Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 61

3 New Agents Seeking Writers NOW

​Here are three new agents actively building their lists. Blair Wilson (Park Literary & Media) is actively looking for middle grade and young adult fiction, as well as MG, YA, and adult nonfiction. In nonfiction, Blair is interested in narrative nonfiction, crafting/instructional, true crime, pop culture, lifestyle, sexuality & identity, design, and STEM topics.

Joanna MacKenzie (Nelson Literary) is seeking  literary-leaning projects with commercial potential, thrillers, mysteries, women's fiction, and YA coming of age stories.

Sarah Bedingfield (Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agency) is interested in most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction.

Note: For a comprehensive list of new and established writers actively seeking writers see: Agents Seeking Clients.

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

____________________ Blair Wilson of Park Literary & Media

About Blair: Since graduating from Wesleyan University with a focus on literature and theory, Blair has fallen in love with the voices of new and emerging authors.

She is a native of North Carolina, and in her spare time can be found teaching embroidery classes at the American Folk Art Museum, testing out a new cookbook, or settling in for a night of Hammer horror movies.

She is Seeking: Blair is actively looking for middle grade and young adult fiction, as well as MG, YA, and adult nonfiction. In nonfiction, Blair is interested in narrative nonfiction, crafting/instructional, true crime, pop culture, lifestyle, sexuality & identity, design, and STEM topics.

How to Submit: Send your query and accompanying materials to queries@parkliterary.com. Put “Blair Wilson” as well as the category and genre of your book (i.e. “Blair Wilson – YA Fantasy”) in the subject line of the email. All materials must be in the body of the email.

For all fiction submissions, include a query letter and the first chapter or approximately the first ten pages of your work. For non-fiction submission, send a query letter, proposal, and one sample chapter or approximately ten pages.

_____________________ Joanna MacKenzie of Nelson Literary Agency

About Joanna: Joanna joined the Nelson Literary Agency at the start of 2017 following a tenure at a Chicago-based literary agency where she successfully placed numerous manuscripts that have gone on to become critically acclaimed, award-winning, and bestselling novels. She represents a wide-range of writers, from YA (Kristen Simmons) and romance (Shana Galen) to mysteries and thrillers (John Galligan). Joanna loves working with authors who embrace the full publishing process (read: love revisions) and is committed to the stories her clients want to tell both with the words they put on paper, as well as with the careers the build. At the Nelson Literary Agency, Joanna is looking to expand her list in both adult and YA.

She is Seeking: Joanna is looking for literary-leaning projects with commercial potential and epic reads that beat with a universal heart (think The Secret History or The Namesake or Geek Love). In particular, she’s drawn to smart and timely women’s fiction as well as absorbing, character-driven mysteries and thrillers –Tana French is a particular favorite. She has a weird obsession with, what she calls, “child in jeopardy lit” and can’t get enough kick-ass mom heroines—she’d love to find the next Heather Gudenkauff. On the YA side, she’s interested in coming of age stories that possess a confident voice and characters she can’t stop thinking about (Morgan Matson is on her forever shelf).

How to Submit: Send a query via email to queryjoanna@nelsonagency.com. Please remember:

In the subject line, write QUERY and the title of your project. This will help ensure that your query isn’t accidentally deleted or caught in our spam filter.

In the body of your email, include a one-page query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript.
No attachments Because of virus concerns, emails with attachments are deleted unread.

________________________ Sarah Bedingfield of Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agency

About Sarah: Prior to joining LGR in 2016, Sarah began her publishing career in trade fiction editorial at Crown and Hogarth. There, she worked with a range of bestselling and award-winning novels, including The Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis, Han Kang’s Human Acts and Man Booker International Prize winning debut The Vegetarian, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Sarah hails from North Carolina, where she graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a double major in Psychology and English. Her favorite authors include Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson, Matthew Thomas, Maria Semple, Emily St. John Mandel, Erin Morgenstern, and Victor Hugo.

She is Seeking: Sarah is seeking most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction, especially novels that show powerful imagination, compulsive plotting, and unique voices. Epic family dramas, cross-genre narratives with notes of magical realism, darkly Gothic stories that may lead to nightmares, and twisty psychological suspense are among her favorite things to read. A southerner at heart, she can’t help but love books set in the south, but she’s a die-hard for any world immersive enough to make her miss her stop on the train, cry in public, or desperately seek help.

How to Submit: Please send queries to sbedingfield@lgrliterary.com. Query should include a brief synopsis and bio, as well as the first fifty pages of your novel.

32 Feminist and Women's Publications That Pay Writers

Women's magazines are typically associated with check-out lines in grocery stores, where they sport loud headlines that either promise a "beach body" in ten days, or describe exciting new ways to please a man in bed. (Back in the old days, all you had to do was show up.)

While those publications pay quite well, they may not suit your needs if you write articles about politics, women's issues, personal essays, or fiction.

Here are 32 publications that either have a feminist slant, or appeal to women in areas other than dieting. They accept a wide variety of submissions, including articles, personal essays, fiction, news items, humor, and poetry.

________________________

Bitch Magazine. From the website: "Bitch Media's mission to to provide and encourage a engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media and popular culture." They pay $500 for feature articles, $200 for dispatches, and $50 for Department of Everything pieces. Nonfiction only. Read their submission guidelines.

Ms. Magazine was founded by feminist activists Gloria Steinen and Dorothy Pitman Hughes. It was first published in 1972, making it America's oldest feminist magazine. They consider articles on politics, social commentary, popular culture, law, education, and the environment. Payment rates are negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Black Girl Dangerous is a website for video, comics and writing by black, indigenous and people of color who are also queer and/or trans. They are especially interested in timely pieces that reflect on current news stories (including politics and pop culture) and are much more likely to accept these pieces for publication than others. They pay $75-$120 per article from queer and trans people of color. Read their submission guidelines.

Women's Voices for Change invites submissions of news commentaries, personal essays, and expert analysis. We encourage all WVFC readers to take part in the ongoing conversation aimed at redefining the way women over 40 are seen in the culture, and how we see ourselves. Previously unpublished nonfiction work is preferred. We consider personal essays about our lives, work, passions, and history, including commentary on going against conventional wisdom, stories about triumphing over the unexpected, and essays about everyday life that reinforce the adage “the personal is political. Typical entries are between 1,000 and 1,500 words.  Payment is $50 per post.  Read their submission guidelines.

Autostraddle is an accepting and supportive environment for queer trans women. "Although Autostraddle is a website created for and primarily aimed at lesbian, bisexual and queer women (cis and trans) and always will be, as the community evolves we also are starting to include work by and about non-binary-identified folks in our community. Looking for personal essays, news or feature articles on topics related to queer, feminist and/or outsider culture. We’re looking for really good stories, edgy style, unique arguments, keen intellect and searing wit." Payment falls within the $40-$100 range. Read their submission guidelines.

Wanderful is a publication for women travelers. Their pieces are inspiring, engaging, personal, and community-oriented. "We’d love to read your personal essay or feature piece on topics related to women and travel. Though some of our pieces aren’t women-specific, every article is written with our audience and community in mind. While we like to provide tips for other women travelers about how to make the most of their global experiences, we are known to also take on tough conversations related to feminism, women’s safety and violence against women, issues concerning women’s bodies, and other subjects. We handle these discussions with a combination of fact and tact." They pay $50 per article. Read their submission guidelines.

Bustle is "for & by women who are moving forward as fast as you are." Topics range from politics, to motherhood, to books, fashion and entertainment. Although the focus is on women, articles by men are accepted. Payment varies. Read their submission guidelines.

LiisBeth is a “a reader and community supported zine that examines entrepreneurship, start-up culture, and the innovation eco-system through a progressive feminist lens. We look for journalistic, edgy, positive, well-informed articles that offer readers’ a feminist’s perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation happenings, including policy and politics.” They pay up to $2,000 for articles. Read their submission guidelines.

The Establishment is looking to "unearth overlooked stories, produce original reporting, and provide a platform for voices that have been marginalized by the mainstream media. And yes, we want your humor, wit, and good old-fashioned satire, too. We publish originally reported features, interviews, long-form journalism, personal essays, and multimedia of all shapes, sizes, and creeds." They pay $125 for articles 800-1500 words, and $500 for long form articles 3,000 words+. Read their submission guidelines.

Vela publishes nonfiction written by women. "Our stories have been recognized as notable in The Best American Essays, The Best American Travel Writing, and The Best American Sports Writing; selected for inclusion in The Best Women’s Travel Writing Volumes 8, 9 and 10; and highlighted on NPR, Outside, The New York Times’ Opinion Page, The New Yorker’s Page Turner, and Longform, Longreads, and The Browser." Feature stories typically run from 3,000 to 6,000 words. Payment is competitive. Read their submission guidelines.

Ravishly is the Internet’s cool aunt. "Do you want to be part of the awesomeness and think your voice fits here? Please send along three published clips and your resume for consideration. You’ll see us talking about gender equality, body acceptance, coercing your toddler into eating broccoli, the horror that is Republican politics — oh, and orgasms." They reportedly pay around $50 to $75 per article or essay. Read submission guidelines.

Herizons is a Canadian publication with a feminist readership. "Articles about applying feminist principles in work, in relationships and organizations, and in social justice are welcome. Our readers are interested in health issues, social and political issues, environmental issues, equality issues, justice issues, spiritual issues; parenting issues and all issues informed by diverse racial and cultural experiences. Articles in which the writer is engaged with the material work best; personal experiences, journalism style articles, interviews, articles which bring in current research and a clear feminist perspective are all things we look for." They pay $250 to $750 for features, $175 for news, $65 for reviews. All payments in Canadian dollars. Preference is given to Canadian authors, and Canadian topics. Read their submission guidelines.

DAME features a variety of voices writing reported pieces, op-eds, and personal essays covering culture, politics, parenting, family, gender, sex, entertainment, tech culture, business and personal finance. DAME’s tone is irreverent, witty, and provocative. "Our objective is to move the conversation forward around trending and topical subjects most relevant to women—that is, when we're not starting the conversation. We accept narrative-driven reported features, first-person essays, Q&As, op-eds, and humor essays (especially satire). Stories are generally between 800 and 2,000 words, depending on the subject matter and the story format." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Rebellious Magazine for Women delivers a unique feminist perspective on Chicago news, events, politics and culture through original articles, essays and interviews. "We support women-owned and women-operated businesses and organizations through editorial coverage and business partnerships." Payment is $100 for 500-word profiles & articles, $50 for columns, essays, $25 for reviews (music, movies, books, TV). Read their submission guidelines.

ESSENCE is the "premiere lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women. With its motivating message, intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, compelling and engaging editorial lineup and vibrant and modern design, ESSENCE is the definitive voice of today's dynamic African-American woman. ESSENCE speaks directly to a Black woman's spirit, her heart and her unique concerns." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Sasee welcomes editorial submissions from freelance writers. "We are looking for new, unpublished, first-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are our primary editorial focus. Diversity of subjects that reflect all age groups and variety of writing styles are invited. Articles should be no more than 500 to 1000 words in length." Payment varies. Read their submission guidelines.

Chatelaine "talks about what Canadian women talk about, and that means we want smart articles about everything from politics to engaging profiles to first-person narratives. The magazine is organized into five sections: Style and Beauty, Home, Health, Life and Food. Within those sections we have stories of different lengths and formats: briefs, how-tos, features, photo essays and packages. Feature articles are usually about big ideas (social issues, controversies, culture, crime, etc.), while the Health section covers the latest news and studies, gives fitness and workout tips and explores hot-button issues and the Home section is the place to go for inspirational décor ideas, clutter busting tips and quick, crafty projects." They pay $1 per word. Pitch your idea first. Read their submission guidelines.

More.com  is looking for "smart, sassy, articulate, insightful pieces that inform, encourage, motivate, and entertain. We’re all about accessible fashion, beauty trends and techniques, sex, love, relationships, and making life easier for young women. Nearly anything is fair game, as long as it’s something women age 24-40 can relate to." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Room is Canada's oldest women's literary magazine. Room publishes original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art by women, including trans* persons, gender-variant and two-spirit women, and women of non-binary sexual orientations. 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. Read their submission guidelines.

Austin Woman Magazine is a free monthly publication from AW Media, focusing on the women of Austin, Texas. Read their submission guidelines.

Loudoun Woman Magazine is part of the Virginia WOMAN Magazine Group. It's 100,000+ readership includes Northern VA, Washington DC metro area and mail subscribers. Loudoun Woman Magazine is part of a nationally syndicated publication that has been rated the #1 educational newspaper for women in the United States. (U.S. World and Review.) Payment is negotiated. Read submission guidelines.

Lilith Magazine welcomes submissions of high-quality, lively writing: reportage, opinion pieces, memoirs, fiction and poetry on subjects of interest to Jewish women. "Our features usually run no longer than 2,500 words. News briefs are 500 words or less. Fiction submissions should be under 3,000 words.  When submitting, please make sure your name and contact information appear on each page of the manuscript, and include a short bio: one to two sentences, written in the third person. We accept submissions year-round." Payment is negotiated. Read submission guidelines.

That's Life is an Australian publication covering topics related to Australian women. They accept fiction! "We are looking for humorous, clever, positive, contemporary stories with a strong and easy-to-follow plot. It's a good idea to read several issues of the magazines to get the flavour of the type of fiction we publish." They pay $300. Request submission guidelines.

Canthius "accepts submissions of poetry and prose from a diversity of established and emerging women and genderqueer writers. For those who wish to submit to Canthius, we ask that your submission reflect the best of your creativity, your voice, your humour, your intelligence, your strength. Be political, honest, witty. We thank you for considering us as a forum for your work and for reading and writing about women's experiences and feminist issues." Pays $5 per page. This publication has reading periods. Read their submission guidelines.

Contemporary Verse 2 is a quarterly literary journal that publishes poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. "It is our policy to publish new writing by both emerging and established poets. The writing we encourage reflects a diversity representing a range of social and cultural experience along with literary excellence." Payment: Poetry: $30 per poem, Interviews: $50-$100, depending upon length, Articles: $50-$100, depending upon length, Essays: $40-$150, depending upon length, Reviews: $20-$75, depending upon length. Read their submission guidelines.

Make/shift "creates and documents contemporary feminist culture and action by publishing journalism, critical analysis, and visual and text art. Made by an editorial collective committed to antiracist, transnational, and queer perspectives, make/shift embraces the multiple and shifting identities of feminist communities." Pays $.02/word plus two copies for prose and a flat fee for visual art and poetry. Read their submission guidelines.

Mslexia is a quarterly geared to women. The magazine includes prompts, competitions and workshops for writers. "There are 14 opportunities to submit for women writers of all specialisms – poetry, fiction and nonfiction, with five slots kept solely for subscribers to the magazine. There’s something to tickle any writer’s creative fancy." They pay £25.  Read their submission guidelines.

skirt! publishes two personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women’s interests. "All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly themes. Payment for essays is $200. We reserve the right to edit articles for length and content." Read their submission guidelines.

​Brain, Child is an award-winning literary magazine for mothers. "We focus on long form essays that range from 1,500 – 4,500 words. We are excited by great writing – and by both new and established writers. It makes our day when we hear from an established writer or publish an author for the first time." Pays competitive rates. Read their submission guidelines.

Salomé is an online and in-print literary magazine for emerging female writers. Salomé was regarded as powerful in her seductiveness and predatory nature. At Salomé, it is our words and the strength of the all-female collective that gives us our power. Accepts poetry and fiction. Pays £50. Read their submission guidelines.

WOW (Women on Writing) is open to general queries, as long as it relates to the craft of writing and publishing. "We are particularly looking for how-tos on a variety of writing and publishing topics, and interviews/round-ups with acquiring editors/literary agents/publishers. All articles must have takeaway value for fellow writers." Pays $50 or $75. Read their submission guidelines.

A mystery bonus

BUST seeks to bring a feminist perspective to a wide array of topics, from fashion to pop culture to personal stories. (They have a submissions tab on their website footer, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to submit.)

33 Feminist and Women's Publications That Pay Writers

Women's magazines are typically associated with check-out lines in grocery stores, where they sport loud headlines that either promise a "beach body" in ten days, or describe exciting new ways to please a man in bed. (Back in the old days, all you had to do was show up.)

While those publications pay quite well, they may not suit your needs if you write articles about politics, women's issues, personal essays, or fiction.

Here are 33 publications that either have a feminist slant, or appeal to women in areas other than dieting. They accept a wide variety of submissions, including articles, personal essays, fiction, news items, humor, and poetry.

________________________

Bitch Magazine is a nonprofit, independent, feminist media organization dedicated to providing and encouraging an engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media and popular culture. They pay $500 for feature articles, $200 for dispatches, and $50 for Department of Everything pieces. Nonfiction only. Read their submission guidelines.

Ms. Magazine was the first national feminist magazine to make feminist voices widely available to the public. They publish articles consider articles on politics, social commentary, popular culture, law, education, and the environment. Payment rates are negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Black Girl Dangerous seeks to give voice to POCs that are queer and/or trans. They cover topics that are relevant to current events and focus on matters that are important to traditionally marginalized groups. They pay $75-$120 per article but only accept submission from queer and trans people of color. Read their submission guidelines.

Women's Voices for Change invites submissions of news commentaries, personal essays, and expert analysis. We encourage all WVFC readers to take part in the ongoing conversation aimed at redefining the way women over 40 are seen in the culture, and how we see ourselves. Previously unpublished nonfiction work is preferred. We consider personal essays about our lives, work, passions, and history, including commentary on going against conventional wisdom, stories about triumphing over the unexpected, and essays about everyday life that reinforce the adage “the personal is political. Typical entries are between 1,000 and 1,500 words.  Payment is $50 per post.  Read their submission guidelines.

Autostraddle is an accepting and supportive environment for queer trans women. "Although Autostraddle is a website created for and primarily aimed at lesbian, bisexual and queer women (cis and trans) and always will be, as the community evolves we also are starting to include work by and about non-binary-identified folks in our community. Looking for personal essays, news or feature articles on topics related to queer, feminist and/or outsider culture. We’re looking for really good stories, edgy style, unique arguments, keen intellect and searing wit." Payment falls within the $40-$100 range. Read their submission guidelines.

Wanderful is a publication for women travelers. Their pieces are inspiring, engaging, personal, and community-oriented. "We’d love to read your personal essay or feature piece on topics related to women and travel. Though some of our pieces aren’t women-specific, every article is written with our audience and community in mind. While we like to provide tips for other women travelers about how to make the most of their global experiences, we are known to also take on tough conversations related to feminism, women’s safety and violence against women, issues concerning women’s bodies, and other subjects. We handle these discussions with a combination of fact and tact." They pay $50 per article. Read their submission guidelines.

Bustle is "for & by women who are moving forward as fast as you are." Topics range from politics, to motherhood, to books, fashion and entertainment. Although the focus is on women, articles by men are accepted. Payment varies. Read their submission guidelines.

LiisBeth is a “a reader and community supported zine that examines entrepreneurship, start-up culture, and the innovation eco-system through a progressive feminist lens. We look for journalistic, edgy, positive, well-informed articles that offer readers’ a feminist’s perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation happenings, including policy and politics.” They pay up to $2,000 for articles. Read their submission guidelines.

xoJane is where women go "to be their unabashed selves, and where their unabashed selves are applauded — regardless of age, size, ability, location, occupation, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic status, relationship status, sexual preferences or lifestyle choices. This is not the place to find out how to please your spouse, mom, kids or boss. This is the place to find and indulge in a confluence of voices — yours and so many others." They pay $50 per piece. Read submission guidelines.

The Establishment is looking to "unearth overlooked stories, produce original reporting, and provide a platform for voices that have been marginalized by the mainstream media. And yes, we want your humor, wit, and good old-fashioned satire, too. We publish originally reported features, interviews, long-form journalism, personal essays, and multimedia of all shapes, sizes, and creeds." They pay $125 for articles 800-1500 words, and $500 for long form articles 3,000 words+. Read their submission guidelines.

Vela publishes nonfiction written by women. "Our stories have been recognized as notable in The Best American Essays, The Best American Travel Writing, and The Best American Sports Writing; selected for inclusion in The Best Women’s Travel Writing Volumes 8, 9 and 10; and highlighted on NPR, Outside, The New York Times’ Opinion Page, The New Yorker’s Page Turner, and Longform, Longreads, and The Browser." Feature stories typically run from 3,000 to 6,000 words. Payment is competitive. Read their submission guidelines.

Ravishly is the Internet’s cool aunt. "Do you want to be part of the awesomeness and think your voice fits here? Please send along three published clips and your resume for consideration. You’ll see us talking about gender equality, body acceptance, coercing your toddler into eating broccoli, the horror that is Republican politics — oh, and orgasms." They reportedly pay around $50 to $75 per article or essay. Read submission guidelines.

Herizons is a Canadian publication with a feminist readership. "Articles about applying feminist principles in work, in relationships and organizations, and in social justice are welcome. Our readers are interested in health issues, social and political issues, environmental issues, equality issues, justice issues, spiritual issues; parenting issues and all issues informed by diverse racial and cultural experiences. Articles in which the writer is engaged with the material work best; personal experiences, journalism style articles, interviews, articles which bring in current research and a clear feminist perspective are all things we look for." They pay $250 to $750 for features, $175 for news, $65 for reviews. All payments in Canadian dollars. Preference is given to Canadian authors, and Canadian topics. Read their submission guidelines.

DAME features a variety of voices writing reported pieces, op-eds, and personal essays covering culture, politics, parenting, family, gender, sex, entertainment, tech culture, business and personal finance. DAME’s tone is irreverent, witty, and provocative. "Our objective is to move the conversation forward around trending and topical subjects most relevant to women—that is, when we're not starting the conversation. We accept narrative-driven reported features, first-person essays, Q&As, op-eds, and humor essays (especially satire). Stories are generally between 800 and 2,000 words, depending on the subject matter and the story format." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Rebellious Magazine for Women delivers a unique feminist perspective on Chicago news, events, politics and culture through original articles, essays and interviews. "We support women-owned and women-operated businesses and organizations through editorial coverage and business partnerships." Payment is $100 for 500-word profiles & articles, $50 for columns, essays, $25 for reviews (music, movies, books, TV). Read their submission guidelines.


ESSENCE is the "premiere lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women. With its motivating message, intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, compelling and engaging editorial lineup and vibrant and modern design, ESSENCE is the definitive voice of today's dynamic African-American woman. ESSENCE speaks directly to a Black woman's spirit, her heart and her unique concerns." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Sasee welcomes editorial submissions from freelance writers. "We are looking for new, unpublished, first-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are our primary editorial focus. Diversity of subjects that reflect all age groups and variety of writing styles are invited. Articles should be no more than 500 to 1000 words in length." Payment varies. Read their submission guidelines.

Chatelaine "talks about what Canadian women talk about, and that means we want smart articles about everything from politics to engaging profiles to first-person narratives. The magazine is organized into five sections: Style and Beauty, Home, Health, Life and Food. Within those sections we have stories of different lengths and formats: briefs, how-tos, features, photo essays and packages. Feature articles are usually about big ideas (social issues, controversies, culture, crime, etc.), while the Health section covers the latest news and studies, gives fitness and workout tips and explores hot-button issues and the Home section is the place to go for inspirational décor ideas, clutter busting tips and quick, crafty projects." They pay $1 per word. Pitch your idea first. Read their submission guidelines.

More.com  is looking for "smart, sassy, articulate, insightful pieces that inform, encourage, motivate, and entertain. We’re all about accessible fashion, beauty trends and techniques, sex, love, relationships, and making life easier for young women. Nearly anything is fair game, as long as it’s something women age 24-40 can relate to." Payment is negotiated. Read their submission guidelines.

Room is Canada's oldest women's literary magazine. Room publishes original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art by women, including trans* persons, gender-variant and two-spirit women, and women of non-binary sexual orientations. 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. Read their submission guidelines.

Austin Woman Magazine is a free monthly publication from AW Media, focusing on the women of Austin, Texas. Read their submission guidelines.

Loudoun Woman Magazine is part of the Virginia WOMAN Magazine Group. It's 100,000+ readership includes Northern VA, Washington DC metro area and mail subscribers. Loudoun Woman Magazine is part of a nationally syndicated publication that has been rated the #1 educational newspaper for women in the United States. (U.S. World and Review.) Payment is negotiated. Read submission guidelines.

Lilith Magazine welcomes submissions of high-quality, lively writing: reportage, opinion pieces, memoirs, fiction and poetry on subjects of interest to Jewish women. "Our features usually run no longer than 2,500 words. News briefs are 500 words or less. Fiction submissions should be under 3,000 words.  When submitting, please make sure your name and contact information appear on each page of the manuscript, and include a short bio: one to two sentences, written in the third person. We accept submissions year-round." Payment is negotiated. Read submission guidelines.

That's Life is an Australian publication covering topics related to Australian women. They accept fiction! "We are looking for humorous, clever, positive, contemporary stories with a strong and easy-to-follow plot. It's a good idea to read several issues of the magazines to get the flavour of the type of fiction we publish." They pay $300. Request submission guidelines.

Canthius "accepts submissions of poetry and prose from a diversity of established and emerging women and genderqueer writers. For those who wish to submit to Canthius, we ask that your submission reflect the best of your creativity, your voice, your humour, your intelligence, your strength. Be political, honest, witty. We thank you for considering us as a forum for your work and for reading and writing about women's experiences and feminist issues." Pays $5 per page. This publication has reading periods. Read their submission guidelines.

Contemporary Verse 2 is a quarterly literary journal that publishes poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. "It is our policy to publish new writing by both emerging and established poets. The writing we encourage reflects a diversity representing a range of social and cultural experience along with literary excellence." Payment: Poetry: $30 per poem, Interviews: $50-$100, depending upon length, Articles: $50-$100, depending upon length, Essays: $40-$150, depending upon length, Reviews: $20-$75, depending upon length. Read their submission guidelines.

Make/shift "creates and documents contemporary feminist culture and action by publishing journalism, critical analysis, and visual and text art. Made by an editorial collective committed to antiracist, transnational, and queer perspectives, make/shift embraces the multiple and shifting identities of feminist communities." Pays $.02/word plus two copies for prose and a flat fee for visual art and poetry. Read their submission guidelines.

Mslexia is a quarterly geared to women. The magazine includes prompts, competitions and workshops for writers. "There are 14 opportunities to submit for women writers of all specialisms – poetry, fiction and nonfiction, with five slots kept solely for subscribers to the magazine. There’s something to tickle any writer’s creative fancy." They pay £25.  Read their submission guidelines.

skirt! publishes two personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women’s interests. "All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly themes. Payment for essays is $200. We reserve the right to edit articles for length and content." Read their submission guidelines.

​Brain, Child is an award-winning literary magazine for mothers. "We focus on long form essays that range from 1,500 – 4,500 words. We are excited by great writing – and by both new and established writers. It makes our day when we hear from an established writer or publish an author for the first time." Pays competitive rates. Read their submission guidelines.

Salomé is an online and in-print literary magazine for emerging female writers. Salomé was regarded as powerful in her seductiveness and predatory nature. At Salomé, it is our words and the strength of the all-female collective that gives us our power. Accepts poetry and fiction. Pays £50. Read their submission guidelines.

WOW (Women on Writing) is open to general queries, as long as it relates to the craft of writing and publishing. "We are particularly looking for how-tos on a variety of writing and publishing topics, and interviews/round-ups with acquiring editors/literary agents/publishers. All articles must have takeaway value for fellow writers." Pays $50 or $75. Read their submission guidelines.

A mystery bonus

BUST seeks to bring a feminist perspective to a wide array of topics, from fashion to pop culture to personal stories. (They have a submissions tab on their website footer, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to submit.)

2 New Agents Seeking Clients - sci-fi/fantasy, horror, thrillers, nonfiction and more

Here are two new agents actively seeking clients. Gabrielle Piraino (DeFiore) is seeking nonfiction as well as sci-fi/fantasy, horror, thrillers, and up-market chick lit for adults. She is also interested in children's books. Quressa Robinson (D4EO Literary) is looking for women’s fiction from #ownvoices authors, as well as a wide range of fiction and nonfiction.

For a comprehensive list of new and established writers actively seeking writers see: Agents Seeking Clients.

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.
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Gabrielle Piraino of DeFiore and Company

About Gabrielle: Gabrielle is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a dual-B.A. in Honors Classical Languages and English. After graduation, Gabbie earned her Masters of Science in Publishing at Pace University in Manhattan. She has previously worked for both major commercial publishing houses and literary agencies alike, including Farrar, Strauss & Giroux and AGI Vigliano. Gabbie joined DeFiore and Company in the summer of 2016.

She is Seeking: Gabbie is actively seeking imaginative sci-fi/fantasy, horror, thrillers, and up-market chick lit for Adults and Young Adults alike. For Children’s and Middle Grade, she is looking for stories that introduce curious young readers to new concepts with compelling characters and an engaging voice (fiction and nonfiction). Further, she’d happily review projects form author-illustrators in the comic/graphic novel arena. An avid personal baker/cook, Gabbie is pleased to accept queries for cookbook and crafty lifestyle projects, too.

Overall, Gabbie is searching for unique narrative voices (OwnVoices, when possible!), strong world-building, and spunky, stubborn characters that never do exactly what you’d expect.

How to Submit: Please query her at gabrielle@defliterary.com with “QUERY” in the subject line, as well as:
A brief summary of your book (no more than two paragraphs)A brief, relevant bioFor fiction, please include the first 50 pages of your manuscript in the body of your emailFor illustrators, please include your website or online portfolioNo attachments please.
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Quressa Robinson (D4EO Literary Agency)

Quressa Robinson is an Associate Agent with D4EO Literary agency actively building her client list. Formerly she was an acquiring editor for St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers where she edited both fiction and nonfiction.

What she is looking for:

SF/F (including speculative/magical realism)Non-Fiction (celebrity, pop culture, pop science, memoir)Upmarket and Commercial Women’s FictionHistorical FictionFamily SagasContemporary YA (including romance)SF/F YA CrossoverI am particularly interested in OwnVoices (Indigenous, African/African American, Asian, Latino/a/x, Muslim and other religious minorities, people with disabilities, Multiracial/Multicultural, LGBTQ, etc) and Inclusive NarrativesGenre bending is also great, i.e. epic fantasy romance or upmarket fantasy“I’m particularly interested in women’s fiction from #ownvoices authors; stories that are upmarket as well as commercial, but with book club appeal. Would love to see nerdy female protagonists.”

How to Submit: Send queries to quressa [at] d4eo.com, and take a look at Quressa’s full submission guidelines.

2 Million Page Views ... and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog

Last year, in fact it was exactly a year ago, I published a post somewhat facetiously titled "A Million Page Views ... and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog."

Okay, I could afford to be a little snarky back then. After all, it had taken four years to reach a million.

I had no idea what was ahead.

A little less than a year later this blog hit another million - a four-fold increase in traffic. This was not an accident. I had written a post in which I had waxed enthusiastic about blog promotion. And for once - really, literally for once - I followed my own advice. I promoted my blog.

Promoting a blog is exactly the same as promoting a book. And why should it be any different? It's all writing! You simply need to find your audience. Really, marketing is that simple. (Of course, the trick is figuring out where your audience is.)

What makes a successful blog?

Before getting to the nitty gritty, perhaps we should take a step back and ponder the nature of blogs.

Essentially, there is no difference between writing a blog and writing anything else. If you are writing nonfiction (i.e. imparting information), you need to be clear and concise. If you are simply writing to entertain, let your muse shine through! Basically, those are your only two choices. (Of course, combining the two is always a good idea!)

Being of practical bent, I conceived this blog as a means to organize information. Initially, this was not because I intended to provide a service to the writing community. I was simply using my blog as an online tool to store and categorize information. It was much more convenient for me to write a blog listing agents accepting sci-fi and fantasy, for example, or build a table of magazines that would actually pay me for my short stories, than keep cumbersome notes on my desk. And because I needed to utilize those posts, I really put my back into them. It turns out those posts were also useful to quite a few other people. Two million of them to be precise.

First wave of views

Now, let's talk about how this blog managed to get viewed by so many people. When I first started writing, I had no idea how anyone was going to find my humble blog. So, I did everything a blogger is supposed to do: I got my blog onto various directories, tried to "optimize SEO" (still don't know what that is), guest posted, and did ALL THE THINGS. Box 1 shows how that worked out.
Stage 1: ALL THE THINGS. Stage 2: Posting on Google+. Stage 3: Posting on Facebook Doing ALL THE THINGS, while logical, didn't help me to reach people. If you were to apply that method to publishing, it would be the equivalent of putting your book up on Amazon and a few other places, notifying some reviewers, and calling it a day. (That doesn't work either.)

The sharp increase after the first red box is the result of finding an audience. In my case, my audience is other writers. (We share a goal - getting published!) Writers tend to hang out in the same places I do, i.e. writing groups on Google+ and Facebook. Between those two, my views went from 6,000 to 60,000 a month.

Some of my posts, notably the ones with lists of publishers accepting unagented submissions, got tens of thousands of hits, which launched them into the top positions on Google searches. As a result 2,000+ daily page views come from Google. An additional daily 2,000+ page views come from Facebook groups. (Facebook traffic tends to be intense, but short-lived.) With the addition of Facebook, traffic has now crept up to 100,000 page views a month.

The bottom line

The bottom line for a blog, or any other form of writing, is whether you have fun doing it. But the second consideration, the one we should always ask ourselves as writers, is how many people can I reach? The only way to increase readers is through  daily  promotion.

The most efficient way to find those readers is by advertising your writing, whether it be blog or book, in the places you like to go. Chances are pretty good that you will find like-minded people there, that is, people who will appreciate what you have to say.

You can't just promote occasionally. It has to be constant. That is true of your blog, of your stories, of your book, and of anything else you write. The day that you stop promoting is the day your creative endeavor dies.

Here are some posts with good information for promoting your blog (and other writing):

10 Simple Ways to Promote Your Blog (For Writers)

Flogging your Blog

How to Get 40,000 Readers Without Guest Blogging

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52 Calls for Submissions in May 2017 - Paying Markets

​There are more than four dozen calls for submissions in May. Every genre and every form is welcome (including full-length manuscripts)! All are paying markets. There are no submission fees.

Many of these journals have recurring calls for submissions, so if you miss this window, you can always submit during the next reading period.

For more literary journals seeking submissions and to get a jump on next month's open calls see: Paying Markets.

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Nonbinary Review. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays and art. "We are open to submissions which relate to the urban legends, rumors, and suspicious stories reported on Snopes.com. We’re looking for stories in which the urban legends might be made more plausible, explorations of the nature of urban legends and their origins, etc. EACH SUBMISSION MUST CONTAIN A LINK TO A SPECIFIC SNOPES ARTICLE." Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction and nonfiction, and a flat fee of $10 per poem and $25 per piece of visual art. Deadline: May 1, 2017.

Carte Blanche. Genres: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art, photography. Payment: Modest. Deadline: May 1, 2017.

Weasel Press. Genre: Short story on theme of Hitchhiking. ‘Hitchhiking is the art of traveling through getting free rides from folks. You stick out your thumb and gamble on if you’ll make it to the next stop or if you’re walking further than you had planned. Passing Through is seeking short stories with anthropomorphic characters on the road. Cash, Grass, or Ass, give us your best hitchhiking tales! Stories must contain anthropomorphic animals (humanized animals). This is a furry anthology, keep this in mind when submitting." Payment: ½ cent per word. Deadline: May 1, 2017.

Mythic Delirium. Genres: Fiction and poetry that ranges through science fiction, fantasy, horror, interstitial and cross-genre territory. Payment:  2 cents/word on publication for stories, $5 for poetry. Deadline: May 1, 2017.

Skirt! The Summer Lovin’ Issue. Genre: Essay on theme: All things summer! From bugs to backpacking. Payment: $200. Deadline: May 1, 2017.

Timeless Tales. Genre: Stories (up to 2,000 words) and poems that fit with the theme Arthurian Legends. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 5, 2017.

Bright Wall/Dark Room: The Hero's Journey. Genre: Themed essay. "We’re looking for writing on films or television shows that deal with this structure in some way—the Hero’s Journey, or the monomyth, as defined by Joseph Campbell and further popularized by Christopher Vogler." Payment: $25. Deadline: May 5, 2017.

Mugwump Books: Afrocentric Steampunk anthology. Genre: Steampunk. " Bring us your steam machines, airships, pulleys, and cogs. Your story can be steeped in magic, science, or both. It can be an alternate history, an alternate universe, or another world entirely. But let’s not limit ourselves. Your characters can live in the aether, as long as the story’s main underlying theme is built on a steampunk foundation. We want diverse characters in diverse settings and diverse cultures, with a main character of indigenous African descent." Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: May 5, 2017.

Augur Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and graphic fiction reprints, featuring at least 75% Canadian content. "We’re looking for reprints of uncanny or dreamlike realist fiction, literary speculative fiction, and magical realism. Our perfect submission defies categorization—pieces that could be “too speculative” for canlit or “not speculative enough” for spec magazines (although we’re open to stories on both these sides as well)." Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: May 10, 2017.

Bennington Review. Genre: Prose and poetry. Payment: $100-$200 for prose, $20 per poem. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Cast of Wonders Podcast: Text Against Tyranny. Genre: YA podcast. "In times of seismic change, the stories that matter are the ones that enrich, inspire and support us… or simply give us the strength to carry on.  We’re looking for stories of survival in difficult times, when being true to yourself can be the most dangerous choice you make.  Stories of protest – subtle or overt. We want stories that have the courage and will to change the lives and worlds of their characters… and our own.  Send us unheard voices in unexpected places — tales that transform, and truths that define." Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Genre: True stories and poems.
"We all have a tendency to get in a rut. We start to say no to new things, and that can only lead to a narrower and narrower life. When we try new things, we end up feeling energized and pleased with ourselves. There is tremendous power in saying “yes” to new things, new places, and new experiences. It makes you feel more dynamic, younger, and more of a participant in the world. You’re not distancing yourself from change any more. Start now!" Payment: $200. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Alaska Quarterly Review. Genre: Fiction, short plays, poetry, photo essays, and literary non-fiction in traditional and experimental styles. Payment: $50-$200 for prose; $10-$50 for poetry. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Natural Wonders: Time in Nature Can Change Your Life Anthology. Genre: Nature essay between 1,200 and 2,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

The Fantasist. Genre: Space opera/fantasy. Length: Stories must be at least 15,000 words and at most 50,000. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Lamplight. Genre: Dark fiction. Length: Up to 7,000 words. Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: May 16, 2017. Reprints accepted at 1 cent per word.

The Stinging Fly. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: Token. Deadline: May 19, 2017.

Griffith Review 58: Storied Lives, Making a Difference – The Novella Project V. Genre: Novella that focuses on people who have effected a change in the world. Insights from the lives of others – real and imagined, personal, political, scientific, cultural – are the key to empathy and understanding. Payment: Negotiated, depending on length. Deadline: May 22, 2017.

Granta. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: Semi-pro to Pro. Deadline: May 25, 2017.

Pedestal Magazine. Genre: Poems on the theme of "War." Payment: $40 for each poem accepted. Deadline: May 25, 2017.

Cloaked Press. Genre: Fantasy stories. Payment: $10 and 3% of sales. Deadline: May 25, 2017.

Cricket. Genres: YA Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction on theme of Puppets & Dolls. Payment: Fiction: up to 10¢ per word, Nonfiction: up to 25¢ per word, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: May 27, 2017.

Kweli Journal. "Kweli is the first online journal of its kind to celebrate community and cultural kinships. In this shared space, you will hear the lived experience of people of color. Our many stories. Our shared histories. Our creative play with language. Here our memories are wrapped inside the music of the Muscogee, the blues songs of the South, the clipped patois of the Caribbean." Genre: Self-contained novel excerpt, short story, or creative non-fiction piece, poetry. Length: No more than 7,000 words. Payment: "upon publication." Deadline: May 30, 2017.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tale on theme of "Donkeyskin." Length: 700 - 3,000 words. Payment: Story $30, Poem $10. US dollars only. Deadline: May 30, 2017.

Worldweaver Press. Genre: Short stories on theme of Mrs. Claus. "We’re looking for stories that let Mrs. Claus (or is it Ms. Claus?) take centre stage." Payment: $10 and a paperback copy of the anthology. Deadline: May 30, 2017.

Gathering Storm Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Themes: Accidents Happen, If at First You Don't Succeed Try Again, Famous Last Word, If You Build It, They Will Come. Payment: $25 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: May 30, 2017.

The Well Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

New England Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $20 per page. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges a small fee to submit.)

Baltimore Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $40 per piece. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Gettysburg Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction and essays. Payment: $15 per page (prose), $2 per line (poetry). Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges a small fee to submit online.)
Vestal Review. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Now charges $2 to submit.)

Renfield Press: Literary e-clectic. Genre: Fiction and Nonfiction stories on theme of Time Lost. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

One Story. Genre: Literary Fiction. Length: Between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Payment: $500. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Rice Paper Press. Genre: Horror. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Untreed Reads: The Killer Wore Cranberry. Genre: Short mystery stories. "All the stories contained within must be about murder and mayhem happening at Thanksgiving, and must feature a typical Thanksgiving dish as a vital part of the story (i.e.: turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie). Most importantly…it must be funny! This anthology is all about making people laugh while enjoying a great mystery short at the same time." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Manchester Speculative Fiction. Genre: Speculative fiction set in Manchester, UK. Payment: £15 Sterling. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. Length: Varies. Payment: Poetry: $30 per poem; Interviews: $50-$100, depending upon length; Articles: $50-$100, depending upon length; Essays: $40-$150, depending upon length; Reviews: $20-$75, depending upon length. Deadline: May 31, 2017. No simultaneous submissions.

Arc magazine. Genre: Poetry (modern style), book reviews, and poetry-themed essays. Payment: $40/page and one copy. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

The Gettysburg Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays. Payment: $2.00 per line for poetry and $15 per printed page for prose. Published authors also receive a copy of the issue containing their work and a one-year subscription. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges small fee for online submissions. No fee for snail mail.)

Agni. Genre: Poetry, short stories, essays, stand-alone novel excerpts. Payment: $20 per page for prose and $40 per page for poetry, with a $300 maximum. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Grain Magazine. Genre: Poetry, short stories, literary non-fiction, Payment: $50 per page to a maximum of $250, plus 3 copies of the issue. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Haunted Waters Press. "We welcome both the profound and the quirky. We are open to most styles and genres of fiction including speculative, dark, experimental, and literary. We love flash fiction of any word count as long as it tells a complete story. We enjoy all forms of poetry including experimental, rhyming, free verse, and invented form. While we welcome deep, meaningful poetry, we also enjoy works that are witty, peculiar, or offbeat. As a general rule, we do not accept erotica. Horror only upon request. Profanity and violence, if used, must be integral to the story." Payment: $.01 - $.04/word. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (May is a free open reading period.)

ZYZZYVA. Payment: Token to semi-pro. Deadline: May 31, 2017. Snail mail submissions only.

Chicken Soup for the Soul. Positively Happy! 101 Stories about Positive Thinking and Living a Happy Life. Genre: True stories and poems."Being happy is a state of mind. We can all find happiness in our lives and, even though we may have to look for it, we know that each day brings something to be grateful for. We want to hear your stories about finding your path to contentment. These success stories can be serious or funny and should inspire our readers to focus on hope, strength and optimism. How did you think positive and find happiness? Was it something as simple as an attitude adjustment? Did you make a major change in the handling of your daily life? How did you find purpose, passion and joy in your life and how do you stay positive? How do you use gratitude to be happier?" Payment: $200. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Nashville Review. "Nashville Review seeks to publish the best work we can get our hands on, period. From expansive to minimalist, narrative to lyric, epiphanic to subtle—if it’s a moving work of art, we want it." Genre: Short stories and poems. Payment: $100/story, $25/poem. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Antioch Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles and some fiction geared to an educated audience. Payment: $20/page. Deadline: May 31, 2017. Snail mail submissions only.

The Baltimore Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. Payment: $40 Amazon gift certificate. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Chiral Mad 4. Genre: Horror, speculative (dark). Collaborate writing anthology. Payment: $.06 per word. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Central Arkansas Speculative Fiction Writers Group: When You’re Strange: An Anthology of Strangers. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We want to see stories about estrangement, oddballs, and those who simply do not follow rules. We want to see outsiders and those deemed unworthy by society. Outcasts are welcome." Payment: $15 and copy. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Alice Unbound. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Poetry and fiction. "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was Carroll’s most famous work but there are other stories and poems (some within the greater works) where madcap creatures abound. Alice Unbound should contain an element of the speculative and may embrace fabulist, weird, myth, SF, fantasy, steampunk, horror, etc." Payment: .05/word. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Milkweed Press. Genre: Novels, novellas, and short story collections. Payment: Royalties. (Advance?). Deadline: May 31, 2017.

New Rivers Press. Genre: Novels, novellas, memoirs, and short story and poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. (Advance?) Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Fig Tree Books. Genre: Novels (including YA) and nonfiction (including memoirs) “that chronicle and enlighten the beautiful and sometimes challenging mosaic of the American Jewish Experience.”  Payment: Royalties. (Advance?) Deadline: May 31, 2017.

36 Writing Contests in May 2017 - No Entry Fees

​May hosts three dozen free contests. They cover the full range of topics, styles and genres, from essays, to poetry, to full-length works.

In addition to the prestige of winning a contest, some of the monetary prizes this month are substantial.

Be sure to check the submission requirements carefully, as some have age and geographical restrictions.

Many contests are offered annually, so if you miss a contest you may be able to catch it next year. For a full month-by-month listing of contests see: Free Contests.
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Crucible: Poetry and Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Barton College Department of English. Genres: Fiction (limited to 8,000 words or less) and poetry (limited to five poems). Restrictions: All work must be original and unpublished. Prizes: $150.00 First Prize. $100.00 Second Prize. Publication in the Crucible. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest. Restrictions: Children aged 18 and under. Entrants must reside within a Commonwealth country or territory, or the Gambia, the Maldives, and Zimbabwe. Max word count is 1500 for entrants aged 14-18, and 750 for entrants younger than 14. Prizes are not stated explicitly but “have included certificates, resources for winner’s school, visits to Cambridge University, a trip to London and a week of activities, work experience at international organisations, and having your entry featured in worldwide media.” Genre: Essay. The theme of the contest is “A Commonwealth For Peace.” Deadline: May 1, 2017.

“My Mother, My Hero.” Genre: Essay. "In the world of addiction, it is often the families who help pull a loved one out of the clutches of substance abuse. It’s through their support that many people find healing, and quite often it is a mom (or a mother figure) who is always there in a time of need. Of course, it’s also likely that a mom has been hurt most in watching her child suffer the pain of addiction, which doesn’t just affect the addict, it touches everyone in their life. In 250 words or less, tell us why your mother is your hero." Prize: $200. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Alpine Fellowship. Genre: Pieces of any genre up to 2500 words on the theme of “landscape.” Prize: The first place winner receives £3000 and an invitation to enter the symposium in Venice (two runners-up also receive the invitation). Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Questions Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-30. Genre: Short stories of any genre or nonfiction between 1500 and 2000 words. Prize: First place winners (or prize pool for a tie) is $2000. The work will also be published in a book. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Grant MacEwan Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Drama, or Graphic Novel. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate creative writing program of study or mentorship. (Max age 25) Alberta residents only. Prize: $5000 (CAN). Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction Grant. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Whiting welcomes submissions for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel writing, and personal essays, among other categories. Writers must be completing a book of creative nonfiction that is currently under contract with a publisher. Writers who signed a contract before May 1, 2015, are eligible. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Polari First Book Prize. Genres: The prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in English. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission. Restrictions: Writer must be born in UK or resident in the UK. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

West Virginia Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open to West Virginia residents or students. Genre: Short fiction, 5,000 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: May 1, 2017. 

Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program. Restrictions: Debuting authors and writers with fewer than three previously published books who have yet to receive a major literary award are eligible for consideration. Exceptions are sometimes made for authors who have published more titles, but have yet to break out to a larger audience. Submissions must be original publications, penned by one author. Self-published works not allowed. Genres: Published or scheduled to be published fiction and literary nonfiction. Prize: $10,000 in each genre and in-store marketing/merchandising from Barnes & Noble. 2nd Place $5,000 in each genre, 3rd Place $2,500 in each genre. Deadline: May 4, 2017.

Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have lived in the state of Maine for at least one year. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: May 4, 2017.

Daily Mail/Penguin Random House New Crime Novelist Competition. Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK or Republic of Ireland. Unpublished authors only. Genre: Crime book. Prize: £20,000.00 advance on a publishing contract. Deadline: May 5, 2017.

Creative Comedy Project. Genre: Comedy. ‘We want you to write a piece of comedy that’s no longer than 500 words. It could be experimental, satire, spoof, wit or wordplay. The choice our friends is up to you! We’re looking for all formats of written comedy. It could be the opening to a sitcom, a scene of a play or just a silly story. All that we ask is that it deals with one or more of the themes from Anita and Me, including family, coming-of-age, migration, racism, love and friendship, cultural and social change. Prize: The winning piece will be crowned Comedy Gold and awarded a prize of £300. Runner-up positions include Silver and Bronze and will receive prizes of £150 and £50 respectively. Deadline: May 7, 2017.

The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Artist Trust. Restrictions: Open to poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are residents of Washington State. Students enrolled in a degree-granting program are ineligible. Submit a writing sample of up to 12 pages with a project description, synopsis, budget, and résumé. Grant: $1,500. Deadline: May 15, 2017. 
St. Francis College Literary Prize. Genre: Novel. Third, fourth, or fifth published book of fiction. Self-published books and English translations are eligible. Prize: $50,000 is given biennially. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Leeway Foundation: Transformation Award. Restrictions: Women and transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, or otherwise gender-nonconforming poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers in the Philadelphia area who have been creating art for social change for five or more years. Writers who have lived for at least two years in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties, who are at least 18 years of age, and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Award: $15,000. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest. Genre: Essay. "Professionals, freelancers, and aspiring writers are encouraged to write articles that describe their experience living, moving, and working abroad. Often your experience living abroad may be extended by working or studying in the host country, so living/working/studying/and traveling abroad are often inextricable—and we are interested in exploring these interconnections." Prize: The first-place winner’s entry will receive $500, the second-place winning entry $150, and the third-place winner $100. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Kindle Storyteller Award (UK). Restrictions: The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk between 20th February and 19th May 2017. Genre: Book. Prize: £20,000. Deadline: May 15, 2017.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between March 22, 2016 and May 23, 2017. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: May 24, 2017.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between March 23, 2016 and May 24, 2016. Deadline: May 24, 2016.   Read guidelines HERE .

Stony Brook Short Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Only undergraduates enrolled full time in United States and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2016-17 are eligible. Genre: Fiction of no more than 7,500 words. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: May 25, 2017.  
Sapiens Plurum. Genre: Stories that personalize the consequences of climate change so readers feel as well as know them. But stories must offer hope, at least a possibility, for without hope people rarely act. Your job, as author, is to inspire scientists and states-persons around the world to live up to the promise of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Prize: 1ST PRIZE: $1000; 2ND PRIZE: $500; 3RD PRIZE: $300. Deadline: May 27, 2017.  Submission details available after registration.

Be a Hero Contest. Genre: Flash fiction up to 50 words about a hero. Title is not included in the word count, and the hero can be from your life, from history, or fictional. Stories will be sent to all senators and members of the House of Representatives, urging them to be heroes in these times of United States political strife. "At this precarious time in the United States, we need people to be heroes. This isn’t a battle between Republicans and Democrats. This is a battle between right and wrong. And we need heroes who are willing to fight for what is right—across this country and around the world." Prize: The winner will receive a Gotham Writer’s Workshop class of their choosing. Limit one entry per person. Deadline: May 29, 2017.

Claudia Ann Seaman Awards For Young Writers. Restrictions: High school students. Genre: Stories and poems. Prize: $200.00. Deadline: May 30, 2016.

Nick Darke Writers' Award. Genre: Stage play. Prize: £6,000. Deadline: May 30, 2017.
Eden Mills Teen Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to Canadian teens. Genre: Poetry. This year’s theme: Time and all its gifts. Prize: Two $50 prizes, 2 $25 prizes. Deadline: May 30, 2016.


Bacopa Literary Review. Genres: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry. Prizes: First ($200) and Runner-Up ($160) prizes in each genre. All published will receive $20 and a copy of the print journal. After publication, Bacopa 2017 will be promoted online. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Cromwell Article Prize. Genre: Articles published in 2015 in the field of American legal history. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $100 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

Save the Earth Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem (1). Poems submitted should, in any way possible, evoke humankind’s awareness of the natural world and nature as such. Restrictions: Open to High school students, grades 11 & 12. Prize: $200 awarded to seven winners. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction. Sponsored by the American Bar Association. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.  Genre: Original works of short fiction that illuminate the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society. 5000 words max. Prize: $3,000 and publication in ABA Journal. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards. Restrictions: Open to aboriginal youth, 18 years or younger, residing in Ontario, Canada. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
I Must Be Off! Travel Writing Contest. Genre: Travel articles, travel anecdotes and travel reflections. Prize: $200. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

32 Great Writing Conferences in May 2017

Conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry, they make you feel like a writer. We all need community, and this is how we, as writers, get the necessary incentive to keep writing.

If you miss your perfect conference this year, you may be able to catch it next year. Many conferences are annual occurrences. Planning ahead may also lower the cost, as quite a few conferences offer scholarships and discounts for early bird registrations.

To see a full list of conferences organized by month, as well as links for finding conferences in your area throughout the year see: Writing Conferences.

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13th annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. May 1 - May 7, 2017 at various locations in New York City. readings, performances, and panel discussions for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. "The thirteenth annual PEN World Voices Festival will take on some of the vital issues of the Trump-era, with a special focus on today’s restive relationship between gender and power. Taking place in New York City, May 1-7, 2017, the weeklong festival will use the lens of literature and the arts to confront new challenges to free expression and human rights—issues that have been core to PEN America’s mission since its founding. At this historic moment of both unprecedented attacks on core freedoms and the emergence of new forms of resistance, the Festival will offer a platform for a global community of writers, artists and thinkers to connect with concerned citizens and the broader public to fight back against bigotry, hatred and isolationism."

Romance Times BookLovers. May 2-7, 2017, Atlanta, GA.

ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) Writers Conference, May 5 - 6, 2017. NYC, NY. Focus on Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Nature, Non-fiction, Publishing, Religion, Screenwriting, Travel. Attending: more than 100 editors, authors, literary agents, and publicists.

Northern Colorado Writers Conference. May 5 - 6, 2017, Fort Collins CO. The 2017 Northern Colorado Writers Conference will bring back some local favorites such as Laura Pritchett, Trai Cartwright, and Kerrie Flanagan, as well as welcome several new-to-NCW presenters such as Bob Mayer, Jessica Strawser, and Whitney Davis, and several new agents.

Idaho Writers Guild Conference. May 5 - 6, 2017, Boise, Idaho. Meet with agents, editors, and authors. Panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote speaker. Your registration - $195 for IWG members, $225 for non-members.

Gold Rush Writers Conference. May 5 - 7, 2017, Mokelumne Hill, CA. "Writing professionals will guide you to a publishing bonanza through a series of panels, specialty talks, workshops and celebrity lectures. Go one-on-one with successful poets, novelists, biographers, memoirists and short story writers." Writing workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Children's, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Travel, Young Adult.

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival. May 5 - May 7, 2017, Salem, Massachusetts. The Mass Poetry Festival offers nearly 100 poetry readings and workshops, a small press and literary fair, panels, poetry slams, and open-air readings. More than 150 poets will engage with thousands of New Englanders.

Grub Street Muse and the Marketplace Conference. May 5 - May 7, 2017. Boston, Massachusetts. The Muse and the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking. On all three days, prominent and nationally-recognized established and emerging authors lead sessions on the craft of writing—the "muse" side of things—while editors, literary agents, publicists and other industry professionals lead sessions on the business side—the "marketplace."

Hedgebrook VORTEXT Salon. May 5 - 7, 2017: Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island, about 35 miles northwest of Seattle. Workshops, panel discussions, lectures, open mics, and time to write in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for women writers.

Columbus State Community College Writers Conference. May 6, 2017, Columbus, Ohio. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Fiction, Journalism, Marketing, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting. This one-day conference is free of charge.

DFW Writers Conference. May 6 - 7, 2017, Fort Worth TX. Featuring pitch sessions with literary agents, advanced classes, engaging panels, interactive workshops.

Writers Retreat Workshop. May 6 - 13, 2017, San Antonio, TX. Featuring Author and Instructor Lisa Cron (Wired for Story, Story Genuis), Thriller novelist Daniel Palmer (Delirious, Forgive Me, Mercy (with his late father Michael Palmer) ), Mystery and thriller author Reavis Wortham (Red River Mystery Series, and in 2017 Sonny Hawke series), Author and Instructor Les Edgerton (Bomb, Hooked (WD), The Bitch), Author, Instructor and Editor Carol Dougherty, Author, Instructor, Editor, and Program Director Jason Sitzes, and more agents, editors, and authors.

Mokulē‘ia Writers Retreat. May 7 - 12, 2017 in Waialua, Hawaii at Camp Mokulē‘ia, Oahu. Offers workshops in fiction and nonfiction, readings, one-on-one consultations, publishing panels, yoga sessions. The retreat is led by North Shore native Constance Hale, the author of Sin and Syntax, the editor of more than two dozen books, and a journalist whose stories about Hawai‘i appear on CD liner notes, as well as in publications like The Los Angeles Times and Smithsonian magazine. Hale invites a mix of writers, editors, and agents from both the islands and the mainland to lead various workshops and appear on panels.

Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp. May 7- 13, 2017: West Bend WI. 6-day, residential workshop-retreat for writers in all genres working on a novel or creative nonfiction book. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult. Registration is limited to 30 people.

Crafting Successful Author Visits. May 7 - 12, 2017, Honesdale, PA. Peter Jacobi, journalism professor and former newsman for NBC and ABC, will coach you in the fundamentals of public speaking. Peter will teach the seven essential parts of speech writing as well as tips for audience engagement. Carmen Oliver and Jan Cheripko will advise you in the creation or revision of your presentation intended for a school audience. In addition to one-to-one feedback on your presentation, Jan and Carmen will accompany you to an on-site school visit during the workshop.

Writing the Unreal: The Whole Novel Workshop in Fantasy & Speculative Fiction. May 7-14, 2017, Honesdale, PA. This unique workshop is designed for anyone with a complete or near-complete draft of a middle-grade or young adult novel in fantasy or speculative fiction who wants a thorough manuscript critique and help making plans for revision. WAITLISTED.

Lakefly Writers Conference. May 12 - 13, 2017: Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Workshops, talks, and a bookfair for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Keynote speaker is Nickolas Butler. Many speakers and presenters.

Atlanta Writers Conference. May 12-13, 2017, Atlanta, GA. Featured Writers Include:
Six acquisition editors from top publishing houses and six well-regarded literary agents, plus a workshop presenter from the publishing industry and successful, experienced authors, many of whom received their first publishing and/or representation contracts via the Atlanta Writers Conference.

Seaside Writers Conference. May 14 - 20, 2017: Seaside Assembly Hall in Seaside, Florida. "The Seaside Writers Conference is an annual gathering of creative writers from all over the nation, and features award-winning writers in poetry and fiction and screenwriting who will offer a full week of intensive writing workshops, one day seminars, school outreach programs, and social events." Many authors, agents, editors.

Whole Novel Workshop: Historical Fiction. May 14 - 20, 2017, Honesdale, PA. This workshop provides novelists in middle grade or young adult historical fiction a complete review of their entire manuscript, along with tools for revision and practical tips from experts in the field. WAITLISTED.

Writing By Writers Methow Valley Workshop: May 17 - 21, 2017, Winthrop, WA. Faculty: faculty includes Ron Carlson, Ross Gay, Pam Houston and Lidia Yuknavitch. Tuition: $1,650 (before November 1) $1,750 (after November 1) includes one four-day workshop, admittance to all panels and readings, and all meals (dinner on Wednesday; three meals Thursday through Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Sunday) and lodging for four nights.  Alumni of the first Methow Valley Workshop in May 2016 will receive a $100 discount.

Nebula Conference and Awards Ceremony. May 18-21, 2017, Pittsburgh, PA.

Defining Your Voice. May 18-21, 2017, Honesdale, PA. As a reader, you know “voice” in an instant. It stands out. It rings true. It stays in your head. As a writer, you have a voice that is distinctively your own. It comes from within and without—inner conflicts, outside pressures, personal values, and your own particular views of the world infuse your work. You tell the stories that only you can tell. Join writer and editor Sharyn November to immerse yourself in rich examples of many writers’ voices as you work to develop your own.

Pennwriters Conference, May 19 - 21, 2017, Pittsburgh, PA. Friday evening keynote Jonathan Maberry; Saturday afternoon keynote Chuck Sambuchino; and 20+ authors, literary agents & editors, writing industry pros. Costs: $375 for 3-day registration. One-day registration available $185.

Austin SCBWI 2017 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference. May 20 - 21, 2017, Austin, TX. Conference on children's books with keynotes; general sessions; breakout sessions for writing, professional development and illustration; intensives for novels, picture books and illustration; critiques; pitches and more. Faculty: Editors Kendra Levin (Penguin Random House), Melissa Manlove (Chronicle) Agents Linda Camacho (Prospect), Stefanie Von Borstel (Full Circle) Art Director Giuseppe Castellano (PRH). Authors Kathi Appelt, Coe Booth, more. Author/illustrator.

Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers. May 22 - 26, 2017, Houston, Texas. Featured Writers Include: Fiction: Bill Broun (Night of the Animals); Nonfiction: Lea Lax (Uncovered); Poetry: Hayan Charara (Something Sinister, The Sadness of Others, and The Alchemist's Diary). Application deadline: MAY 1st.

Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference. May 26 - 27, 2017: Wyndham University Center in Pittsburgh. Master classes, craft discussions, publishing talks, pitch sessions, and readings for creative nonfiction writers. In just three days you can meet one-on-one with a literary agent or publishing consultant, get concrete advice from professional writers, hear what different kinds of editors are looking for, and hone your skills in an inspiring small-group session. You’ll also meet and mingle with writers from across the country who share your excitement about the writing process.

Connecting Writers with Hollywood. May 26 - 27, 2017, Spokane, WA. CWWH is a writers conference where writers and screenwriters can pitch their material directly to film agents and producers. It is a weekend of education, panels and pitch sessions. Faculty: Chuck Palahniuk (!), Brian Bird, Mel Eslyn, Mark Steilen, Mike Dill, Megan Griffiths, Kim Hornsby, Nikki Navarre, Heather Morado.

Balticon 51. May 26 - 29, 2017, Baltimore, MD. Balticon is sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award, the Robert A. Heinlein Award, and the winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest annually at this event. Faculty: Eric Flint as Guest of Honor. Multiple tracks of Programming over the four day weekend, featuring authors, artists, scientists, musicians, podcasters, publishers, editors, costumers and other creative SF luminaries.

The Personal is Always Political with Melissa Febos. May 26 - 30, 2017, Austerlitz NY. What is the role of the personal writer in this new political landscape? It has always been the job of writers to engage in conversation with the world, but in times of national upheaval, this job is more urgent than ever. In this generative workshop, we will explore methods of bringing our personal stories more explicitly into a political context.

Capturing the Unexpected: Beginning Your Novel – Right. May 28 - June 3, 2017, Honesdale, PA. The experiences of National Book Award-winning editor Patricia Lee Gauch will drive this spirited workshop on getting your novel off to a great start. Through dialog and activities, writers will gain vivid strategies with which to build their middle-grade or young adult novels into truly original narratives with rich characterization, surprising depth, and real emotional power. Daily exercises, long and short, will focus on writers’ diction and style, character development, the driving force of attitude, and voice. During the five days, participants will develop a draft of two short stories or chapters with which they can begin a long work of fiction. Class is limited to eight participants. Applications for this workshop should include a two-page sample of writing. WAITLISTED.

North Words Writers Symposium: May 31 - June 3, 2017, Skagway, Alaska. Faculty: Keynote author Paul Theroux. Alaskan authors include: John Straley, Sherry Simpson, Tom Kizzia, Deb Vanesse, Andy Hall, Lenore Bell. Costs: $375 includes most meals. College credit extra for $90.

12 Agents Representing Short Story Collections

Finding an agent to represent a short story collection is not easy. The reason most agents prefer to avoid short story collections is that they are difficult to sell to publishers - unless the author is already famous.

Before you submit your collection, I strongly recommend that you get as many stories as possible published in literary magazines. Having a track record will help, and prior publication will not harm your chances of getting a collection published. (However, you should avoid publishing in magazines that are online. If people can read your stories for free, why should they buy them?)

For where to publish short stories see:

297 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction

Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions

18 Paying Markets for Humor 

And if you prefer to submit directly to a publisher read:

17 Publishers Accepting Unagented Short Story Collections

IMPORTANT: These twelve agents have listed Short Stories on their MSWL (manuscript wish list) profiles, however you should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.
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Jennifer Kim (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency)

A graduate from the University of California Irvine, Jennifer holds a B.A. in English Literature and Spanish Literature, and spent a year studying Spanish literature and culture at the University of Barcelona. She also works as a bookseller, having done so since 2012.
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Renée Zuckerbrot Literary Agency

Renée Zuckerbrot founded the agency after working as an editor at Doubleday and Franklin Square Press/Harper’s Magazine. She is a member of the AAR and Authors Guild. She serves on PEN’s Membership Committee, and is a Board member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) and Slice Magazine. You can read an interview with Renée and her colleagues at Poets & Writers. See her top ten list of short stories at Storyville. 
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Waverly Place Literary Agency 

Seeking short story and poetry collections with popular appeal.
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Helen Boyle (Pickled Ink) (UK)

Helen Boyle has over fifteen years experience in the children’s publishing industry. She began her career at Hodder Children’s Books in the marketing and publicity department but quickly felt the draw of editorial and design. She has worked as a consultant, editor and reviewer for UK book and magazine publishers and has an extensive knowledge of the global children’s book market. She is seeking YA connected short stories. (A novel told as a series of short stories.)
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Chad Luibl (Janklow and Nesbit) 

I tend to lean more toward darker tales and gritty settings, culture-crossing perspectives, structures that are a bit experimental (see David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas), and always narratives with a strong emotional core. Having lived in Poland and Hungary, I have a niche-interest in books that feel Eastern European in voice/perspective (or explore post-Soviet and Cold War themes), and I find anything that deals with exile and expatriation immediately arresting.
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Jessica Sinsheimer (Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency)

I’m officially open to all genres. Whatever the age group, I tend to love contrast–highbrow sentences and lowbrow content, beautiful settings and ugly motives–the books that are beautiful and scary, heartbreaking and hilarious. I love secrets, scheming, revenge, plotting–and stories that have to be written forward and backward to make sense (I LOVE discovering a very cleverly planted clue that makes sense in retrospect).
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Katie Grimm (Don Congdon Associates)

Most generally, I focus on adult literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, middle grade, and young adult fiction.  Across all genres and ages, I’ll always be interested in the darker and weirder side of the human condition as well as previously under- or misrepresented experiences and voices.
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Kimberley Cameron (Kimberley Cameron & Associates)

I’ve enjoyed being an agent for 26 years, and love to find new voices. I love to lose myself in a story and to be transported to another reality, whether it be in the future, contemporary, or in the past. I am a complete francophile and have spent lots of time living in Paris and the South of France, and yes, I have sold lots of books from abroad, as I’m always working! I love to read.
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Laura Biagi (Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency Inc.)

Some things I’m especially interested in at the moment: Magical realism in the vein of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a literary fiction journey story where the characters change as much as the landscape around them, absurdism a la George Saunders, anything reminiscent of Karen Russell, strong female edgy voices like Miranda July, a story with a gothic or magical realist twist set in Kentucky or the South, literary YA with Romani characters, and contemporary YA with characters following their passions and trying to figure out life as in Rainbow Rowell’s novels.
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Monica Odom (Bradford Literary)

Monica is most actively seeking adult projects, but is open to some YA and MG (especially if it is NF or illustrated). She holds the same criteria no matter the age group: original storytelling, incredible voice, compelling characters, and vivid, detailed setting. She also likes to see a strong sense of narrative tension. Monica is serious about the fact that We Need Diverse Books and is looking for authentic representation of all characters, diverse or otherwise
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Rachel Crawford (Wolf Literary)

I’m on the look out for literary and commercial fiction and YA. I’m drawn to stories that defy genre conventions and play with reader expectations, and I particularly enjoy dystopian fiction, eco-fiction, and apocalyptic narratives, as well as anything with a scientist protagonist. I love books that explore big ideas through compelling narrative.
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Sarah Yake (Frances Collin Literary Agency)

A quirky, interesting voice is my number one consideration. I love a touch of humor, whether overt or sly. My reading tastes are wide-ranging and my goal is to keep building a similarly diverse, multi-genre list.

10 Things We Hate About Agents (And 10 Things They Hate About Us)

Authors and agents have what I would call an ambiguous relationship. It's not precisely love/hate, but it does involve a clash of expectations.

This clash is the inevitable result of a business mentality coming in close contact with artistic sensibilities. (That is, writers who are devoted to the craft or, more specifically, devoted to their own writing).

(I've previously written about that conflict at some length. See my astonishingly perceptive post: Literary Agents: The Writer's Ultimate Ambiguous Relationship.)

Launching into the publishing world can be a painfully enlightening experience for a writer. Not surprisingly, it can be equally as vexing for agents who may not realize that their clients are not only unprepared, but are quite confused as to what is expected of them. But in some cases, it is not merely confusion that causes problems. With increasing numbers of writers submitting their work, exacerbated by fierce competition for publishing slots, frustrations can arise, leading to complaints on both sides.

Here are some of them.

Ten things writers hate about agents

1) Agents who charge a fee, or who are really book doctors, but don't let you know until you have submitted your work. This is the most egregious of sins in the agent community. Fortunately, it is becoming relatively rare - but it still exists. If an agent charges a fee, especially after they have requested pages (and given you glowing compliments), do not pay them a cent, and run for the hills. NO LEGITIMATE AGENT CHARGES A READING FEE.

2) "No reply means no." The majority of agents no longer send rejections. They simply do not respond at all. In this age of automatic email replies there is no excuse for that kind of behavior. We all understand that agents are busy people, but we also expect them to be professionals. It is highly unprofessional to leave writers hanging.

3) Agents who ask for partials or fulls, and then either don't reply or send a canned response. This is something I personally really dislike. If an agent asks to see a manuscript, the writer will assume, rightly, that the agent has taken an interest. At this point, a lack of reply is somewhat like inviting a girl (or boy) to the prom and not showing up. It's not only rude, it's unconscionable.

4) Agents who say they want "great writing" but don't request sample pages along with your query. C'mon agents! Put your money where your mouth is! If you want great writing, then take a look at the first chapter! Every agent worth his or her salt knows that writers are piss poor at writing queries, so skip the query and spend  a few minutes on the first ten pages.

5) Agents who expect writers to compose copy. There is a huge difference between writing a novel and writing copy. A book is self-expression. Copy is what your boss hires you to churn out in order to sell his (or her) products. Agents cannot reasonably expect writers, especially fiction writers, to suddenly know the rules of advertising. That is a skill unto itself, and one in which writers are not trained.

6) Agents who promise the moon. Most agents won't take on your project unless they are "in love" with it. (To translate, "in love" means "I can sell this to a publisher and make money.") It is perfectly reasonable to expect enthusiasm from agents. What isn't reasonable is when agents tell you that your book is going to be a bestseller, that it will be a "breakout" novel, or that they are sure you will get a movie deal.

7) Agents who promise nothing. At the bare minimum an agent should be able to tell you what he or she can do for you. Agents should let you know what their contacts in the publishing industry are, what kind of track record they have, whether they have sold books like yours. They should have a game plan for selling your book. It goes without saying that they should be well acquainted with the terms of a contract, and should be willing to explain those terms to you.

8) Long, convoluted contracts that are filled with legalese. Back in the day, when there were no contracts between agents and authors, a simple handshake (verbal or physical) was enough. Now, there are lawyers. Contracts that are written by lawyers will always favor the agent for the simple reason that lawyers represent the people who pay them. Contracts written by lawyers can contain anything, including a promise on the part of the author to produce additional books (that happens), a promise to maintain a certain physical appearance (that also happens), and no termination clause. A fair contract should be no longer than a page or two, should state which book the agent is representing, and include a termination clause applying to both parties. It should specify how much the agent will take in commission, and how funds will be disbursed to the writer, as well as which services the agent will provide in clear language. (I highly recommend that writers join the Authors Guild. The Guild provides legal reviews of contracts to its members.)

9) Agents who, once they have decided to represent your work, do not maintain contact. It is the agent's job to market your book to publishers. Any decent agent will keep you apprised of how that quest is going. They will tell you which publishers they have approached and give you feedback. If they don't touch base with you on a regular basis, they are not doing their job.

10) Agents who drop their clients after a few attempts at selling a manuscript to a publisher. When the going gets tough, some agents are all too willing to simply drop their "difficult" client in favor of a manuscript that is easier to market, or which they perceive is easier to market. Shame on them.

Ten things agents hate about authors

1) Writers who do not research who they are querying. Nothing will turn an agent off faster than a query addressed to "Dear Agent." (Seriously, don't do that.) Make sure you are addressing your query to an individual agent, and that you have spelled the agent's name correctly. Also, make absolutely sure that you have gone to the agency's site and have read the bio of the agent you are querying.

2) Writers who do not follow instructions. This is such an easy thing to do; there is no excuse for not submitting your query exactly the way the agent has specified.

3) Bad spelling and grammar. Agents are not forgiving about error-ridden query letters. If you can't spell, or don't know the difference between "lay" and "lie" (my pet peeve), they will become irritated. It is not a good idea to irritate someone you are wooing.

4) Writers who do not know how to write a query letter. Writing a basic query is not rocket science. You need a short opening with your book's title, genre, and word count, a paragraph that summarizes your book, and a brief paragraph about your qualifications as a writer. Make it short and to the point. Don't waste the agent's time.

5) Authors who pester agents. Nothing ticks agents off more than clients who make repeated phone calls, text constantly, or email incessantly. An agent's job is to sell your book, not hold your hand.

6) Authors who do not disclose that they have submitted to publishers, or who have already self-published their work. Very few agents are willing to take on manuscripts that have been "shopped around." How can they be expected to pitch your work to editors who have already rejected your manuscript? And while some agents are willing accept work that has been self-published, read their submission requirements carefully to make sure that's allowed.

7) Writers who submit to more than one agent at the same agency. Do writers really expect agents who work together to compete with one another? Only submit to one agent at an agency. And if you get a rejection, make sure that agency allows subsequent submissions to other agents. (Some agencies share; a submission to one agent is a submission to them all.)

8) Writers who submit queries for fiction that is not completed. Novels have to be finished and fully edited before a query can be sent. It's disappointing for an agent to request a partial or a full, only to be told that the book is not finished. It is equally distressing for them to receive a rough draft. (Make sure your manuscript is as error-free as possible before you send it!)

9) Lack of professionalism. Writers who don't seem to be aware that the agent-client relationship is a business arrangement can be very annoying. What does being professional mean? First, a manuscript that follows standard manuscript guidelines (double spaced, Times New Roman or another standard font, etc.) is professional. Submitting your work promptly is also professional. Keeping appointments is professional. Remembering that the agent has a job, and is not available at all hours, is professional.

10) Writers who get angry when they receive a rejection, or get upset at an agent's suggestions for improvement. Not many agents offer a critique of work they've received. They simply don't have the time. But those who are willing to go the extra mile by offering feedback are performing a service. The proper response should be "Thank you," not a snarky reply, or a pissed-off blog post. The same holds true for rejections. If writers are upset by a rejection, they should keep it to themselves.

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To writers: For God's sake, learn to write a proper query letter! Query Shark is your best resource. There are also successful queries on Writer's Digest. And read my Best Method for Handling Rejections (and getting published). It will keep you sane.

To agents: For God's sake, learn to write a proper rejection letter! Please, oh please send us rejections. Don't leave us in limbo. We are human, and your silence makes us suffer. Also, if we are expected to know your name, do us the courtesy of not addressing rejections to "Dear Author."