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

Can't view the entire email? Check it out online: https://conta.cc/3a9jxf5

Way back when I started writing in 1990, I planned to create the kinds of nonfiction books my nieces wanted to read but couldn’t find. Then I took a writing class with author Pat McKissack. I found myself drawn into writing picture books like the clever, colorful books written by Pat. I completely forgot about children’s nonfiction.

It wasn’t until a member of my critique group announced that she had purchased an equestrian magazine for children that I contemplated nonfiction. She needed writers and wondered if any of us were interested. That was the beginning of my nonfiction journey which led me to 600+ credits and more than 30 school/library books for young readers. But it was a niche I never would have made my own if I hadn’t done three things:

1. Say yes to unplanned possibilities. It would have been easy to stay on my picture book journey. Instead, I said yes to writing for horse crazy tweens. I wrote about Marguerite Henry and her horse books. I wrote breed profiles. I wrote about training, equestrian health, and even about manure. While I wrote I learned how to hook a reader, gather quotes, and find photos. When the magazine folded, a friend told me her editor was looking for people to write about writing. Would I be interested? Yet again, I said yes. It’s been something I’ve done time and time again, and that means . . .

This month we’re delighted to interview my friend and editor Elinor Hills at Healthline Media, the #1 health information property in the U.S. (according to Comscore U.S. Media Metrix/Multi-platform, Key Measures 2020). Elinor works on the Bezzy Brand, Healthline’s new multimedia site dedicated to people living with a chronic condition. Not only is this new site a wonderful way to build your platform and meet terrific editors like Elinor, it’s a paying market!

Elinor grew up in Brooklyn, NY and now lives just over the bridge in Tribeca. In college, she studied art and anthropology and then went on to do a Master of Science in medical anthropology. Her research focused on the intersection of emotional well-being and physical health and she feels so lucky to be able to apply that research every day at work. Outside of work, she enjoys running, checking out new restaurants in the city, and playing guitar. One fun fact about Elinor is that when she was in 5th grade, she memorized over 500 digits of pi for a contest at school. And she even won a pie!

WOW: Elinor, thank you so much for taking the time to be with us today. I’m curious about something. When did you first know that you wanted to make a career in the wonderful world of words? Many editors start out as writers. Was this the case for you?

Elinor: Not exactly! My background is more in the health research side, so my path to this role was a bit different. I was drawn to Healthline, and particularly to working on Bezzy, because I am passionate about the social and emotional impacts of living with a chronic health condition. My research in graduate school focused on how individuals living with chronic conditions turn to social media platforms as a place to share their stories.

That being said, I did grow up surrounded by books and storytelling. My mom is a children’s book publisher, and my dad writes and illustrates children’s books. I had an appreciation for writing and storytelling from a young age. I think that personal stories have such an essential role in conversations about health, well-being, and medicine.

WOW: Right on. As someone who’s lived with multiple sclerosis for more than twenty years now, I love the dynamic new space on Healthline’s Bezzy MS for people who share my disease. I’ve not only found a new community, I’ve learned valuable information that’s helped me. Tell us a little bit about the history of Bezzy and your audience(s).

Elinor: I am so glad to hear you have found value in Bezzy MS!

For those who don’t know, Bezzy is a new chronic condition brand focused on cultivating safe and supportive communities for people navigating chronic health conditions.

Bezzy started as a set of apps to help people navigate living with chronic health conditions. The first community we launched was actually “MS Buddy” which provided 1:1 messaging for people living with multiple sclerosis.

MS Buddy expanded to include discussion groups and a feed of helpful articles. Soon, we launched several other Healthline communities.

As we listened to our members’ needs, we realized we had the opportunity to do so much more. We decided to create a new, multiplatform experience that would better serve the needs of our users. We launched Bezzy in January 2022 and now we have 9 Bezzy communities: Bezzy MS, Bezzy Migraine, Bezzy PsA, Bezzy RA, Bezzy IBD, Bezzy T2D, Bezzy Breast Cancer, Bezzy Psoriasis, and Bezzy Depression.

WOW: That’s incredible. Bezzy is exploding! Who is the ideal writer for Heathline and Bezzy?

Elinor: One great thing about Bezzy is we get to work with a whole new population of writers! Healthline generally works with people who have experience in health and medical writing. At Bezzy, we mostly work with people who are living with chronic health conditions. Currently, we look for writers who have experience with one of the 8 conditions we have communities for: multiple sclerosis, migraine, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, psoriasis, and depression.

While many of our writers have professional writing experience, one thing I love about Bezzy is that we also work with people who don’t have any writing experience at all. We aim to highlight a wide range of personal stories and sometimes this means I get to work closely helping guide new writers to publish their first articles.

WOW: That is so exciting! I know you must get hundreds of pitches each week. Can you tell us the difference between a good pitch and one that you would pass on?

Elinor: This is a great question. For Bezzy, most of our articles are written by and for people living with the chronic conditions. We highlight personal narratives and firsthand advice. One thing I look for in pitches is specificity. Sometimes I get pitches from writers who are clearly so versatile and could write about any health topic. While this is awesome, I am always excited to receive a pitch that truly highlights the writer’s unique perspective and is a story only they could tell. The first article you pitched to me was a great example of this. Your story was about how moving to the country and growing your own food has impacted your experience living with MS. Right away, your pitch caught my attention and I wanted to read more!

WOW: And I am so grateful that you picked out from my query from the bunch. Each piece that I wrote for you has been substantially improved through your wise and thoughtful editing.

Elinor: Yes! I love when writers pitch a headline for their piece. Titles are HARD and it can be so helpful to get a writer’s insight.

WOW: Many of the writers in the WOW community enjoy writing personal essays. It’s terrific that this style of writing has a home on Bezzy. What else do you publish on Healthline, and are writers’ guidelines available? 

Elinor: Healthline features a wide range of other types of writing including health news, tip-based listicles, medication overviews, and so much more. Healthline’s editorial guidelines can be found here. Internally, we also have a comprehensive style guide that we sometimes share with writers depending on their assignment.

WOW: Can you give us a few examples of favorite pieces that you’ve edited?

Elinor: It is so hard to pick. I’m lucky to work on so many pieces I genuinely love. Here are a couple that I’ve worked on recently that come to mind. This piece, about gluten and psoriasis is written by Laura Krebs-Holm, a dietitian who lives with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. She has written quite a few pieces in the past that really resonated with our readers, so we decided to launch an ongoing column where she can answer our community members’ questions. I also loved working on this piece about seven things writer, Amy Mowbry, wishes other people would stop saying about migraine. Not only does this piece break down common misconceptions about migraine it also offers suggestions for what people can say instead if they have questions about migraine.

WOW: Both of these sound wonderful. I will definitely check them out. Now let’s turn to something else that I always like to know. Is there a better time of day to pitch you? And are weekends typically a no-no?

Elinor: I’m generally agnostic about the time of day and am not opposed to pitches on weekends – I likely won’t respond until Monday though! We generally plan our content on a month-to-month basis. Because of that, I’m often actively seeking out pitches in the last week or so each month. I do make sure to look at each and every pitch, regardless of when it comes in.

WOW: I’m fascinated by the creative ways that editors and writers start their day—whether through meditation or lots of coffee! For me, it’s cranberry-pomegranate juice. What gets you going in the morning?

Elinor: I’m very much not a morning person so I am probably not the one to give advice here, unfortunately! Coffee is a must-have though. I’m trying to get better at drinking a big glass of water first thing in the morning too.

WOW: You’re so right. I need to drink more water too! What’s new for Healthline Media? Are there changes coming up in the future that we should look for?

Elinor: There are always so many exciting projects in the works for both Healthline and Bezzy. The best way to stay up-to-date is following us on social @healthline and @bezzycommunity. On the Bezzy side we also just launched two new communities, Bezzy Psoriasis and Bezzy Depression.

WOW: And what’s new for you? Are you working on any interesting personal projects you can tell us about?

Elinor: Not exactly a “project,” but I’m just about to kick off training for the NYC Marathon in November! Other than that, I am always working on photography projects, you can check out my work at www.elinorhills.com.

WOW: Elinor, again, thank you so much for being with us today. We at WOW are so appreciative and we wish you all the best in training for the marathon and your photography as well.

HOW TO PITCH HEALTHLINE: Interested in writing for Healthline or Bezzy? First and foremost, be sure to check out any of the essays and articles mentioned in this interview to get a sense of the style Elinor is seeking. When you’re ready, you can pitch her directly through email at [email protected].

The Dan Veach Prize for Younger Poets solicits poems from college-age students, aged 18-23, on any subject or style. Poems with an international focus are especially welcome, but all poems must be written in English. The winning poet will be published in the Fall/Winter issue of Atlanta Review and will receive a $100 prize. No fee.

The Heron's Nest is seeking haikus for its upcoming contest. Submit up to five (5) haiku in English. First place will receive $150, a copy of To Hear the Rain, and a miniature crystal turtle. Second place receives $75 and a copy of To Hear the Rain, Third place receives $50 and a copy of To Hear the Rain. Honorable Mention (up to five recipients) will receive award certificates and recognition on their "Awards" page and in their annual print edition. No fee.

The 2022 Lorca Latinx Poetry Prize for an emerging poet welcomes submissions from all adult Latinx writers who have no more than one full-length collection of poetry in print. All unpublished, original collections of your poems written primarily in English are eligible (no translations unless your own). Manuscript must be pa total 10-15 pages in length, inclusive of the title page and table of contents. Each poem should start on a new page. The Winner of the Lorca Latinx Poetry Prize for an emerging poet will receive Spanish translation and bilingual publication of their manuscript, a cash prize of $500 from Letras Latinas, and 10 copies of the chapbook. Unpublished individual poems from the winning manuscript may also be offered standard publication in EcoTheo Review. No fee.

Gyroscope Press is geared toward publishing woman-identifying poets over the age of 50. Both emerging and established poets are welcome, although poets without a book or chapbook may be given preference. Submissions are extremely limited to give each chapbook the attention it deserves. Chapbook length: 25 - 40 poems. Some work may be previously published, but the bulk of the work (1/2) should be unpublished. If chosen for publication they offer a perfect-bound paperback with a matte or glossy cover, 15 author copies, the ability to buy more copies at half price, and a percentage of royalties as well as a page on their website. The opportunity will close after 20 submissions are received. No fee.

The annual Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry awards $2,000 plus publication for a full-length poetry collection. The Prize is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad. Manuscripts may include poems that have appeared in journals, magazines, or chapbooks. Poems that have previously appeared in full-length, single-author collections, are not eligible. Acknowledgments pages and author names may be included. Entries must be at least 48 pages in length. Fee: $28.

Swan Scythe Press announces the submission requirements for its 2022 Chapbook Contest. Any poet writing in English is eligible to submit. The contest winner will receive 25 copies of her/his book, a prize of $200, and the opportunity to buy copies of their book at 50% of retail price. Submit up to 20 to 32 pages of poems. Fee: $18.

Each year, the University of Akron Press offers the Akron Poetry Prize, a competition open to all poets writing in English. The winning poet receives $1,500 and publication of his, her, or their book as part of the Akron Series in Poetry. The final selection will be made by a nationally prominent poet. Other manuscripts may also be considered for publication in the series. Manuscripts must be a total length of at least 48 pages and no longer than 90 pages. Fee: $25.

This contest only accepts submissions from women poets. ALL women are welcome to submit (cis and trans). The winning poet will be awarded $3,000 and publication in Palette Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top ten finalists will be selected by the editors, and guest judge Jos Charles will then select the winner and two runners-up. Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English. There is no page requirement, but submission must be no more than 3 poems. Fee: $20.

Guest Judge: Kim Chinquee. Stories under 1,000 words. The winning writer will be awarded $3,000 and publication in The Masters Review. Second and third place will be awarded $300 and $200, respectively, as well as publication in The Masters Review. Fee: $20.

Open to completed full-length novels suitable for children/young adults aged somewhere between 7 and 18 years. A minimum of 30,000 words and a maximum of 80,000 words. The main prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance (subject to contract). A panel of judges will select the overall winner, who will also receive an offer of representation from a top literary agent, Louise Lamont from LBA Books. Their bonus prize will be awarded to an author hand-picked by our Publisher and Chairman of the judging panel, Barry Cunningham. The prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £7,500 advance (subject to contract) and representation by Louise Lamont from LBA Books. Fee is £20 – however, if you are in financial hardship, please email [email protected] by midday (UK time) on Tuesday 31st May to request a reduced fee of £15. You do not need to provide proof or justification when requesting the reduced fee.

Offered annually to an author of children’s or young adult fiction for a novel-in-progress. The award was developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber and assist a writer at a crucial moment in their career to complete their novel. The author of the winning manuscript, selected blindly by judges unaware of nominees’ names, will receive an award of $5,000. No fee.

Submit your short stories to Salamander Magazine's new literary contest. All entries will be considered for publication. Each story must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages in 12 point font. Multiple entries are acceptable, provided that a separate reading fee is included with each entry. First prize receives $1,000 and publication. Second prize receives $500 and publication. Fee: $15.

Announcing the eighth annual short fiction writing contest “Inventing Beautiful Futures.” The winner will receive $1000 for first prize. Second prize is $500 and third is $300. Write a story that uses technology to transform something harmful into something beneficial or even beautiful. From crisis through chaos to social good. Let the reader see this future world through your eyes. Submissions must be the original work of the submitter, 1500-3000 words, in English. No fee.

This is an annual national short fiction contest that features a first place $2,500 cash award and invitation to an awards dinner; a second place cash prize of $750; and a third place cash prize of $500. The winner stories will be published in the Fall print issue of Philadelphia Stories. Submit previously unpublished works of fiction up to 8,000 words. Only authors currently residing in the United States are eligible. Fee: $15.

Submit your very best fictional short story in 2,000 words or less. Any theme, subject, or genre is fair game, as long as it falls under 2,000 words. Grand prize: $1,000 and publication in The Writer magazine. Second-place winner will receive $500 and publication on the website; third-place winner will receive $250 and publication on website as well. Fee: $25

"We are seeking stories for an anthology to be titled The Librarian which will collect stories about one Librarian's adventures roving through the multiverse. To be published in the winter of 2022 by the Air and Nothingness Press." Use the theme and character description of "The Librarian" to write your story. All stories should have a positive ending. This is to be an anthology of hope and knowledge. All stories are requested to be between 1000 and 3500 words in length. The pay is 8 cents per word. Anthology authors will receive one print copy of the anthology, plus wholesale pricing for additional print copies (40% off the retail price). No fee.

All entries must be related to this year’s theme of Speculation. The winning author will receive $1,000 and have their work published in Boston Review’s special literary issue Speculation (February 2023). Some finalists and semi-finalists will also be published in the issue or online. Stories must not exceed 5,000 words and must be unpublished. Fee: $20.

Gasher is currently accepting submissions for nonfiction chapbooks. Hybrid and collaborative works are acceptable. Manuscripts must be a minimum of 30 pages of prose and must not exceed 60 pages of prose (15,000 words) [this count excludes acknowledgments, notes, etc.]. Sections of the manuscript may be published, but as a whole, should remain unpublished. (Self-publishing counts as publication.) Please include an acknowledgments page indicating the published essays. Include a front cover with a brief summary of the project (250 words or less). The chapbook prize includes 10 free copies and $100 prize. Fee: $12.

Room‘s contests are open to women (transgender and cisgender), trans men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people. Each entry must be original, unpublished, not submitted or accepted elsewhere for publication or previously to Room, and not entered simultaneously in any other contest. One submission is one piece of creative non-fiction (memoir, travel writing, nonfiction humour, essay, literary journalism, personal journalism, biography, profile, etc.) of up to 3,500 words. First Prize: $1000 + possibility of publication in Room. Second: $250 + possibility of publication in Room. Honorable Mention: $100 + publication on Room‘s website. 2022 Judge: Luna Ferguson. Fee: $35 CAD - $55 CAD, depending on your location, to submit your initial entry. All initial entries include a one-year subscription to Room.

One prize winner will receive $2,000 CAD for their best essay. Entries must be original and unpublished with a maximum of 6,000 words. You will receive a one-year subscription to The Fiddlehead with your first entry. The winning entry will be published in 293 of The Fiddlehead and on our website. There is a publication payment in addition to the contest prize. The current publication payment rate is $60/page. Fee: $35 CAD.

One first place winner receives $1,000 and publication in Hunger Mountain Issue #27, and one runner-up receives publication in Hunger Mountain Issue #27. Please enter one original, unpublished piece of creative nonfiction, no more than 8,000 words. Submissions should be anonymous. Your name or any other information that would allow someone to identify you (email address etc.) should not appear anywhere on the manuscript. Manuscripts should be submitted double spaced and in 12 point type. This year’s judge is Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Editor, Sue William Silverman. Fee: $20.

For a special expanded anniversary edition of I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse, Creative Nonfiction/In Fact Books is seeking essays by and about nurses. "We’re looking especially for pandemic-era stories, which examine the complex and essential role nurses of all kinds have played in providing care and guidance for patients and families, as well as the ways in which the pandemic has affected both individuals and the healthcare system. We are looking for writers who can write dramatically and vividly about their work." Essays can be from 1,000 to 4,000 words but should be written in a narrative form, with scenes, description, vivid characters and a distinctive voice. This is a paying market. All submissions will be considered for the book and might also be considered for other CNF projects. No fee.

Narratively is accepting entries for their debut Spring Memoir Prize. "We’re on the hunt for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view." Entries will be judged on a rolling basis in four rounds: the first three by experienced Narratively readers and staff, and the final by guest judges: Ashley C. Ford, New York Times–bestselling memoirist of Somebody’s Daughter; Nicole Rocklin, Oscar-winning film and TV producer behind the movie Spotlight; and Glynn Washington, host, creator, and executive producer of the podcast/radio show Snap Judgment. Grand Prize: $3,000; 2 Finalists: $1,000. Word count: 2,000 - 7,000. Fee: $20.

"We tell our stories. Well, most of them. We often keep the stories of our abortions tucked in a little box. One in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime but very few tell their story. The imposed stigma makes it challenging to tell our stories.Speaking our truth can be powerful. We are running a special nonfiction issue focusing on first-person essays about abortion. We talk about our experiences, in our own voices, with all the complexity in our lives." No fee.

"We're looking for entries that are aimed at an adult audience and would be suitable for print in a magazine or anthology. (Think about the type of essay you would find in a Chicken Soup for the Soul collection.)" Personal essay of 1,000 words (or less) about a funny family story written in first person point of view. 1st place: $650; 2nd place: $350; 3rd - 5th place = $100. Fee: $19.

"Split Lip Magazine is turning TEN! Ten is a BIG deal, and we want to celebrate in all sorts of TINY ways! We are publishing a special anniversary issue of mini fiction, memoir, and poetry! Isn’t mini cute???" Poetry: No more than 20 lines, 10-15 words MAX per line on any subject. Memoir/Creative Nonfiction: 275 words or less on any subject. Fiction: 275 words or less on any subject. Pay is $75 per piece! No fee.

Minola Review accepts poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction submissions from all those who identify as women and non-binary writers. They are seeking fiction (micro under 1000 words, and short fiction up to 5,000 words), creative nonfiction (up to 5,000 words), poetry (up to four poems), and reviews (200-500 words). For their June issue, pay is $175 per published story or CNF; poetry and reviews pay $50. For their September issue, pay is $75 for fiction and nonfiction; $25 for poetry; $20 for reviews. No fee.

Enter Midway Journal’s -1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest for a chance to win the $500 grand prize. Submit up to 2 poems per entry, up to 40 words per poem. No more than one poem per page. For nonfiction and fiction, 1 piece per entry, up to 1,000 words per piece. All submissions will be considered for publication. First prize receives $500 and publication; second prize receives $250 and publication; third prize receives $50 and publication. Fee: $10.

Send up to five poems, or one prose piece, or three flash pieces per submission. Fiction, nonfiction, translations, and poetry will be considered for print and online publication. $200 honorarium per prose piece, and $40 per poem. Fiction and nonfiction word limit is 10,000 words. Submit up to 5 poems. Fee: $3.

Submit flash fiction and flash nonfiction of no more than 300 to 500 words 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. 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. Fee: $3.

"We welcome all authors and their words with one caveat in mind — if you can sum up your female character in one line (or worse yet: one word), our publication is probably not for you. For our quarterly publications, we are looking for pieces 2000 words or less. There is no minimum word count." Submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Pay is $15 per published piece. Fee: $4.

"Tender is the night, tender is the flesh, tender is … well, ubiquitous. But what does it really mean to be tender or show tenderness? Is it the appearance of a new bruise or maybe not that obvious? How and when are we tender or, at least, supposed to be? Where do you feel tenderness? Is it an act, an emotion, a concept or all the above? How does it shape societies, families, our sense of self, and the world around us? Would our lives be any better if we all just showed a little more tenderness?" Seeking creative nonfiction (up to 3,000 words - pitch first), scholarly research articles (up to 7,500 words), poetry (up to 100 lines), and artwork. Pay is AUD50 for contributors to the print magazine. No fee.

They accept the following genres for unpublished unsolicited submissions: poetry up to 3 poems (maximum 7 pages); and fiction and creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words) OR 3 pieces of flash fiction (1000 words per piece). If your submission is accepted for publication in the journal, you will receive two free copies of Issue 29. Fee: $2.

Sequestrum publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual arts on a rolling basis. Their current theme for poetry and fiction is: Sci-Fi. "Genres such as science fiction regularly offer complex, literary-quality writing. And that’s where we come in. In short, we want your most ambitious sci-fi writing in its most imaginative form." Fiction should not exceed 12,000 words. Poetry should be no more than 35 lines. Submit a maximum of 4 poems per submission. Fee; $6.35.

Channel is an Ireland-based literary magazine born out of the climate crisis, publishing poetry and prose with an environmentalist perspective. They are seeking essays (up to 6,000 words), short stories (up to 6,000 words), poetry (up to 4 poems), and artwork. They publish work that engages with the natural world. "We have a particular interest in work which encourages reflection on human interaction with plant and animal life, landscape and the self. Each issue includes a mix of poetry and fiction, alongside a selection of essays which may include creative non-fiction, criticism, and the occasional review of new creative work or of community-based environmental projects." Pay is €50 per poem and €50 per page of prose up to a total maximum fee of €150. No fee.

Submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and flash fiction or nonfiction. Poetry: Length and format are open. Poems should be single-spaced and all in one document. Begin each poem on a new page, and clearly indicate when a poem extends beyond one page. For fiction and nonfiction, submit one piece between 1000 and 5000 words, single-spaced throughout. Prose submissions can be works of fiction or nonfiction. Flash: Submit one piece of up to 1000 words, single-spaced throughout. No fee for poetry and flash; $5 for prose.

"We accept unsolicited submissions for publication in our digital magazine from Canadian writers in the following categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature (up to and including YA)." Fiction, children, YA, and nonfiction submissions are to be a maximum of 3500 words. Pay is $50 CAD/per page to a maximum of $150 CAD. No fee.

"We are interested in writing that pushes into, dares to reveal, its own truth, that takes emotional risks, that gets to the heart of the matter. Poetry submissions may include lyric, narrative, experimental, prose poems--we're open to all variations of the poetic voice. Fiction submissions may include short stories, flash fiction, or novel excerpts if the excerpt can stand alone. We're open to a wide range of nonfiction, with the exception of academic articles, or that which would be considered more traditionally journalistic. Personal essay, memoir, lyric, literary journalism, or some blurring in between, are all acceptable." Submit 3 to 5 poems no more than 10 pages total. Fiction and nonfiction should be no longer than 3,000 words. No fee.

Using the online submission system, submit up to three poems of no more than 50 lines each, a short story or essay of up to 2,500 words, or a piece of flash fiction of up to 1,000 words. Prizes include a $1000 honorarium and publication via LAR Online and in the best-of annual print edition of the Los Angeles Review. Fee: $20.

Exceptionally international in scope, the prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. The winners of each category will receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication and will be published in Wasafiri’s print magazine. Shortlisted writers will have their work published on Wasafiri’s website. No entry may exceed 3,000 words. A single poetry entry can include up to three poems, which together total no more than 3,000 words. Fee: £10.00.

Mud Season Review accepts submissions of fiction (up to 6,000 words), nonfiction, and poetry. “We seek deeply human work that will teach us something about life, but also about the craft of writing or visual art, and work that is original in its approach and that in some way moves us.” Pay is $50. They have both no fee and paid categories.

Rigel is the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Sunspot Lit is looking for the single short story, novel, novella, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that outshines all the rest. Rigel offers $250 plus publication to the winner, and offers publication to select finalists. No restrictions on theme or category. The length for prose is restricted to a maximum of 5,000 words for short stories, or ten pages for poetry and graphic novels. Fee: $6.

Deadlines: May 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 Sharon Pelletier with DG&B. Fee: $10 (Flash Fiction) and $12 (Nonfiction).

June 1st is Go Barefoot Day, so kick off your sandals and run wild in the grass or beach sand. After you’ve done that, and you’ve begun rinsing off your toes, consider writing about things outside the margins. Retreat West is hosting their flash fiction contest under the theme of margins with cash prizes for the top three winners. Fee is £8. Submit by June 25.

By Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

Listicles are not only great staples for seasoned freelancers, but are also a good way for new writers to break into print. I have been writing these bite-sized, easily digestible articles for years. Listicles used to be called refrigerator articles, because folks would cut these informational short pieces out of the newspaper and hang them on the fridge for easy reference. Also called list articles or round-ups, these can be written on just about any theme: humor, fun facts, pop culture, or “how-to” service pieces. Listicles have two main parts: an introduction and the list. A closing paragraph is optional, usually depending on the publication.

Look through your Facebook feed or the covers of magazines at the grocery store for examples of published listicles. Here are three I saw today: Shape magazine: “16 Foods for Peak Energy,” Yoga magazine: “13 Ways to Break Out of a Rut,” and In Style magazine: “Four Rules for Matching Prints.”

Once you start looking, you will see them everywhere! Want to try your hand at writing a listicle? It’s so easy! Just follow the steps outlined below.

Start by brainstorming ideas and themes. The best articles are about something you’ve experienced, or a subject you are interested in. Have you figured out fun ways to get your kids to eat their veggies? Or do you have the lowdown on the best hiking trails for families in your locality? Grab a notebook, pick a theme, and see if you can scribble down five to ten ideas that could become bullet points for a list. Don’t worry if you don’t have many items; you can add more by doing what writers do best—research! For example, while writing an article titled, “Save Money and the Environment by Using Green Homemade Cleaners,” I was able to easily write down several green cleaning methods that I use in my own home. But because I don’t have either granite or tile in my house, I read up on environmentally-friendly cleaning tricks for those to add to my list.

Once you have your theme and several bullet points, start writing your article.

Your intro should explain to readers what your listicle is about and why this information will be useful. In other words, why should they read this list?

Here’s the intro to one of my most popular articles, “8 Truly Useful Gifts for New Parents.”

Next, each item should have a bullet point that states the item or idea in bold, followed by a comment, short explanation, or even hyperlink to a product if applicable. Feel free to add humor or personal anecdotes for flavor.

Here’s the first item in the article mentioned above:

Handheld Vacuum Cleaner: A vacuum that charges and is cordless is even better. These are great for when baby starts throwing food, and all of life’s little messes.

Some bullet points will require more explanation than a couple of lines, especially if you are offering ideas for crafts or activities. Here’s one such example from one of my craft articles: “7 Indoor Winter Activities.”

Jack Frost Paintings: This is another fun activity that uses Epsom salt to form crystals. Mix equal parts Epsom salt and warm water. Give kids paint brushes of various widths, and they can dip the brushes into the Epsom salt solution and paint snowflakes or other designs onto dark-colored construction paper. Dark blue and black-colored paper works best. As the water evaporates from the paper, beautiful crystals are left behind.

Not all listicles require a conclusion, as they are supposed to be short, sweet, and to the point. I add a conclusion when I have more information or ideas to convey that didn’t fit the list format.

The length or word count of your finished article depends on both your theme and the publication. One of my listicles, “5 Party Themes for Tweens and Teens,” had long explanations for each bullet point, so five items was plenty. But if you are writing a round-up of the best parks in your town, readers will want more than two or three options. Most list articles are 700 words or less. Check the guidelines for the publication you are aiming for. For example, Listverse asks for 1,500 words per list, while Scary Mommy’s guidelines say it likes lists under 900 words.

Once you’ve drafted your article, it’s time to edit. Take a deeper look while considering the following:

Read through your listicle to catch any typos and grammatical mistakes. Once your piece is error-free, it’s time to start targeting publications.

Once your article is polished and you’ve given it a catchy title, start sending out queries to publications. For parenting, home economics, thrift, and family life listicles, check your local newspaper, parenting publications, and women’s magazines. Mommy Blogs are another great spot to place listicles.

Before you send in your article to your targeted publication, make sure to read a few of the pieces in the magazine or blog to get a feel for what they publish, if you hadn’t already before you wrote your listicle. For example, Scary Mommy offers essays and listicles on just about anything parenting and family related and is aimed at a younger audience.

You can do it! Not only are listicles fun to write, they can sharpen your writing skills and help you get that first—or one-hundredth—clip.

Here are a few bigger markets to aim for:

Listverse: https://listverse.com/write-get-paid/

Cracked: https://www.cracked.com/blog/come-write-cracked-everybody21-it-pays-money21

Scary Mommy: https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/how-to-pitch-scary-mommy

Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeedstaff/how-to-write-for-buzzfeed

By Margo L. Dill

Welcome to this month’s success stories. We love when you share any success with us, and we love to see how you are being published in magazines and on websites, and you are getting book deals and publishing your own work. We love that you are writing every day and finding the words flowing, and you want to share that with us and our community! As always, these are inspirational, so enjoy them. Take some time on the Facebook and Instagram posts to tell your fellow writers, “Congrats!” and then let us know your own success for next month by emailing Margo at [email protected] or [email protected] or watching for the post on our social media pages, mid-month!

Bethany Jarmul writes, “I had a flash essay entitled ‘Cloudy’ accepted by The Citron Review. It will be in their summer issue.”

Rosie Simms writes, “I won the 1997 (first ever) Nashville Network Songwriting Contest with the song ‘I’d Like to Help You Out’ with my cowriter Jack Fischer. We were flown to Nashville and appeared on Gary Chapman’s show, Nashville Now (the network no longer exists), where the song was performed. It was the experience of a lifetime!”

Heather Baver writes, “I recently participated in a first chapter contest that I learned about through WOW! It was just the catalyst I needed to move forward with a novel writing project that had been in the works for a long time.”

Linda Strader writes, “My latest guest blog, ‘9 Top Tips to Determine if your Memoir is Ready to Publish’ posted the other day on Writer Advice. https://writeradvice.com/spring-2022writing-advice/

Kate W. Writer writes, “I wrote this for my own blog after becoming a successful full-time writer within six months.” https://stayathomewriting.com/writer-success-story-kate-of-stay-at-home-writing

Lauren St. George writes, “I placed first in the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest. Made my week!” https://www.tadpolepress.com/writing-contest-winners

Angela Mackintosh writes, “I recently had my lyric essay, 'Super Bloom' published in the fantastic journal, Under the Sun. I'm proud of this essay because it was a team effort. I wrote it in Naomi Kimbell's WOW workshop on lyric essay writing, and my Mem-warrior group provided feedback. I also had my essay 'Fake Nails and a Gun' accepted by Harpur Palate. It will appear in their next issue."

When you type “The End” at the completion of your manuscript, you feel a sense of accomplishment and often relief. But soon questions arise of what to do next. If you are looking for someone to help you, Margo L. Dill, author and editor, offers a manuscript draft editing package to help writers who are looking for someone to read their entire manuscript in a short amount of time and offer feedback on the whole project.

Are you lost on how to turn your draft into a published book? Are you too close to your story? Do you need someone to read the whole manuscript and give you some suggestions—what is working and what is not? Margo can help! In this package, she will:

For WOW! writers only, this package also comes with a page of technical edits. Margo will list errors to look for in your manuscript that she noticed while reading. WOW writers can use this guide to edit their manuscripts and fix their common errors.

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