The Practicing Writer 2.0: September 2023
Featuring 85+ carefully curated, fee-free opportunities that pay writers for their fiction, poetry, & nonfiction. Celebrating our 20th year of serving the writing community.
Welcome, new readers (264 subscribers have joined us since the last newsletter went out—a bit more about that below), 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 (yes, I’m still calling it that, and I’m still there), Facebook, and/or Substack.
If you are accessing this newsletter via email, you may find a “Message Clipped” notice as you continue reading. That’s due to the length of this info-packed missive. (I’m fairly certain that this issue contains a record number of opportunity listings.) Please be sure to click as appropriate to access the full text.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Editor’s Note
Success Stories
Featured Resource
Contests, Competitions, and Other Opportunities (NO FEES TO ENTER/APPLY; PAYING 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:
It’s very much back-to-school season here; I’ll be teaching my first class for the semester only hours after this issue hits subscriber inboxes. Please wish me luck!
In a few weeks, I’ll also be returning to student mode myself: I’ve enrolled in a month-long online course on writing for the educational market. (As some of you know, I’ve been focusing a lot over the past couple of years on learning about writing for children, which helps explain the sprinkling of opportunities in that arena that pop up in the newsletter from time to time—this month included.) And in case you’re interested, the Highlights Foundation, which runs the course I’ll be taking, offers numerous scholarship opportunities.
As I review my summer work and activities, there’s one project I want to mention here: a panel proposal for the upcoming Jewish Book Council Jewish Writers’ Conference, which will take place virtually in November. Our group submitted the proposal in July, and a few weeks ago, we learned that it had been accepted. This means that “Addressing Antisemitism in Our Literary Lives”—featuring Rachel Kadish,
, Adrienne Ross Scanlan, and yours truly—will be part of the program. You can learn more about the conference at the Jewish Book Council website; the early-bird registration rate is in effect until September 8.Which reminds me: By the time the next newsletter goes out, we’ll have already begun the Jewish New Year 5784. I want to wish a most meaningful holy-day season to all who will be observing it. Also, due to this year’s Jewish-holiday timing, please expect next month’s newsletter a tad earlier than usual, most likely the morning of September 29 (morning in New York, that is).
And, of course, I wish everyone all the best with your writing practices,
ERIKA
P.S. Quick reminder: I am thrilled 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
Please forgive this month’s digression in this space.
Let’s think about it as a success story of sorts for this newsletter itself.
Earlier this month, this newsletter crossed a milestone: We now have more than 9,000 subscribers.
Thanks to each and every one of you subscribers for being here. And I send extra thanks to those who have recommended the newsletter to others. (Additional gratitude here to
, , and , whose endorsements appear on the image above.)Might we cross the 10,000-subscriber mark by the newsletter’s 20th birthday at the end of January/beginning of February? If even a small fraction of you (continue to) encourage your writing friends, colleagues, students, and communities to subscribe, it can happen!
Once again, thank you all!
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(S): PEN AMERICA’S BOOKLASH REPORT (AND RON CHARLES’S RESPONSE)
On August 7, the PEN America organization—perhaps best known, in its own words, for standing “at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide”—issued a press release titled “New PEN Report Warns Against Canceling Books Due to Outrage.” As presented therein, the report, Booklash: Literary Freedom, Online Outrage, and the Language of Harm, “warns that social media blowback and societal outrage are imposing new moral litmus tests on books and authors, chilling literary expression and fueling a dangerous trend of self-censorship that is shrinking writers’ creative freedom and imagination.”
I read the report as soon as I could. (Warning: It’s definitely a #longread.)
The report’s footnotes include anonymous sources, so we can’t know precisely whom the PEN authors may have spoken with or even reached out to. And perhaps some people declined to respond or comment. Still, reading through the report and noting the various “booklash” situations and examples that it cited, I was disappointed to find two notable absences, both pertaining to cases regarding fictional works by Jewish authors that are set in Israel. (You can learn more about those episodes here and here.)
As I’ve tried to refine my own thoughts about this report, I’ve appreciated a number of published analyses and other responses. For example, in a recent installment of his “Book World” newsletter (subscribe, if you haven’t already), The Washington Post’s Ron Charles succinctly summarized some of the report’s “best recommendations.” Noting that he “wasn’t wholly persuaded by every section of the report,” he nonetheless argued that “if you’re a librarian, a bookseller, a publisher, a critic or really anyone interested in the health of our literary culture, you need to read this report and talk about it with your friends and colleagues.”
I concur with that conclusion, and that’s why I’m featuring the report here.
4. CONTESTS, COMPETITIONS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
THE FORGE FLASH PROSE COMPETITIONS
Submissions: September 1-14 (or once they reach a cap). Note: “The fee-free entries are capped at 100 pieces per category. If you are comfortably able to afford the fee, please leave the free submission slots for those who are not.” Prizes: “In 2023, the first-place winners [flash fiction and flash nonfiction] will be awarded $1,000.00 (writers who reside outside the United States must be able to receive payment via PayPal) and publication.”SPECULATIVE LITERATURE FOUNDATION WORKING CLASS WRITERS GRANT
Applications: September 1-30. Awarded annually “to speculative fiction writers who are working class, blue-collar, financially disadvantaged, or homeless, who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction due to financial barriers which make it hard to access the writing world. Such lack of access might include an inability to purchase a computer, books, and tuition, or to attend conventions or workshops. Often, these writers, many of whom work more than one job, have less time to write. The SLF seeks to bring more of these marginalized voices into speculative fiction.” Grant amount: $1,000. Note: “Unlike our other grants, you may choose to receive this grant anonymously or pseudonymously.” Note also that “while we are based in America…this grant is available to international writers.”YOUNG LIONS FICTION AWARD
Deadline: September 8. This $10,000 prize administered by the New York Public Library is awarded “to a writer age 35 or younger for a novel or a collection of short stories.” Eligibility, as noted, is limited to U.S. citizens with books published in 2023. Publisher must submit books.THE HODDER FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: September 12. For “artists and writers of exceptional promise to pursue independent projects at Princeton University during the academic year.” NB: “Given the strength of the applicant pool, most successful Fellows have published a first book or have similar achievements in their own fields.” Award confers “$90,000 for one 10-month academic year.” Applicants need not be U.S. citizens. “Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree.”PRINCETON ARTS FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: September 12. For “artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching.” The two-year fellowship confers a yearly stipend of $90,000. “The normal work assignment will be to teach one course each semester subject to approval by the Dean of the Faculty, but fellows may be asked to take on an artistic assignment in lieu of a class, such as directing a play or creating a dance with students.” NB: “Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. One need not be a U.S. citizen to apply. Holders of Ph.D. degrees from Princeton are not eligible to apply.”HADASSAH-BRANDEIS INSTITUTE RESEARCH AWARDS
Deadline: September 13. These grants “support research or artistic projects in Jewish women’s and gender studies across a range of disciplines.” Note that “creative arts proposals” must “deal with gender; projects by and about Jewish artists that do not deal with gender, do not meet the criteria.” Awards are “open to applicants regardless of gender or religion” and “applications (in English) from outside the United States are welcome.” Awards “junior grants” up to $2,000 and “senior grants,” up to $5,000, for “established scholars and professionals.”FONDATION JAN MICHALSKI RESIDENCIES
Deadline: September 14. In Switzerland. “Residencies can vary in length, lasting from two weeks to one, two, or three months.” No age/nationality restrictions. “Beginners are accepted.” Note that “residents’ travel costs to and from their home address will be covered by the Foundation. Residents are granted a weekly allowance of CHF 400. The Foundation provides breakfast and lunch for residents and the village has a small grocery shop.” Note also that aA percentage of the residencies are dedicated to nature writing, a form of fiction or creative non-fiction that raises awareness of nature, prepares for a sustainable future, and helps to better understand socio-environmental interconnections and the impact of human actions on nature.”RADCLIFFE FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: September 14 (for applications in humanities, social sciences, and creative arts). “Based in Radcliffe Yard—a sanctuary in the heart of Harvard University—fellows join a uniquely interdisciplinary and creative community. A fellowship at Radcliffe is an opportunity to step away from usual routines and dive deeply into a project. With access to Harvard’s unparalleled resources, Radcliffe fellows develop new tools and methods, challenge artistic and scholarly conventions, and illuminate our past and our present.” Note that they “welcome proposals relevant” to certain focus areas, including “proposals that focus on women, gender, and society or draw on the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections”; “climate change and its human impacts”; and “legacies of slavery.” Fellowships run from September-May. “Fellows receive a stipend of $78,000 plus an additional $5,000 to cover project expenses.” Fellows “may also be eligible to receive relocation, housing, and childcare funds to aid them in making a smooth transition to Radcliffe. Health care support is made available as needed. If fellows would like to hire Harvard undergraduate students as Research Partners, we will cover their hourly wages.” Be sure to check the detailed publication and other eligibility criteria.FRESH VOICES FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: September 15. From Epiphany Magazine. “This fellowship supports one emerging Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other writer of color who does not have a BA nor MFA in creative writing, and is not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program.” Fellowship package includes a $2,000 stipend, publication in a print issue of Epiphany, a one-year subscription to Epiphany, the opportunity to participate in the editorial and publication process of a small non-profit literary magazine, and to build close relationships with the editorial team during the course of a twelve-month fellowship, and a Q&A to be published on Epiphany’s website. Additional eligibility note: “Applicants must also have no more than four individual artistic works published in print (journals, magazines), and not have published or be contracted to publish a book (including chapbooks).”CHANGING SKIES CLIMATE CHANGE WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: September 17. Based at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Changing Skies invites writers to “send us your creative nonfiction writing (prose only; no poetry for this contest) about climate change! How has it affected you? People you know? If it’s about climate change, we want to read it.” First prize is $500; second prize is $200. (Thanks to AuthorsPublish for leading me to this one.)LONDON CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY ANTISEMITISM (LCSCA) BOOK PRIZE
Deadline: September 19. Confers £1,000 “for the best book on, or relating significantly to, contemporary antisemitism.” Entries must have been published “between 25 September 2022 and 15 September 2023.” The competition is open “both to single authored monographs and also to multi-authored edited books. The prize will be awarded to the editors in the latter case….The Prize competition is open to authors of all nationalities, provided that their book is written or made generally available in English.”GREEN STORIES PROJECT SHORT STORY COMPETITION
Deadline: September 21. Open to writers worldwide, this competition is sponsored by the Environmental Biotechnology Network and offers a “£500 prize (or local currency equivalent) plus runners up prizes of £200 for 2nd place and £100 for 3rd place.” The current theme is “Microbes to the Rescue.”DINESH ALLIRAJAH PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION
Deadline: September 22. From Comma Press, this memorial prize is “open to anyone 18 years or over who is a resident of the UK.” Theme: “The Uncanny.” Prize: “The winning writer will receive £500 and all 10 shortlisted authors will be featured in an eBook anthology which will be published by Comma Press and sold online.”MICHAEL MARKS POETRY AWARD
Deadline: September 22 (4.00pm: “All pamphlets must have arrived in hard copy by this closing date and time, and all online forms must also have been completed”). This award “recognises an outstanding poetry pamphlet published in the UK between September 24th 2022 and the closing date of September 22nd 2023. The judges will take into account the quality of the pamphlet as an object as well as the poetry, but the latter will be of most importance.” Winning poet receives “£5,000 and a winner’s residential trip to Greece in association with the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies.”BERLIN PRIZE FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: September 29. “Each year, the American Academy in Berlin welcomes around two dozen fellows, who support our mission to enrich transatlantic dialogue in the arts, humanities, and public policy through the development and communication of projects of the highest scholarly merit. Past recipients have included anthropologists, art historians, literary scholars, philosophers, historians, musicologists, journalists, writers, filmmakers, sociologists, legal scholars, diplomats, economists, and public policy experts, among others. For all projects, the Academy asks that candidates explain the relevance of a stay in Berlin to the development of their work.” (Note that among applicants in writing, poets receive fellowships by invitation only.) Fellowship benefits include: “round-trip airfare, housing at the Hans Arnhold Center, partial board, and a stipend of $5,000 per month. Fellows are expected to be in residence at the Academy during the entire term of the award, generally one academic semester, and to offer two public events about their work.” Note: “Fellowships are restricted to candidates based permanently in the United States. Limited periods spent outside the US, such as sabbaticals or foreign assignments, must be explained on the application. US citizenship is not required. American expatriates are not eligible.” Note also: “Writers of fiction and nonfiction must have published at least one book with a reputable press at the time of application.”CULLMAN CENTER FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: September 29. From the New York Public Library’s Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, for “outstanding scholars and writers….Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Candidates for the Fellowship will need to work primarily at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building rather than at other divisions of the Library.” Confers stipend of up to $75,000, “the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources.” Fellowship term runs from September through May.ART OF UNITY CREATIVE AWARD
Deadline: September 30. From the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) in conjunction with Yahad-in Unum Mid-America. “The most important hallmark of Holocaust remembrance and education is the phrase ‘never again.’ Unfortunately, tribal divisions, ethnic cleansing and genocides continue in the 21st Century. We are looking for submissions in any creative media (which can be exhibited online), and which highlight aspects of human unity, and positive cross-pollination between groups, ethnicities, religions and/or nations.” Confers first ($150), second ($100) and third ($50) place awards, and up to five honorable mentions.CREATORS OF JUSTICE LITERARY AWARDS
Deadline: September 30. From the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF). Confers first ($150), second ($100) and third ($50) place awards, as well as up to five honorable mentions, in each category: Poetry, Short Story and Essay. Seeks submissions “which highlight the struggle for human rights and social justice the world over. These may be imagined in any manner in which the writer sees fit, however, it must be based in our signature values [described on the page as “Beauty as a fundamental creative value; Sincerity and Vulnerability of presentation; Celebrating Diversity and opening doorways of Engagement”]. We do not publish work which is based in anger, or stems from an ‘us v. them’ mentality.”JERRY JAZZ MUSICIAN SHORT FICTION CONTEST
Deadline: September 30. “Three times a year, Jerry Jazz Musician awards a writer who submits, in our opinion, the best original, previously unpublished work of short fiction. The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Our newsletter subscribers include publishers, artists, musicians, and fellow writers. While your writing should appeal to a reader with these interests and in these creative professions, all story themes are considered.” Confers $150 and publication.SEJONG INTERNATIONAL SIJO COMPETITION
Deadline: September 30 (“11:59pm CDT USA”). “The sijo is a traditional three-line Korean poetic form organized technically and thematically by line and syllable count. Using the sijo form, write one poem in English on a topic of your choice.” Confers cash prizes as detailed on the website.SYDNEY TAYLOR MANUSCRIPT AWARD
Deadline:September 30. October 5. UPDATE: Per award coordinator Aileen Grossberg, the deadline has been extended, although that update may not yet appear on the official award page. Administered by the Association of Jewish Libraries, this $1,000 award “recognizes unpublished manuscripts of Jewish fiction targeting ages 8-13…to encourage aspiring authors of Jewish children’s books.” For this award’s purposes, an “unpublished author” is defined “as not having previously published any works of fiction for young readers. This includes self-published as well as commercially published work. The manuscript must be a work of fiction in English with universal appeal of Jewish content for readers aged 8-13 years, both Jewish and non-Jewish. It should reveal positive aspects of Jewish life. Short stories are not acceptable.” NB: “While AJL cannot guarantee publication, the prize money has been an incentive for writers with varying experience to try their hands at writing for this genre. The award carries prestige in the publishing world and several Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award winners have subsequently been published.”WILLIE MORRIS AWARDS FOR SOUTHERN WRITING
Deadline: September 30. “The Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing celebrate works in three genres—fiction, nonfiction and poetry. A national panel of judges reviews hundreds of nominated books and poems looking for works that ask readers to engage with the complexities of the U.S. South.” Winners receive cash prizes ($12,000 for fiction and nonfiction winners; $3,000 for the poetry winner). “Winners also receive an expenses-paid trip to Oxford, Miss., where we celebrate the winning writers as part of the Oxford Conference for the Book.” For fiction and nonfiction, “books must be published during the submission year and cannot be self-published. Advance reader copies or proofs for books that will be published in October, November or December” are acceptable. For poetry, “poets may submit one original, unpublished poem no longer than three pages that evokes the American South.”CAMARGO FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: October 1 (5:59pm EST [e.g., New York City]/ 23:59 CET [e.g. Paris]). For 10-week fellowship residencies in Cassis, France. In 2024/2025 residency sessions will be from September 3rd to November 12th, 2024, and from February 28th to May 9th, 2025. Fourteen fellowships will be awarded (7 for “artists” and 7 for “scholars & thinkers”). “A stipend of EUR 350 per week is provided (EUR 3500 for the entire duration of the residency), as is funding for basic transportation to and from Cassis per Fellow. In the case of air travel, basic coach class booked in advance is covered.”CHARLOTTE AND WILBUR AWARD FOR COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS
Deadline: October 1. Founded by author and activist Karen Winnick and administered by the Society of 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 school visit for the winning creators, which will be widely distributed in the United States and globally. Following the video presentation, copies of the winning book will be available to schools and classrooms through renowned Los Angeles-based retailer Children’s Book World.”FOOTNOTE X COUNTERPOINTS WRITING PRIZE
Deadline: October 1 (5pm GMT). For writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds who are residents of the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. “The £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press, is for narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Anyone from a refugee or migrant background is eligible to submit an entry for the prize if they are resident in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, whether they have previously been published or not. You do not need to have finished writing your book in order to enter. The prize is developed in association with the Southbank Centre, and supported by John Ellerman Foundation, Doughty Street Chambers, Spread the Word, Dartington Estate and the Bookseller.”LUSCHEI PRIZE FOR AFRICAN POETRY
Deadline: October 1. Annual award of USD $1,000, under the auspices of the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner. “Established in 2015 and named for the literary philanthropist Glenna Luschei, this Pan African Poetry Prize is the only one of its kind in the world and aims to honor and promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet.” Note: “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.” Note also: “Only poetry submissions in English can be considered, but we welcome published works of translation for consideration.”MALLORQUETA INAUGURAL SHORT STORY CONTEST
Deadline: October 1. Open to writers worldwide, this contest confers a prize payment of EUR€300 and publication in the first issue of Mallorqueta magazine. “Submissions may be in English, Catalan or Spanish,” and “must have a connection to Mallorca, either in setting or relevance to Mallorcan culture.” (Thanks to @Duotrope for directing me to this one.)THE WATCHWORD PRIZE
Deadline: October 1. From Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy and Technology. This new poetry contest aims “to provoke new writing on the theme of surveillance…..We encourage poets to interpret the theme broadly, and we welcome poetry in any style and any form, on any aspect of the phenomenon of watching and being watched, in both the intimate and public spheres of our lives.” Prize: “The Center will offer a $2,000 prize for the winning entry, feature the poem on our website, and invite the winning poet to give a reading of their poem to open the next Color of Surveillance conference.” Judge: Carolyn Forché.NATAN NOTABLE BOOKS AWARD
Deadline: October 2 (for non-fiction titles published for the first time between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024). This twice-yearly award for nonfiction books on Jewish themes “highlights vital books and authors, and brings innovative and important ideas to the attention of diverse audiences. Around Passover and the Jewish High Holidays, Natan selects a ‘Natan Notable Book,’ a recently-published or about-to-be published non-fiction title that will catalyze conversations aligned with the themes of Natan’s grantmaking: reinventing Jewish life and community for the twenty-first century, shifting notions of individual and collective Jewish identity, the history and future of Israel, and the evolving relationship between Israel and world Jewry. Natan Notable Book winners receive a Natan Notable Book seal and $5,000 for the author, marketing/distribution coaching and promotion from Jewish Book Council and Natan, and customized support designed to bring the book and/or the author to new audiences.”OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES MEMORIAL TRUST GRANTS
Deadline: October 2. “The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust provides small scale grants to British artists, designers, writers and performers over the age of 30 who are experiencing financial difficulties in the pursuit of their careers.” Grants “typically range from £250 - £1,000.” (Thanks to Sian Meades-Williams’s Freelance Writing Jobs for pointing me to this one.)WRITERS & ARTISTS (W&A) WORKING-CLASS WRITERS PRIZE
Deadline: October 2. Confers a prize package that includes: mentoring sessions with competition judge Kasim Ali; a cash prize of £200; access to a number of W&A writing and publishing events; one year’s membership to The Society of Authors; more. Open to writers who consider themselves to be from a working class background; are over 18 and living in the UK or ROI; and do not have a publishing contract or agent. Entrants may be writing “in any genre or form of prose fiction and non-fiction.” (Thanks, again, to Freelance Writing Jobs for the reminder about this one.)AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY FELLOWSHIPS FOR CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTISTS AND WRITERS
Deadline: October 5. Confers residencies of four weeks for “historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history, literature, and culture.” Note: “For fellows who reside on campus in the Society’s scholars’ housing, located next to the main library building, the stipend will have the room fee deducted from the $2,000 stipend. (Room fees range from $700 to $500 per month.) The stipend will be $2,000 for fellows residing off campus. Fellows will not be paid a travel allowance.”CASA UNO RESIDENCY
Rolling applications. “Located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, the residency takes place on a beautiful property that provides an opportunity for one to four artists simultaneously to have meaningful interactions and stimulating discussions while pursuing their own individual projects in an inspiring natural setting.” Note that although there’s no fee to apply or to attend, you will need to cover your own transportation andmanynearly all meals (details provided on the website). (Thanks to Janice Eidus for sharing this opportunity with me.)
REMINDER: Some competitions listed in last month’s newsletter remain open into September; make sure you haven’t missed them!
5. SUBMISSION ALERTS
Prefatory note: Occasionally, a journal or press that has not charged submission fees in the past will add one without posting an announcement ahead of a new reading period (or, at least, without posting one that I’ve encountered as of my final round of proofreading). Similarly, updates in reading-period schedules can occur without much notice. Since I research and confirm listings ahead of the start of each month, there are occasions when updates may be made after the newsletter goes out (and the actual submission platform opens—or doesn’t). In these instances, I update the online, archived versions of the newsletter as soon as I become aware of the change, but the version in your email won’t reflect those updates. I apologize for any inconvenience. As I mention toward the end of each and every issue, I strive for utmost accuracy as I provide this free service, but you should always, always verify opportunities for yourself!
In any case: Here’s hoping that no such updates will be necessary this month, when LOTS of new reading periods will begin.
ONLY POEMS is a new digital literary magazine (they’re launching September 21, but they’re already open for submissions, from both emerging and established poets). “We offer $55 to all our poets. This is per contribution and not per piece.”
Scheduled to re-open for submissions September 1 (and remaining open through the month): THE BOMBAY LITERARY MAGAZINE, which aims “to publish fine literature and promote a writerly perspective on narratives” and publishes “fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. We also publish photo/video narratives, essays and interviews, but currently we do so on a commissioned basis.” Payment: “an honorarium of Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution.” (Credit for this one goes to WOW! Women on Writing’s Markets Newsletter.)
Also scheduled to re-open for submissions September 1: BOURBON PENN. “We are looking for highly imaginative stories with a healthy dose of the odd. Odd characters, odd experiences, odd realities. We’re looking for genre/speculative stories and are quite partial to slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal.” Pays: “3¢ /word” for stories that run 2000 - 7500 words.
Also re-opening September 1, for print-journal submissions: THE CINCINNATI REVIEW. Pays: $25/page for prose; $30/page of poetry. They’ll be open for the month—unless/until they hit a cap; submit early!
Scheduled to re-open September 1 for general submissions (and remaining open until November 30): Canada-based CONTEMPORARY VERSE 2, “a quarterly literary journal that publishes poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews.” Pay rates range from $30-$150, depending on genre/word count; “unsolicited overseas contributors (from outside of Canada and the USA) whose fee is $40 or less (one poem or review) will receive only their two contributor copies as payment.” Note that the journal “welcomes poetry submissions in French, as well as translation projects, including both French to English and English to French,” as well as “translations of works in any language.” (Note also that until October 1, Contemporary Verse 2 is open for a special call for poetry for its Winter 2024 issue, “Versus Narrative: The Addiction Issue,” co-edited by poets Conyer Clayton and Hannah Green.)
From DOROTHY, A PUBLISHING PROJECT, “an award-winning feminist press dedicated to works of fiction or near fiction or writing about fiction”: “We are open to submissions for the first two weeks of September, every September. Submissions will open on September 1 and close on September 14….We accept agented and un-agented submissions; simultaneous submissions are perfectly fine. We do not publish memoirs or poetry collections.”
Scheduled to re-open September 1 (and remaining open, in this case, until November 1): FOGLIFTER, which features “the most dynamic, urgent LGBTQ+ writing today. It’s a space where queer and trans writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace.” Pays (per their Submittable page): “Contributors receive two copies of the issue in which they appear and a $50 honorarium (via PayPal).”
Also scheduled to re-open September 1, for novel-manuscript submissions: HISTORY THROUGH FICTION, which is interested “in publishing high quality fiction that is based on historical research. We are looking for stories about real people and real events. Though fictionalized, our books include nonfiction elements such as footnotes, endnotes, and/or a bibliography. When submitting, consider whether your historical novel is informative and educational in addition to being a compelling fictional story.” Compensation: “If accepted, History Through Fiction offers a contract that includes an advance on royalties and covers all production expenses.”
An update (via Twitter) from HUB CITY PRESS regarding their usual September and October open-query periods for work by “writers living in or from the South”: “We have set aside the first two weeks in September (Sept. 1-15) for an open call for prose manuscripts (novels or nonfiction projects) for Southern book projects from Black, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous writers. We are interested in projects that stretch the bounds of what ‘the South’ can mean, and in representing Southern-ness where it is often overlooked. Projects could include: historical and contemporary novels; narrative nonfiction; memoir and essay collections; accessibly written books of cultural criticism; hybrid genre works.” Per the thread, you should be able to query via Submittable as of September 1. Also per the thread: After that two-week window closes they “will be open for our standard open reading periods (Sept 15-30: fiction [novels] / October: nonfiction).” (More background on the press and its interests here and here.)
KENYON REVIEW will re-open for submissions September 1 (and close at month’s end). “In 2024, our magazine will feature three themed sections: Extinction, Writing from Rural Spaces, and Literary Curiosities. We invite work that broadly interprets these themes. When you submit, you will have the option to identify your work for general submission or the themes.” Payment: undisclosed rates, “upon publication.”
MALAHAT REVIEW, which considers submissions in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction (and translations) from Canadian writers year-round (they also consider creative nonfiction from writers outside Canada year-round), is scheduled to be open for fiction submissions from writers outside Canada in September (and October). “We pay CAD$70 per published page plus a one-year print subscription and two copies of the issue in which your work appears.”
Open for fee-free submissions during September (or at least until they may need to “shut free subs early due to a really-rad-but-also-overwhelming response”): SPLIT LIP. Pays: “(via PayPal) $75 per author for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews for our web issues.” Two notes: 1) fee-free subs are open to Black writers and artists year-round and 2) for interviews/reviews (which also pay), follow the instructions to query.
During the month of September, the UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA PRESS is open for poetry-book manuscript submissions from Canadian citizens and landed immigrants. (Creative nonfiction manuscripts “throughout the year, including books of travel/adventure literature for our Wayfarer series,” are received year-round.) “We do not publish novels.”
Open for submissions through September 2: UNSTAMATIC’s Newsprint Issue Vol. 2. “The Newsprint project is a throwback to old-school lit mags that were, once upon a time, printed in newspaper format and distributed on the streets, guerrilla style. We’re bringing it back.” They’re seeking “prose of 500 words or fewer; poetry of 25 lines or fewer; visual art of any sort (but bonus if it’s small/can be scaled down to fit the margins)” and pay $10 (plus a copy). Note: “We’re primarily interested in unpublished pieces, though we may consider exceptional previously published works, so long as you currently hold the rights.” (Hat tip: @Duotrope.)
Scheduled to close September 4 (10:00 am): poetry submissions at MEANJIN, which “only considers work by Australian writers and artists. (We don’t define ‘Australian’ formally as citizenship.)” Pays (undisclosed amount) on publication.
ONE STORY is scheduled to re-open for submissions September 5 (and, per this post, will remain open until they receive 3,000 submissions). They seek literary fiction: “stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone.” Pays: “$500 and 25 contributors copies for First Serial North American rights.”
September 7 is the deadline for print-journal submissions of fiction and nonfiction at ISLAND, a “not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine”; for poetry submissions, the deadline is September 12. According to their guidelines, for prose, “Island will only consider submissions from residents of Australia, New Zealand, our Pacific neighbours and Australians living abroad”; for poetry, “submissions will be considered from Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only.” Pays: 40 cents per word for print fiction and nonfiction, with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1500; $175 per poem. Note: “If your work is selected and you are not already a subscriber, your total payment will be less the cost of a 4-issue subscription.”
THE AMPERSAND REVIEW is open for submissions until September 8. They consider poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, and reviews. Note: “In keeping with our mandate to foster literary culture in communities within Canada, priority may be given to submissions written by those who reside in Canada.” Pays: $50 per poem/page to a maximum of $100 for poetry and $100 per story/piece of nonfiction/review. (Hat tip: @Duotrope.)
At last check, film-focused BRIGHT WALL/DARK ROOM had extended the deadline for its “Westerns” issue to September 8. (There’s also a second deadline this month, September 30, for an upcoming “Chicago” issue.) Payment: “$50 for accepted essays, upon publication.”
SAMJOKO MAGAZINE, “devoted to publishing exemplary work from content creators around the world,” including “fiction, poetry, non-fiction, articles, plays, screenplays, photography & art,” is open for submissions until September 10. Pays: $20.
Also closing September 10: TAB JOURNAL’s special call for “poetry related to the general idea of ‘two’ for its next print issue, to be published in January 2024. Payment: “While Tab Journal currently doesn’t have funding to compensate all contributors for the entire 2024 volume, we do plan to compensate each contributor to the print issue with $75 each.”
CLOISTERFOX, a “zine of British speculative fiction,” remains open for submissions (“from British authors and authors of other nationalities living in Britain only”) until September 14. Current theme: “Roots.” Payment: “£25 plus a copy of the zine.”
Canada-based CANTHIUS, “an intersectional feminist magazine that publishes poetry and prose by writers of marginalized gender identities,” is open for submissions until September 15. They consider poetry and prose (both fiction and creative non-fiction); they also consider submissions “in Indigenous languages.” Payment: “Writers accepted for publication will receive $50 for one page, $75 for two pages, $100 for three, $125 for four pages, and $150 for five pages or more, regardless of genre. Contributors will also receive a complimentary a copy of the issue and a discounted price on any further copies of the issue in which their work appears.” NB: “Submittable caps the number of submissions we can receive during each calendar month. Every first of the month, the cap is reset and the forms will open again. For this reason, we open submissions across different calendar months. Please plan accordingly if you can, and reach out to us if you have any difficulty submitting during our open submission periods.”
WRITE OR DIE also remains open for submissions until September 15. “Right now, we are looking for your nonfiction: We publish first-person narrative essays that explore the intersection of writing and life (whatever that means to you). We are always interested in essays that illuminate the strange, obsessive, spiritual/magical ways that writing and reading shape our reality.” Pays: $20. (Scroll down the page to reach the call/guidelines.)
Canada-based GRAIN is scheduled to re-open September 15. Pays: “All contributors, regardless of genre, are paid $50 per page to a maximum of $250, plus two copies of the issue in which their work appears. Visual work published inside the magazine (in black and white) and on the cover (in colour) is paid at the same page rate as text contributions to a maximum of $500.” Note that they do have “a monthly Submittable cap, and if we reached the said cap, online submissions will be closed until the following month. If you’d like to submit but our account is full, you can either submit by mail or wait until the 1st of the following month.”
I’ve been advised via email that THE MAINE REVIEW will hold a fee-free window from September 15 to September 21 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Pays: “Fiction and Nonfiction writers receive a $25 honorarium per published flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more. Poets receive a $25 honorarium per published poem.”
From NEW ORLEANS REVIEW: “In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, there are no submission fees for Latinx writers from September 15 to October 15.” Pay rates are $100/poem and $300/piece of fiction or nonfiction.
Similarly in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, TYPEHOUSE, starting September 15 (and also continuing until October 15), will welcome no-fee submissions from “all Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x creators, not limited to those in the US.” They consider poetry, prose (“genre fiction submissions are welcome, particularly speculative fiction,”) and visual art, and they pay $25.
Also slated to re-open after September 15: POETRY magazine. Pays: “For text poems, we pay $10/line with a minimum honorarium of $300 per poem. For visual poems, audio poems, and video poems, we pay $300 per poem. If a piece is published in multiple formats, such as print and video, we pay for each format.”
GUTTER, “a magazine of new Scottish and international writing, dedicated to creating space for poetry and prose in Scotland and beyond,” is open for submissions of poetry and prose until September 17. Pays: “flat fee of £25…by cheque made out to the author name, please specify if you wish to be paid under a different name. Published authors will also receive a complimentary copy of the issue.”
For an online issue on “Latine Monsters,” to be guest-edited by Ofelia Montelongo, BARRELHOUSE is open for submissions until September 20. Open to writers worldwide, to all genres, (and to submissions in Spanish). Payment: $50
NO CONTACT, “a digital publisher of short-form prose, poetry, and hybrid works,” is open for general submissions until September 21. Pays: $50.
RECKONING, with a tagline of “creative writing on environmental justice,” remains open until September 22. Issue editors Knar Gavin and Waverly SM specify: “We want thinking, writing and art about … this. All of this, right now. We want to hear about active resistance to the patriarchofascist, corporate-captured extractive state.” Payment: “10 cents/word, $50/page of poetry, $50 minimum per piece of artwork.”
Based in Canada, THE EX-PURITAN “seeks submissions all year round, from anywhere in the world”; submissions received by September 25 are considered for the issue published in November. Submissions “should fall under one of six categories: fiction, essays, poetry, interviews, reviews, and experimental/hybrid work.” Pay rates are detailed within the guidelines.
Open until September 29: STORY UNLIKELY. “To put it simply, we’re looking for good stories, measured both by the quality of the writing and the skill in storytelling. We prefer prose that elicits emotion: make us laugh or cry, think or consider, anything on the edges or in between.” Considers fiction and nonfiction. “We pay 8 cents a word for stories up to 2,000 words (well, 1,875, to be exact). Stories longer than this are capped at $150 payment.” Also considers reprints, for which they pay “1 cent per word with a maximum payout of $50.”
As indicated on its “Possible Book Topics” page, CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL seeks stories until September 30 for a volume themed “Miracles, messages from heaven, angels.” Be sure to (re)check the “Story Guidelines” page for information about the kind of true stories (and poems!) that they look for. Compensation: “$250 one month after publication of the book and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.”
September 30 is the next deadline at CLINCH, “a martial arts literary magazine.” They consider fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. “Submissions do not have to mention the martial arts—though we prefer those that do. Instead, all submissions must share in the virtues of martial arts, those of patience, meditation, and surprise, whether that be in their technique or in their content.” Payment: $15 (“payable via our Venmo (@clinchlit) on the day of publication”).
September 30 is also the deadline for submissions for CON CORAZÓN EN LA MANO: WRITING THE HEARTLAND, “a creative nonfiction anthology forthcoming from Minnesota Historical Society Press.” Edited by Jessica Lopez Lyman and Vanessa Ramos, the anthology “seeks to be expansive in scope with representation from as many Midwestern states as possible: North and South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana. We are open to a wide range of intersectional topics that highlight the varied histories, cultures, and experiences of Midwestern Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x writers. There are no restrictions on theme, content, or form.” Pays an undisclosed “modest honorarium.” (Thanks to @RubenQuesada for leading me to this one.)
At FILLING STATION, themed submissions for an upcoming “Language” issue are open until September 30. “During this time general submissions for poetry and fiction will be closed, while nonfiction and art will remain open.” Payment (via Twitter): “honorarium of $50 CAD as well as a 3-issue subscription to the magazine.”
Also based in Canada, FREEFALL is also closing September 30 (in this case, however, submissions are limited to those from Canadian writers only). “We publish poetry, fiction, non-fiction, literary reviews, author interviews, and visual arts.” Pays: “$10/page prose up to $100 and $25 per poem plus a copy of the issue the work is published in.” Note query instructions for reviews and interviews, for which payment t is $50 and one contributor copy.
Until September 30, SMALL HARBOR PUBLISHING/HARBOR EDITIONS (“a feminist press”) remains open for fee-free chapbook submissions from “BIPOC-identifying writers.” They’ll publish 1-2 books from this open reading period. “Those selected will receive a standard publishing contract and 20 copies of their book. All entrants will be notified about the status of their submission after the submission period.”
September 30 is also the deadline for this “Flash from the Past” call from SMOKELONG QUARTERLY: “In 2023, we at SmokeLong are celebrating our 20th anniversary, and you can help us celebrate by having a look back at our archives….Please choose a narrative from our archives (2018 and older please) and write a blog post about why you think this narrative exemplifies the form of flash. It's a good idea to think of your essay as a review. For some good examples of these, have a look at some of the flash collection. reviews we've published on our blog.” Payment: “We are able to pay $25 for each accepted ‘Flash from the Past’ blog post.” (Recall that SmokeLong is generally open for “flash narratives--fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid--up to 1000 words,” for which they pay $100.)
An announcement from SOURCES: A JOURNAL OF JEWISH IDEAS, which is published by the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and “seeks to promote informed conversations and thoughtful disagreement about issues that matter to the Jewish community”: “The Spring 2024 issue will focus on communal Jewish life on college and university campuses in the US, Canada, Israel, and elsewhere. We invite proposals for long form essays (3500-5000 words) related to this topic, with a particular interest in work that combines analysis of current situations with a vision of how campus Jewish communities might thrive in the future.” Note that “proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis through September 30, 2023.” The call mentions honoraria for published essays; via email, I’ve been able to ascertain that the honorarium will be $1,000. I’ve also been told that the editor is particularly interested in hearing from writers who spend time on college campuses themselves, or at least have recently been involved in campus life in some way.
Closing its submissions window October 1: GORDON SQUARE REVIEW. Pays: “$25 per prose piece and $10 per poem.”
Also closing October 1: short story submissions for THE LAST LINE; all stories must conclude with this year’s chosen line (provided in the guidelines). Pays: $20-$40 for fiction (USD), plus one copy (check the note for international submitters).
October 1 is also the current deadline at TORONTO JOURNAL, which publishes “short stories from anywhere in the world. We will also consider non-fiction pieces about local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding).” Pays: “$50 per piece. All published writers will also receive a printed copy of the issue in which they appear.”
Another one with guidelines on Twitter (for reasons that make abundant sense!): MYTHIC PICNIC is now open for another TweetStory Project. “Submissions should be no more than 25,000 characters in total (which equals about 4,500 words) including spaces and an author bio….Selections will appear in this ‘twitterary magazine,’ which will be pinned to this account, with each selection ‘published’ in its own threaded tweet, attributed to author by name and twitter @, with an author bio where you can tell everyone a little about yourself and your writing. $50 for original unpublished work paid via PayPal upon posting. Authors retain all other rights to their work.” Deadline (per response to my inquiry): “Plan to let it roll until we run out of money!”
If you’re interested in writing for THE DRIFT, “a magazine of culture and politics,” you’ll want to check out the pitch guide they’ve recently posted. Also check their regular submissions page, which includes pay-rate info: $2,000 for essays; $500 - $1,000 for short stories; $150 for poems; $25 for their “Mentions” items.
A recent reminder, via Twitter, from TEACHERS & WRITERS: “Are you a writer with innovative ideas about teaching creative writing in the classroom? We are always open for submissions! Whether through essays, lesson plans, interviews, or reflections on your pedagogical lineage—we want to hear from you.” Per the posted guidelines, “compensation for articles ranges from $50 – $350, payable upon publication. All submissions are on spec, and there is no kill fee.”
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.” Pays: “We offer all published artists a $25 honorarium.”
Reminder: There’s a rolling deadline (the 25th of each month) for OFF TOPIC PUBLISHING’s Poetry Box, which supplies subscribers with a poem “printed postcard-style” along with tea and chocolate. Poems should be no longer than 15 lines (“including blank lines”). Payment: $30 CAD. Note: “Only selected poets will be contacted. If you haven’t heard from us by the 5th of the month following your submission, your poem was not selected.”
Also:
, 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. Pays: “base pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check.” Note that per this August 1 announcement, (aka Poetica), from the same publisher, which I have also listed here in the past, “has not received a consistent flow of submissions and therefore will have to shut down.”
REMEMBER: Some venues listed in last month’s newsletter remain open for submissions, too. And please keep reading the “Blog Notes” below for a note 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. Necessary corrections, when discovered, are posted 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.”