at SLA. A recent graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she interned at New Directions Publishing before joining SLA, and has a special interest in translated literature. 

What she is seeking: Helena is always open to stories from new perspectives and unrepresented voices, but she particularly loves narratives involving complicated heroines, characters caught between two (or more) cultures, and the occasional blood-curdling, but impeccably constructed thriller. As for nonfiction, memoir and personal essay are her favorite genres, but she loves to explore new ideas in popular science and delve into historical biographies. She is always on the lookout for thorough, adroit translators from various languages, but is especially interested in Scandinavian literature, as a first generation immigrant from Denmark. She is always on the lookout for thorough, adroit translators from various languages, but is especially interested in Scandinavian literature, as a first generation immigrant from Denmark.
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How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Juliana McBride of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency

Juliana began her career in New York City at Random House in 2000. After a decade working with all the in-house and third-party publishers, she and her husband (and twin daughters) embarked on their second act in California producing and selling wine. She never gave up her penchant for good stories though; enter act three. 

What she is seeking: Juliana loves commercial and literary fiction, young adult novels, and fantasy. I mean, who doesn’t secretly believe in magic? Like any true bookworm, Juliana is looking for transcendent stories that linger.

How to submit: Please query her at queries@rfliterary.com
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Ms. Bethany Fulk of Holloway Literary 

Bethany Fulk is a junior agent at Holloway Literary.   Prior to being promoted to her current position, she has been with the agency as an intern and then an assistant for the past two years.  She graduated from Davis and Elkins College cum laude in 2017 with a BA in English. Following graduation, Bethany worked as a public relations assistant and most recently as an editorial assistant. Before joining Holloway Literary, Bethany interned with North Star Editions and Foundry Literary and Media.

What she is seeking: MG, YA and adult fantasy Historical Fiction/Fantasy, Retellings (myth, folklore, legends, fairytales), Mysteries/Speculative/Suspense.

How to submit: Read guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Susan Velazquez of JABberwocky Literary Agency (NEW)


Susan was born and raised outside of Dallas, Texas and received a B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Gender Studies from SUNY Oswego in 2016. Her hobbies include visiting art museums, trying new restaurants, and practicing her French. Before joining JABberwocky, Susan interned at Foundry Literary + Media, Coral Press, and Folio Literary Management.

What she is seeking: Upmarket/book club fiction and women’s fiction, thrillers and horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy, YA, and narrative non-fiction that explores little-known time periods, historical events, or historical figures.

How to submit: To query, you can follow the submission guidelines on Query Manager. Send a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 20 pages. Link; https://QueryManager.com/susanvcolmant

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Ms. Annie Romano of Olswanger Literary (NEW)


Following an internship with agent Anna Olswanger, Annie Romano is now an associate agent.

What she is seeking: Adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. "I am open to submissions in the areas of adult fiction and select narrative nonfiction. In adult fiction, I enjoy upmarket and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, psychological thrillers/suspense, crime dramas, mystery, and historical fiction. I do enjoy literary fiction so long as there is a discernible structure/plot. (I am not the best fit for stories focused on an emotional or sensory journey—beautiful as the writing may be—if the storyline is vague or absent.) I adore stories with humor, well-done ensemble casts, and plots that deliver the unexpected. I am not a good match for science fiction, but I am open to stories with light elements of fantasy. I welcome diverse narratives, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ and underrepresented ethnicities/cultures. In narrative nonfiction, areas of interest include (but are not limited to) true crime (i.e., The Trial of Lizzie Borden, by Cara Robertson) and unique windows into history (i.e., Mudlark, by Lara Maiklem).

How to submit: For fiction and narrative nonfiction, send a concise query letter and the first 15 pages pasted in the body of the email to: annie@olswangerliterary.com.  In the subject line, include the word “Query” and the title of your manuscript. Note: Do not send attachments when querying. Attachments will be deleted unopened.

5 Literary Agents Actively Seeking Kidlit, SFF, Literary and Commercial Fiction, Memoir, Cookbooks, Nonfiction and more

Paul and Susan Feldstein
Here are five literary agents actively building their client lists. The Feldstein Agency (UK) is seeking adult fiction (excluding romance, historical fiction, and science fiction and fantasy) and adult non-fiction.

​D. Ann Williams represents Middle Grade and Young Adult novels and selected PB. Susan Finesman works with a broad range of genres, including fiction, cookbooks, and lifestyle. Laurie Robertson (UK) is looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction as well as memoirs and social commentaries. Lauren Wendelken is passionate about nonfiction books with a social mission, or those which aim to make science accessible to all, as well as upmarket commercial fiction, literary fiction, and speculative 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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The Feldstein Agency  (UK)

The Feldstein Agency combines the talent and experience of Susan (née Dalzell) Feldstein and Paul Feldstein, who together have worked for over 60 years in the book industry in both the U.K. and the U.S. Susan and Paul have complementary skills in publishing - Susan in commissioning, editorial and rights, and Paul in management, sales and marketing, and finance and distribution - meaning that the Feldstein Agency can provide a service in each specific area which is informed by an in-depth understanding of the publishing process as a whole.

What they are seeking: Adult fiction (excluding romance, historical fiction, and science fiction and fantasy) and adult non-fiction. No children's or young adult books, poetry, short stories, or screenplays/teleplays/stage plays. 

How to submit: Please email a cover letter, a 1-2 page synopsis of your work, and a brief biography. They respond to all enquiries within a week. Send your submission via email to submissions@thefeldsteinagency.co.uk. 
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D. Ann Williams of Emerald City Literary Agency

D. Ann is a queer Black American writer, writing coach for WNDB Black Creatives Revision Workshop, sensitivity reader, and freelance editor with 10+ years’ experience. She has worked with all big 5 publishers, indie publishers, and self-published authors on a variety of adult and kidlit manuscripts. D. Ann brought her passion for kidlit to Emerald City Literary Agency in 2021 as an intern before being promoted to Associate Agent. She is a member of SCBWI, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Color.

What she is seeking: D. Ann represents Middle Grade and Young Adult novels and selected PB.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Susan Finesman of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency


Susan Finesman began her career as a scout for film and TV before turning her attention to agenting in 2010. Her background in Hollywood has given her a wide range of experience that informs her work with her clients. 

What she is seeking: She works with a broad range of genres, including fiction, cookbooks, and lifestyle. She challenges authors to make her laugh or cry–preferably both. She loves the twists and turns of a great page-turner, and most of all is looking for work that features characters she cannot shake. 

How to submit: Email query: Susan@rfliterary.com

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Ms. Laurie Robertson of Peters Fraser & Dunlop (UK)

After completing a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Westminster, Laurie worked in the sales team at Dorling Kindersley before joining Peters Fraser + Dunlop in 2017 as assistant to CEO Caroline Michel. She began building her own list in 2020. Laurie also looks after serialisation rights and journalism at PFD.

What she is seeking: "I am looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction. Strong, original voices with characters that become part of your life, uplifting narratives and fiction that blinds you with subtlety.  Stories with beautiful prose, with sentences you can’t help but underline and write down in whatever paper or device available.

On the non-fiction side, I am looking for hidden and untold histories that tell us something new about society today. Social commentaries told from a different perspective. Unexpected memoirs and commentaries that make you laugh as well as make you think. Not currently looking for children’s or YA, sci-fi or crime."

How to submit: Please send the first three chapters of your novel or non-fiction project, as well as a full synopsis to lrobertson@pfd.co.uk. In the body of the email, please write a covering letter, including brief details about your writing career.
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Ms. Lauren Wendelken of Susanna Lea Associates - New York

Lauren Wendelken is a Midwesterner and a neuroscientist by training. She began working with Susanna Lea Associates in New York in 2007. After a six year hiatus in San Francisco, where she worked at UCSF with Dr. Victor Valcour’s NeuroAIDS research group, she was thrilled to return to the SLA fold in 2016. 

What she is seeking: Lauren is passionate about nonfiction books with a social mission, or those which aim to make science accessible to all, as well as upmarket commercial fiction, literary fiction, and speculative fiction.

How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.

83 Calls for Submissions in September 2021 - Paying markets

Image: Flickr - Helgi Halldórsson This September there are nearly seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post calls for submissions on 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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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, 2021.

Fieldnotes. Genre: "We are interested in whatever there is between translations/transitions, things-in-progress, converging genres, methods of excavation and formal innovation. The purpose of the journal is to provide a test site for ideas and research; a space for experimental modes and new prototypes. " Payment: £100-£200. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The Fiddlehead. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers residing in Canada. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. Payment: $60 CAD per published page, plus two complimentary copies. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

En Bloc. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art and photography. Payment: £35 per side. Deadline: September 1, 2021. 

In the Shadow of the Horns: A Black Metal Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror fiction focused on the atmosphere and themes of black metal. Satan, Occult, Violence, Pessimism, Chaos, Death, The Sublime, Nature, Paganism, Antinatalism, etc. are all elements that are essential to submissions. Payment: 2 cents/word, up to $100 max. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Alternating Current Press: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and CNF. Theme: Parenting. 750 words max. Payment: Royalty sharing. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2021. See themes.

Uncanny Magazine. Genre: SF/F short stories. Payment: $.10 per word. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The New Lesbian Pulp: An Anthology of Short Fiction. Genre: Lesbian pulp. Payment: $500 - $1000. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Neon Door: Emotional Nudity. Genre: Art, poetry, prose. Payment: $25 for an image, $50 for a poem, and $75 for prose. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Guernica. Genre: Poetry, Essays, Fiction, Reportage. Theme: Dirt. Payment: $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Vautrin. Genre: Gritty urban fiction, Crime/Mystery Fiction, Ghosts, The Supernatural, Literary Essays. "We’re interested in essays that talk about contemporary crime fiction, or essays that walk the path between, say, 19th century fiction and fiction in the here and now." Payment: $130.00 and two contributor’s copies for fiction over 2,000 words. $65.00 and two contributor’s copies for fiction under 2,000 words. $50.00 and two contributor’s copies for literary essays. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The Antihumanist. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, art - all genres. "We seek to publish the most challenging and thought provoking flash fiction and essays. We believe only by confronting the bare bones of reality we understand our place in the world." Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Books and Bikes in Space. Genre: Stories about bicycling and books, from a feminist perspective. Stories can be in any speculative or fantastical genre—hard science fiction, space opera, epic fantasy, alternative history, paranormal romance, hope punk, modern fairy tales and anything around or in between. Payment: $50 minimum. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Madame Gray's Vault of Gore. Genre: Horror. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Moonflake Press. Genre: Short stories and poems on theme of Escapism. Payment: £25 for each story/poem. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The Southampton Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Payment: Prose: $100+, Poetry: $75 per poem. Illustration: $100 per page. Art Portfolios: $200 for up to 12 images Deadline: September 1, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid fees.

The Wire’s Dream Magazine. Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, Photography, Combined Work from underprivileged individuals. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries. Genre: Nonfiction, true crime accounts of unsolved criminal cases and mysteries that can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. Payment: $130. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

The Zodiac Killers Series. Genre: Thriller. Length: 5000-10,000 words, excluding title. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Young Dragons. Genre: Middle Grade and Young Adult full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Rattle. Genre: Poetry. Ekphrastic Challenge. Payment: $100. Deadline: September 1, 2021.


Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: September 2, 2021.

The Periodical, Forlorn: Moonlighting. Genre: Short fiction. "For this issue, we're looking for stories about agents of evil and their minions whose employment situation is something other than we might expect." Payment: $15. Deadline: September 2, 2021.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of “Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.” Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: September 3, 2021.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of CAREGIVER / LOVER. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: September 5, 2021.

midnight & indigo. Restrictions: Open to Black women writers. Genre: Short fiction, narrative, personal essays. Payment: $50 - $75. Deadline: September 5, 2021.

A Woman Built by Man. Restrictions: Open to women and femme-identifying individuals. Genre: Short stories that explore the ways in which women are shaped by the men around them. "There is no restriction on sub-genre or subject matter, but the story must incorporate how a feminine figure is shaped by male hands through a horror lens. From supernatural creature features to the farthest reaches of space, down to the darkest depths of the sea, what does a woman built by man look like to you?" Payment: $.05 USD per word. Deadline: September 5, 2021.

Tin House. Restrictions: Eligible writers must not currently have an agent, and must not have previously published a book (chapbooks okay). Genre: Full-length nonfiction (including Memoirs and Graphic nonfiction) Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: September 5, 2021.

Dark Moon Press: Horror Library. Genre: Horror short stories. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: September 5, 2021.

Please See Me. Genre: Poetry, creative nonfiction/essays, fiction/short stories/flash fiction, scripts and digital media (photography, drawings, podcasts, and short films). "We are especially looking for content from vulnerable populations and those who care for them; content that connects us with every community, makes us feel something, helps us see illness, wellness, health, or the healthcare environment differently, and inspires equality in healthcare and the world." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 6, 2021.

Buckmxn Journal. Restrictions: Open to Oregon and SW Washington residents only. Genre: Fiction and creative non-fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: September 6, 2021.

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: September 7, 2021.  Opens to submissions on September 1.

Into the Void. Genre: Poetry, fiction. Payment: $10 per poem, flash fiction or visual art piece, and $20 per long-form prose piece. Deadline: September 7,  2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees. (Check this deadline, may be extended)

Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word for original short stories and flash fiction. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 7, 2021.  Opens to submissions on September 1.

Sinister Smile Press: Screaming in the Night. Genre: Horror. Payment: $40. Deadline: September 8, 2021.

Breaking Rules Europe: Murder! Mystery! Mayhem! Genre: Any sub-genre of crime fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 8, 2021.

ParSec. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, and slipstream. Payment: 2p a word up to £180.00 with no set word limit. Deadline: September 10, 2021.

Nightmare Magazine. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers only. Genre: Horror, dark fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents/word. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 12, 2021.

Los Suelos. Genre: Pitches for stories for a multi-media anthology about Los Suelos, CA. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 12, 2021.

Underground Writers Zine. Restrictions: Priority of publication is given to Australian writers. Genre: Short stories, flach fiction, poetry. Payment: AUD$50. Deadline: September 12, 2021.

Shoreline of Infinity. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy. Payment: £10/1000 words. Deadline: September 13, 2021.

Dose of Dread. Genre: General horror flash fiction. Preference for dread-inducing stories. Length: 500 - 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Shenandoah. Genre: Novel Excerpts and CNF on theme of Border Crossings. Payment:  $100 per 1000 words of prose up to $500. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Collective Humanity: An LGBTQ+ Anthology. Genre: Short fiction (short stories, poetry, flash fiction) within the umbrella of speculative fiction: namely, horror, science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian. The theme for the first publication will be metamorphosis: a transformation, growth, renewal, or rebirth. Payment: This is a charity anthology, so there is no payment. All net proceeds from Collective Humanity will raise funds in support of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire General Fund, an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization. Deadline: September 15, 2021.


Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Lost and Found. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry. Theme: The Daddy Issue. "We’re looking for poems that explore daddy energy in all its forms." Payment: $30. Deadline: September 15, 2021.


Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. Theme: The Sea. Payment: US 3¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Panel Magazine. Restrictions: Writers and artists may be of any origin but should live and work in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Baltic States, Germany/Austria/Switzerland, and the South Caucasus. If you don't live in the region, but have written a piece related to Central and Eastern Europe, feel free to submit it. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry and visual art from (or about) Central and Eastern Europe. Payment: 20 euros. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Olit. Restrictions: They prefer writers with a connection to Orlando or the greater Central Florida area. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Artwork, Photography. "Send us all kinds of stuff. We love the artfully weird." Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

SFWG and Cloaked Press: YA & NA Horror. Genre: Speculative fiction for young adults and new adults. Genres accepted: Mystery, Paranormal, Scifi, Fantasy, Horror; and anything in those sub-genres. Word Count Range: 2500-7000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Silence in the City. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Silence in the City is an anthology of speculative tales asking what happens when a city—and all of modern civilization—is plunged into darkness." Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash, plus a one-year pdf subscription. Deadline: September 15, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for true personal stories about how an angel has touched your life – stories of true wonder and awe from people who have directly encountered or received help from angels. We’re looking for amazing stories that will make people say “wow” or give our readers chills. Have you experienced something otherworldly or celestial? Or had a personal experience with an angel or divine being? How did your angel manifest himself or herself to you? Were you the only person who saw your angel? How did your angel protect or guide you?" Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want to hear from you if you have experienced communication from the other side or received a sign or signal from a loved one who has passed. Has someone who has died come to you in a dream? Given you counsel or comfort? Have you gone beyond, but returned to life with new knowledge, insight, or awareness? Have you intuitively known the moment someone died?" Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true stories, both religious and non-religious, that will awe us with examples of amazing events. Inspirational stories to remind us that each day stunning miracles do happen and that a miracle can happen at any time." Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
 
From the Yonder. Genre: Horror. "The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall-tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest)." Payment: $5. Deadline: September 19, 2021.

Zombie Works Publications: Natural Instincts Tales of Witches and Warlocks. Genre: Short-stories that involve Witches and Warlocks. Payment: 10 cents per book (per each book sold on Amazon, I assume. So, if they sell 100 books, each author will get $10) Deadline: September 19, 2021.

Nightmare Magazine. Genre: Horror, dark fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents/word. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 19, 2021.
Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: September 21, 2021.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Restrictions: BIPOC writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: September 21, 2021.

Reckoning. Genre: Creative writing and art about environmental justice. Payment: 8 cents a word for prose, $30 per page for poetry, art negotiable, minimum $25 per piece. Deadline: September 22, 2021.

The Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: September 25, 2021.

Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents. Genre: Australian nature writing. Payment: $400. Deadline: September 27, 2021.
Dragon Soul Press: History. Genre: Historical Fiction. "Any person, location, or time period accepted as long as dragons are included. Note: Dragons need to be part of the storyline. They cannot be mentioned in passing." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: September 30, 2021.


Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.


Crow Toes Quarterly. Genre: Playfully dark fiction, poetry and art for children. See themes. Payment: $20 - $50. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Pitt Poetry Series: University of Pittsburgh Press. Genre: Poetry books by poets who have previously published full-length collections of poetry. Payment: Royalties (?). Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Kenyon Review. Genre: Prose, drama, poetry, translations, excerpts. Payment: Not specified.   Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Event. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction and book reviews. Payment: $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500. Deadline: September 30, 2021.


Qwerty. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $10 CAD. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Dragon Soul Press: Dragons and Heroines. Genre: "Any stories involving a female Main Character and dragons." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

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: September 30, 2021. Note: Submit early in the month.


Working Titles. Genre: Prose written for the digital page, which may incorporate unique visual, aural, or interactive elements. Payment: $250. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. USPS submissions only.

Red Cape Anthologies: L is for Lycanthropes. Genre: Horror. "Where werewolves turn on a full moon, lycanthropes are not as restricted. This opens up to more possibilities as they may turn at the most awkward moment, leading to terrifying carnage." Payment: £10. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Savor: Poems for the Tongue. Genre: Poetry about food. Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Where Giants Fall. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

The Overcast. (Podcast) Genre: Speculative fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Magical Realism, Slipstream, or an as-yet-unnamed genre. No horror. The sweet spot for submissions is 2,000-3,000 words. Payment: $0.01 per word, but not less than $20 for any story. Flat rate of $20 for all stories under 2,000 words. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. Accepts reprints.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Crazy Family. Genre: True stories and poems. "We all have that certain someone in our own family who, while lovable, sweet, and caring, is also nutty or weird. We love that person but, at the same time, that family member makes us crazy! A parent or grandparent, an in-law, a brother or sister, an aunt, uncle or cousin. We all have them and you know who they are! We are looking for true stories and poems about those family members. We would like your stories to be silly, outrageous, hilarious, and make us laugh, but they should also show the kindness and caring of your family member too." Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving, Loss and Healing. Genre: True stories and poems. "This collection of emotional and inspirational stories will provide comfort, support, and peace to those who have lost someone close to them. What helped you the most when you were grieving? Who were the people who helped you and what did they do? When did you know that you had finally “turned the corner” and were on the road to recovery? When and how did you realize there was light at the end of the tunnel? What are you doing to support others?" Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Humorous Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "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: September 30th, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kindness. Genre: True stories and poems. "Has someone performed an act of kindness for you? How did it feel? Did you pay it forward and do something kind for someone else? Did that person know it was you doing that kind thing? Did you do something kind for a stranger knowing you would not be paid back? How did that feel?" Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.


And a few more...

Cicada's Lament. Restrictions: Open to marginalized creators, particularly work by disabled and/or LGBTQIA+ folx. Genre: Fiction or poetry with elements of Southern Gothic or horror. Theme: (re) birth. Births, baptisms, beginnings. "Cicada's Lament wants your hanging moss and blue porch ceilings. We want your deer skulls and old ghosts, your ancient and decrepit houses." Payment: $5. Deadline: October 1, 2021. 

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round.  To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself to hello@14poems.com." Payment: £25 for each poem published. Deadline: October 1, 2021. 

Dark Peninsula Press. Genre: Survival Horror. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

Slash - Her. Genre: Horror written by women. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

10 Speculative Fiction Magazines Open for Submissions NOW - Paying Markets

Image by Susann Mielke from Pixabay
Speculative fiction is near and dear to my heart, so I am always on the lookout for speculative fiction magazines open to submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

For over a hundred paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions see: Mega-List of Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions


Happy submitting!


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And the Dead Shall Sleep No More. Genre: Short fiction, flash fiction, poetry about vampires. "Anything that's dark, creepy, weird and just a little off-kilter. We're open to genre fiction, particularly anything related to horror, science-fiction, speculative fiction or weird fiction. But we're also interested in anything that twists or subverts these genres in some unexpected way." Payment: $15. Open until filled.

Jay Henge Publishing. 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. Length: Up to 15k words. Open until filled. Reprints accepted.

Jay Henge Publishing: Grandpa's Deep-Space Diner. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Whether you're growing your produce in a magical garden, storing your rations in your lunar bunker, or enjoying a delightful picnic in the outer rings of Saturn, we want your speculative fiction food stories!" Payment:  $5 USD per 1000 words. Length: Up to 15k words. Open until filled. Reprints accepted.  
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Strange Horizons Genre: Nonfiction (columns, essays, interviews, and round-tables) and poetry (SF/F, slipstream, and speculative verse), art.  Payment: $20 - $90 for nonfiction, $50 for poetry, $100 - $200 for art. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions. Note: Poetry will open on September 1.


StarShipSofa. Genre: Science Fiction (podcast). "From the soft, social science fiction to the weird pulpy stuff to the vigorous hard SF and YA adventure. We welcome all sub-genres and all variety of punks in all their colours. From high-octane action to quiet philosophical stories, we’re after it all.Science fiction is a rich and diverse genre, push it’s boundaries as far as you can go. We welcome translations and are very interested in stories that take place/written by authors outside the US/Anglo-sphere, as well as as alternative movements and styles. These include (but not limited to) “non-Western” science fiction, Chinese SF, Soviet speculative fiction, Afro-futurism, etc." Payment: $50 USD flat rate per story for nonexclusive, one time audio rights. Authors are paid for their stories on the 7th of the proceeding month. Accepts reprints.


Dark Moon Digest. Genre: Horror short stories, flash fiction, reviews, and columns. "We strongly encourage work written by authors typically unrepresented in publishing, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ, and those from non-Western cultures. Also, if the previous sentence pissed you off for some reason, then you definitely aren't the kind of author we wish to read. Fiction reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, Tales from the Crypt, and Tales from the Darkside. We want stories with complex characters and ideas spun in ways nobody’s ever conceived. Make our brains hurt. Make our hearts explode with love and terror. Make us fear." Payment: $0.03 per word for original fiction/$0.01 per word for reprints. Note: Submittable will close every month once they reach 300 submissions, then reopen at the start of the next month. If you fail to locate any submission categories, check back again on the 1st. Accepts reprints. 

Trees Anthology. Genre: Dark speculative fiction involving trees. Stories can be no longer than 2,500 words. Flash and micro fiction is acceptable. "We'd like to include forest stories, and swampy woods stories, maybe some moss stories or whatever real or imagined that lives in the woods." Payment: $10. Deadline: Open until filled.

Unfit Magazine: Stories that bend the rules of science. Genre: Quantum Fiction, Cyberpunk, Alternative Histories and Steampunk. Payment: $.25/word for the first 1000 words; $.01/word for any words over 1,000. Deadline: Open now. Accepts reprints.

Unreal Magazine: Stories that bend the rules of magic. Genre: Fantasy, magic realism, and experimental fiction. Payment: $.25/word for the first 1000 words; $.01/word for any words over 1,000. Deadline: Open now. Accepts reprints.

Etherea. Genre: Fantasy and science fiction short stories. Length: 2000 - 5000 words, but longer will be accepted. Etherea Magazine is an Australian publication, so payment will be made in Australian dollars, Payment: A$100 per story, regardless of length. They are also looking for flash fiction, from 500 to 1000 words. A flat rate of A$25 will be paid per story. Horror may be accepted in this section, however it must have an element of the supernatural.

12 Print Literary Magazines Accepting Fiction, Poetry and Nonfiction - Paying markets

Look and Learn Print magazines are not quite a thing of the past, even if many, if not most, have been supplanted by electronic formats. So, in this age of the Internet, why publish in print? It is immensely satisfying to actually hold a volume that contains your work, for one thing. And for another, it is easier to get your work reprinted in an online format if it has first appeared in print. (That being said, some of the following journals employ both.)

All of these literary magazines pay, and none charge submission fees. Some have submission periods, so read their guidelines carefully. 

Happy submitting!
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Reckoning. Genre: Creative writing and art about environmental justice. Payment: 8 cents a word for prose, $30 per page for poetry, art negotiable, minimum $25 per piece. Deadline: September 22, 2021.

One Story Genre: Literary short stories. "They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone." Single stories are sent to email subscribers every month. Length: Up to 8,000 words. Payment: $500 and 25 contributors copies. Deadline: November 14, 2021.
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West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

AGNI. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for accepted prose, and $20 per page for accepted poetry, up to a maximum of $150. Deadline: May 31, 2022.

The Fiddlehead. Genre: Fiction, including excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, art, and poetry. Payment: $60 CAD per published page. See submission periods.

Small Beer Press: Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and black and white art. “The fiction we publish most of tends toward but is not limited to the speculative.”  Payment: $0.03/word for prose ($25 minimum), and $10 for poems. Submissions must be mailed.

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poetry. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round.  To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself to hello@14poems.com. Payment: £25 for each poem published.

Star*Line is the official print journal of the SFPA, established in 1978. It is a literary venue for speculative (including science-fiction, fantasy, and horror) poets and poetry enthusiasts, and features interviews, articles, reviews, member news and letters, association business, and poetry—by members and nonmembers. Genre: Poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: Poetry: 3¢/word rounded to next dollar, minimum $3. Short articles on topics related to science-fiction, fantasy, and horror speculative poetry - 1 cent/word. Cover art pays $10; interior art pays $5. One copy to all contributors.

Crow Toes Quarterly. Genre: Playfully dark fiction, poetry and art for children. "We are looking for "playfully dark", intelligent, humorous, descriptive literature written for children ages 8 - 13. We invite poetry and fiction submissions by email." See themes. Payment: $20 - $50. 

Bourbon Penn. Genre: Slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal. "We are looking for highly imaginative stories with a healthy dose of the odd.  Odd characters, odd experiences, odd realities." Length: 2000 - 7500 words. Payment: 2¢ per word. Print and online.

Filling Station Magazine. Genre: Innovative poetry, fiction, non-fiction (creative non-fiction, reviews, articles, interviews, live event reviews, photo essays, etc) Payment: $50.
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Rattle. Genre: Poetry. "We’re looking for poems that move us, that might make us laugh or cry, or teach us something new. We like both free verse and traditional forms—we try to publish a representative mix of what we receive." Payment: $200 for print publication. All submissions are automatically considered for the annual Neil Postman Award for Metaphor, a $2,000 prize judged by the editors.

36 Writing Contests in September 2021 - No entry fees

Image: Max Pixel
This September there are three dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $70,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.
If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

___________________

American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish by a Scandinavian author born after 1800. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: Sept 1, 2021.

Neal Peirce Foundation Journalism Travel Grants. Genre: Journalism. "Grants are intended to support journalists in covering undertold stories about ways to make cities and their metro regions work better for all their people. Grants will cover travel expenses necessary for on-the-ground reporting. Full-time freelancers as well as journalists currently employed by a news organization are eligible to apply. The grants are for journalists to travel to cities within the U.S. to produce one or more stories for publication." Prize: Up to $1500. Deadline: Sept 1, 2021.

AILACT Essay Prize. Genre: Papers related to the teaching or theory of informal logic or critical thinking, and papers on argumentation theory. Prize: $700 top prize. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Lee Smith Novel Prize. Genre: Novel (no genre fiction). Prize: $1,000 and publication. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

PEN Prison Writing Contest. Restrictions: Anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison in the year before the September 1 deadline is eligible to enter. Genres: Poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction. Prize: $200 top prize per category. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

IWSG. Genre: Science Fiction. Theme: Dark Matter. Word count: 4500-6000. Prize: The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press' imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Stories Out of School. Genre: Flash fiction. The story’s protagonist, or its narrator, must be a K-12 teacher. Stories must be between 6 and 749 words and previously unpublished. Prize: First-prize winners receive $1000; second-prize winners, $500. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Gasher First-Book Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to US residents. Genre: First book, prose or poetry. Prize: $250. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

Green Bean Books and Jewish Book Week Awards. Restrictions: Open to children’s authors and illustrators living in Europe, the UK and Israel. Genre: Stories for young children based on Jewish history, values and traditions. Prize: One author and one illustrator will each receive a £1000 prize and the work will be considered for publication by specialist Jewish children’s book publisher Green Bean Books. Deadline: September 1, 2021.

#PitMad Pitch Party. #PitMad is a pitch party on Twitter where writers tweet a 280-character pitch for their completed, polished, unpublished manuscripts. Agents and editors make requests by liking/favoriting the tweeted pitch. Every unagented writer is welcome to pitch. All genres/categories are welcomed. Deadline: September 2, 2021.

On The Premises Short Story Contest. "For this contest, write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which someone or something is considered to be a monster… and maybe that’s accurate! Maybe you’re writing a straightforward horror story. Or maybe the “monster” label is terrible and undeserved. Or is the truth somewhere in between? That’s entirely up to you." Prize: Winners receive between US$60 and US$220, and publication. Deadline: September 3, 2021.

Hubert Butler Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to European Union citizens aged 18+. Genre: Essay on theme "Communal solidarity and individual freedom: antagonists or allies?" 3,000 words max. Prize: Up to 1,000 pounds. Deadline: September 3, 2021.

Shoreline of Infinity Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Science fiction ghost story. 1000 words max.  Prize: £50. Deadline: September 3, 2021.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: September 5, 2021. Opens September 3.

Young Lions Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens 35 years of age or younger. Genre: Novel or a collection of short stories. Each year, five young fiction writers are selected as finalists by a reading committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and librarians. Submissions by publisher only. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: September 10, 2021.

Forge Flash Prose Competition. Genre: Flash fiction and CNF, 1000 words max. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: September 14, 2021. Submit early in the month!

Hektoen International Grand Prix Essay Competition. Genre: Original essay that relates medicine to the humanities. Topics might include art, history, literature, education, etc. as they relate to medicine.1,500 words max. Prize: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the runner-up. Deadline: Sept 15, 2021.

Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black poets. Genre: Chapbook-length poetry manuscript. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: September 15, 2021.

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction. Deadline: September 17, 2021.

Oregon Literary Fellowships. Fellowships of $3,000 each are given annually to Oregon writers to initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. One Women Writers Fellowship and one Writer of Color Fellowship of $3,000 each are also given annually. Submit three copies of up to 15 pages of poetry or 25 pages of prose with the required entry from. Deadline: September 17, 2021.

Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets. Restrictions: Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom are eligible. Genre: Poetry pamphlet. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: September 17, 2021.

The Mollie Savage Memorial Writing Contest. Genre: Science fiction/fantasy short story. Prize: Winning stories are published in Toasted Cheese. If 50 or fewer eligible entries are received, first place receives a $35 Amazon gift card & second a $10 Amazon gift card. If 51 or more eligible entries are received, first place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second a $15 Amazon gift card & third a $10 Amazon gift card. Deadline: September 19, 2021. 

Black Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to authors of African American heritage who are residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin and at the time of entry are at least 18 years of ag. Genre: Fiction or nonfiction manuscripts for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or ages 4–8 (300–800 words) featuring contemporary African American characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character development, self-esteem, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 21, 2021.
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Cullman Center Fellowships. Fellowship. The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Award: A stipend of up to $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources. Deadline: September 24, 2021.

Eerie River Publishing. Genre: Horror on theme of Mummies. Prize: ¢.5 per word CAD (half a cent), with a max of $15 plus a one-time royalty bonus payment based on six months of sales. Deadline: September 25, 2021.

BEECHMORE WRITING COMPETITION. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction or poetry on theme: Perspective. “Everyone's perspectives have all been altered this year. Priorities have been re-orientated, the importance of connection and community has been highlighted like never before and many people’s world views have shifted, choosing to slow down, and re-evaluate what’s important in life.” Prize: First prize £200, second prize £100. Open to writers worldwide. Deadline: September 25, 2021.

Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards. Genre: Short story collection. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press, royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

The César Egido Serrano Foundation: VI International Flash Fiction Competition. Genre: Flash fiction on theme: "Faced with COVID; Solidarity and Resilience" - 100 words max. Prize: 20,000 dollars is awarded for the best story in any of the languages authorized in the contest: Spanish, English, Arabic or Hebrew. Three prizes of $ 2,000 each will be awarded for the best stories in each of the other remaining languages admitted in the contest, that are not winners of the main prize. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions: The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre: Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000.  Deadline: September 30, 2021.

The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition. Genre: Essay  on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. 600 words. Prize: $200 (R2 000 or £100).  Deadline: September 30, 2021.

Patricia Dobler Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to women writers over the age of 40 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, currently living in the U.S., who have not published a full-length book of poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $2,500 top prize and publication of the winning poem in Voices from the Attic. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

Perito Prize. Genre: Fiction about accessibility. Prize: £250 and the story will be uploaded to the Perito Prize section of the Perito Ltd website. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

Somos En Escrito. Restrictions: Writings must be by Americans of indigenous-Hispanic background (Native American, Chicanan, Latina/o/x) born in the USA or from Latin America residing in the USA. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, spec-lit, or just weird. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

Storytwigs micro-writing competition. Restrictions: Open to citizens/residents of United States or Canada. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Genre: Short prose 100 words or fewer on prompt.  Prize: From $10 to $100. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

The Drabble Harvest Contest. Genre: Drabble on theme of "Time Travel Gone Wrong." A "drabble" is defined as a short story containing exactly precisely no more and no fewer than 100 words. It has a title, which can be from 1 to 15 words-- but no more than 15. Prize: $5. Deadline: September 30, 2021.

24 Superb Writing Conferences in September 2021

Pixabay
This September there are two dozen fabulous writing conferences. You can attend workshops, presentations, readings, discussions, lectures, and critiques via Zoom. Some are also offering workshops in person. 

Conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry, they make you feel like a writer.

Plan ahead! Conferences often offer scholarships, but these have deadlines. If one of these conferences interests you, put the scholarship deadline date on your calendar for next year, or for whenever the conference rolls around again.

For a full list of conferences, organized by month, see Writing Conferences. While nearly all of these are in the United States, you can find links on that page that will take you to world-wide conference lists.


(Image by Tomasz Hanarz from Pixabay )


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DragonCon. September 2 - 6, 2021: Atlanta, Ga. HUGE sci-fi event, with parade, autograph sessions, live performances, readings, wrestling (!), workshops on belly dancing, writing (yes, there's even some writing), art show. (This conference sounds really wild.)
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North Words Writers Symposium. September 3 - 5, 2021: Skagway, Alaska. Faculty: Kim Heacox (keynote), Marie Tozier, Hank Lentfer, Tina Ontiveros, M Jackson, Caroline Van Hemert, Nancy Lord, Vaccination required.

WriterCon. September 3 - 6, 2021: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "Discover if self-publishing is the best option for your book–and how to self-publish easily. See what techniques and tools you need to be your own best editor. Find out how to pitch to an agent–by email and in person. Go over the 7 steps to creating your fiction novel, so it’s ROCK SOLID every time. Learn about ghostwriting, which can be a lucrative market for authors. Dive deeper into children’s writing, writing for computer games, poetry, screenplays, songs, cookbooks and more. Witness how to publish on Kindle step-by-step. Uncover the latest tips, tricks and tools for marketing your book–and yourself–effectively. Talk to top agents, editors, publishers and publicists, and MORE."

The Gathering. September 4 - 6, 2021. Workshops in poetry as well as readings. 2-hour Workshops & Readings Friday night, Saturday , and Sunday. Participant Open Mics Friday and Saturday night. Will be held on Zoom.

Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Sept. 9 –12, 2021: Lexington, KY. The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is the longest running literary festival of women in the nation. About 1,000 individuals attend the conference each year. Daytime sessions attract about 150 writers at all stages of development, and free evening events gather a lively community of readers. Most come seeking literary sisterhood, help with a manuscript, or practical advice about the publishing industry. Many are students or beginning writers.

Chesapeake Writing Day Workshop. September 10-11, 2021. Online. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "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."

Creatures, Crimes & Creativity. September 10 - 12, 2021: Columbia, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.

Poets on the Coast. Sept. 10 - 12, 2021: La Conner, Washington. Workshop, one-on-one mentoring, craft classes, and yoga for women poets. The faculty includes poets Kelli Russell Agodon and Susan Rich. Tuition, which does not include lodging or meals, is $429. Will be held online.

49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat. September 10 - 12, 2021: Tutka Bay, Alaska. Guest Instructor: Elena Passarello.

Squam Writes Retreat. September 10 - 12, 2021: Squam Lake, New Hampshire. The Squam Writes Retreat is a small group retreat for experienced fiction writers. We focus on craft with an eye toward publication. We offer opportunities for feedback and plenty of time to write, make new friends, and recharge creative batteries in a beautiful New Hampshire lakeside setting. Every participant receives a one-on-one critique with an agent or editor. CLOSED.

Digital Book World Conference. September 13 - 15, 2021: Nashville TN. This is the premier event for digital publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models. 

Orion Nonfiction Writers' Workshop. September 14 - October 8, 2021. Online. This craft-focused course taught by Francisco Cantú aims to provide both a generative space for creating new work as well as a virtual forum for conversation, revision, and critique. At the center of our inquiry will be question of how to write about landscape while avoiding cliché and acknowledging the historical erasure that so often underlies our understanding of place. Together will look beyond traditional approaches to writing, exploring interdisciplinary and site-specific ways of being attentive to the outside world as we find new ways of responding to landscape, the histories it holds, and the narratives that flow from it. This class meets twice a week over four consecutive Tuesdays and Fridays from 6-8pm ET. Application Period: August 1 – 15, 2021.

John R. Milton Writers' Conference. September 16 - 18, 2021: Vermillion, South Dakota. The conference theme is “Prospecting: Uncovering New Veins and Voices in Identity, Genre, and Place.” Mary Gaitskill is keynote author, and Brandon Hobson, Steven Dunn, Karen Salyer McElmurray, and Christine Stewart are featured authors; in addition, the conference will feature readings by USD’s Department of English faculty duncan b. barlow, Leah McCormack, and Lee Ann Roripaugh, and USD Writer in Residence Residence Pete Dexter.

PNWA Conference. September 16 - 19, 2021, Seattle, Washington, Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. More than 50 seminars, editor/agent forums & appointments, practice pitching, keynote and featured speakers, reception, awards ceremony. Many agents and editors attending. Will be held online.

Writing On The Door: Washington Island Literary Festival. September 16 - 19, 2021: Washington Island, Wisconsin. "Join us on beautiful Washington Island for three days of creativity, craft seminars, and author presentations. Thursday, September 16: Creative Lab; Friday, September 17: craft seminars and workshops; Saturday, September 18: author conversations and presentations." Featured Writers Include: Lesley Nneka Arimah, Chris Cander, Christina Clancy, Adrian Matejka, Megan Stielestra, Alexander Weinstein. 

A Weekend For Words. Sept 17 - 19, 2021: Irvine, CA. 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. Costs $325-$425. Manuscript critique & one-on-one consultation additional.

The Writers’ League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference. Sept 17 - 19, 2021: Austin, Tex. The conference features panel discussions, lectures, pitch sessions, receptions, and one-on-one consultations with agents and editors. PParticipating agents include Ian Bonaparte (Janklow & Nesbit), Jamie Carr (Book Group), Rebecca Gradinger (Fletcher & Company), Robert Guinsler (Sterling Lord Literistic), Sandy Lu (L. Perkins Agency), Duvall Osteen (Aragi, Inc.), and John Rudolph (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret). The cost of the conference is $469 for Writers’ League members and $529 for non-members. Lodging is available at the conference hotel for discounted rates. Admissions are rolling through June 24.

Mini Writing Getaway. September 18 (in person) and 25 (online), 2021: Atlantic City, NJ. Need a brief break from your life? Need to rekindle your love affair with writing? Join us for a welcoming getaway designed for writers of fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction and poetry. This retreat will trigger your imagination, giving you the freedom to compose new and exciting work. Spend the day immersed in the literary life: writing, discussing craft and sharing new drafts. No distractions. Led by Peter E. Murphy. Will be held online  and in person.

Okoboji Writers' in-person Retreat. September 20 - 22, 2021: Arnolds Park, IA. The Okoboji Writers' Retreat features 15 speakers, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer, editors of large daily newspapers, columnists, and a literary agent. Faculty Rekha Basu, Art Cullen, Doug Burns, Rachelle Chase, Ty Rushing, John Dinges, Arnold Garson, Jane Dystal, Lyz Lenz, James O'Shea, Rachel Yoder, Paige Windsor, and Diane Glass. Cost: $596. 

Algonkian Writer Conference–New York City Pitch. September 23 - 26, 2021: Ripley-Grier Studios in New York City. The New York Pitch Conference and writers workshop is held four times a year and features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.

LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 24 - 26, 2021: Tieton, WA. The workshop features readings, performances, and meditation for poets. The past faculty included poets included Ching-In Chen, Christopher Howell, Brooke Matson, Diana Khoi Nguyen, Dennis Nurkse, Kelly Schirmann, Chad Sweeney, Dujie Tahat, Alexandra Teague, and Tobias Wray. Virtual and in person.

Aspen Autumn Words. September 26 - October 1, 2021: Aspen, Colorado. Workshops, panels, and readings in fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as opportunities to meet with agents and editors. "Aspen Summer Words is the Rocky Mountain gateway to the literary world. Recognized as one of the country’s pre-eminent literary conferences, Summer Words welcomes visitors and locals alike to celebrate writing and writers in Aspen for a week each June. The exceptional faculty and awe-inspiring mountain scenery combine to make this a writing retreat like no other." 

Brooklyn Book Festival. September 26 - October 4, 2021: Brooklyn, NY. This year’s Festival Day and Literary Marketplace, a day-long celebration of authors and books, will take place in person in Downtown Brooklyn as well as virtually. At our live BKBF Children’s Day, families will enjoy a full day of readings, workshops, performances, book signings, yoga, and art projects with favorite authors and illustrators.  Citywide Bookend events — in person and virtual — take place September 26 – October 2 & 4.  All events are free and open to the public.
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Georgia Romance Writers: Moonlight and Magnolias. September 30 – October 3, 2021: Atlanta, Georgia. Includes keynote speakers, workshops, editor/agent appointments, autographing & bookfair, awards banquet.

6 New Literary Agents Seeking Speculative and Genre Fiction, Literary Fiction, Memoirs, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels

Alina Mitchell Here are six new literary agents seeking clients. Logan Harper is seeking a variety of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to women’s fiction, book club fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, mystery/crime, upmarket and literary fiction. Bre Stephens wants Gothic, Horror, Speculative, Fantasy, Psychological Realism, Detective/Mystery, MG, YA, and in nonfiction, Art, History, Personal Journey, Healing, Memoirs, Biographies, Self-Help. 

Alina Mitchell is actively looking for nonfiction proposals including memoir, biographies, how-to, elementary & secondary education topics, religion/spirituality, narrative nonfiction, and new perspectives in history, arts & culture. ​Kirsten Aguilar  is interested in Literary Fiction, Commercial/Upmarket Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Memoir, Essay Collections, and Family Mythology. 

Hafizah Geter is open to submissions of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Ericka Phillips is interested in non-fiction authors working in the Buddhist and mindfulness arena with a focus on health and spiritual well-being.
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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Ms. Alina Mitchell of MacGregor & Luedeke Literary 

Alina received a Bachelor of Arts in English/Professional Writing with a minor in Business Management from Oakwood University, a Master of Arts in English & Secondary Education from the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) and an Instructional Design/eLearning Certificate from Oregon State University. Beginning her writing and education career working as a Freshman Composition instructor at UAH, Alina always encouraged her students to have a sense of agency and own their voices through their writing. She continued to pursue her passion working as a secondary English teacher, principal and higher education administrator.  In 2019, Alina published her debut book, The Color of Beauty: The Life and Work of New York Fashion Icon Ophelia DeVore, which chronicled the life of her grand-aunt Ophelia DeVore, the 1st Black model in the United States. Additionally, she freelances as a writer with Darklight Studios and evaluates standardized writing exams with the Educational Testing Services. 

What she is seeking: Alina is actively looking for nonfiction proposals including memoir, biographies, how-to, elementary & secondary education topics, religion/spirituality, narrative nonfiction, and new perspectives in history, arts & culture.

How to submit: Please read their guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Logan Harper of Jane Rotrosen Agency 

Prior to joining JRA in 2021, Logan was an Associate Agent at a mid-sized literary agency in Manhattan. A native Washingtonian, Logan is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle and the Columbia Publishing Course in Oxford.

What she is seeking: She’s seeking a variety of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to women’s fiction, book club fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, mystery/crime, upmarket and literary fiction. She is always eager to read and champion underrepresented voices and perspectives. 

How to submit: Use her contact form.
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Ms. Bre Stephens of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency 

Bre has 13 years of experience as a writer, publisher, educator, literary judge, and editor. She has worked as an Editor-in-Chief of a literary magazine and has taught university composition, technical writing, and creative writing. Bre holds an MA in English and Creative Writing, an M.Ed. in ESL, and a BA in Art History. In her spare time, she loves attending Japanese festivals and learning more about world cultures.

What she is seeking: Adult Fiction: Gothic, Horror, Speculative, Fantasy, Psychological Realism, Detective/Mystery
Middle Grade & Young Adult: Gothic, Horror, Fantasy, Psychological Realism, Detective/Mystery, Slice of Life, Adventure, Coming of Age, Graphic Novels. Non-Fiction: Art, History, Personal Journey, Healing, Memoirs, Biographies, Self-Help.

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.
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Ms. Kirsten Aguilar of Ladderbird Literary Agency 

​Kirsten Aguilar was born and raised in Sonoma, California and currently lives in Chicago. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame and has had internships at Folio Literary Management and Penguin. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys tending to her (too) many plants, attempting to cook, and visiting mountains as often as she can. She’s obsessed with whales and hummingbirds. You can find her on Twitter @LitAgentAguilar.

What she is seeking: Literary Fiction, Commercial/Upmarket Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Memoir, Essay Collections, and Family Mythology. Across the board, she is looking for work that represents the complexity, intersectionality and diversity of the world without tokenization. She is especially dedicated to representing writers of marginalized communities whose stories are often left out of the publishing landscape. She would love to see work that centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ experience.

How to submit: Submit to Kirsten here: queryme.online/kirstenaguilar
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Ms. Hafizah Geter of Janklow & Nesbit Associates 

Hafizah Geter is an award-winning Nigerian-American poet, writer, and editor born in Zaria, Nigeria. She grew up in Akron, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina and received her BA in English and economics from Clemson University and an MFA in poetry from Columbia College Chicago.

What she is seeking: Hafizah is open to submissions of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Hafizah represents writers who start conversations, challenge conventions, and whose sentences thrum with voice and style. She loves complex thinkers who combine their obsessions with lyric and narrative attention and is interested in stories that reveal something precise and up close about our world and our relationships. She’s interested in stories that complicate the personal with the political, cultural, and/or historical in order to reveal new connections, and fuller ways for us to be human—stories that investigate the intricacies and in-betweens of sexuality, gender, tenderness and cruelty, love and desire, intimacy and shame—and she loves a sad book as much as a funny one.

How to submit: Please read their guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Ericka Phillips of Stephanie Tade Agency 

Before joining the Stephanie Tade Agency, Ericka has worked as a development consultant for social mission-driven businesses and foundations such as the Eileen Fisher Community Foundation and Buddhist Peace Fellowship. She has held several leadership positions in the mindfulness sector including serving as Executive Director at both New York Insight Meditation Center and the New York Shambhala Center - two of the largest meditation communities in the US. Ericka also serves as the Board President of MNDFL Ed, an organization founded to support positive transformation in the educational system, bringing mindfulness to schools. 

What she is seeking: Ericka is interested in non-fiction authors working in the Buddhist and mindfulness arena with a focus on health and spiritual well-being. She has a passion for developing projects and building platforms that help amplify the voices of women of color and black women writers in particular. She is experienced in platform development, marketing, and publicity and helps authors translate their message into brand strategy. 

How to submit: Use their form HERE.

7 Agents Actively Seeking Nonfiction, Literary and Commercial Fiction, SFF, Graphic Novels, YA and more

Hannah Andrade Here are seven agents actively seeking writers. Michael Mungiello's interests include intellectual histories, counterintuitive social science, literary criticism, and jazz. Chris Combemale is looking for a broad range of literary fiction and commercial fiction with an unexpected hook, from psychological suspense to speculative and fantasy. In non-fiction he is interested in memoir, essay, and expert-driven projects across subject areas with special attention to technology, food, pop-science, economics, and any book that asks big questions about forces of change. Janna Morishima specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling. 

Kate Rizzo (UK) is keen to find aspiring writers, and is interested in stories that explore our recent history or show us something about our world, whether through fiction or research and reportage. Annalise Errico is looking for more queer, BIPOC representation across the board, especially in romances that give Happily Ever Afters to complex and palpable characters. In fiction, she is seeking romance, thrillers, fantasy, commercial fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, and graphic novels. She is also looking for narrative nonfiction centering in on women’s stories and queer stories. 

Noa Rosen is on the lookout for Fiction: Commercial, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Humor, LGBTQ, Literary, New Adult, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. Non-Fiction: History, Humor, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology. Hannah Andrade is especially excited about stories rooted in history, mythology, and legends, particularly those that are lesser-known or underrepresented in traditional publishing, dark and transporting fantasy in YAs, and MGs with macabre elements and dark humor as well as nonfiction. 

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.
​
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Hannah Andrade of Bradford Literary Agency

Hannah started as an agency assistant before moving on to acquire her own clients. She’s been with Bradford Literary Agency since 2017 and has had the privilege to work with a number of bestselling authors across a variety of genres. She likes to think of herself as an editorial-focused agent and is particularly eager to acquire BIPOC/underrepresented voices. 

What she is seeking: Hannah is prioritizing stories of joy where identity isn’t the focus and is especially excited about stories rooted in history, mythology, and legends, particularly those that are lesser-known or underrepresented in traditional publishing. Hannah is very interested in stories that explore the intricacies of multicultural identities. She loves stories of immigration (not relegated to America) and of first/second generation Americans who struggle balancing the values of their country with the culture and heritage of their parents (as in the tv shows Ramy or Gentefied). As a Mexican-American, she would particularly love to see the stories that she grew up with showcased in new and creative ways. She’s a huge fan of expansive world building and atmospheric settings, dark and transporting fantasy in YAs, and MGs with macabre elements and dark humor.  If your story involves ghosts, riddles/puzzles, and/or whimsy, Hannah would love to see it!

In nonfiction, she is looking for something that takes the mystery out of everyday life/occurrences (a lá Malcolm Gladwell or Atul Gawande) and investigative journalism-esque stories with a strong narrative hook.

How to submit: Use her form HERE.

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Mr. Michael Mungiello of InkWell Management

Michael Mungiello is from New Jersey and graduated from Georgetown University.

What he is seeking: His interests include intellectual histories, counterintuitive social science, literary criticism, and jazz.

How to submit: Queries should be emailed to: submissions [at] inkwellmanagement [dot] com You may specify the name of the agent to whom you are submitting in the subject line of your query or address your query to the agency at large. In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters).  

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Mr. Chris Combemale of Sterling Lord Literistic

Chris joined Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. in 2019 and works with Peter Matson and Robert Guinsler. As a Singaporean/French/American born and raised in London, Chris is drawn to international voices and writers in translation. He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar and now lives in Brooklyn.
What he is seeking: He is looking for a broad range of literary fiction and commercial fiction with an unexpected hook, from psychological suspense to speculative and fantasy. In non-fiction he is interested in memoir, essay, and expert-driven projects across subject areas with special attention to technology, food, pop-science, economics, and any book that asks big questions about forces of change. 
How to submit: Use their form HERE.


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Janna Morishima of New Leaf Literary & Media

Janna started her career at Scholastic, where she co-founded the Graphix imprint and helped sign creators who have had huge impacts on the field, such as Raina Telgemeier, Jeff Smith, and Kazu Kibuishi. She then became director of the Kids Group for Diamond Book Distributors, where she worked with publishers such as Marvel, Dark Horse, Oni Press, and Image Comics, and helped launch Françoise Mouly’s Toon Books imprint. In addition to her background in publishing, she has worked as an associate producer for documentary films and as an assistant kindergarten teacher and in a high school for teens in the juvenile justice system. She later launched and ran the NYC Department of Education’s “NYC Reads 365” literacy initiative. She currently represents a diverse range of comics creators, including Misako Rocks, Shauna Grant, Andi Watson, and Black Sands Entertainment.
What she is seeking: Janna Morishima specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling. 
How to submit: Follow their guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Annalise Errico of Ladderbird Literary Agency

​Annalise is a graduate of Lesley University where she earned a B.A. in Creative writing with a double minor in Literature and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She is excited about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities, ultimately making room for the diverse voices that have long since been ignored and suppressed in the literary world and beyond. 
What she is seeking: Annalise is looking for more queer, BIPOC representation across the board, especially in romances that give Happily Ever Afters to complex and palpable characters. In fiction, she is seeking romance, thrillers, fantasy, commercial fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, and graphic novels. She is also looking for narrative nonfiction centering in on women’s stories and queer stories, such as: true crime with a feminist lens (think “We Keep the Dead Close” by Becky Cooper); memoirs that focus on identity (think “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller) or alternative formatting (think “In The Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado); and research-heavy historical narratives about queer or feminist icons (think “Romantic Outlaws” by Charlotte Gordon).
How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.
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Ms. Noa Rosen of Susanna Lea Associates - New York

Noa Rosen is the point person for foreign rights in the New York office. Before joining the SLA team in 2017, she taught English in southwestern France. She is a graduate of Tufts University and the Columbia Publishing Course.
What she is seeking: Noa is on the lookout for fiction and non-fiction across genres with fresh ideas and new perspectives. She’s particularly interested in current affairs, investigative journalism, gender issues, internet phenomena, overlooked parts of history, and humor. For more on what Noa is looking for, check out her Manuscript Wish List. Fiction: Commercial, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Humor, LGBTQ, Literary, New Adult, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. Non-Fiction: History, Humor, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology.
How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Kate Rizzo of Greene & Heaton Ltd (UK)

Kate Rizzo joined Greene & Heaton in 2013 to handle the agency’s translation rights.  She began working in publishing at The Robbins Office, Inc. in New York before moving to London in 2009 and continuing to work in translation rights at AM Heath, Ltd. and Mulcahy Conway Associates. Kate works closely with sub-agents in some territories and directly with publishers in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Spain in order to sell the agency’s authors’ works into as many languages as possible, and help their writing careers extend beyond the UK and the English language.

What she is seeking: Kate is keen to find aspiring writers, and is interested in stories that explore our recent history or show us something about our world, whether through fiction or research and reportage. I would love to read a contemporary (but maybe pre-pandemic) love story that’s a little bit cool.

How to submit: Read their guidelines HERE.