Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 64

13 Writing Conferences in February 2017

February, a month best known for being "short and brutal," doesn't lack for writing conferences, some of which are large annual events featuring speakers, workshops, readings, and ample opportunity to mingle. Several of these conferences focus specifically on getting published, so if that is your goal, these are worth checking out.

If you have never been to a writers' conference, I encourage you to attend one. In addition to providing valuable professional contacts, nothing will make you feel more like a writer.

Many conferences are offered annually, so if you miss a conference in your area this year, you can always catch it next year. For a full month-by-month list of conferences go here: Writing Conferences.

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Moravian College Writers' Conference. February 3 - 4,2017, Bethlehem, PA. Workshops, craft talks, and more on the theme of Writing & Sustainability. Writers of all genres & at all career stages welcome! Keynote speaker Alison Hawthorne Deming and special guest faculty including Julia Kasdorf, Paul Acampora, Mary Heather Noble, and Chuck Wendig. Fiction, memoir, poetry, documentary studies, children's/YA writing, and more. Costs: $125. Includes workshop, craft talk, and faculty roundtable; faculty readings and book signings; Fri. welcome reception and Sat. lunch. Hotel discounts in historic Bethlehem, PA. 

Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. February 8 to February 11, 2017, Washington, DC. "The AWP Conference & Bookfair is an essential annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Each year more than 12,000 attendees join our community for four days of insightful dialogue, networking, and unrivaled access to the organizations and opinion-makers that matter most in contemporary literature. The 2016 conference featured over 2,000 presenters and 550 readings, panels, and craft lectures. The bookfair hosted over 800 presses, journals, and literary organizations from around the world. AWP’s is now the largest literary conference in North America."

The Writers Studio, sponsored by the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, February 9- 12, 2017, Los Angeles, CA. The conference offers workshops in fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as writing for television and film. Offered by the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, the Writers Studio brings together a community of writing students to workshop with some of Southern California’s most accomplished writers and teachers. From among the 10 offered, participants choose one workshop in which they work closely with a professional writer in classes limited to no more than 15 people.

Minnesota Writers Workshop.  February 11, 2017, St. Paul, MN. A full-day “How to Get Published” writing event. "We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome." Attending Agents: Laura Zats (Red Sofa Literary), Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency), Kaylee Davis (Dee Mura Literary), Mary Cummings (Betsy Amster Literary), Jennie Goloboy (Red Sofa Literary), Abby Saul (The Lark Group), Samantha Fountain (Corvisiero Literary), Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary), Lauren Kukla (editor Mighty Media Press Children's Books), Kimiko Nakamura (Dee Mura Literary), Erik Hane (Red Sofa Literary), and more.

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference, February 16 - 18, 2017, Tempe, AZ. "The conference features lectures, panel discussions, readings, and craft classes in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and publishing. The faculty includes poets Matthew Olzmann and Eric Wetheimer; fiction writers Paolo Bacigalupi, Dean Bakopoulos, Kate Bernheimer, Adrienne Celt, Elizabeth Evans, Sanderia Faye, Benjamin Percy, and Dominic Smith; and nonfiction writers Paul Morris and Virgil Renzulli. The cost of the conference is $350 until December 31 and $400 thereafter. Boxed lunches are available for an additional $14.99 per day. Registration is first come, first served; the deadline is February 9.

San Francisco Writers Conference, Feb. 16-19, 2017, San Francisco, CA. The SFWC presenters list includes bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers from major publishing houses. There will be experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, and author websites. Attending Agents: Peter Beren (Peter Beren Literary), Jennifer Chen Tran (Fuse Literary), Amy Cloughley (Kimberley Cameron & Assoc), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group), Sarah Levitt (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth), Laurie McLean (Fuse Literary), Paula Munier (Talcott Notch), Andy Ross (Andy Ross Literary), and more.

South Coast Writers Conference, Feb 17 - 18, 2017, Gold Beach, Oregon. "The South Coast Writers Conference is an eclectic gathering of writers of various genres, novice and published authors, returning and first-time attendees. It is our goal that participants and presenters leave the conference inspired and renewed, with new insights and skills, and better connected to fellow writers and resources. Participation in workshops is limited to 30 students or fewer, so register early to secure a seat in the workshops you want."

31st Annual Southern California Writers’ Conference (and Retreat). February 17-20, 2017, San Diego, CA. Faculty: 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. "Founded and run by professional writers the SCWC provides veteran and emerging talent with authoritative guidance to help distinguish those manuscripts that are ready for market consideration." Cost: $350-$425. Manuscript critique & one-on-one consultation additional. Limited to 175 conferees.

Sleuthfest. February 23 - 26, 2017, Boca Raton, FL. Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America a conference for writers and fans. Features writing workshops, social events, and pitch sessions, including:
* Agent Appointments to pitch your finished work
* Critiques of your 10 page manuscript submission
* Forensic track with current forensic techniques & hands-on workshops
* Social events to mingle with agents, editors and your favorite authors
* Auction to purchase critiques of your work by bestselling authors
* Sessions on the craft of writing
* Sessions on marketing and promoting your work
* Practice your Pitch sessions with experienced authors

Alabama Writers Conference. February 24, 2017, Birmingham, AL. A full-day of “How to Get Published.” Attending literary agents Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group), Latoya C. Smith (L. Perkins Agency), Eric Smith (P.S. Literary), (Corvisiero Literary). Kensington Publishing) and more agents & editors to be announced soon.

4th Short Story America Festival and Conference. February 24 - 25, 2017, Beaufort, South Carolina. Featured presenters and panelists at the 2017 SHORT STORY AMERICA FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE include acclaimed storytellers Mathieu Cailler, Gregg Cusick, John Engell, Tim Johnston, Douglas Campbell, Katherine Tandy Brown, Cora McCaston Newcomb, Niles Reddick, Atwood Boyd, and many others. The weekend begins Friday evening with a catered reception at the historic Lewis Reeve Sams House overlooking the water, followed on Saturday by all-day presentations, readings and book signings at Old Bay Marketplace Loft, a beautiful rooftop facility in downtown Beaufort overlooking one of America's oldest towns and the Beaufort River. The celebration of short fiction continues with a Saturday night pub crawl through Bay Street, and then a Sunday daytime gathering at the home of Short Story America editor and publisher Tim Johnston. Price: $40.

Atlanta Writing Workshop, February 25, 2017, Atlanta, GA. A full-day of “How to Get Published.” Attending literary agents: Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group), Cherry Weiner (Weiner Literary), Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary), Janell Walden Agyeman (Marie Brown Associates), Sally Apokedak (Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency), Latoya C. Smith (L. Perkins Agency), Eric Smith (P.S. Literary), Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.),Vanessa Eccles (Golden Wheat Literary), editor Elizabeth May (Kensington Publishing), Kristy Hunter (The Knight Agency), and more to come.

St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop, Feb 25 - 28, 2017, St. Augustine, Florida. "The St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop creates an intimate and professional environment that combines private meetings with small-group workshops, thus enabling aspiring authors to wisely approach the writing and publication of their novel. At the St. Augustine event, aspiring authors will:
1) Work one-on-one with top authors and savvy market professionals.
2) Apply advanced story and narrative technique to their novel-in-progress.
3) Hone and improve their writer voice and style.
4) Learn the necessary inside mechanics of the publishing business.
5) Leave the workshop with a detailed plan to work towards publication of their novel.
Group workshop sessions will be interspersed with agent and author consultations, workshop assignments, as well as consults with workshop leaders."

7 Literary Agents Seeking Women���s Fiction NOW

Here are seven agents who are currently seeking women's fiction. All seven are from established agencies with good track records. Be sure to read the agency website before submitting.

Note: You can find a list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary + Media)

Prior to joining New Leaf, Suzie graduated film school, earned her Masters of Education, taught high school English, and coached a swim team. In her spare time, she read everything she could, which prompted her move to publishing. She got her start as an intern at FinePrint Literary Management where she was hired as an assistant before making the move to literary agent. She’s been part of the team at New Leaf Literary & Media since its inception in 2012.

What she is looking for: “Looking for upmarket women’s fiction, including novels that would generate great book club discussions, in the vein of Jodi Picoult and novels with an element of mystery or suspense, in the vein of Liane Moriarty.”

How to Submit: Send queries to query [at] newleafliterary.com, and take a look at the agency’s full submission guidelines.

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Katie Grimm (Don Congdon Associates)

Katie joined Don Congdon Associates in 2007. She focuses on vivid literary fiction, transportive historical fiction, up-market women’s fiction, cohesive short story collections, graphic novels, and mysteries with faraway or historical settings. Most importantly, she's looking for projects with emotional resonance and longevity.

What she is looking for: “Looking for women’s fiction with a literary bent, ideally with a social/cultural issue that necessitates a conversation. Unusual structures or concepts are welcome, and I’m open to a wide range of styles – with the intensity of feeling of Elena Ferrante or the irreverence of Maria Semple.”

How to Submit: Take a look at the agency’s full submission guidelines.

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Tamar Rydzinski (Laura Dail Literary Agency)

Tamar Rydzinski worked at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates prior to joining the Laura Dail Literary Agency. She graduated from Yeshiva University in 2003 with a major in literature and a minor in business. Tamar is interested in anything that is well-written and has great characters. A fantastic query letter is essential. “You need to make me want to read your book, and be excited to read it,” she says, “with those first couple of paragraphs.”

What she is looking for: Seeking upmarket commercial women’s fiction.

How to Submit: Send queries to queries [at] ldlainc.com, and take a look at the agency’s full submission guidelines.

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Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency LLC)

What she is looking for: In general, Patricia looks for stories that hook her with a unique plot, fantastic writing and complex characters that jump off the page. On the adult side, she is seeking women’s fiction both upmarket and commercial, historical fiction set in the 20th century, and compelling plot-driven literary fiction.

How to Submit: Send queries to patricia [at] marsallyonliteraryagency.com, and take a look at the agency’s full submission guidelines.
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Sarah Bush (Trident Media Group)

Sarah’s love of books was the driving force that brought her to New York City to pursue an M.A. in Literature. After that, she decided that the best way to build a career in books was as a literary agent. However, Sarah realized that she had to learn her craft and get broad-based experience if she was going to be in a position to excel.

What she is looking for: “Looking for women’s fiction with original, well-developed plotlines and strong female protagonists.”

How to Submit: Take a look at the agency’s submission guidelines.
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Bibi Lewis (Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency)

Bibi is actively acquiring clients in young adult and women’s fiction. She currently manages subsidiary rights for the agency in addition to her duties as an agent and general office manager.

What she is looking for: “Looking for smart and sharp writing. Humor, wit, and mystery are big pluses.”

How to Submit: Take a look at the agency’s full submission guidelines.

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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: “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.

3 New Literary Agents Seeking Clients NOW

Here are three new literary agents seeking clients. Ed Maxwell (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates) is seeking expert and narrative nonfiction authors, novelists and graphic novelists, and children’s book authors and illustrators. Aimee Ashcraft (Brower Literary) is interested in literary and upmarket fiction, historical and women’s fiction, and young adult fiction (all genres). Shana Kelly (Einstein Literary) is looking for novels with great writing and surprising plots; her favorite books fall between commercial and literary. She has a soft spot for well written thrillers and psychological suspense.

Note: You can find a list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

____________________ Ed Maxwell of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates

About Ed: Associate agent Ed Maxwell joined Greenburger Associates in 2011. Previously, he interned in various political offices on Capitol Hill and in New York. Ed graduated from New York University with a degree in history. Starting as the assistant to Faith Hamlin, he distinguished himself as a close reader with an eclectic range. In addition to agenting on his own, he continues to co-agent certain titles and authors while assisting Faith in managing her list.

What he is seeking: Ed is seeking expert and narrative nonfiction authors, novelists and graphic novelists, and children’s book authors and illustrators. His aim as a literary agent is to help authors grow their intellectual properties into compelling books. He is especially interested in working with authors who may publish across different genres and formats—scholarly and trade—over the course of their careers. Ed believes in popular media as a living cultural record and hopes to connect with authors of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and voices.

How to submit: Please email emaxwell [@] sjga.com with your submission under the subject line “QUERY: [Project Title].” Include a query letter in the body of the email and attach a proposal or a sample from your project (40 pages maximum).
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Aimee Ashcraft of Brower Literary

About Aimee: Aimee has always loved books. She loved them so much that as a child, she was often caught sneakily reading Roald Dahl and Harry Potter under her desk at school. As an adult, she’s thankfully managed to make reading part of her job and is busy seeking out novels that feature engrossing worlds as well as compelling and complex female characters. She loves stories that are told from an original point of view and are as addictive as a good Netflix binge. After earning her BA from Transylvania University, Aimee moved to New York and received her Master’s from NYU. She is based in New York City and is thrilled to be a part of Brower Literary and Management.

What she is seeking: Aimee is specifically interested in literary and upmarket fiction, historical and women’s fiction, and young adult fiction (all genres).

How to submit: Queries should be emailed to aimee@browerliterary.com with the subject line: QUERY [Manuscript/Project Title] and include a query letter, full synopsis, and the first chapter pasted directly in the e-mail.
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Shana Kelly of Einstein Literary

About Shana: Shana started her publishing career in the literary department of the William Morris Agency, where she worked for ten years. She began in foreign rights in the New York office and later worked out of the London office for two years. Shana was the signing agent for many successful authors, including New York Times bestseller Curtis Sittenfeld, author of PREP and ELIGIBLE. For the past eight years, Shana has worked as a freelance editor and publishing consultant.

What she is seeking: Shana is looking for novels with great writing and surprising plots; her favorite books fall between commercial and literary. She has a soft spot for well written thrillers and psychological suspense.

How to submit: Please submit a query letter and the first ten double-spaced pages of your manuscript in the body of the e-mail (no attachments) to submissions@einsteinliterary.com. Please put Shana’s name in the subject line of your e-mail.

Free Speech vs Free Market

When Chicago Review of Books editor Adam Morgan made the decision that he would refuse to review any Simon & Schuster titles for 2017, he was kicking the proverbial hornet's nest. What resulted was a string of abuse, profanity, and even death threats. 

Why on earth should the rank and file care what goes on in the literary world? Especially given the fact that the vast majority of the people hurling expletives at Morgan had never read - or even heard of - his publication.

The answer is that a Simon & Schuster imprint, Threshold,  has offered a $250,000 advance to Milo Yiannopoulos, a notorious right-wing "troll" and editor of Breitbart Tech, for his book, Dangerous. Yiannopoulos has made his fame with outrageous racist, misogynist statements that are so beyond the pale that young white men (his main audience) eventually decided that he was "cool." (Not so Twitter, which banned Yiannopoulos for hate speech after his racist tirade against Ghostbusters actress, Leslie Jones.)

In his refusal to review Dangerous, and in his boycott of S&S titles, Morgan incurred the wrath of "alt-right" (aka white supremacist) Yiannopoulos fans who, among other things, accused Morgan of denying free speech. But Morgan claims that refusing to review a book has nothing to do with free speech, because Yiannopoulos has not been in any way prevented from expressing his views. Nor has S&S been prevented from publishing their books. Morgan is simply refusing to promote them.

What is Freedom of Speech?

Interestingly, many people don't know what freedom of speech actually means. Most assume that it is the right to say whatever they please. Actually, the First Amendment only guarantees that federal laws (and, by extension, state laws) will not be passed inhibiting the expression of individuals or the press.

This is the amendment in full:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.As you can see, the statement is fairly open-ended, which means that courts have had their hands full interpreting what "freedom of speech" actually entails. And in some cases, while the federal ban on passing laws restricting free speech has been upheld, laws have been amended to include civil and criminal infractions. Here are the main speech infractions that can land a person in court.

1) Slander. Any spoken statement that defames someone's character or spreads false or malicious information, especially when it results in financial loss or some other tangible harm, is slander. Slander is a civil offense, which means it can result in a lawsuit.

2) Libel. While there are no federal laws covering libel, anyone who knowingly publishes false statements that damage a person's reputation can be sued in civil court. Parody does not constitute libel, and there has to be an element of "malice" involved.

3) Hate speech. Speech that incites hatred against a specific group is prohibited by many local codes and statutes. Although hate speech is not curtailed under the First Amendment, if the content of the hate speech includes incitement of actions that are illegal, and which result in imminent danger or threat to people or property, it is not protected.

4) Violent threats. Threats can be considered assault if directed against an individual. Threatening the President of the United States is a class E felony under United States Code Title 18, Section 871.

Free Speech vs Free Market

So, where does this leave Simon & Schuster and Adam Morgan? Morgan is absolutely correct when he states that a refusal to review a book is not an inhibition of free speech. The First Amendment does not state that a person has a right to be published in any medium (as writers, we all know that publishers aren't obliged to publish what we send them), or that it must be advertised (through reviews or paid ads), or sold.

The bookstores that have refused to carry Yiannopoulos' book are likewise not infringing on free speech, because there is no law requiring that books - of any kind - must be sold. The First Amendment only has bearing on whether a person can be punished via legal means for expressing an opinion. Once that opinion has been expressed, anyone may feel free to endorse or ignore it.

Why is this important?

The Yiannopoulos case is important for writers because it demonstrates how law and ethics collide. There is nothing illegal about publishing right-wing hatred of minorities and religious groups, and, conversely, there is nothing illegal about refusing to publicize or market it. Neither one has any bearing on free speech, or on the Constitution. However, the maelstrom surrounding Simon & Schuster's decision raises some questions for writers. Do publishers have an ethical obligation to turn down books that are repugnant? Do writers need to watch what they say?

The answer to both of those questions is no. Although we live in a time in which hate speech, racist attitudes, and overt misogyny are becoming normalized, we should not, as writers, call for restrictions on what people can write or publish, because that is a double-edged sword. Those restrictions would inevitably come back to haunt us. However, as consumers, we have the perfect right not to purchase anything espousing those views. And, as writers, we are perfectly free to criticize and oppose them.

From an ethical standpoint, we should.

Informative articles:

Provocateur or Punk? How publishing houses weigh tricky ethical and commercial decisions like giving Milo Yiannopoulos a book deal. (Slate)

Publishing Milo Yiannopoulos’ book is wrong. My magazine is fighting back Adam Morgan announces that his publication will not be reviewing Yiannopoulos' book.

The Booksmith Boycotts Alt-Right Memoir, Takes Financial Aim At Publisher The Booksmith announces it will not sell Yiannopoulos' book, or any other book published by Threshold, and that it intends to cut back on orders of all Simon & Schuster publications.

Milo Yiannopoulos Book May Not Be Coming To a Store Near You Many independent booksellers are planning not to stock Yiannopoulos' book.

Free Speech Groups Defend S&S Yiannopoulos Deal The American Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, National Coalition Against Censorship, Freedom to Read Foundation, Index on Censorship, and the National Council of Teachers of English release a statement that, while supporting the right to boycott a book or company for any reason, argues that to do so risks "undermin[ing] intellectual freedom."

Milo Yiannopoulos' book deal is publishing business as usual An LA Times article explores the financial decisions behind publishing controversial books.

S&S Children's Authors Protest Yiannopoulos Deal More than 160 children's book authors and illustrators have signed a letter to S&S CEO and president Carolyn Reidy protesting the deal.

2 Literary Agents Seeking Writers of Children's and YA Books

Here are two literary agents seeking children's and YA books. Molly O'Neill (Waxman Leavell Literary Agency) is most actively seeking young adult and middle-grade fiction. She is also seeking a select number of children’s illustrators. Ayanna Coleman (Quill Shift Literary Agency) is seeking young adult and middle-grade fiction in all genres.

Note: You can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients Molly O'Neill of Waxman Leavell Literary Agency

About Molly: Prior to becoming an agent, she spent thirteen years working in various roles inside the publishing industry: as an editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she acquired Veronica Roth’s juggernaut Divergent series, among many other fantastic projects; as head of editorial at Storybird, a publishing/tech start-up; and in school and library marketing at both HarperCollins and Clarion Books. She loves the creative process and early-stage project development, is invigorated by business strategy and entrepreneurial thinking, and is fascinated by the intersections of art, commerce, creativity, and innovation. Molly is especially passionate about the people behind books, and she takes pride in discovering and evangelizing talented authors and illustrators, expanding the global reach of their work, and finding new ways to build connections and community among creators, readers, stories, and their champions.

Molly is an alum of Marquette University, an erstwhile Texan, and a current dweller of Brooklyn, New York. She is drawn to authors and artists who constantly challenge themselves, who are adept at communicating with their audiences, who are creative and flexible thinkers, and who have as much enthusiasm for their readers as for their own successes. Wit, strong writing, vivid settings, a passion for craft, or a well-timed reaction gif will always catch her eye.

Currently Seeking: Currently, Molly is most actively seeking young adult and middle-grade fiction. She is also seeking a select number of children’s illustrators (illustrators who write are especially welcome), as well as authors of kidlit nonfiction, early readers/chapter books, and kidlit graphic novels. She is not currently seeking picture book texts unless the author is also a professional illustrator, a writer of nonfiction, or a direct referral from an industry contact that she knows personally.

How to Submit: To submit a project, please email your query to mollysubmit [at] waxmanleavell.com with the word “Query” as the first word in the subject line. Your short email query should include a description of your project; biographical information (including details about any relevant credentials, subject area expertise, stats, or existing platform); and a summary, if applicable, of prior published works, agent representation, and/or publisher submission history. If you don’t have special credentials or previous publishing history, no worries: Molly welcomes debut talent! Please also be sure to include your phone number, email address, and any relevant Internet/social media links. Below your query letter paste the first 10 pages of your manuscript, or entire picture book text.
_______________________ Ayanna Coleman of Quill Shift Literary Agency


About Ayanna: Ayanna Coleman founded Quill Shift Literary Agency in 2013 to help usher inclusive stories worthy of inspiring a passion for reading in children through the publication process.

What she is seeking: She is looking for middle grade and young adult fiction in all genres. Bring her stories with plucky, realistic characters that represent our multicultural society who grow throughout an engrossing plot in a setting that sucks the reader in.

How to Submit: To submit, please follow the instructions on the Agency website and complete the author submissions form.

Top 10 Publishing Posts of 2016

Last year I decided to review my posts to see which ones had attracted the most readers. (I posted them here: Top 10 Publishing Posts of 2015.)

Not surprisingly, the posts which garnered the most readers were about major publishers (notably HarperCollins) opening their doors to unagented writers. (HarperCollins' brief excursion into democratic operations has since been abandoned.)

This year, I encountered a problem when I simply looked at numbers of views per post. My Free Contests posts, and Calls for Submissions posts, had gotten so many views that they encompassed all of my Top 10. So, I moved down to the next category, which was Agents Seeking Clients. These also had gathered many thousands of views. (You can see all the agents looking for writers by clicking on the link.) 8 Literary Agents Seeking Horror NOW, for example, had gotten 5,060 views.

In all fairness, I had to discount all of those posts as well, and move on to my next category, which had to do with marketing and promotion. Without further ado, here are those top ten posts, in descending order. I hope you will find them useful.


#10 8 Ways to Use Goodreads to Promote Your Book (1310 views)

#9 How to Use Pinterest to Build an Audience (For Writers) (1370 views)

#8 15 Magazines That Pay $500 or More (1740 views)

#7 13 Paying Markets for Personal Essays (1897 views)

#6 6 Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts from Writers (2074 views)

#5 Promoting Your Scifi or Fantasy Novel on Social Media (2084 views)

#4 Top 10 Sites for Indie Authors (2189 views)

#3 82 UK Literary Agencies Seeking Clients (3249 views)

#2 175 Literary Magazines Accepting Reprints (5294 views)

And my top post was (drum roll) ...

#1 272 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction (7326 views)


Runners-up

Mega-List of Agents Looking for Memoirs (and other Nonfiction)

What a Trump Presidency Means for Writers 

18 Paying Markets for Humor 

New Year's Resolution: Write What You Fear

Every new year I make a resolution, which I dutifully post on this blog. Many of those resolutions have been practical, aimed toward the goal of getting published.

For 2013, I posted a "Know Your Market" resolution. It was a good one. (Although I strongly suspect my market hasn't been born yet.) The following year I made a resolution to get more rejections than C. S. Lewis. (He got over 800; I clocked in at a measly 160.) Last year, I actually went ahead and made a publishing plan for myself, and for anyone else who might be listening. And I even got some stories published by following it.

This year, I am going to embark on unexplored territory. I mean that literally. This coming year I will face my deepest fear as a writer - not the daunting task of sending hundreds of queries, nor the overwhelming rejections, and not the sense of futility that comes with wondering if I am on the wrong track entirely.

In 2017, I am going to ditch all that and do something I have not yet done. I am going to write the thing I fear the most -  a memoir.

To most people, writing a memoir may not evoke a feeling of mind-numbing terror. But to me, it does. I write children's fantasy. Even my adult stories conscientiously avoid anything personal. They almost religiously skirt things that might point directly to me, or to any of the difficult, often painful. emotions experienced by adults. I am a feverishly private person, and to go down those paths makes me quake with cowardice.

And yet, I find I must. I have had the (mis)fortune of having lived through a war, and that experience, with all its violence, pain, and loss, demands to be written in a time of national crisis.

Let me be clear; I really don't want to.

So, come with me. Let this be your year to confront the thing you don't want to write. Are you a non-fiction writer? Write a piece of fiction. Do you write speculative fiction? Write an essay. If you are frightened of writing a novel - do that. If you can't seem to conquer the short form, go ahead. Write a poem. Write a history book. Do anything you have never attempted. Because to try out new forms, new ideas, new media will only expand you.

Ta-Nehisi Coates got it right when he said, "The craft of writing is the art of thinking."

Go forth into 2017, and think.

47 Calls for Submissions in January 2017 - Paying Markets

The New Year opens with nearly four dozen calls for submissions. Every genre and every form is welcome! All are paying markets.

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 see: Paying Markets.

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Fiyah Magazine: 'Spilling Tea' issue. Genre: Speculative fiction featuring stories by and about people of the African Diaspora. Payment: $150 per story, $50 per poem. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Bellevue Literary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that explores the concept of family. "Illness can rattle the struts of a family unit, often irrevocably. Most families, of course, do not break completely apart because of illness, but there is no doubt that illness in one member can have profound, often permanent, effects on the nature of the family structure. By turning a creative lens to these dynamics, we hope to produce a collection of works that paints a picture—however complicated—of the frustrations, hopes, and connections that define a family."  Payment: Small honorarium and print copies. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Garden of Friends. Genre: Addiction-themed horror. Payment: $500 per story. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Lethe Press: 'A Scandal in Gomorrah' anthology: Queering Sherlock Holmes. Genre: Short stories with queer aspects of Victorian era sexuality.  Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Six Hens. Genre: Creative nonfiction. "Six Hens features true stories about the moments that define and redefine women." Payment: $50. Deadline: January 2, 2017. Note: Read the contract carefully.

Inkubus Publishing: Fairy Tail. Genre: Fairy tale. ‘Fairy tales have long been used to entertain, teach, and even sometimes frighten readers of all ages. Whether it’s witches eating unsuspecting children, princes cursed because they are terrible people, young maidens outsmarting fairy creatures, or just tales of mystical fairy folk, fairy tales are an indelible part of the storytelling experience. For this anthology we want you to give us your sexy take on fairy tales or fairy stories.’ Payment: $15 and Contributor's Copy.  Deadline: January 2, 2017.

Ashland Creek Press: Writing for Animals Nonfiction Anthology. Genre: Nonfiction. "We seek articles from authors and educators about the process of writing about animals in literature. Our focus is on including a mix of instructional and inspirational articles to help readers not only improve their work but be inspired to keep at it. Articles may be previously published and should not exceed 10,000 words." Payment: $100 per essay. Deadline: January 3, 2017.

Chrome Magazine. Genre: Articles and creative essays only – no poetry or fiction. ‘The only instructions are that the piece should be based around the colour Red, between 500-1500 words. The article is also to be ideas based: intelligent, thoughtful, provocative, different, creative, beautifully written, accessible and interesting. Also the piece has to be timeless, a reflection rather than fast news.’ Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 5, 2017.

The Lifted Brow Magazine. Genre: Translated Literary Work. "Our translations will largely focus on works from the margins: people who live and write from demographic margins, and/or writers whose work sits in the literary margins, and/or translators who interpret the translation act in surprising ways or stretch the bounds of what ‘translation’ means: your work might be cross-modal or cross-genre, might include insertions, erasure or collage." Payment: Up to $300/submission. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

Crab Orchard Review: Weather Reports: All About the Weather. Genres: Original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English. "We are open to work that covers any of the many possibilities in how we think about and experience the weather through science, history, popular culture, art, and our own lives." Payment: $25 (US) per magazine page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) and two copies of the issue. Deadline: January 10, 2017.

Texas Home School Coalition Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles about home schooling. (See website for topics.) Payment: $40 for nonexclusive print and electronic rights to feature articles that have been published previously, or works to which the author wishes to retain the copyright. (Authors should confirm that agreements with previous publishers will not conflict with THSC’s nonexclusive rights.) $110 for the exclusive print and electronic copyright to previously unpublished works.  Deadline: January 10, 2017.

Twelfth Planet Press: Octavia Estelle Butler Issue. Genre: Nonfiction. "We are looking for letters addressed to Butler, which should be between 1000 and 1500 words." Payment: 5 cents/word up to $USD75 for letters, to be paid on publication. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Tor.com. Genre: Fantasy novella: 20K - 40K words. They are looking for "epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, high fantasy, or quest fantasy genres, whether set on Earth or on an original fantasy world. However, we will only be considering novellas that inhabit worlds that are not modeled on European cultures. We are seeking worlds that take their influences from Africa, Asia, the indigenous Americas, or any diasporic culture from one of those sources. To qualify, novellas should center the experiences of characters from non-European-inspired cultures." Payment: Advance. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Splickety: Time Warp. Genre: Fiction. "If the Coen brothers could turn the The Odyssey into O Brother, Where Art Thou?, imagine all the classics that could be recast and retold. For our Literary Retellings theme, we want recognizable characters and plot thrown into unique settings. Take Shakespeare or Dickens, Twain or Hemingway beyond where we’d expect. Moby Dick in the great lakes? Sure. Robin Hood during the Roaring 20s? Why not? The Tell-Tale Heart beating below a samurai’s tatami-covered floors? Absolutely. (Please include the title of the original classic story in your submission.)" Payment: $0.02 per word. Deadline: January 13, 2017.

Rattle: Poets with Mental Illness. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Versal. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Theme: Migration. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Ploughshares Journal: ‘Look2 Essay series’. Genre: Essay about an under-represented or neglected writer with talent. Submit pitch only. Payment: Up to $250/essay. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Living Education Updates. Genre: Nonfiction articles on homeschooling. Payment: $50/article. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Qu Literary Magazine. Genres: Prose, poetry, nonfiction, drama/screenplay. Payment: $100 (prose), $50 (poem). Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Outlook Springs. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF tinged with the strange. Payment: $25 for pose, $10 for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

The Capilano Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction. Experimental writing and art. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Great Weather for MEDIA: Annual Print Anthology. Genres: Poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction. "Our focus is on the fearless, the unpredictable, and experimental but we do not have a set theme for our anthologies." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Liminal. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. "We like stories that are strange and unsettling, sharp-edged and evocative.  Although we will consider any genre, we have a soft spot for weird fiction, magical realism, soft science fiction, and those uncategorizable stories that straddle the line between genres." Payment: 6 cents/word/fiction. $50/poem. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Spirit's Tincture. Genre: Fiction and poetry that includes some element of fantasy, myth, fairy tale, or folklore. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Wizards in Space. Genres: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: January 15, 2017. Reprints accepted.

Helios Magazine. THEME: Commercial Cosmonauts & Hired Guns. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art: "stories that delve into various journeys of unwilling and daring adventurers. What propaganda forces these individuals to battle against the universe and formidable foes? What are the stories being left untold in these narratives dominated by the lone white male savior against the world?" Payment:$0.03 USD per word for the first 1,500 words and $0.01 USD after for short stories, and $0.25 USD a line for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Bikes in Space: Volume 5. Genre: Speculative short story on the theme of Intersections. "Stories that are accepted will all have a feminist perspective and incorporate bicycling in some way, whether or not they are actually about feminism or about bicycles." Payment: Percentage of Kickstarter. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Sharkpack Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry. Long form. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Ella @ 100. Genre: Poems, stories, essays, scripts, and graphic essays or stories inspired by the life and work of the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. Payment: $10 and contributor copy. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Morel. Restrictions: Authors must live in Southwestern Ontario or write about the region. Genres: Fiction, poetry and essays about Southern Ontario. Payment: $25 per piece. Deadline: January 22, 2017.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Prose or poem fairy tale on theme: "Steadfast Tin Soldier." Payment: $30/story; $10/poem US dollars only. Deadline: January 30, 2017.

Three Drop from a Cauldron: A Face in the Mirror, a Hook on the Door (An Anthology of Urban Legends & Modern Folklore). Genre: Poetry and flash fiction based on urban (or rural, or suburban, or the internet…) legends and modern folklore from any culture and any continent. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: January 30, 2017.

Black Rabbit. Genres: Fiction (900 words max) and personal essays (250 words max). Payment: $25 per piece. Deadline: January 31, 2017.


Crystal Lake Publishing: C.H.U.D Tribute Anthology. Genre: Stories between 3,000 and 10,000 words. Theme is the 1984 slasher film, C.H.U.D. Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Kristell Ink. Genre: Speculative fiction. Themes: Infinite Dysmorphia, Terra Nullius or Holding on By Our Fingertips. Payment: £10 on acceptance of story, plus a physical copy of the publication, the eBook, and royalty share of profits. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Broken Eye Books: Ride the Star Wind. Genre: Speculative tales that combine space opera with cosmic weird horror, either set within the Cthulhu Mythos or inspired by it. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams, Premonitions and the Unexplainable. Payment: $200. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Dreaming Robot Press: Young Explorer's Adventure Guide. Genre: Middle Grade Science Fiction. (Ages 8 - 12) 3,000 to 6,000 words. Payment: 6 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

On Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $50 poem, up to $200 story. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Room Magazine: Migration. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and art that explores migration in all its many forms. Payment: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Wordrunner E-Chapbooks. Genres: Fiction, memoir and poetry. "The theme for this year's anthology is breaking barriers or pushing against boundaries. Fiction on this topic can be contemporary or historical. Our preference, whether in fiction, nonfiction or poetry, is for emotional complexity. We are not interested in genre fiction unless it transcends genre." Payment: $100 for collections, $5 to $25 for poems, stories and essays published in the annual anthology. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Carnival of Madness Anthology. Genre: Horror. "Buy the ticket and step into the last Carnival you will ever attend! Authors, let your darkest ideas and fantasy unite at the Carnival of Madness. Psycho-thrillers invite their audience to be a part of the nightmare that you create! So....Wanna go for a ride?" Payment: $25 and contributor copy. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Martian Migraine Press: A Breath from the Sky: Unusual Stories of Possession. Genre: Weird Fiction. "We encourage our authors to unshackle themselves from the standard tropes that can weigh down the imagination and move into truly authentic dimensions of fear, awe, and cosmic wonder. We want to see the Weird move with confidence into the 21st Century, and want our authors to share that commitment. For A Breath from the Sky: Unusual Stories of Possession, the seed story will be H P Lovecraft’s classic The Colour Out of Space." Payment: 3 cents/word (CAD) and contributor copies. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Hyperion and Theia. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme of Saturnalia. Payment: 2 - 3 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

The Cantabrigian. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Pen&Ink: Triskaidekaphilia Book #2: Ravenous! Genre: Vampire Romance. Payment: $10 USD and a paperback copy of the anthology. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

NonBinary Review: Issue #12 The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays and art on theme of Edgar Allan Poe. 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: January 31, 2017.

The Fantasist. Genre: Fantasy novellas, 15,000 to 40,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

35 Writing Contests in January 2017 - No entry fees

There are nearly three dozen free writing contests in January. They cover the full range of genres, from debut mystery novels to poetry. In addition to the prestige of winning a contest, a few 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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Tony Hillerman Prize. Sponsored by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Debut mystery novel set in Southwest. Prize: $10,000 advance against royalties and publication, Deadline: January 2, 2017. Read guidelines HERE.

Christopher Doheny Award. The award recognizes excellence in fiction or creative nonfiction on the topic of serious physical illness. The award is presented annually for a completed manuscript that has not yet been published. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 2, 2017.

Nuff Said Publishing's annual Speculative Writing Contest to Promote Diversity (SWCPD). Restrictions: The contest is open to United States residents. Genre: Speculative fiction less than 10,000 words. Prize: $100 and publication in anthology. Deadline: January 3rd, 2017.

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 3, 2017.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 4, 2017.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: January 6, 2017 for Grades 6-10, January 20, 2017 for Grades 11-12.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals.  (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

New York Times "Win a Trip with Nick Kristof" Contest. Genre: Essay (700 words max) on why you should win this prize. Prize: A reporting trip in the developing world with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. Restriction: Open to US college and graduate school students. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Maine residents. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Winners will also give a public reading of their work; and One-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming. Deadline: January 9, 2017. For guidelines click HERE.

Moving Words Poetry Contest. Restrictions: People who live within the DC Metro transit area (the Northern Virginia counties Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun and the cities Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church; the District of Columbia; and the Maryland counties Montgomery and Prince George's) and who are over 18. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $250 honorarium. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st January 2016. All entries must have a clear British link. Fiction and non-fiction. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 12, 2017. (Their website is impossible to figure out, which is ironic.)

The Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Ellen Meloy. The Fund provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen’s writing and her commitment to a “deep map of place.” Ellen’s own map-in-progress was of the desert country she called home. Genre: Only literary or creative nonfiction proposals will be considered. No fiction or poetry proposals will be reviewed. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book - best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. Restrictions: Open to poets who have published no more than two books of children's poetry. Genre: Children's poetry (for children and young adults up to grade 12). A book-length single poem may be submitted. The award is for published works only. Poetry in any language may be submitted; non-English poetry must be accompanied by an English translation. Poetry copyrighted from 2016 to 2018 may be submitted. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Women Artists Datebook. Restrictions: Women. Genre: 4 poems. Peace and Justice. Prize: $70. Deadline: January 15, 2017.  See more details HERE .

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published July–December 2016. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 14, 2017.

Posen Society of Fellows Awards. Genre: Jewish-themed dissertation. Prize: $40,000 fellowship. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April. Genres: Essays and short stories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: January 20, 2017.  For more details click HERE .

James White Award. Restrictions: Non-professional authors from anywhere in the world. Genre: Previously unpublished science fiction stories of 6000 words or less, but the stories must be written in English. Prize: £200 plus publication in Interzone. Deadline: January 20, 2017.

IGGY/Litro Young Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to 13–18 year olds. Genre: Short story. The theme is Memory. Prize: £1,000 and publication. Deadline: January 20, 2017. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35. Genre: Scholarly or journalistic essay on a topic of your choice. 3,500 words max. Prize: £1,000, e-publication with Bodley Head, a mentoring session with the Financial Times/Bodley Head editorial staff, a subscription to FT.com, and a selection of books from Bodley Head. Deadline: January 29, 2017.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.00. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

College Undergraduate Poetry and Florence Kahn Memorial Award. Restrictions: Undergraduates working toward a degree in an accredited U.S. college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

14th Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $600. The winner of the youth division (18 or younger) will receive $400. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Nelson Algren Literary Awards is a short story contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. This contest is open to residents of the United States. All entries must be: fiction, less than 8,000 words, double spaced, written in English. Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $3,500. Four finalists will each receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $500. Total value of all prizes: $10,000. Deadline: Closing date January 31, 2017.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Words and Brushes. Genre: Fiction inspired by artwork. Prize: $300 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

El Chapo Review Essay Contest 2017. Genre: Creative non-fiction. Prize: $500 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Outlet Publishing Young Writers' Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to ages 16-25, UK residents only.  Genre: Short story. Prize: £150 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

8 Writing Conferences in January 2017

January is cold, dark, and dismal. What better way to warm up your writing fingers than with a cozy conference?

This month features conferences all over the US, from New Jersey to San Francisco. If you have a completed manuscript, there are conferences with pitch sessions, as well as the opportunity to informally chat with agents and editors. There are also workshops, readings, and discussions.

Many conferences are offered annually, so if you miss a conference in your area this year, you can always catch it next year. For a full month-by-month list of conferences go here: Writing Conferences.

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TMW January Jumpstart XVII. Jan 6 - 8, 2017, Oak Ridge, TN. Parallel sessions of workshops on fiction, poetry, nonfiction, writing for young people, editing, storytelling, self publishing, oral history, keeping series books fresh; panel discussions/readings; Saturday banquet. Faculty includes banquet speaker Sonja Livingston; Michael Knight, Jesse Graves, Courtney Stevens, Denton Loving, Beverly Connor, Bob Mayer, Saundra Kelley, Robert Gipe, Judy DiGregorio, Cathy Kodra.

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 13 - 16, 2017, Galloway, New Jersey. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft talks, one-on-one tutorials, featured readings, and open mics. The faculty includes poets Stephen Dunn, Laura McCullough, Sharon Olds, and James Richardson; fiction writers Joyce McDonald and Carol Plum-Ucci; and creative nonfiction writer Barbara Hurt. Tuition, which includes some meals, ranges from $490 to $690, depending on the workshop; lodging is not included.

Poets and Writers Live. January 14 - 15, 2017, San Francisco, CA. The conference features publishing panels, craft talks, readings, multimedia performances, and a book and magazine fair, as well as small-group sessions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Ticket holders also receive one free drink at a cocktail reception at the conference hotel on Saturday night. Participating writers include poets Jane Hirshfield, Joyce Lee, Ishmael Reed, Barbara Jane Reyes, Kay Ryan, Solmaz Sharif, C. Dale Young, Javier Zamora, and Matthew Zapruder; fiction writers Grant Faulkner, Jonathan Franzen, Bich Minh Nguyen, and Benjamin Percy; and nonfiction writers Sarah Manguso and Susan Orlean. U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera will deliver the keynote. Participating publishing professionals include agents Anna Ghosh (Ghosh Literary), Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary Agency), and Danielle Svetcov (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency); and editors Jordan Bass (McSweeney’s), Rusty Morrison (Omnidawn Publishing), Ethan Nosowsky (Graywolf Press), and Steve Wasserman (Heyday Books). The cost of the two-day conference is $175 before December 4 and $250 thereafter.

Key West Literary Seminar. January 16 - 20, 2017, Key West, Florida. The seminar offers readings, lectures, and conversations with poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. The 2017 theme is  “Revealing Power: The Literature of Politics.” The writers' workshop offers workshops and craft discussions for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Faculty includes Jennine Capó Crucet, Billy Collins, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Kristen-Paige Madonia, Michael Maren, Daniel Menaker, Kate Moses, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and Dani Shapiro.

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference. January 14 - 21, 2017, St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. The faculty includes poets Richard Blanco, Denise Duhamel, Major Jackson, and Peter Meinke; fiction writers Lan Samantha Chang, Andre Dubus III, Fabienne Josaphat, Laura Lippman, Stewart O’Nan, Les Standiford, Sterling Watson, and David Yoo; and creative nonfiction writers Ann Hood and Helen Wallace.

Palm Beach Poetry Festival. January 16 - 21, 2017, Delray Beach, Florida. The faculty includes poets David Baker, Tina Chang, Lynn Emanuel, Daisy Fried, Terrance Hayes, Dorianne Laux, Thomas Lux, Carl Phillips, Martha Rhodes, and Charles Simic.  $895 includes all events, one gala seat; $495/auditor. Accepted participants may schedule a one-on-one conference at additional cost.

Digital Book World Conference + Expo, New York City, Jan. 17– 19, 2017. This is the premier event for digital publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models.

Write on the Red Cedar, Jan 20 - 21, 2017, East Lansing MI. Workshops, speakers, panels, manuscript reviews, networking, and pitch appointments with literary agents. Regular Registration $125 includes Friday night cocktail party and full slate of workshops on Saturday. Full Conference $200. (Prices go up after Dec. 1)