The Practicing Writer 2.0: November 2024
The Practicing Writer 2.0: November 2024
Featuring 50+ fee-free, paying/funded opportunities. Serving writers of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction for more than 20 years.
Welcome, new readers, and welcome back to the regulars.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Editor’s Note
Success Stories
Featured Resource
Contests, Competitions, and Other Opportunities (NO FEES TO ENTER/APPLY; PAYING/FUNDED OPPORTUNITIES ONLY; NOTHING THAT’S LIMITED TO WRITERS IN A SINGLE CITY/STATE/PROVINCE)
Submission Alerts (NO SUBMISSION/READING FEES; PAYING CALLS ONLY; NOTHING THAT’S LIMITED TO WRITERS IN A SINGLE CITY/STATE/PROVINCE)
Blog Notes
Newsletter Matters
1. EDITOR’S NOTE
Greetings, practicing writers:
When people ask me what I’m writing these days, I joke (wryly) that I seem to be creating quite a corpus of work in a new genre: the compilation.
If you’ve been reading this newsletter since Hamas unleashed incalculable devastation on so many people—including its own—last October, you may have already caught two examples that I’ve shared in this space: “After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and More” and “Writers, Beware.” From the beginning, these were public, forward-facing creations. And they’ve remained dynamic, as I continue to update them.1
At this point, however, I seem to be producing a second sort of compilation. This “sub-genre” is grounded in writing-work that I’ve been doing more privately (in some instances, for years). But over the past few weeks, circumstances have motivated me to “go public” with this work, too.
Curious? Consult these examples:
I suspect that many of you may be tired of my sharing these sorts of links and materials. I am tired of sharing them, too. I am equally tired of needing to create them in the first place, of being compelled to pay what one of my Jewish-writer friends aptly calls a “tax” levied on us by some of the most prominent organizations, outlets, and others within our very own literary communities.
But so long as what one columnist this week called the “literary intifada” continues, I believe that I have no choice.
Of course, the people who are most exhausted are those on the ground—those who most directly suffer the pain, trauma, loss, and grief inflicted by ongoing war. Not a day passes when I do not think of the hostages—representing multiple nationalities and faith traditions—who were kidnapped from Israel last October 7 and who remain captive in Gaza. Not a day goes by when I am not reminded, through a variety of sources and voices, of the terrible casualty counts that continue to climb, across borders.
I would prefer to focus more on ways to offer tangible, practical help—not to mention on other causes that matter to me. (For instance, we do have a pretty big election coming up right here in the United States in a few days; in past years, I’ve engaged far more intensively in get-out-the-vote and related efforts than I’ve been able to manage this time.) I’d also prefer to be immersed in very different writing projects of my own.
But as
wrote just today, responding eloquently to perhaps the most recent attention-grabbing, counter-productive salvo2 launched from the literary world, although “it might seem petty to spend time and energy” on such goings-on given the stark geopolitical realities, “it’s imperative that we call [the aforementioned toxic project] for what it is: the latest in a series of coordinated attempts to silence and scapegoat Jewish authors from around the world and demolish any hope for nuance, for discussion—and for coexistence.”So for now, here I am, (still) fighting back against what often seem to be never-ending actions (and in some cases, non-actions) of others, using the skills I’ve acquired over my years as a writer. I’m grateful to each and every one of you who has stood beside me, publicly or otherwise. Thank you.
With best wishes, and ongoing hopes for better times, everywhere,
ERIKA
P.S. I am also grateful when you share this newsletter, in its entirety, with your networks. But if you choose to share only certain listings, please respect my work of research and curation and credit your source—ideally, with a link back to this newsletter. Thank you so much.
2. SUCCESS STORIES
From Connie Corzilius:
Grateful and happy to report that my story “An Out” has been published in Jewish Fiction, which I heard about from your list of opportunities. Thanks so much!
From Pearl Saban:
Thank you for posting on My Machberet [news about] the
platform/Substack for essays. I wrote one last Monday, submitted it that afternoon, and it was published on the Thursday of that same week.
Reminder: Please share news from your writing practice that may be connected with this newsletter, or my blogs/other resources. I love to celebrate and amplify in this space!
3. FEATURED RESOURCE: THE ARTISTS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM’S “RESOURCES” PAGE
As you may recall, I’m currently serving on the board of The Artists Against Antisemitism (TAAA). And this month, I’d like to point everyone to TAAA’s “Resources” page: www.theartistsagainstantisemitism.com/resources.
Notable on this page is a downloadable guide for independent bookstores that, as mentioned in this recent article, was produced in partnership with the Jewish Book Council.
And while I’m on the subject: Please mark your calendars for TAAA’s second annual auction, which is scheduled to launch Wednesday, November 13.
Per TAAA’s Auction page, this year’s auction proceeds:
will fund facilitator training at Project Shema, and we’ll be working with them to provide antisemitism awareness sessions, workshops and one-on-one coaching for those in the arts. A portion of proceeds will also go toward our own future initiatives, including providing marketing and publicity support to Jewish artists, scholarships for Jewish artists to attend industry conferences and events, and more.
Lots of details about the amazing items, services, and experiences on offer will be announced in due course on TAAA’s site/social media channels. (And just maybe…via this newsletter? Please vote!)
4. CONTESTS, COMPETITIONS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
GULLIVER TRAVEL GRANT
Applications: November 1-30. From the Speculative Literature Foundation. Since 2004, the Gulliver Travel Grant ($1,000) “has been awarded annually to assist writers of speculative literature in their non-academic research. These funds are used to cover airfare, lodging, and other travel expenses. Travel may be domestic or international. You may apply for travel to take place at any point in the following year.”MONIACK MHOR EMERGING WRITER AWARD
Entries: November 1-30. For “unpublished prose writers (fiction) living in the UK with a collection of short stories or novel in development. Writers can be writing for any age group (including children and young adults) and may have had excerpts or articles published in the past, but have not yet published any major body of work. We would particularly encourage applications from those who experience barriers to the writing process.” Confers “a tailor-made package worth up to £2,000 including tuition via open courses, retreat time and/or mentoring at Moniack Mhor.”TOI DERRICOTTE & CORNELIUS EADY CHAPBOOK PRIZE
Deadline: November 6. Named after Cave Canem co-founders Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady, this competition “spotlights chapbook-length manuscripts.” Winner receives “$1,000; publication of their manuscript through O, Miami Books; 10 copies of the chapbook; a residency at The Writer’s Room at The Betsy Hotel-South Beach; and a featured reading at the O, Miami Festival in April.” NB: This opportunity is for Black poets (“Cave Canem defines Black poets as any poet who identifies as a member of the African Diaspora.”)HUGO BURGE FOUNDATION WINTER WRITING RETREAT RESIDENCY
Deadline: November 9 (per mention on this page). This U.K.-based program “offers a unique opportunity for writers of all genres to focus, reflect, and create in a serene, rural setting. The successful applicant will have warm accommodation on-site, studio space in our Tower Studio for uninterrupted time to write, and a weekly stipend of £350. There are no expectations about what you will use the residency for but we would expect the selected artist to conduct at least one public event such as a creative workshop (for adult participants), a talk, demonstration, performance or educational activity. You will be able to spend time with other visual artists and makers on site, along with another visiting artist also on residency. Our Creative Director, Dr James Fox will provide mentorship during your stay. The residency will take place 6th January to 29th January, 2025.”GAIUS CHARLES BOLIN DISSERTATION AND POST-MFA FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: November 15. These fellowships at Williams College “promote diversity on college faculties by encouraging graduate students from underrepresented groups to complete a terminal graduate degree and pursue careers in college teaching.” They offer “two-year residencies at Williams. Two scholars or artists are appointed each year. Fellows devote the bulk of the first year to the completion of dissertation work—or in the case of MFA applicants, building their professional portfolios—while also teaching one course as a faculty member in one of the College’s academic departments or programs. The second year of residency (ideally with degree in hand) is spent on academic career development while again teaching just one course.” NB: “Ph.D. candidates must have completed all doctoral work except the dissertation by the end of the current academic year. MFA candidates must be recent recipients of the degree; only those with degrees granted in 2024, or to be granted in 2025, are eligible to apply.” Fellowships confer an annual stipend of $57,000. “The College will also provide health and dental benefits, relocation and housing assistance, academic support including office space and a computer, and an annual allowance of $4,000 for research-related expenses.” Check detailed eligibility guidelines and note that the application asks post-MFA applicants for “2-3 short stories, 10-15 poems, or novel passages not to exceed 50 pages,” which (to me) suggests a focus on candidates who specialize in fiction or poetry.BROOKLYN NON-FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: November 15. From the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival. Cash award of $500, will be awarded “to the best Brooklyn- focused non-fiction essay which is set in Brooklyn and is about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. We are seeking compelling Brooklyn stories from writers with a broad range of backgrounds and ages (minimum age 18 years old) who can render Brooklyn’s rich soul and intangible qualities through the writer’s actual experiences in Brooklyn. From the collection of selected Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize submissions, several authors will be selected to read from their work and discuss their Brooklyn stories with the audience at our annual finale event. The exact date/time and venue will be announced later. These stories and several other submitted stories will be published on the Brooklyn Film and Arts Festival website and made available to the public.”ANN PLATO FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: “Review of applications begins November 15th, and will continue until the position is filled.” This is a “two-year post-doctoral/post-MFA fellowship to promote diversity” at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Confers “$55,000, plus health benefits, office space, computer, conference travel expenses, and assistance in finding housing near campus.” Eligibility: “Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will contribute to enhancing diversity at Trinity College by representing ethnically and racially diverse populations, and/or whose teaching and research focuses on issues related to diversity. Applicants should have no more than five years of teaching or relevant experience subsequent to earning their doctorate/MFA.”“MISS SARAH” FELLOWSHIP FOR BLACK WOMEN WRITERS
Deadline: November 15. From Trillium Arts. Provides “a ten-day solo residency in July 2025”; the selected writer “can choose whether to stay at Trillium Arts’ rural ‘Firefly Creek’ apartment in Mars Hills, NC or at E. Patrick Johnson and Stephen Lewis’ “Montford Manor” residence near downtown Asheville, NC. Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend and transportation to and from Asheville, NC. Additional benefits will be custom tailored to the needs of the awardee.” NB: “For 2025 the Fellowship will focus on the genre of Poetry.”WEIRD LITTLE GUYS FLASH POETRY AND PROSE CONTEST
Deadline: November 15. From Memezine. First entry is free (subsequent entries require a fee). “The contest is named ‘weird little guys’ because we want it short and weird (it doesn’t have to be about some guy). ‘Weird’ means different things to different folks, so don’t overthink it. Send us your weird.” The $100 prize amount will be divided as described on the guidelines page. (Hat tip: @Duotrope.)HAZEL ROWLEY LITERARY FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: November 16. For Australian writers working on biography projects, this fellowship commemorates the work of Hazel Rowley (1951–2011) and is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents. “Up to $20,000 is awarded for travel and research to further a writing proposal or work in progress. It may not be used to pay for a research assistant or to subsidise a publication. The focus is on biography (including memoir), but extends to an aspect of cultural or social history compatible with Hazel’s interest areas. Preference is given to projects that are about ‘risk-taking’ and expanding horizons, promote discussion of ideas, and make a significant contribution to public intellectual life.”HAPPIFUL POETRY PRIZE
.)
Deadline: November 18. Annual poetry competition, limited to entrants based in the UK or Northern Ireland, celebrates “the best of mental health writing.” Prizes: “The winner will receive £100, and four shortlisted poets will receive a £25 National Book Token. All five poems will be published in issue 96 of Happiful.” (Hat tip:EMORY UNIVERSITY POETRY FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: November 25. “Two-year fellowship in poetry in lively undergraduate English/Creative Writing Program, beginning Fall 2025. A two-year commitment is assumed but the contract renewal for the second year is contingent on a positive review of the first year. Load 1-2, all workshops; $50,000 salary, and health benefits. No moving expenses provided. Fellow will give a public reading and have access to the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, a 75,000-volume rare and modern poetry library housed at Emory.” Required: “MFA or PhD in the last five years or complete by Spring 2025, with undergraduate Creative Writing teaching experience. ABD not acceptable.” Listed as “desirable”: record of periodical publications and secondary interests such as creative nonfiction and working in archives. Applicants should have no first book yet in print (chapbooks excluded).”JEWISH CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS
Deadline: November 29. From Green Bean Books and the Jewish Literary Foundation. “The awards aim to discover and celebrate inspiring new stories for young children based on Jewish history, values and tradition. As in previous years, there will be one prize for story and one for illustration. The winner of each category will receive £1,000 and all entries will be considered for publication by Green Bean Books....The Jewish Children’s Book Awards for story and illustration are aimed at talented book authors and illustrators living in the UK and Europe.” NB: “If you have been displaced from your country within the last three years then please contact us directly to see if your submission can be accepted.” Additional guidelines/criteria as listed.DIANN BLAKELY NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
Deadline: November 30. Administered by the University of Georgia, this competition “runs every year in the fall. The competition is judged by that year’s Diann Blakely Visiting Poet. The winner of the contest will receive $500 and 25 broadsides of their poem, which will also be archived on this website.” No simultaneous submissions. “An entry is one poem, 50 lines or fewer, and each author may only submit once in a given year.” (Hat tip: WOW! Women on Writing Markets Newsletter.)JEWISH BOOK MARKETING GRANTS
Deadline: November 30. Administered by the Jewish Book Council, this new initiative offers grants ($18,000-$36,000) “for pre-contract book projects that will contribute or enhance the conversation around Jewish identity, history, culture and tradition, or scholarship. Eligible books may be fiction or nonfiction, for children or adults. All books must either be agented and pre-contract or under pre-contract peer review. These grants are meant to assist books as they begin the journey toward the marketplace, giving authors and publishers extra flexibility and support to properly market the book to readers. While the grants will be determined at pre-publication stages, they are designated for use in the marketing and promotion of the book to readers around the time of publication” and “will be issued directly to the author within 6 months prior to publication.”J.F. POWERS PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION
Deadline: November 30. From Dappled Things, “the hub of the new renaissance in Catholic art and literature.” “‘One foot in this world and one in the next’: that’s how J.F. Powers described the Midwestern priests he wrote about in his fiction. Having one foot in another world can be awkward, and Powers’ characters are known not for their graceful mysticism, but for the humiliating and mordantly entertaining stumbles they make while trying to live their faith. We’re looking for carefully crafted short stories with vivid characters who encounter grace in everyday settings—we want to see who, in the age we live in, might have one foot in this world and one in the next.” Confers $700 for first place and $300 for second place (and publication); up to 8 honorable mentions will receive publication in the journal and a one-year subscription.QUEEN’S KNICKERS AWARD
Deadline: November 30. From the Society of Authors. “This annual prize, generously funded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded to an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7. It will recognise books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether this be in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement. The winner will receive £5,000, as well as a golden Queen’s Knickers badge, as depicted in Nicholas Allan’s original book. The runner-up will receive £1,000 and a silvered badge.” The guidelines/eligibility criteria discuss division of the award between a winning author and illustrator. Note that works “must have been first published in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024” and that submissions must be made by the book’s “print publisher,” who “can submit no more than THREE titles per imprint.”BETTY TRASK PRIZE
Deadline: November 30. From the Society of Authors. “Betty Trask left a bequest to the Society of Authors in 1983 to fund prizes for first novels written by authors under the age of 35 in a traditional or romantic style. Each year a single prize winner receives £10,000 and the remaining fund is split between the shortlist.” Among eligibility criteria: “The author must be resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Commonwealth for three years prior to the date of submission for the award, or a British national, and writing in English.” The work submitted may be published (between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024) or unpublished (and not previously submitted for this prize).UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS RILKE PRIZE
Deadline: November 30. This $10,000 prize recognizes “a collection that demonstrates exceptional artistry and vision written by a mid-career poet and published in the preceding year. The prize is named after the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), a writer whose work embodies the qualities of ambition, intellectual and imaginative scope, and technical mastery we seek to recognize.” Check eligibility specifics on the website.ANNMARIE SCULPTURE GARDEN AND ARTS CENTER MLK WINTER RESIDENCY
Deadline: December 1. Location: Solomons, Maryland. “Annmarie’s residency program provides a an opportunity for visual, musical, and literary artists to design and produce a community arts project. The community art project should be adaptable for all ages and skill levels, and should be inspired by a.) your artwork and processes, and b.) the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” NB: “The project coincides with our annual MLK Days program, January 18-20, 2025….Artist must be willing to engage with visitors during all three days of the program, January 18-20, 2025. Residency length: minimum 3 days, up to 1 week.” Residency award includes “a modest stipend or honorarium -- typically $500-$1000 for the residency, depending on project and length of residency,” “a modest project budget, typically not to exceed $500,” housing (optional), and more.ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES JEWISH FICTION AWARD
Deadline: December 1. “All works of fiction with significant Jewish thematic content written in or translated into English which are published and available for purchase in the United States during 2024 are eligible for the 2025 award. Jewish thematic content means an extended grappling with Jewish themes throughout the book, including Judaism, Jewish history and culture, Jewish identity, etc.” The award confers a $1,000 cash prize.CHARLOTTE AND WILBUR AWARD FOR COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS
Deadline: December 1. Administered by the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), this award recognizes “one winning book and one honor book for their dedication to promoting compassion and respect for animals in their readers. The winning book will receive a prize of $2,500 and the honor book will receive $1,000. If the winning or honor book is a picture book, the prize will be split between the author and illustrator. The award also includes the production and distribution of a video author talk for the winning creators, which will be widely distributed in the United States and globally. Authors and illustrators must submit their own books for consideration.” NB: “Submissions must be a picture book, chapter book, or middle-grade book (or graphic novel) traditionally or self- published in 2024. Books in translation are welcome. The book can be either fiction or nonfiction.”EZRA JACK KEATS AWARD
Deadline: December 1. Given annually “to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM),” this award recognizes “picture books created in the tradition of” Ezra Jack Keats (EJK). “The EJK Award ceremony is held in early April during the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at The University of Southern Mississippi. To receive the award, the winners must attend this ceremony. The publishers are responsible for making arrangements for winning authors and illustrators to be at the Award ceremony. At the ceremony, the winning author and illustrator will each receive a monetary award of $5,000 and the EJK medallion suspended in lucite and inscribed with the recipient’s name, the name of their book, and the year it was published. Honor book winners will receive a monetary award of $2,000 and a class plaque inscribed with the recipient’s name, the name of their book, and the year it was published. Honor winner attendance is not mandatory, but encouraged. Publishers are responsible for making travel arrangements.” Publishers must enter the books; check the guidelines for essential criteria and other information.DAVID S. LANGUM, SR. PRIZE IN AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY OF BIOGRAPHY
Deadline: December 1. “This $1,000 prize is made annually to the best book in American legal history or biography that is accessible to the educated general public, rooted in sound scholarship, and with themes that touch upon matters of general concern to the American public, past or present.” Publishers must submit entries.SCHOMBURG CENTER SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Deadline: December 1. This program at the New York Public Library “offers both long-term and short-term fellowships designed to support and encourage top-quality research and writing on the history, politics, literature, and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora, as well as to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary exchange among scholars and writers in residence at the Schomburg Center.” Long-term fellowships “provide a $35,000 stipend to support postdoctoral scholars and independent researchers who work in residence at the Center for a continuous period of six months”; short-term fellowships, “for a continuous period of one to three months,” confer stipends of $3000 per month to support “postdoctoral scholars, independent researchers, and creative writers.”SILLERMAN FIRST BOOK PRIZE FOR AFRICAN POETRY
Deadline: December 1. Awarded annually “to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal.” NB: “An ‘African writer’ is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African.” Also: “Only poetry submissions in English can be considered. Work translated from another language to English is accepted, but a percentage of the prize will be awarded to the translator.”WEIRD CHRISTMAS FLASH FICTION CONTEST
Deadline: December 1. “This is a contest for flash fiction of no more than 350 words that’s both about Christmas (or any other winter holiday) and simultaneously weird. Exactly what that means is, of course, up to you because you’re the one with literary pretensions and a damaged psyche. All you have to do is make something about the Christmas season seem new and unsettling with a bit of that grinning like you’re not sure if it’s funny or creepy, and you make your fellow co-conspirators in this hell of existence a bit more bearable.” Check the guidelines for the prompts (which serve as categories). Awards $50 to each category winner; $35 for runners-up.TICKNER WRITING FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: December 2. The Baltimore-based Gilman School, “an independent boys’ school, announces its search to award the 27th Tickner Writing Fellowship to an emerging poet, playwright, or writer of fiction or creative nonfiction. The Tickner Fellowship is a two year position. Responsibilities include teaching one senior elective in creative writing each semester, organizing a series of readings, advising the literary magazine, and working with the Lower and Middle Schools on select writing projects. The Tickner Fellow teaches every other day, affording time for independent writing projects. Salary: $40,000 per year (with adjustment for 2024 inflation), plus full benefits package.”J. ANTHONY LUKAS WORK-IN-PROGRESS AWARDS
Deadline: December 5. Two awards, each in the amount of $25,000, “are given annually to aid in the completion of a significant work of nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on extensive original research often overtaxes the resources available to its author, the project envisions the award as a way of closing the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that finishing a book requires. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book.”
REMINDER: Multiple opportunities listed in last month’s newsletter remain open into the new month. And don’t skip over the “Blog Notes” below for an important tip about additional opportunity listings!
5. SUBMISSION ALERTS
According to its Submittable page, CUTLEAF will open for poetry submissions November 1. (And their nonfiction window, which opened earlier, will close November 30.)
THE MARROW, which welcomes “poetry submissions written in—or translated into—English, from Australian and international poets, whether established, emerging or somewhere in between,” is scheduled to be open for submissions during the month of November.
, which seeks “original works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction that engage in a significant way with the long history of fairy tales,” is scheduled to re-open November 1, and will remain open until “midnight AEST on 14 November).” No simultaneous submissions, per the guidelines. (Hat tip: WOW! Women on Writing Markets Newsletter.)
The annual submissions window for the ZERO STREET FICTION series at the University of Nebraska Press will open November 1. This series features “literary fiction with commercial potential, providing marginalized authors opportunities for a wide readership in the trade fiction market….The series seeks LGBTQ+ literary fiction of all kinds, from stories of modern life to innovations on traditions of genre and are particularly interested in BIPOC authors, trans authors, and queer authors over 50.”
For an upcoming issue focused on debut fiction, ASTER(IX) will be open for submissions until November 6. Note that this is “a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing people of color at the center of the conversation”; for this issue, they’re seeking “short stories by writers who have not yet published any fiction in a literary journal” and “self-contained novel chapters of an unpublished debut novel (excerpts of forthcoming debut novels under contract will be considered).” Cleyvis Natera will guest-edit this issue.
From Katherine LaGrave, who edits features for AFAR, as posted on Twitter: “I’m looking for pitches on quiet travel—think unplugging, recharging, and resetting. Please send any pitches by November 13. It’s unlikely I will be able to respond to everyone who sends me a note, but thank you in advance for your ideas.” Follow the pitch guidelines on Afar’s site. (Hat tip: Freelance Opportunities!)
EMERGE LITERARY JOURNAL, “a journal of growth, change & experimentation,” is open for submissions until November 15. They consider flash prose (fiction and nonfiction) as well as poetry; they also consider work related to mental illness specifically for their “Esperanza Corner” in keeping with their belief “that #mentalillnessawareness and #endingthestigma are of paramount importance.”
NONLINEAR LOVE “is a project that shares and interrogates love stories that don’t follow the traditional ‘linear’ course in a non-judgmental format. We seek to counter the prescriptive ‘self-help’ information on social media. We listen to and share unconventional love stories: hot romances, bad breakups, divorces, and more. Think of NYT’s ‘Tiny Love Stories’ meets advice column meets podcast. NLL is co-founded by a New York City divorce lawyer (Alan Feigenbaum, or Al) and relationships writer and media entrepreneur (Ariella Steinhorn, or Ari). We are looking to publish first-person essays about ‘nonlinear love’ on our site–divorces and remarriages; dating horrors or delights; lovers who cropped back up years later; or even an unexpected thing you learned from your partner within a traditional marriage or relationship structure. 800-1,000 words; we will pay $150 per essay. Please submit to ariella@superposition-stories.com. The deadline to submit is November 15, 2024.” (Hat tip:
, where I discovered what appears to be a sponsored announcement including the above text.)For an anthology titled UNRÉAL, Canadian publisher AE is “looking for stories and poems in FRENCH or ENGLISH with fantastical or speculative elements set on the island of Montréal. Submissions may be science fiction, fantasy, horror or any adjacent genre. They may be set in the distant past, the distant future, or any time in between. They may feature Montréal as we know it today or an alternate Montréal that has never been. The island or city of Montréal must, however, be an essential element of the story. We want tales that wouldn’t make sense if they were transplanted to New York or Hong Kong or Copenhagen.” NB: “This call is open to published and unpublished authors of any nationality and from any community. We are particularly eager, however, to see work from Canadian writers (citizens or residents) and Indigenous writers.” Deadline: November 15. (Hat tip: WOW! Women on Writing Markets Newsletter.)
ISLANDIA’s current call for art, prose, and poetry remains open until November 18: “Forty years ago, the pilot episode of Miami Vice aired for the first time. Beginning in 1980 -- after the Mariel Boatlift, Arthur McDuffie trial, and against the ongoing cocaine wars -- Miami became a place of international intrigue. In 1984, when Miami Vice became the most popular show in the world, it cemented our city's status as a global metropolis which would not be ignored. In this spirit, we seek work inspired by Miami Vice.” (Hat tip:
VARIANT LITERATURE is scheduled to open November 24 (and remain open until the end of December) for submissions for its March 2025 issue.
November 29 is the deadline for submissions at WINNOW LITERARY, “an interdisciplinary journal of poetry and occupation housed within the occupational therapy program (School of Education) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Occupations are ‘everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do,’ (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2024). As defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupations ‘are the activities that people do every day to give their life meaning and purpose. Occupations can be done alone or with family members and friends. Occupations can be done at home, at work or school, and in the community,’ (AOTA, 2020). We seek poetry submissions that reflect the full range of the human experience with occupation across the lifespan. We seek poetry that honors meaning in the daily ordinary; the complexity of the quote-unquote ‘simplest’ tasks; the intersection of environments in which we live, learn, work, and play with our own needs, values and roles as individuals, groups, and global societies. We invite submissions from all writers, new, emerging, or established. Occupational therapy practitioners, occupational therapy faculty, and OT/OTA students are encouraged to submit, as well as past, present, or future clients, patients, or consumers of occupational therapy services. Interprofessional health care providers, transdisciplinary collaborators, and writers-at-large are also highly encouraged to submit.” (Hat tip:
.)THE BALTIMORE REVIEW remains open for submissions until November 30.
BLACK FOX LITERARY MAGAZINE also remains open until November 30.
THE FIDDLEHEAD, based in Canada, is similarly open until November 30. They’re seeking “good writing in English or translations into English from all over the world and in a variety of styles, including experimental genres. Our editors are always happy to see new unsolicited works in fiction, including excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, and poetry. We also publish reviews, and occasionally other selected creative work such as excerpts from plays.”
POET LORE is also open until November 30.
At STONE’S THROW, “the monthly online companion to Rock and a Hard Place Magazine,” they’re open for submissions early each month. “We’re looking for all the same dark fiction, crime and noir as our usual submissions, but with a target length between 1,000 and 2,000 words, and aligned with the monthly submissions prompt.” For submissions December 1-4 (for the January 2025 issue), they seek work as follows: “The holidays are over, and it's time to get back on the straight and narrow. Easier said than done, though. This month, we want stories about overindulgence. Opulence. Living beyond your means. Whether that’s money, drugs, generosity, or viciousness, we want stories about people who overdo it, and what happens when they realize they’re in a hole they can’t hope to fill.”
WRITER’S DIGEST has posted its editorial calendar for 2025: “We urge writers to get creative in their interpretations of our 2025 issue themes. We offer a brief description of how we interpret them, but look forward to ideas we weren’t necessarily expecting.” (Full guidelines/pay rates are posted elsewhere on the site.)
From REMOTE WRITING JOBS WITH MELISSA TRIPP: “I’m excited to announce that I’ve expanded the Remote Writing Jobs directory to include guest writers through my very own publication right here on Patreon to empower my audience, amplify underrepresented voices, and establish credibility by paying writers myself. I’m looking for real stories from working writers, particularly personal essays between 500-800 words that are brilliantly written and shed light on the world of writing for a living. (It can be anything as it relates to your experience as a working writer.)” Pitches accepted on an ongoing basis. (Hat tip:
.)A reminder from PALETTE POETRY: “Submissions for our Featured Poetry category are open year-round to poets at any stage of their careers. Featured poems are published online only and will spotlight a number of poems from new authors each month. We highly encourage emerging authors to submit.”
Reminder: Make it a habit to check the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL website, where titles in development are posted. Note: “If this is your first time, please visit our Story Guidelines page.” (NB: In case you’ve caught this bankruptcy-related news, the anthology website states: “Our book business is not part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. While that business works on sorting out its financial challenges, we continue to publish our books as usual and we look forward to reading your submissions and considering them for our upcoming titles!”)
Reminder: THE FORGE, which “publishes one prose piece per week selected by a rotating cast of editors,” opens for free submissions on the first of each month (except for September and December). “If there is no free link, we’ve hit our quota.”
Reminder: ROUGH CUT PRESS seeks “experimental work of all genres by writers and allies of the LGBTQIA community. To get a sense of what we publish please read some of our former issues. We don’t know what we like until we see it. Each month we announce a different theme, but don’t worry if the work you submit doesn’t quite fit: we often build issues around work that takes us by surprise.”
Reminder: , which aims to “revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful,” selects one story for publication each month and considers reprints.
REMEMBER: Some venues listed in last month’s newsletter remain open for submissions, too. And please keep reading the “Blog Notes” below for an important tip about additional opportunity listings!
6. BLOG NOTES
The newsletter is published just once each month, but there’s always something new on the Practicing Writing blog:
(Monday) Markets and Jobs for Writers (including fee-free/paying opportunities that don’t make it into the monthly newsletter)
(Friday) Finds for Writers
#SundaySentence
Occasional Notes from a Practicing Writer
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Interested in matters of specifically Jewish literary and cultural interest? Please also visit the My Machberet blog (“machberet” is the Hebrew word for “notebook”). And be sure to consult our collection of Jewish Writing Resources.
7. NEWSLETTER MATTERS
Information contained in The Practicing Writer is researched carefully but readers should always verify information. Any necessary corrections, when discovered, are added post-publication within each archived issue. The Practicing Writer and its editor disclaim any liability for the use of information contained within. Thank you for following/reading.
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About the editor: Erika Dreifus is a writer, teacher, and literary consultant whose books include Birthright: Poems and Quiet Americans: Stories. A fellow in the Sami Rohr Jewish Literary Institute and an adjunct associate professor at Baruch College/CUNY, she lives in New York. Please visit ErikaDreifus.com to learn more about her work and follow her right here on Substack, on Facebook, and/or on Twitter, where she tweets (mostly) “on matters bookish and/or Jewish.”
For instance, the latest update for “After October 7” occurred just this morning, when I added a link to a truly must-read, newly-posted guest essay on the website of The New York Times: “Stop the Boycott of Israeli Culture.” The piece is co-authored by Deborah Harris and Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs; if their names aren’t familiar, “Ms. Harris is the founder and director of the Jerusalem-based Deborah Harris Agency. Ms. Kasmer-Jacobs is a literary agent there.” Sign up for their agency’s newsletter here.
Here’s one article about it. Please Google wisely if you require more information. I prefer not to link directly to either the key document or to some of the outlets that have reported on it most enthusiastically.