July 2021 Markets Newsletter (51,000+ subscribers!)
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In this issue:
- Markets Column: "Happy Fourth of July – Liberate Yourself from Writer’s Block!" by Ashley Memory
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Interview with Susan Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author
- July Deadlines: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Multigenre
- Success Stories from the WOW Community!
- Psych 101: Rejection by Sue Bradford Edwards
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All writers suffer from the occasional bout of writer’s block. It’s our common demon, our scourge, and sometimes it even feels like a curse.
But we’re here to help! In honor of our nation’s birthday, we challenge you to push through that impasse into the blue sky of freedom. Ahh!
In this month’s issue, we’re providing tips to help beat writer’s block, and we’re also interviewing New York Times bestselling author Susan Shapiro about her new memoir, The Forgiveness Tour: How to Find the Perfect Apology. Susan epitomizes talent and persistence, and you’ll be inspired by her humor and words of wisdom.
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Liberate yourself from writer’s block by trying one (or more) of these 5 tips:
1. Stop! An empty page is where all good stories start. But if you find yourself paralyzed by writer’s block, just stop. Don’t force yourself to write. You won’t like the result, and you may even, ahem, start to hate the work and beat yourself up. Before this happens, walk away. In fact, forbid yourself from writing for the next 12 hours. When I take a forced break, I end up missing it so badly that I often sneak back before my self-imposed suspension is over! The late Toni Morrison offered these wise words: “I tell my students there is such a thing as ‘writer’s block,’ and they should respect it. It’s blocked because it ought to be blocked, because you haven’t got it right now.”
2. Regress. Try to recover that same state of mind that sparked your imagination at the outset. When I struggled with a recent essay, I found myself flipping through a 1859 beekeeping treatise that inspired me in the beginning. The author and his charming prose reminded me of why I wanted to write this essay. If you reach an impasse, think back to the original inspiration for your idea—whether it was something else someone else wrote or words from your journal. Stepping back into the past may actually help you go forward.
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3. Read. If you’re working on a novel, pick up a nonfiction book. If you’re working on a nonfiction book, try reading a poem or short story. I actually have a shelf of reference books on everything from sailing to sewing that I’ll thumb through when I reach a concrete wall. It’s very liberating to read Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs when I’m working on something very different. Transporting myself mentally to a lavender field soothes my spirit and rejuvenates my writing mind.
4. Impose a Deadline. This sounds harsh I know, but nothing concentrates your mind like a looming deadline. If you’re floundering on a loose-ended project, get out the calendar and give yourself an official “due date.” Writer Jodi Picoult puts it more bluntly. “I don't believe in writer's block. Think about it—when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn't it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer's block is having too much time on your hands.”
5. Say Adios to the Perfectionist! Quash that inner critic who tells you that every word must be flawless. Let your writing flow without interruption. If necessary, start with the main idea and express it in baby words. This is what I do. There’s plenty of time to come back later and smooth it out. Jennifer Egan says it better. “I haven’t had writer’s block. I think it’s because my process involves writing very badly.”
Another way to conquer writer’s block is to read through the vast list of markets actively seeking your work. In fact, without your contributions, these magazines, websites and other publications would face a “publishing block”! Help them out—and crush your own deadlock—by using one of these dynamic listings as a springboard for your imagination.
Ready, set, go!
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Ashley Memory
Markets Columnist
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She's Not Herself: A Psychotherapist's Journey into and Beyond Her Mother's Mental Illness
Written & Narrated by Linda Appleman Shapiro
This memoir/audiobook shows how one family member’s chronic illness—depression or otherwise—affects the entire family. Shapiro, a first generation American, shares in detail the reverberations of war, separation, immigration, and family secrets which are as relevant (if not more so) today as when Shapiro was growing up in the 1940s-50s. Hearing her narrate her own life’s journey brings the listener into her home and heart, showing how trauma is experienced and then how it can be processed, moving through and beyond it without forgetting and with forgiving, ultimately leaving the listener with hope.
You can find the audiobook version of She's Not Herself at Audible and Amazon.
Giveaway ends July 9th
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101 Arabian Tales: How We All Persevered in Peace Corps Libya
By Randolph W. Hobler
101 Arabian Tales is substantially set apart from the over-1,000 published Peace Corps memoirs because they are individual memoirs and this is a unique collective memoir, garnered from in-depth interviews with 101 fellow Libyan Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. A herculean effort. The story’s spine is Hobler’s own narrative, anchored to and deftly embroidered with hundreds of other anecdotes. Rather than a narrow individual view, this collective sharing provides many rich hues and shades of experiences—hilarious, heartbreaking, insightful, poignant, as well as educational and inspiring. These volunteers were spread out over 900 miles resulting in an omniscient kaleidoscope of experiences, many of which fall under the category of “you can’t make this up!” Hobler’s breezy whimsical style is accessible and entertaining, capped off with 220 compelling photographs.
Giveaway ends July 4th
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Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America
By Karen Arrington
If you’re a Black woman in business and feeling stuck or trapped by other people’s expectations of what you can achieve, it’s time to stop playing small and start redefining what success means for you. It’s time to get that upgrade. Karen Arrington―author of Your Next Level Life, founder of the Miss Black USA Pageant, creator of the Next Level Women’s Summit, and mentor to thousands of confident, successful young Black women―is your guide to getting to your next level life. Build a legacy of Black excellence. With the seven simple rules in Your Next Level Life, you’ll learn how to bring your career, income, and lifestyle to that next level. Don’t settle for a life of invisibility and mediocrity. Set ambitious goals, reach for bigger opportunities, and know that you are brave enough to get what you deserve.
Giveaway ends July 4th
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Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story
By Sioux Roslawski
This middle-grade historical fiction novel by Sioux Roslawski tells the story of 12-year-old Henry Simmons who lives in 1921 in Greenwood, Olahoma, also known as "Black Wall Street." On May 31, Henry faces racism, destruction, and hatred unlike he's ever known all because of being Black. Read Greenwood Gone: Henry’s Story for Henry’s account of one of the most horrific massacres in U.S. history—all because of hatred and racism. Can love win even a small victory in the face of hate? Henry will find out.
Giveaway ends July 9th
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Q4 CNF Essay Contest
Deadline: July 31
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Do you have a creative nonfiction essay 1,000 words or less ready to submit? WOW's Q4 2021 CNF Essay Contest is seeking submissions! There are 20 winners, and the contest is open to all types of essay—from personal essay and memoir pieces to lyric and hybrid essay, and beyond! 1st Place: $500. 2nd: $300. Third: $200. Gift cards. Previously published essays are okay to submit!
Enter by 11:59 pm PST, July 31.
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Editors Seeking Writers & Pitches
Later
Later is “the all-in-one social marketing platform for the top social networks.” They are looking for a few freelance content writers for their blog. They will pay $450 for blog posts of 900 to 1,200 words. Apply via this form by June 30th.
Sister
A publication that amplifies the voices of gender minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). They are accepting pitches for essays and op-eds (700 to 1,000 words) for their special series: Gatekeeping in STEM. They are seeking perspectives from gender minorities in STEM. They are looking for “contributors whose main work is science writing or science communication.” Pay is $0.50/word. Check out their guidelines and pitch by June 30th.
Fodor's Travel
A publication source for travel advice and daily travel stories. Assignments editor Eva Morreale is looking pitches. Anything fun, offbeat, snackable, timely will get attention. Rates start at $250 and up per story. Check out their pitching guidelines, then email [email protected].
Trip Savvy
A travel website. Editor Astrid Taran is looking to commission a story about interesting, unique, and heartfelt beach conservation efforts. Know of a destination whose community has rallied to save its beaches? Rates begin at $300. Pitch her at [email protected].
Wellby
An online publication about wellness and mental health. No PhD necessary. They are always looking for smart personal essays/ investigations and reports. Check out their website to make sure your idea is original and hasn't been covered already. Your pitch should be no longer than a paragraph. Make it concise with your main points and themes. But if you are pitching a long-form report or investigation (between 2,000-3,000 words), you should pitch in plenty of detail. The topics that they are most interested in are: “wellness, mental health, spirituality, personal growth and big ideas.” They pay £50 per article. Pitches should be sent to [email protected].
Bitch Media
A feminist response to pop culture. Editor-in-Chief Evette Dionne is looking for ideas about sports, In the Heights, People of Praise and abuse, chronic illness, and We Are the Lady Parts. They do not publish many personal essays, so she's primarily looking for cultural criticism. Rates start at $200. Check out their contributor's guidelines, and send your pitch to [email protected].
gal-dem
A British online and print magazine that is dedicated to sharing the stories of women and non-binary people of color. Politics editor Moya Lothian-Mclean is looking for more writers of colour from marginalised genders across Europe to pen features and comment for their Politics section. She's particularly interested in those who can write on Central and Eastern Europe. Check out their pitch guide, and get in touch with her at [email protected].
The Guardian
A British news and media website. Commissioning editor Isabel Choat is looking for unreported stories behind the headlines. Covering human rights & humanitarian issues; girls’ education, abortion rights & overlooked crises of particular interest. Pay is 31p per word. Check out their freelance guidelines and email [email protected].
Rest of World
An international nonprofit journalism organization that is focused on “the impact of technology beyond the Western bubble.” Editor Louise Matsakis is accepting pitches. The biggest beats that they cover are “social media, ecommerce, labor, and the downstream effects of Big Tech outside the Western world.” Louise is especially interested in pitches that are global in nature or connect themes happening in multiple countries. She says, "See a weird TikTok trend? Hear about something shady a tech company is doing where you live? Please reach out! It's totally fine if your idea isn't totally fleshed out. Far away from the center of the story? We may also be able to pair you with a co-reporter on the ground!" Rates start at $1/word. Check out their pitch guide and email your pitch to [email protected].
Refinery29 UK
A media and entertainment company that focuses on young women. Their lifestyle director, Jess Commons, is looking for story pitches about dating experiences post-lockdown. Pay is £180 for an opinion piece and £250 for a feature. Pitches to [email protected].
Faith & Leadership
A biweekly, online magazine that is a learning resource for Christian leaders. They are always seeking new writers and stories. Their feature articles are 1,500-2,000 words, essays are 800-1,000 words, and Q&As are 1,000-1,500 words. They pay $1,500 for feature articles and $300 for essays. They also pay for mileage, parking, and other expenses. Check out their submission guidelines. Send a detailed pitch (1-2 paragraphs that get to the heart of your story, essay or Q&A) to [email protected].
Pregnant Chicken
An online resource and blog that offers tips, advice, and information that help in keeping pregnancy fun and funny for expectant and new parents. They want funny or emotionally relatable posts on pregnancy and being a new parent. Paid guest posts need to be more than 300 words. Upper word limits aren't firm, but keep 'em reasonable. Pay is $100 per post. Check out their contributor's guidelines and email [email protected].
Your Teen Media
a resource for parenting teenagers. They want writers to send pitches of ideas for articles, essays, blogs, or expert advices to their editors. Pay reports are $0.10 per word and up. Check out their writer's guidelines, and send a pitch via their contact form.
Family Story
Family Story is a think tank founded to recognize, validate, and protect the many ways individuals form and re-form families. They are looking for personal essays and opinion pieces for their blog. They especially encourage submissions from people of color and/or LGBTQIA+ folks. The submissions should be of 600 to 1,200 words. Payment is $100 per post. Check out their guidelines and send your pitches or completed essays and opinion pieces for consideration to [email protected].
Pipette Magazine
An independent print magazine about natural wine. They publish 3 times a year. They are looking for pitches about natural wine from experienced writers. Pay is $200 to $350. Pitches to [email protected].
Discover Magazine
A print and online science magazine for the general public. Editor Alex Orlando is seeking science journos for pitches. He edits Discover’s much-loved Vital Signs column, where they take readers through the twists and turns of tricky patient cases. They’re usually written by doctors, but recently they’ve expanded that to include stories from science writers. Know of any wild medical mysteries where doctors struggled to figure out what was wrong? Surprising last-minute diagnoses? Cases that shed light on little-known conditions? Their rates start at $1/word and these columns run at 1,200 words. Check out their pitch guide and email [email protected].
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By Ashley Memory
We’re so excited to interview New York Times bestselling author Susan Shapiro about her new memoir The Forgiveness Tour: How to Find the Perfect Apology, a poignant, heartfelt journey into emotional healing. From the Los Angeles Review of Books and CNN to Forbes, The Detroit News, The Jerusalem Post, The Brooklyn Rail, everyone is talking about this book.
A native of West Bloomfield, Michigan, Susan now lives in Greenwich Village with her scriptwriter husband. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Salon, Oprah, Elle, Wired and The New Yorker online. She’s written thirteen other books her family hates, she says, including Lighting Up, Only As Good As Your Word, and Five Men Who Broke My Heart.
Her inspiring writing guide, The Byline Bible was culled from her 25 years as an award-winning, popular professor teaching at NYU, The New School and Columbia University's MFA programs. She pioneered “the instant gratification takes too long” method and since the pandemic has led numerous online classes and panels, which have helped countless students around the world find their way to publication.
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WOW: Susan, thank you so much for spending time with us today. The January 2021 release of The Forgiveness Tour couldn’t have been more perfect, as we all emerge from our pandemic cocoons to rebuild our social lives. Did you and your publisher, Skyhorse, think about that as you scheduled the release?
Susan: I have luck launching books on off months, like January and August. But given the book’s ten-year history and the havoc the pandemic caused, it was a miracle it came out at all.
WOW: And we’re so glad it did! You write in the book about how the mentor who betrayed you predicted you would write about your rift later on. At the time you certainly didn’t feel like it, but when did you know you had a book?
Susan: Well, it was rejected and revised so many times over a decade. Two moments stand out. After Salon published a short excerpt that went viral in 2016, the piece won an ASJA (American Society of Journalist and Authors) award. In my thank you speech to a crowd of fellow writers, I said, “I’ve written 1,000 pages so it’s nice to know 1,000 words work.” Then, four years later, the smartest literary editor I know read it, got it, and wanted it. That’s when I felt like maybe I finally nailed it. Ultimately, she wasn’t able to buy it. (I’d sold four other books to her publisher that hadn’t earned out their advances, so I knew it was a ridiculous longshot.) But her response—and her edits—were empowering. Right before the pandemic, it found a home with Skyhorse. They’d published my earlier book, Unhooked and made it a New York Times bestseller. So, I felt like I was in excellent hands all around.
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“It was rejected and revised so many times over a decade. After Salon published a short excerpt that went viral in 2016, the piece won an ASJA award. In my thank you speech to a crowd of fellow writers, I said, ‘I’ve written 1,000 pages so it’s nice to know 1,000 words work.’”
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WOW: Of all the theories on forgiving that you discovered, which one surprised you the most?
Susan: I’d say the wisdom from Manny Mandel, an old family friend who was a Holocaust survivor and DC psychotherapist. He never forgave the Germans and thrived, in his life and work, out of spite.
WOW: The words of Dermott J. Walsh, the Buddhist professor you consulted, really resonated with me: “The chain of one person hurting another, refusing to apologize and then causing hurt must be changed by radical forgiveness or repentance.’
What lessons can we draw from the fact that so many faith leaders and gurus agree on the importance of forgiving?
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Susan: I’m a Manhattan journalist and raging feminist, so I look at the world through a skeptical lens. There’s a billion-dollar Forgiveness Industry that makes money promoting radical forgiving of everyone everything. What I learned researching the book is that hurt, atonement, and forgiveness are very personal and nuanced. Gary Weinstein forgave the drunk driver who killed his wife and two children to honor his late spouse and sons and to be able to move on. Kenan kept a grudge against the Christian Orthodox Serbs who slaughtered his fellow Bosnian Muslims and by being a spokesperson enraged at their denial of genocide led him to his wife and new family. There isn’t one size that fits all.
WOW: The personal sagas of the thirteen other people in search of their own closures are fascinating. I loved what you told Sharisse, a former student: “Writing is like talking without being interrupted.”
Susan: Sharisse’s story showed how it’s sometimes healthier not to forgive. After being pushed by clergy to forgive her late father for raping her when she was a teenager, he tried to assault her again. A watershed moment of the book is when she unforgives him. And she forces her mother, a good editor, to read, revise and correct the spelling and punctuation of her memoir detailing what her father did to her and her mom didn’t protect her from. As Joan Didion said, writing is “an aggressive, hostile act.”
The idea of interruption came out of therapy, when I was recounting how, in my conservative male-dominated Midwest family, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. No wonder I became a teacher in charge of the class and an author, which in Latin means founder, master, leader, and contains the word “authority.” I often quote Tom Robbins’ line, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” Though of course, my therapist argued it is.
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“Writing is like talking without being interrupted.”
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WOW: From a craft point of view, I admired how the chapters covering other people’s struggles have a satisfying story arc but also contributed to your own chronicle. How did you accomplish this?
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Susan: At first I wanted the book to be a funny sequel to my comic memoir, Lighting Up: How I Stopped Smoking, Drinking and Everything Else I Loved In Life Except Sex. But critics I trust said the betrayal by my mentor and eventual reconciliation wasn’t enough to hang a book on. Since he was a therapist, it came off too Manhattan-centric and shrinkadelic for a large audience. It kept getting heavier and darker. Interviewing other people who’d suffered wrongs never righted, and doctors and religious leaders added the wisdom and gravitas I was searching for on a personal and literary plane.
WOW: You quoted more than a dozen experts across the spectrum and read at least eighteen books in the ten years you invested in this project. When did you know that your research was complete?
Susan: Writing and revisiting it, I wasn’t sure. One editor said, “It’s too Jewish and New York shrinky,” a second one asked, “What’s with the Swami and Buddhists? Not enough Jews.” A third one suggested, “Take out the first-person angst and make it a self-help book.” When I saw the galley and reread the memoir, I was happy with it. I did a whole candle lighting ceremony when I put the stack of eighteen forgiveness books that had been living on my desk for so many years back on my shelves.
WOW: I bet that felt good! Even though we’re writers, ironically, words often fail us when we try to write about the people who’ve hurt us. What advice can you offer writers?
Susan: For my first memoir, Five Men Who Broke My Heart, a smart critic said if each male character is just a jerk, then you’re a jerk for going out with him and I don’t like either of you. So I tried to capture the moment where I fell in love, showing why, with each love story. And that way when my heart was broken, the readers was too. My rule for all first-person writing is you have to question, challenge, out, and trash yourself more than anyone else.
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“My rule for all first-person writing is you have to question, challenge, out, and trash yourself more than anyone else.”
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WOW: Great advice! In your book, you give 10 terrific tips for extracting the perfect apology. I’ve meditated on #9: “Try to view the estrangement as a mystery, not malice.” This is such a beautiful thought. Do you try to live life this way?
Susan: On a good day.
WOW: Well said! What I love most about the book (and your writing in general) is your dark humor. Your father, Jack Shapiro, said: “If you want to moon the world, use pseudonyms so you don’t embarrass the family,” and then you follow with “This was his way of acknowledging my latest personal essay in Marie Claire.” Can you talk about the relationship between humor and pain?
Susan: I tell my students, “The first piece you write that your family hates means you’ve found your voice,” and “Writing is a way to turn your worst experiences into the most beautiful.” Since I like to be self-deprecating, I could add: “hilarious.”
WOW: You actually dedicated The Forgiveness Tour to your father, who died while you were writing it. What would he say about this book?
Susan: I was thrilled and flattered when he kept buying copies and praising my coauthored memoir, The Bosnia List. Then I realized it was because the book was about someone else’s family instead of ours. But towards the end of his life, he told me, “You stuck to your guns and became a big success. I’m proud of you.” And he told his doctor Olaf—an aspiring writer—that I could help him get published. A student who was now an editor bought a great piece of Olaf’s and we later did a reading together, which was very cool and cathartic. I felt like my father was there watching.
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“The first piece you write that your family hates means you’ve found your voice.”
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WOW: That’s amazing. In addition to being a prolific and talented author, you’re a dedicated teacher who balances multiple classes and daily communications with your students. How do you do it all? Do you ever sleep?
Susan: I don’t have kids or pets and my husband is also a workaholic writer/teacher, so we can prioritize our careers and each other. Freud said the two life forces are work and love, so I feel blessed. And my students keep me young and inspired.
WOW: What else do you have coming up that you’d like to share?
WOW: You are one busy lady. I hope you can carve out some time to rest soon. Thank you again for spending time with us today and sharing your wisdom. No wonder your Jungian astrologer believes your superpower is helping others soar. You are such an inspiration.
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For more about Susan, visit susanshapiro.net or follow her on Twitter at @susanshapironet or Instagram at @Profsue123.
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Also, if you're looking for a guidebook to walk you through crafting and selling short nonfiction pieces, WOW recommends Susan's The Byline Bible. Learn about her wildly popular "Instant Gratification Takes Too Long" technique and how to land impressive clips. Discover how to write and sell your story in five weeks or less, including:
• How to craft a cover letter and subject heading to get read and reviewed quickly
• Who pay for essays, op-eds, regional, humor, or service pieces from unknown writers
• Ways to follow up, build on your success, land a TV or radio spot, become a regular contributor, staff writer, and find a literary agent for your book with one amazing clip
Whether you're just starting out or ready to enhance your professional portfolio, this essential guide will prove that three pages can change your life!
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Concrete Wolf Poetry Series: Octopus & Other Cephalopod Anthology
Deadline: June 30
“Calling all Octopus and other Cephalopod-inspired poems. Poet and cephalopod expert Sierra Nelson is editing an anthology to be released by World Enough Writers (an imprint of Concrete Wolf). Cephalopods include the octopus, squid, chambered nautilus, and cuttlefish, as well as extinct cephalopod species such as the ammonite. Work may be directly or tangentially cephalopod related, but the cephalopod invoked should feel like an integral part of the work. (Please note: A jellyfish is not a cephalopod.) Submit up to 3 poems. Also open to short lyrical prose submissions under 750 words.” No fee.
The Burnside Review Poetry Chapbook Contest
Deadline: July 15
“Submit 18-24 pages of poetry, including a list of acknowledgments. Your name and contact information should not appear anywhere in the manuscript.” Judge: Ari Banias. Fee: $15.
Asheville Poetry Review
Deadline: July 15
Asheville Poetry Review is an annual literary journal that publishes 180–220 pages of poems, interviews, translations, essays, historical perspectives, and book reviews. Since its inception in 1994, Asheville Poetry Review has published over 1800 new and established writers from 22 different countries. Send 3–6 poems of any length or style. No fee.
The Comstock Review: 2021 Poetry Contest
Deadline: July 16
First Prize: $1,000 (The Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award); Second Prize: $250; Third Prize: $100. Honorable Mentions receive a one-year subscription. Entry fee includes up to 5 poems. There is no limit to the number of submissions. No poem may exceed 40 LINES, beginning with the first line of text below the title. DO NOT count blank lines. Please also consider our 64-character line width when submitting. Poems should be submitted in .doc or .docx form. Fee: $27.50.
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Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction
Deadline: June 30
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review. Individual story length should not exceed 1,000 words. All genres and styles are welcome. Judges are the journal’s editors. Fee: $15. [Note: Check out our interview with The Lascaux Review's senior editor, Marissa Glover in the Feb '21 Markets Newsletter.]
Running Wild Press & RIZE: Annual Short Story Anthology
Deadline: July 5
Page One Prize 2021
Deadline: July 7
“Submit only the first page of your novel-in-progress (one, single page, not 2-sided). This should be the first page of the first chapter, not the first page of a prologue or introduction. It's fine if your page ends mid-paragraph or mid-sentence. Double-space one 8.5” x 11” or A-4 page, using your favorite 12-point font, 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins all around. Your name should not appear anywhere on the page or in the name of your document. NOTE: Winners of the first, second and third prize cash prizes, as well as any honorable mentions, must agree to allow their first pages to be posted on the Page One Prize website.” First Prize: $1,000; Second Prize: $500; Third Prize: $250. Fee: $20
Midnight & Indigo: Speculative Fiction/Horror
Deadline: July 11
“The readers loved it so much, we're doing it again! We are looking for previously unpublished, character-driven, speculative short stories written by Black women writers for our second annual special issue (October 2021). Need context? Check out our 1st issue "midnight & indigo: Twenty-two Speculative Stories by Black Women Writers.” Speculative fiction is a broad genre encompassing fiction with certain elements that do not exist in the real world, often in the context of supernatural, futuristic, or other imaginative themes. This includes, but is not limited to, science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, utopian and dystopian fiction, fairytale fantasy, and supernatural fiction. Stories must meet our minimum 1,500 word count requirement.” No fee for a standard submission; paid options exist for an expedited response and editor feedback.
New Flash Fiction Prize 2021
Deadline: July 15
Entries for the New Flash Fiction Prize should be 750 words or less. Judged by Tara Isabel Zambrano. Submissions should be previously unpublished and in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format. The entries will be read blind. All stories must be submitted with no identifying information in the story itself. Fee: $10; 1 story per entry. Maximum of 3 entries per writer. https://newflashfiction.submittable.com/submit/187632/the-2021-new-flash-fiction-prize
The 2021 Petrichor Prize for Finely Crafted Fiction
Deadline: July 15
“The Petrichor Prize will be issued to a work of finely crafted fiction. Winner Receives: Book publication by Regal House Publishing in 2023 and $1,000.
Minimum of 100 pages, maximum of 350 pages. At least 11pt. font. The entries will have a blind reading, so please do NOT include name, address and telephone number anywhere in the body of the manuscript. Paginate consecutively and include a table of contents.” Fee: $25
Catapult: Fiction
Deadline: July 16
“We welcome short stories and translated fiction. We pay for all pieces that we publish, a minimum of $200. We publish pieces that are anywhere from 500 to 4,000 words long. We are particularly interested in flash fiction (about 1,000 words or less). Please submit only one story at a time.” No fee.
Fractured Lit Flash Fiction Prize
Deadline: July 18
“Guest judge K-Ming Chang will choose three winning stories from a shortlist. We're excited to offer the winner of this prize $3,000 and publication, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively along with publication. Your $20 reading fee allows up to two stories of 1,000 words or fewer each per entry—if submitting two stories, please put them both in a SINGLE document.” [Note: Check out our interview with Fractured Lit's associate editor K.B. Carle in the Mar '21 Markets Newsletter.]
Every Day Fiction - Flash
Deadline: July 27
“We are looking for some suitable stories for August 2021, including: Honey Bee Day; Klondike Gold Discovery Day (aka Yukon's Discovery Day, Canada); and any stories specifically featuring the month of August, summer, summer holidays or the end of the holidays, beaches, and/or vacations.” Word limit not published; website states 1,000 words. No fee.
Short Fiction
Deadline: July 31
Accepts fiction between 500 and 5,000 words. “We have wide-ranging tastes and have happily published traditional character-driven stories next to non-conformist work of extraordinary innovation. We admire and love poets and memoirists, but can’t accept poetry or life writing. The boundaries can be blurred in hybrid forms and that’s great; if you feel your hybrid piece qualifies as fiction, send it in. We might disagree in the end, but we’ll admire your bravado.” If you have never had a short story published before, please submit to their "Introducing" section: a showcase for excellent new writers. No fee. https://shortfiction.submittable.com/submit/
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Sasee
Deadlines: Vary by Theme
“Sasee welcomes editorial submissions from freelance writers. We are looking for new, unpublished, first-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are our primary editorial focus. Diversity of subjects that reflect all age groups and variety of writing styles are invited.
Word Limit: No more than 500 to 1,000 words in length. Sasee reserves the right to edit articles for length and content. Payment for articles varies. Please submit only previously unpublished, non-fiction articles.” Upcoming themes: “Enjoying Life” – July 15; “Feels Like Home” – August 15; “Give Thanks” – September 2021. No fee.
The Rumpus
Deadline: July 31
“We welcome essay submissions between 1,500-4,000 words in length. In addition to personal narrative-driven essays we are interested in non-traditional forms of nonfiction. Essays should explore issues and ideas with depth and breadth, illuminating a larger cultural context or human struggle. Regardless of topic, we are looking for well-crafted sentences, a clear voice, vivid scenes, dramatic arc, reflection, thematic build, and attention to the musicality of prose.” No fee.
Under the Sun Summer Writing Contest: Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: July 31
“Beginning July 1, accepting submissions of works of creative nonfiction, through Submittable only, for Summer Writing Contest, 5,000 word limit. First prize $500 and publication in our 2022 issue. All submissions will be considered for publication. The contest winner will be announced September 1, 2021. Final judge will be Theo Pauline Nestor, winner of our 2020 Summer Writing Contest. Please consult our journal for a sampling of types of creative nonfiction we publish. Please submit all work without identifying information.” Submission fee $15.
Longridge Review: Anne C. Barnhill Prize for Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: July 31
“The Barnhill Prize honors Anne’s generous spirit of support for all who love to read and write; her lifelong empathy with those who mine their childhood experience to understand themselves now; the natural vulnerability in her compelling prose and poetry; and her boundless generosity in sharing her writing passions with the world. The author of the winning essay receives a cash award of $250.” Limit: 3,500 words. Fee: $10.
Taproot Magazine: Issue 48: Nest
Deadline: August 1
“This is a magazine of food, farm, family and craft. Articles are 800-4,000 words. The magazine is divided into three sections: Head – essays about living a more connected life; Hands – recipes, crafts and projects to make yourself; and Heart – the personal experience of more connected living.” The deadline for their next theme of “Nest” is August 1 (publishing December). Payment varies.
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(mac)ro(mic)
No deadline.
“We want your heart, your soul, the pieces that are a part of you. We want stories that are worlds in words, pieces that tell a (mac)ro story in a (mic)ro word count. We want works that focus on expressing, not impressing. Above all else, we want stories that connect. Our only restrictions? It has to be either flash fiction or creative nonfiction, 1,000 words or less. Other than that, surprise us. We pay $15 per accepted piece.” No fee.
Black Lawrence Press: Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels – Myths, Legends, and Other Lies You’ve Been Told about Black Women
Deadline: June 30
This is an essay anthology that “revisits notions of Black womanhood to include the ways in which Black women’s perceived strength can function as a dangerous denial of Black women’s humanity. This collection addresses the stigma of this extraordinary endurance in professional and personal spaces, the Black church, in interpersonal partnerships, and within the justice arena, while also giving voice and value to Black women’s experiences as the backbone of the Black family and community.” Essays can be on a few broad themes, including Black Women and Justice, and Black Women at Work and at Home. They will accept both creative and academic essays. Writers will be paid a contributor copy. Length: 700-5,000 words; pay: Contributor copy
No fee.
Los Angeles Review Awards
Deadline: June 30
Poetry: “The Los Angeles Review Poetry Award is a prize of $1,000 and publication in LAR given annually for an exceptional work of poetry. This season's judge is Francesca Bell. Please submit poems of no more than 50 lines each (not including line spaces or numbering). Authors may submit up to three poems with each entry.” Fiction: “The Los Angeles Review Short Fiction Award is a prize of $1,000 and publication in LAR given annually for an exceptional work of fiction. This season's judge is Reema Rajbanshi. Please submit a story no longer than 2,500 words.” Flash Fiction: “The Los Angeles Review Flash Fiction Award is a prize of $1,000 and publication in LAR given annually for an exceptional work of fiction. This season's judge is Lara Ehrlich. Please submit a piece of 1,000 words or less.” Creative Nonfiction: “The Los Angeles Review Creative Nonfiction Award is a prize of $1,000 and publication in LAR given annually for an exceptional work of nonfiction. This season's judge is Beth Gilstrap. Please submit a piece no longer than 2,500 words.” Fee: $20 per entry in all categories.
Ruminate Magazine: The Waking Flash Prose Prize
Deadline: July 2
“ The Waking is an online literary magazine and part of the Ruminate creative community that houses high-quality literary writing about what it’s like to be human. This art can be beautiful, it can be strange, we just ask that it feels true. Fiction and Nonfiction: Word limit: 1,000 words (per piece) You may send up to two flash pieces in the same genre per entry. You may only upload one document, so please make sure to include both poems in the same document. The $500 cash prize and publication on The Waking will be awarded to the winner of each genre.” Fee: $6.30. https://ruminatemagazine.submittable.com/submit/
Sweet Tree Review
Deadline: July 4
“Sweet Tree Review is now accepting submissions for our Summer 2021 issue. Please do not include your name or identifying information on your submission document or in the title. Submissions that disregard this guideline will be automatically rejected.” Poetry – up to 5 poems, all in one document, no more than 10 pages. Fiction and nonfiction – up to 7,500 words, double-spaced. No fee.
In Parentheses – Summer 2021 -The Color Green
Deadline: July 5
Poetry: IP is looking for interesting, creative, and unique poetry of all forms and styles. Please format all poetry to in a .doc file, single-spaced, in 10pt or 12pt font. There is no limit to the number of poems submitted but please note the following: No documents longer than five (5) pages will be accepted. Fiction: Short Fiction: IP is newly interested in starkly, fancifully, and imaginatively written works of fiction. The word limit is strictly 5,000 words. Creative Prose: IP is looking for pieces that extend the contours of the human imagination Please format these manuscripts into a .doc file, single spaced, in 10pt or 12pt font. The word limit is strictly 1,000 words. No fee. Submissions will close after 80 poems are received and 40 prose submissions are received. https://inparentheses.submittable.com/submit/
Exposition Review – Theme: Alchemy (Flash 405)
Deadline: July 5
Editor’s Note: “Alchemy: part philosophy, part experimentation. Air and Earth fueled by Fire, tempered by Water. What I want to hear from you on the topic of Alchemy: tales, histories, prose, poems, scenes, songs, images, short films, all creative viscera, of turning base metals into gold.” Poetry: One poem, up to 5 lines (including prose poems). Fiction: A complete story, up to 405 words (Get it?). Nonfiction: A complete story, up to 405 words. Stage & Screen: A complete scene, up to 4 pages. Please format according to the standard unpublished playwriting or screenwriting format. Experimental: A complete short form narrative utilizing innovative techniques and/or hybrid forms. Consider the spirit of flash as well as the limits of other categories for length guidelines. Prizes: The winners will all receive publication on the website. Our first and second place winners will also receive a cash prize–but here’s the fun part, there’s no limit to how much you could win. The more entries we receive, the larger the prize! Fee: $5. https://expositionreview.submittable.com/submit/48926/flash-405-submission
Fairy Tale Review: The Lilac Issue—Sleep and Dreams
Deadline: July 6
“The Lilac Issue is themed around sleep and dreams: the forgotten language of fairy tales. For the first time, we will offer a fixed payment of $50 to each contributor upon publication. Contributors also receive two (2) issues of The Lilac Issue. We welcome submissions directly from authors or agents.” For poetry: We are accepting poems written in received forms for The Lilac Issue. Writers may submit no more than 4 pages. For prose: Writers may submit a single piece up to 1,000 words. We welcome short fiction, essays, lyric nonfiction, and scholarship. Scholarship will go through a standard peer review process. Prose submissions should be formatted with standard margins, double-spaced, 12-point serif font, and include page numbers. They are also seeking graphic novels, comics, and drama, as well as original artwork and translations. For the first time, we will offer a fixed payment of $50 to each contributor upon publication. Contributors also receive two (2) issues of The Lilac Issue. We welcome submissions directly from authors or agents. No fee.
Thirty West: Elevator Stories: Level 3: Pride
Deadline: July 11
“Submit one unpublished, original story of fiction, CNF, memoir, or personal essay that is 3,000 words or less and follows the current theme. PDF, Doc, or Docx format only. Basic formatting, 12pt default font. Submission guidelines also request an audio recording of you reading the piece, including your name and the title(s). MP3 or WAV only. Clear voice +ambient sound or silence preferred. Try your best! If you don't submit audio, one of the Elevator Stories editors will narrate it for you. Please make sure we know how to say your name properly.” No fee.
Wild Roof Journal
Deadline: July 12
“Submissions are currently open for our upcoming issues. Send us your best writing (poetry, short fiction, flash fiction, essay), or hybrid forms. Here are our general submission guidelines: 1-6 poems (submit multiple poems in a single file); 1-3 pieces of short fiction (approx. 1,000-3,000 words); flash fiction (under 1,000 words), or 1-3 pieces of creative non-fiction/essay (total length approx. 3,000 words max.).” Fee: $3.50.
Bellevue Literary Magazine – BLR Prizes
Deadline: July 15
First prize is $1,000 in each genre and publication in the Spring 2022 issue of BLR. Honorable mentions will receive $250 and publication. Poetry: We encourage poems that are accessible to a wide audience. Characteristics we look for are vivid writing, strong narrative, and rendering the familiar new. We encourage you to peruse back issues in our archive to get a sense of our ethos. Please submit no more than three poems. Fiction: The BLR seeks character-driven fiction with original voices and strong settings. We do not publish genre fiction (romance, sci-fi, horror). Our word max is 5,000, though most of our published stories tend to be in the range of 2,000-4,000 words. We have only occasionally published flash fiction. Creative Nonfiction: We are looking for essays that reach beyond the standard ‘illness narrative’ to develop a topic in an engaging and original manner. Incorporate anecdotes that feel alive, and dazzle us with thoughtful and creative analysis that allows these anecdotes to serve a larger purpose. Please, no academic discourses or works with footnotes. Maximum 5,000 words. Fee: $20
Mom Egg Review: Theme: “Mother Figures”
Deadline: July 15
“For our 20th annual issue, Mom Egg Review seeks literary work related to mother archetypes; “Mother Figures”—from history, religion, pop culture, TV shows/movies, mythology, fairy tales, ecology (Mother Earth) and real life. This is a theme issue, so for this one we are not looking for regular motherhood stories and poems if they don't connect with the theme. We publish poetry (up to 4 poems, no more than 6 pages), and flash and short fiction, creative prose/nonfiction, and hybrid works (up to ,1000 words) on mothering or motherhood. You need not be a mother to submit.” Fee: $3 - $14.
Plants & Poetry House – Plant People, Anthology of Environmental Artists
Deadline: July 15
“We are thrilled to announce our first anthology that features poets, writers, and artists from around the world. This collection will be published online and in print paperback copies. It will be accompanied by an interactive Plant Diary. This plant diary is a tool you can use to document all your plant babies and their details. Each page provides a space for you to write down the sun and water requirements, and age of the plant. You will also be able to sketch what the plant looks like. Submission Guidelines: Poems and Prose only. Please do not submit more than 5 pieces. Do not submit any works that have been published before. Must be original work.” Fee: $10
storySouth
Deadline: July 16
storySouth accepts unsolicited submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews during two submission periods annually: June 15-July 15 and December 15-January 15. Authors should limit submissions to 3-5 poems, one story, one essay, or one review. There are no word limits on submissions. Long pieces are encouraged. Please make only one submission in a single genre per reading period. Response time is approximately 2-6 months. No fee.
About Place Journal: When We are Lost/How We Are Found
Deadline: July 16
“For this issue of About Place, we seek works that reimagine our relationship to the earth. If the land is our body, how can we (in the face of devastation and exploitation) reconnect? Can we still find ways to restore as well as play? How does story allow us to heal? We invite you to consider self, community, urban spaces, complex microsystems found in nature, history and ancestral/mythic stories, present and ancient spiritual practices, ancient knowledge systems and healing practices – real and imagined. We are looking especially for poetry, artwork, flash fiction (1,000 words or less), and shorter essays with 2 discussion questions about Restoryation. Here is a link about Restoryation: https://artlitlab.org/workshops/restoryation-writing-your-origin-story. Guidelines: Please review About Place Journal’s general guidelines for all genres, and note that any combination of genre pieces must not exceed a total of 5 works. No fee. https://aboutplacejournal.submittable.com/submit/194473/when-we-are-lost-how-we-are-found
Gold Pine Press: 2021 Ricochet Editions Call for Submission
Deadline: July 20
“What are the maximum and minimum forms a memory can take?”– Bhanu Kapil, “Memory: A Partition.” In 2021, Ricochet Editions invites manuscript submissions that interrogate how memories are recorded and how the past is remembered. Which voices are preserved and which are silenced? Send us your texts that merge genres and languages, that draw on found forms, that are collaboratively or collectively authored, that collage, fragment, and blend mediums to expand beyond the limits of the book form. Your manuscript should be between 40 and 200 pages, although we’re open to exceptional work outside these limits. If your manuscript is selected for publication, you will receive $250 and 50 copies of the perfect-bound book with ISBN. Fee: $15 (waived for POC and Indigenous writers, and those facing financial hardship.) https://goldlinepress.submittable.com/submit/195049/2021-ricochet-editions-call-for-submission
The Good Life Review – Issue #5, Autumn 2021
Deadline: July 31
Poetry: We consider original, previously unpublished poems. There is no length limit on individual poems, but please send no more than six poems per submission and no more than 10 pages in total. Fiction and Nonfiction: We consider original, previously unpublished stories and essays up to 5000 words (if it’s a little more, we will keep reading, but the story has to earn it); flash fiction or flash nonfiction up to 1,00 words. We support both Spanish and French translations!
The First Line
Deadline: August 1
Fiction: All stories must be written with the first line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise noted by the editors. The story should be between 300 and 5,000 words (this is more like a guideline and not a hard-and-fast rule; going over or under the word count won't get your story tossed from the slush pile). Note: We are open to all genres. Poetry: We do accept poetry, though rarely. We have no restrictions on form or line count, but all poems must begin with the first line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way. For nonfiction, they want critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work. Fall First Line: “What should we do with the body?” Winter First Line: “Later that evening, they sat alone in their apartment, wondering if they had made the right decision.” Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction; also seeking 500-800 word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work. Pay: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $5-10 for poetry. No fee.
WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Contests - Deadlines: August 31 (Fiction) and July 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 Amy Giuffrida with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Fee: $10 (Flash Fiction) and $12 (Nonfiction).
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July offers many days to celebrate our favorite indulgences—from Strawberry Sundae Day (July 7) to National Lollipop Day (July 20). Satisfy your craving by submitting a poem or creative nonfiction to Sweet: A Literary Confection by July 31. “The editors at Sweet understand that there are good works that get overlooked, and that often our decisions are based not just on quality but also on taste. Sweet seeks only poetry and creative nonfiction and anything in between. Sorry, fiction writers! Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work has been taken by another literary journal (we'd like to be the first to congratulate you). Poetry: Our preferred submission size is 3-5 poems. Creative nonfiction: We prefer 2-3 short-short creative nonfiction pieces or one longer one. Essays should not exceed 1,500 words total. No fee.
Did you know that the third Saturday in July (July 17 in 2021) is “Toss Away the ‘Could Haves’ and ‘Should Haves’ Day”? This occasion presents the perfect opportunity to go wild with your writing. Have you had an inspiration for a genre-bending piece that doesn’t seem to fit neatly into any one category? If so, don’t miss the opportunity to enter Arts & Letters’ Unclassifiables Contest by July 31. "This contest is for unclassifiable works: works that blur, bend, blend, erase, or obliterate genre and other labels. Works of up to 5,000 words considered. It will be judged by Michael Martone." Fee: $10.
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Success Stories from the WOW Community
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It’s summer for a lot of us WOW! writers, and we know that comes with a lot of busy schedules—and this summer, it also comes with more of a desire to “get back to normal.” Does that mean with our writing life, too? Only you know that yourself, but I know for me, I’m still trying to get up every day and work at least a few minutes on my current work-in-progress. It’s the only way to eventually have a finished manuscript, for sure.
On social media, we recently asked both what your success stories are for June. See below for inspiration from your fellow WOW! writers, and take time to find the post online and wish everyone congratulations.
Remember, you can always send your success stories to Margo at [email protected] (try [email protected] if you don’t get a response back). Make sure to put SUCCESS STORY in the subject line. Now here we go…
From Instagram:
@sampoetmfa writes, “My chapbook Birth of a Daughter (Kelsay Books, 2020) just won the Gold Award in Realistic Poetry from the Human Relations Indie Book Awards! Thanks for your support! Lovely to see all the women writers’ success stories.”
@lc_ahl writes, “Yes!! The Purple Lily, a psychological crime thriller featuring strong, diverse women, will be released on July 22,2021! Can preorder now on Amazon!”
@mlynne_author writes, “I'm a finalist in the WV Fiction Competition sponsored by Shepherd University!”
From Facebook:
Roberta Codemo writes, “I recently took a children's picture book writing class through Writer's Digest magazine. Attendees were invited to submit their manuscript to an agent for critique. I received my critique back tonight, and the agent loved my query letter and only had nine comments on my manuscript, all of them positive. She loved my ending and commented, ‘Such a cute ending.’ I'm over the moon.”
Patricia White Gable writes, “I'm working with Margo to write my first novel. I have learned a lot. Also, one of my stories was accepted to a children's magazine. (Primary Treasure and Guideposts--All Creatures).”
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By Sue Bradford Edwards
About two weeks ago, I got two rejections in a single day. One was from a dream agent and it was a FORM rejection. But I was simply too busy to let it bother me. Whatever. Deadline dead ahead.
Then a friend spoke about a similar pair of rejection that really shook her. She’s an amazing CNF writer and has had work in places I would never dream of approaching. But the rejections flattened her.
Both of our responses made me wonder. Why do writers react to rejection the way we do? I turned to psychology for answers about how we react and what can be done about it.
Why It Hurts
For answers as to why rejection hurts, we need to look to the past. Early humans, without ferocious teeth or claws or the ability to run really fast, survived because they were part of a group of other humans. Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb explains that rejection was BAD and humans developed a response, for their own good, that made them want to avoid it.
We are hardwired to react and to hate the way it feels. What about the variety of responses?
How we as individuals react is rooted in infancy and the attachments we formed. Psychologist Leslie Becker-Phelps explained that people who had secure attachment styles grow up seeing ourselves as worthy. Those with an insecure attachment style are more . . . insecure.
Not that this means you will never be impacted or that you will always be impacted. Because there are things you can do to help you deal with rejection.
When Rejection Happens
First things first, acknowledge what you are feeling. Go ahead and be angry, sad, bewildered, or shocked. Feel, observe and identify your feelings. This may take a day or two but that’s okay.
Once you’ve identified your feelings, move into self-care. Psychologists warned that this doesn’t mean self-medicating with alcohol, chocolate, or other sweets. Empty calories are never a good long-term plan.
Instead, do something that centers you. For some people this might involve running or meditation. Do things that make you feel calm and serene. I walk, do yoga, and knit.
Moving Forward
Once you’ve had time to process the feelings and are in a better space, take another look at your query, pitch or manuscript. Is it the best it could possibly be? Don’t just come back with “of course it is!” There’s bound to be one section that is especially strong. Now find the weakest section. What can you do to make it as good as your best section?
Perhaps the work really is as strong as it can be. If so, make sure that the agents or publishers you targeted were the best possible fit. Look at other markets and see if you can find one that is similar but even better for your work.
The Big Picture
As you prepare yourself for the next round of submissions, consider why you are pursuing publication. What does it mean to you? Look at the amount of effort you’ve already put into it. Writing, rewriting, and completing a manuscript is a big deal. Not everyone can pull it off. But you’ve done it.
In part, how we respond to rejection is hardwired. But we can work through it when it happens. And we can make sure our work is top notch and our markets are the best possible fit. Have your self-care routines in place and then hit send.
Acceptance or rejection, your fellow WOW writers will be gathered round when the responses come. And a caring community? A highly recommended way to stay centered.
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Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 27 books for young readers. To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.
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Pitching, Querying, and Submitting Your Work
4 weeks: July 5 - Aug 2
Whether you write essays, short stories or novels, sending your work to an agent, editor or publisher is a daunting task. This course will teach you to assemble submission basics including a pitch and a query letter. We will also discuss how to find markets and how to manage rejection. Led by author Sue Bradford Edwards.
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Imagery Power: Photography for Writers
4 weeks: July 16 - Aug 13
“Fiction, like dreams, exists in images... Fiction must exist in images, not abstractions,” wrote John Dufresne. Indeed, the ability to develop imagery is important in all forms of writing, from poetry to essays and all sorts of descriptive writing. The art of photography, an evocative visual art, frequently helps authors hone our image-seeking and development skills. Led by Melanie Faith!
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Chicken Soup Essays: Write and Receive Personal Feedback
3 weeks: Aug 2 - Aug 22
Have you ever wanted to see your essay in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book? (Who hasn’t!) It might be their book on dogs, angels, grandmas, kids or cats... Chicken Soup for the Soul always has a rotating list of themes for their next book – and your essay could be included! Work on an essay with editor Kandace Chapple for their upcoming themes!
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Writing with Transitions: How to Keep Readers Close While Moving Them Through Time and Space
4 weeks: Aug 2 - Sept 13
Writers often have trouble leading readers from scene to scene smoothly when it requires a change in time or space, large and small. This class will concentrate on learning how to make those transitions in ways that do not jar readers but keep them engaged and well-grounded in essays, poems or stories. Led by Sheila Bender!
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Curiosity and Creative Nonfiction
4 weeks: Aug 16 - Sept 12
This class will look at the different ways in which being curious about an experience, an event, an object, an anything that catches your attention can fuel your writing and bring a deeper level of meaning to what you write. By combining (fun!) research and personal experience, your writing can take on new meanings. Led by Chelsey Clammer!
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Lyric Essay and Prose Poetry
6 weeks: Aug 30 - Oct 10
Lyric essays and prose poems are sister forms, and they are all about the art of the small. Their language creates iridescence on the page, focusing on the senses, imagery, and the rhythm and feel of the words, discovering meaning through revelation and leaving the reader breathless, awestruck, and gobsmacked. Learn this tiny form with peer workshopping and Naomi Anna Kimbell.
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Wishing you a productive month!
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We at WOW hope you power through your own obstacles and make your writing dreams come true. In the meantime, we wish you a productive month of inspiration and writing!
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