WOW! Women On Writing | Workshops & Classes | Quarterly Contests | The Muffin

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Here we are again, facing another December, when to-do lists grow, un-met goals linger and cookies and eggnog are calling our names. But this year, we don’t have to let these same December darlings cause us stress. We can say, “Enough is enough,” and have a writer kind of holiday season.

What’s that look like?

It looks like taking time out of your busy schedule and fun holiday family plans (they are fun, right?) to write every day or at least on a regular schedule to make progress. It looks like still submitting your work. Scan through the markets and contests in this newsletter. There’s bound to be one that catches your attention that you could write a little something for. And it especially looks like taking care of yourself: getting enough sleep, eating those fruits and veggies and moving your body around. (I know I just told you to sit at your computer and write every day, but don’t forget to take breaks—how about a dance party to some holiday tunes?)

What about your gift list? You might be wondering if I’m talking about gifts for yourself, gifts for another writer in your life, or both—let’s go with both. We’re sure that you probably would love a gift card to your local bookstore or the latest piece from your favorite author. Plus, here are a few gift ideas that might be a bit different:

1. A night at a hotel or retreat center: If someone paid for me to have one night (or how about a whole weekend) at a hotel or retreat center (and arranged something for my child and dog to do, too), I would name a character in my novel after them for sure. This is a great gift for a writer in your life or to put on your own wish list. With the pandemic, some hotels are even renting rooms by the day, in case you can’t spend a night away from your home. Check out the Hilton’s WorkSpaces or see if your favorite chain offers something similar. You don’t have to wait for an organized writing retreat to come to you. You can do it yourself.

As we enter the festive holiday season and visions of sugarplums (and dreams of agent deals!) start to dance in our heads, let’s gather around the proverbial, wreath-decked hall and hearth for another “fireside chat”—this time with Amy Giuffrida, associate literary agent with The Jennifer De Chiara Agency.

The Jennifer De Chiara Agency (JDLA) is celebrating, in their words, 20 years of making dreams come true. This New York City-based full-service literary agency was founded in 2001, and Writer’s Digest named JDLA one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country. They represent children’s literature for all ages, from picture books and middle grade to young adult novels, as well as high-quality adult fiction and nonfiction in a wide range of genres. JDLA also represents illustrators and screenwriters for both television and film, including Emmy and Peabody Award-winners.

Amy Giuffrida has been with JDLA since 2020. After I read in her bio that she’s renovating her house, questions started firing in my head—what type of house, year built, wood clapboarding or vinyl siding, slate roof or shingles? I have an 1890 Victorian that I’ve just about rebuilt top to bottom, so house renovation lovers are My. People. But, I forced myself to return to all things writing. I may be back for an offline chat, though, Amy!

OK, the Christmas carols are on in the background and we’ve got our mugs of tea. Let’s get started!

WOW: Welcome, Amy! Before we get too far into our discussion of what appeals to you, I want to point out to our readers how you prefer to be queried. You ask that writers do so through QueryManager, not through email, as emails will go unread. Please take note of this PSA, everyone!

One of the first things that jumped out to me from your JDLA agent bio is your wide taste in genre: On the one hand, you list horror, and on the other, romance—with supernatural creatures and non-Western myths making it into the fold. Tell us what helped you form such an interesting mix of tastes.

Amy: I have always been a horror reader—Stephen King and Dean Koontz is what I leaned on as a high school student. But as I worked to become an agent, I started as a slush reader of adult romance. And of course … I LOVED it! But I think the point of books is that we read to not only escape, but to see ourselves in books. There should be all kinds of books with all kinds of places and people represented. Which is why I want to see it all—because a good story is a good story.

WOW: How true. In the end, we all just want a good story. And so, of the fiction you represent—middle grade (MG), young adult (YA), and adult—do you feel most comfortable or in tune with one group over another? For what reason?

Amy: YA speaks to teen me—and it is my jam. It’s my favorite age category of them all. I will forever love the “angst-iness” of it all. And since I’m an adult, I like reading things that I can personally connect with. The category that really snuck up on me when I became an agent was MG.

For those who don’t know, I am an 8th grade teacher. So you would think THIS would be my jam, but it never really was. I found when I started reading submissions that MG is full of whimsy and magic. I just fell in love with it all.

WOW: I noticed that fantasy and magical realism appear in your MG list, but not in your YA or adult lists. Have you found that those genres are more popular with very young readers?

Amy: With the crowded YA market, fantasy is really difficult to break into at the moment. I also have a few YA fantasy stories on my current list, so I’m not looking for more unless they are extremely unique. As for the adult market, I really have to love the story line, so that may be something I would likely request from a conference or a contest after I hear the pitch.

WOW: In nonfiction, you again list MG, YA, and adult, particularly with storylines from diverse voices. When I think of nonfiction, I assume that memoir is implied—that is, outside of anything that is non-prescriptive such as cookbooks or self-help. Can you explain how memoir falls under MG or YA? I always think of memoir as adult nonfiction, even if it’s written from the narrator’s childhood POV. 

Amy: There are some MG memoirs—although they are written by adults, they are about that point in their lives that a MG reader can identify with due to their age. It’s very similar to fiction, just in nonfiction form. It is also written in that particular voice that MG is so known for. There definitely aren’t many out there, but there is room for growth here.

WOW: Now I want to go out and find these MG memoirs! And actually, speaking of cookbooks, you call out that you’re interested in “cookbooks that highlight family stories or ancestral anecdotes.” I love those types of books as well, because it’s like getting a two-fer: part cookbook, part memoir. Stanley Tucci’s Taste comes to mind, just published last month. Are you looking for cookbooks with a narrative along those lines? 

Amy: First of all, I absolutely LOVE Stanley Tucci! His cooking videos are ah-ma-zing! And I am hoping his book, Taste, will be under the Christmas tree from Santa this year. LOL. But to answer your question, yes. I am looking for cookbooks that not only have recipes that are simple enough for home cooks to recreate, but that also include stories behind the food—both ancestral and cultural. Our country is founded on a mix of people from all walks of life.

WOW: OK, take us back in time a bit. How has your career as an agent grown? What attracted you to agenting?

Amy: I started out as a writer. I wrote an adult horror novel and queried it. Eventually I self-published it, because it wasn’t going to sit in the market in the right place. I realized that although I can write, I really liked cheering on writers. This began my journey as an intern in 2015 to learn how to be an agent. And after almost seven years, I am still learning.

I love working with writers on their stories and careers. Helping them get their books ready for submission, then finding the perfect editors to send their work to, is actually fun for me. But I can tell you that nothing beats making that phone call to tell an author that there is an offer on the table!

WOW: Tell us something that surprises you about your role; something you didn’t expect when you were starting out. What brings you joy each day? On the flip side, can you share a challenge?

Amy: The waiting is the toughest thing for me. I mean, I am super impatient and this job has taught me to help others to be a little more relaxed about the wait. LOL. I have been very surprised about how nervous I get when I set up meetings with new people. Even though they’re over Zoom, I still sweat ten minutes before I get on a call. Every single editor I’ve spoken to has been so nice, but I just can’t help it.

WOW: I’m glad to hear that waiting is just as tough for agents as it is for writers. It really can be tortuous, can’t it? So, what do you look for in manuscripts that hit your desk? How far do you generally have to read to know whether or not it’s a fit for you?

Amy: I am really drawn to a strong voice. That is what pulls me through a story. I typically know within the first few pages whether or not the story will be something I’m going to request. But I know by chapter 3 if I am probably going to offer. If I am not drawn in by then, it isn’t a good fit for me.

WOW: On average, how many queries do you receive in a year? What timeline should querying writers expect from you after having sent you their work? 

Amy: I receive around 2,000 queries per year. I take anywhere between one week to two months to respond to my queries. It honestly depends on the time of year. The end of year gets pretty hectic with contests, conferences, and finalizing submissions, so it takes me longer if you send to me at this time. The more client work I have, the less time I have to read queries. My focus will always be on my clients, so sometimes it takes me longer on the query end if I am reading for my clients.

WOW: Whoa, that’s a ton of queries to get through! What’s the working relationship between agents within JDLA? Do you pass leads among each other? Should a writer try another agent there if a manuscript isn’t the right fit with you? Or does one No from any agent there mean a No across the board?

Amy: I came to JDLA knowing two of the agents very well already, so that’s a good hint at the working relationship. I’ve gotten to know the rest of the agents over the course of the last year and a half. We all bounce ideas off one another and the more senior members have helped to mentor me, along with our founder Jennifer De Chiara.

WOW: Let’s talk about trends you’re seeing in the industry. What does the publishing landscape look like to you, from a 50,000-foot view? How about from a 500-foot view, inside JDLA? And with 2022 right around the corner, what do you think will be in demand for this upcoming year? Any predictions for the next five years?

Amy: I still can’t believe 2021 is almost over. I happen to know that vampires are coming back! So excited for this! But I do predict that we will see werewolves again down the road—I am really hoping for this!! I also foresee more diverse books across all age categories and genres, YA rom-coms, YA mysteries, and lots of fun MG.

WOW: Just between us, I was on Team Edward back in the day and almost came to blows with a friend who was Team Jacob all day, every day. Moving back to present, one thing I’ve loved seeing is how virtual book tours took off in 2020 and 2021, because they had to in a world constrained by a pandemic. How have the authors you represent adapted? Do you see virtual tours as a trend that will continue, or do you think authors and publicists will go back to physical tours as more of the U.S., and the world, opens back up? 

Amy: I think there will continue to be some sort of hybrid model. Having things virtually allowed authors to get together and tour who under normal circumstances may not have been able to do so geographically. It’s been really cool to see international authors come together with American authors and host speaking engagements.

WOW: What other changes have you seen in the industry since the pandemic?

Amy: I absolutely love that the industry has discovered that much of this job can be done virtually. Not everyone needs to live in NYC. I’m lucky to be close enough, but far enough away. But the biggest change is also the work load. I think we all worked a lot before, but with the lines blurring between work and home, we’re all tired.

WOW: How do you like to communicate with your clients, after you’ve signed them? What’s your working relationship like? Do you consider yourself hands-on with edits?

Amy: My clients and I have a Slack channel. This allows us to communicate as a whole group about a number of things—like our pets. We also communicate via Twitter DM or email, depending on the length of what we need to discuss. I also Zoom frequently with my clients when we need to discuss revisions, and each of my clients has their own Google folder with submission information shared with them. This allows them some freedom and control over when they see rejections.

I am very hands-on with edits. I work with my clients to make their stories the best they can be before going out on submission. From developmental editing to line editing, we work together to polish their work.

WOW: Do you follow a set submission strategy with acquisitions editors, or do you customize it, project by project?

Amy: When getting ready for submission, I take a lot of things into consideration, for example, an editor’s MSWL posts, their recent sales, Twitter feed, pitch likes, recent interviews or chats with myself or colleagues, and so forth. Submissions aren’t one-size-fits-all. I try to really find editors who will love a story as much as I do.

WOW: At what point do you start talking with your client about the next project? Do you prefer and/or expect to sign writers for multiple books, or are one-book deals acceptable to you?

Amy: On the offer call. I always ask what a potential client is currently working on. It’s how I know what they really are looking to be as a writer. I want to work with writers long-term, so this is important for me to know.

WOW: Can you think of any advice you like to offer writers that I may not have asked about?

Amy: Finding an agent is very exciting, but you have to make sure they are the right person for you. Ask the right questions and do your research. Don’t settle.

WOW: OK, last question. Tell us something about yourself that can’t be found on your agent bio page.

Amy: Well, in the beginning you brought up the whole home renovation idea, so why don’t we start there? Ha-ha! What you don’t know is that it happened to help me make money when I sold my house. I knew the basics—how to paint—but nothing else. I learned the rest by watching YouTube videos. I bought myself tools and just figured it all out, from plumbing, to basic electrical stuff, to carpentry. Whatever I couldn’t learn from videos or my brother, I got artistic with.

Now, I am working to renovate our 1968 house that was perfectly preserved. I have learned to hire people for certain things that aren’t worth getting angry at … and have gotten shocked by electrical wiring that a professional screwed up. I know, I know. If I actually had a decent platform, this could be a book! Wink, wink.

WOW: Look at you, Amy! I love that you tackle all this yourself, and learned basic plumbing, electrical, and carpentry from YouTube and trial and error! This is such an empowering story—truly. I think you should go for it, and write that book! As for the year of your house, 1968, well that’s an incredible year. I was born in 1968. LOL. 

My thanks to associate literary agent, Amy Giuffrida, for chatting with me. For those in our readership who are ready to query Amy with works that meet her interests, remember to use her QueryManager form.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Submit up to 3 of your best, previously unpublished poems. Any subject. 1st Prize: $125; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50. Winners will be chosen by Streetlight staff led by poetry editors Sharon Ackerman and Fred Wilbur. Winning submissions will run in the Spring 2022 Issue and be announced in December. Fee: $10.

Submit no more than 4 poems and put the poems together in one document, one poem per page. There are no length restrictions on individual poems. “Note: once we have accepted enough poems to fill an issue, the reading period will close, so submit early.” No fee.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry by The African Poetry Book Fund, in partnership with Prairie Schooner and the University of Nebraska. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. They are accepting “first book” submissions from African writers who have not published a book-length poetry collection, including self-published collections. An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African. Poetry manuscripts should be at least 50 pages long. No fee.

Mslexia is accepting entries to its Women's Poetry Competition. The four winners, plus sixteen additional finalists will have their poems published in the March issue of Mslexia. Top three prize winners will receive cash prizes: 1st: £2,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250. You can submit up to three unpublished poems of any length. Submissions must not have been accepted or published elsewhere. Entries that have received a prize in any other competition are also not eligible. You must self-identify as a woman to enter and can be from any nationality and any country and any age. Fee: £10.

“Plainsongs’ title suggests not only its location on the Great Plains but also its preference for the living language, whether in free or formal verse. Published twice each year (fall/winter issue in January; spring/summer issue in July) from our home base in Hastings, Nebraska, Plainsongs presents poems that seem to be aware of modernist and postmodernist influences, not necessarily by imitation or allusion, but by using the tools provided by that rich heritage.” Contributors receive a complimentary issue, and three poems are chosen for award poems and receive $50. No fee.

The Kallisto Gaia Press is accepting entries for it's Saguaro Poetry Prize. This is a nonprofit literary organization promoting social and educational justice and equality through literary excellence. They support writers at all stages of their careers. Please submit 28 to 48 pages of contemporary poetry, not including title page and Table of Contents. Winner will receive $1200, publication by Kallisto Gaia Press, 20 copies of the chapbook, and up to 20 ARCs to be sent to reviewers and award sponsors chosen by the winner. Simultaneous submissions are allowed. All entrants will receive a copy of the winning chapbook. Fee: $25.

The Four Quartets Prize is for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook, or book in 2021. Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were published in 2021 and that brought together, they form a complete sequence. Three finalists will receive $1,000 each. The winner will receive an additional $20,000. Fourteen pages of published poems unified by subject, form, and style is the minimum per submission. The poems must have been published in a print or online journal, chapbook, or book in 2021. The Poetry Society of America will accept submissions from authors, publishers, and literary agents. No fee.

The Society of Classical Poets is seeking entries to its 2022 Poetry Translation Competition. Winners will receive $100 and publication in the Society's website and in the The Society of Classical Poets Journal. Translations should be done in 2021 and can be previously published. Anyone from any country of any background is invited to enter. Translations should not exceed 108 lines and translated poetry should be from the Romantic period or earlier. Please include the poem in its original language. No fee.

The winning manuscript will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and published by Ohio University Press in both print and electronic format the following calendar year. Manuscripts of 60 to 95 pages should be submitted in .doc or .docx file format. Fee: $30

Send a manuscript of 48-88 pages in a single document. Include a title page and Table of Contents page. Each poem should start on a new page. Winner's book will be published in perfect-bound edition and the winner will receive $500. Fee: $28.

LitMag is a print journal of fiction, poetry and nonfiction, a home for award-winning, emerging and unknown writers, seeking entries for their Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction. First place winner will receive $1,250 + publication in LitMag + agency review by Nat Sobel of Sobel Weber Associates, Erin Harris and Sonali Chanchani of Folio Literary Management, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency, David Forrer of Inkwell Management, Monika Woods of Triangle House, and Emily Forland of Brandt & Hochman. Three finalists will receive $100 each and will be considered for possible agency review and publication. Entries must be short stories between 500 and 1,500 words. Fee: $16

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Big Moose Prize for an unpublished novel. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes will be awarded on publication. The Big Moose Prize is open to traditional novels as well as novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and other hybrid forms that contain within them the spirit of a novel. Fee: $22.

We are seeking submissions for pieces that breathe freshness to the form. We are interested in previously unpublished prose ranging from 1,000 - 5,000 words. Prize: $1,000. Fee: $10.

The Writer magazine is seeking entries for their 2021 fall short story contest. Any theme, subject, or genre is fair game, as long as it falls under 2,000 words. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and publication in their magazine. The second prize winner will receive $500 and third prize winner will receive $250; additionally, both will be published in The Writer magazine as well. You may enter simultaneously submitted work and can pay an additional fee for a critique. Fee: $25.

Quantum Shorts is looking for entrants to its short story competition. Entries must take inspiration from quantum physics and be no longer than 1000 words. The stories must also include the phrase “it’s a lot to think about," which was from their first prize winner in the 2019/2020 edition of Quantum Shorts by C. R. Long. Prizes up for grabs include a First Prize of $1500, a Runner Up prize of $1000 and a People’s Choice prize of $500. Up to ten shortlisted entries will also win a $100 shortlist prize and a one-year digital subscription to Scientific American. No fee.

Cast of Wonders is a young adult short fiction market, open to stories up to 6,000 words in length. They are dedicated to publishing fiction that reflects the entire spectrum of the human experience. They seek stories that evoke a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them. They aim for a 12-17 age range: that means sophisticated, non-condescending stories with wide appeal, and without gratuitous or explicit sex, violence or pervasive obscene language. We like fiction that makes them think, but the main elements should be thrilling entertainment, adventure and emotional connection. They like all forms of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and are happy to read comedy, steampunk, paranormal romance, superheroes, and many more genres. All that matters is adherence to their core concept and that critical spark of wonder.

Submit flash fiction stories of up to 500 words on the theme of “After” to win cash prizes and get published on the website. First prize: £200; Runner-up x 2: £100 each. Fee: £8.00 GBP.

The Center Field of Gravity is accepting entries for its Third Annual Gravity Award. They are accepting previously unpublished science-fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories or long-form poems up to but not exceeding 17,000 words. They are very accepting of different views about what science-fiction, fantasy, and horror are. If you’re unsure, you can read the stories of their previous finalists to see what they enjoy. Please limit submissions to one per person. Five finalists will be chosen from among them to be published on the website. The author of the winning story will be awarded $200 and the runners-up will each receive a $25 consolation prize. No fee.

LitMag is also seeking entries for its Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction. They seek work that moves and amazes them. They are drawn to big minds and large hearts. First place winner winner will receive $2,500, publication in LitMag and agency review by Nat Sobel of Sobel Weber Associates, Lisa Bankoff of Bankoff Collaborative, Erin Harris and Sonali Chanchani of Folio Literary Management, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency, David Forrer of Inkwell Management, Monika Woods of Triangle House, and Emily Forland of Brandt & Hochman. Three finalists will receive $100 each and all three will be considered possible agency review and publication. Entries must be short stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Fee: $20.

The Press 53 Award for Short Fiction is awarded annually to an outstanding, unpublished short story collection. This competition is open to any writer, regardless of his or her publication history, provided the manuscript is written in English and the author lives in the United States or one of its territories. The winner of this contest will receive publication by Press 53, a $1,000 cash advance and fifty copies of the book; all prizes will be awarded upon publication. Manuscripts should contain a collection of short stories, which can include flash fiction, and may include one, and only one, novella. Manuscript should be around 100 to no more than 250 pages in length. Fee: $30.

Invisible City Literary Journal is seeking entries for their nonfiction flash contest. Invisible City is an online publication of the MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco that publishes in the fall and spring. They seek work that encourages them to see the world from new perspectives and different angles, ones that they may not have previously considered or imagined. Their judge for this season's contest is Heather Christle, author of The Crying Book. First place winner will receive $500, second place winner will receive $200, and third place winner will receive $100. Top five stories will be published on their website. Contest submissions must be creative nonfiction and 750 words or less. Submissions must be the original work of the submitter and unpublished (and not slated for future publication). No fee.

“Back to Normal,” it's a phrase we've heard a lot lately in relation to the possibility of returning to a pre-Covid lifestyle. However, we have been so altered by the past 18 months, is the notion of return simply nonsensical? And if so, in what ways? We ask you to examine your life and identity in relation to ideas of returning to a prior time to examine the concept of “norms.” What does returning to normal mean to you, and for your life? Does it invoke the personal, communal, political, social, or economic to you? The topic is intended as a launch pad, and could address ideas of convention, the ordinary, dramatic change, disruption or anything along those lines more broadly. Guest judge Annie Palmer is looking for pieces that represent diverse experiences of the pandemic amidst the backdrop of a Presidency and social crises that sparked international conversation. She would love to feel grounded as a reader in the writer’s emotions and thoughts, successfully creating empathy despite differences in experiences. Word count: 2,000 max. Winner receives $200. 2 runner ups receive publication. Entry fee: $10.

CRAFT literary magazine explore how writing works, reading pieces with a focus on the elements of craft, on the art of prose. They are seeking unpublished entries up to 6,000 words for their creative nonfiction award. Their judge Ira Sukrungruang will select three winning pieces for publication. Each will be awarded $1,000 & a complete set of Graywolf Press’s The Art Of series. They review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, and experimental prose—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft. They are open to all writers, including international submissions. 6,000 words maximum. Fee: $20

We're looking for work in the following categories (and, in parentheses, is what to submit for consideration): Memoirs (query + first three chapters); Essay collections (query + three essays); Literary journalism/researched memoir - (query + first three chapters OR proposal, as we'll entertain strongly developed ideas that may not yet be completed projects); and Craft of writing books (proposal). No fee. https://hippocampusmagazine.submittable.com/submit/64449/book-query-proposal-small-press-division-open-aug-1-dec-31

Hippocampus is also accepting Essay & Memoir Excerpt Submissions of no more than 4,000 words by December 20. Fee: $3.

Capsule Stories is a print literary magazine published once every season. They have a penchant for pretty words, an affinity to the melancholy, and an undeniably time-ful aura. They believe that stories exist in a specific moment, and that that moment is what makes those stories unique. Their Spring 2022 Edition theme is Into the Light. They're looking for stories, poems, and essays that explore growth and new possibilities after a long, dark winter. They accept short stories, poems, and remarkably written essays. For short stories and essays, they’re interested in pieces under 3000 words. You may include up to five poems in a single poetry submission (please send them all in one Word document), and only send one story or essay at a time. No fee.

Speak Up, Sound Off, a literary magazine from Rising Youth Theatre about the ways youth & adults learn from each other, is seeking entries for their next issue. It is their goal to publish a diverse mix of writing in each issue. All forms and styles of writing are accepted (stories, essays, poems, etc.), and they accept submissions from both youth and adult writers. The current theme for submissions is COMMUNITY CARE. For each piece they publish, writers will receive a small ($25) stipend. No word count restrictions are listed. No fee.

Sundog Literary Magazine is committed to publishing pieces that engage with tension, introspection, empathy, considered positionality, thoughtful form play, emotional courage, and musicality. They want writing that attempts to salvage something pure from the collision of warmth and cold, that says what it can about the world it finds itself in. They seek a diversity of voices speaking from visceral, lived experience. They like truth they can stare at until our eyes water, words so carefully chosen they want to reread them as soon as they have finished. They are open to fiction, nonfiction and poetry. For fiction, submit short stories of no more than 3,000 words or up to 3 flash fictions of less than 750 words each in a single document. For nonfiction, submit a single piece of no more than 4,000 words or up to 3 flash essays of less than 1,000 words each in a single document. For poetry, submit up to 3 poems in a single document. They offer a small payment of $25 upon publication. Fee: $3

Literary magazine The Quiet Ones is looking for submissions to their upcoming February 2022 issue under the theme: "True Love Never Dies." Authors will receive a compensation of $25 per piece. Authors may submit up to two pieces per issue. They do not accept simultaneous submissions. Submit short stories up to 3,000 words; submit flash and micro fiction up to 1,000 words; submit poetry of any length. No fee.

FOLIO is a nationally recognized literary journal sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences at American University in Washington, DC. For their 2022 issue, FOLIO is searching for your take from the greatest tectonic shifts in time and world affairs to even the smallest most seemingly insignificant metamorphoses in your own personal life. Send them your previously unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or art of excellent quality about your version and vision of Worlds in Flux. For poetry, please submit up to 5 poems (8 pages maximum) in one document. For fiction, submit a maximum of 5,000 of prose. Submit only one (1) short story or three (3) works of flash fiction in one document. For nonfiction, submit no more than 4,500 words in length. All submissions will be considered for FOLIO's Editor's Prize in their category for Volume 37. One prize-winner will receive notation within our Spring 2022 issue, with a small monetary token of our appreciation ($50). No fee.

“As the editors of the farthest north literary magazine, we’ve chosen an unconventional, expansive place to live. That, too, is what we seek in your submissions. This is especially to say: we are not particularly interested in reading obvious, Alaska-themed work (i.e. snowflakes, polar bear romances, and your tormented ice-capped heartcicles). We get plenty of polar saturation from the Great White North every day. We want the far-reaching, skittish, and confused/confusing. We want the crystalline and devastating. We want the sickly, the sweet, but not the sickly sweet. Let’s get weird with it.”

Poetry: Poetry does NOT need to be double spaced; please submit it as you would like it to appear. Please do not submit more than five poems at once.

Fiction: submissions may include one piece up to 8,000 words or up to three flash pieces (less than 1,000 words each) in each submission.

Nonfiction: submissions may include one piece up to 8,000 words or up to three flash pieces (less than 1,000 words each) in each submission.

Hybrid: We like it weird and we hate boundaries, which is why we live in Alaska. We’re looking for play with words that makes us rethink everything we know about language and genre. Nonfiction prose poems, stories in verse, graphic essays. Surprise and mesmerize us. Hybrid submissions may be up to 8,000 words. If using visuals, make sure that you have the necessary copyrights. Fee: $3.

Burningword Literary Journal is a quarterly international publication of poetry, short fiction, short nonfiction, and photography. They are seeking flash fiction, flash nonfiction, and poetry submissions for their next issue. Flash fiction (a.k.a. microfiction, short-short story, sudden fiction, etc.) and flash nonfiction submissions should aim for a word-count of 300-500 words or less per piece. You may submit up to two (2) pieces per issue, may be submitted as one file, should run fewer than 5 pages in length, and must be unpublished. Poetry in any form or style. Your poetry submission may contain up to five (5) poems, may be submitted as one file, should run fewer than 10 pages in length, and must be unpublished. The authors and artists we publish receive a complimentary eBook issue and significantly reduced rates for print copies. Fee: $3.

Poetry: Previously unpublished original poetry in any style or format. Single poems, or groups in a single upload, are accepted. Limit to 5 poems per document file.

Fiction and nonfiction: Previously unpublished original fiction, any genre. Must stand alone (no chapters). No page or word count limit. However, works of length must be of exceptional quality. No fee.

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts is looking for, as you might guess, "compressed creative arts." We accept fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way. Our response time is generally 1-3 days. We pay writers $50 per accepted piece and signed contract. For all submitters, we aren't as concerned with labels—hint fiction, prose poetry, micro fiction, flash fiction, and so on—as we are with what compression means to you. In other words, what form "compression" takes in each artist's work will be up to each individual. However, we don't publish erotica or work with strong, graphic sexual content. Poetry: Poems should not exceed 20 lines or 75 words. Fiction—Compressed Prose (including fictional prose poems) and Creative Nonfiction—Compressed Prose (including creative nonfiction prose poetry), the word limit is 600. If you've been published by The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, please wait a year before submitting again. Pay is $50 per piece. No fee.

Accepting submissions for: Fiction (up to 5,000 words); Nonfiction (up to 5,000 words); Poetry (up to five pages); and Translation (up to 5,000 words or five pages of poetry, with the original text, and written permission from the work's original author/publisher). The four 1st place winners of the Winter Contest will each receive a $500 cash prize and will be published in the Columbia Journal's Issue 59, set for a Spring 2021 release. Two additional runner-ups will be selected for print and announced for each genre. Fee: $15.

Brink is an in-print literary journal dedicated to publishing hybrid, cross-genre work of both emerging and established creatives who often reside outside traditional artistic disciplines. They are open for submissions of any length engaging the theme of Certainty. They accept a variety of creative work from Nonfiction to Fiction, from Poetry to Translation, as well as hybrid work that falls into the cross-genre category of Evocations. They are looking for contributions that engage both the particular theme of each issue as well as the idea of being on the brink. They pay $25/poem, $50 for work less than 1500 words, and $100 for work more than 1501 words. No fee.

Award-winning literary travel magazine Nowhere is accepting submissions for our annual Fall Travel Writing Prize. They are looking for novice and veteran writers of any stripe to send them stories that possess a powerful sense of people, place and time. The winner will receive $1,000, with publication in Nowhere granted under First North American Serial Rights (FNASR). Up to ten finalists also will be published. Entries may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essays. Stories should run between eight hundred and five thousand words. Poetry may be any length, and several poems, themed together, may be submitted as one entry. Entries must be submitted in English, though authors may be located anywhere in the universe. Fee: $20

West Trade Review is a quarterly published literary magazine that strives to put forth the best contemporary poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction (personal essays/memoir), photography, and artwork and publish a mix of established and up and coming writers/artists. They are currently accepting creative nonfiction, poetry, and novel excerpt submissions. Submit one nonfiction piece of up to 5,000 words. Submit up to five unpublished poems. They accept novel excerpts between 8,000 and 12,000 words but will accept strong pieces outside those parameters. No fee.

We are open to hybrid prose - i.e. lyrical fiction, lyrical essays, braided essays, etc. However, we will not publish pure "genre" pieces that do not re-imagine their position as works of literature, nor are we interested in highly experimental or “literary” work that is not honest, accessible, or relatable. We especially seek to promote work by authors from marginalized communities. Poetry: Submit up to five poems. Fiction submissions are limited to 5,500 words; Nonfiction up to 3,500 words. Flash: Essays and flash fiction are limited to two shorts under 750 words. No fee.

Submit one piece of fiction or nonfiction or up to five poems (or flash fiction). Please wait to hear from us before sending more work. Pays contributing authors at two rates: $75 (five layout pages or fewer accepted for publication) and $150 (six layout pages or more accepted). Though there are no word count guidelines, because of limited space, stories over 10,000 words will be particularly difficult, though not impossible, to publish. Contributors also receive two complimentary copies of "their" issue (with the option to buy additional copies at a reduced rate) and a year's subscription to the magazine. Fee: $3

Poetry: Please upload 4-6 poems in one document.

Fiction: Upload one story or up to three flash pieces in one document.

Nonfiction: Upload one essay. For prose we do not have any length restrictions—but longer-than-normal pieces have to earn their space. Copper Nickel pays $30 per printed page + two copies of the issue in which the author’s work appears + a one-year subscription. We also award two $500 prizes per issue—the Editors’ Prizes in Poetry and Prose—for what we consider to be the most exciting work in each issue, as determined by a vote of our in-house editorial staff. Fee: $2.

Faultline welcomes previously unpublished submissions of poetry, fiction and translations. Poetry: Up to five poems; Fiction: Up to twenty pages; Translation: Up to five poems and twenty pages for fiction. Please include the original author’s name. No fee.

Poetry: Submit up to four poems that do not exceed ten total pages. Please put all the poems in one document. No previously published work, including self-published work, will be accepted.

Prose: submit one story or essay of 5,000 words or fewer in each submission. No previously published work, including self-published work, will be accepted. You may submit a maximum of two entries per genre—no more than two prose submissions and/or two poetry submissions. The winners in each category will receive $1,000 and publication. Winners announced in January. Fee: $12

The Deadlands is seeking fiction and nonfiction submissions for their next issue. The Deadlands would love to see stories from a worldwide perspective, different cultures, different approaches to death. They are looking for speculative fiction that concerns itself with death, but also everything death may involve. They also seek critical, academic, and personal essays that explore the relationship between humanity and death. The Deadlands pays 10¢/word for original fiction and $100 per essay. They accept stories up to 5000 words. Essays should be between 1k-4k words. Do not send multiple submissions. No fee.

Clackamas Literary Review is an award-winning anthology dedicated to publishing new and innovative literary experiences. They are accepting submissions of poetry, prose, and possibility texts for their upcoming issue. Short stories, flash fictions, essays, interviews: all are welcome. Genre fiction, though, is not. One work of prose per submission period, please. They love poetry and consider a wide range of styles, forms, and subject matter. Per reading period, please send only one piece of prose or possibility (4,000 words maximum), or up to three poems. Fee: $3

Exposition Review is an independent, multi-genre literary journal dedicated to showcasing the talents of emerging and established writers and artists through narratives in all forms. For Vol. VII, they're looking for work that explores their theme of Flux and all of the conflicts that arise when a character’s life is upended, when they’re asked to either give in to the flow of life, or fight the undertow with everything they have. They’re interested in the stories that flow out of us as people, voluntary or involuntary. Memoir, personal essays, creative nonfiction, short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts not in excess of 5,000 words. For flash fiction, submit up to three pieces of flash or microfiction; each piece should be no more than 1,000 words and there is no minimum word count. Submit up to three poems of any form and in traditional or experimental styles. Author receives $35.00 USD for accepted work. Fee: $3.50

WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Contests - Deadlines: November 30 (Fiction) and January 31 (Creative nonfiction). Our favorite writing community offers quarterly contests judged blindly with multiple cash prizes and more for 20 winners, up to $1,350 (fiction) and $1,175 plus a gift certificate to CreateWriteNow (nonfiction), an affordable critique option, and a 300-entry limit on each contest. What’s not to love? This season's guest judge is Literary Agent Erin Clyburn with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Fee: $10 (Sale! $5) (Flash Fiction) and $12 (Sale! $6) (Nonfiction).

Did you know that December 8th is Pretend To Be a Time Traveler Day? While we can't jump ahead into the future or blast back to the past yet, why not write a story inspired by this theme? We even have just the contest for you to submit to. For an upcoming anthology published by author Michael Aventrella, write a story about any three famous people from history, toss them together, and have an adventure. You have until December 9th to get your story together, so put that creative time traveler hat on!

Human Rights Day on December 10th is the perfect day to work on your submission to Inked in Gray's next anthology, aptly titled For Those Who Deserve to Exist. It will be about marginalized folk, by marginalized folk. The general theme is that of reclaiming narratives through the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. You have until December 30th, so get those creative juices going and inspire the change you want to see in the world. Pay is $30 per piece and a copy of the anthology. No fee.

By Margo L. Dill

Join us in celebrating with these writers from our social media pages who let us know what success they’ve had this past month. From entering a contest for the first time to writing in English even though it’s not her native language to getting a book published after taking a WOW! class (taught by me!), these writers worked hard and met their goals. Congratulations to all of them! Remember, if you aren’t on our social media pages or miss our posts, please email success stories to Margo at [email protected] and [email protected].

Plus, remember that writing ritual contest we had last month? Well, we had quite a few entries, so we decided to include them here, so you can see what rituals your fellow writing community members have when they’re busy getting words on the page.

Lynn Nicholas wrote, “Well...it's not much but a piece of my flash fiction and a 100-word short were published on Rose City Sisters: http://www.rosecitysisters.com/the-fork-in-the-road-by-lynn-nicholas/.”

Patricia White Gable wrote, “Got my print galley of my first novel The Right Address yesterday. It will be on Amazon in a few days and other bookstores soon. Thank you to Margo Dill for her novel writing class!!”

@JoyNealKidney wrote, “I gave a program to a Kiwanis group yesterday about my two self-published books in the Leora's Stories series. #leorasletters #leorasdexterstories #fivebrothersservedonlytwocamehome #dallascountyfreedomrock #WWII #depressionera #dallascountyiowa”

@najwa_ech wrote, “My interest for writing has started at a very young age, back then I used to write in Arabic language. By the way, English is not my native language. I learned it by myself. So I was like: why not write in English as well? Recently, I have been hospitalized for three months; writing helped me a lot to get over my mental health issues. It helps you to get all the thoughts and idea in your head to feel better. My boyfriend encourages me to publish my work that I wrote with the world, and I did. I wrote my very first story in Wattpad. I wrote many articles and submitted them. I also write film reviews.”

@deepamwadds wrote, “Regal House. @regal_house_publishing, just acquired my novel, What the Living Do, to be released in the spring of 2024!”

@christina_rauh_fishburne wrote, “The Crow Emporium Press published Tales From the Genii on the 28th—a collection of Bronte Juvenilia illustrated and introduced by me! @thecrowemporiumpress”

@beingthewriter wrote, “I got one! My book blog. WorldofMyImagination.com, got in the top 100 book blogs on FeedSpot.”

@cyndisnamaste wrote, “I entered my very first writing competition. It was WOW's flash fiction for fall. Win or lose, it's a win for me. There have been many starts and stops, but after 54 years, I can say with confidence, I am a writer.”

We asked: What's your favorite writing routine or ritual?

Thank you everyone for sharing your answers!

I do the Twitter posts promoting my client (and mother) Caroline Clemmons' romance novels that day to warm up. Then I start writing whatever articles or blog posts I am doing for my clients. I usually work from about 7-11 each day. Research goes on 3 X 5 cards, just like they used to teach in school. I sort the cards by topic, then write the article or blog post. I let it sit a while, then edit it and massage it into final form. The most important thing is to get something down. As Nora Robert's said, "You can edit crap. You can't edit a blank page."

~ Stephanie Suesan Smith writes articles and blogs for businesses on gardening, dogs, psychology, and other topics. https://Gardencopywriter.com

Wake up before my one-year-old daughter, read the daily news and write to help people find hope in the midst of what's going on in the world.

~ Shari E. Walker is a former foster youth interning as a content creator and marketer while having fun adventures with her daughter and husband!

I like to feel relaxed before writing. I am an academic writer, and getting my clients a good grade is always a priority. So, I start by taking a walk and listening to my curated writing playlist. It really helps to soothe my mind and get me in research mood. After my walk, I create a schedule that allows me to take breaks in the middle, because if you are someone like me, it’s important to enjoy whatsoever you are doing.

I never thought I had a routine until I realized that I am a creature of the sun's trajectory. The morning brings coffee and daily ruminations, the afternoon is set aside for chores and business, but in the evening, when the sun morphs into that orange glow of promise, my emotions surge with matching intensity. Like a moth to a flame, I am drawn to my computer where I let everything go—sometimes the overflow of my feelings manifests in the form of short stories, pieces of a memoir, or the beginnings of a book. However, just before the sun dies, when I engage my music and let my fingers dance across the keyboard, I become that solar vampira of the late afternoon writing from the depth of her soul.

~ Jeaninne Escallier Kato is a retired educator, published author, current teacher coach for the state of California, and grateful human being. She finds her muse in the Mexican culture.

My dreams are very vivid. I have several books that I work on. Whatever I dreamed about usually fits into one of my drafts, and if not, I start another. I believe that my dreams are someone's life experiences that they are trying to share with me so that I can share through my novels. Some dreams I believe may be from a past life. As soon as I wake and take care of my morning ablutions, I get on the computer while everything is fresh and stay there until I feel like I have succeeded in giving my dreams literary life.

~ Kim Robinson - Born and raised in Compton, California. Mother of three and grandmother of one. I am a wife of thirty-two years. I am a seamstress and sewing instructor. I am also an advocate and spokesperson for awayoutproject.org that works against domestic violence.

I have to make my writing intentional; by giving it a share of my attention and energy every day, even if it’s just five minutes. Word counts don’t work for me, but if I give myself a task, like, “I’ll work on one essay in my book today,” I can usually get that done. And I don’t even have to finish the essay, as long as I put some focused work into it, it goes in the win column. Everyone has a strategy; but for me, it’s the intention that matters. In fact, I started a writing program called Writual, the goal of which is to help writers make their own work intentional. Facilitating writers’ workshops is another way I motivate myself to write.

~ Cindy Eastman is a writer and teacher and can be found at cindyeastman.com.

This is my favorite routine (I have several), and I do this at least once a week. My favorite coffee shop has two floors and is across the road from the sea. So, the best place to work is either out on the balcony, or inside, right by the balcony door, so you have the best view. There is even a small library of books in my sight. When I give a break, I have plenty of space to stretch my legs. During my longer breaks, I leave the shop to walk by the sea for 15-20 minutes and come back and resume working. This helps with my mood, productivity, and creativity. Many pitches and novel pages were created here. Because of the view, it’s always easy to imagine I’m somewhere else – wherever my setting needs me to be.

~ Pinar Tarhan is a romcom novelist, freelance writer, and blogger. Her recent novel, A Change Would Do You Good.

I think one of the hardest things that people may not realize writers have to do is set their own schedule. Whether it's your primary job or especially if it isn't, any time you set aside is better than none, and no matter what others say your writing is important. Over the years, I've worked to make it a priority because I don't feel like myself when I haven't written in a while. So, I try to write every day—not that I’m always successful or that the content I write is. The act of making it my priority reminds me of who I am and why I work so hard to accomplish something so strenuous. I also go out to a coffee shop to work any chance I get, to force time to dedicate without regular distractions. Remember, always carry a small notebook and pen at all times!

~ Michaila Oberhoffer - I am a coffee-driven, sarcastic-centered, rare-optimistic writer who dreams of writing success but will settle for a thumbs up in my direction.

My body is tuned to waking up at 4:00am without the alarm. I sit up straight as soon as I wake up, and offer gratitude to the good Lord for the gift of today. I turn on the lamp next to my bed and pick up my journal to pen down what my mind speaks and any emotion I feel. Everything is quiet and calm except for my husband snoring beside me which has become a melody to my living. I get off the bed, freshen up and go for a run. It feels blissful as the first blush of light makes your sweaty skin glow with creativity. I come back freshen up, and by 6:30 am, I’m ready with my laptop and a cup of hot vanilla and chamomile tea. I have a huge window in my study, and the dawn outside helps me weave a memorable story.

My writing starts when the day dawns. I write about the nature of the day after I wake up and what goals I am going to achieve in the day with the passage of time. I write every day a fiction piece of work because I am a screenwriter who is working hard and giving my best to make a proper script for the movie. Every day, I write a script page. I hope one day my screenwriting will be in the movie cinema. These days are the struggling phase. I have seen a lot. I hope my hard work pays off now. Fingers crossed.

~ Chirayuwriter "I write to express myself, not impress anyone."

“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening.” Oh, you caught me on one of my holiday dance party breaks (maybe I like to do some karoke, too). No matter what you decide to do this December, we at WOW! hope you rock and roll on all your 2021 and/or monthly goals, have a wonderful holiday season and find the perfect gifts for your loved ones (and for yourself, too).

Happy Holidays,

Margo & Team WOW

WOW! Women On Writing | Workshops & Classes | Quarterly Contests | The Muffin