October 2024 Markets Newsletter | |
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In this issue:
- "Make Magic with Your Writing" by Renee Roberson
- "On Submission with Lorette C. Luzajic, Founding Editor of The Ekphrastic Review and The Mackinaw" interview by Ashley Harris
- October Deadlines: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Multigenre, Just for Fun
- Breaking In: "How to Write for Chicken Soup for the Soul" by Allison Lynn Flemming
- Recent posts and features from The Muffin
- Success Stories from the WOW! Community
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I’ve always had a special affection for the month of October, from fall festivals and pumpkin patches to the warm drinks laced with oat milk and cinnamon. Halloween gives people of all ages the chance to transform themselves into other characters, even if just for one night. As someone who is drawn to dark and mysterious themes in books and movies, I look forward to this time of year and get the itch to write something in the vein of that old classic TV series, The Twilight Zone. In recent years, I’ve been more drawn to themes of magic woven into stories I read and create, too.
There’s a genre of storytelling called “Out of the Bottle,” which involves the hero of the story wishing for something that will make all their dreams come true, and voila! It does. But this genre, which Jessica Brody covers in her book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, is not just about granting wishes. It also has magical elements such as curses, guardian angels, characters swapping bodies, time loops, parallel universes, and more.
Examples of books in this genre include the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (which was later adapted as a film), The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
This type of storytelling can also be called magical realism. Author Rebecca Serle is a contemporary author whose characters lead everyday lives until something extraordinary happens to them. At the beginning of her novel In Five Years, the heroine is engaged to her “perfect” man and mysteriously wakes up one day five years in the future, and her life is completely different. I thought the book was going to be about finding your true soulmate, but I soon realized it was more about holding onto and cherishing the female friendships in our lives before it’s too late. I’m looking forward to checking out one of her other books, One Italian Summer, where the main character meets the younger version of her deceased mother while on vacation.
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What are some ways we can bring magical elements into our stories to satisfy our readers, without being over the top unbelievable? Here are a few tips inspired by stories I’ve read and created myself:
Use magic to address an overall theme. In the book Weyward by Emilia Hart, the author weaves the stories of three different generations of women in England (1619, 1942, and 2019), each with a unique connection to nature, to address how women have been belittled, oppressed, and abused throughout centuries. It’s also a statement on what happens when other people (namely men) are given the ultimate control of women’s reproductive rights.
In a short story I wrote a few years ago, “DEADline,” I showed the darker side of success and fame for a novelist when several villains come to life out of her own novels to haunt her while she works to meet her latest deadline at a secluded lakefront cabin.
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On Submission with Lorette C. Luzajic, Founding Editor of The Ekphrastic Review and The Mackinaw | |
Do You Enjoy Pushing Artistic Boundaries? The Ekphrastic Review and The Mackinaw Are Seeking Submissions! | |
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Today, we have the honor of meeting Lorette C. Luzajic, writer, editor, educator, and visual artist extraordinaire in Toronto, Canada. Lorette studied journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto but preferred creating and exhibiting mixed media art to the newsroom. Her prose poetry and flash fiction, mostly ekphrastic, have appeared in about a dozen anthologies, and hundreds of journals, including Cultural Weekly, Macqueen's Quinterly, and Indelible, among many others. Her work has been published twice in Best Small Fictions, and she’s been nominated five times each for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize, three times for Best Microfiction, four for Best Small Fictions and seven for Best American Food Writing. Her latest books are collections of ekphrastic prose poems and small stories: Winter in June and Pretty Time Machine.
Lorette is also an award-winning visual artist whose work is regularly shown in Toronto and nearby, and has also been exhibited in Mexico, Tunisia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Ireland, Australia, in a magazine ad campaign for Madrid-based jewelry company Carrera Y Carrera, on the Marilyn Denis show, and as a 20 ft. billboard in New Orleans. Her art has been collected in at least 30 countries, from Peru to Saudi Arabia.
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WOW: Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for WOW. I’m sure our readers will be as thrilled as I am to learn more about you and the intriguing field of ekphrastic writing, which is defined as the “practice of using visual art as a literary device.” It’s so interesting that people have been doing ekphrastic writing for 3,000 years! Can you give us an early example?
Lorette: Thank you, Ashley, and WOW. I’m always thrilled to bring the magic of ekphrasis to wider audiences and to bring our amazing writers to more readers.
Ekphrasis is a word from the Greek that simply means “to describe.” It is easier to understand why it was an important element of ancient literature by considering the context of history. If someone saw a work of art, the only way to show others was to describe it to them. You didn’t have museum postcards, coffee table books, or Instagram sharing! So ekphrasis is naturally a part of poetry and other writing going way back. The epics contain ekphrases, such as descriptions of Juno temple carvings in Virgil’s Aeneid, and famously, Achille’s shield in Homer’s Iliad.
The Ekphrastic Review has pushed the boundary of traditional ekphrases by expanding the definition, something writers were already doing. We believe that any literature inspired by art is ekphrastic today and does not have to describe or be about the artwork. In an era of ubiquitous imagery, using art to inspire our imaginations in different ways doesn’t feel limited to “showing” the art since it can easily be seen by many.
WOW: I loved the fact that you received so many quality entries in The Ekphrastic Review’s recent Nine Lives Marathon writing contest that you chose to publish a piece from every writer who submitted. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into such an endeavor! With so many impressive entries, how hard was it to choose a winner? (John L. Stanizzi wrote the prize-winning poem, “What Happens When I Arrive?” and Norbert Kovacs wrote the prize-winning prose, “Private Island.”)
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Lorette: To celebrate the journal’s seventh birthday a few years ago, we decided to have a marathon and write a ridiculous number of drafts in sprints. It was a creative experiment inspired by the brilliant writer Meg Pokrass as a way to get rid of the blank page! The marathon was intense and incredible, so we decided to have one annually around the time of our birthday. This year we turned nine, so it was the Nine Lives edition.
This sparked an eight-hour day with the goal of writing fourteen different drafts of poetry or flash fiction. The objective is not to have perfect pieces but to brainstorm and sweat in pure creativity, a day for writers to experiment, explore, and play, rather than edit, revise, and overthink. The emphasis is on doing the marathon rather than on the merit or outcome. Salvageable drafts can be transformed later, or they may blossom into something later. Writers who choose to can submit and we select some for publication, as well as a prizewinner in poetry and in prose.
This year, the choices for winner were up to other TER editors, Kate Copeland and Sandi Stromberg. They are amazing! They chose from the final selections in each category. Choosing a winning poem or story is always subjective, going with works that speak to us individually, as well as looking at originality, surprise, impact, style, creativity and much more.
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“Show us something different. Make us feel what you felt when an artwork spoke to you. We want more ekphrastic flash fiction, more ekphrastic creative nonfiction. Send us stories!”
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WOW: Do you choose the artwork or do writers have the option of writing about any piece that inspires them? And if you (the editor) choose the art, how do you do it? Do you share the work of your writers with the artist, and if so, what is their reaction?
Lorette: Writers submitting to the daily stream of The Ekphrastic Review can send work inspired by any work of visual art, so we get a wide variety because different artworks move or inspire different people in different ways!
The challenge stream of the journal is a bimonthly edition. For this, we post a curated work and writers everywhere respond to it. I look for art that might challenge writers in unexpected directions. I love showing them work that grows as you contemplate it, inviting them to discover art more deeply. I want to choose a variety of pieces from famous and beloved standards to obscure surprises. I want to show art from different eras, from different parts of the world, and I want to surprise them with the variety of art by women that has often been overlooked.
We need permission to publish artworks by contemporary, living artists, so in seeking that, they definitely enjoy reading what they have inspired.
WOW: I love the way you unite the work of artists, that of the writer and the visual artist. I understand you started your career by studying journalism, another interesting intersection. I’m so curious—what inspired your migration into the world of visual art?
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Lorette: My nature is creative and expansive, and I was writing poetry and studying art history for as long as I can remember. Journalism was my attempt to do something “sensible” in a related field. I was perhaps quite naïve at the time and thought I could do juicy creative pieces about art and writers. Journalism is very competitive, and the vast majority of the field is about business and politics. I hate business and politics!
But in an unexpected way, the intense, deadline-driven education has worked perfectly for me. I have become incredibly disciplined about work and work best to deadlines, imposing them on myself if there is no boss to do so. The stereotype of artists being late and chaotic fits my nature well, but I have become a machine and work to a schedule.
Making art was a happy accident. A passion for both art and literature has always been part of me and part of my lifelong studies. I made all kinds of things but didn’t call myself an artist, rather, a writer. But after school, realizing I couldn’t possibly work for a newspaper, I needed to feed my anxious soul with creation. Ultimately, all the things I loved and learned merged in a unique path. I don’t really see my artmaking, writing, editing, publishing, and teaching separately. They all come from the same well.
WOW: And this passion makes for one busy lady! In addition to The Ekphrastic Review, you also founded and run The Mackinaw, a bimonthly magazine of prose poetry that just launched In January of this year. How do you find the time to do both?
Lorette: I do not have enough time! I am always scrambling. For me, everything has always been excessive. I am a maximalist. I have tried streamlining, prioritizing, paring back. I keep umpteen running lists that I can’t ever catch up to. There are always new ideas and projects, and I just dive in. Some can take quite a long time to complete as I am scattered in many directions, but eventually it comes together. Throwing more on my plate was ridiculous. I tried to quash The Mackinaw for several years and the dream of it got more and more intense. I wanted a platform for prose poetry, a form I love, to hold space for so many of my favorite writers working in the form.
Sometimes I’m cursing myself when I’m overwhelmed. I need to have time for my art practice, for marketing my art, for my writing, and for teaching, because I have to pay my rent and bills. But it’s really important to me to show off the talents of others and work to showcase their brilliance. I think about the art dealers and galleries who make space for my paintings and spend their time showing them to the world. I want to do this as part of my practice, in this case with writers. It’s a small contribution but every space where writers connect with readers is meaningful and important.
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“I am a maximalist. I have tried streamlining, prioritizing, paring back. I keep umpteen running lists that I can’t ever catch up to. There are always new ideas and projects, and I just dive in.”
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WOW: I loved the story behind the name of The Mackinaw, and the fact that it was inspired by a peach in an episode of Seinfeld! For our readers, do you mind giving the backstory? | |
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Lorette: There have been ongoing arguments about prose poetry anywhere it exists. Lurking on various conversations on social media about the form, I sometimes felt amusement that this rebel style garnered so much contention. In the “About” section of The Mackinaw, I state, “Many writers and readers declare prose poetry the most delicious of all poetry, and yet others say it doesn't even exist.” The title is a reference to the Seinfeld episode about the Mackinaw peaches, which were the sweetest of all peaches, yet were a complete fiction of the show. I have an impish sense of humor and thought it was a perfect name for a journal of prose poetry.
WOW: From one peach lover to another, I love it! Prose poetry is such a dynamic field, and it seems the definition is changing constantly. What is your definition of prose poetry?
Lorette: Simply put, a prose poem is a poem written in prose. Prose poetry is prose, but it is also poetry. It is not either/or. It is both. It uses all kinds of techniques, traditions, and elements of poetry, except lines.
WOW: Are pieces in The Mackinaw also considered ekphrastic or can writers write about anything they choose?
Lorette: All kinds!
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“[The Mackinaw] is a reference to the Seinfeld episode about the Mackinaw peaches, which were the sweetest of all peaches, yet were a complete fiction of the show. I have an impish sense of humor and thought it was a perfect name for a journal of prose poetry.”
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WOW: Excellent. So tell me, what do you do when you’re not writing, editing, or making art? | |
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Lorette: Reading, writing, creating, and teaching on these things is the core of me, and I am not happy if I’m not doing them all the time, full throttle. Most of my other interests or activities are connected. I love archeology and artifacts and museum stuff. I’m passionate about the history of jewelry and obsessed with rings, and I love cats. I swim several times a week. I love spending some time in good conversation with family and friends. I love good wine and global cuisine. I love to travel. I constantly take night classes or online courses. I also enjoy detective television.
WOW: You have such fascinating dimensions—and I sense that just like your artwork above, you are indeed living the most gorgeous and messy life! Our readers will be so happy to know that both of your journals are currently accepting submissions right now. What advice do you have for writers hoping to break into either one?
Lorette: The Ekphrastic Review receives submissions four times a year, including October. The Mackinaw receives submissions anytime. We publish two special showcases monthly for the challenges. If you are inspired by the challenge artworks, these are a great bet because we want to publish a wide variety of voices for each work.
Your best bet for the daily stream of the journal is to surprise us. Another poem about Van Gogh must really wow us. Show us something different. Make us feel what you felt when an artwork spoke to you. Also, we love poetry, but more than three quarters of our submissions are poetry and we want more ekphrastic flash fiction, more ekphrastic creative nonfiction. Send us stories!
The Mackinaw format is going to change next year to publishing multiple works by a single poet every Monday, rather than having editions. It’s proving to be a bit tricky from a technical perspective on the site, and having the weekly showcase will make the works more accessible in the future, for people to share and absorb. Our format so far has been bimonthly issues with a dozen writers, but multiple poems by each writer. So we are looking at a body of work, rather than single pieces. We want to run three to ten prose poems per poet and give readers a nice, juicy portion of the writer’s work. So that means having a handful of strong pieces to submit together. And they must be prose poems! It’s amazing how many other forms we get. If your poem has lines, it is not a prose poem!
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WOW: You also enjoy teaching, and we’re honored that you agreed to lead two classes for WOW, Hooked on Ekphrasis: Creating Writing from Visual Art starting October 9 and Writing Prose Poetry starting November 4, which both sound fascinating. How does teaching complement your work as a writer, editor and artist?
Lorette: I love teaching because I want to be a doorway and an invitation into an enchanted realm of creativity. If I can point to a path where someone discovers an artist that inspires them or writes a story that was dying to be told or finds a poem that they carry in their pocket, that is everything.
WOW: Incredible. You are such an inspiration, and we so appreciate the exciting channels you’ve created for writers everywhere. Thank you so much for letting us spend time in your enchanted realm today. We look forward to watching you continue to soar in all that you do.
Lorette: You are so welcome, Ashley. It’s been a pleasure!
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For more about Lorette and to see more of her work, and I highly recommend that you do, please visit her website at www.mixedupmedia.ca.
Remember that The Ekphrastic Review’s next submission period is in October; and The Mackinaw’s submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Get your best work together and send it to Lorette and her team!
If you’d like to learn more about the art of writing and publishing ekphrastic work, don’t miss Lorette’s four-week Zoom workshop, Hooked on Ekphrasis: Creative Writing from Visual Art starting October 9. For writers interested in penning prose poetry, Lorette’s four-week Zoom workshop Writing Prose Poetry starts November 4. Both are generative and bound to inspire magical writing!
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Ashley Harris has written for numerous magazines and journals, including Wired, Real Simple, Carve, and her longform essay, “Buy Now: The Summer of My Shoe Obsession” just appeared in the Summer 2024 print edition of the N.C. Literary Review. She is also a regular contributor to Healthline’s Bezzy MS column, and her essay, “How Studying Johannes Vermeer Inspired Me to Live My Best Life with MS” will be published later this month. She lives in southwestern Randolph County, North Carolina, with her sculptor husband. She has three dogs and one cat, but her world will not be complete until she rescues at least one wild panda. Having three bamboo groves means that she is ready! For more, see ashley-harris.com.
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Changes Book Prize
Deadline: October 1
Established in 2022, the Changes Book Prize awards $10,000 and publication for a first or second collection of poems. In addition to the cash prize, winners receive a fairer-than-standard publishing contract, national distribution, extensive advertising and publicity, 50 copies of their book, and a launch event in NYC. This year’s winning manuscript will be selected by Terrance Hayes. The contest is open to residents of the United States who have not published (or committed to publishing) more than one book-length collection of poetry with a registered ISBN. Submit a poetry manuscript 48-96 pages and a brief bio. No fee.
https://changes.press/book-prize/
Quartet – Women Poets Over 50
Deadline: October 1
Quartet is an online poetry journal designed by women over fifty to highlight the creativity of women fifty and over. They publish three issues a year—Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall—and want to read poems that surprise and illuminate, that are genuine, that have momentum and play with language. Send up to three unpublished poems in one Microsoft Word (doc, docx) attachment, one poem to a page. No fee.
https://www.quartetjournal.com/submissions
APR/Honickman First Book Prize
Deadline: October 1
The prize of $3,000, with an introduction by the judge and distribution of the winning book by Copper Canyon Press through Consortium, will be awarded in 2025 with publication of the book in the same year. The author will receive a standard book publishing contract, with royalties paid in addition to the $3,000 prize. This year's final judge is poet Nicole Sealey. The prize is open to poets who have not published a book-length collection of poems with a registered ISBN. To be considered for the prize, submit a manuscript of 48 pages or more, single-spaced, paginated, with a table of contents and acknowledgments. Fee: $25
https://americanpoetryreview.submittable.com/submit
Willow Springs Surrealist Poetry Prize
Deadline: October 1
They are looking for poems in the surrealist tradition and its many iterations. One of the basic tenants of surrealism is a revolt of the imagination against reason, rationalism, and empiricism. The guest judge is Melissa Kwasny. Submit a packet of up to 3 poems in one file without any identifying information. Winners receive $1,000 and publication in their Spring issue. They may consider any submission for general publication. Fee: $15
https://inside.ewu.edu/willowspringsmagazine/surreal-prize/
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Deadline: October 1
Enter your poem to win the Tom Howard prize of $3,500 for a poem in any style or genre or the Margaret Reid prize of $3,500 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style. The top two winners will also receive two-year gift certificates from Duotrope (a $100 value). Honorable Mentions: 10 awards of $300 each (any style). Length limit: 250 lines maximum per poem. No restriction on age of author. Fee: $22
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-margaret-reid-poetry-contest
Founders' Prize 2024
Deadline: October 1
Submit 3-5 poems or lyric prose pieces (500 words or fewer), totaling no more than 5 pages, in a single, typed document (doc, docx, or pdf). The winner will receive $500, publication in the next issue and on a featured spot on their website, and a nomination for a Pushcart Prize. Two runners up will receive $100, as well as publication in the next issue and on a featured spot on their website. Fee: $15
https://rhinopoetry.submittable.com/submit
The 2025 Alice James Award
Deadline: October 11
The Alice James Award welcomes submissions of full-length, previously unpublished poetry manuscripts from emerging as well as established poets. Entrants must reside in the United States. Manuscripts must be 48 – 100 pages in length (single-spaced). The winner of the 2025 Alice James Award will receive $2000, book publication, and distribution through Consortium. In addition to the winning manuscript, one or more additional manuscripts may be chosen for publication as the Editor’s Choice. Fee: $30
https://www.alicejamesbooks.org/submit
Poetic Justice Institute: Editor’s Prize for BIPOC writers
Deadline: October 15
The contest is open to BIPOC writers, with or without previous book-length publication. The winning volume will be published by Fordham Press. The winning author will receive $1,000, a virtual launch with Poetic Justice Institute, and a one-on-one publicity consultation. Guest judge: Elisabeth Frost. Suggested length of poetry manuscripts: 50-100 pages. Results will be published in Spring 2025. No fee.
https://pol.submittable.com/submit/304181/2024-2025-pji-prize-editors-prize-bipoc-writers
Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship
Deadline: October 15
The American poet Amy Lowell died in 1925. Her will established an annual scholarship to support travel abroad for gifted American-born poets. The scholarship is open to poets of American birth, who are willing to spend a year outside of North America. The 2025 - 2026 Scholarship award will be approximately $74,000, adjusted for inflation. If there are two winners, each will receive the full amount. Submit a sample of your poetry, up to 40 typed pages (two copies) or two copies of a printed volume of your poetry and two copies of no more than 20 additional typed pages. No fee.
https://www.amylowell.org/applicationInstruct.html
The Jake Adam York Prize
Deadline: October 15
The Jake Adam York Prize is open to poets writing in English, who live in the US or are US citizens, and who have published no more than one full-length poetry collection (more than 48 pages). The prize-winning poet will receive $2,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions. The prize is facilitated by the staff of Copper Nickel. Fee: $25
https://coppernickel.submittable.com/submit
Rattle: Tribute to Haibun
Deadline: October 15
Rattle’s Spring 2025 issue will be dedicated to the haibun form. Poems may be any length or subject, but need to combine haiku with other forms of writing. Submit up to four previously uncurated poems (or pages of short poems) at the same time, either in a single file or up to four files. Do not include your name or contact info within the file(s) content. Pay: $200 for the print issue and a complimentary one-year subscription. Poems for "Online" categories receive $100. All submissions are automatically considered for the annual Neil Postman Award for Metaphor, a $2,000 prize judged by the editors. No fee.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/291259/tribute-to-the-haibun
Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award
Deadline: October 31
Established in 1998, in honor of the poet Benjamin Saltman (1927–1999), this award is for a previously unpublished original collection of poetry. The awarded collection is selected through an annual competition that is open to all poets. Submit 48 page minimum, 96 page maximum. Winner receives $3000 and book publication by Red Hen Press. Fee: $25
https://redhen.org/awards/benjamin-saltman-poetry-award/
The National Poetry Competition
Deadline: October 31
Run by The Poetry Society since 1978, The National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines, open to all poets worldwide aged 18 or over. Prizes: First prize £5,000, second prize £2,000, third prize £1,000, commended prizes £500. Fee: £8
https://npc.poetrysociety.org.uk/
Anthology Poetry Competition
Deadline: October 31
Established to recognize and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines. First Prize: The winner will receive a €1,000 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology. Second: €250. Third: €150. Fee: €18
https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/poetry-competition/
Harbor Review: Winter Issue #14
Deadline: October 31
Harbor Review is an online space for poetry and art that publishes two issues a year in the winter and summer. They are interested in work that shocks and inspires. They are also interested in strange and beautiful language, image, and metaphor. Send 1-3 poems in one document as a pdf or word document. Include a short bio in your cover letter. Pay: $10 per poem. No fee.
https://www.harbor-review.com/submit
Writer's Digest Annual Poetry Awards
Deadline: November 1 (Early-Bird: October 1)
They’re on the lookout for poems of all styles–rhyming, free verse, haiku, and more for the 19th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Award. This is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively for poets. Enter any poem 32 lines or fewer for your chance to win $1,000 in cash. Fee: $20 (Early-Bird Deadline Fee); $25 (November Deadline Fee)
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/poetry-awards
Poetry Ireland Review
Deadline: November 1
Poetry Ireland Review is published three times annually. They welcome unsolicited submissions of poems from Ireland and abroad, in Irish or English. Submit a maximum of four poems, all in the same document, with page breaks between them. Only one document is allowed per submission. Submissions should contain a cover note with relevant publication credits, if any. Pay: €50 minimum and a copy of the issue. No fee.
https://www.poetryireland.ie/writers/submission-to-pir
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The Last Line Journal
Deadline: October 1
The 2024 last line is: “I didn't want to admit it, but Lee was usually right.” All stories must end with the last 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). Pay: $20 - $40 USD for fiction and a copy of the issue in which your piece appears. No fee.
https://www.thelastlinejournal.com/submission.htm
Toronto Journal: Winter 2025 Issue
Deadline: October 1
They publish short stories from anywhere in the world. Word limit is 7,500 words. They are firm believers in the idea that the writing should speak for itself. Open to new or established writers. All submissions are anonymous. Pay: $50 per story. No fee.
https://torontojournal.com/submit/
Flash Fiction Online
Opens October 1 (closes October 31 or when cap is reached)
They are looking for complete 500- to 1000-word stories with crisp prose, well-developed characters, compelling plots, and satisfying resolutions. They publish across many genres, including speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Pay: $100 per story. No fee.
https://ffo.submittable.com/submit
Stone’s Throw - Theme: Government
Deadline: October 4 (Opens October 1)
It’s election season, so this month they want to see stories about the government, its power, and how it can put its thumb on the scale. Whether it’s a cop with a chip on their shoulder, a zoning board that cannot be reasoned with, or a congressman saying one thing then doing the other, we want to see your stories about the little guy, and what happens when they come face to face with unaccountable power. They're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir as their usual submissions, but with a target length between 1,000 and 2,000 words, and aligned with the monthly submissions prompt. Pay is $25 per accepted story. No fee.
https://www.rockandahardplacemag.com/stones-throw-submissions
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Deadline: October 6
Submit your flash fiction of 300 words or less to the Bath Flash Fiction Award. £1000 prize for the winner, £300 second, and £100 third. Two commendations £30 each. 50 longlisted entrants offered publication in their end of year print and digital anthology. Those accepting receive a free print copy. Flash Award judge, Matt Kendrick, shortlists to 20 and chooses the winning, second, third, and two commended fictions. Fee: £9
https://www.bathflashfictionaward.com
2025 Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship
Deadline: October 9
Honoring the memory of author and former One Story Managing Editor Adina Talve-Goodman, this educational fellowship offers a year-long mentorship on the craft of fiction writing with One Story magazine. The fellow will receive a $2,000 stipend and free admission to One Story’s week-long summer writers’ conference, access to One Story online classes, admission to One Story’s Writing Circle, and a full manuscript review and consultation with One Story Executive Editor Hannah Tinti (story collection or novel in progress up to 150 pages/35,000 words). This fellowship calls for an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an advanced degree program (such as an MA or MFA) in Creative Writing, English, or Literature, and has no plans to attend one in the 2024 calendar year. Submit a personal statement, two references, and a fiction writing sample of 3,000-5,000 words. No fee.
https://one-story.submittable.com/submit/305502/2025-adina-talve-goodman-fellowship
This Way Lies Madness
Deadline: October 13
In the tradition of Poe’s ‘A Tell-tale Heart’ and Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’, This Way Lies Madness (publishing September 2025) will bring together a twisted tangle of dark stories featuring monstrous manifestations of trauma and guilt, paranoia and persecution, anxiety, addiction, and crippling terror. Story length is most likely to be successful at 2000 to 4000 words. Pay: $0.08 per word. No fee.
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/this-way-lies-madness-submissions-call-0
The Book Edit Writers’ Prize 2024 (UK)
Deadline: October 15
The competition is for British and/or UK-based, unpublished novelists from backgrounds and communities currently underrepresented in UK publishing. The aim of the Writers’ Prize is to help talented writers get their work in front of an audience of top literary agents. The guest judge is novelist and artist Lara Haworth. The competition will select eight writers to read their work at a live Zoom showcase event for invited industry guests taken from The Book Edit’s wide industry network. After the event, an anthology of the readings and recordings from the showcase will be published on The Book Edit’s website. All entrants will be offered advice on other options including mentoring, courses and editing. Submit the first 1,000 words of your novel, a (500-word max) synopsis and a brief note on your writing experience. No fee.
https://www.thebookedit.co.uk/writers-prize
Translunar Travelers Lounge
Deadline: October 15
They are looking for “fun” fiction and want stories where good wins out. Your story must contain speculative elements: that means science fiction or fantasy. Only one submission per writer per open period, up to 5,000 words maximum. Pay: $0.03 per word. No fee.
https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions
The Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Competition
Deadline: October 15
They welcome short fiction of no more than 5,000 words. Entries are vetted by a team of professional readers, and awards are adjudicated by their guest judge. First prize is $1,000 and publication at the magazine’s website as a special online supplement to the Spring 2025 edition; second prize is $500; and third prize is $250. Fee: $30
https://www.all-story.com/zoetrope-all-story-short-fiction-competition
Calvino Prize 2024
Deadline: October 15
Submit up to 25 industry standard (double-spaced, 12-point font, pages numbered) pages of a novel, novella, short story, or short collection. Winner will receive $2000 (USD) and the winning story will be published in Miracle Monocle, the University of Louisville's award-winning online literary journal. A runner-up, if named by the Final Judge, will receive $500 (USD). Fee: $25
https://universityoflouisvillecreativewriting.submittable.com/submit
Painted Hearts Publishing: Holiday Romance Stories
Deadline: October 15
Painted Hearts Publishing is currently accepting submissions for HOLIDAY short stories! Submissions should be between 15k and 25k words, be of a romantic nature, and contain a holiday/winter theme. All genres of LGBTQ+ romance and all heat levels are welcome. Pay: $100 per story. No fee.
https://www.paintedheartspublishing.com/submissions
Ruth Moose Flash Fiction
Deadline: October 15
Submit short fiction of up to 1,000 words to the Charlotte Writer's Club Ruth Moose Flash Fiction Contest. Open to residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. Prizes: First Place: $150; Second Place: $75; Third Place: $25. Fee: $15 (members), $20 (non-members)
https://charlottewritersclub.org/contests/ruth-moose-flash-fiction
Carol Shields Prize for Fiction
Deadline: October 16
The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction celebrates creativity and excellence in fiction by women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United States, awarding $150,000 USD to its winner, and $12,500 USD to each of its four finalists. The prize is open to novels, short story collections, and graphic novels written by women and non-binary authors for an adult audience. All books and entry forms must be submitted and filled out by the book’s publisher. If a publisher’s book is one of the five shortlisted books, they must contribute $2,000 to the Foundation for the advertising and marketing of the shortlist. Self-published books are not eligible. Books must be published/scheduled to publish between August 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. No fee.
https://carolshieldsprizeforfiction.com/submissions
Spread the Word & Little, Brown – Feedback on Commercial Fiction Pitches (UK)
Deadline: October 16
Spread the Word is partnering with the commercial fiction editors at Sphere, Little, Brown Book Group for a feedback opportunity, which will focus solely on the querying pitch. This is a concise piece of copy for your novel that consists of two parts: a one-line summary. (This should be an “X meets Y” elevator pitch—comparing your novel to two existing novels.) A short blurb of 150 words. This opportunity is open to unagented and unpublished writers who are also from one of the following backgrounds that are underrepresented in UK publishing: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, working class, low income, caregivers, homeless, refugee, single parent, and more. Feedback will be given in writing from the editors. No fee.
https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/submissions-call-out-applications-are-open-to-writers-for-feedback-on-their-commercial-fiction-pitches-from-little-brown-book-group/
Eye Contact Award in Genre Flash Fiction - Romance
Deadline: October 25
Eye Contact is a college literary magazine that publishes genre fiction in condensed format, readable in five minutes or less. They are seeking 1,000-word stories in the Romance genre this season. Prize: $250 cash or gift card equivalent. The prize is sponsored by Seton Hill University and its unique MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction. No fee.
https://sites.google.com/setonhill.edu/eyecontact/guidelines/genre-flash-fiction-prize
2024 Novel Excerpt Contest
Deadline: October 27
The Masters Review believes that every writer has a novel in them, which is why they host a call for novel excerpts every autumn. Submitted excerpts must be under 6,000 words. The winner receives $3,000, online publication, and a consultation with Marin Takikawa, a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. The second- and third-place finalists receive cash prizes ($300/$200), online publication, and agent feedback. Fee: $20
https://mastersreview.com/novel-excerpt-contest
2025 Raleigh Review Flash Fiction Prize
Deadline: October 31
Submit up to two unpublished works of flash per entry. Flash works should be no longer than 1000 words each, combine both stories in one file. First Prize: $300 USD and publication in the Spring 2025 issue. Finalists will receive our standard $15 payment along with publication. All Finalists will receive a 2-year subscription to Raleigh Review. Fee: $7
https://raleighreview.org/rr-flash-fiction-prize
Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition
Deadline: October 31
Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Have you honed the first chapters? Can you put together a compelling synopsis? The Novel Opening competition judged by Headline Publishing is looking for an unpublished novel opening up to 3,000 words, plus a synopsis of the story (max 750 words) to be submitted together in a single file. First Prize: £500. Second: £200. Fee: £10
https://flash500.com/novels
Luminaire Prose Award
Deadline: October 31
The Luminaire Award for Best Prose is Alternating Current Press’ annual writing award to recognize the best prose and hybrid work submitted to the press. They’re seeking individual stories. Standalone fiction pieces only. Experimental, flash, short novelettes, long stories, short plays, and hybrid prose considered. The first-place winner receives $100 (upon publication); publication of the winning piece on The Coil and in their triennial anthology that is printed in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats, and other prizes as well as prizes for the top seven finalists. A soft upper limit of 5,000 words per piece is suggested. Fee: $4.99
https://altcurrentpress.com/2023/05/17/luminaire-prose-award
Dread Mondays: Workplace Horror
Deadline: October 31
Think Office Space meets Alien meets The Mill meets Horrorstar meets Our Temporary Supervisor meets American Psycho meets Tender is the Flesh meets Authority. Keep it under 4k words. Stories under 3k words will get preference over those approaching the higher boundary. Pay: $0.06 per word. No fee.
https://stevecaponejrauthor.com/2024/08/31/call-for-submissions-for-dread-mondays-a-whisper-house-press-anthology
Witchcraft in Your Lips
Deadline: October 31
Lethe Press is seeking submissions for a collection of lesbian-themed folk magic and witchcraft tentatively titled Witchcraft in Your Lips. For this book they're seeking 3-4 novellas. Submissions should be between 20-30 thousand words in length. They are not interested in erotica or young adult stories for this book. Same-sex relationships should be presented as positive, as usage of folk magic. By this, they mean no self-loathing lesbians or witches (they can face external prejudices, of course). Pay: $750 and five copies of the print edition. Submissions should be sent to lethepress@aol.com with the subject line WIYL Submission. No fee.
https://www.lethepressbooks.com/call-for-submissions.html
The McKitterick Prize for Debut Novelists Over 40
Deadline: October 31
This prize is for an author over the age of 40 for a debut fiction novel, published or unpublished. The author must not have had a novel published before, excluding works for children. The prize money is £4,000 for the winner and £2,000 for the runner-up, with each shortlisted author receiving £1,000 (up to four authors). For unpublished manuscripts, submit the first 30 pages. No fee.
https://societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/mckitterick-prize
PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers
Deadline: November 1
The award recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize and will be published by Catapult in their annual anthology, Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize. Stories must not exceed 12,000 words and must be submitted by editors of literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites and published in the English language. No fee.
https://pen.org/program/pen-dau-short-story-prize
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Deadline: November 1
The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of one of the 56 Commonwealth countries aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words). An international judging panel of writers will select a shortlist of around twenty stories, from which five regional winners are chosen. One of the regional winners is then selected as the overall winner, who receives £5,000. The regional winners will receive £2,500. All five regional winning stories will be published on Granta. No fee.
https://commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-prize
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Changing Skies Writing Contest
Deadline: October 1
Compete in a Fall Blind Review Contest for Changing Skies Volume III, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy for $500, $300, and $200 Prizes. They are seeking creative nonfiction submissions that relate to climate change. No word count limit. Please remove all identifying information from your document. No fee.
https://journal2020.submittable.com/submit/221710/changing-skies-prose-submissions
Herstry - Traveling Women
Deadline: October 1
Pack up your suitcases, we’re going on vacation! Tell them your travel stories, whether across the ocean or in your own city. A woman out in the world is still something revolutionary. All stories should be true and about you, 500 - 3,000 words. Pay: $20 per essay. Fee: $3
https://herstryblg.com/traveling-women-november-2024
Cutleaf - Essays
Opens October 1 (Closes when cap is met)
Cutleaf publishes a new issue every other week. They are open to nonfiction submissions only during the month of October. Cutleaf is interested in essays in both standard and hybrid forms. They welcome new approaches such as speculative nonfiction, essays based in metaphor, essays in verse, and other re-imaginings of the format. They welcome work about literature, travel, music, visual art, and film in multiple formats. They are less interested in journalistic approaches than in work that shows the larger and smaller truths about being human. Essays should be less than 6,000 words. Longer work must be exceptionally compelling, and they may publish longer works in installments. Pay is $100 to $400 for published nonfiction prose. No fee.
https://cutleafjournal.com/submit
The McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism
Deadline: October 6
The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism provides experienced journalists with grants up to $15,000 and the editorial support needed to produce deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories that delve into critical economic, financial or business issues across a wide array of subjects. You don’t need to be a business reporter to apply; many of their previous Fellows have been generalists, or cover beats such as health care, education or the environment. Others have focused on issues such as economic inequality or corporate accountability. Submit a well-focused story proposal of no more than three pages. Think of it as a pitch, much like you’d submit to an editor. No fee.
https://www.mcgrawcenter.org/the-harold-w-mcgraw-jr-business-journalism-fellowships
Root Cause: Stories of health, harm, and reclaiming our humanity in an epidemic of loneliness
Deadline: October 15
Jeannine Ouelette, Kristine Kopperud, and Elizabeth Austin are thrilled to announce a call for submissions for their forthcoming anthology, Root Cause. These personal essays, memoirs, and reflective accounts illuminate the human side of healthcare, exploring themes such as the impact of chronic illness, the solitude of long-term treatment, mental health struggles exacerbated by medical conditions, and the unique dynamics between caregivers and those they care for. Send them your best work around 1,500 words, although longer, hybrid pieces will also be considered. Pay: $50 per piece. Check out their guidelines and send your work and bio in one document to rootcauseanthology@gmail.com. No fee.
Dorothy Parker’s Ashes – Cops
Deadline: October 15
Dorothy Parker’s Ashes publishes first person essays. They are seeking essays from 500 to 2,000 words on the theme of “Cops.” They do consider previously published essays, taking into consideration venue, date, etc. You can also find their upcoming themes on their submission page. No fee.
https://www.dorothyparkersashes.com/submit
Event 2024 Creative Nonfiction Contest
Deadline: October 15
Seeking creative nonfiction. Writers are encouraged to explore form. First Place $1,500; Second Place $1,000; Third Place $500. Winners will be published in Event Magazine. Guest judge is Michelle Cyca. 5,000-word limit. Entries must not have been previously published, either in print or online, or been accepted for publication elsewhere. No simultaneous submissions. Fee: $34.95, which includes a one-year subscription to Event magazine.
https://www.eventmagazine.ca/contest-nf
Chicago Story Press: Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: October 15
Chicago Story Press Literary Journal is looking for essays and creative nonfiction stories that illuminate the human experience. Must be based on a true event that happened to you. Should be between 1,000 – 3,000 words and should not be published elsewhere. Fee: $5
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/chicago-story-press-literary-journal-CrWKs
New Ohio Review: Poetry and Dance Essays
Deadline: October 15
NOR is seeking essay submissions that focus on a particular period of poetry or poet; or a particular style of dance. Essayists might write about Modernist, Romantic, or Classical dance poems; dance poems and LGBTQ experience; dance poems in the 21st century; the interplay of dance forms and poetic forms; the Abolition and Civil Rights movements in poetry and dance; or about particular well-known dance (or dance-adjacent) poems. Feature essays about dance novels or dance memoirs are also welcome, though we will lean toward work that encounters poetry in some way. Prose should be double-spaced and between 750-1500 words. No fee.
https://newohioreview.submittable.com/submit/305924/2024-poetry-dance-feature
New Voices Award in Nonfiction
Deadline: October 15
The fall 2024 New Voices Award will be open to nonfiction submissions. The NYU MFA faculty judge will be Parul Sehgal. The winner will receive $1,500 and publication in the journal (in print and online). This contest is for emerging writers who have not published a book. Submissions should not exceed 5,000 words. Fee: $15, which includes a three-issue subscription to Washington Square Review.
https://washingtonsquare.submittable.com/submit/274547/new-voices-award
Travel Nonfiction Contest
Deadline: October 30
Stories should be factual and true accounts of a trip taken by the author or a person or persons known by the author. Open internationally. Essays should be between 1,000-5,000 words. Prizes: $200 for the winner, $100 for the runner-up, and certificates of achievement for all finalists. No fee.
https://www.storyhouse.org/contest2024.html
Brick Magazine
Deadline: October 31 (Opens October 1)
Brick is an international literary journal published twice a year out of Toronto. With a focus on literary non-fiction, the magazine prizes the personal voice and celebrates life, art, and the written word with the most invigorating and challenging essays, interviews, translations, memoirs, belles lettres, and unusual musings. They don’t have a set word count limit, but pieces tend towards a range of 1,000 – 5,000 words. Pay: $65–$720, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. No fee.
https://brickmag.com/submissions
River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Book Prize
Deadline: October 31
The River Teeth Book Prize is an annual contest to identify the best book-length manuscript of literary nonfiction. All manuscripts are screened by the co-editors of River Teeth, and this year’s final decision will be made by guest judge Beth Nguyen. The contest winner will receive $1,000 and publication by The University of New Mexico Press. They encourage underrepresented voices to submit their work for consideration, including but not limited to: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled writers. All U.S. entrants will receive a one-year subscription to River Teeth with their submission fee (provided they supply a mailing address). Fee: $27
https://riverteeth.submittable.com/submit/7795/river-teeth-literary-nonfiction-book-prize-submission
Gabriele Rico Challenge for Creative Nonfiction 2024
Deadline: November 1
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction, awarding $1,333 to the author of the winning entry. They are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work, 5,000-words max. Fee: $20, which includes a copy of the latest issue of Reed Magazine.
https://reedmagazine.submittable.com/submit/286122/gabriele-rico-challenge-for-nonfiction-2025-1-333-prize
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Wild Peach Magazine: Issue #1
Deadline: October 1
Wild Peach Magazine publishes work by unpublished and emerging creators, and features profiles and interviews with all kinds of people that thoughtfully explore the varying approaches to being a human. Fiction: all/most genres (literary, action-adventure, fairy tales and folklore, humor, speculative, young adult, LGBTQ+); no word limit; they are looking for character-driven pieces. Nonfiction: they publish narrative nonfiction; no word limit. Poetry: attach poems as a single document. They also publish interviews, art, photography, and accept pitches. Pay: $100-500 for essays; $100-500 for fiction stories; $25 for poems; $50 for reviews; $50-700 for original art/comics/illustrations/photos; $25-200 for reprints. No fee.
https://wildpeach.org/about
The Forge
Opens October 1 (closes when cap is met)
The Forge Literary Magazine publishes one prose piece per week selected by a rotating cast of editors. Each submission is read anonymously. Fiction and Nonfiction: They prefer stories under 3,000 words but will consider up to 5,000 words. They love flash and micro! Pay: $100 regardless of length. No fee.
https://forgelitmag.submittable.com/submit
Last Girls Club – Theme: Underground
Opens October 1 (Closes when they reach their quota)
Last Girls Club Winter Issue Theme is Underground. Whether you're hiding underground or what's underground is coming for you or both; scare the bejeezus out of them over it. Has humanity moved underground to survive nuclear winter or have the poor retreated to abandoned tunnels unable to afford housing topside anymore? Is there a revolution brewing to destroy the topsiders and emerge to claim the new unoccupied land? Or are the topsiders dropping poison smoke bombs down to kill the sub strata humans they consider to be vermin? Acceptances for this issue will be notified by November 15. Short Story: 2,500 words or less. Pay is $0.015 USD per word/$37.50 USD max upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine issue. Flash Fiction: less than 1,000 words. Pay is $0.015 USD per word/$15 USD max upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine issue. Poems: less than 200 words. Pay is $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine issue. No fee.
https://www.lastgirlsclub.com/submit
Camargo Fellowship in France
Deadline: October 1
Each year, a panel awards 14 individuals or teams a ten-week residency at Cassis, France for artists, writers, playwrights, and translators think, create, and build relationships. They welcome spouses/partners and dependent minor children. A grant of 350 euros per week is provided (3500 euros for the entire duration of the residency), as well as funding for the round trip between Cassis and the recipient's place of residence. Submit a proposal summary and narrative, a CV, and writing samples. No fee.
https://camargofoundation.org/en/residencies/programs/escales/camargo-fellowship
Dzanc Prizes
Deadline: October 1
Dzanc Books solicits submissions through their annual contests: the Prize for Fiction, which recognizes novels that are daring, original, and innovative (generally over 40,000 words, but there is no hard minimum), and offers a $5,000 advance and publication; the Short Story Collection Prize, which seeks well-crafted and powerful book-length collections and offers a $2,500 advance and publication (generally over 40,000 words, but there is no hard minimum); and, in 2024, the Poetry Prize, which seeks brilliant poetry collections and offers a $1,000 advance and publication (generally over 60 pages, but there is no hard minimum). Fee: $25
https://dzancbooks.submittable.com/submit
Michigan Quarterly Review's Special Issue on Migration
Deadline: October 1
MQR is calling for submissions for a special issue on the theme of migration, with particular interest in texts that record, analyze, re-document/re-interpret, and ruminate on the various aspects of displacement and erasure at the convergence of global instabilities caused by war, economic pressures, political instability, racial/ethnic/religious/gender hostility, and/or climate change. They welcome texts in all genres (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, art, and researched essays). In addition to original, previously unpublished works in all genres, they also welcome collaborative works, translations, and visual works that can be presented in print or digitally on MQR Online. Maximum length for articles, essays and works of fiction is 7,000 words. Poetry submissions must not exceed 10 pages. MQR is a paying market. Fee: $3
https://mqr.submittable.com/submit
Potomac Review – Theme: “The Other”
Deadline: October 1
They will read stories and essays up to 7,500 words. Poetry: include up to five poems for each submission. Contributors will be compensated with two complimentary copies and a 40% discount for additional copies. Their current theme is, "The Other." No fee.
https://mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/submit-subscribe
Washington Square Submissions
Deadline: October 1
Creative nonfiction submissions should not exceed 5,000 words. One piece per submission, and only one submission per author, per submission period. Poetry submissions should not exceed five poems. Contributors will receive two copies of the issue in which they are published, an opportunity to purchase additional copies at half-price, and a one-year subscription. No fee.
https://washingtonsquare.submittable.com/submit
The Lindenwood Review
Deadline: October 1
The Lindenwood Review literary journal publishes fiction (short fiction and flash fiction), creative nonfiction (personal essays, lyric essays, and flash nonfiction), and prose poems (block format). They are looking for fiction with believable characters and a vivid story; creative nonfiction that is well-crafted and fiercely honest; prose poems with a distinctive atmosphere and interesting use of language. Maximum length for each submission is 10 pages. No fee.
https://thelindenwoodreview.submittable.com/submit
The Sagebrush Review
Deadline: October 1
Poetry: submit up to (3) poems in a single document. They’re drawn to descriptive imagery, sensory details, and lyrical sounds in free verse, blank verse, or traditional forms. Fiction: submit either one (1) short story (up to 2500 words) or one (1) flash fiction piece (up to 1000 words). They're looking for character-driven stories with vibrant settings, intriguing scenarios or situations, and effective narrative pacing. Creative Nonfiction: submit one (1) piece of creative nonfiction (up to 2500 words). This can be a personal narrative, braided or collage essay, memoir excerpt, opinion piece, etc. If published in you printed journal, you may receive 1 free contributor's copy. We will promote contributors' work via social media. Fee: $2
https://sagebrushreview.submittable.com/submit
Wordpeace War & Peace Issue
Deadline: October 1
They are looking for previously unpublished poems, stories (up to 3000 words), creative non-fiction essays (3000-word limit), personal essays (3000 word limit), visual art, hybrid work, reviews and interviews that reflect or are in conversation with social justice themes. They want work that asks for positive change, critiques the status quo, is forward thinking, and takes a stand in the face of corruption and greed, brutality, xenophobia, homophobia, prejudice, genocide and oligarchy. No fee.
https://wordpeace.submittable.com/submit
American Literary Review Prizes
Deadline: October 1
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in the Spring online issue of the American Literary Review will be given for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Submit short fiction within the limit of limit 8,000 words per work; submit creative nonfiction within the limit 6,000 words per work; and submit poetry up to three poems. Fee: $15
https://americanliteraryreview.com/contest
Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative
Deadline: October 2
Our relationship with money is one of the most important and complex we will have. As a result, money can also be one of the most challenging topics to share and discuss. They are looking for imaginative and meaningful short stories (fiction and creative nonfiction) touching on themes related to money and personal finance. Introduce them to protagonists whose relationship to money may be on the verge of unexpected or needed change. Your tale may be the inspiration someone needs to reimagine their relationship with money. The winner will receive a $1000 honorarium, and each finalist will also receive an honorarium of $150. No fee.
https://short-edition.com/en/contest/principal-foundation
Quarterly West Poetry and Prose Contests
No Fee Deadline: October 2 (Opens October 1; Regular deadline: November 1)
The winners will each receive $500 and publication in a forthcoming issue of Quarterly West. Runners-up in poetry and prose will each receive $200, and all entries will be considered for publication. Submit up to three poems or a prose piece (i.e., fiction, non-fiction, or any hybridization therein). No fee on October 1-2; after that submissions for BIPOC writers will remain free, and there will be a $5 submission fee for all other writers.
https://www.quarterlywest.com/submit
Fellowships for Creative and Performing Artists and Writers
Deadline: October 5
Residential fellowships for historical research by artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history, literature, and culture. The fellowships will provide the recipients with the opportunity for a period of uninterrupted research, reading, and collegial discussion at the Society, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, as well as a stipend of $2,000. To apply, fill out the application and submit a written work (play and video scripts; prose and poetry; works of non-fictions, etc.) 25 pages in length max. No fee.
https://www.americanantiquarian.org/fellowships/fellowships-creative-and-performing-artists-and-writers
Dunes Review
Deadline: October 10
They welcome work from writers at all stages of their careers living anywhere in the world. They are committed to including a wide variety of voices. You and your work do not necessarily need a tie to a Michigan location, but they do appreciate work that fits Michigan-like themes or motifs. Payment comes in the form of two copies of the journal, or one digital copy for international contributors. They also invite contributors to read at the issue's launch celebration in Traverse City, MI. Submit 3 or 4 poems and submit fiction or nonfiction under 3,000 words. No fee.
https://dunesreview.submittable.com/submit
Griffith Review Issue 87: There’s No Place Like Home
Deadline: October 13
This edition of Griffith Review heads out in search of home—what it means to us, why it matters and how it shapes our sense of self. They’re looking for non-fiction and fiction (up to 4,000 words) that responds to the theme. Pay: AUD $0.75 per word. No fee.
https://www.griffithreview.com/for-writers
Latino Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest
Deadline: October 14
The contest is open to Latino authors who are at least 18 years of age or older and residing anywhere in the United States. The contest’s mission is to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children’s stories written by and about Latino people. Submissions must be original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–800 words). Must feature authentic, realistic Latino characters and culture. Must focus on one or more of the following topics: resilience, character development, self-esteem, identity, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, traditions, or other topics related to positive childhood development. Must be written either in English or in bilingual English-Spanish. First place: $1,000 cash, swag package, and a meeting with Naibe Reynoso, founder of Con Todo Press. Second place: $500 cash. Third: $300 cash prize. No fee.
https://go.teachercreatedmaterials.com/free-spirit/latino-voices-childrens-literature-writing-contest
Roxane Gay Books – Unagented Submissions
Deadline: October 15
Open to un-agented novels, short fiction collections, memoirs, narrative nonfiction books, and personal essay collections. Submit a cover letter, and as a PDF, a 1-3 page summary of your book, and the first three (3) chapters of your manuscript. Nonfiction proposals should be submitted as a PDF. Pay: royalties. No fee.
https://gay.submittable.com/submit/195941/roxane-gay-books-unagented-submissions
Southern Humanities Review
Deadline: October 15
Southern Humanities Review offers 100 free submissions in each genre for historically underrepresented writers each submission period. For nonfiction print, manuscripts should be no longer than 12,000 words. For fiction print, manuscripts should be no longer than 8,000 words. Submit fiction for online publication no longer than 2,000 words and no shorter than 500 words, double-spaced. Pay: $50 per prose piece or $25 per poem. Fee: $3 (online fiction), no fee (underrepresented writers of fiction or nonfiction)
https://southernhumanitiesreview.submittable.com/submit
Consequence Journal
Deadline: October 15
They welcome any fiction, flash fiction, poetry, or nonfiction that focuses on the human consequences and realities of war or geopolitical violence. Submit short stories between 1,000 to 5,000 words, excerpts up to 5,000 words, flash fiction under 1,000, personal essays and narrative nonfiction up to 4,000 words, and up to 3 poems. Finally, all work is considered either for our print journal or as an online feature. No fee.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/consequence-0N4pz
Minnesota Review
Deadline: October 15
They publish all types of poetry and short fiction (up to 4,000 words). They consider only unpublished work. Payment will be in the form of two free copies of the issue in which your work appears. No fee.
https://theminnesotareview.submittable.com/submit
Obsidian
Deadline: October 15
Obsidian cultivates, through publication and critical inquiry, Black imagination, innovation, and excellence—supporting Black, African, and African Diaspora creatives globally. Submissions for fiction/hybrid works should be no longer than twenty (20) pages in length and double-spaced. Submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages. No fee.
https://obsidianlit.org/how-to-submit
Little Patuxent Review
Deadline: October 15
Little Patuxent Review is a community-based publication focused on writers and artists from the Mid-Atlantic region, but all excellent work originating in the United States will be considered. You may submit one fiction piece of no more than 5,000 words, one nonfiction piece of no more than 3,500 words, or a maximum of three poems of up to 100 lines each. If they publish your work, they will give you one copy of the issue in which your work appears and the opportunity to read or discuss your work at the issue’s launch event. No fee.
https://littlepatuxentreview.submittable.com/submit
Tahoma Literary Review
Deadline: October 15
Submit fiction and nonfiction between 1,500 and 6,000 words. Submit poetry up to six poems. Submit flash fiction and nonfiction up to 1,100 words. Pay: $55 for poetry, $55 for flash, and $0.05/word for prose over 1100 words. Fee: $5 (Fiction & Nonfiction); $4 (Flash & Poetry)
https://tahomaliteraryreview.submittable.com/submit
Iron Horse Literary Review Contest
Deadline: October 15
Submit longer essays and stories between 20 and 40 pages. They will select only ONE winner—a story OR an essay—but the winning writer receives $1,000. The winning story or essay will be released electronically as an e-single, with its own chic design, and it will be available for free download via ISSUU to all readers. You can also send up to five poems in ONE file. For poetry, while the ten finalists receive their standard honorarium for poems ($50 per poem), the winner will receive $1,000. Fee: $15
https://ironhorse.submittable.com/submit
Perennial – Theme: Supporting Characters
Deadline: October 15
Perennial is accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, memoir, and hybrid work for their inaugural issue, anticipated early 2025. The theme for this issue is supporting characters, which of course you can interpret however you'd like. They're interested in writing that is original, character-driven, and timeless. There is no word limit. No fee.
https://www.perennial-magazine.com/submit
Phoebe: Issue 54.1
Deadline: October 15
phoebe prides itself on supporting up-and-coming writers, whose style, form, voice, and subject matter demonstrate a vigorous appeal to the senses, intellect, and emotions of their readers. Fiction and Nonfiction: up to 4,000 words. Poetry: submit up to 5 poems. Pay: $30 per accepted poem, essay, story, and piece of visual art. Fee: $3
https://phoebe.submittable.com/submit
Host Publications Awards
Deadline: October 15
Host Publications is a women-led independent publisher located in Austin, Texas. They publish radical poetry and fiction by emerging LGBTQ+, BIPOC, intersectional feminist, and immigrant voices. Submissions are open to any US-based writer. Awards: $2,500, 25 author copies, dedicated editorial work from our skilled editors, a book launch in Austin, Texas, and energetic promotion from their staff. They also offer our authors the opportunity to be a guest on their literary podcast, The Host Dispatch. Poetry Collection: submit an original previously unpublished poetry collection 60-90 pages. Short Fiction Collections or Novella: submit between 150-200 pages (or roughly 30,000 - 50,000 words) in length. Fee: $15
https://hostpublications.submittable.com/submit
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
Deadline: October 16
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Award recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity. Awards are given for fiction, poetry, memoir and autobiography, and general nonfiction. For books published and copyrighted in 2024, the submission period begins January 1, 2024, and the deadline is October 16, 2024. The winners are traditionally announced in the spring. Award recipients traditionally receive $10,000 from the Anisfield-Wolf fund. Attendance at the ceremony is a condition of accepting the award. No fee.
https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/submissions
Cordella – Issue 10: Mother/Land
Deadline: October 20
Cordella seeks to record and share the creative voices of women-identified and nonbinary people from all walks of life, exploring the ways that our spirit and sense of self is engaged with our physical place and daily experiences. They are accepting submissions for their tenth anniversary issue, Mother/Land. They are particularly interested in work that relates to a sense of spiritual life, ecology, and community, but they welcome submissions of all kinds that reflect one's unique stories. They accept poetry, short fiction, essays, memoir and other creative non-fiction, as well as visual art. They also invite proposals for interviews and featured musicians. They only accept work from women-identifying and nonbinary people. Fee: $3
https://www.cordella.org/submit
Paper Dragon Fall Issue – Spooky Horror
Deadline: October 31
They want all things spooky! Cozy horror included! They are looking for thrilling and unique writing that captures the spirit of horror. Don’t forget that the most important part of horror is the FUN. For art, your work does not literally have to be scary. Fiction and nonfiction should be under 4,000 words. No individual poem should exceed 50 lines or 250 words. No fee.
https://paperdragon.submittable.com/submit
Saranac Review: Issue 20 – Water and Waterways
Deadline: October 31
For Issue 20, they are especially (but not only) interested in writing and visual art about water and waterways, both literally and figuratively, and we're looking at this theme broadly: Water as resource and source; Waterways as sites of movement and migration; Water and waterways as paths to connection, inspiration, and community. Submit drama (short plays, one acts, riveting scenes, tiny musicals, and more), visual art, graphic novels/memoirs, photo essays and comics (they consider all short graphic narratives), poetry (up to five poems in a single document), fiction (up to 6,000 words), and creative nonfiction (up to 6,000 words). Pay: $60 to each contributor. Fee: $3
https://saranacreview.submittable.com/submit
The /tƐmz/ Review: Issue 29
Deadline: October 31
The /tƐmz/ Review is a literary journal based in London, Ontario that publishes fiction, poetry, and reviews. They publish prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. If your piece is longer than 1000 words, please submit only one piece. If your pieces are fewer than 1000 words each, feel free to submit several pieces at once. Poetry: they accept submissions of 1-8 poems, and prefer poetry submissions to be 10 pages or fewer. Pay: $20 per piece. No fee.
https://www.thetemzreview.com/submissions.html
The Black River Chapbook Competition
Deadline: October 31
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication. Fee: $18
https://blacklawrencepress.com/submissions-and-contests/the-black-river-chapbook-competition
The Lost Poetry Club: Reverse Mermaid
Deadline: October 31
THEME 1.05: Reverse Mermaid Under the moon's glow, I cast my line into dark, choppy waters, fishing for stories. Something stirs beneath—a ripple, a glint—something waits to be caught. Two eyes break the surface; its scales reflecting the moonlight. Is that a fish... or a man? It’s impossible to say. Reverse mermaids, strange and unsettling, haunt these depths. Unlike their traditional counterparts, they defy expectations, caught between two worlds in a form that exemplifies the absurd. They are symbols of transgression and transformation, urging us to embrace the parts of ourselves that don’t fit neatly into established categories. Stories are out there, waiting to be reeled in. With a bucket of maggot sandwiches and the patience to wait, we're ready for whatever surfaces—absurd scenarios, monstrous creatures in mundane lives, or vice versa, powerful transformations, quirky individuals, nightmares and hallucinations out in the daylight, worlds flipped upside down, and tales of two halves that proudly let our freak flag fly. The Catch of the Day includes stories, scripts, poems, flash fiction, and songs that champion the eccentric, unique, and unexpected, leaping from the surface level, and pulling us, kicking and screaming, down, down, down into the realm of the extraordinary. Pay: £0.015 per word. No fee.
https://www.thelostpoetryclub.com/submissions
John Updike Tucson Casitas Fellowship
Deadline: November 1
The fellowship awards writers with a two-week residency at the Mission Hill Casitas within the Skyline Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, and a $1,000 prize. John Updike wrote in all genres, so writers with any type of literary project are welcome to apply, as are scholars working on Updike criticism. Since Updike was an artist as well, multimedia projects will also be considered. To apply, send a one-half to one-page proposal that details the project, any progress made thus far, the final form the completed project will take (e.g., where it might be published, or whether it’s part of a larger work), along with a one-paragraph bio/artist’s statement. Creative writers should also provide a five-page (and only five-page) writing sample. Send everything in a single PDF attachment to: Robert M Luscher, luscherr@unk.edu. No fee.
https://blogs.iwu.edu/johnupdikesociety/the-jur-emerging-writers-prize
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WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Contests
Deadlines: October 31 (creative nonfiction), November 30 (fiction). 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 an entry limit on each contest. Previously published work is accepted! What’s not to love? This season's guest is Literary Agent Quressa Robinson with Folio Literary Agency. Fee: $10 (Flash Fiction) and $12 (Nonfiction).
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
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In celebration of Halloween, submit your Halloween-themed work to Furious Gazelle's 2024 Halloween Contest. It's free to enter, and the deadline is October 6. The first-place winner will receive $50. Runners up will receive publication and a $5 honorarium. Each writer can submit either one short story (max 3,000 words), one play (capped at 10 pages), or up to three shorter fiction pieces (any combination of flash pieces / poems is ok as long as they don’t exceed 3 submissions). Poems shouldn’t exceed two pages; flash pieces should be capped at 1,500 words each. No fee.
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National Magic Day is October 31! The day was established to honor Harry Houdini, one of the most famous magicians in history, who died on October 31, 1926. Did you know Houdini was also an avid book collector? His collection of books on the topics of magic, spiritualism, mysticism, and more are considered one of the largest in the world! To celebrate magic and books, consider submitting to Gilbert and Hall Press’s anthology, Green Magic! They are seeking visionary short stories, showcasing hopeful visions of our future, with a focus on environmental themes and sustainable living, with or without magical elements. Imagine realms crafted by the dreams of environmentalists, social justice advocates, engineers, traditional wisdoms, innovators...or witches! Submit fiction between 2,500-8,000 words in the genres of magical realism, urban fantasy, eco-fiction, near-future science fiction, and narrative poetry will also be considered. The deadline is October 9th. No fee.
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Did you know that on October 13th, the United States Navy observes its birthday every year? The US Naval Institute is holding a 2024 General Prize Essay Contest to address national, strategic, and operational challenges. Open to all contributors—active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians. Essays are judged blind and may address any topic and must be no more than 3,000 words. First Place: $6,000; Second: $3,000; Third: $2,000. The deadline is October 31st! No fee.
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By Allison Lynn Flemming | |
This summer marks an exciting milestone in my writing life! I’ve just had my sixth story published with Chicken Soup for the Soul! | |
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“Touch the Horizon” recounts a summer afternoon when I found myself unexpectedly in the cockpit of a four-seater airplane—with my hands firmly on the controls. Yes, I flew a plane! It’s in the Chicken Soup anthology Just Say Yes, and it’s so exciting to see my story as part of this wonderful book.
Chicken Soup for the Soul just celebrated thirty years of publishing! They are prolific and popular, and writing for them is a genuinely positive experience.
Here’s how I got started writing for Chicken Soup, and some helpful tips I’ve learned along the way.
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First, I should correct myself—nobody writes “for” Chicken Soup. Instead, we are all “contributors.” Chicken Soup is unique in that every book is an open call, featuring a mix of experienced writers and first-time storytellers.
My husband, Gerald, and I are a full-time nationally touring music duo called Infinitely More. When the pandemic hit, our touring life grounded to a halt. As our booking agent and tour manager, I suddenly had nothing to book or manage!
For years, I’d dreamed of writing. I imagined crafting my life experiences into stories and sharing them with a wider audience. A friend suggested I check out the Chicken Soup anthologies. That fall, I submitted my story, “An Angel in the Wreckage.” It was accepted in 2021, and I haven’t looked back.
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How to Learn the “Chicken Soup” Style | |
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Chicken Soup stories have clear parameters—relatively short, always in first person, and always true. They’re mostly prose, but narrative poems are also accepted. When published, each story or poem will be paired with a relevant quote, chosen by the editor.
Your story should sound as if you’re sharing it with a friend over a cup of tea. Think personal and conversational. That doesn’t mean you can’t weave some poetic prose into your writing, but this isn’t a literary short story. This is storytelling. Get your reader right into the action, telling your story in the most engaging and relatable way possible. End with a punch, be it tugging at the heartstrings, a dramatic climax, or even a good laugh.
Chicken Soup makes it easy to research their style—just sign up for their newsletter. Each day, you’ll receive a free story from one of their previously published books. It’s a great way to study the ideas, tone, and story structure favored by the publisher.
A quick word for faith-based writers: Chicken Soup welcomes stories from people of all backgrounds and all faiths. At this point, I’ve read over six hundred Chicken Soup stories, and I’ve noticed two keys to including a faith component in your story.
First, it must be integral to the story and not an opportunity to preach. And second, it’s good to avoid any words that might be “inside” to your faith practice. By keeping your language accessible, you open the doors to more people enjoying and being inspired by your story.
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Every year, Chicken Soup publishes eight to twelve volumes, with each featuring 101 stories. That’s a lot of opportunities for publication, until you realize they get thousands of submissions for each book!
What can we do to increase our odds of publication?
The first is to study www.chickensoup.com. The editors keep a detailed and regularly updated list of topics and guidelines, so check this frequently. Each topic will include a submission date, which is usually open for several months. You can submit any time during this period.
Next, look at the range of topics and see if you have any stories that might fit. Remember, your story must be true and told in first person. They don’t accept “as told to” stories. If it’s a story that happened to your mother, you must find a way to tell it that comes from your perspective.
Now, what happens if your mom has a great story, but she asks you to write it? In that case, the editors ask that Mom be listed as the contributor, and you become the ghostwriter.
The editors give a list of story ideas for each topic, so look at these to see what they’re looking for and what ideas they might spark for you. For example, I might think, “Oh, I don’t have a story about my grandmother.” But when I read that list, it might help me remember a moment that I can shape into a great story.
You can also use the range of topics to increase your odds of publication. Here’s how:
First, you can submit an unlimited number of stories for any one topic! My most recent story, “Touch the Horizon,” was submitted under the topic of Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone. When that topic was open, I also submitted “Singing for Strangers” about the first time I sang a solo. In the end, they had so many great stories they published two books on that theme (a year apart). Both of my stories were published, one per book, but there are several writers who have had two or more stories published in the same volume.
And second, you can submit one story under several topics! Let’s say you have a funny story about the time your cat ate the Christmas turkey. You now have one great story you can submit in three different categories: Funny Stories, Cats, and Christmas.
You’ll need to submit your story separately for each topic. On the form, you’ll see a space labeled, “Story Information - Comments.” In that section, you should write, “Also submitted for Cats and Christmas.” It will help the editors sort through things more efficiently.
Bonus Tip: Many of the popular topics are offered every year or two. If your story isn’t accepted the first time around, you can rewrite it and submit it again when the topic reopens the next year!
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Once you’ve written your amazing story, visit the “Submit Your Story” page on the Chicken Soup website. Fill out the form and hit “Submit.” You’ll receive a confirmation on the screen. Given their number of submissions, they aren’t able to send feedback or rejections.
The wait can be long! It might take months or even a year before you hear back from them. In that time, keep checking topics, writing, and submitting.
One glorious day (fingers crossed!), you’ll receive an email saying that your story has made the first round! Here’s where the fun begins ...
At this point, your story has made it through the bulk of submissions. You’re still not guaranteed a spot in the final publication, but you can consider yourself shortlisted. You’ll need to sign and return a Permission Release asking for nonexclusive rights for publication, as well as provide a short bio.
Then, you wait again ...
If you make the next round, you’ll receive a copy of your story with edits and in its final layout, including the inspirational quote. Make any changes you need and return your approved copy to the editor. They will not print any story without your final approval.
Then, if all goes well, you’ll get the best email of all, “Congratulations! The book is on its way to the printer!” Happy Dance Time!
Chicken Soup loves supporting its contributors, so as you get close to the launch date, they’ll send out promotional tools, such as social media graphics and printable bookmarks. They’ll hire a publicist to assist you in connecting with local media. Many writers will leverage Chicken Soup’s reputation to organize signings at local bookstores.
For each story you get published, you receive a check for $250 and ten free books. You have the option of buying discounted books for your own sales as well as for non-profit fundraisers.
Once published, you’re officially part of the Chicken Soup family!
You will now get a regular email with upcoming topics, writing tips, and behind the scenes publishing info. On occasion, they’ll host a Zoom party for the contributors of a particular book. These are always fun and informative.
But just remember something I said earlier—no one writes “for” Chicken Soup. Every book is an open call. I’ve had six stories published, and four more are forthcoming, but that doesn’t give me any edge in the next round of submissions. At one Zoom party, several of the staff mentioned that they’ve submitted stories that haven’t been published. They’re not trying to publish their favorite people. They just want the best stories.
If you love inspirational creative nonfiction and you feel you have a great story to tell, I highly recommend you submit to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Learn their style, submit often, and with any luck, you too can be part of the Chicken Soup family!
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Allison Lynn Flemming is drawn to the power of story to grow hearts and communities. Allison and her husband, Gerald Flemming, form the award-winning duo, Infinitely More. Their 9th album—The Sum Of All Love—explores the joys and challenges of living an authentic life of faith. Publications include Guideposts, Love STC Tourism Blog, Warner Press, and ten stories with Chicken Soup for the Soul. www.InfinitelyMore.ca
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Unleash Your Inner Writer: Interview with Claudine Wolk, Co-Instructor for Sit & Write: Begin
Interview by Nicole Pyles
If you are looking for a course to get you back into the groove of writing, look no further than Claudine Wolk and Kate Brenton's Sit & Write: Begin. In this six-module online course, you'll receive much-needed inspiration and guidance on building confidence and sparking creativity and other resources for your author journey. Best of all, it's at an affordable price of only $97. Make sure you check it out then come on back for our interview with Claudine Wolk, one of the co-instructors you'll find in the course.
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Jenna Tico, Author of Cancer Moon: How I Survived the Best Years of My Life
Interview by Renee Roberson
Today we are excited to bring you an interview with Jenna Tico, author of Cancer Moon: How I Survived the Best Years of My Life. Published through She Writes Press, fans of creative nonfiction will love this book with its humorous observations and insights as well as the reflective passages that resonate with that little voice inside our heads that says "But what if I had done this instead?" Jenna took the time out of her busy promotion schedule to answer a few questions about her writing and editing process, her path to publication, and other essayists who have inspired her own work.
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Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life: When It Rains, It Pours, and Your Book Gets Challenged
By Sue Bradford Edwards
I was half-heartedly considering writing about how to squeeze writing in when life happens in great abundance. Then a message popped into my inbox. Apparently one of my books, Black Lives Matter, is being evaluated in the Leighton, Pennsylvania school district to see if it is appropriate for a high school library. The short answer? Yes, yes, it is. I don’t write for adults so it is pretty much a given that if you match the book to the age level of the young reader, it will be appropriate. The district staffer who contacted me wonders if I would like to comment. Cue the semi-hysterical laughter. Oh, sweet mercy. You had better believe that I do.
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Can You Write a Winning Essay?
By Renee Roberson
I help judge essays for WOW’s Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest. I love the art form because it gives the writer the chance to be incredibly creative and share personal and everyday moments in a way that will resonate with the reader. But writing creative nonfiction isn’t easy—I still struggle with how to do it effectively myself. In our contest, I see some themes reappear time and again. Sometimes these themes are executed successfully, and sometimes they aren’t.
Writers are judged, in part, in how unique the subject matter of the essay is. For example, caring for family members with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is a topic I see a lot with the essays. It’s a heartbreaking thing to go through, and a lot of us here can relate to it within our own families. But to effectively write an essay about it, you should consider your essay’s approach, and in addition to how it has affected you personally, what you want your reader’s takeaway to be.
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Why You Shouldn't Put All Your Freelance Eggs in One Basket
By Nicole Pyles
Since 2013, I've been a freelance writer in some capacity, whether writing articles for clients through SEO companies or contributing to a media outlet. And I enjoy the work! It comes pretty easy for me, except in the rare case if I'm writing about something terribly complex (like that one horrible Internet of Things article I wrote once, but I digress...)
And 2024, I have been going strong with my writing. I'm so thankful to God for the opportunities I have landed. I've written for major media outlets this year, including The Spruce, Better Homes and Gardens, Tom's Guide, National Geographic, and more.
Wow, right?
I have learned one thing recently: don't put all your freelance eggs in one basket.
Why? For me, one big factor is the changing media landscape.
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Time Management with Tomatoes
By Jodi Webb
Like most writers I start each day with a widely varied to-do list. Today’s included tasks for my work as a WOW blog tour manager, product testing for an upcoming article, a blog post, updating my social media, composing questions for an interview, revising an article’s introduction and background reading for a new job. And will there be any time left for creative writing?
From there my day usually goes one of two ways:
- I start one of the tasks on my list and become so engrossed I forget to take a break until hours later when my hungry stomach and/or stiff neck protests.
- I start one task but that annoying voice in my head keeps insisting “What about this task? What about that deadline? Wouldn’t it be easier to just finish that task from yesterday?” I end the day having jumped from task to task, starting many but finishing few.
If you also need help making the best use of your time, I suggest the tomato technique.
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Banned Book Week 2024: Freed Between the Lines
By Sue Bradford Edwards
September 22 to September 28 is Banned Book Week. Despite my own recent experiences with the challenge against my own book, there is some good news.
In the last week, Publisher’s Weekly reported that between January 1 and August 31, 2024, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 challenges. Because so many challenges involve many books, the total number of challenged titles was 1,128. How is this good?
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Ask the Book Doctor: What Agents and Publishers Want
By Bobbie Christmas
Q: I just received an encouraging response from an agent I queried regarding my manuscript of fiction. The agent is requesting, among other things, a description (approximately one-page summary) and a synopsis (approximately two- to five-page-summary).
I don’t want to blow it now. What do you think the agent is looking for in the description? Do you think it’s supposed to be just a more condensed version of the synopsis?
A: Congratulations on getting an encouraging response from an agent—a rarity!
A description is a summary of a novel, and like a teaser, it should entice a reader to want to read the story. Here’s a brief imaginary summary:
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Friday Speak Out! Journal Submissions as a Path to Success
By Ellen Birkett Morris
When I publish a book or chapbook, people are often curious about how I built the collection, got the confidence to send it out and built an audience interested in reading it. My answer is by submitting to journals and getting work published there. I’ve used literary journals as a training ground, as motivation, to market test my work, and as a stamp of legitimacy and a way to build my reputation as a writer.
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By Margo L. Dill
We love when writers share their success stories with us and the projects they are working on! One reason I’ve discussed before is the inspiration and motivation you may feel when reading about a fellow writer’s success. It gives you a sense of: I can do it too! I can pursue my dream, whatever that may be.
Another reason, which is talked about slightly less, is that these stories serve as an alert for what’s going on in the publishing world. For example, did you know that there are publication opportunities for 100-word memoirs? Have you heard about some of the literary journals or contests that are mentioned in the success stories below this month? Reading this column is a great way to see that people do submit to many of the opportunities we discuss in this newsletter, and they do have success! We hope you’ll check some of these out.
As always, we invite you to share your success stories with us. Email them to Margo at margo@wow-womenonwriting.com and please cc: margolynndill@gmail.com (to stay out of spam folders). Please put Success Stories in the subject line.
Enjoy!
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Renee Roberson writes, “I’ve had two full manuscript requests from agents for my adult suspense/thriller novel.”
Cindy Eastman - Author writes, “My 2nd book was published yesterday by She Writes Press! It's called True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver, and it's a memoir in essays about the years we cared for my dad in our home.”
HeBurford, Author writes, “My first novel released in July and the second in the series releasing in November. The Moment Series.”
Roberta Codemo writes, “I started Living With Gynecologic Cancer, a newsletter for newly-diagnosed and recurrent gynecologic cancer patients. I'm a ten-year endometrial and ovarian cancer survivor.”
Amy Carroll Bennett writes, “I finished the first full draft of my novel, and I am getting ready to start draft #2!”
Julia Clebsch writes, “Read ‘Stolen,’ a 100-word memoir I wrote, which was published in Five Minutes, at the Salem Literary Festival in Salem, Massachusetts, as part of the ‘Micro Marvels’ session on September 7.”
Kelly L Stone writes, “My novel, Blood Prophecy, is a Maggie Awards Finalist.”
Jessica Aalto writes, “I'm having my first original piece published, a poem in the literary journal Lit Angels! It will be in their Halloween issue.”
Rita Gardner writes, “The Spanish-language publication of my memoir, The Coconut Latitudes (title: Una Niñez Entre Palmeras) is a finalist in 2024 International Latino Book Awards.”
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