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

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As we head into March, with more signs of spring and revitalization in bloom, many writers are taking action on their new year’s goals with renewed vigor. For some, that may include trying a new genre or focusing on an aspect of their writing career. Whether your goal is to start a new blog, dive into the freelance waters, or plunge into a novel, it helps to keep an open mind and take daily action, no matter how small, toward achieving those goals.

I don’t remember what the first true crime podcast I got hooked on was, but once I listened to that first one, I couldn’t get enough of the genre. It made for great conversational material among my friends and family. As I continued to listen, I studied the different formats for each podcast—some were journalists reporting on cases for their employers, and others were “indie” podcasters who took the lead on investigating cases and finding their own sources to interview. With my degree in communications and years of experience reporting for newspapers and magazines, I wondered if I could create my own podcast, and if I did, what would it look like?

In the year before the pandemic hit, I would journal in a notebook about what a true crime podcast would look like. I decided on a niche topic—missing people in North and South Carolina, because that’s where I live and I’m familiar with a lot of the cases. I listed names of cases I could discuss. I scoured forums on places like Reddit to get an idea of what people were looking for in true crime podcasts. When the whole country began to shut down in March 2020, I began writing episodes in earnest with my free time and produced the first one.

Taking the plunge into podcasting wasn’t easy, but I already had the skills necessary to create content that listeners would enjoy. Once I began writing and reporting, I tweaked the writing a bit to include missing persons cases that were already solved, or that tied to other crimes.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling a Facebook page that features missing people in North Carolina, and I came across an urgent plea from a mother whose 42-year-old son has been missing for three years. Because he’s an adult and not considered “endangered,” the media has told her his case is not newsworthy. I’ve talked to her on the phone a few times and told her I’m more than willing to share his story on my podcast, because there are so many listeners from his area that may not even know he’s missing. I feel like maybe all the work I’ve put into creating this platform can finally be used to help someone looking for answers.

There’s a part of me that feels crime writing opened me up to new genres. During NaNoWriMo, I started writing a suspense/thriller novel for the first time with the protagonist as a true crime podcaster. I was able to use the knowledge I’ve gleaned from podcasting to create what I hope will be a page turner for readers. If you’d asked me two years ago if I could write a mystery, I would have told you no. Now, I’ve developed more confidence in my writing thanks to all I’ve learned with this new art form. I encourage everyone to try a new genre of writing. Do you mostly write creative nonfiction? Flex your muscles at fiction writing. Are you a longform journalist? Venture into writing blog content. The possibilities are endless.

Learn new skills. There are many free webinars out there that can teach you the basics of any skill you’re looking to learn, whether it’s crafting an article pitch, writing creative nonfiction, or developing a podcast script. The same goes for affordable online classes, such as the ones offered here at WOW!

Be courageous. I step outside of my comfort zone every time I reach out to a prospect about interviewing a subject for my podcast, but I’ve had great results. If I hadn’t taken the risk, I would have never met several great writers I now connect with regularly.

In this month’s newsletter, we’re talking about finding the missing piece in our writing life by choosing what we give our attention to. Whether it’s a lifelong journey as a writer or a second act, it’s never too late to follow your dreams, but it starts by taking control over your time and priorities and committing to daily action. In light of our theme, I can’t think of a better person to chat with than Mari L. McCarthy, founder and CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer) of CreateWriteNow.com. Before diving into our Q&A, I’d like to share Mari’s story:

Twenty-five years ago, Mari lost feeling and function in the right side of her body due to Multiple Sclerosis. She’d worked as a business consultant, driving across the country and advising Fortune 1000 companies; but as her disease progressed, she was forced to sell her business. She didn’t have the strength to cook a meal without dropping her saucepans, and it took a mammoth effort each day just to coordinate her legs and walk from the bedroom to the bathroom. The cocktail of prescription drugs and specialist visits didn’t seem to be helping. She felt diminished by her chronic illness and desperately wanted change.

Then one day, she discovered the missing piece in her life. A friend introduced her to “Morning Pages,” a journaling exercise from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. Morning Pages is a stream-of-conscious writing exercise done first thing in the morning. The idea is to wake up and commit to your journal daily, writing three longhand pages of any thoughts that come into your head. At first, Mari viewed the exercise as physical therapy and a way to learn to write with her left hand, but she soon noticed how journaling eased her bodily symptoms, especially when she focused on them in depth. As she continued her journaling practice, her MS symptoms improved. Before long, she began to explore not only physical issues in her journal, but emotional, mental, and spiritual as well and intentionally set out to create the life she always wanted. This included becoming a professional singer and launching the CreateWriteNow community.

I can’t tell you how much I admire Mari for realizing what was missing from her life and then setting a path of intention. As founding editor of WOW! Women on Writing, I understand the courage it takes to leave one job to pursue a business idea that you’re not sure will be a success, but one that invigorates your soul.

Today, Mari L. McCarthy teaches health-conscious action-takers how to use Journaling For The Health Of It® to explore, embody, and express their True Self. She is the multi-award-winning author of Journaling Power: How To Create The Happy, Healthy Life You Want To Live; Heal Your Self With Journaling Power; and Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. She’s also created 20+ Journaling Power Workbooks including, Who Am I?, Journal Magic For Writers, Take Control of Your Health, and How To Start Journaling For The Health Of It® Write Now.

Join us as we chat with Mari about journaling, what prompted her to start her company, tips for quieting your inner critic, and more. Mari also shares several opportunities, including receiving a free Journaling Power workbook and becoming a Journaling Journey guest blogger.

WOW: Mari, welcome! We’re thrilled to spotlight you today. You’re celebrating 25 years of Journaling For The Health Of It®. I love how journaling opens doorways to new thinking. Do you remember your first journaling aha moment and the path it led you on?

Mari: My first ahas were remembering many, many childhood experiences: being left-handed and Sister Andrea changing me, wanting to be a real singer and getting turned down for the St. Bernard's Choral Group. Journaling helped me heal what I call the “issues in my tissues,” and my left-handed writing became legible in a few weeks. As for my singing, I wrote down my goal of becoming a real singer, and a short time later, my local newspaper ran a story about a music school two towns over that worked with students of all ages. So, I started voice lessons there. Today, I have a five-octave range (my voice teacher calls me “Mariah Carey Mari”), and I’m writing songs!

WOW: That’s incredible, Mari! How did you make the leap from discovering the value of personal journaling to launching CreateWriteNow?

Mari: My Journal made me do it. Once I realized the holistic health opportunities of journaling, I said to myself that I needed to set up a business and share this awesome self-healing tool with the world. Then one day, Journaling For The Health Of It just showed up on my pages. Then, CreateWriteNow was the answer my Journal gave me when I asked the question, “What do I call my company?” She loves it when I ask for her advice.

WOW: I love how everything starts with journaling, and it can provide all the answers, as we explore what we really want. But sometimes, it can be tough to get started. When I first started journaling, I struggled with negative self-talk, which is the biggest cause of writer’s block. What are some tips for quieting our inner critic?

Mari: Creating a healthy, loving relationship with him/her. That means having lots of journaling discussions to get to know him. I asked lots of questions and listened, listened, listened. I discovered he is my traumatized child. I provide the positive parenting he so needs, and he provides all kinds of answers for my healing, growth, and transforming.

WOW: One of my favorite things is your Journaling Power Workbooks because they help uncover those hidden issues and transform them into something positive. After completing your workbook exercises, I feel like I just got back from a luxurious spa retreat! Your guided prompts are energizing, and an inner journey full of inspiration and personal insights. 

Mari: Once again, it starts with my Journal who gives me words, phrases, and ideas. Once I have the title and subject matter, I create the table of contents and then write, write, write. I use a lot of journals in the process! Thanks to 25 years of daily journaling, I know and love My Self, and my self-compassion is at an all-time high, and that has been the game changer for keeping me on track.

WOW: Your journal is a great accountability partner! Since we’re still pretty fresh into the new year, many writers are thinking about goals, and journaling is a powerful way to discover what you truly want out of life and manifest those desires. What advice and/or journaling prompts would you give to someone who is exploring her career goals?

Mari: I have about 380 journaling power prompts; about 10+ years of blog posts; and 20+ workbooks, including one on careers/passion pursing, one on goals, one on recharging & resetting your life, transitions. And there are two freebies: Change Your Life in 15 Days and Discover Your True Self in 23 Days. I’m sure there’s one that will speak to them.

WOW: Those are great; thank you! You also offer Journaling Power Sessions, which are 60-minute Zoom consultations. Are these live journaling sessions, and what can participants expect from a session?

Mari: The session is whatever the client wants them to be. Before the session, I have them do a 5-minute free-writing exercise and answer the question that they put at the top of their Journal page, “Who Am I Today?”. It helps them to become and stay present. One client said of her session: “Very good and comprehensive ... I learned a lot about myself and how I can better relate to this world.”

WOW: I love that free-writing exercise, and your sessions sound personally tailored and helpful. Your Journaling Power blog is also a great resource. I enjoy opening my inbox and reading the latest post from your guest bloggers, who write about everything from personal stories of journaling to fuel writing to relieving anxiety and more. Are you open to guest post submissions, and what are your guidelines? Are there any topics you’re looking for, and how can writers submit to you?

Mari: I’d love Journaling Power Journey guest blog posts from WOW members. Guidelines are 1,000 words, links, bio, and a personal pic. I’m looking for anything in the personal development category, their writing life, their journaling power journey. I have lots and lots of Google cred, so it will definitely get WOW members out to the world.

WOW: What a great opportunity! So, what’s next for you and CreateWriteNow?

Mari: I’m revisiting and revising the 20+ Journaling Power workbooks in CreateWriteNow’s Embodied Journaling Store. If you or any WOW members have suggestions on improvements, consolidation, etc., I’m all ears. If anyone wants a workbook and will do a Journaling Journey guest blog post after using it, I’ll send it to them for free.

I just published a new Journaling Power workbook, How To Create Prosperity Write Now.

Also, I’m starting to work on the next paperback book in the Journaling Power Revolution Series: Focus To Finish: A Journaling Power Self-Management Book. I’m writing the back cover (what’s in it for my readers) and then on to the table of contents. Of course, I just started a new, spiral, one-subject Journal exclusively for this creative endeavor.

Many thanks to Mari L. McCarthy, founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of CreateWriteNow.com, for chatting with me. CreateWriteNow’s store offers journaling self-healing courses, self-empowerment courses, courses for writers, and self-growth courses. If you’d like to receive a free course workbook and write about your journaling journey for CreateWriteNow’s blog, you can contact Mari via email at mari@createwritenow.com. I’ve completed nearly a dozen of these workbooks—everything from Journaling Magic for Writers to 15 Day Spiritual Journey—and each time I do, I think I’ve found my new favorite. The fun thing is you can do them over and over at different times in your life to surprising and inspiring results.

Enter the Annual BSFS Poetry Contest! Entries should address the themes of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or science. 1st prize: $100; 2nd prize: $75; 3rd prize: $50. Limit: 3 poems/person, maximum 60 lines each. Winners will receive a cash prize, convention membership, and be invited to read their winning entries at Balticon. Attendance at Balticon is not required to win. Winning poems will be published one time in the BSFAN, the Balticon convention souvenir book. In addition, a pdf version of the winning poems as they appear in the BSFAN will be available on the Balticon Poetry Contest website. No fee.

The Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network, accepts one-poem submissions. Submissions should be one poem only (40-line limit), original, and previously unpublished. The contest awards the winner $200 and publication in storySouth. The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Multiple submissions are accepted, one poem per entry fee. Fee: $10 for NCWN members, $15 for nonmembers.

Held annually in memory of poet Lexi Rudnitsky (1972-2005), the Editor's Choice Award is open to any American citizen living anywhere in the world, or anyone living in the United States regardless of residency status, with at least one previous collection of poems. The winner receives publication and $2,000. Submissions should be at least 40 manuscript pages. They must be primarily in English to be considered. To be eligible to submit to our contest, a previously published book must have been published (not just accepted for publication) by the close of the current entry period. Fee: $30.

Your poetry submission may contain up to five (5) poems, may be submitted as one file, should run fewer than 10 pages in length, and must be unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are welcomed so long as you withdraw them when accepted elsewhere. You can submit poetry in any form or style. No fee.

Editor F. J. Bergmann is accepting submissions on the theme Notional Ekphrasis for issue 44. Ekphrastic poetry consists of poems based on visual art. The work does not necessarily need to be described in the poem, nor is it considered necessary to view the image in order to appreciate the resultant poem. Notional works of art are those that do not actually exist; fiction (and poetry) are replete with instances of these. Notional ekphrastic poems, therefore, would be poems inspired by works of art that exist only in your own imagination (or that of others), from any period in time or space. Please submit 1–3 poems in English (ideally, attached as .docx or .txt) and include a short bio. Translations from other languages are acceptable with the permission of the original poet (unless public domain). Accepted poems will be paid for at the following rate: US 3¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25. Payment is on publication. No fee.

The Tomaž Šalamun Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. Previous publication is neither a requirement nor a restriction. You can enter if you've published zero books or 100 books. $1000 + chapbook published by Factory Hollow Press + one-month residency in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The prize winner will receive $1000, 10 free copies of their chapbook, and a free one-month residency at the Tomaž Šalamun Centre for Poetry in Ljubljana, Slovenia. If a translation wins the prize, the translator will receive $1000, 10 copies of the chapbook, and the residency. Send a chapbook of 20-28 pages (total length including title page, optional table of contents, optional acknowledgments/notes). Fee: $17.

“Authors may submit any number of poems equaling thirty to thirty-five pages in length, with no more than one poem per page. (Single poems may extend more than one page.) The selected poetry collection will be published as a limited edition chapbook, hand-printed with antique letterpress equipment.” No fee.

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for an unpublished poem written by an adult for children aged 7–11. The Prize is open to anyone (over 16), as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The poems can be on any subject. The prize is €1,000 plus publication in the summer issue of The Caterpillar. Fee: €14.

“Poems may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review. Two copies of the journal will be supplied to every poet appearing in it. Poets may enter more than once, and as many as five poems may be submitted per entry (all pasted into one document). There are no length restrictions. All genres and styles are welcome.” Fee: $15.

“Our 20th annual humor poetry contest welcomes your entry now. There's no fee to enter. The final judge is Jendi Reiter, assisted by Lauren Singer Ledoux. We'll award $3,500 in prizes, including a top prize of $2,000 and a second prize of $500, both double last year's amounts. Winners are published on our website.” This contest welcomes published and unpublished poems up to 250 lines. No fee.

Fire up your flash fictionator again. With the cold, dark winter upon us, write a story about what happens when things get really bleak. They want you to write a short story of 1,000 words or less on the theme “Disrupted.” This contest is open to all English-speaking writers anywhere in the world. There is no cost to enter. The winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card. All genres, writing styles, and settings are welcome. No fee.

Submit to Planet Bizarro’s first ever anthology. “We are looking for 4000-7000 (firm) word stories involving bizarre monsters. They could be bloodthirsty, benevolent, pets, or whatever else you can dream up. Keep in mind that this is first and foremost BIZARRO, although we also love a sprinkling of horror, humour, and stories with a message (subtle). Keep it weird, wacky, and bizarre.” Contributors receive £20 plus a digital copy of the anthology upon publication. No fee.

For this contest, write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which in the first sentence one or more characters arrive at a location and find something unexpected. You are NOT required to use this opening template, but you can if you want: “When ___character(s)___ arrived at ___location___, the last thing ___pronoun___ expected to find was…” All short stories must be between 1,000 and 5,000 words long. One submission per author per contest. Pay is First Place: $250; Second Place: $200; Third Place: $150; Honorable Mention: $75. No fee.

They are now accepting submissions for their upcoming ‘Spring Anthology‘ of short fiction. The theme of the upcoming anthology is: Work, and Free Time. Length should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Accepted works shall be paid $20 in Canadian currency, through Paypal. No fee.

The Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction was established in 2004 in memory of Liza Nelligan, a writer, editor, and friend of many in Colorado State University’s English Department, where she received her master’s degree in literature in 1992. By giving an award to the author of an outstanding short story each year, they hope to honor Nelligan’s life, her passion for writing, and her love of fiction. The Nelligan Prize is offered annually. The winner receives a $2,000 honorarium and the story is published in the fall/winter issue of Colorado Review. All stories are considered for publication. There are no theme restrictions, but stories must be at least 10 pages (or 2500 words) but no more than 50 pages (12,500 words). Fee: $15 (or $17 via Submittable).

“The Alice Munro Short Story competition, now in its 17th year, is an opportunity for writers to explore the short story, a literary art form made popular by 2013 Nobel Laureate Alice Munro. The winning entry will be the Canadian work of up to 2,500 words in the English language, fiction, written by an author not yet published in book format. Winners will be announced at the 2022 festival with simultaneous social and print media release. First prize for Adult submissions is $1,500, 2 additional prizes of $250 being awarded.” Fee: $25.

“The 31st Annual James Jones First Novel Fellowship will be awarded to an American author of a first novel-in-progress, in 2022, by the James Jones Literary Society. The award is intended to honor the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture exemplified by the late James Jones, author of From Here to Eternity and other prose narratives of distinction. Jones himself was the recipient of aid from many supporters as a young writer and his family, friends, and admirers have established this award of $10,000 to continue the tradition in his name. Two runners up awards of $1,000 each may be given by the Jones Literary Society. All selections are at the discretion of the judges.” Fee: $33. https://jamesjones.submittable.com/submit/200516/james-jones-first-novel-fellowship-contest-2022

“If you think you’ve got what it takes to terrify, scar, and haunt our audience of ~150k monthly listeners, then we want your stories! If accepted, we'll get our fantastic narration team to lend their voices, our editor will sprinkle some magic pixie dust on the track, and you could have your story heard by thousands of listeners each week.” March’s theme is “crime.” No fee.

“$2,500 will be awarded for the best short story, which will be published in the fall/winter 2022 issue of Colorado Review. There are no theme restrictions, but stories should be at least 10 pages and under 50 pages.” Manuscripts should be double-spaced, 12-point type, and one-inch margins. Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address should be entered in the cover letter field, separate from your story. Be sure your name is NOT anywhere in the story itself. Fee: $17

Entries must be a fictional short story of up to 2000 words on any theme. Winning Stories will be published on this site. Winning entrants will be offered the opportunity to have their stories included in an Henshaw anthology. It is intended to produce our next anthology when there have been sufficient prize winning stories. Prizes in the March competition are: 1st Prize £200, 2nd Prize £100, 3rd Prize £50. Fee: £6.

A $20,000 advance and publication by Graywolf Press will be awarded to the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a writer not yet established in the genre. The winning author will also receive a $2,000 stipend intended to support the completion of their project. The 2022 prize will be awarded to a manuscript in progress. "We request that authors send a long sample from their manuscript, as well as a description of the work, as detailed below. We expect that we will work with the winner of the prize and provide editorial guidance toward the completion of the manuscript." Submit a minimum of 100 pages (roughly 25,000 words) from the manuscript. No fee.

“Submit your best essay in 2,000 words or less. Any topic or subject is fair game as long as your submission is a work of nonfiction. Grand prize: $1,000 and publication in our magazine.” Fee: $25.

“We have no specific theme or prompt for our 2022 contest. Just keep in mind that Laura and Guy Waterman, after whom this contest is named, spent a lifetime exploring, living, and writing within the boundaries of culture and nature." Essays should measure about 2,000-3,000 words. Please double-space your essay and use a 12-point font. The winning essayist will receive $1,500 and publication in Appalachia, America's longest-running journal of mountaineering and conservation, published since 1876 by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The runner-up will receive $500 and publication in a later issue of Appalachia. No fee.

The 2022 EastOver Prize for Essays (and other Nonfiction) is open to a wide variety of book length non-fiction manuscripts by established and emerging writers. "We are especially interested in collections of literary essays, but will consider essay-based memoirs, mixed genre works, works combining essays and original visual art, speculative non-fiction, and other hybrid works. We are interested in manuscripts that take a narrative approach to nonfiction, and we do not limits our books to a journalistic approach to the truth." Publication will include $2000 at the time of contract signing as well as other customary arrangements regarding book copies, royalties and so forth to be agreed at the time of contract signing. No fee.

The final judge for the contest is Sarah Einstein. Please limit prose to 4,000 words. For prose that is 1,500 words or fewer, submit up to three in one entry. (These flash prose pieces will be considered individually, unless they are connected.) All manuscripts will be read blindly. $1,000 first place cash prize. Winning entries and many runners up will be published in the Spring 2022 print edition, Issue 84. Fee: $20 for ONE entry (one essay OR up to three pieces of flash, each under 1,500 words). Each additional entry is $10.

"As with our regular essay/memoir submissions, we are seeking strong and stirring personal stories." Send them a minimum of 800 and maximum of 1500 words. Please do not submit previously published work. 1st place: $125;

2nd place: $75; 3rd place: $50. Winners will be announced on April 4th, 2022, and all winning entries will be published online on Streetlight and in print in Streetlight's annual anthology. Fee: $10

"We accept one winning Creative Nonfiction piece of up to 25 pages (other submissions will be considered for publication at our normal rates). We offer the winner a $1,000 prize and publication in next year's Fall or Spring issue." Fee: $20

The Pinch Journal is accepting nonfiction entries of up to 1,000 words for its annual Page Prize. Judged by Jess Zimmerman. Only unpublished work will be considered. Winner receives $1,000. Fee: $10

The Flash 405 Contest will be guest judged by Expo contributor and friend Mia Nakaji Monnier. The theme: Routine & Ritual. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” —Annie Dillard, The Writing Life. Routine is the backdrop of our lives: sleep, wake up, shower, eat breakfast. Sometimes we do it on autopilot, barely remembering afterward that we’ve done it at all. "I want to read about mundane, gentle days where not much happens, but the small, sensory moments mean everything. ... How do we mark the small moments that make up our lives?" Open to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, stage & screen, and experimental - up to 405 words. 1st Place is publication and 40% of the entry fees. 2nd Place is publication and 20% of the entry fees. Two Honorable Mentions receive publication. Entry fee: $5.

They are open for short story submissions for their new collection, The Last Five Minutes of a Storm! They are looking for stories of all genres that respond to their title and/or cover art, and writers will receive a flat rate of €150 for accepted submissions. They are not requesting any specific genres for this edition, so they are all welcome – sci-fi, literary, fantasy, romance, horror, noir, non-fiction – as long as they reveal a piece of reality that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Submit one piece per writer, up to 5,000 words. No fee.

“Wild Roof Journal is an online art & literary publication that will feature work from a wide range of creative people—painters, drawers, photographers, digital artists, writers, poets, and anyone else who is passionate about the creative process and self-expression.” Poetry: 1-6 poems (submit multiple poems in a single file). Fiction: 1-3 pieces of short fiction (approx. 1,000-3,000 words) or flash fiction (under 1,000 words). Nonfiction: 1-3 pieces of creative non-fiction/essay (total length approx. 3,000 words max.) Fee: $3.50

“In commemorating Tennessee Williams’s 111th Birthday and the 11th Anniversary of the Tennessee Williams Museum, the Key West Art & Historical Society welcome submissions to the Tennessee Williams Poetry Contest and the Tennessee Williams Short Story Contest. Three published authors will judge each contest.” Poetry: 30 lines or less and must not have been written before 2021. Short stories: Between 1,500 to 4,000 words and must not have been written before 2021. Work should reference Tennessee Williams in some way. Award: $400/$200 and publication in each category. Fee: $10. https://www.kwahs.org/education/twbc

“While we are located in the American South, we are interested in work from all human communities and variety of perspectives, geographic and otherwise. We are also interested in writers in various stages of their careers, and especially in work from historically underrepresented voices. We publish works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on a quarterly basis.” Poetry: Submit up to 3 poems at a time. Fiction and nonfiction: Manuscripts should be no longer than 8,000 words, double-spaced. Fee: $3

Bellingham Review is offering three $1,000-dollar first-place prizes for fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Dedicated to forming a community of writers, the Bellingham Review also offers continual support to our authors through interviews, book reviews, social media promotion, and endless words of encouragement. An entry consists of one essay, one story, up to three pieces of flash, or up to three poems. Please limit prose to 4,000 words. For prose that is 1,500 words or fewer, submit up to three in one entry. Fee: $20 (International entries: $30).

“The re-vamped Perkoff Prize is a tri-genre contest that will award $1,000 and publication each to writers of the best story, set of poems, and essay that engage in evocative ways with health and medicine as judged by the editors. All submissions must engage with health and medicine in some way.” Poetry: up to 10 pages of poetry. Fiction and Nonfiction: up to 8,500 words, double-spaced. Fee: $15.

Camas cultivates a community of writers and artists dedicated to land health and cultural resilience in the American West. "We pursue fresh ideas and perspectives while remaining rooted in the West's landscapes and traditions of art and literature. We celebrate the people who work and live here; we celebrate the land that connects us; and we provide an opportunity for emerging writers and artists to publish their work alongside established voices." For poetry, submit up to five poems. For fiction and nonfiction, submit up to 5,000 words. No fee.

Hoxie Gorge Review is committed to publishing innovative poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by both emerging and established contemporary writers. "We aim to provide a platform for writing that is urgent and engaging, regardless of theme or style. To that end, we seek work that compels us, that challenges us, that breaks us open. Our only requirement is quality. Send us your best." For poetry, please submit 3-5 poems in a single document. Each poem should start on a new page. For fiction and nonfiction, please send only one story or essay at a time. While they prefer shorter pieces, they are happy to read quality work of any length. No fee.

“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 our readers. We choose our writers because we believe their work succeeds at its goals, whether its goals are to uphold or challenge literary tradition.” Phoebe is now open for submissions! Submit your fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or art to be considered for their spring contest issue. For fiction and nonfiction, submit up to 5,000 words. Poetry submissions may contain up to 5 pieces. For their Spring 2022 contest, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, the prize for each winner in the categories is: $500 and publication in phoebe 51.2 (digital issue). Fee: $7

The Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prize Series welcomes manuscripts from all living writers, including non-US citizens, writing in English. Both unpublished and published writers are welcome to submit manuscripts. They will not consider manuscripts that have previously been published, which includes self-publication. The fiction prize is for a short story collection, and manuscripts should be at least 150 pages long. The poetry prize is for a collection of poems, and manuscripts should be at least 50 pages long. Fee: $25

The Idaho Review remains open to a wide range of possibilities within the literary arts. For poetry, they accept up to five poems per submission. For fiction and nonfiction, they accept short stories, flash fiction (up to 3 pieces under 1,000 words), and essays. Fee: $3.

“Seneca Review typically accepts submissions twice annually—from September 1st through October 15th and from February 1st through March 15th. (Reviews are accepted year-round and require no submission fee.)” Poetry: Recommended submission: 3-5 poems (as ONE FILE). Essays: Up to 20 pages of original, unpublished work. Only one submission per reading period, please. We do not publish fiction. Fee: $3. https://senecareview.submittable.com/submit/

“Hoxie Gorge Review is committed to publishing innovative poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by both emerging and established contemporary writers. We aim to provide a platform for writing that is urgent and engaging, regardless of theme or style. To that end, we seek work that compels us, that challenges us, that breaks us open. Our only requirement is quality. Send us your best.” Poetry: Please submit 3-5 poems in a single document. Each poem should start on a new page. Fiction and nonfiction: Please send only one story or essay at a time. While we prefer shorter pieces, we are happy to read quality work of any length. No fee.

"We have a penchant for pretty words, an affinity to the melancholy, and an undeniably time-ful aura. We believe that stories exist in a specific moment, and that that moment is what makes those stories unique." Their Summer 2022 Edition theme is Swimming. They’re looking for stories, poems, and essays that explore slipping into the water and finding yourself. They accept short stories, poems, and remarkably written essays. For short stories and essays, they’re interested in pieces under 3000 words. You may include up to five poems in a single poetry submission (please send them all in one Word document), and only send one story or essay at a time. No fee.

Every year The Masters Review opens submissions to produce our anthology, a collection of ten stories and essays written by the best emerging authors. "Our aim is to showcase ten writers who we believe will continue to produce great work." Submit previously unpublished works of fiction and narrative nonfiction only. Submit work up to 7000 words. Writers must not have published a novel-length work at the time of submission (authors of short story collections and self-published titles can submit as can authors with novels or memoirs with a low distribution [about 5000 copies]). Ten published authors will receive: $500 award, publication in our nationally distributed journal, exposure to over 50 literary agencies, and contributor’s copy. Fee: $20.

B Cubed Press is pleased to announce an open call for Madam President. An anthology about leadership. "Your vision must look through the lenses of speculative fiction. Your world can be the one we live in, far away in time and space, or just around the corner...We are looking for good writing, imaginative scenarios, and a good bit of humor in stories, essays or poetry." Keep your submissions under 5,000 words. Poetry should be formatted as you wish it to appear. Pays $.03 a word upon publication, plus a share of the profits. No fee.

Chestnut Review is accepting submissions for its summer issue. For poetry, length and format are open. Submit up to 1-3 poems for free. For all prose categories, submit a single piece of up to 5000 words. For essays, they are interested in pieces that examine the state of art (defined broadly) and culture in the world today as well as the past. For flash fiction, submit stories up to 1,000 words. Payment is US $120 per piece, delivered on publication. Fee: $5 for prose.

Seeking poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: $55 for flash prose and short poems; $135 for longer prose and poems. TLR defines the term "longer" as 1,500 to 6,000 words for prose, and any poem that is seven pages or longer. One submission per writer per reading period. Word or PDF files only. Poetry: up to six poems in one manuscript. Prose: submissions should be in standard manuscript format. Flash: fiction and nonfiction up to 1,500 words. Fee: $4-$5.

“Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.” For 2021, Sunspot Lit is launching Geminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art to honor the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters.” Fee: $5.

Raleigh Review is a nonprofit magazine of poetry, short fiction, and art that offers accessible works of experience that are both emotionally and intellectually complex. “At Raleigh Review we believe that great literature inspires empathy by allowing us to see the world through the eyes of our neighbors, whether across the street or across the globe.” Poetry: Submit 4-5 poems. Flash fiction: up to 1,000 words; 1 flash per general submission. Short fiction: 1,001-7,500 words. Fee: $3-$5.

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or short stories. 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 awarded on publication. Manuscripts should be 45-95 pages in length (poetry) or 120-280 pages in length (fiction), not including front and back matter (table of contents, title page, etc.). Fee: $27.

Love Letters to Poe will be open for original gothic short stories and poems inspired by "The Fall of the House of Usher." Submit up to 3,000 words. Accepted contributions receive $5 and one digital contributor's copy. Your first submission is free, but additional submissions are $5 each. No fee.

The annual Triangulation anthology will accept submissions for Triangulation: Energy. "We continue to tackle environmental issues as we did with Triangulation: Dark Skies (light pollution), Triangulation: Extinction (loss of biodiversity), and Triangulation: Habitats (sustainable habitation). The theme this year will be energy, sustainable energy. We’re looking for outstanding fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, and speculative horror–from both new and established writers." They consider fiction up to 5,000 words, but the sweet spot is 3,000. There is no minimum word count. Stories over 5000 words will be rejected unread. No minimum or maximum number of lines, but poems of more than 100 lines will have to be extraordinary to find a place in the anthology. For prose, they pay 3¢ per word, with a $5 minimum payout. For poetry, they pay 25 cents per line, with a $5 minimum payout. No fee.

WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Contests - Deadlines: February 28 (Fiction) and April 30 (Creative nonfiction). Our favorite writing community offers quarterly contests judged blindly with multiple cash prizes and more for 20 winners, up to $1,350 (fiction) and $1,175 plus a gift certificate to CreateWriteNow (nonfiction), an affordable critique option, and a 300-entry limit on each contest. What’s not to love? This season's guest judge is Literary Agent Hannah Andrade with Bradford Literary Agency. Fee: $10 (Flash Fiction) and $12 (Nonfiction).

Can you believe that spring is just around the corner? In honor of March 20th, why not break out your inner flower child and submit your poetry by March 1st to Big Bend Literary Magazine’s upcoming spring 2022 issue under the theme of, “Technicolor.”

At one time or another, we all need inspiration to start writing or to keep writing full time. Sometimes, the question is a matter of how to balance, as we juggle outside work and family obligations. Other times, it’s a matter of self-doubt in our ability to succeed towards that first publication.

As a means of inspiration, WOW! decided to look back at three conversations with bestselling authors and working writers to identify the keys to their success that can also be building blocks for you.

It was inspiring to see that three successful, but extremely different authors—New York Times bestseller Mary Monroe; Christian inspirational award-winning finalist, Karen Brown Tyson; and notable new voice, Brittney Morris, a Publishers Weekly Best Book Award winner and current nominee for the 2022-2023 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers for her latest release, The Cost of Knowing (2021)—shared some things in common: They all had a prior desire to write but either chose other paths in life or had responsibilities that prevented them from being able initially to write full time. It means that their current life as working and award-winning writers is one of focused choice and planning. They also all exemplify the words of American philosopher, psychologist, and historian William James who stated, “My experience is what I agree to attend to.”

We spoke with Mary Monroe back in 2020. Mary was best known at the time for The Upper Room (1985) and the God Don’t Like Ugly book series. She was gracious enough to speak with us about her early success, later rejection, and her current success as a New York Times bestseller. She is currently at work on Empty Vows, an upcoming novel.

A little-known fact about Mary Monroe is that this prolific storyteller began writing at the age of four, but never obtained an advanced degree. Instead, she is a self-taught writer who pored over books at her local library to improve her writing skills. She stated, “Writing was my professional goal from day one. It was a dream I could not ignore. I refused to give up on my dream, but I was a single parent, so I didn’t have the time and money for writing courses.” She met with initial success with The Upper Room but then experienced repeated rejection and criticism about her writing abilities. She soon found she was without representation.

Mary was not one to let it deter her, using it as fuel to improve where she had weaknesses. She explained, “After several agents told me my shortcomings, I pored over library reference books on writing. That helped me hone my skills.” Honing her skills included a writing routine, though she described it as an informal one.

Writing something every day was important, but the space and place was not a comfortable spot in her home. She stated, “I worked 9 to 5 for many years. I wrote whenever I could: on my commute to and from work. I wrote at lunch, even during some work meetings. Since then, I’ve written over twenty-five books. Despite my history, I made it to The New York Times bestseller list and have a contract that allows me to write more.” Whether yours has been a lifelong writing journey like Mary’s or a second act like our other two authors, it’s never too late to begin.

Karen Brown Tyson comes from a background in communications. She chose to delve into her writing goals after repeated career setbacks. Fortunately for her readers, her process of healing and writing coincided. The result was Time to Refresh (2018). It spawned the very well received follow-up, Time to Reset (2021). Karen explained, “Once I got laid off, I reassessed my goal of writing. I had to take time to find the rhythm of my writing routine. I also changed my mindset about writing. That’s when I was able to start managing my writing life.”

Managing her writing life included developing a disciplined writing routine. Recently, she explained that a writing routine involves an action and decision-making process. For some who find it difficult, she offered the following steps to fix a broken writing routine. “Take small steps to make substantial changes, say goodbye to excuses, divide multiple writing projects into manageable tasks, and find the right time and place to write.” Karen has followed her own advice. Not only does she continue to write and coach others towards finding their writing muse and methods, but she also recently revealed a plan for a third installment of her Time to Reset devotional series.

Knowing when to stop writing is equally important, after all, submitting your work is the key to success as a writer. The recent WOW! interview with SLAY author Brittney Morris exemplified how one can reap the benefits from doing so.

Brittney Morris has proven to be an essential voice for today’s generation. She was not an English major, yet she founded and is the former president of the Creative Writing Club at Boston College—a testament to the strength of her voice, influence, and ability to act on her inspirations and vision.

With her debut novel, SLAY, she continued this pattern and shared how she channeled the inspiration she felt after watching the movie Black Panther. “I came up with the concept first—the concept of a virtual Wakanda I could visit whenever I wanted to feel like I was back in the theater on opening night of the movie Black Panther. I’ve played or seen gameplay of thousands of video games, many of which are in the indie scene and very focused on social issues, so tackling the complex issue of racism through the vision of a game developer seemed natural.”

Brittney stated her initial goal was to set an end date for the writing of her novel in order to enter the #PitMad Twitter pitch contest. She avoided the self-doubt that normally surfaces for a writer, explaining, “My answer to avoiding doubt is to outrun it. It’s why I’m a fast-drafter. If I can get a first draft out fast enough, I don’t have time to overthink it or lose inspiration.”

The result was that Brittney was able to attract a bidding war based on the first draft of her novel. Thoughtfully, she acknowledged that each writer is different and should work at a pace that works for their goals. “I advise those who can to take their time. Don’t be afraid to go back to the revision board.” She also voiced the correlation between reading and improving as a writer. “Practicing for years and years on your own certainly helps, but my writing skills didn’t truly take off until I jumped back into reading again. I didn’t realize how much I could learn about writing from reading!”

A working writer’s life is defined by creative choices. The genre we write in, the techniques we employ, and the places we submit all define the landscape we play in. Additionally, our choice to write, whether full time or not, can impact the strength of our skill, voice, and ability to snap back after rejection.

Consider the observation of previously mentioned William James, “My experience is what I agree to attend to.” In a recent article titled, “To Control Your Life, Control What You Give Attention To,” published in the Harvard Business Review and written by Maura Thomas, a productivity and work-life balance coach and TEDx speaker. She emphasized that productivity and focus are more than “checking things off a to-do list. It’s about taking back control over your time and priorities,” with the result being “the ability to create a life of choice.”

So, if you have any doubt that success as a working writer can be in your future, choose to outrun your doubt. Make a conscious decision to put time into your writing career, and take action to write regularly with a goal of sharing your world and words with readers. Start small at first, and then expand your writing schedule, improve your writing abilities, and submit your work. Be sure to build on the inspirational themes that strike at your heart. Believe it or not, success is waiting, and so is your audience.

March is often associated with luck because of St. Patrick’s Day and the good luck a leprechaun’s gold or even four-leaf clover can bring. But in this success stories column this month, these writers in the WOW! community are sharing their successes that are definitely not due to luck—these writers are able to share these stories with all of us thanks to hard work, determination, and choosing to finish projects and put them out into the world.

If you have a success to share, remember, you can email me at any time at margolynndill@gmail.com and cc: margo@wow-womenonwriting.com. Don’t forget to put Success Story in the subject line.

We’re also asking a question of the week through our social media accounts to get to know the members of our community better and for you to see if you have anything in common with other writers who read and interact with WOW! (So if you haven’t liked or followed us on social media yet, make sure you do! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

In this month’s newsletter, I’m sharing the answers to one of the questions we posted in February about a recent good book that you read. Get ready to add these titles to your reading list, and cozy up with a good book while you wait for spring to arrive!

Nicole Lombardi: My essay, "A Grim Truth, about the struggle to help a child struggling with anorexia," was just published in The Mindful Word. "Chelsey Clammer helped me find a home for this essay, and it was accepted in less than 24 hours! I told her she is a fairy with a special kind of wand."

Sarah Johnson writes, “My new Christian book went live on Amazon yesterday morning!! I hope it brings inspiration and comfort to anyone dealing with hardship. The Devil lnside Me: Finding Jesus in a Life of Struggle."

Mary Krakow writes, “My flash fiction, 'Mystery Man', took first place in Page Turner Magazine's spring flash contest.”

@christina_rauh_fishburne writes, “Have a full manuscript getting noticed (prayer hands).”

@genalea_barker writes, “Two flash fiction pieces accepted for publication with Bookends Review and Gemini Magazine!”

@j.d.mason writes, “I just finished the first draft, of the first act, of my first feature-length screenplay!”

@cyndisnamaste writes, “Essay accepted by the Hoffman Center of the Arts. I'm in print! [celebration emojis] I can officially say I'm a freelance writer!”

@bernadettegeyer writes, “Poetry acceptances in Bennington Review and Outlook Springs!”

@racquelhenry writes, “I got news that I’ll be co-editing a YA anthology for Voyage YA!”

@mmorgbb writes, “I had two essays published recently. I bared my soul in The Brevity Blog.”

@deepamwadds writes, “My poem, ‘Zoom Call With an Old Friend,’ about connection published and read in 1455 Moveable Type https://youtu.be/2MPRju0spP0.”

Here are your book recommendations!

Andrea Dorn: These Precious Days by Ann Patchett: “Wonderful essays and insightful.”

Becky Jensen: Wolfpack by Abby Wambach

Debbie Whittemore: Daughter of the Morning Star by Craig Johnson and Billy Summers by Stephen King

Dorian Cirrone: The Maid by Nita Prose

Malinda Dunlap Fillingim: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Lynn Nicholas: The Four Winds by Krstin Hannah: “Should be included in high school reading curriculum. Not only a well-told story, but an excellent history lesson.”

Lori Greenstone: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Carol Wilson: The London House by Katherine Reay

Lisa Alewine Barnett: The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

Julianne Kestral: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Michele A Brown: A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser

Lisa Taylor Ferguson: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir! “Fantastic book.”

Sheila Rimmer: The Bible

Kay Hughes-Richards: One More Day by Diane Chiddister

Susan Foster: “I just finished Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser. It was great!”

Leila Akinyi: His Needs and Her Needs by Willard F. Harley, Jr.

Kathy Miller: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Sue Bradford Edwards: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Karen Johnson: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Mark Greenstone: Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck

@gandtiff: Braiding Sweetgrass (same recommendation as above with our Facebook friend, Malinda)

@michelleleewritesmagic: “If you or your kids are into middle grade fantasy, I am currently reading A Baker's Guide to Robber Pie by Caitlin Sangster. Exciting from the first chapter!”

@nancelap: Freedom by Erin French

@christina_rauh_fishburne: Hurdy Gurdy by Christopher Wilson

@lisarimmy: The Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis

@amy_bennette: The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma

@pamelawaiolena: The Toltec Art of Life and Death by Don Miguel A. Ruiz

@eskineleah: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. “Excellent.”

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