Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 30

6 Agents Seeking Women's Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoirs, Kidlit, YA, SF/F and more

Eve MacSweeney Here are six literary agents actively seeking writers. Eve MacSweeney is interested in narrative non-fiction and literary fiction titles that speak to her interest in emotionally driven stories, singular voices, and compelling social issues, particularly as they concern the lives of women. Susana Alvarez is looking for narrative nonfiction and memoirs. Amy Flynn wants picture books, middle-grade, or YA fiction or non-fiction. Michaela Whatnall is seeking fantasy and science fiction. She is also interested in nonfiction for both children and adults, especially narrative nonfiction in the areas of history, the creative arts, and lifestyle. Jackie Ashton looks to represent writers in the categories of popular science, business, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. She is also interested in memoir and essay collections from accomplished writers. Kemi Ogunsanwo is primarily looking for literary & commercial fiction as well as YA fiction of all kinds. Note: Kemi only accepts UK writers.
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Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

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

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Ms. Eve MacSweeney of Fletcher & Company

Eve MacSweeney began agenting in Fall 2018 after working as a writer and editor in her native London and in New York, most recently as Features Director of Vogue, where she worked for 17 years.

What she is seeking: Narrative non-fiction and literary fiction titles that speak to her interest in emotionally driven stories, singular voices, and compelling social issues, particularly as they concern the lives of women.

How to submit: To query, please send a letter, brief synopsis, and the first 5-10 pages of the manuscript/proposal pasted into the body of the email to info@fletcherandco.com. You should indicate the agent you are addressing the query to in the subject line. Please do not include email attachments with your initial query, as they will be deleted.

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Susana Alvarez of Park & Fine Literary and Media

Susana Alvarez works alongside Celeste Fine and the nonfiction team, working closely to ensure that author’s needs and success are met throughout the publishing process, from ideation to proposal to execution stage. 

What she is seeking: Her interests range from narrative nonfiction, where she has a penchant for memoirs, to voice-driven journalism, big idea society-changing books, cultural commentary, to the wellness industry; particularly among women and first-generation communities. Outside of nonfiction, her love of the literary world was first introduced through the great American novel, which evolved into a passion for fiction rooted in themes of: the self, coming of age, complex human relationships, and multi-generational stories against the backdrop of multiple nations and cultures.

How to submit: Please specify the first and last name of the agent to whom you are submitting, as well as the category and genre of your submission in the subject line of the email. For adult fiction please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work in the body of the email. For non-fiction submissions, please send a query letter only. Send your query to.queries@parkfine.com

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Michaela Whatnall of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

Michaela Whatnall joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2019 as the assistant to Michael Bourret in the West Coast office. After graduating from Emory University with a degree in English and linguistics, Michaela completed the Columbia Publishing Course. Her background in school and library marketing accounts for her strong interest in children’s literature, from picture books up through middle grade and young adult novels and graphic novels. 

What she is seeking: In adult fiction, she is particularly seeking character-driven fantasy and science fiction. She is also interested in nonfiction for both children and adults, especially narrative nonfiction in the areas of history, the creative arts, and lifestyle. 

How to submit: Send your query to mwhatnall@dystel.com Include a writing sample of the first 25 pages of your manuscript (fiction) or your proposal with sample chapter (nonfiction) in the body of the email below your query letter.

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Ms. Jackie Ashton of Lucinda Literary

Jackie is a seasoned media professional with over a decade of experience in journalism, copywriting, editing, and editorial direction. Her writing on health, lifestyle, and parenting in the digital age has appeared in publications like the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Real Simple, Parents, and Redbook, among others. She has provided editorial consulting for leading brands such as Airbnb, Athleta, and Omada Health.

What she is seeking: Jackie looks to represent writers in the categories of popular science, business, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. She is also interested in memoir and essay collections from accomplished writers. In fiction, she looks for characters that jump off the page, immersive storytelling that hooks from the opening line, and unexpected forays into little-known worlds.

How to submit: Use their form HERE.

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Kemi Ogunsanwo of The Good Literary Agency (UK)

Having acquired a BA in English Literature at UEA and an MA in Publishing at UCL, Kemi spent her formative years gaining experience at publishers including Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster and Penguin Books. Kemi made the transition into Marketing & audience insight in 2014, gaining invaluable experience at organisations such as ITV Broadcast Media, Amazon subsidiary The Book Depository and Time Out Magazine, before settling at leading talent agency, Identity Agency Group (IAG).

What she is seeking: Kemi is primarily looking for literary & commercial fiction as well as YA fiction of all kinds. Note: She only accepts UK writers.

How to submit: Please read their submission guidelines HERE. (UK writers only)

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Ms. Amy Flynn of Rubin Pfeffer Content

Amy is a picture book author and associate agent.

What she is seeking: Picture books, middle-grade, or YA fiction or non-fiction.

How to submit: Send your query and the first 50 pages as a DOC or PDF file to amy@rpcontent.com

5 New Literary Agents Seeking Historical, Commercial, Literary Fiction, YA, Kidlit, Narrative Nonfiction and Translations

Lisa Amstutz Here are five new agents actively building their client lists. Olivia Maidment is seeking historical, commercial, crime, and reading group fiction, along with narrative non-fiction. Sandra Pareja is looking for authentic, unconventional literary voices in fiction, non-fiction and sometimes poetry. She reads and edits in English, Spanish and Italian at a native level, and could tackle manuscripts in French, Portuguese and Catalan. She would consider works from other languages if they are attached to an English translator. 

Laura Cameron is interested in plot-driven literary, upmarket and women’s fiction and research-based narrative non-fiction. She is also open to memoir with a strong voice and perspective. For children’s and YA, Laura looks for unique characters and imaginative stories that reflect contemporary culture. Chelsea Hensley is seeking Middle grade and young adult fiction as well as select adult projects. Lisa Amstutz is seeking nonfiction for all ages (preschool–adult), picture book and middle grade fiction, and picture book author/illustrators.

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

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

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Ms. Olivia Maidment of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK) 



After graduating with a degree in English Literature and Classical Civilisation from the University of Birmingham, Liv’s first experience of publishing was with an internship at the Madeleine Milburn Agency. She then went on to roles at The Blair Partnership and United Agents. Liv was very excited to come full circle when joining the agency in 2020 and she now works closely with Madeleine across her roster of authors.

What she is seeking: Historical, commercial, crime, and reading group fiction, along with narrative non-fiction.

How to submit: Please follow their long, complicated instructions HERE.

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Ms. Sandra Pareja of Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents 

Sandra worked as head of foreign rights at Casanovas & Lynch Literary Agency for eight years. She was part of many international success stories, such as Mariana Enriquez, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Maria Gainza and Mercè Rodoreda. Her own client list includes bestselling literary authors, as well as winners and finalists for the National Book Award in Translation, the Premio Strega and the Premio Biblioteca de Narrativa Colombiana. Several of her authors have been translated into more than twenty languages. She was born in Toronto, was raised in Detroit too, and has spent much of her adulthood in Europe. She has degrees in Hispanic Literature from the University of Toronto and the University of Buenos Aires, and a Masters in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Barcelona. She has worked as a teacher, translator and an assistant editor at Granta en Español and Duomo Ediciones, though her first gig was managing an indie singer-songwriter when she was a teenager. She runs a Barcelona reading series called Albor, which mixes authors from different cities and languages. 

What she is seeking: Sandra Pareja is looking for authentic, unconventional literary voices in fiction, non-fiction and sometimes poetry. She reads and edits in English, Spanish and Italian at a native level, and could tackle manuscripts in French, Portuguese and Catalan. She would consider works from other languages if they are attached to an English translator.

How to submit: Please query Sandra directly at sandra@mmqlit.com and strive to include as much reading material as possible. If you haven’t heard from her in 4-6 weeks, your project is not a good fit for her.
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Ms. Laura Cameron of Transatlantic Literary Agency

Laura Cameron joined the Transatlantic Agency after six years at Penguin Random House Canada, where she worked in editorial, sales and publicity. Before her career in publishing, Laura did a Master’s in Journalism at Columbia University, interned with the Economist Group, and worked for Canadian Business magazine. During her time as a freelance reporter, she wrote for the Economist Intelligence Unit and contributed stories to various publications including the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

What she is seeking: Laura is interested in plot-driven literary, upmarket and women’s fiction and research-based narrative non-fiction. She is also open to memoir with a strong voice and perspective. For children’s and YA, Laura looks for unique characters and imaginative stories that reflect contemporary culture.

How to submit: Query Laura at: lcameron@transatlanticagency.com  
Attach a synopsis, author bio and the first 20 pages in a double-spaced word doc or PDF. If it's an author/illustrator submitting a picture book or graphic novel, she’d like to see finished artwork samples and a link to the artist's portfolio. 

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Ms. Chelsea Hensley of KT Literary

Before joining kt literary, Chelsea was a freelance editor and perpetual publishing intern. In 2018 she mentored in Pitch Wars and most recently was an editorial intern at Page Street Publishing where she assisted on titles from Addie Thorley and Breanna Shields. She has a BA in English from the University of Missouri and lives and works as a bookseller in St. Louis, MO. She likes fresh and imaginative SFF, dark and twisty mysteries/thrillers, and whipsmart protagonists. She is interested in working with authors belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in publishing, especially Black authors. When she isn’t working, she can be found playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching The Golden Girls, or playing with her dog.

What she is seeking: Middle grade and young adult fiction as well as select adult projects. She's looking for the whimsical and adventurous in Middle Grade, especially fantasy (and select contemporary MG).In Young Adult, she's looking for genre fiction, twisty mystery, and wants thrillers that are character-driven, dark, and edgy. She also is looking at select adult fantasy that's atmospheric, lush, bold, and female-driven.

How to submit: Please email your query letter and the first three pages of your manuscript in the body of the email to Chelsea at chelseaquery@ktliterary.com


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Ms. Lisa Amstutz of Storm Literary Agency

Lisa fell in love with reading at an early age, devouring stacks of books from the library each week. While she never stopped reading, she earned degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and worked as a lab technician, outdoor educator, and small-scale farmer before returning to her first love: books.

With sixteen years of experience as an author and freelance editor, Lisa comes to Storm Literary Agency as an Associate Literary Agent. She has written more than 140 books for the educational and trade markets as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles. As an editor and mentor, she worked with writers to shape and polish their manuscripts, many of which went on to land agents or book contracts. She also edited materials for several publishing companies.

From 2011–2020, Lisa served on the board of SCBWI: Ohio North in various roles, including Assistant Regional Advisor. She also volunteered as a judge at Rate Your Story and was one of the founders of the annual NF Fest challenge. Now, she looks forward to helping clients achieve success as an agent. Lisa lives with her family on a small farm. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, nature photography, scrapbooking and, of course, reading.

What she is seeking: She is seeking nonfiction for all ages (preschool–adult), picture book and middle grade fiction, and picture book author/illustrators. Lisa loves books with heart; science, agricultural, and environmental topics; new insights on history, culture, or the arts; strong characters and settings; humor; lyrical texts; and multicultural themes. She enjoys a good rhyming story, but please be sure the meter is strong and consistent.  

How to submit: Query Lisa via her submission manager HERE.

2021 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Read

Pixabay Every new year I make a writing resolution. In past years, I have resolved to begin projects and to finish them. I've resolved to write what I most feared and to get more rejections than C. S. Lewis. (He got 800 before he was published.) To my credit, I have managed to fulfill all my resolutions - even C. S. Lewis' stunning number of rejections. (I've gotten well over a thousand, but that's counting rejections for everything I've written. So I've fudged that resolution a bit.) And I have resolved to stick to my guns in the face of those rejections, and be true to my work.This year, I am resolving to read. Sometimes writers forget that reading is how we nourish ourselves. It's true that we need to observe to world around us, to think, to ponder. But in order to write we must tackle the task of reading - not just for pleasure, but with the critical eye of a writer.
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Who are your favorite authors? If you had to give someone your personal list of the top ten best writers, who would they be? More to the point, why? Did they touch your heart and then break it? Did they write such vivid descriptions that you saw, heard, felt what they were describing? Did they make observations so profound that you viewed the world in a whole new light? Did they give you "aha!" moments? Were some of their phrases so beautiful that you could not continue, but had to stop to read them again and again? Did their beauty make you catch your breath?

Read those books once more. Analyze them. How did those writers create those emotions in you? How exactly? You won't be able to accomplish what those authors managed to do precisely the way they did it, but reading them with a microscope will give you ideas. You will look at words and sentence structure differently. You will begin to sense the rhythm and melody in dialogue. Like music, those cadences will open you up. You will explore language through someone else's inner voice.

What books will I re-read?

The Music Room by Dennis McFarland. I couldn't stop reading this book. McFarland kept my eyes glued to the page. He really gets inside his characters. How does he do it?

Anthony Doerr's Memory Wall. Actually, anything by Anthony Doerr will do. He is a poetic writer. Every word is evaluated, weighed, considered, and reconsidered before it is finally chosen.
 
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeline Thien. I'm cheating with this one, because I've already started reading it for the first time. But I know I will have to read it again. Her writing style is thoroughly engaging, and she has insightful observations which stop me dead in my tracks.

Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series, starting with Gorky Park. Martin Cruz Smith has the ability to deftly establish a character with a stroke of the pen. He never overstates, which means he is a master of economical language.

David Foster Wallace, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. I don't have Wallace on my "top ten" list, but I will re-read him because his writing style is the exact opposite of mine. I find Wallace's incredibly long sentences liberating. It feels like swimming.

Torch  by Cheryl Strayed is an example of crystal clear writing. You don't feel as if you are reading.

William Gibson's Pattern Recognition is well-worth re-reading. He has the ability to create a world which is familiar, yet isn't. He keeps readers slightly off-balance and then he sucks them right in.

The Ground Beneath Her Feet is Salman Rushdie's best novel. (Don't argue with me.)

 I will re-read Ursula Le Guin's The Lathe of Heaven. Le Guin grabs her readers by their collars and throws them into a story. She creates worlds that are entirely believable.
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White Noise by Don DeLillo. This is my favorite 20th-century novel. Honestly, I can't figure out how he did it, but I am going to try.

49 Calls for Submissions in January 2021 — Paying Markets

There are more than four dozen calls for submissions in January. 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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​Cast of Wonders Podcast. Genre: Speculative fiction for teens. Length: 3,000 words max. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2021.
The Temz Review. Genres: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Bluestem. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: $20/poem and $75/prose piece. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Constelación Magazine: Myths and Monsters. Genre: Bilingual Spanish/English speculative fiction. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Dorothy. Genre: Books. "Fiction or near fiction or about fiction, mostly by women." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Aphotic Realm: Lycanthropy. Genre: Speculative stories about animorphs with a bloody twist.   Payment: $10. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Circumference. Genre: New translations of poetry, essays, long-form writing, and drama. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 2, 2021.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of Green. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: January 3, 2021.

Rialto. Genre: Poetry. Payment: £20. Deadline: January 3, 2021.

Dark Dispatch: Redemption. Genre: Sci fi, fantasy, horror, and crime on theme of Redemption.   Payment: $50. Deadline: January 5, 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: January 7, 2021.  Opens to submissions on January 1.

Jazz House: Twisted Love Anthology. Genre: Romanic gothic horror. "Jazz House wants to read your twisted, dark, and despairing stories about romantic and gothic horror and the people who find love to have a bitter aftertaste." Payment: $75. Deadline: January 8, 2021.

The Stinging Fly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Fiction and nonfiction: €30 per magazine page; Poetry: €50 per poem; Featured Poet: €250. Deadline: January 8, 2021.

Mermaids Monthly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art on topic of merfolk. Payment: $0.10/word for fiction, $50 – $100 for poems, Comics (up to 5 pages) $75-$100 per page, micro art and word submissions $25, $50 for spot illustrations, $25 – $50 licensing fee for interior and $100 – $150 for cover art licensing reprints, $0.10 per word for non-fiction, $0.01 per word for these with a minimum of $20 if the piece is shorter than 2,000 words for reprints. Deadline: January 9, 2021.

Planet Scumm: Snake Eyes. Restrictions: Open to cisgender women, transgender women, transgender men, non-binary people, and genderqueer people. Genre: Hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, speculative fiction, weird fiction, and slipstream on theme of Snake Eyes. Payment: $0.02/word. Deadline: January 10, 2021.

Full Bleed: Archives. Genre: Criticism, fiction, poetry, graphic essays, belles lettres, artwork, design, and illustration. "We are especially interested in submissions on the theme of adaptation. In this time of accelerating change, we invite artists, designers, and writers to reflect on the various ways that ecological, technological, and social conditions have necessitated and will necessitate reinvention, hard resets, or new modes of coping, working, living, and thinking." Payment: Modest honorarium.  Deadline: January 10, 2021.

Midnight & Indigo. Restrictions: Open to black women. Genre: Fiction, personal essays.  Payment: $50 for essays, and $50-$75 for fiction. Deadline: January 10, 2021.

The Other Stories Podcast. Genre: Horror on theme of Lost Civilizations. Payment: $5. Deadline: January 11, 2021.

Wyldblood. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: January 14, 2021.
Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Layers of Meaning.  Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2021. 

Great Weather for MEDIA: Annual Print Anthology. Genres: Poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction. "Our focus is on the fearless, the unpredictable, and experimental but we do not have a set theme for our anthologies." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Stellium is a literary magazine centering Black queer and trans prose writers. (Other Black and QTPOC writers accepted.) Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: January 15, 2021.


The Periodical, Forlorn. Genre: Dark and creepy stories that give us an unusual spin on vampiric items or people. Payment: $15. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness. Genre: Speculative stories about queer witches, "the knife edge between the sacred and the profane, and infinite darkness." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope. Genre: True stories and poems. “We’re looking for everything from the serious to the silly. There will be 101 stories, so we can go wide and deep, and we’d like to share stories from Black women of all ages, from late teens to women in their nineties.” Payment: $200. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Channel. Genre: Short stories, poetry, and essays that engage with the natural world. Payment: €40 per poem and €40 per page of prose up to a total maximum fee of €120. Contributors will also receive a copy of whichever issue their work appears within. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Women Artists Datebook. Genre: Poems and artwork by women on theme of social justice. Payment: $70. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Rattle. Genre: Poetry. Theme: Tribute to Appalachian Poets. Payment: $200. Deadline: January 16, 2021.

Gypsum Sound Tales: COLP: Underground. Genre: Short stories, all genres on theme of Underground. Payment: AU$5.00 for stories under 2500 words / AU$10.00 for anything above 2500 words.  Deadline: January 17, 2021.

Ruminate. Genre: Short nonfiction (See themes). Payment: $20/400 words for prose, and $20/image for visual art. Deadline: January 20, 2021.

Electric Literature: The Commuter. Genre: Poetry, short fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 24, 2021. Opens January 18.

Electric Literature: Recommended Reading. Genre: Short fiction between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Payment: $300. Deadline: January 24, 2021. Opens January 18.

The Other Stories Podcast. Genre: Horror on theme of Government Experiments. Payment: $5. Deadline: January 25, 2021.

Luna Novella for Speculative Scotland. Restrictions: Open to all writers who call Scotland their home, irrespective of place of birth or ethnicity. All levels welcome (unpublished, published, solo or agented). Genre: Speculative fiction novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 26, 2021.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words. Payment: $3. Deadline: January 27, 2021.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Eldercare. Genre: True stories and poems. "Eldercare on an ongoing basis is a very difficult task, whether the care is in your home, the person’s home, or an outside facility. Eldercare requires the caregiver to be patient, kind, compassionate and giving. And having a little humor doesn’t hurt! Are you providing eldercare for a spouse, partner, or sibling due to dementia, chronic illness, permanent physical or mental disabilities, or just plain old age? Did you move in with an older family member to care for him or her? Are you part of the “sandwich” generation—caring for a parent and a child at the same time?" Payment: $200. Deadline: January 30, 2021.

Dragon Soul Press: Valiance. Genre: Fiction on theme of Valiance. "Female samurai are rarely written in books and are shrouded in mystery. With no limitation on genre, the only special requirement for this anthology is that a female samurai be the main character in each of these stories." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31st, 2021.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems on theme of Strange Births. Payment: Short Story-$20 upon acceptance and copy of magazine; Art-$15 for full page; Poems-$15 less than 200 words. Deadline: January 31st, 2021.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 4000 - 15,000 words. See themes. Payment: 30% of profits shared equally among contributors. Deadline: January 31st, 2021.

Shenandoah. Genre: Novel excerpts, short stories, and essays. Payment: $100 per 1000 words of prose up to $500. Deadline: January 31st, 2021. Opens January 15.

The Rumpus. Genre: Fiction, 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: January 31st, 2021.

Muswell Press: Queer Life, Queer Love. Genre: Non-fiction pieces, short stories, flash fiction and poetry. "What do we mean by Queer? We are looking for writing that explores characters and experiences beyond mainstream society. Celebrating the fascinating, the forbidden, the alien, the subversive, the view of the outsider." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2021.  

Please See Me. Genre: Poetry, creative nonfiction/essays, fiction/short stories/flash fiction, and digital media (photography, drawings, podcasts, and short films) on theme of Hope. "We are especially looking for content that connects us, make us feel something, or helps us see illness, wellness, health, or the healthcare environment differently." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31, 2021.  

The New Gothic Review. Genre: Gothic fiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Room. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art. "We invite creatives to submit work that centres storytelling from Indigenous perspectives, methods, and forms. We envision this special issue to encompass different communities coming together with a shared vision of Indigenous resurgence: one that exists through the act of making space for ourselves and each other, through community building, and through the radical act of living and loving. This issue encourages writing and visual art, as well as diverse non-literary art forms to be submitted." Payment: All contributors will be paid upon publication: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: January 31, 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: January 31, 2021.

Quommunicate Publishing: Hashtag Queer – LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Vol 4. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and scripts on LGBTQ+ themes. Payment: $5/page. Deadline: January 31, 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: January 31, 2021. Note: Submit early in January to avoid submission fees. Free submissions for black writers all year.

Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 31st, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees. 

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Volney Road Review. Genres: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 1, 2021.

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: February 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: February 1, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid fees.

42 Writing Contests in January 2021 - No entry fees

This January there are more than three dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.
If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year.
Good luck! 
(Photo credit: Pixabay)

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The Reedsy Writing Prompts Contest. Genre: Short story. (See prompts) Prize: $50. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,250 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition. Restrictions: The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

Tony Hillerman Prize. Sponsored by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Debut mystery novel set in Southwest.  Prize: $10,000 advance against royalties and publication, Deadline: January 2, 2021.


Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories.  Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 4, 2021.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2021.

Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: January 8, 2021 for works published between January 1 and April 30, 2021.

The Prism Prize for Climate Literature. Restrictions: Open to USA and UK writers. Genre: Full-length book: fiction, poetry, and literary non-fiction writing in the emerging genre of climate literature. Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: January 8, 2021. 

Northern California Book Awards. Restrictions: Books written by authors based in northern California and published for the first time the previous calendar year are eligible for nomination. Genre: Published book. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 10, 2021.


Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st December 2020. All entries must have a clear British link. Journalism and ‘exposing Britain’s social evils’. Prize:  £3,000.00. Deadline: January 11, 2021.

In the Mood for Love. Genre: Romantic short stories, CNF or nonfiction. Prize: 1st Place:$100 and Publication; 2nd Place: $50 and Publication; 3rd Place: $25 and Publication. Deadline: January 11, 2021.

Author Mentor Match. Genre: Completed YA or MG manuscript. Prize: Mentorship by published author. Deadline: January 11 - 14, 2021.


Arnold Adoff Poetry Awards. Genre: Poetry books for children and young adults. Novels in verse, memoirs in verse, collections of original poetry, and edited collections are all acceptable formats for the awards. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

The Lumiere Review Writing Contest. Genre: Poetry, prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

The Hillman Prize for Journalism. Genre: Journalism. "Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honored journalists, writers and public figures that pursue investigative journalism and public policy in service of the common good." Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 15, 2021 for Canadian entries, January 30, 2021 for US.


Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, all genres. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book - best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. Restrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Novel. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the year 2018 considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Walter Muir Whitehill Prize in Early American History. Genre: Essay on early American history (up to 1825), not previously published, with preference being given to New England subjects. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: January 15, 2021.

Novella-in-Flash Award. Genre: Flash fiction/Novella. 6000 to 18000 word limit – each flash should not be more than about 1000 words. Prize: £300 prize for the winner, two runner-up prizes of £100. Deadline: January 17, 2021.

Pink Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: January 17, 2021.

Bethesda Urban Partnership Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Essays. Length: 500 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 18, 2020.

Bethesda Magazine Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Short stories. Length: 4000 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 18, 2020.

Nine Dots Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors age 18+. Genre: Summary response to "What does it mean to be young in an ageing world?" The winner will expand on the ideas expressed in their summary response by participating in a seminar at the University of Cambridge and by writing a short book (25,000-40,000 words) to be published by Cambridge University Press. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: January 18, 2020.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. Restrictions: Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2015 Semester. Genre: Essay Topic: Articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself. 3,000 to 4,000 words. Prize: First Prize $5,000, 2nd Prize $2,500, 3rd Prize $1,500, two Honorable Mentions $500 each. Deadline: January 19, 2021. Read details here.

Poetry Society of Virginia - Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in Virginia, grades 3 - 12. Prize: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 19, 2021.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: January 22, 2021.

The Roadrunner Review. Restrictions: Open to students, graduate and undergraduate. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 21, 2021.

Lex Allen Literary Festival Prizes. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate college students. Genres: Poetry and fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 22, 2021.


Zocalo Public Square Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to US poets only. Genre: Poetry that evokes a connection to place. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 29, 2021. Note: Winning author gives up all rights.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction. Prize: $1000 scholarship.  Deadline: January 30, 2021.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book. Prize: $1000 and six months of editorial support from A Public Space editors to prepare a piece of prose for publication in the magazine. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.00.  Deadline: January 31, 2021.
The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2020.

The 2021 Stratford Literary Festival/Salariya Books Children's Picture Book Competition.  Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK and Ireland. Writers must be unpublished by a mainstream publisher. Genre: Children's picture book, unpublished. Prize: First prize: £1000.  Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2021.

Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2021. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

7 Great Writing Conferences in January 2021

Pixabay The new year kicks off with seven great conferences for writers. These conferences offer everything from intensive workshops and panels, to pitch sessions with agents and one-on-one tutorials. There is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. During the pandemic most of these are being held virtually at reduced rates. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early.

(Photo credit: Pixabay)

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Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. January 7-17, 2021: Forest Grove, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing.  Because of ongoing concerns due to COVID-19, this will be a virtual residency.

TMW January Jumpstart. January 9, 2021. “Fresh Slate/Fresh Page in 2021: This Zoom workshop will address the writer as beginner, even when we are experienced, even when we’ve already started or written most of a project. We will explore tools and exercises to help begin a project or begin a project again, generate or develop a new idea, or return to an old idea that for some reason stalled and see that project with new eyes. These tools and exercises can be used for fiction or nonfiction, prose or poetry, and be beneficial to writers of all levels from novice to seasoned author."

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 14-18, 2021, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft talks, one-on-one tutorials, featured readings, and open mics. Tuition, which includes some meals, ranges from $490 to $690, depending on the workshop. Will be held online.

Writing By Writers DRAFT. Application deadline: January 15, 2021: Lake Tahoe and Boulder, CO. DRAFT is an intensive program for 15 writers who are committed to completing a novel, memoir, short story, or essay collection over the course of two years. Whether starting a first draft, or working through a new revision, this program is appropriate for writers who want a rigorous and supportive community throughout their process.

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference. January 16-23, 2021, St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. The faculty includes poets Billy Collins, Gregory Pardlo; fiction writers Michael Koryta, John Dufresne; creative nonfiction writers Stephanie Elizondo Griest and Dani Shapiro; editor George Gibson (Grove/Atlantic); and agent Ann Rittenberg (Ann Rittenberg Lit Agency) and many more. Canceled for 2020, but a 2-day virtual event for applicants, will take place on Sunday and Monday, January 17 and 18.

Palm Beach Poetry Festival. January 18-23, 2021 , Delray Beach, Florida. Workshop Faculty Poets: David Baker, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Traci Brimhall, Eduardo C. Corral, Vievee Francis, Kevin Prufer, Martha Rhodes, and Tim Seibles. Special Guest is Gregory Orr accompanied by The Parkington Sisters; Poet-at-Large Brian Turner; and Conference Faculty: Lorna Knowles Blake, Sally Bliumis-Dunn, Nickole Brown, Jessica Jacobs, and Angela Narciso Torres. Will be held online.

Breakout Novel Graduate Learning Retreat. January 25 - February 31, 2021: Tampa, Florida. An intensive week of critiques, one-on-one sessions, query clinics, brainstorming and writing. Limited to 16 students. Will be held virtually.
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5 Agents Seeking Fantasy, YA, Kidlit, Nonfiction, Romance, Memoir, Mysteries, Thrillers and more

Here are five agents currently expanding their client lists. Barb Roose acquires adult fiction and non-fiction. Ameerah Holliday is primarily interested in young adult fiction, new adult fiction, fantasy/paranormal romance and novels in verse. For non-fiction she's interested in writing derived from performing arts or passion projects and discussions of mental health in minority communities. Jonathan Agin is looking for serious non-fiction—mainly history, politics, and popular culture. Amy Collins is seeking Business, How-To, Reference, History, Historical Memoir, Historical Fiction. Beth Marshea is actively seeking narrative nonfiction centering around cultural phenomena, adult fiction, YA, MG, and picture books.
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Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Barb Roose of Books & Such Literary Agency

Barb became a part of Books & Such in 2014 as a client represented by Rachelle Gardner. Barb saw herself as an author who didn’t know anything about the publishing industry other than being thrilled someone wanted to publish her book. Fast forward several years and a growing library of books with her name on the cover. Barb now wants to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams. The thrill of partnering with authors compelled Barb to say “yes” to joining the Books & Such Literary Management agent team in 2020. Her desire is to come alongside hopeful and established authors to create the most marketable, appealing manuscripts that will build lasting careers and influence readers. 

What she's looking for: Barb acquires adult fiction & non-fiction.

How to submit: Please send your query to representation@booksandsuch.com.

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Ms. Ameerah Holliday of Serendipity Literary Agency

Ameerah Holliday is a dancer and self-proclaimed poetess from San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from San Diego State University. Holliday is a former editorial assistant intern for Poetry International and currently serves as editorial director for the San Diego Poetry Annual and assistant editor for Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual.

What she's looking for: Ameerah is primarily interested in young adult fiction, new adult fiction, fantasy/paranormal romance and novels in verse. She looks for writing that explores diverse experiences with elements of intersectionality. Stories that take you on a journey through growth and she loves a good friendship story. For non-fiction she's interested in writing derived from performing arts or passion projects and discussions of mental health in minority communities.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.
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Mr. Jonathan Agin of O'Connor Literary Agency

Jonathan holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton and Columbia University. He started in publishing at Writers House and Maria Carvainis Agency, and has worked as a bookseller and as an educator in Brooklyn.

What he is seeking: Jonathan Agin is looking for serious non-fiction—mainly history, politics, and popular culture. His clients include journalists, academics, and other writers working to make complex, intriguing, sophisticated concepts accessible. He likes to see vivid portraits and timely ideas that spark conversation woven into a gripping narrative.

In fiction, he’s drawn mainly to realist, emotionally-resonant stories, often with a dark sense of humor and profoundly-flawed characters. Work steeped in issues of class, race, and migration are of particular interest, as is anything with folkloric or mythical roots.

How to submit: Send your query to jonathan@oconnor.nyc.

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Ms. Amy Collins of Talcott Notch Literary Services

"Besides being a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author and on the national advisory board for IngramSpark, I am a featured columnist for THEBOOKDESIGNER, WRITERS DIGEST MAGAZINE, IBPA, and a sought-after teacher at conferences world-wide. I teach and speak at many of the publishing industry’s top festivals and conferences including Publisher’s Weekly’s BookCon, Oklahoma Writer’s Conference, Author U, AAPS, Dublin Writers Conference, BAIPA, PALA, St. Louis Writer’s Conference, Writers Digest indieLAB, Henderson Writers Conference, and many others.Uniquely positioned to help authors because of my decades of marketing experience, I would love to work with authors who have a passion for business and the promotional side of this industry as well as the writing side. When not in the office, my focus is on the working poor and poverty elimination, and I spend a great deal of time personally and professionally working with and training women from disadvantaged backgrounds."

What she is seeking: Business, How-To, Reference, History, Historical Memoir, Historical Fiction.


How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Ms. Beth Marshea of Ladderbird Literary Agency

Beth is the owner and Lead Agent at Ladderbird Literary Agency. She has a BA in Literature and a Masters in Business Administration and is always looking for new and exciting ways to bring more diversity into publishing and beyond. Outside of agenting, Beth, teaches writing in her local community with a focus on bringing reluctant writers and readers into the magical world of books. She loves the outdoors and is also a certified lifeguard.

What she is seeking: For added emphasis, in all areas Beth would like to see more works from disabled writers, from LGBTQIA+ writers, from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, and all other groups who do not regularly get to see their stories in print. She would love to see more non-binary representation across categories as well. 

Beth is actively seeking narrative nonfiction centering around cultural phenomena, hidden or weird histories, issue-driven books, and books that offer new ways to look at spiritualism, witchcraft and paganism.

Fiction
Adult: Literary Fiction- She's looking for work with exceptional voice and beautiful style, unusual settings, and works that involve clever plots with dynamic characters. She wants to see work that brings to light new perspectives on old ideas.  Of particular interest are multi-generational stories that show family dynamics, stories centered around found family or friendship, Currently she is especially interested in seeing works by and about BIPOC communities, especially Latinx and Indigenous writers. 

Mainstream/Commercial Fiction- She'd love to see more multicultural Meet-Cutes/RomComs (especially LGBTQ+), Family Drama, stories about friendships of any kind, work that is light and fun, but emotionally poignant. 
Mysteries- Cozies with a twist. It might be an unusual setting, or simply written from BIPOC perspective to give this genre a new voice. 

Thrillers- She loves a thriller that really keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing! She's particularly looking for thrillers set outside of the United States. She does not love thrillers that feature violence towards women as their main plot. 

Fantasy- Books that are fast-paced with wonderful (ideally non-European) characters. She'd love to see more dark fantasies based on non-European folklore, especially Latinx (new imaginings of El Cucuy, El Sombrerón, Duendes, etc...)!

Science Fiction- She really wants grounded Sci-Fi with characters that are engrossing, tight plots, and really beautiful voice. She prefers stories set near future, featuring unusual tech, that are not focused around the US. She's not the best candidate for a space opera or any military Sci-Fi. 

Young Adult: Contemporary- She is very actively looking for stories about found family, the difficulties of friendship, LGBTQIA+ Rom Coms, anything that is really poignant and pulls at your heart strings, especially if it is set outside of the U.S.

Mysteries/Thrillers- Stories with high stakes and complex friendships stretched thin. In YA, Mysteries/Thrillers of almost any kind are appealing as long as they are emotionally focused and bring a new point of view. She is not a fan of the unreliable narrators.

Fantasy- Very similar to Adult Fantasy, she prefers dark folkloric tales, but is very glad to have a happy ending! Tales that feature friendships rather than romance as their base, but really dig in to the full emotions of that particular love and struggle. 

Middle Grade: She's looking for contemporary stories that  have fun, compelling characters dealing with real problems that Middle School kids face: friendship, divorce, gender identity, budding feelings of attraction or a lack of those feelings, feelings of isolation, and found family stories. She's also interested in Fantasy that explores similar themes. Books she's loved are: Lalani and the Distant Sea, Wonder, Pet, and Lily and Dunkin

Picture Books: She's dying to find books with really cute hooks like The Day the Crayons Quit, or nice messaging like Not Quite a Narwhal. She'd love to find a book that brings parents and kids together with language simple enough for a young child to read, but engrossing enough for an adult to enjoy. 

How to submit: Use her form here: https://querymanager.com/query/bethmarshea

4 New Agents Seeking Fantasy, YA, Horror, Memoir. Fiction, Nonfiction, Kidlit and more

Here are four new agents actively building their client lists. Elle Thompson is interested in a wide variety of genres within YA and Adult fiction. Jen Nadol is seeking fiction and general nonfiction as well as all types of children’s literature (picture books, middle grade, and young adult). Jolene Haley represents middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction. Haley Casey wants adult, YA, and MG fiction.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

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

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Ms. Elle Thompson of Triada US Literary Agency 

Elle Thompson joined Triada US as a literary assistant to Uwe Stender and is now looking to build her list with stories that are evocative, intelligent, and character-driven. She is interested in a wide variety of genres within YA and Adult fiction.
 
What she is seeking: In YA, she is most excited for high fantasy that features sweeping world-building and character-driven narratives; romantic fantasy filled with heists, fresh takes on lore, or lush adventure narratives; contemporary fiction that features relatable and charming voices going through periods of growth, discovery, and fresh takes on familiar problems; and horror/thriller, innovating on women as victims or antagonists, exploring terror in fresh ways, and examining how the myriad troubles of youth can be played out and communicated through the unknown. LGBTQIA+ representation is of particular importance to her across all genres.
 
In adult fiction, Elle is currently seeking smart horror rooted in terror (particularly with gothic elements, special attention paid to atmosphere, and horrors that set themselves around the house or that have a historical rooting); cozy mysteries that evoke the countryside and the home; literary fiction that explores grief, historically centered and character-driven stories, or relationships (platonic or romantic, and I am particularly interested in stories that center the relationships and friendships of women); historical fiction centering on individual moments of change for either the environment or the protagonist and that is strongly character-focused; dark academia takes on thrillers, horror, or evocative literary fiction; women’s fiction that offers stand-out protagonists and ensemble casts; and fantasy of all kinds.
 
How to submit: Please send an email with QUERY and the manuscript title in the email’s subject line. In the body of the email, please include your query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript. EMAIL: elle@triadaus.com_____________________


Ms. Jen Nadol of The Unter Agency 

Jen Nadol has worked in publishing for over ten years, first as a Young Adult author with novels published by Bloomsbury USA and Simon and Schuster. After a one year internship with Entangled Publishing, she joined The Unter Agency as an Associate Agent. Jen is originally from Reading, PA, graduated from American University with a BA in literature and has lived in Washington D.C., Boston, NYC, and now, an old farmhouse north of the city with her three sons. She is not currently considering picture books.
What she is seeking: Fiction and general nonfiction, with a particular interest in memoir, food/cooking, nature/environment, biography, pop culture, travel/adventure, true crime, politics and health/fitness and all types of children’s literature (picture books, middle grade, and young adult).

How to submit: Send your query to Jennifer@theunteragency.com. "Please know that we have received the query and will be in touch if we are interested in pursuing your work, but if you do not hear from us within 3 months, please assume that your work is out of active consideration."
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Ms. Jolene Haley of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Jolene Haley joined the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency in 2020 and has been in the publishing industry since 2012. She has worked for literary agencies and publishers like The Bent Agency, Corvisiero Literary Agency, Entangled Publishing, and Swoon Romance, and has an extensive background in marketing. Her well-rounded experience provides a unique perspective and a solid foundation to support authors as they build their careers.

What she is seeking: Jolene represents middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction. She is drawn to original concepts, compelling characters, and stories with plot twists that keep her guessing. In all genres, she welcomes diverse stories and characters that reflect the world we live in.

How to submit: Send your query letter to Jolene@MarsalLyonLiteraryAgency.com_____________________


Ms. Haley Casey of Creative Media Agency 

Haley Casey has always had a special place in her heart for stories, but it was when she wrote her first chapter book in fifth grade that her true love of literature was realized. In 2015, she graduated from The University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and that fall, she attended the Denver Publishing Institute. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote articles, edited podcasts, and even styled photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as a junior agent at CMA.

What she is seeking: Adult, YA, and MG fiction. "Send me anything that focuses on minority voices, including POC, LGBTQ+, disability, and mental health issues. I love thoughtful and meaningful magical realism for any age group, nuanced character relationships, urban fantasy, clever fairytale retellings, and reimagined classics "

How to submit: Send a query letter and first five pages of text to query@cmalit.com.

59 Calls for Submissions in December 2020 - Paying markets

There are nearly five dozen calls for submissions in December. 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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 Eternal Haunted Summer: Ekphrasis. Genre: Poetry, short fiction about a piece of art. "The work of art must be Pagan/polytheist in some way, or must be interpreted through a Pagan/polytheist lens."  Payment: $5. Deadline: December 1, 2020.
Revolute. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and micro reviews. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 1, 2020.


Arkansas Intergalactic Themed Issue. Genre: Science fiction and speculative prose and poetry.   Payment: $20 a printed page (capped at $250) and copies of the journal. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Slice. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poems on theme of Levity. “We look for work that plays off the theme, particularly in unexpected ways.” Payment: $400 for long stories and essays, $150 for flash fiction, and $100 for poems. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Artificial Divide. Genre: Short stories between 500 and 8,000 words. "We are looking for own-voice stories featuring blind or visually impaired protagonists, written by authors who are blind or visually impaired. The story need not be about being visually impaired or blind, and can be any genre of fiction.: Payment: 0.06CAD per word. Deadline: December 1, 2020. Will consider some previously published work.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Making Predictions.  Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Worldbuilding Fantasy Anthology. Genre: Fantasy; Between 3,500 and 7,000 words in length for short stories and between 9,000 and 15,000 words for novellas. (Shorter or longer works will be considered in cases of exceptional merit.) Theme: “Politics as Story Conflict.” Your story must include as a significant plot element a political conflict that makes up a key piece of the worldbuilding. Payment: $100 per story, $200 per novella. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Lagrange Books: Worldbuilding fantasy anthology. Genre: Fantasy on theme: “Politics as Story Conflict.” Payment: $100 for short stories, $200 for novellas. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

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: December 1, 2020.

Parabola: Secrets. Genre: Retellings of traditional stories: 500-1500 words, original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

FableCroft: The Art of Being Human. Genre: Short stories between 2,000 to 20,000 words long and poetry of any length. Stories must contain speculative elements – science fiction, fantasy and horror and their sub-genres are all welcome. "This anthology seeks to remind readers of the hope and beauty of the Arts, and the way our engagement with writing, music, film, theatre, artworks in all media, and craft of all kinds are at the core of our humanity." Payment: AUD$100.00 for stories of up to 10,000 words (payment for poetry and longer stories accepted will be negotiated with the author) and a contributor copy of the ebook. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of Angels. Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: December 3, 2020.

Fireside Quarterly. Genre: Short stories, nonfiction, art. Payment: 12.5 cents per word. Deadline: December 4, 2020. Opens November 30.

Prairie Fire: For the Love of Animals. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry on the theme For the Love of Animals. “Maybe more than ever, especially since the pandemic uprooted our normal lives, people have been turning to animals for comfort and joy as a way to reduce the anxiety many of us are feeling from isolation and disconnection. Payment: $0.10/word, up to $250 for prose, $40 for poetry (Canadian). Deadline: December 4, 2020. 

Cliffhanger: Amateur Magazine of Adventure and Daring. Genre: Adventure fiction stories. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 5,  2020.

Somewhere We Are Human: An Anthology on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings. Genre: Personal non-fiction essays and poems from migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people with experience in the United States. "We are especially interested in essays and poems from those in the midwest and Border towns. We are centering and giving priority to essays and poems from Indigenous migrants, Black migrants, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Arab communities.” Payment: The anthology will be published by HarperCollins in English and Spanish. Contributors will be compensated a min. of $800. Deadline: December 5,  2020.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of Red. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: December 6,  2020.

Into the Void. Genre: Poetry, fiction. Payment: $10 per poem, flash fiction or visual art piece, and $20 per long-form prose piece. Deadline: December 7,  2020. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

The Other Stories Podcast. Genre: Horror on theme of Secret Messages. Payment: $5. Deadline: December 7, 2020.

Copper Nickel. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and translation folios. Payment: $30 per printed page + two copies of the issue in which the author’s work appears + a one-year subscription. Deadline: December 15,  2020. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 600 - 2,000 words. See themes. Payment: 30% of profits shared equally among contributors. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, "and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way.” Payment: $50. Deadline: December 15, 2020.


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: December 15, 2020.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry on theme of Travel. Payment: US 3¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25. Payment is on publication. Deadline: December 15, 2020.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens. Restrictions: Open to preteens, teens, and men and women under age 35. Genre: True stories and poems. "We’re looking for everything, from serious to silly. What was your experience like as a preteen? Did you fit in with the popular crowd, or were you left behind to eat your peanut butter and jelly in the library? What kind of humorous or embarrassing things happened to you when you were that age?" Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens. Restrictions: Open to preteens, teens, and men and women under age 35. Genre: True stories and poems. "We’re looking for everything, from serious to silly. What was your experience like as a teenager? Did you fit in with the popular crowd, or were you left behind to eat your peanut butter and jelly in the library? What kind of humorous or embarrassing things happened to you when you were that age?" Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Women Artists Datebook. Genre: Poems that "promote activism and/or healing" by writers who self-identify as women, to be included in a spiral-bound datebook with original art. Payment: $70.   Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World. Genre: Short stories about fictional haunted houses. Payment: 2 cents per word and one contributor copy in each of all published formats. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Middle House Review: Height Chart. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 19, 2020.

Newfound: Inner Spaces. Genre: Fiction, Flash, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Visual Arts on theme of Inner Spaces. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 21, 2020.

Story Seed Vault. Genre: Microfiction tweets based on science. Payment: Short Fiction (150CH/Deadline: December  24, 2020. Opens on the 10th.

Antimony and Elder Lace Press: To Live Again… Genre: Fiction on theme To Live Again. Word Count: 1,000-7,500 words. “Tho doesn’t want to live again? The idea of resurrection and conquering death is something that can be seen in many myths and legends of cultures around the world. This anthology will deal with the idea of resurrection, and of course, it’s aftermath.” Payment: $0.01 per word and a percentage of royalties. Payment made upon publication. Deadline: December 25, 2020.

Cemetery Gates Media. Genre: Horror flash fiction, 500-1,000 words. See themes. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: December 26, 2020, or until filled.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: December 28, 2020.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 4000 - 15,000 words. See themes. Payment: 30% of profits shared equally among contributors. Deadline: December 30, 2020.

Bone & Ink Press. Genre: Creative non-fiction, poetry, and fiction chapbooks. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Red Cape Anthologies: I is for Internet. Genre: Horror. "We need short horror stories exploring the dark side of the Internet – think online dating gone wrong, killers for hire, cyber bullying etc." Payment:  £10. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Dead Fish Books: Universe of Attractions. Genre: Fantasy/science fiction/speculative stories featuring a cross-species romance. Payment: $5 + Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Lonely Cryptid Media. Genre: Poetry and prose on theme Resist with Every Inch and Every Breath.   Payment: $25 for unpublished writing, $15 for reprints. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

WE’RE HERE: THE BEST QUEER SPECULATIVE FICTION 2020. Genre: Queer speculative fiction. Submissions are open for all speculative work published in 2020 under 17,500 words that deals either implicitly or explicitly with queerness. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing: Lost Contact. Genre: Horror on theme of Lost Contact.   Payment: $0.05/word. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties. Genre: Crime fiction stories set during the 1960s. The ideal submission will be approximately 5,000 words. Payment: Royalties. 
Deadline: December 31, 2020.
Ninth Letter. Genre: Prose and poetry. Payment: $25 per printed page, with a maximum payment of $150, as well as two complimentary copies of the issue in which the work appears. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Cincinnati Review. Genre: Prose and poetry. Payment: $25/page for prose in journal; $30/page for poetry in journal. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Existere. Genre: Poetry, prose, postcards, art. Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Dragon Soul Press: Spirit. Genre: Shifters. "Any animal shifters, settings, genres, etc are acceptable. All stories must include a main or secondary character that does not have a heterosexual preference." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2020. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee. 

Branching Realities. Genre: Speculative Fiction and Poetry on theme of The Closet. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Workers Write! Literary Journal: Stories from the Workplace. Genre: Stories and poems from the workplace. Payment: $5 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Podcastle. Genre: Fantasy podcast. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word for original; $100 for reprints, $20 for flash fiction reprints. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Zombies Need Brains: THE MODERN DEITY’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HUMANITY, DERELICT, and WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy. Payment: 8 cents/word.   Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Chiral Mad 5. Restrictions: Underrepresented demographics only to submit – POC, LGBTQIA+, female (see guidelines). Genre: Speculative fiction, with all proceeds going to the Black Lives Matter movement. Payment: $0.06/word for fiction, $1/line for poetry. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Modern Poetry in Translation. Genre: Translations of poetry. Send up to six poems. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Allegory. Genre: Speculative fiction and nonfiction about the business of writing. Payment: $15.  Deadline: December 31, 2020. Accepts reprints.

Lost Contact: A New Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror on theme of Lost Contact. Payment: 5 cents per word. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Year’s Best Hardcore Horror. Genre: Horror. They want hardcore horror stories that were published in 2020. Stories should be up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.01/word, capped at $60. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

The New York Times: Modern Love. Genre: Essay on modern love. Payment: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Arc Poetry Magazine. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 CAD per page. Deadline: December 31, 2020. 

Curiouser. Genre: Poetry and short fiction up to 5,000 words in length. Payment:$25 per poem, and from $50-125 (Australian) for short prose. Deadline: December 31, 2020. 

And more ... 

Cast of Wonders Podcast. Genre: Speculative fiction for teens. Length: 3,000 words max. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2021.

50 Writing Contests in December 2020 - No entry fees

This December there are more than four dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $45,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.
If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year.
Good luck! 
(Photo credit: Pixabay)
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Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. Restrictions: Open to published writers who are writing from the region. Genres: All. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 1, 2020. 
Louise Beech. Genre: Short story of no more than 2050 words. Prize: £50. Deadline: December 1, 2020. 

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry. Restrictions: Open to African poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction book in progress. The project should address the history and/or legacy – broadly defined – of the American Revolution and the nation’s founding ideas. It might focus on the founding era itself, or on the myriad ways the questions that preoccupied the nation’s founders have shaped America’s later history. Fellowship amount: $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency (during the academic year 2018-2019) in historic Chestertown, MD. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Poetry Center at Smith College Prize. Restrictions: Open to sophomore or junior high school girls in New England. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

The Schneider Family Book Award is sponsored by the American Library Association. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Prize: Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0-10), middle school (age 11-13) and teens (age 13-18). (Age groupings are approximations).  Genre: May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction is offered annually to the best book in American historical fiction that is both excellent fiction and excellent history. Prize: $1.000.    Deadline: December 1, 2020.

The Pushcart Prize honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in small presses and literary magazines. Magazine and small press editors may nominate up to six works. Pushcart Press publishes yearly anthologies of the winning submissions. Prize: Publication. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Law & Technology International Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to all college and university students around the world. Genre: Essay. (See topics.) Prize: £1,500. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. Restrictions: Open to published writers who are writing from the region. Genres: All. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction. Genre: Military fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: December 1, 2020.

Polar Expressions Publications Competition. Restrictions: Open to Canadian students in kindergarten through grade twelve. Genre: Short Story. Prize: $300, $200, $100. Deadline: December 4, 2020.

The Sunday Times Audible Story Award. Restrictions: Open to any author who has been published in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Short stories of 6000 words or less. Prize: £30,000. Deadline: December 4, 2020.

Grub Street: Writing Black Joy: True Stories From Real People. Restrictions: Open to any resident over the age of 18 in New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine) and New York state. Genre: True stories between 500 and 1000 words. Submissions can be in any genre: prose, poetry, or cross-genre. "During a time when the news is mostly dispiriting, we want to read true stories about joy – specifically Black joy: moments, scenes, memories, that celebrate Black families, relationships, culture, and history. We are looking for a vivid story that is transporting and meaningful – maybe funny, maybe poignant, but always with joy at its center." Prize: The winner will receive $1000, 2nd place $750, and 3rd place $500. Deadline: December 6, 2020. (Deadline extended)

Literature Matters. Restrictions: UK residents. Genre: "Awards will be given to individual writers or other literary creators, recognising their past achievements and providing them with financial support to undertake a proposed new piece of writing or literary project. Launched as part of the RSL’s new Literature Matters programme, priority will be given to proposals which (a) will help connect with audiences or topics outside the usual reach of literature, and/or (b) will help generate public discussion about why literature matters." Award: £20,000. Deadline: December 7, 2020.

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. Genre: Nonfiction book. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. Award: $25,000.  Deadline: December 9, 2020.

Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize is sponsored by the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival. Genre: Non-fiction essay between 4 to 10 pages, set in Brooklyn about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. (Up to 2500 words). Prize: $500. Deadline: December 10, 2020.

Friends of American Writers. Restrictions: The author must be a resident (or previously have been a resident for approximately five years) of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin; or the locale of the book must be in a region identified above. The author must not have published more than three books under his/her own pen name. Genres: Books can be fiction or creative non-fiction and published in 2020. Self-published and e-Books are not eligible. Prize: $500 - $2000. Deadline: December 10, 2020.

Flo Gault Student Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Full-time undergraduate college students in Kentucky. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 11, 2020.  

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry.  Prize: $5000. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Roswell Award for Short Science Fiction. Genre: Science fiction, 1500 words max. Prize: $500. Finalists have their stories read by celebrities in Hollywood. Deadline: December 15, 2020.

Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award in Literary Nonfiction (Kansas Book Award). Restrictions: Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim. Genre: Novel or collection of short stories published within the last three years. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 15, 2020.
Spark Award: Held by SCBWI , open to members of SCBWI who are self-published. Genres: Fiction and nonfiction. Prize: Envy. The SCBWI is our most prestigious national organization (US) for children's book and YA writers. Deadline: December 19, 2020.

New York Encounter Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry on the theme "When Reality Hits." Prize:  Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 will be awarded to first, second and third place poems.  Deadline: December 19, 2020.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published in 2020. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 30, 2020.

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art. Prize: 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity. Deadline: December 30, 2020.

Ezra Jack Keats Children's Book Award. Genre: Published or self-published picture books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures. Awards are given for both fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, Griffin Poetry Prize. Restrictions: One prize goes to a living Canadian poet or translator, the other to a living poet or translator from any country, which may include Canada. Genre: Poetry. Books must have been published in English during the calendar year preceding the year of the award. Prize: C$200,000, is awarded annually in two categories – International and Canadian. Each prize is worth C$65,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction prose, up to 17,000 words. Prize: $1,000 with $5,000 grand prize. Deadline: December 31, 2020. Read details HERE.

The Lyric College Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

The Caribbean Writer Prize. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays or one act plays which explore the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora, written by a US or UK Virgin Islands resident accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer during the deadline year. 2020 theme: "Diasporic Rhythms: Interrogating the Past, Imagining a Future.”  Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $300.  Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Center Field of Gravity Award. Genre: Science-fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories or long-form poems up to but not exceeding 17,000 words. Prize: $200. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

USNI General Prize Essay Contest. Restrictions: Authors must be USNI members or those eligible for membership. Genre: Essay "to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.” Prize: $6,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. Sponsored by Rattle. Genre: Poetry. All published submissions during the year are considered for the prize. Follow their regular submission guidelines. Prize: $2,000.  Deadline: December 31, 2020.

The Four Quartets Prize. Genre: unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook. Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were brought together and they form a complete sequence. Prize: Three finalists will receive $1,000 each. The winner will receive an additional $20,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award.  Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Cecil Hemley Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Lyric poem that addresses a philosophical or epistemological concern. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Lucille Medwick Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Original poem in any form on a humanitarian theme. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Lyric Poetry Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: A lyric poem on any subject. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

The Writer Magazine/Emily Dickinson Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: A poem inspired by Dickinson though not necessarily in her style. Prize: $250. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

George Bogin Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry that takes a stand against oppression. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Robert H. Winner Memorial Award. Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. There is a charge of $15 for non-members. Open to mid-career poets who have not had substantial recognition, and is over forty, and who have published no more than one book. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Story of interest to Jewish women. Prize: $250.  Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association. BCALA presents four awards to an African American writer published in the United States during the previous year: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction, one for a first novelist and one for poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. Prize: Four $500.00 awards. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Card Contest. Genre: Poem. Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Finalists must show citizenship in an eligible country and enrollment in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country to be confirmed for award.  Genre: Essay on topic: How can laws promoting gender and disability rights support economic development? Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2020.  You must register by October 31 .

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Recen­t­­ly pub­­lished or soon to be pub­lished nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

Society of Classical Poets, Poetry Translation Competition. Genre: Metered translation of a poem from the Romantic period or earlier. Prize: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2020.