The Practicing Writer 2.0: October 2021
Current competitions and calls for submissions. No fees to enter/submit. Payment for winning/published work. Nothing limited to residents of a single city/state/province.
Welcome, new readers, and welcome back to the regulars.
For updates and additional opportunities between newsletters, please check the “Practicing Writing” blog and follow Erika Dreifus on Twitter (@ErikaDreifus) and/or Facebook.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Editor’s Note
Success Stories
Featured Resource
Current Contests, Competitions, and Other Opportunities (NO ENTRY OR APPLICATION FEES; PAYING OPPORTUNITIES ONLY)
Submission Alerts (NO SUBMISSION/READING FEES; PAYING CALLS ONLY)
Blog Notes
Newsletter Matters
1. EDITOR’S NOTE
Greetings, practicing writers:
Wowza. There’s a lot to list this month, and, yet again, Substack is warning me that I’m close to running out of space.
I do want to share one quick note for the poets among you with forthcoming books: You may be interested in my October 12 webinar, “Be Your Own Publicist: Practical Strategies to Promote Your Book,” offered as part of the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) fall 2021 “Poetry Palooza” programming. I hope to catch you there.
Here’s to an outstanding October for us all.
Warmly,
ERIKA
2. SUCCESS STORIES
Back in December 2020, upon seeing a call for submissions in The Practicing Writer, I sent off my flash fiction story “Growth Hacking”—a fun send-up of pre-pandemic life in a high tech company—to The Maine Review, and I’m thrilled that it was accepted and published a few weeks ago. Thanks again for everything that you do for the literary community!
—Julie Zuckerman
“I had read wonderful stories in JewishFiction.Net but your listing pushed me to submit ‘Leonora’s Lament’ that Nora Gold accepted….I’m very pleased to be included, thanks to your nudge.”
—Barbara Baer
“My poem ‘Slow Burn’ was recently accepted for publication and is currently posted on the Jewish Writing Project. Editorial Director Bruce Black is a find–generous with his time and suggestions. My path to the project was through your My Machberet. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in sharing your resources!
—Arlene Geller
REMINDER: I love learning how the newsletter/blogs/my resources support your writing practice. Keep me posted! You just may find your own work celebrated here.
3. FEATURED RESOURCE
Learn more about a number of writing-focused newsletters (including this one!) in Melissa Hart’s recent article for The Writer magazine.
4. CURRENT CONTESTS, COMPETITIONS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
ADINA TALVE-GOODMAN FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: October 11. “For an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an advanced degree program (such as an MA or MFA) in Creative Writing, English, or Literature, and has no plans to attend one in the 2022 calendar year. We are seeking writers whose work speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference.” Fellowship package includes: free tuition for all One Story online classes offered in 2022; $2,000 stipend and tuition to attend One Story’s July 2022 week-long online summer writers’ conference; full manuscript review and consultation with One Story Executive Editor Hannah Tinti (story collection or novel in progress up to 150 pages/35,000 words).”ARTHUR FLOWERS FLASH FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: October 12. From Salt Hill: New competition for emerging writers of color. “Established in 2021 by Si Yon Kim and Erica Frederick, women of color editors of Salt Hill, the contest is named after Arthur Flowers, a beloved teacher and mentor in the Syracuse University Creative Writing MFA community, to honor his legacy as a steadfast champion of Black students and other students of color in the program….We are also pleased to share that Flowers will serve as the contest’s inaugural judge.” Pays: Winner receives $500 and publication; two runners-up each receive $50 and publication. (NB: Do check definition of “emerging writers” on the site.)2022 ART OMI: WRITERS RESIDENCY
Deadline: October 15. “Hosts authors and translators from around the world for residencies throughout the spring and fall….Guests may select a residency of one week to two months; about ten writers at a time gather to live and work in a rural setting overlooking the Catskill Mountains.” NB: “All residencies are fully funded with accommodations, food, local transport and public programming provided.” Travel funds are not provided.CHÂTEAU DE LAVIGNY WRITERS AND LITERARY TRANSLATORS’ RESIDENCIES
Deadline: October 15. Note that there have been changes to this Swiss-based residency program and that “only a few full fellowships” are currently awarded.AMY LOWELL POETRY TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP
Deadline: October 15 (received). “The American poet Amy Lowell died in 1925. Her will established an annual scholarship to support travel abroad for gifted American-born poets.”WELTER MICRO FICTION CONTEST
Deadline: October 19. From a University of Baltimore litmag, this contest seeks fiction, nonfiction, or prose-poem pieces no longer than 100 words. “We are particularly looking for pieces related to the theme of ‘Home,’ but we will consider other pieces. One micro piece will be selected by the editors to be awarded a prize of $100.”MARFIELD PRIZE
Deadline: October 22 (received). Sponsored by the Arts Club of Washington, this $10,000 prize “recognizes the author of an outstanding nonfiction book about the arts….Book must be a nonfiction title written in English for a general audience by a single, living author and originally published in the United States during the 2021 calendar year. Books may be about any artistic discipline (visual, literary, performing, or media arts, as well as cross-disciplinary works).”THE FUNNY PEARLS SHORT STORY COMPETITION
Deadline: October 30. “Open to women of all nationalities. Like last year, we are in search of light relief. So please send us your farce, satire, screwball, or any other subgenre that qualifies as comedy.” Prizes: For the winner, “an Amazon gift card to the value of £300; two runners-up will each receive Amazon gift cards to the value of £100. The gift cards will be delivered via email. All winning entries will be posted on funnypearls.com.”THE BARBELLION PRIZE
Deadline: October 31. A book prize “dedicated to the furtherance of ill and disabled voices in writing. The prize is awarded annually to an author whose work has best represented the experience of chronic illness and/or disability. The awarded work can be of any genre in fiction, memoir, biography, poetry, or critical non-fiction from around the world - whether it is in English, in translation, traditionally published, or self-published. The prize is named in tribute to English diarist W.N.P. Barbellion, who wrote eloquently on his life with multiple sclerosis (MS) before his death in 1919.” For a book to be eligible this cycle, “it needs to have been published between November 2020 and October 31st 2021.” The 2020 prize included a £1,000 award; amount for 2021 does not appear to be specified on the website.THE VOLCANO PRIZE FOR FICTION
Deadline: October 31. New prize “awarded to a UK or Irish writer, or a writer currently resident in those countries, for a novel focussing on the experience of travel away from home. Inspired by Malcolm Lowry’s novel, Under the Volcano and in celebration of its author, the prize aims to inspire literary excellence and encourage writers to travel and to write from the resulting experience. The winner will receive £2,000 and the runner-up £750.” For books published in UK or Ireland between 1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021. Publishers must enter the work. (Discovered this one via Sian Meades-Williams.)PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION
Deadline: October 31. Honors “the best published works of fiction by American permanent residents in a calendar year.” Author of the winning book receives $15,000; finalists receive $5,000 each.2022 CREATIVE ARMENIA-AGBU FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: November 1 (11:59 PM, Yerevan time). “For artists across all disciplines, and from anywhere in the world. Providing a full package of support that includes funding [$5,000 stipend], mentorship, industry connections, and promotion for innovative artists of Armenian origin (or who have a demonstrated interest in Armenian culture), the program seeks to cultivate creators on the front lines of Armenia’s cultural future.”COMMONWEALTH SHORT STORY PRIZE
Deadline: November 1. Awarded “for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words). Regional winners each receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £5,000. As well as English, stories are accepted in the Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil and Turkish languages. Translated entries from any language into English are also eligible.” Open “to any citizen of a Commonwealth country who is aged 18 and over.”GOTHAM BOOK PRIZE
Deadline: November 1. Award honors “the best book (works of fiction and nonfiction are eligible) published that calendar year that either is about New York City or takes place in New York City. The winner will receive $50,000.”EMMA LAZARUS STATUE OF LIBERTY POETRY CONTEST
Deadline: November 1. Hosted by the American Jewish Historical Society. “Just as Emma responded to the issues of her time by writing a poem that addressed American identity, we invite you to write your own poem that speaks to your vision of America.” Awards $1,000 in each category (including “Collegiate/Emerging Adult Poet”). NB: “All submission[s] will be preserved in the AJHS Archive alongside the collection of Emma Lazarus.”BLACK MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE (BMI)/SHEARING FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: November 1 (midnight, PT). For writer “who have published at least one book with a trade or literary press.” Fellowship confers $20,000 paid over a four-month period; space in the BMI offices at the University of Las Vegas; free housing in downtown Las Vegas; and other components as detailed on the website.SWANSEA UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE
Deadline: November 8 (received). Awarded “to the best eligible published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under.” Confers a prize of £20,000 and awards of £500 for shortlisted authors. Submissions must be made by publishers.
REMINDER: Multiple opportunities listed in last month’s newsletter remain open.
5. SUBMISSION ALERTS
ZIBBY BOOKS is “a new publishing home for fiction and memoir founded by Zibby Owens and Leigh Newman.” Scroll down the home page to “Info for Writers and Agents” for submissions-related info.
New series from University of Nebraska Press: “ZERO STREET invites submissions of novels and short story collections, from LGBTQ+ authors new and established, that feature LGBTQ+ characters and/or themes. We are particularly interested in BIPOC authors, trans authors, and queer authors over 50….We are seeking literary fiction of all kinds, from stories of modern life to innovations on traditions of genre.” (More info via Publishers Weekly.)
At DERAILLEUR PRESS, an upcoming fiction chapbook “is looking to explore intimacy. We want submissions that deal with intimacy in all of its forms.” Deadline: October 4. Payment: “$100 honorarium to each story chosen for publication.”
Update: It turns out that ONE STORY, which I believed was re-opening for fiction submissions last month, appears, in fact, to be re-opening on October 4. Pays: “$500 and 25 contributors copies for First Serial North American rights.”
Toronto-based UNTETHERED is open until October 10 for submissions for a special poetry and art issue. Pays: “$20 honourarium [presumably in Canadian dolars] OR one (1) copy of the issue in which the contributor’s work appears.”
DOROTHY, “an award-winning feminist press dedicated to works of fiction or near fiction or about fiction,” is open for agented and un-agented submissions until October 15.
Also open until October 15: submissions for RATTLE’s Spring 2022 issue, which “will feature a tribute to Librarians. The poems may be any subject, style, or length, but must written by poets who have worked for a significant length of time as librarians.” Poems need not be about libraries or librarianship.” Pays: $200/poem, plus a subscription.
October 15 is also the deadline for submissions at CONSEQUENCE, which considers “fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews, visual art, and translations focused on the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence.” Pay rates detailed on the site.
“The LEAGUE OF CANADIAN POETS is looking for poems from Canadian writers who identify as South Asian for a chapbook anthology titled AHVAZ // AAVAZ // AVAAZ: edited by Shazia Hafiz Ramji. AHVAZ // AAVAZ // AVAAZ foregrounds voices that are Brown and uncompromising. Give us your poems that challenge definitions of ‘South Asian’ identity, that celebrate Brown joy, and that bring a strong sense of place.” Deadline: October 18. Payment: “$25 honorarium per selected poem.”
BELT MAGAZINE “is seeking features, essays, poetry, and photography for a series on the ‘Indigenous Rust Belt.’ We are particularly interested in stories that engage with the geographies and everydayness of Indigenous life in the contemporary Rust Belt.” Deadline for pitches/submissions: October 18. Pay rates are detailed online.
From October 1-31, KISSING DYNAMITE will be open for submissions of poetry microchap manuscripts “for print publication in 2022. We're happy to consider a diverse range of poetic styles and themes, so send us work that represents you!” Payment: “an honorarium of $50 USD and 10 complimentary copies of the microchap. Additional copies are available to authors at the cost of printing.”
Also open during October: MUD SEASON REVIEW, “an international literary journal” that seeks “deeply human work that will teach us something about life, but also about the craft of writing or visual art, and work that is original in its approach and that in some way moves us.” Pays: $50 to authors/featured artists; “artists whose images we select to pair with writing receive $15.” (Discovered via @Duotrope.)
CAROUSEL, a “literary/arts magazine representing new & established artists, with a focus on positioning Canadian talent within an international context,” is open for submissions of poetry and fiction until October 31 (and “experimental reviews” without deadline). Pays: $20/poem, $40-$80/story, $20-$40/review, “in CDN currency, via Paypal or eTransfer.” NB: Free submissions are capped each month.
CUTLEAF is receiving fiction and nonfiction submissions until October 31, too. Pays: $100-$400. [UPDATES: FICTION DEADLINE APPEARS TO BE OCTOBER 15; pay rates are being updated (top payment is now $400 instead of $750).]
Also until October 31, DREAM POP PRESS remains open “for submissions of chapbook manuscripts in the genres of poetry, speculative diary, and hybrid work that confounds definition. We aim to publish 1-3 manuscripts in Spring 2022. Send us your best and strangest work between 20-50 pages in length….We lean heavily toward more experimental, non-narrative work in general. Writers whose manuscripts are selected will receive $200 and 10 complimentary copies of their book.”
Until October 31, Calgary-based HUMAINOLOGIE invites writers “to share your reflections and ruminations on our theme of Lost and Found through the power of the short story. Selected storytellers will have the opportunity to share their story at our storytelling event on December 3, the finale of Humainologie’s inaugural Short Story Festival. Selected storytellers will also receive an honorarium of $250 [ED note: presumably in Canadian funds]. All those who submit an eligible story will receive free access to all festival programming.”
HARBOR REVIEW, which places “poems in conversation with visual art,” similarly remains open until October 31. Pays: $10/per poem or piece of art.
MUDROOM is also receiving submissions (poetry and prose) through October 31. Pays each contributor $15.
Also until October 31 (“or until filled”): OFF TOPIC PUBLISHING welcomes submissions for Wanderers: Poetry from Those Who Cross Borders. (ED note, in an effort to forestall queries: Please scroll down the webpage to find the guidelines.) “This poetry chapbook is open to poems from immigrants, serial migrants, Third Culture Kids, global nomads, displaced people, refugees, Indigenous people and other groups living within overlapping nations, expats, émigrés, chronic travelers, and anyone else who has crossed borders in life-changing ways. All styles are welcome. Poems should be primarily in English but can include words or phrases from other languages. The poems should clearly relate to the theme of crossing borders.” Reprints (if previously published with “small circulation”) considered. No simultaneous submissions. Payment: “$15 CAD upon publication (more if fundraising goals are met) and a contributor copy. All payments through PayPal (or etransfer where possible).”
Final October 31 mention (for now!): RIVANNA REVIEW remains open for Issue 2 submissions until that date. Pays: $100 for stories and essays of 500-3000 words.
Until November 1, NINTH LETTER is receiving fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for an online edition on the theme of Return, “as in, to return to a former place, person, or situation. Haven’t we been here before?” Pays: $25 per poem, $75 per story or essay, and a 2-year subscription to Ninth Letter.
Also until November 1: THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY “invites readers to submit first-person narratives (under 1,000 words)” on the topic of “threshold.” Payment: “Authors of the selected essays will receive $100 and a free one-year subscription to the magazine.”
New publication: VAST CHASM magazine, whose first quarterly issue is slated for January 2022, “publishes bold work that explores the expansive human experience, including flash and short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and other nonconforming work.” Pays: $50.
Reminder: Make it a habit to check the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL website, where titles in development are posted. Note an October 31 deadline for a “Kindness” anthology. “If this is your first time, please visit our Story Guidelines page.” Pays: $200 plus 10 free copies.
REMEMBER: Some venues listed in last month’s newsletter remain open for submissions.
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 opportunities that don’t make it into the monthly newsletter)
Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer
(Friday) Finds for Writers
Sunday Sentence
Please visit, and comment!
Interested in matters of specifically Jewish literary and cultural interest? Please also visit the My Machberet blog (“machberet” is the Hebrew word for “notebook”).
7. NEWSLETTER MATTERS
Information contained in The Practicing Writer is collected from many sources, with the purpose of providing general references. It is researched carefully but readers should always verify information. The Practicing Writer and its editor disclaim any liability for the use of information contained within. Thank you for subscribing/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 on Facebook and/or Twitter, where she tweets “on matters bookish and/or Jewish.”