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

Are you already stressed by the holidays? You’re probably racking your brain for safe ways to celebrate, from virtual caroling to hanging socially distanced stockings! Then there are the usual headaches: untangling those lights, keeping Her Serene Highness (the cat) from jumping on the buffet table, and finding Aunt Nellie’s famous eggnog recipe.

We may not be able to help with all of that, but we can make it easy to finish out the year on a high note by submitting your writing. This month’s markets include contests galore, lit mags with stimulating themes, and many more outlets seeking your writing NOW. They want to end the year by publishing the very best, so in the spirit of giving, why not send them yours?

On that note, we’re also here to help Santa. If this is you, and there’s another writer in the family, you’ll find our special holiday gift guide as welcome as a plate of cookies and milk. And if the only writer in the family is you, feel free to tuck this list into Santa’s sleigh as a “hint.”

Our partner, Mari L. McCarthy, founder and chief empowerment officer at CreateWriteNow, is offering her courses for writers for only $4.97 through June 30th! For some of the courses, that's 82% off. Dive into courses like 53 Weekly Writing Retreats, 12 day Guide to Morning Pages, Journal Magic for Writers, and Overcoming Page Fright. All led by inspiring instructor, Mari L. McCarthy.

I met this month’s guest on Twitter maybe a year ago. I remember reading one of Jo’s creative nonfiction essays in The Coachella Review, where I’d also been published, and admiring her prose. This past summer I was pleased when she reached out to me and inquired about a contributing editor position with Barren Magazine, where I volunteer with the CNF team.

I’m happy to say Jo has since joined us on the CNF squad at Barren. And … she’s the lead CNF editor with X-R-A-Y Literary Magazine. Please give a warm welcome to Jo Varnish!

Before diving into our Q&A, let’s take a look at the journal’s mission statement:

X-R-A-Y has—hands down, in my opinion—the coolest images on the literary journal scene. I mean, look at these examples! Artist Bob Schofield customizes each one, pulling out the essence of every piece. The journal accepts prose, 1,500 or fewer words, through Submittable. Sorry, poets; no poetry at this time. Now, let’s get a peek behind the editorial process, this time specific to CNF!

WOW: Hi, Jo! Nice to chat with you again, outside of Barren Magazine! Let’s turn our focus to X-R-A-Y. Specifically, CNF, where you serve as lead editor. How long have you been in this role? How did you find this opportunity? What do you most love about it? 

Jo: Hi, Ann! My involvement began last year when I had a piece of fiction published with them. A few months later, I reached out to the Editor-in-Chief, Jenn, to ask if she might need help, as I loved the journal. My timing was good; they did! I came on board as an assistant editor, and would get super excited when I saw CNF pieces come in. A few weeks later, I asked Jenn if she might consider giving me the role of CNF editor. Jenn is an amazing EIC and has a vision for X-R-A-Y that has led to this ultra-cool, edgy magazine that reliably publishes excellent work. She was happy for me take on the position. The thing I most love is sending out acceptance emails, knowing exactly how much it means to writers.

WOW: CNF, while not as broad as fiction in many ways, still has a fair number of forms and techniques. For the purposes of our interview, we’re including the personal essay, memoir excerpts, flash nonfiction, and lyric (braided, hermit crab, and/or collage essays, and prose poems). From this list, do you have a favorite you like to read? What about a favorite you like to write? Why?

Jo: I’m a fan of CNF in all forms. I love to be surprised. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d say braided essay. CNF is all about connections, how it enhances our understanding of the world and our place in it. The piece you mention that I have in The Coachella Review, Candling, braided my mammogram with the story of my friend in Switzerland who found an egg. The aha moment came when I saw the mammogram image on a light screen in the doctor’s office and it brought to mind a photograph my friend took of the egg with a light shining on it. When a connection like that comes, it’s revelatory and also calming.

WOW: I see X-R-A-Y seeks shorter submissions; 1,500 or fewer words. While that’s often not a problem with all the flash fiction I see on Twitter, CNF essays can be beefy at times. It’s not uncommon to come across pieces in the 3,000-word or higher range. Why did X-R-A-Y decide 1,500 and under is the sweet spot?

Jo: I like that you can be transported/shocked/delighted, and made to feel something in a short span of time. By keeping the word count low, readers know they can invest in a piece fully and it won’t take more than a few minutes. There’s so much that can be achieved in under 1,500 words, as our contributors show us.

WOW: Flash nonfiction is one of my faves. It’s hard, but so rewarding when I land it. Any advice to give our readers on what you think makes a flash piece sing? 

Jo: I think for very few words, it needs to stand out. I encourage writers to seek out a few beta readers because a fresh set of eyes is invaluable. I want an opening that draws me right in. I don’t want a ton of set up. I would have said previously that I prefer dialogue, but one of our team members, the wickedly talented Noa Cova, has shown in her flash that dialogue isn’t necessary for a piece to be complete.

WOW: What do you look for in submissions? Do you find yourself drawn more to content … or craft?  

Jo: This is a great question. Many writers understandably write about the big things in life: loss, catastrophe, drug use, abuse. And, we’ve published some great pieces on those topics. I think it’s important to note, though, that because there are so many pieces that explore these big issues, it’s harder to get an acceptance simply because one is up against many others dealing with similar topics.

For me it’s often the quieter content that sets a piece apart. One of my favorite CNFs in X-R-A-Y is about time a writer spent in a house that was being built by a construction team where her Irish boyfriend worked. She framed it as a letter to the new house owners. I loved it instantly. You can read MK Sturdevant’s skillful essay here.

“I’m particular about how dialogue is presented. Flashbacks and dreams have to be skillfully written to hold my interest.”

WOW: MK Sturdevant’s essay is wonderful! I love the cheeky humor, her descriptions, the way she nails (pun intended!) his spot-on Irish expressions and lilt. A wonderful example, Jo—thank you for sharing! OK, on the flip side, what’s a dealbreaker for you? 

Jo: Aside from the obvious things we wouldn’t publish—misogynistic, racist, or homophobic writing—I can’t think of any dealbreakers. I’m particular about how dialogue is presented, and of course the old mantra of “showing not telling.” Flashbacks and dreams have to be skillfully written to hold my interest.

WOW: Have you ever regretted passing on a piece? Ever missed out on a sub you loved because another journal accepted it ahead of you? Do you think about “the ones that got away?”

Jo: There haven’t been pieces I wish I’d taken for X-R-A-Y but lost, because I’m happy to accept an essay and work with the writer if something isn’t quite there but I see its potential. That said, there have been PLENTY of brilliant pieces I’ve had to pass on simply because they weren’t a fit. As we’ve all heard, a rejection often isn’t a reflection on writing quality. It has to be unlike anything we’ve recently published.

WOW: What advice would you give writers if they had, say, a 2,000 or 3,000-word CNF essay that they wanted to tighten and sub to you? What might you suggest to them to make every word count? 

Jo: I think it’s important to ensure, first off, that the essay can survive such a hefty edit. If an essay feels finished at 2,000 or 3,000 words, then perhaps it isn’t the right piece to send to X-R-A-Y. With my own writing, I always look for places where I can cut dialogue. Leaving a piece and then returning to it usually leads me to chop more. I often find with my work that the opening paragraph or two can be cut.

WOW: Do you like to see research woven into a CNF piece?

Jo: I love CNF that teaches me something, but there’s a fine line for me. I don’t want to feel like I’m reading a university paper. We recently published Robert Julius’s Grief is an Empty Shell. Robert obviously knows a lot about “real” hermit crabs, and includes information about them … yet, it’s relevant, engaging, and adds to the arc.

WOW: Oh my gosh, Jo, another exquisite CNF example! Robert’s essay is haunting. This, especially, I love: “The shells weren’t just shells. They were sentimental, physical objects of memory.” This segues nicely into my next question: What do you most enjoy about CNF? What does it bring readers that fiction, perhaps, may not? Conversely, what do you think fiction brings readers that CNF does not?

Jo: For me, there’s something about knowing that words are true that leaves me with a visceral feeling after reading CNF. The honesty, and often the bravery, that X-R-A-Y’s CNF contributors bring to the table is breathtaking. Fiction, of course, affords a freedom in terms of content and point of view. When I was editing fiction for X-R-A-Y before shifting to CNF, I remember reading Scarab by Jihoon Park and messaging our EIC, Jenn: “We have to accept this now!”

WOW: By the way, what’s X-R-A-Y’s acceptance rate (approximate is fine)?

Jo: Duotrope has us around 17 percent, but we know from our trusty spreadsheet that it’s actually just under 3 percent. An acceptance from X-R-A-Y is a badge of honor!

WOW: How about the turnaround timeframe? Again, approximate is fine.

Jo: We try to respond within three to five weeks.

WOW: I submitted to X-R-A-Y this past winter. At the time, the journal accepted submissions through email. When did you shift to Submittable? 

Jo: X-R-A-Y has been blessed with the wonderful and super capable Crow Norlander as our Managing Editor. He organized our transition to Submittable. There’s no fee to submit, although there’s an optional tip jar to help cover the cost of Submittable that is absolutely voluntary. We don’t want there to be a cost barrier to any writer.

WOW: I saw on the website that X-R-A-Y is compiling “collections” now. That’s intriguing! Can you shed some light around that? How often do the collections come out? How many pieces are chosen, and what’s the criteria for inclusion?

Jo: Yes, those are Jenn’s compilations. She chooses her favorites from the previous quarter and Bob illustrates the cover. Each issue includes between 12 to 15 pieces, with usually one or two CNF in the mix. It’s a great way to further showcase the writing that stood out to us.

“There’s something about knowing that words are true that leaves me with a visceral feeling after reading CNF. The honesty, and often the bravery ...”

WOW: At WOW, we love to promote other writers, and you’ve done a great job already of amplifying some of these works. Care to share any others from X-R-A-Y that you can’t stop thinking about?

Jo: I’d actually love to mention them all! Here are a few more I knew we had to accept:

All the Things We’ll Never Have, from Christopher DeWan. This piece floored me. I haven’t made it through a re-reading without shedding a tear. Stunning work.

Listing, by Michael Todd Cohen. In the form of a real estate listing, we learn about the narrator’s struggle with keeping his homosexuality a secret, and the loss of his father. Michael elicits our empathy without melodrama, and the result is a superb example of a hermit crab essay that will stay with you.

Ham Sandwich, Dry. Caroljean Gavin is wildly talented, and it was such an honor that she wanted to publish her essay in X-R-A-Y. I can’t do it justice by trying to outline it, because the point of it is to let it unroll as you read it … which I suggest you do right now.

WOW: Jo, these essays! I especially love the one from Christopher DeWan. Christopher’s essay is exactly why CNF gives me chills and will always be my genre of choice. OK, turning the tables, from the journal to you personally. Describe a day in the life at Jo’s writing desk. Put us in scene. What’s your routine, and what are you currently working on?

Jo: Firstly, there is no desk! Secondly, I wish I had a wonderfully structured timetable, so I could impress you! I’m a big believer in writing after I’ve done some thinking. When I sit and type—typically late at night when my kids and dogs are asleep—it’s fairly well-formed. I used to write plans for pieces that never materialized. A writer friend described this as letting an idea lose its energy. Now I don’t write or type anything until I’m ready to get sucked into a draft. I write on my sofa, knees tucked under me, Diet Coke and peanut M&Ms at my side, my pit bull asleep next to me, and Lifetime movies on the TV. I need background noise and I won’t find myself distracted by a Lifetime movie! I’m fiercely unstructured, but I will never miss a deadline.

WOW: Tell us about your first publication. The thrill of it.

Jo:  I think it was Chasing Shadows. I’ve since revised it, and Blue Lake Review published the newer version. I remember getting the Submittable notification that it was accepted and feeling like I’d won a Pulitzer.

WOW: God, Jo … you leveled me with this fiction. I’m wrung out. OK … taking a breath to mop my eyes … besides your editorial duties with X-R-A-Y, what are some other creative projects you’re pursuing? What does downtime look like for you?

Jo: I’m finishing my MFA and getting ready to submit my final project, a collection of short fiction with a theme of loss and reaction. When that’s completed, I have an idea for a long-form memoir that I hope to begin in January. I recently started as a PEN prison writing mentor, which is important to me. And, I edit flash fiction and CNF as a freelancer. Downtime usually involves my dogs. I walk my pit bull and as we stroll, I listen to audio books or plan pieces to write. I love to travel, but obviously that passion is on hold until the pandemic passes.

WOW: Last question, but warning: It’s a doozy. Seeing that you write fiction, CNF, and poetry, which do you find the most challenging? Why? Which do you love best? (I know: Unfair question!)

Jo: I’m really not a poet. There are a couple of pieces I’ve enjoyed writing, but I don’t know enough about the form to be considered a poet! I love to read and write CNF and fiction equally. For me, fiction is the most exposing. CNF is a case of finding meaning, rather than inventing it. With fiction, I have to create people, a place for them and their experiences, create a story. It’s all my invention. I find it more vulnerable because readers might think, wow, she thought this would be a story worth reading?

My thanks to Jo Varnish, CNF Editor with X-R-A-Y Literary Magazine, for chatting with me. I can’t close this column without a special shout-out to WOW’s founder, Angela, whose essay appeared in spring 2020 on X-R-A-Y’s site! Take a few minutes to read Doing It in Public. Ang and I have been critique partners for going on three years now. She was one of my early readers for my flash nonfiction, The Pull, which ironically appeared in X-R-A-Y just a week or two before Ang’s essay.

OK, scribes, it’s your turn now. Sharpen your pencils and send Jo your best!

Until next time!

The Southern Collective Experience is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the mediums of visual art, music, poetry, and prose. “In this, our second poetry chapbook contest, we focus upon voices of empowerment from the LBGTQ community. We wish to hear and learn from your journey: your struggles, and your triumphs. No more than 20 pages of poetry. 1st place: 100 copies and $200; 2nd Place: $100; 3rd place: $50. The judges for this contest are Nickole Brown and Jessica Jacobs.” Fee: $25. https://bluemountainreview.submittable.com/submit/169287/lbgtq-poetry-chapbook-contest

Submit up to 3 of your best, previously unpublished poems. Any subject. 1st Prize: $125; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50. Winners will be chosen by Streetlight staff led by poetry editors Sharon Ackerman and Fred Wilbur. Winning submissions will run in the Spring 2021 Issue and be announced December 14. Fee: $10.

The winning manuscript will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and published by Ohio University Press in both print and electronic format the following calendar year. Manuscripts of 60 to 95 pages should be submitted in .doc or .docx file format. Fee: $30-$40.

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

“OxMag wants to read your poems. We are especially interested in poems written with urgency, and a command over language that makes us want to dance on a dictionary. Funny stuff is good too. Or anything that looks cool on the page.” Accepts submissions up to 5 poems. No fee.

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

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

Finishing Line Press will gladly accept full-length poetry book manuscripts, and we do not require a reading fee/processing fee for full-length poetry manuscripts shipped to us via regular post. We are specifically looking for poetry book manuscripts up to 100 pages and no less than 48 pages of poetry. Fee: $3 (online only)

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Big Moose Prize for an unpublished novel. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes will be awarded on publication. The Big Moose Prize is open to traditional novels as well as novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and other hybrid forms that contain within them the spirit of a novel. Fee: $20. https://blacklawrencepress.submittable.com/submit/16738/the-big-moose-prize-early-bird-special

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

Submit your very best fictional short story in 2,000 words or less. Any theme, subject, or genre is fair game, as long as it falls under 2,000 words. Grand prize: $1,000 and publication in our magazine.

We want short stories and self-contained novel excerpts. We're not too strict about subject matter. Approx. 2,500 words maximum. Send one (1) fiction submission per issue. Please number the pages and double space the lines.

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

Over the last 26 years, through a unique mix of intense instruction, challenging assignments, one-on-one guidance, and in-depth feedback, Odyssey has helped hundreds of writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror build their skills. Graduates include award winners, Amazon bestsellers, and New York Times bestsellers.

Since 2010, Odyssey has been a pioneer in offering live, intensive, interactive online classes.

Winter 2021 Classes:

Send us your essays, stand-alone memoir excerpts, and works that defy categorization. We’re looking for art that surprises the heart, stimulates the mind and delights the senses. What does that mean? It means that language and form are primary and that the piece transcends reportage and pursues insight. Some examples of pieces we love? “A Thousand Drops” by Bernard Cooper, “The Pain Scale” by Eula Biss, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, “Just One Last Swirl Around the Bowl” by Dan Barry, “Leap” by Brian Doyle, “A Chapter on Red” by Jericho Parms. We seek various approaches and perspectives that make us see the world anew while connecting us to the common human core. We look forward to reading your writing. Max 3,000 words, or 3 flash pieces of maximum 1,000 words each. Fee: $3. Pay: $25 honorarium per flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more.

“Creative projects often come from the idea that you just can't let go. But what happens when you have to? As the world is on pause, we want to hear your story about when your creative project didn't proceed linearly. Yes, we want to hear about the dreaded creative block. We are seeking previously unpublished personal essays up to 2,000 words about the creative endeavor that you paused.” The winner will receive $650. Fee: $10.

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

Hippocampus is also accepting Essay & Memoir Excerpt Submissions of no more than 4,000 words by December 31. Fee: $3.

The Rockvale "Believe" Fellowship is open to writers of Creative Nonfiction defined as memoir, personal and lyric essay, or literary journalism. You may submit 10-15 pages, and your submission must present serious illness as its main theme and explore the impact illness has on life and relationships. “We put no limitations on the definition of serious illness. The writing, as a whole, should not be previously published. We will consider work in which small portions (such as individual essays in a book of essays) are published. The writer should disclose this information in the application. Award: The recipient will receive a 2-week writer's residency at Rockvale Writers' Colony in College Grove, TN. The residency must be completed before December 31, 2022. A small stipend of $200 will be given to the recipient upon arrival at the colony to compensate for travel and food. Fee: $30 https://rockvalereview.submittable.com/submit/161821/rockvale-believe-fellowship-application-for-creative-nonfiction-writers

The Carl Sennhenn Poetry Prize 2020: Submit up to 3 poems (10 pp. max.). We are an environmentally conscious journal and only accept contest entries through Submittable. The winner will receive a $300 cash prize as well as publication in Conclave.

The Rilla Askew Short Fiction Prize 2020: We will accept entries of unpublished short fiction for consideration for this prize. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but if your stories are accepted elsewhere, we cannot refund your contest entry. If you need to withdraw a story due to acceptance at another publication, post a note in Submittable. The winner will receive a $300 cash prize as well as publication in Conclave. Fee for each contest: $10.

This literary magazine is reading submissions on the ‘Levity’ theme. They want writing that plays off the theme in unexpected ways. Non-fiction submissions should be up to 5,000 words. They are also reading fiction and poetry on this theme. Pay is $400 for stories and essays, $150 for flash fiction pieces, and $100 for poems. No fee.

“What does a performance poem look like on the page? The editors of Nine Cloud Journal are seeking works from actors, writers, storytellers, filmmakers, monologuists, et al. that cues the reader into how a work (cf. dramatic work, spoken word piece, monologue, or other work capable of being performed) might be viewed without the benefit of seeing it on the stage. As a starting point, submissions might include stage directions, lighting cues, italicized suggestions for emotions, and other parenthetical notes.” No word limits published; no fee.

Poetry: Any form or style up to five (5) poems, may be submitted as one file, should run fewer than 10 pages in length.

Flash fiction and flash nonfiction: Aim for a submission from 300-500 words or less per piece. You may submit up to two (2) pieces per issue, may be submitted as one file, should run fewer than 5 pages in length. Note: The submission review process is blind; please remove all instances of your name from your work before uploading it. Fee: $3 per entry.

FOLIO is seeking poetry, fiction and nonfiction for upcoming Volume 36. While our previous two issues have centered on a specific theme, we are accepting submissions of any topic this year. Send us your best work.

Poetry: Please submit up to 5 poems (8 pages maximum) in one document.

Fiction: 5,000 word maximum for prose submissions. Please submit only one (1) short story or three (3) works of flash fiction in one document; Nonfiction: Please submit only one previously unpublished essay at a time, up to 4500 words in length, double-spaced. No fee.

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

Fiction and nonfiction: Previously unpublished original fiction, any genre. Must stand alone (no chapters). No page or word count limit. However, works of length must be of exceptional quality. Fee: $5 per entry.

“In a mirror maze, where everything is reflected repeatedly, the subject must confront their own image. With every turn, a new angle results in a different perspective, exposing the subject to multiple facets of themselves. When we apply this to the ways in which humans view their identity, we can also say that their self-perception is dependent on the context that surrounds them. Through this edition of pacificREVIEW, we attempt to explore the complexities and fluidity of identity.”

Poetry: Limit: 2 typed-pages per poem.

Prose: includes short stories, creative non-fiction, flash fiction, experimental form fiction/nonfiction, etc. Limit: 5,000 words per piece (please submit double-spaced, unless the form is contingent to certain spacing). No fee.

Poetry: Submit up to 8 poems at a time in a single submission/document; do not make separate submissions for each poem. Deadline: December 15

Fiction: Submit up to 5,000 words at a time (approximately 15 pages), double-spaced with 1” margins. Whether it is one 5,000-word story, or numerous smaller stories that collectively total under 5,000 words, you should make only one submission in a single submission/document; do not make separate submissions for each individual piece. Deadline: December 13. Creative nonfiction: Submit up to 5,000 words at a time (about 15 pages), double-spaced with 1” margins. Whether it is one 5,000-word essay, or numerous smaller essays that collectively total under 5,000 words, you should make only one submission in a single submission/document; do not make separate submissions for each individual piece. Deadline: December 15. No fee.

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

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

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

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

Are you a writer or artist that wants to be published and recognized? West Trade Review wants to hear from you!

Poetry: All submissions must be previously unpublished and are limited to five poems per reading period and must be accompanied by a cover letter and a short biography. Include a clear title for each poem.

Fiction: All submissions must be previously unpublished and are limited to one entry per submission period. Submit one story of up to 5,000 words and include a clear title of the work. No fee. https://westtradereview.submittable.com/submit/

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

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

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

“Our Capsule Stories Spring 2021 Edition theme is ‘In Bloom.’ We’re looking for stories, poems, and essays that feel spring-y and burst with life. Send us writing about flowers growing and blooming, about you growing and blooming. Writing that explores rebirth and renewal that comes with spring. Writing about flowers growing where they shouldn’t. Writing about blossoming new love, budding after a cold winter.”

Short stories and essays: under 3000 words.

Poetry: Up to five poems in a single poetry submission (please send them all in one Word document), and only send one story or essay at a time. Please only submit to one category at a time. No fee. https://capsulestories.submittable.com/submit/177227/capsule-stories-spring-2021-edition-in-bloom

Submit one piece of fiction or nonfiction or up to five poems (or flash fiction). Please wait to hear from us before sending more work. Pays contributing authors at two rates: $75 (five layout pages or fewer accepted for publication) and $150 (six layout pages or more accepted). Though there are no word count guidelines, because of limited space, stories over 10,000 words will be particularly difficult, though not impossible, to publish. Contributors also receive two complimentary copies of "their" issue (with the option to buy additional copies at a reduced rate) and a year's subscription to the magazine. Fee: $4.

“We are looking for finely crafted storytelling. This is whether it is traditional “literary” fiction, flash fiction, or genre. Whatever your bent, as long as it is excellent writing and a compelling tale, we are interested in reading it. And if it moves us, we will want to publish it. The same goes for poetry. Although we do not consider ourselves poets, we do recognize and enjoy reading good poetry. We would welcome the chance to read yours and perhaps publish it as well.” No published word limits. Fee: $3.

“We like to be surprised; we like writing that is razor sharp, immediately transporting us with a strong voice and sense of place. For Vol VI, we are hungering for work that explores this theme and all of the conflicts that arise when need opposes the status quo.”

Short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts: up to 5,000 words, or up to three pieces of flash fiction, 750 words or fewer; Nonfiction: memoir, personal essays, and creative nonfiction up to 5,000 words; Poetry: up to three poems of any form and in traditional or experimental styles; Stage & Screen: One-act plays, scenes, or short film and screenplay excerpts up to 15 pages; and Experimental Narratives. We love narratives in all forms. Whether it's digital poetics, a video, or a transmedia, genre-bending piece, if it tells a good story, creates compelling characters, and/or tickles our literary senses, we want it. Consider the limits in our other categories and our online platform for length guidelines. Pays $35 for accepted work. Fee: $3.50. https://expositionreview.submittable.com/submit/

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

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

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

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

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

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

“For prose submissions (fiction or nonfiction) there is no strict word limit, but we won’t be able to consider anything much longer than 10,000 words. One flash prose submission may contain up to five flash-fiction or short-short prose pieces, submitted in one document, totaling less than 1,000 words.” No fee. https://infinity.submittable.com/submit/162710/call-for-proses

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

“Salmon Creek Journal is the student-run arts and literary journal of Washington State University: Vancouver. Our 2021 Journal theme is: “Growth.” How have you grown this year? How has life grown around you? Where did you start, where are you now? What does 'growth' mean to you? We want to see your answers in our journal!” All Prose submissions should be in standard manuscript format (no published limits); Poetry: Submit up to three poems on one submission. Performance, audio, or online work: Submit a link (YouTube, Soundcloud, etc) in the body of your submission.” No fee. https://salmoncreekjournal.submittable.com/submit/177369/2021-scj-open-submission-period

This is a regional contest: Writers must be living in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming at the time of the competition, and material submitted must be previously unpublished. Poetry: Should not exceed 10 pages or 5 poems. Prose: submissions, either fiction or nonfiction, should not exceed 25 pages (double-spaced) in length. Fee: $10. https://whr.submittable.com/submit/

“NOMADartx is an emerging global creative exchange hub dedicated to sharing and amplifying artistic potential, regardless of genre. Our new NOMADartx Review considers and curates fresh voices in arts and literature that address creativity and the creative process. We review all media of visual art and submissions of original written work in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction/personal essay, interviews, and reviews. For our special first issue, we invite writers and artists to share original work they’ve created relating in any way to the creative process or experience. We are also especially interested in this subtopic, relevant to these somehow simultaneously limiting and fast-changing times: subject matter relating to routines and repetitions. Consider the experience of: negotiating old rituals and habits and forming new ones; learning from and subverting the familiar; or encountering something unexpected and unfamiliar.”

Fiction, Personal Essay & Poetry: For general prose and poetry submissions, please note that while we welcome writing of any length, we are more likely to publish pieces under 5,000 words. Please limit your submissions to one per reading cycle. No fee. https://nomadartx.submittable.com/submit/178229/fiction-nonfiction-poetry-art-reviews-interviews

“Welcome to our inaugural award for unpublished creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words! Joy Castro will select three winning pieces for publication. Each will be awarded $1,000 and a complete set of Graywolf Press's The Art Of series. We review literary nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, and experimental prose—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.” Fee: $20.

Ninth Letter is accepting electronic submissions from November 1 to December 31, no fee required. For poetry, submit 3-6 poems (max. 10 pages) at a time. For fiction and nonfiction, please send only one story or one essay at a time, or up to three pieces of flash prose, up to 8,000 words. We do not accept submissions by email attachment--email submissions will not be read.

WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Contests - Deadlines: November 30 (Fiction) and January 31 (Creative Nonfiction). Our favorite writing community offers quarterly contests judged blindly with multiple cash prizes and more for 20 winners, up to $1,350 (fiction) and $1,175 plus a gift certificate to CreateWriteNow (nonfiction), an affordable critique option, and a 300-entry limit on each contest. What’s not to love? Fee: $10 50% Off Sale! $5 (Flash Fiction) and $12 50% Off Sale! $6 (Nonfiction). Sale ends at 11:59 pm PST Nov 30th.

December 8 is “Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day.” Celebrate by going back in time and “re-submitting” your favorite published writing to Sequestrum Literature and Art for their theme of “Reprints.” Deadline: December 15. “Every issue of Sequestrum features the best creative writing of today. Once a year, Sequestrum features the best creative writing of yesterday. In the past, we’ve reprinted work from internationally acclaimed publications alongside journals which are long defunct or upstart gems on the rise. And that’s the way we like it. As always, wow us. Thrill us. Never bore us. We’re eager to read your best.” Poetry: Up to three poems per submission; 50 lines per poem. You may submit poetry featured with multiple publishers. Fiction & Nonfiction: Submissions should generally not exceed 12,000 words. Fee: $6.35.

December 10 is “National Human Rights Day.” To commemorate this landmark event, consider submitting to Interim: A Journal of Poetry & Poetics for their special issue on Black Aliveness, Solace and Solidarity. Deadline: December 15. “From Guest Editor Ronaldo Wilson: Over many years, moving my queries across genre, occasion and discipline, I've been urged to ask: what must we do, looking into the face of Black life, to render the artistic forms we invent through our voices, bodies, and imaginations? I'm looking for work that will push the boundaries of voice and body, work that renders, even re-imagines Black Aliveness, as sane, wild, alert, infinite, and forever. Send art of any kind: poetry, prose, critique, image, picture, painting, video, sound file, or other, any work and play, as it radiates across form for consideration in the forthcoming winter online digital issue of Interim I am guest curating.” Fee: $3

December 21 is the official Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. It’s also “National Flashlight Day.” Celebrate the darkness by writing a “noir”-style story for Alta’s Noir Story Contest! Deadline: December 15. And this contest sounds fun! “Dust off your typewriter, summon your inner Dashiell Hammett, and enter the Alta Noir Story Contest. The winner receives publication and a leather-bound edition of “Arson Plus” by Dashiell Hammett, printed and published by Thornwillow Press ($2,000 value)—a one-of-a-kind copy. One submission per person. All stories must be less than 1,500 words. REQUIREMENTS: Each short story must be original and previously unpublished and contain the following five elements, in any order: 1. A lost letter; 2. A nearby tiki bar; 3. “Don't call the police." 4. A blue silk kimono; and 5. “I thought you said you loved me."

'Tis the season for thinking about gifts, and if you’re reading this newsletter, chances are you are a writer. Chances are if you are a writer, you know writers, and you may be looking for some gifts. We turned to social media to ask you what gifts you were either asking for OR giving specifically to writers this year. We got some funny and serious answers. See those below.

But first, I will say that on the top of my wish list is a MacBook Pro and the publishing software, Vellum. Although I doubt Santa is leaving this under my tree, I am saving all my holiday dollars toward this purchase in 2021 because it will make life so much easier as an independent author and publisher!

Okay, now on to your witty and marvelous ideas:

Lynn Nicholas – Author said, “Book reviews !!!! Can't believe how hard it is for people to write a review, even after they've told you exactly what they liked about your book. Bloody hell. AND.... might give some books on writing as gifts. Just finished Elizabeth Berg's Escaping into the Open [The Art of Writing True]. Lovely conversational style and so relatable.”

Patricia Lamb said, “Encouragement!! (In the newsletter). And a general step-by-step overview of the publishing process. I have a book I MUST write, but because I don't exactly understand the overall process of how a book comes "to life"...the creation of the actual pages is elusive to me.”

Angela Jackson said, “I make glass cabochon bookmarks, so I will give some of those. Writers are readers, right?”

Chris Moray St Germain said, “Wacom CINTIQ 22HD drafting tablet for drawing illustrations for my children’s books!”

Suzi Minor Author said, “A very nice pen.”

maggiemceaston said, “Cozy cardigan with pockets to read and write in.

kimberlycollins_author said, “Time. Starbucks gift card. Leave me alone.”

cheriepostill said, “I researched and wrote a book for writers that will be available next month. [How to Train a Beta Reader and Sell More Books] My gift for the writing community. I would like an agent, please. For my MG fiction.”

Shanin Yvonne said, “The courage to submit my writing for publication.”

Susan K Hudgens said, “Acceptance letters!”

Becky Brandon said, “Focus!”

Nino Gugunishvili said, “Readers and reviews.”

Tyreanmartinson said, “Readers and reviews or a pile of books.”

kebfilippone said, “Time, just more time.”

birch.farm.lodge said, “Time to write. Just more time to write is all I need.”

christyflutterby said, “Time. I think it's all about time for me.”

We also asked for some success stories because we believe it is important to celebrate every single success you have—whether it’s a new publishing contract or reaching a goal of 50K words. Here’s what you guys said on the social media channels. Congratulations to everyone! Remember you can reach us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or simply email Margo at margo@wow-womenonwriting.com with Success Story in the subject line.

Leanna Falconer said, “My short story ‘Best Kept Secret’ was a finalist in this year's Literary Taxidermy Morrison Competition which earned me a cash award and inclusion in the anthology published early November by Regulas Press. All entries utilized the very first and very last line of Toni Morrison's novel, Beloved, constructing an original story in between them while making the lines integral to the story. It was a fun challenge!”

Smitha Tallapragada said, “I made it to 25k in NaNoWriMo. 25k was my pragmatic goal while 50k is my ambitious one. I am glad I met the first goal, and happy about it. It took a lot to come this far while trying to keep two little kids in good spirits.”

Amy Grace O'Neil said, “After getting honorable mention in the WOW! Summer Flash Fiction Contest, another little flash won the Free Flash Fiction One competition. So a good month for me!”

christyflutterby said, “I'm pretty excited about my third NaNoWriMo. I've had the ideas for these stories for a while, and I'm thrilled to be getting them down. I have about 5,500 words left to go. I'm so happy to be hanging out with these strange characters and going on adventures with them.”

tyreanmartinson said, “I released a new novella Liftoff, and I've had some wonderful reviews!”

melissagrunow said, “Hypertext Magazine nominated my essay, ‘Marriage: A Grammar Exercise’ for Best American Essays.”

authortashahutchison said, “My novel has been accepted for publication.”

strength4spouses said, “I was a contributing author in two books released in October. #bravewomenstrongfaith and In the Waiting Time: Messages from Infertility Warriors.”

sandeesnaps said, “My new book, Birds Don't Cry, is out now. It's a domestic thriller about adult sibling rivalry and repressed memory. Available only on Amazon 😊 I'm looking for book reviews if anyone wants to read it! DM me.”

annkkelly said, “I’m thrilled to be in the inaugural issue of Paper Dragon, with an essay that forms the backbone of my memoir.”

We’ve all had a tough year, and we know that money doesn’t grow on trees. So, no more last-minute scrambling to buy the perfect gift for your writer friend. The final gift on our list is guaranteed to make her writing heart happy, which will bring immeasurable joy to yours….

6. Time to write! Save the moolah and offer your writer friend a precious block of time to actually write. This could mean making her a meal (or ordering out and having it delivered), watching her kids or helping with other family obligations, such as walking Fido for a week. You could even do a swap for each other and end up with more writing time yourself. This will undoubtedly be a gift to remember.

We wish you a holiday season filled with peace, blessings, and an abundance of all the things you love best. Take some time to relax and recharge, and know that we’ll be here for you in 2021 with even more new markets to inspire you.

~ Ashley & Team WOW!

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