Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 48

22 Writing Contests in September 2018 - No Entry Fees

There are nearly two dozen writing contests in September, none of which charge entry fees. This month there are contests for short stories, essays, poetry, and for both published and unpublished full-length works. Prizes range from a gift basket to $25,000. As always, read the guidelines carefully. Many contests have geographical and age restrictions.

If you want to get an idea of what kinds of contests are offered throughout the year, take a look at Free Contests. The majority of these contests are yearly events. When it comes to contests, it's always a good idea to plan ahead.
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The Critical Junior Poet’s Award. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18.  Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

Cheshire Prize for Literature. Restrictions: The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire, UK. Genre: Original and previously unpublished children's story or poem. Prize: £2,000. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

PEN Prison Writing Contest. Restrictions: Anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison in the year before the September 1 deadline is eligible to enter. Genres: Poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction. Prize: $200 top prize per category. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

Wrightwood Literary Festival Young Poets Competition. Restrictions: Open to school-aged poets in the Tri-Community area and beyond (Wrightwood, CA). Genre: Poetry. Prize: Gift basket and invitation to read at the festival. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

Helen Schaible Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $50, 2nd Prize $35, 3rd Prize $15, three Honorable Mentions, three Special Recognitions. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

Pitch America is a pitch contest created by Laura Pohl to focus on submissions and books produced by Latino voices. This contest will feature the first 500 words and the 35-word pitch of completed and polished manuscripts written by Latinos. Please keep it in mind that this exclusively for Latino writers. Prize: Chance at representation. Deadline: September 5, 2018.

Cullman Center Fellowships. Fellowship. The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Award: A stipend of up to $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources. Deadline: September 8, 2018.

Princemere Poetry Prize. Frequency: Annual prize. Genre: Poetry in any style. Prize: $300.   Deadline: September 11, 2018.

Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets. Restrictions: Poetry poetry pamphlet must be published in the UK between 1st July 2016 and 31st July 2017. Genre: Poetry. Prize:  £5,000.   Deadline: September 13, 2018.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story on theme: Women’s Writes. Prize: £200.  Deadline: September 15, 2018.

Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. Genre: Scholarly essay. All work submitted must have been written or published within the last year. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: September 15, 2018.

Brilliant Flash Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction. Word limit: 300 words, excluding title. Prize: 50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency), 25 euro second prize, 15 euro third prize.   Deadline: September 15, 2018.

Stories Out of School. Genre: Flash fiction. Prize: First-prize winners receive $1000; second-prize winners, $500. Both will be published online by Tin House. Deadline: September 16, 2018.

Past Loves Day Story Contest. Genre: Short personal essay. "Nearly everyone has memories of a former sweetheart. Write your true story of an earlier love, in no more than 700 words. Tell us about someone whose memory brings a smile or a tear." Prize: $100 top prize. Deadline: September 17, 2018.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Genre: Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize: CAN $25,000.00. Deadline: Books published between June 20 and September 18 must be received by September 19, 2018.

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction. Deadline: September 19, 2018.

Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards. Genre: Short story collection. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press, royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2018.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions: The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre: Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000.  Deadline: September 30, 2018.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2018.

Salisbury Story Prize. Genre: Short fiction (500 words) on theme of "Umbrellas" or "Doves." Open to ages 4 and up. Prize: £50 for children to be spent at Waterstones. Free online course for adults.  Deadline: September 30, 2018.

Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize. Restrictions:Open to writers of Caribbean birth or citizenship, living and working in the Anglophone Caribbean and writing in English, over the age of 18 by 30 September, 2018 and have no previously published a book-length work in the genre in which they are making a submission.Genre: Prose fiction work in progress. Prize: $20,000TT (or the equivalent in US dollars). Deadline: September 30, 2018.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Story of interest to Jewish women. Prize: $250.    Deadline: September 30, 2018.

35 Writing Conferences in September 2018

Attending a conference is one of the best things you can do for your writing career. Nothing is a better use of your time and money than networking with writers, industry professionals, and agents.

If you can’t make your ideal conference this year, plan ahead for next year. Many conferences are yearly events. Planning ahead also gives you an opportunity to apply for the scholarships offered by some of these conferences. You can find a comprehensive list of conferences throughout the year here: Writing Conferences.

MASTER CLASS. September 1–8, 2018: Austerlitz, NY. Instructors: Carole Maso, Jonny Diamond. “Join us for a week of writing workshops, publishing seminars, and manuscript evaluations at our beautiful Berkshires campus.”

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. Sept. 6–9, 2018: Denver, CO. Keynote Speakers: James Scott Bell, Kate Moretti, and Christopher Paolini. Faculty includes a wide variety of published authors, marketers, editors, and agents. Opportunities to pitch projects to agents and editors.

2018 LoonSong Retreat. September 6 -10, 2018: Cook, Minnesota. Award winning writers and teachers: Nikki Grimes, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Bruce Coville, Marion Dane Bauer, Cheryl Klein and more in an intimate setting for those who write for Children and Young Adults.

Connecticut Fiction Fest. Sponsored by Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Sept. 7–9, 2018: Norwalk, CT. Keynote speaker: Bob Mayer. Many agents and editors. 20+ workshops, suitable for all genres and skill levels, full suspense-mystery track, manuscript critiques, opportunities to pitch major agents and editors.

49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat. Sept. 7–9, 2018, Tutka Bay, Alaska. Guest Instructor: Hannah Tinti.

Poets on the Coast. Sept. 7- 9, 2018: La Conner, Washington. Workshop, one-on-one mentoring, craft classes, and yoga for women poets. The faculty includes poets Kelli Russell Agodon and Susan Rich. Tuition, which does not include lodging or meals, is $429. (Until June 30)

San Francisco Writing for Change. Sept 8, 2018: San Francisco, CA. This event is for writers of nonfiction AND fiction who want to change the world for the better through their work.

Slice Literary Writers’ Conference. Sept 8–9, 2018: Brooklyn, NY. Craft workshops, panels, and one-on-one agent meetings for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Participating authors include fiction writers Patricia Park and Ted Thompson and nonfiction writers Alexander Chee and Porochista Khakpour. Participating publishing professionals include agents Sarah Bowlin (Aevitas Creative Management), Michelle Brower (Aevitas Creative Management), Linda Camacho (Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency), Reiko Davis (DeFiore & Company), Stephanie Delman (Greenburger Associates), Cherise Fisher (Wendy Sherman Associates), Erin Harris (Folio Literary Management), Annie Hwang (Folio Literary Management), Jacqueline Ko (Wylie Agency), Sarah LaPolla (Bradford Literary Agency), Kate McKean (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency), Ayesha Pande (Ayesha Pande Literary), Anjali Singh (Ayesha Pande Literary), DongWon Song (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency), Saba Sulaiman (Talcott Notch Literary), and Kent D. Wolf (Friedrich Agency). The cost of the conference is $350 for both days or $250 for one day; students receive a $50 discount. Agent meetings are an additional $100 to $200; workshops are $50.
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The Journey: A Crash Course in How to Write Books for Children 2018. Sept 9–12, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. “Just how do you write a children’s book–where do you start? How long does it take? What are the steps to publication? How do you get started? This workshop will answer these questions, and more! Picture book author/illustrator Don Tate and picture book author Carmen Oliver, and their special guests, will give you information and tools that will encourage you to savor your process and embrace your journey to publication.”

UCLA Extension Writing Retreat at Lake Arrowhead. Sept 9–14, 2018: Lake Arrowhead, CA. Join a small group of committed writers for four full days of uninterrupted writing time at UCLA’s beautiful conference center at Lake Arrowhead. Participants will enjoy private bedrooms, private baths, and three gourmet meals each day, along with complimentary beverages all day long. The Writers’ Program will coordinate some structured activities, including pre-dinner social hours and nightly open mic events, but your time will ultimately be yours to accomplish your writing goals at your own pace.

Brooklyn Book Festival. September 10 -17, 2018: Brooklyn, NY. Readings, panels, workshops, and a book fair. This year BKBF will feature authors including Rumaan Alam, Martin Amis Jennifer Egan, Tayari Jones, Akwaeke Emezi, Laura Lippmann, Terry McMillan, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, Greg Pardlo, Hermione Hoby, A.M. Homes, April Ryan, Alexander Chee and Amber Tamblyn and hundreds more! All events are free and open to the public.

Hampton Roads Writers Tenth Annual Writers’ Conference. Sept 13 -15, 2018: Virginia Beach, Virginia. 1 evening plus 2-full days of workshops, 2 best-selling keynoters, 2 first ten-lines critique sessions, 60 workshops during 10 breakout sessions, ten-minute agent and/or publisher pitches, cash prize contests for short fiction, short nonfiction, and poetry, complimentary 90-minute cocktail social, 2-hour open mic, optional 4-hour add-on WRITER’S BOOT CAMP SESSION (pre-conference); workshops cover fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, screenwriting, songwriting, marketing, and the business of getting published. A book shop, book signings, and many networking opportunities.

PNWA Conference. September 13–16, 2018, Seattle, Washington, Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. More than 50 seminars, editor/agent forums & appointments, practice pitching, keynote and featured speakers, reception, awards ceremony. Many agents and editors attending.

Kentucky Women Writers Conference, Sept. 13–16, 2018: Lexington, KY.The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is the longest running literary festival of women in the nation. About 1,000 individuals attend the conference each year. Daytime sessions attract about 150 writers at all stages of development, and free evening events gather a lively community of readers. Most come seeking literary sisterhood, help with a manuscript, or practical advice about the publishing industry. Many are students or beginning writers.

Florida Heritage Book Festival & Writers Conference. Sept 14–15, 2018: St. Augustine, Florida. Among this year’s scheduled presenters are Laura Lee Smith, James O. Born, Jeff Klinkenburg, Robert Macomber, Keynote Luncheon Speaker, Rod Martinez, Mary Custureri, representing Taylor and Seale Publishing Company. and Allan Marcil.

Unicorn Writers’ Conference, September 15, 2018, Purchase, NY. Make connections and get feedback with dozens of opportunities for one-on-one face time with industry insiders, including: One-on-one manuscript reading and feed-back sessions with agents and editors, Networking breakfast, lunch and dinner, After-conference networking party. Perfect Your Craft with a choice of seven workshops to attend from over thirty different sessions offered in: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Mystery, Poetry, Screenwriting, Children’s Literature, Romance, Horror/Sci-Fi. Get the insider’s edge with a vast selection of rare, how-to tutorials from every department within a publishing company, including: Marketing/Publicity, Art/Production, Contracts, Special sales, Media training, Pitching Your Work, How to appeal to agents and editors, Various writing workshops, Literary agents and editors — discussion panels.

Breakout Novel Intensive 2.0. September 17–23, 2018: Tampa, Florida. Included are new or revised units on story discovery, strong voice, standout characters, the inner journey, compelling story worlds, beautiful writing, creating resonance and finding meaning in both story and process. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more. Instructor: Donald Maass.

Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop. September 19–23, 2018: Sterling,Virginia. This event is now enhanced with new pre-event studies and pre-event phone consultation, a broader range of faculty, an array of vital workshops, as well as extended personal time with business professionals. “You can be as goal-oriented or as hesitant in approach as you wish. You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, have your work read by our writer mentors, attend our workshops, pitch a literary agent or two, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer.

Ridgefield Writers Conference. Sept 21, 2018: Ridgefield, CT. Faculty-led workshops; agent, editor and publisher panels; networking; readings; and post-conference resources.

North Coast Redwoods Writers’ Conference. Sept 21–22, 2018: Crescent City, CA. Workshops on writing, poetry, memoir, editing, social media, marketing, fiction, submitting.

Be a Better Freelancer Sept 21–23, 2018: Rochester NY. Annual conference for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, graphic artists, website managers and developers, etc., with presenters offering guidance and tips on marketing, promotions, new skills and other business aspects of freelancing. Focus: Nonfiction.

ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival at Boulder. Sept 21–23, 2018: Boulder, CO. Presentations, panels, readings, and musicperformances. In an uplifting celebration of the mind and heart, authors from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe will take part in provocative conversations about life and society, economics and the arts, equity, freedom, and the care of our planet. In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community.

A Weekend For Words. Sept 21–23, 2018: Irvine, CA. 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. Costs $325-$425. Manuscript critique & one-on-one consultation additional.

The Pacific Coast Children’s Novel Workshop & Retreat. Sept 21–23, 2018: Santa Cruz, CA. Intensive seminar offers editor or agent feedback on selected whole-novel manuscripts, including two in-person consults with your mentor. Editor and agent critiques on your polished, opening chapters. Faculty includes Chris Crutcher, Agent Molly Ker Hawn, and Editor Krista Vitola.

Tucson Self-Publishing Expo. September 22, 2018, Tucson, AZ. Five workshops and a display area for vendors to present products and services as well as answer questions related to self-publishing and book marketing. This year’s event will include Sandra Beckwith from Build Book Buzz, the do-it-yourself book marketing site.

2018 Flathead River Writers Conference. Sept 22–23, 2018: Kalispell, MT. Writers help writers in this two day conference packed with energizing speakers and workshops. Features:Workshops on VOICE, HOOK, Your WORLD & TRIBE, MS preparation & submission, working with agents, movie deals, media use, & children’s book publishing. Past presenters: Susan Adrian, Christine Carbo, Kathy Dunnehoff, Larry J. Martin, Jess Owen. Agents: Kate Testerman and Cindy Uh.

3rd Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference. Sept 22–23, 2018, Decatur, GA. In addition to attending sessions, you will have the opportunity to schedule a five-minute one-on-one session with an agent.

Breakout Novel Intensive 2.0. September 23–29, 2018: San Antonio, Texas. Included are new or revised units on story discovery, strong voice, standout characters, the inner journey, compelling story worlds, beautiful writing, creating resonance and finding meaning in both story and process. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more. Instructor: Donald Maass.

Taking Your Writing & Art to New Places: Published Authors and Illustrators at Work 2018. September 24–28, 2018. Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. With this workshop, we are aiming for meaningful conversation about how to continue to push the boundaries of our work. How do we acknowledge the power of our recurring themes and at the same time find ways to break new ground and find innovation?

New York Pitch Conference. Sept 27–30, 2018: New York, NY. Features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.Workshops, homework & pitch training, agent/editor feedback, market study, publication plan.

Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference. Sept 28–29, 2018, Columbus, GA, “Whether you write prose or poetry you can explore capturing thoughts, observations, and reflections with the written word. The sessions will be criticism free. You will be exposed to various writers and their styles, and work on editing, polishing and expanding writings into something that is reflective of your personality and talents. You should leave with a piece of original work and a sense of writing as an avenue to discovering self.”

LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 28–30, 2018, Tieton, WA. The faculty includes poets Rick Barot, Jennifer Boyden, Kimberly Burwick, Kevin Goodan, Cindy Williams Gutiérrez, Christopher Howell, Jonathan Johnson, Douglas Manuel, Kevin Prufer, Katrina Roberts, Raul Sanchez, Imani Sims, and Joanna Thomas.

GO LONG: Sonnet Crowns, Poem Sequences, and Long Poems. September 28 to October 1, 2018: Austerlitz, NY. Instructor: Danez Smith. “What happens to a poem when it explodes into many? What waits for us as writers half way through a long poem? Do we have the legs and stamina to make it to the end? What tactics can help up get there? “Go Long” is a generative workshop for built to investigate the potential of crowns, sequences, invented forms, and long poems to unveil our deeper thinking that cannot be done with brevity. Over the course of our time together, we will write, experiment, and edit towards a single, large work while guided through our group interrogations of long poems written by an array of contemporary and legendary poets.”

Wrightwood Literary Festival. September 29–30, 2018: Wrightwood, CA. Features workshops and readings by new guest faculty. A keynote address will be given by award-winning Young Adult author and poet Ron Koertge. Registration opens in the summer.
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DIY Repair Kit For Writers: Get YourFixer-Upper Ready To Sell 2018. September 30 — October 3, 2018, Honesdale, PA. For published and pre-published authors who have a novel that needs to be renovated for sale. Have a fixer-upper manuscript? One with good bones but in need of some TLC? Then this workshop is for you! Join authors Mitali Perkins and Susan Campbell Bartoletti as they guide you through renovation boot camp. Each morning will begin with craft lessons focused on the foundational elements of your novel, like dialogue, character, and setting. Follow your craft sessions with mentor-directed evaluations of your work, turning from fundamental elements to big-picture questions. After muddling through the big questions, you will get to work, dividing your story scene by scene and starting your repair. You will have feedback from your mentors and peers at every step of the way at this hands-on workshop for novelists ready to deconstruct and rebuild their manuscripts.

20 Paying Markets for Poetry

If you write poetry, getting published is usually not a problem. The difficulty is getting paid. There are countless venues for poems that pay nothing, or that pay a token fee ($5 - $10).

Do not despair, poets! Many magazines are more than willing to pay you more than it would cost to buy a cup of coffee.

Here are twenty noteworthy publications that pay in the professional range for poetry. Most of these also accept fiction and creative nonfiction, and many are more than happy to nominate accepted poems for prizes.

If you are not concerned about how much you get paid, see 325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction for many more paying markets.


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Poetry Magazine

Poetry is a highly prestigious publication, and therefore has a high rejection rate. But do not be afraid to give it a whirl. (The worst that can happen is that they will cut your head off and stick it on a pole as a warning to other poets.) Payment: $10 per line (with a minimum payment of $300), and $150 per page of prose, for first serial rights. Closed to submissions during the month of August.

The Kenyon Review

This is another long-standing publication with a great reputation. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction, plays and creative nonfiction. Payment: Professional rate. Reading period September 15th through November 1st, 2018.

Qu

Qu is put out by the MFA program in Queens University in Charlotte, NC. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction, play excerpts. and essays. Payment: $50 per poem. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Agni

Agni is a respected publication put out by Boston University. They publish poetry, short fiction, and essays. Payment: $40 per page for poetry, with a $300 maximum. Reading period: September 1st to May 31st.

Antioch Review

Founded in 1941, the Antioch Review is one of the oldest, continuously publishing literary magazines in America. In addition to poetry, the Antioch Review publishes short stories and creative nonfiction. Payment: $20.00 per printed page. Reading period: September 1st to May 31st. Snail mail submissions only.

The Atlantic


The Atlantic is a highly prestigious magazine founded in 1857 as The Atlantic Monthly in Boston,  They always interested in great nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Payment: Professional rates. To submit poetry, send your manuscript to: poetry@theatlantic.com.

Blackbird

Founded in 2002 as a joint venture of the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of English and New Virginia Review, Inc., Blackbird publishes poetry, plays, fiction, and CNF. Payment: Semi-professional rates. Reading period: August 1, 2018 through March 15, 2019.

The Baltimore Review

The Baltimore Review is a nationally distributed journal founded in 1996. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction and CNF. Payment: $40. Submission periods are August 1 through November 30 and February 1 through May 31.

carte blanche 

"Our mandate is to provide a venue for narrative of all forms from fiction and nonfiction, to poetry and photo essays." Payment: Honorarium. Submission period: October 1 to December 31, 2018.


The Cincinnati Review 

The Cincinnati Review is put out by the University of Cincinnati. They also accept fiction and nonfiction. Payment: $30/page for poetry. Reading period: September 1 to March 1.


Confrontation Magazine

Confrontation is put out by Long Island University. hey also accept fiction and creative nonfiction. Payment: $75-$100. Reading period: August 16 to April 15. 

Contrary

"We believe poetry is contrary by nature, always defying, always tonguing the tang of novelty. We look especially for plurality of meaning, for dual reverberation of beauty and concern. Contrary’s poetry in particular often mimics the effects of fiction or commentary." Payment: For original commentary, fiction, and poetry, Contrary Magazine pays $20 per author.


Crannóg

Crannóg is an Irish magazine accepting fiction and poetry. Payment: €30 per poem. Submissions are open in the month of: Nov for Feb issue. March for June issue. July for October issue.

Event

"We love poems that are lyrical without being overwrought, and are profound without being pretentious. We look for honesty of emotion, and images that arrest us." Event also accepts fiction. Payment: $35/page, up to a maximum of $500, along with two copies of the issue.

The Fiddlehead

The Fiddlehead is open to good writing in English or translations into English from all over the world and in a variety of styles, including experimental genres. "Our editors are always happy to see new unsolicited works in fiction, including excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, and poetry. We particularly welcome submissions from Indigenous writers, writers of colour, writers with disabilities, LGBTQQIA+ writers, and writers from other intersectional and under-represented communities." Payment: $60 CAD per page. Submission period opens Sept 1.

The Christian Science Monitor: The Home Forum

"Poetry that appears in The Home Forum explores and celebrates life. It provides a respite from the bleakness that appears in so much contemporary verse. We are particularly interested in poetry that has an international flavor or that offers some global or cultural insights. Short poems are more likely to be accepted (because of space constraints) than poems that are more than 18 lines long. We do not publish work that presents people in helpless or hopeless states. Nor do we print poetry about death, aging, and illness, or anything dark, violent, sensual or overtly religious." Payment: Professional rates.

Strange Horizons 

Strange Horizons publishes speculative fiction and poetry. "We're looking for modern, exciting poems that explore the possible and impossible: stories about human and nonhuman experiences, dreams and reality, past and future, the here-and-now and otherwhere-and-elsewhen. We want poems from imaginative and unconventional writers; we want voices from diverse perspectives and backgrounds." Payment: $40.
Ploughshares

Published by Emerson College, Ploughshares is a highly prestigious journal whose authors regularly win prizes. Payment: $45/printed page, $90 minimum per title, $450 maximum per author. There is a fee to submit online, but snail mail is free. Reading period: June 1, through January 15, at noon EST.

Southern Indiana Review

The Southern Indiana Review is put out by the University of Southern Indiana. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama. From the poetry editor: "I like poems with tension and poise, both. Free or formal verse. Poems that risk sentimentality in favor of genuine connection. I’m looking for work that moves, transports; pieces that make me laugh, cry, nod my head in silent recognition. I badly want work that teaches me something new." Payment: $75 (five layout pages or fewer accepted for publication) and $150 (six layout pages or more accepted). Manuscripts are considered September 1st—November 15th & February 1st—April 15th.

The Southern Review

The Southern Review publishes fiction and poetry. Poetry submissions are by snail mail only. Payment: $25 per printed page with a maximum payment of $200. Reading period: September 1 through March 1. Please send no more than either five poems or fifteen pages, and use a 12-point font.

2 Agents Seeking Kidlit, SF/F, Horror, Thrillers and more

Here are two new agents expanding their client lists. Britt Siess is seeking Adult Fiction submissions in the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Speculative, Horror, and Thriller genres. She's partial to feminist literature and anything based on a fairytale. In Middle Grade, she's seeking fantasy (does not have to be contemporary) and supernatural elements. Alice Williams represents children's literature in both fiction and nonfiction.

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

If these agents don't suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

_____________________ Britt Siess of Martin Literary Management

Britt has a strong background in publishing, having experience in both literary agencies and a book publisher. She has interned for the Taryn Fagerness Agency, Wales Literary Agency, and Martin Literary & Media Management. She comes from the sales division of The Quarto Group where she worked in domestic and foreign book sales. Attended the University of Washington where she earned her B.A. in both English Literature, and Cinema and Media Studies.

What she is seeking: She is currently accepting Adult Fiction submissions in the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror/Thriller genres. Britt is specifically looking for: Cyberpunk, Steampunk, and Speculative Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, and Retellings of Myths and fairytales, Gothic Horror, and Thrillers, Magical Realist literature.  Britt is also accepting Middle Grade manuscripts with fantastical or supernatural elements.

How to submit: For all queries, please include a query letter, a detailed synopsis of your story, and the first chapter of your work pasted into the body of your email. Please also include a link to your blog, website, Instagram, and/or Twitter account.  Please send your queries to Britt@MartinLit.com

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Alice Williams of Alice Williams Literary (UK)

Alice set up her agency after representing children’s books for over ten years at David Higham Associates. She's a passionate champion of the writers and illustrators she works with, and she's frequently in awe of the beauty and sense of wonder (or absurdity) that her clients create!

Alice lives and works in London and has an extensive network of industry contacts in the UK and abroad. She attends the Bologna and London Book Fairs each Spring, as well as writers’ conferences throughout the year.

What she is looking for: Writers and illustrators of picture books, young fiction, middle-grade fiction, YA and non-fiction.

How to submit: Fiction: Attach the full manuscript as a Word doc, double spaced. Attach a synopsis of the novel outlining the entire plot arc, including the ending - one to two pages. Nonfiction: Attach a sample chapter, or the full text/rough dummy if it is a non-fiction picture book. Send to:  submissions@alicewilliamsliterary.co.uk

When Good Agents Go Bad

From all appearances Danielle Smith was a good agent. She started out at Foreword Literary, moved to Red Fox in 2014, and then in 2017 started her own agency, Lupine Grove, representing children's book authors. There was nothing about her performance to indicate anything unusual. She made sales and negotiated contracts with major publishers. I even included her on my blog.

Yet, for the past five years she has repeatedly committed fraud, for reasons which remain entirely mysterious. When it came out that she had been forging letters of acceptance from publishers to her clients, and deceiving the authors she represented, the publishing world was shocked. 

Danielle Smith's story is, fortunately, unusual among legitimate agents. It would be a mistake to come to the conclusion that her pattern of deception is common. But, by the same token, every prospective author should be aware that when an agent does not appear to be abiding by normal rules of conduct (e.g. keeping in regular touch with clients), it is worth questioning them.

Here is the Publishers Weekly story on the sad, complicated case of Danielle Smith. Give it a read.

Agent Danielle Smith’s Former Clients Speak Out

Publishers Weekly, August 2, 2018

The children’s book publishing world has been roiling for the past week over the disclosure that Danielle Smith, the principal of Lupine Grove Creative, an agency specializing in children’s and YA authors, acted more like a literary grifter than a literary agent. Since Smith emailed a letter to her clients on July 24, confessing that recently she had “not handled a situation as well as I should have” and thus was dissolving the agency effective immediately, 19 former clients have reached out to PW, sharing tales of a pattern of malfeasance that has shaken their confidence and adversely affected their careers.

According to some former clients, she claimed to have had offers in hand that didn’t exist, such as, one author requesting anonymity disclosed, a $50,000 two-book deal. She informed others that editors had expressed interest in their submissions, but subsequently told them that either the editors had then lost interest or had outright rejected those submissions. Clients also complained about Smith’s refusal to communicate with them honestly and in a timely fashion, as well as the lack of transparency, including a reluctance to render submission lists to them upon request. Several clients allege that she even forged emails from editors and passed this correspondence along to them.

Read the rest of this fascinating article HERE.

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Nonfiction and Fiction NOW

Here are two new agents actively seeking clients. Elizabeth Resnick is looking for books about food, travel, health & wellness, popular science/psychology, cookbooks, and Big Ideas. In fiction, she appreciates deeply researched historical settings. Roger Freet is seeking narrative and idea-driven nonfiction in the areas of religion, spirituality, memoir, and cultural issues by leading scholars, pastors, historians, activists and musicians.

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

If these agents don’t suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Roger Freet of Foundry+ Media 

Prior to becoming an agent, Roger worked as an Executive Editor at HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers where he published New York Times and national bestselling authors James Martin, Paul Stanley, Bart Ehrman, Adam Hamilton, Diana Butler Bass, Stephen Prothero, Bruce Cockburn, and Stephen Meyer. His clients and authors have enjoyed extensive national coverage including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, New York Times Book Review “Editor’s Choice”, NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Time, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, Slate, The Wall Street Journal, and other top media outlets. In advance of joining the editorial team at Harper, Roger was the Associate Director of Marketing and Publicity where he ran bestselling campaigns across the full spectrum of the HarperOne list.

What he is looking for: Roger represents a wide variety of narrative and idea-driven nonfiction in the areas of religion, spirituality, memoir, and cultural issues by leading scholars, pastors, historians, activists and musicians.

How to submit: Please send your proposal to: rfsubmissions@foundrymedia.com
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Elizabeth Resnick of Fletcher & Company

Since graduating from Brown University with a B.A. in Middle East Studies, Elizabeth has worked in a broad range of fields, including international development, farming, food photography, health & wellness media, and immigration law. She grew up in Western Massachusetts and lived in Tunisia before moving to New York City.

What she is seeking: “I seek out books that teach me something about a place, era, person, phenomenon, or relationship and that reveal truths about who we are as humans, how we interact with the world around us, and how we can improve. In nonfiction, these qualities appeal to me in books about food, travel, health & wellness, popular science/psychology, and Big Ideas. I also have a particular weakness for cookbooks. In fiction, I appreciate deeply researched historical settings — or invented places that are so vividly depicted that they could be real — and characters who linger in my mind long after I’ve finished reading.”

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. Please do not include email attachments with your initial query, as they will be deleted. Average response time is 4–6 weeks, so please do not follow up any sooner than that.

31 Writing Contests in August 2018 - No entry fees

There are more than two dozen writing contests in August, none of which charge entry fees. This month there are contests for short stories, essays, poetry, and for both published and unpublished full-length works. Prizes range from $50 to $25,000. As always, read the guidelines carefully. Many contests have geographical and age restrictions.

If you want to get an idea of what kinds of contests are offered throughout the year, take a look at Free Contests. The majority of these contests are yearly events. When it comes to contests, it's always a good idea to plan ahead.
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Bethune & Son Texas Short Story Competition. Genre: Unpublished short stories with the Texas theme: "Highway 90." Prize: up to $1,000. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Transitions Abroad. Genre: Essay on living, working or moving abroad. Prize: $500. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Let's talk emoticon. Genre: Flash fiction? (You'll just have to go to the site, because it's hard to explain.) Prize: $50. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Epigram Books Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be Singaporean, Singaporean permanent resident or Singapore-born. Genre: A full-length, original and unpublished novel written in the English language. Prize: $20,000. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Milwaukee Irish Fest. Genre: Poetry. Entries should have a culture/literary relation to either Ireland, Irish-America, or to Irish poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

The Governor General’s Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written, translated or illustrated by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Genre: Best English-language and the best French-language book will be chosen in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Children’s Literature (text), Children’s Literature (illustrated books) and Translation (from French to English). Prize: $1,000 - $25,000. Deadline: Nominations by publishers for books in English must reach the Canada Council no later than August 1, 2018.

Boardman Tasker Prize. Restrictions: Books published between 1st August 2017 and 31st July 2018 in the UK. Genre: Books with mountain,not necessarily mountaineering, theme whether fiction, non-fiction, drama or poetry, written in the English language. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grants. Restrictions: Writers living in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties Delaware who are 18 years of age or older and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: $2500.  Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Delaware poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who have lived in Delaware for at least one year prior to application and who are not enrolled in a degree-granting program. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Costa Short Story Award. Restrictions: Residents of UK and Ireland. Genre: Short story.  Prize: £3,500.00. Deadline: August 3, 2018.

Essay Service Writer’s Encouragement Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to high school and college students. Genre: Essay. (See themes on site.) Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: August 14, 2018.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Poets living in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., or West Virginia. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500, publication by Broadkill River Press, ten author copies, and two cases of Dogfish Head craft beer. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

#SweekPride Writing Contest. Genre: Stories and poetry about the LGBTQ community. Prize: $75. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Jack Pine Publishing. Genre: Chapbook. Proposals should include visual content, excellent writing, and great book design. This includes graphic novels, poetry, short essays. Literary merit, typography and binding techniques will be considered.. Prize: $1,500 grant to make a limited edition chapbook. You’ll also get paid a reading fee to present your work at a launch/poetry reading in Saskatoon, as well as an all-expense-paid trip to the Paris of the Prairies for JackPine’s next launch. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Restrictions: Emerging African American writers.  Genres: Short story collection or novel published in the current year. Prize: $10,000.   Deadline: August 15, 2018.

PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. Restrictions: Candidates must have published one or more novels for children or young adults that have been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated sufficient income to support the author. Genre: Book-length children's or young-adult fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Pockets Fiction Contest. Genre: Children's fiction. Stories should be 750–1,000 words. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between July 1, 2018 and Sept 30, 2018. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100.000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

RBC Taylor Prize. Restrictions: Citizens or residents of Canada. Must be published author. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Prize: $25,000 (CAN). Deadline: August 23, 2018 for books published between June 1 and August 20, 2018.

Gotham Writers: Travel Caption Contest. Genre: An original, unpublished photo caption, no more than 15 words. Prize: Free Gotham Writers Class. Deadline: August 28, 2018.

Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize. Restrictions: Open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 34. Genre: Short story translation from Korean to English. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: August 28, 2018.

Kindle Storyteller Award (UK). Restrictions: The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk. Genre: Book. Prize: £20,000. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Broken River Prize. Sponsored by Platypus Press. Genre: Poetry chapbook.  Prize: $250/£200.  Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation or Multi-Lingual Texts. Restrictions: Translators and authors of multi-lingual texts. Genres: Poetry and prose. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Jack Grapes Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: WINNERS will receive $200 each, plus publication. FINALISTS will receive $50 each, plus publication. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Jacques Maritain Prize for Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, Catholic themes. Prize: $500 top prize.   Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Lee & Low Books New Voices Award is sponsored by Lee &Low Publishers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published. Genre: Children's books - fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Nonfiction: Biographical Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Travel Nonfiction, and Animal Nonfiction.  Prize: First prize in each category will be $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Young Lions Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens 35 years of age or younger. Genre: Novel or a collection of short stories published between January 2017 and December 2017. Submissions by publisher only. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $10,000.00.   Deadline: August 31, 2018.

The End of Our World Short Story Contest. Genre: Short story dealing with the many existential issues facing us. "No nonsense, no wild, impossible fantasies but strong, intelligent stories, based on realistic speculation, cautionary tales, plausible and thought-provoking." Prize: $1,000. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

26 Calls for Submissions in August 2018 - Paying Markets

There are more than two dozen calls for submissions in August. As always, anything you can think of is wanted - flash fiction, speculative fiction and poetry, creative nonfiction, children's stories, along with several interesting themed issues.

All of these literary magazines pay, and none charge submission fees.

Make sure to follow submission requirements carefully. Editors become cranky when writers don't follow their submission rules.

If you want to get a jump on next month's calls for submissions, check the page Calls for Submissions, which is where I post new calls as they come up.

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Body Parts: Issue #11: A is for Aliens, Apocalypse and Armageddon. Genre: Horror. Themed issue. Payment: $5 for flash fiction and $10 to $20 (depending on length) for short stories and nonfiction to authors, and $5 to $20 for artwork and photography. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Mojo. Genre: Comics. "We are looking for anything: Political commentary. Comedy. Memoir. Or just a good story. Feel free to submit genre-bending work." Payment: $15. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Critical Read. Genre: Nonfiction. They want pitches for stories about the origins of the fine, literary and performing arts. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: August 1, 2018 or possibly mid-August. (?)

The First Line. Genre: Short story with the first line: "The window was open just enough to let in the cool night air." Also, critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work.  Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction, 500-800 words for nonfiction. Payment: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $5-10 for poetry. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Blood Bath Litzine. Genre: Horror. Length: Up to 2,500 words. Poetry up to 15 lines. Payment: £10 per 1,000 words for prose, and £10 per poem. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Don't Cry to Mama. Genre: Horror short stories. Length: Between 2,500 and 6,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: August 1, 2018.

London Reader: Drama & Dragons/Fans & Fantasy. Genre: Creative writing and artwork where fantasy and fantasy games are central to the story. Payment: Portion of revenues. Deadline: August 5, 2018.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Theme: Work. Genre: Essays, criticism, poetry, reportage, interviews, and short humor pieces. Payment: $25 per story. Deadline: August 6, 2018.

Ruminate. Ruminate welcomes submissions that both subtly and overtly engages faith from all the world religions. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $15/400 words for prose. Deadline: August 14, 2018.

Cricket. Genres: Middle Grade (9 - 14) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, recipes, and activities on theme of Make a Splash. Payment: Fiction: up to 10¢ per word, Nonfiction: up to 25¢ per word, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Outlook Springs is a literary journal "from another dimension." Genres: Fiction, poetry, and non-fiction tinged with the strange. Payment: $25 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Punk Rock Future. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 350-500 words. Payment: 6 cents/word.  Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Psychopomp. Genre: Short story, up to 5,000 words. Payment: 2 cents a word up to $100 (and starting at a minimum of $5). Deadline: August 15, 2018.

Three Crows. Genre: Speculative fiction stories set in dark, weird, and gritty fantasy, horror, and sci-fi settings. Payment: $25. Deadline: August 22, 2018.

Spark: Lab Coats and Love Letters. Genre: Flash fiction between 300 and 1000 words. "Send us your stories featuring broken bones, mishaps, and long nightshifts. As long as there is a happily ever after, we want to see them." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: August 24, 2018.

Alien Dimensions. Genre: Speculative short stories, “Set it in space, in the far future, and include some friendly non-humanoid aliens helping to solve a pseudo-scientific problem.” Payment: US$10.00 for 3500+ words. Deadline: August 24, 2018.

Briarpatch. Genre: Nonfiction "writing and artwork on a wide range of topics, including current events, grassroots activism, electoral politics, economic justice, ecology, labour, food security, gender equity, indigenous struggles, international solidarity, and other issues of political importance." Payment: $75 - $225. Deadline: August 30, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: "Grandparents". Genre: True stories about grandparents. "The moment a grandchild is born, grandparents are born too. Just seeing your baby hold his or her baby is an unbelievable experience. Everyone has a great story about the unconditional love between grandparents and their grandchildren. We are looking for true heartwarming, insightful and humorous stories celebrating grandparents and grandchildren; written by grandmothers and grandfathers about being grandparents and written by grandchildren about their grandmothers and grandfathers. Stories about or by step-grandparents and honorary grandparents are welcomed too." Payment: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Geek Out! Genre: All genres: "Where queer meets geek. Whatever you geek out about, we want to read it!" Payment: $5 per printed page. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction on theme of Diversion. Payment: $0.01 per word, minimum of $10. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Freefall. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prose: Maximum length 4000 words. Fiction: short story & novel excerpts, non-fiction, writing related or general audience topics, creative non-fiction, plays, postcard stories. Poetry: Submit 2-5 poems, any style. Length of any individual poem cannot exceed 6 pages. Payment: For prose, $10.00 per page in the magazine, to a maximum of $100.00 and one copy of issue that your piece is published in. For poetry, $25.00 per poem and one copy of issue that your piece is published in. Payment is made upon publication.  Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Filling Station. Genre: Previously unpublished poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, critical non-fiction (about literature and occasionally about visual art), and visual art. Payment: $25. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Qu Literary Magazine. Genres: Fiction, essays, poetry. Payment: $100 per prose piece, $50 per poem. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Tech Edge Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles on Teaching Tech. Payment: $50-$125 per article. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

Strange Constellations. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $30 per piece. Deadline: August 31, 2018. Accepts reprints.

The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Canadian writers only. Genre: Poetry, nonfiction and short fiction. Payment: $250 for fiction and nonfiction, $40 for prose. Deadline: August 31, 2018.

32 Writing Conferences in August 2018

Photo credit: Laura Hoffmann, Flickr, www.bbx.de This month there are nearly three dozen writing conferences spanning the country from one coast to the other. There are conferences that focus on the craft of writing, pitch conferences with agents and editors, and retreats for those who just need to get away.

Attending a conference is the best thing you can do for your writing career. Nothing is a better use of your time and money than meeting writers, industry professionals, and agents.

Conferences that include intimate coaching sessions tend to fill up quickly. I have included these, even if they are full, so you can plan ahead for next year. Planning ahead also gives you an opportunity to apply for the scholarships offered by some of these conferences. You can find a comprehensive list of conferences throughout the year here: Writing Conferences.
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Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 17 - August 24, 2018, Provincetown, Massachusetts. The faculty includes Marisa Silver, Ariel Levy, Julia Glass, Henri Cole, Marie Howe, Marie Ponsot, Vijay Seshadri, Dean Albarelli, Kimiko Hahn, David Updikel, Pam Houston, Julia Glass, Alice Mattison. Tuition ranges from $600 to $725.

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 2 - 4, 2018: Fort Bragg, California. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and workshops with editors and agents, craft lectures, readings, and discussion forums on publishing and marketing. The faculty includes poet Indigo Moor; fiction writers Vanessa Hua, Elizabeth McKenzie, Jason S. Ridler, and Shanthi Sekaran; and nonfiction writer Linda Joy Myers. Participating publishing professionals include agent Duvall Osteen (Aragi Inc.) and editors Susan Chang (Tor Books) and Summer Dawn Laurie (Tricycle Press). Fiction writer Elizabeth Rosner will deliver the keynote. CLOSED

Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 2 - 5, 2018: Hyannis, Massachusetts. Workshops and craft classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations and mentoring sessions with editors and agents. The faculty includes poet David Surette, fiction writer C. E. Lawrence, and nonfiction writer Judah Leblang. Participating publishing professionals include agents Noah Ballard (Curtis Brown, Ltd.), Eric Myers (Myers Literary Management), Monica Odom (Liza Dawson Associates), and Monika Woods (Curtis Brown); and editor Diane O’Connell (Write to Sell Your Book). Tuition is $150 for a three-session course, $120 for a two-session course, or $70 for a single workshop.

Taylor's Professional Writers Conference. August 3 - 4, 2018: Upland, Indiana. 35 seminars covering General & First-timers, Fiction, Nonfiction, Platform & Marketing and Specialty Writing.

Florida Authors and Publishers Association Annual Conference. August 3 - 4, 2018: Orlando, Florida. Professional development sessions designed to provide authors and publishers with up-to-date publishing resources. This networking and educational event will offer two days of sessions with a focus on The Business of Publishing.  Industry leaders, including NYT best-selling authors Charles Todd and Lisa Black, will share their expertise and a variety of tools needed to flourish in this evolving publishing environment.

Willamette Writers Conference. August 3 - 5, 2018: Portland, Oregon. This year the conference will feature Celebrating Diverse Voices in Writing with three full days of classes, workshops, keynotes, critiques, and events. There are also Master Classes with industry professionals in which you can learn from top instructors in a small group setting and many options for one on one critique, including On the Spot Critiques and Advance Manuscript Critique. As always, they will have a roster of agents, editors and film executives ready to hear about your project.

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. August 3 - 6, 2018: Los Angeles, California. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions.

Revision Retreat. August 3 – 7, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. In this working retreat, Harold Underdown and editor Eileen Robinson will teach proven techniques for self-editing and revising and help writers try them out on their manuscripts. Mornings will be dedicated to revision techniques and afternoons to model critique groups, individual meetings, and writing time.

Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Workshop. August 4 - 10, 2018: Washington, DC. For more than 20 years, the Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Workshop has offered a safe space for black writers in intensive workshop sessions and master classes. Workshops are led by award-winning writers who are influencing today’s literature. The program features critiques, craft talks, writing time and public readings. Hurston/Wright workshops serve emerging and experienced writers who are starting projects, developing projects or seeking to polish projects. More than a thousand writers have participated in workshops since the first session in 1996.

Nature Retreat for ALL Writers & Artists 2018. August 5 - 9, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. Let your art and mind be inspired at this retreat: enjoy time to write or sketch plus fun and relaxing activities in beautiful surroundings. At this retreat, there will be plenty of time to create–but we’re also planning a few fun and relaxing activities to give you some natural inspiration: Hiking on their 1,400-acre property; Kayaking on the Delaware River with NorthEast Wilderness Experience; Enjoy a farm & flower outing to Fox Hill Farm; Visit Calkins Creamery for a cheese-making demonstration; Bird-watching; Nature journaling, and more.

Catamaran Writing Conference. August 5 - 9, 2018: Pebble Beach, CA. The conference will be held on the campus of the Robert Louis Stevenson school, and attendees will meet in the elegant Stevenson classrooms, commons, theater, and chapel for workshops, lectures, and presentations. Also available are optional daily literary themed excursions, daily craft talks, nightly special guest readings, and student readings. For their 2018 Summer Conference, they are asking participants to submit a manuscript of their preferred genre for review and approval.  Fiction and nonfiction pieces may be short stories or novel excerpts of up to twenty pages.  Poetry submissions may include up to five poems, not to exceed a complete page count of ten pages. You will receive submission instructions after registering.

10 Min Con. August 9 - 11, 2018: Cincinnati, Ohio. Speakers: Donald Maas, James Scott Bell, Janice Hardy.

Deadly Ink Mystery Conference. August 10 - 12, 2018: Rockaway, New Jersey. Guest of Honor: Meg Gardiner, Toastmaster: Roberta Rogow, Fan Guests of Honor: Bill and Carol Aronoff. Other authors: Eileen Watkins, Kate Gallison, Ilene Schneider, R. G. Belsky, Peggy Ehrhart, Jeff Markowitz, James McCrone, Rebecca Mears...and more. Cost ranges from $75.00 to $250.00.

Nuts and Bolts of Science Writing is sponsored by Highlights. August 8 - 10, 2018. Honesdale, PA. "You love science and our world—and want to share your knowledge and passion with kids. How do you accomplish it? Learn the dynamics of engaging science-based writing for children and teens—whether you’re published already or just beginning. Faculty will demonstrate how to energize readers through active fiction and nonfiction writing that shines the light on exciting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts. Through presentations, hands-on workshops, one-to-one manuscript critiques, ample writing time, and sessions with acquiring editors, this workshop will give you the tools and insights you need to advance on your path to success."

Northwestern University Summer Writers’ Conference. August 9 - 11, 2018: Chicago, Illinois. "Join a community of writers at Northwestern University for a three-day institute on writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The program, which is now in its 14th year, includes a diverse array of workshops, panels, keynote speakers, networking events, and literary readings. Learn how to structure your novel with Christine Sneed, write without fear with Amin Ahmad, and make a scene with Rebecca Makkai. Hear from publishers, agents, literary editors, and critics, and enjoy a keynote on the uses of memory from award-winning poet Roger Reeves. You can also schedule an individual manuscript consultation with conference faculty. Writers at all levels of experience are welcome, as are writers of all genres and backgrounds. Come seek a fuller understanding of the craft—and business—of writing." Registration ends on August 5.

The 2018 Writers' Police Academy. August 9–12, 2017: Green Bay, WI. The annual Writers’ Police Academy offers an exciting interactive and educational hands-on experience for writers to enhance their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, and forensics.

Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. August 9–12, 2018: Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restaurateurs, guidebook writers, and more.

Writer’s Digest Conference. August 10 - 12, 2018: New York City. Annual Writer's Digest Conference featuring: Pitch Slam, with more than fifty agents and editors in attendance, educational tracks devoted to publishing and self-publishing, platform and promotion, and the craft of writing,  speakers and instructors.

Murphy Writing of Stockton University: Live Free and Write. August 12 - 17, 2018: Sunapee, NH. "Combine an extended writing retreat with a relaxing summer vacation in the picturesque mountains of New Hampshire. This getaway blends our trademark challenging and supportive workshop experience with plenty of free time for you to write and bask in the refreshing New England summer." 2017/2018 faculty includes Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds, Gregory Pardlo, Barbara Hurd, Carol Plum-Ucci, James Richardson, Peter E. Murphy and more.

Whole Novel Workshop. August 12 - 18, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. The Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of middle-grade and young adult novels. This unique program offers the one-on-one attention found in degree programs, but without additional academic requirements, lengthy time commitments, or prohibitive financial investments. Our aim is to focus on a specific work in progress, moving a novel to the next level in preparation for submission to agents or publishers. Focused attention in an intimate setting makes this mentorship program one that guarantees significant progress.

Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 13 - 19, 2018: Montpelier, Vermont. The conference is designed for writers with graduate degrees or equivalent experience. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, craft classes, and individual consultations with faculty members. "At the heart of the Postgraduate Writers' Conference's unique model is the small workshop size, with groups led by acclaimed faculty limited to five or six writers. The intimate format allows for an extraordinarily in-depth, far-reaching discussion of participants’ work. Beyond the daily group sessions, each member has an individual consultation with the workshop instructor. The schedule also features a rich menu of readings by faculty and participants, craft talks, generative writing sessions and social events that galvanize our vibrant, inclusive community."

Iota Short Prose Conference. August 15 - 18, 2018: Lubec, Maine. Workshops, craft discussions, readings, open mics, one-on-one meetings with faculty, and field trips to nearby locations for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Faculty includes Beth Ann Fennelly and Sven Birkerts.

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 15- 25, 2018: Ripton, VT. Workshops in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days. Groups are kept small to facilitate discussion, and all participants meet individually with their faculty leaders to elaborate on workshop comments. Faculty members also offer lectures on issues around literary writing and one-hour classes on specific aspects of the craft. Readings by the faculty, conference participants, and guests take place throughout the day and into the night. Participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and publishers who provide information and answer questions, individually or in small groups.  Applications are due by February 15, 2018.

SFWA @ Worldcon. Aug. 16-20, 2018: San Jose, CA. Worldcon (the World Science Fiction Convention) is the annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans, writers, artists, musicians and other creators, first held in New York City in 1939. Worldcon is held in a different city and organized by a different volunteer organization each year. "If you’re an aspiring writer, consider participating in the Writers’ Workshop. This is an opportunity to have both new and experienced authors critique your work.  Many well known writers got their feet wet at a Worldcon Writers’ Workshop. Not sure you’re ready for that? Consider participating in a Deep Dive, where discussion focuses around how to write a particular type of scene or develop a character. Need to develop your artist’s portfolio?  That is another Deep Dive topic, along with other tools to advance your career."

Responsible Representation: Writing Diverse Commercial Fiction for Middle-Grade and Young Adult Readers 2018. August 18 - 21, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. "Instead of the old writing adage–write what you know–learn how to know what to write. Whether you’re drawing from your own experience or outside of it, writing diversely demands research, empathy, attention to detail, an interrogation of one’s own place in this world, and a willingness to be open-minded. In this workshop, the emphasis will be on respectful and responsible representation and craft.

The Emotional Craft of Fiction with Donald Maass. August 20, 2018: Portland, OR. Based on psychological research and extensive study of what makes novels emotionally gripping, workshop participants will discover how to go beyond showing or telling to create an emotional journey for readers—one unseen but nevertheless deeply felt and ultimately unforgettable. Donald Maass founded the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 1980. His agency sells more than 150 novels every year to major publishers in the U.S. and overseas. He is the author of The Career Novelist (1996), Writing the Breakout Novel (2001), Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (2004), The Fire in Fiction (2009), Writing 21st Century Fiction (2012), and The Emotional Craft of Fiction (2016). He is a past president of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc.

Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 23 - 26, 2018: Nashville, TN. The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. "At the conference, we try diligently to ensure that the weekend has something for every writer and lover of literature, and our sessions are structured to assist writers on multiple career levels. Our learning tracks tackle the craft of writing, business of writing, marketing, and forensics. Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, live music performances and—of course—all the great activities one can enjoy in downtown Nashville."

HippoCamp Creative Nonfiction Conference. August 24 - 26, 2018: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Craft and query workshops, panel discussions, lectures, open mics, and readings for creative nonfiction writers. Faculty: TBA.

Santa Barbara Summer Poetry Workshop. August 25, 2018: Santa Barbara, CA. "Time will be spent on all aspects of the practice of poetry: crafting, writing exercises, discussion, publication advice and the art of reading your poems.This workshop is an opportunity for you to grow your poems with thoughtful attention from experienced poets who combine their approaches for you to hone your skills and go deeper into your own creative process."

STORY 360 with Lorin Oberweger. August 25 - 26, 2018: Houston, TX. "From premise to publication, the Story 360 workshop offers a hands-on course on the craft and business of writing. Expect to be engaged, to dig into your work, and to come away with a toolbox of techniques that will propel your writing to new heights."

The Ins and Outs of a Picture Book and Its Many Forms 2018. August 26 - 29, 2018: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. "This hands-on workshop will help you discover what you must write and how to get that work ready for submission to editors and agents. Along with one-on-one critique sessions and opportunities for critical feedback, Bethany, Carmen, and Salina will cover: The Picture Book Biography Only You Can Write; Creating Compelling Characters Readers Care About; From Submission to School Visits, and Everything in Between; Scene and Structure in Picture Books; How to Keep “I Think I Can” Alive on the Path to Publication ; Writing by Storyboard: A Good Story is Like a Rollercoaster; Revising: If You Love the Work, It Will Love You Back; SOS: Stand-Out Submissions.

DragonCon. August 30 - September 3, 2018: Atlanta, Ga. HUGE sci-fi event, with parade, autograph sessions, live performances, readings, wrestling (!), workshops on belly dancing, writing (yes, there's even some writing), art show. (This conference sounds really wild.)

DAW Books Opens Its Doors to Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers - No agent needed

Pixabay DAW Books, a division of Penguin/Random House, is the oldest publishing company devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy. DAW has published such luminaries as Patrick Rothfuss, Tad Williams, C. J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Kristen Britain, Melanie Rawn, C.S. Friedman, and Tanith Lee.
From the site: “Science fiction and fantasy have always been genres in which creators have infinite space to explore bold and inventive new ideas, while also reflecting the multiplicity of cultures, traditions, and identities of our own world. At DAW, we are proud of the work that our authors have already done to explore and celebrate diversity. We have a history of publishing feminist and LGBTQIA+ fiction, but we are always seeking to expand our own horizons, as well as those of our readers.
To this end, DAW is actively seeking new works of science fiction and fantasy written by and/or featuring people of color, Native people, disabled people, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from other underrepresented or marginalized communities.”
How to submit: DAW accepts electronic submissions through Submittable. Science fiction and fantasy novels should not be fewer than 80,000 words. Please send the entire completed manuscript with a query letter. The manuscript should be double-spaced, with at least 1″ margins. Please number your pages consecutively, and put the title of your novel at the top of each page.
No simultaneous submissions. However, if you have not heard back from them after three months, you may submit your novel elsewhere.
Read full guidelines HERE.