74 Calls for Submissions in May 2025 - Paying markets

This May there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

Note: I update this list continually throughout the month, so check back frequently for new submission calls.

(Image: Pickpik)

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The First Line Journal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry using the line provided. (See theme) Payment: $25-$50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

The Paris Review. Genres: Prose. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

Hellbound Books. Genre: Texas horror. The stories must be written and submitted by Texas authors and must be set (based) in Texas. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Unnerving Magazine. Genre: Horror. Length: 500 -3500 words. Payment: 1.5 cent/word. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

The Lunch Hour. Genre: Poetry, prose, nonfiction, fiction, & anything else. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Solar Pons: A Year of Mystery 1919. Genre: Mystery featuring Solar Pons. Payment: $100. Deadline. May 1, 2025.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $50. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Folly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, CNF. "We look for works with blunt, provocative humour, satirical takes on the social scene, and starkly honest accounts of ordinary life. We are particularly seeking content that is provocative, a bit sexy and is starkly honest." Payment: NZD $25-$50. Deadline: May 1, 2025. May close early if cap is reached.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Shenandoah. Genre: CNF. Payment: $80 per 1000 words of prose up to $400. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: May 1, 2025. See themes.

Certain Age is looking for gorgeous essays, fiction, poetry, art, photography and video work from creative people "of a certain age" and a lot of attitude. Payment: $75. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Spellbinder: Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, art. Payment: £3. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: May 2, 2025. Opens May 1.

Stone's Throw. Genre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 4, 2025. Note: This is a monthly call.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. See theme. Payment: $300 - $500. Deadline: May 4, 2025.

Eggplant Emoji is an annual comedy publication. Genre: Eggplant Emoji Volume 3 will be a print and eBook collection of hilarious short stories that are character-driven and culturally striking. Stories selected for this anthology will define pop culture with unforgettable characters, outrageous situations, and riotous humor. Length: 1,000 – 7,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 5, 2025.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on any film or television-related topic. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 6, 2025.

Hexagon. Genre: Speculative fiction short stories, flash fiction, poetry, graphic stories, and visual art, in English or French. Payment: $5 for accepted poetry and cartoons, 0.01$ per word for all short stories up to 7,500 words, $40/page for comics and $150 for cover art pieces. (Payment in CAD). Deadline: May 7, 2025. Open to submissions the first week of every second month.

Planet Scumm. Genre: Hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, speculative fiction, weird fiction, slipstream. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: May 7, 2025.

Tin House. Genre: Debut Poetry Collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 11, 2025. Opens May 10.

Winter Lore Book 3:  Aurora: Tales of Winter Dreams. Genre: Fiction, poetry, articles, etc. See theme. Payment: $20 for original fiction, $10 for poetry, $5 for reprints, $5 for short articles, poems and spells on winter rites, traditions and rituals. Deadline: May 13, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Georgia Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction. Payment: $50 per printed page for prose and $4 per line for poetry. Essay-reviews and standard reviews earn honoraria of $50/printed page. Deadline: May 14, 2025. Fee to submit online; no fee for postal submissions.

Goblins & Galaxies Magazine. Genre: Sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and science fiction stories under 6,000 words. Payment: 3 cents (USD) per word for original fiction. Deadline: May 14, 2025. Opens May 7.

Diet Milk. Genre: Gothic flash fiction and poetry. See theme. Payment: $3 for micro fiction, $5 for flash fiction. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Reader Beware. Genre: Horror. Payment: $0.01/word for fiction, $0.05/line for poetry, $5/page for comics. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Tableware. Genre: Art, poetry, fiction, essays, photography, reviews. Most anything you can print on paper. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: May 15, 2025. 

The Stinging Fly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Fiction and nonfiction: €30 per magazine page; Poetry: €50 per poem; Featured Poet: €250. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Holiday Celebrations Genre: True stories and poems. "Everyone loves the holidays and making cherished memories. And these titles do make wonderful gifts for everyone on your list. How do you celebrate the holidays? Are your celebrations very traditional or are they very spontaneous and never the same?" Payment: $200. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: May 15, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Archive of the Odd. Genre: Speculative fiction, horror preferred. “Archive of the Odd is a zine of uncanny occurrences, told in even stranger ways.” They’d like a variety of time periods. Stories can be in any format, except traditional prose. Some of the suggested formats are: academic papers; technical writing; medication warning sheets; sales papers; newspaper articles; recipes; knitting/crochet/weaving/what-have-you guides; care guides (plant, animal, rock garden, etc); or any other unusual format. Submissions do not have to be entirely in text. Payment: $15-$25 for fiction of 500-5,000+ words. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round. To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself." Payment: £25 for each poem published. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Three-Lobed Burning Eye. Genre: Horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Griffith Review. Genre: Non-fiction and fiction that responds to the theme "Best Dressed." Payment: AUD$0.75 per word. Deadline: May 18, 2025.

Cordite. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Payment is available for Australian contributors only. Deadline: May 18, 2025.

Farmer-ish. Genre: Nonfiction, CNF, poetry related to farming (including recipes). Payment: $25 for print journal. Deadline: May 20, 2025. See themes.

The Deadlands. Genre: Fiction. "The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere. We are looking for fiction that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve." Payment: 10 cents/word for fiction. Deadline: May 21, 2025. Accepts reprints. 

Stygian Lepus Magazine. Genre: Dark speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: May 25, 2025.

(s)crawl magazine. Genre: Horror fiction and poetry. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 29, 2025.

The Cincinnati Review. Genre: Literary nonfiction (up to 20 pages), fiction (up to 40 pages), poetry, poetry translations, drama, and art. Payment: $25/page for prose in the journal, $30/page for poetry, $25 for miCRo posts or special features. Deadline: May 30, 2025. Opens on the first day of the month and closes once they hit the submissions cap.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Change your habits & attitudes / change your life Genre: True stories and poems. "Habits. Attitudes. Breaking bad habits and replacing them with good habits play an important role in self-care. Change your attitude and you can change your life. And self-care - including mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing - is vital to ensuring that your needs are met. It's probably what we neglect the most." Payment: $200. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories About Pets. Genre: "From backyard to barnyard; from couch to coop; from aquatic to aerial; from indoor to outdoor; from fins to fur to feathers - we want to hear about all your pets." Payment: $200. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

Poet Lore. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

Kweli Journal. "Kweli is the first online journal of its kind to celebrate community and cultural kinships. In this shared space, you will hear the lived experience of people of color. Our many stories. Our shared histories. Our creative play with language. Here our memories are wrapped inside the music of the Muscogee, the blues songs of the South, the clipped patois of the Caribbean." Genre: Self-contained novel excerpt, short story, or creative non-fiction piece, poetry. Length: No more than 7,000 words. Payment: "Upon publication." Deadline: May 30, 2025.

The Bombay Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. Payment: Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Book Worms. Genre: Horror: fiction, poetry, and essays. See theme. Length: Up to 1,500 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

University Press of Kentucky. Genre: Books of poetry or fiction (novels, short story collections, etc.). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Closes when submission cap is reached, so submit early.

Escape Pod. Genre: Science fiction (Audio and written format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Reprints accepted.

Skin. Genre: Speculative stories (2-5k words) on the theme of patterns. "We tend to prefer speculative, surreal, supernatural, dark fiction with creeping, poetic, dread-inducing prose, and endings we can't predict, but we're open to all subgenres of dark fiction." Payment: 1 cent per word. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series. Restrictions: Open to any individual living in the U.S. who identifies as an immigrant and who either (i) was born in another country, (ii) has at least one parent who was born in another country (iii) is a refugee, or (iv) lives in the United States under Asylum or a Protection Program, such as TPS or DACA. Genre: Books of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), and hybrid texts of poetry and prose. Payment: In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Olit. Restrictions: Strong preference for Orlando based writers/submissions about Orlando and surrounding areas. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Artwork, Photography. "Send us all kinds of stuff. We love the artfully weird." Payment: $10. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Dragon Soul Press: Beyond the Veil. Genre: All Fae stories are welcome. All genres are accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Agbowo. Restrictions: Open to writers of African origin. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, and art. Payment: NGN 20,000-50,000. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Dragon Soul Press: The Fear Driver. Genre: Horror drabble. Drabbles are 100 words each. A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 drabbles from each author. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Malahat Review. Genre: Fiction. Payment: CAD $70/page. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Broken Sleep Books. Genre: Poetry collections (40+ pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to submissions by authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Plenitude Magazine "Plenitude Magazine aims to promote the growth and development of LGBTTQI literature through an online publication of literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic narrative, book reviews and short film by both emerging and established LGBTTQI writers. We define queer literature and arts as works created by LGBTTQI people, rather than works which feature queer content alone." Genre: Poetry. Payment: $60. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Baltimore Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, videos (including poetry), and cross-genre work. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2025. May close early if they reach their cap.

Wrath Month. Genre: Fantasy, science-fiction, and horror short stories that embrace punk and queer rage. Payment: 8 cents.word. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Black Fox Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, CNF, poetry, art. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: Short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets. Genre: Full-length poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Read full guidelines HERE. Deadline: May 31, 2025. 

AGNI. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for accepted prose, and $20 per page for accepted poetry, up to a maximum of $150. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Fee to submit online. No fee to submit by USPS.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Graveside Press: Illustrated Poetry Anthology. Genre: Illustrated poetry. "Give us your limericks, sonnets, haiku, ballads, and free verse! Have visual poetry? EVEN BETTER. We want grim, gothic, morbidly funny, terrifying works." Payment: $0.02/word. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Far Futures. Genre: Speculative fiction exploring the colonial possibilities of Titan. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $75 for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews web issues. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.

AND A FEW MORE...

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: June 1, 2025. See themes.

IHRAM Publishes. Genre: Poetry, fiction, esssays, art. Theme: Invisible Chains: Contemporary Slavery and Forced Migration. Payment: $50 for writing, $25 for art. Deadline: June 1, 2025.

Wallstrait. Genre: Flash fiction, longer stories, hybrid, and experimental stuff you can't quite define. Length: Up to 5,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: June 1, 2025. 

Eerie River. Restrictions: Open to underrepresented Canadian authors. Genre: Novels or novellas in the genres of dark fiction, dark romance, horror romance, or horror, Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 1, 2025.

Green Writers Press is an independent, Vermont-based publishing company dedicated to spreading environmental awareness and social justice by publishing authors who promulgate messages of hope and renewal through place-based writing and environmental activism. Genre: Adult/juvenile fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 1, 2025.

Eternal Haunted Summer. Genre: Poetry, short fiction. Theme: Music. Payment: $5. Deadline: June 1, 2025.

64 Writing Contests in May 2025 - No entry fees

This May there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $50,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

(Image: Flickr)

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World Historian Student Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Genre: Essay that addresses one of the following topics and discuss how it relates to you personally and to World History:  Your view of a family story related to a historical event or your personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history/knowledge, such as "My ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832." Prize: $500. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

The EastOver Prize for a Debut Story Collection. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not published another full-length book. Genre: Debut story collection. Prize: $2000 and publication. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Occult Detective Anthology. Genre: Occult detective fiction. Prize: "Small payment." Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards. Genre: Play that addresses the question: “What does it mean to be a human in a computerized world?” Prize: $5000. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

CINTAS Creative Writing Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to any Cuban author (including those of direct Cuban lineage; need not reside in Cuba). Genre: Novel excerpts, short stories, plays, or poems of up to 25 pages. Prize: $20,000 fellowship. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

The Waterston Desert Writing Prize. Genre: Literary nonfiction, desert theme. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction. Sponsored by the American Bar Association. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Genre: Original works of short fiction that illuminate the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society. 5000 words max. Prize: $3,000 and publication in ABA Journal. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

The Questions Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to young Australian writers (18 to 30 years). Genre: Fiction and nonfiction on any topic as long as the piece remains between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Prize: $3,000 AUD top prize. Deadline: May 1, 2025. 

The Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award. Genre: Works of fiction or nonfiction. Prize: $25,000. The award-winner will participate in a 2-3 day residency at Interlochen Center for the Arts in April 2025. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Rabbi Sacks Book Prize. Genre: Published nonfiction book that contributes significantly to the arena of modern Jewish thought. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Teen Nib Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students attending high school (Grades 9-12) in the state of Virginia. Genre: Short story, poetry, nonfiction. Prize: $100 top prize. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Casa Africa Essay Prize. Genre: Essay on the theme, 'Decolonisation’. 15,000-20,000 words. Prize: €2,000. Deadline: May 2, 2025.

Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant. Genre: Articles, books, and short-form writing about contemporary art—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The program also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. Grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Deadline: May 7, 2025.

Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black writers of African descent who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press. Authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply. Genre: Unpublished, original collections of poems written in English. Prize: $10,000, publication by Graywolf Press in fall 2025, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading. Deadline: May 8, 2025.

Quay Words Young Writers’ Flash Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open writers aged 10 to 18-years. Genre: Flash fiction on theme ‘Generation' Prize: £200 top prize. Deadline: May 11, 2025.

Pulitzer Center's "Fighting Words—Poetry in Response to Current Events" Contest. Restrictions: Current K-12 students anywhere in the world may enter. Students may write in any language, and are welcome to submit multilingual poems. Judges will have reading fluency in English and Spanish. Genre: Poetry. Theme: How can poetry be an effective response to current events and underreported stories? How can journalism and poetry help us make connections between global issues and our local and personal contexts? Prize: $300 top prize. Deadline: May 11, 2025.

Boroondara Literary Awards. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: More than $5,000 in prize money across various age groups in the Young Writers’ category; more than $3,500 in prize money in the Open Short Story category. Deadline: May 11, 2025.

Brown's Mart Theatre Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: Script. There is no word limit. Scripts must have a performance time of more than 30 minutes. Script treatments are ineligible. Prize: The winner of the Brown’s Mart Theatre Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to select shows in Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

Flash Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A blog post, fan fiction, short story, fictional diary entry or fictional letter. Word limit: 500 words. Entries limited to three entries per person. Prize: The winner of the Flash Fiction Award will receive a $600 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

Kath Manzie Youth Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A piece of creative writing, either poetry or short story, by a person aged 12 to 18 years as of 1 January 2023. Limit of three poetry entries with a 300-line limit OR a short story with a 3,000-word limit per person. Prize: The winner of the Kath Manzie Youth Award will receive a $600 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

NT Writers' Centre Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A single poem up to 300 lines. Entries limited to three separate poetry entries per person. Prize: The winner of the NT Writers’ Centre Poetry Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award 2024. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A factually accurate work, written with attention to literary style and technique. Can take the form of a biography, autobiography, memoir, diary entry, travel writing, food writing, literary journalism, or criticism. Word limit: 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award will receive a $500 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award. "The RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is an annual award that aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. The shortlisted submissions are judged by a distinguished jury of Canadian writers." Prize: The winning entry will receive a $3,000 CAD cash prize and mentorship from a distinguished Canadian author. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

Charles Darwin University Essay Award 2024.  Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A referenced academic essay on a topic relating to the Northern Territory. Word limit: 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Charles Darwin University Essay Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

Zip Print Short Story Award 2024. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: An original work of short fiction. Word limit: up to 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Zip Print Short Story Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 12, 2025.

The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Governor General's Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. They do not need to be residing in Canada. Genre: The Governor General’s Literary Awards are given annually to the best English-language and French-Language book in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Young People’s Literature (Text), Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Leeway Foundation: Transformation Award. Restrictions: Women and transgender poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers in the Philadelphia area who have been creating art for social change for five or more years. Writers who have lived for at least two years in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties, who are at least 18 years of age, and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Award: $15,000. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Suspect Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. "We are looking for poems that use the word “fable” in imaginative ways." Prize: USD300, 200, and 100 will go to the top three winners. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Native Art Fellowship. Restrictions: Applicants must be an enrolled/citizen member or lineal descendant of a federally recognized tribe, a state recognized tribe, or be an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian. Genre: This fellowship supports diverse creative disciplines and artists working in any medium including, but not limited to, visual, performing, literature, multidisciplinary, film and video, or folk and traditional. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to a writer committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history. The winner of the prize will have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking and challenging work. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence. Restrictions: The award will go to an editor whose commitment to the publication of LGBTQ+  writers and literature contributes significantly to the advancement of the LGBTQ+  community. Candidates can work in any genre, be at any publication, and be at any stage of their career. For 35 years as an editor at Macmillan, St. Martin’s Press, and Crown Publishing, Michael Denneny championed LGBTQ writers and stories as one of the first openly gay editors working at major publishing houses. The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence is the only editorial award that not only recognizes the support provided by editors to the literary community, but also the importance of editors in the advancement of a social movement. Prize: The winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

The Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing. Restrictions: The award will go an LGBTQ arts critic or literary reviewer committed to examining queer works of art and culture, as Holt ground-breakingly did for 16 years. This award is made possible by Lesbians for Good, a fund of the Horizons Foundation. Prize: $4,000. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Dr. Jim Duggins Outstanding LGBTQ Mid-Career Novelist Prize. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ mid-career novelists who have published at least three novels. or two novels and substantial additional literary work (including poems, stories, or essays). Genre: Published book. Prize: $5000. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction. Restrictions: Open to a Black LGBTQ writer whose fiction explores themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking work. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers. Restrictions: The nominee must self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. The nominee must have written and published at least one but no more than two books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50. Restrictions: Open to unpublished LGBTQ writers over 50 working in any genre. Genre: All genres. Prize: $5000. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

The Karla Jay Prize for Emerging Writers in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Restrictions: Open to individuals with an emerging career in Gender and Sexuality Studies research, writing, and publication. Genre: Gender and Sexuality Studies. Prize: $1,500. Deadline: May 16, 2025.

Creative Future Writers’ Award. Restrictions: Open to underrepresented writers in the UK only, who are over 18 years old. Genre: Poetry, fiction. This year’s theme is ‘Wild.’  Prize: Publication, GBP £75.  Deadline: May 18, 2025.

The Kentucky State Poetry Society Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to public, private, and homeschool students in grades 3-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st prize - $75, 2nd prize - $50, 3rd prize - $25. Winners are invited to read their poems at the annual meeting. Deadline: May 18, 2025.

Molly Keane Creative Writing Award. Restrictions: Open to Irish residents. Genre: Unpublished short story, maximum 2,000 words. Prize: €250 plus a course at the Molly Keane Writers Retreat. Deadline: May 19, 2025.

RTÉ Radio Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to Irish writers and residents of Ireland. Genre: Short story. Prize: Up to 5,000 euros. Deadline: May 23, 2025.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest. Restrictions: The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. Genre: Essay. The theme of the contest is "Community in the Commonwealth." Prize: Past prizes have included certificates, resources for winner's school, visits to Cambridge University, a trip to London and a week of activities, work experience at international organisations, and having your entry featured in worldwide media. Deadline: May 23, 2025.

Great Lakes Colleges (GLCA) New Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to Americans and Canadians.  Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. In each category, the submitted work must be an author’s first published volume. Prize: $500. Deadline: May 25, 2025.

Defenestration. Genre: Short story including an incident of defenestration – the art or –ism of throwing people out of windows. It need not be literal. "This can be a sudden, immediate, even violent shift, change, or seismical event between the beginning and the end.” Prize: $75, two runner-up prizes of $30 each. Deadline: May 25, 2025.

Roscommon New Writing Award. Restrictions: All entrants must have a connection with the county of Roscommon (born in, living in, currently working in, went to school in, etc). Genre: Short story. Prize: €600.00. Deadline: May 26, 2025.

Write the World Competition: Your Home. Restrictions: Young writers ages 13-19. Genre: Reflection about your own environment, close to home. Length: 400-1000 words. Prize: Best Entry: $100; Runner-Up and Best Peer Review will each receive $50. Deadline: May 26, 2025.  (Note: This is a monthly contest.)

Changing Light Prize for a Novel-in-Verse. Genre: Novel-in-Verse. Prize: $500 and publication for a novel-in-verse, 90-160 pages. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

A Very Short Story Award. Genre: Short story of ten words or fewer. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

The Future Bookshelf: Mo Siewcharran Prize. Restrictions: The contest is open to BAME writers in the UK. Genre: Picture book. Prize: £2,500, £1,500 and possible publication. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

Irene Adler Prize for Women Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada. Deadline: May 30, 2025.

Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing. Restrictions: Open to first-generation residents of the United States. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated to the U.S., or to American-born residents whose parents were born elsewhere. Genre: Unpublished nonfiction books. Prize: $10,000 and publication. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Furphy Literary Award: Junior and Youth Competition. Restrictions: Open to  juniors & youth age writers who live in the Goulburn Valley, Australia. Genre: Short stories and poetry. Prize: First prize of $300. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

A Voice for Animals Teen Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 14-18. Genre: Essays on an animal rights topic. In the 16-18 year olds category, essays must be 800-1,000 words long and be accompanied by a photograph; in the 14-15 year olds category, essays should be between 1,400-1,500 words. Prize: $200 - $500. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Speculative Literature Foundation Older Writers Grant. Restrictions: Open to writers who are fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application. Genre: Speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards. Restrictions: Open to aboriginal youth, 18 years or younger, residing in Ontario, Canada. Genre: Creative writing. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Harlequin: Romance Includes You Mentorship. Restrictions: Open to debut writers in Canada and the US. Genre: Romance novel. Prize: A contract advance plus grant with a value of $5,000 U.S. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Vancouver Writers Fest's Youth Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in British Columbia. Genre: Short stories and personal essays: 1,000 word limit (for elementary school student submissions) and 1,500 (for high-school student submissions). Prize: $100 top prize. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

The Center for Fiction / Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellowships offer grants, editorial mentorship, and other opportunities to early-career New York City-based practitioners who are at a critical moment in their development as fiction writers. Genre: Fiction. Grant: $5,000. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $150 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2025.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: May 31, 2025. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

37 Marvelous Writing Conferences and Workshops in May 2025

This May there are more than three dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

 If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences.

Be sure to check out Highlights list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year. 

(Image: Kachemak Bay, Wikimedia)

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Asian and Asian American Voices: An In-Community Retreat. May 1 - 4. 2025: Boyds Mills, PA. The annual Asian and Asian American Voices retreat celebrates the vibrant world of Asian and Asian American voices in children's and young adult literature. Waitlisted.

The 2025 Arizona Writing Workshop. May 2, 2025: Phoenix, AZ. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total). 

Lakefly Writers Conference. May 2 - 3, 2025: Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Workshops, talks, and a book fair for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Previous presenters: Beth Amos, Malinda Andrews, Valerie Biel, Rebekah Bryan, R. R. Campbell and more. 

Washington Writers Conference. May 2 - 3, 2025: Bethesda, MD. "Expert sessions with authors and publishing pros on the many paths to publishing — from writing killer query letters and landing an agent to going your own way and utilizing a self/hybrid model — and publicizing your book once it exists!" 

Atlanta Writers Conference. May 2 - 3, 2025: Atlanta, Georgia. The goals of this conference are to give you access to eighteen top publishing acquisitions editors and literary agents actively seeking new clients (see their profiles on our Editors and Agents page), help you get your work ready for them, and educate you with a workshop and talks by experienced authors and other industry professionals. The Conference Activities page details each activity you can register for: select them all, only one, or some number in between–it’s entirely up to you, so you can craft the conference experience that will be best for your growth, interests, and budget. Virtual option for critique and pitch meetings with the agents and editors.

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference. May 2 - 4, 2025: Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The three-day conference is full of topical, in-depth workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, opportunities for one-on-one time with agents and editors, the chance to read your work aloud for constructive critique, plus time to socialize with fellow writers. Will be held in person.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. May 2 - 4, 2025: Asheville, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

Writing in the Pines. May 3, 2025: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Choose from workshops in memoir, poetry and revision. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration. 

Michigan Writers Workshop. May 3, 2025: Detroit, MI. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

The 2025 Writing Conference of Los Angeles. May 4, 2025: Los Angeles, CA. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. May 6 - 10, 2025: Monterey, CA. Participants in the Monterey Writer Retreat will work both in a group and one-on-one with the best literary "closers" and mentors in the business: Paula Munier, Michael Neff, and Katharine Sands (see bios below), who together combine more than 75 years of working with aspiring authors and ushering them to publication. Before you meet with them, you inform us ahead of time via the Monterey Writer Retreat Application about the retreat goals you wish to focus on and we'll make it happen.

Picture Book Plotting from A to Z: A 5-Week Online Course for Writers. May 6 - June 3, 2025: Online. This online course with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen features pre-recorded and/or written lectures, along with assignments for each letter of the “Picture Book Alphabet,” plus weekly LIVE Zoom sessions for all of your course related questions and discussion with Sudipta. In addition, Sudipta will offer consultations in small groups during the last two live sessions.

Nonfiction Writers Conference. May 7 - 9, 2025. ONLINE EVENT. Online conference devoted to writing, publishing and promoting non-fiction books. Participation is live via phone or Skype, and recordings can be downloaded. Features 15 speakers over three days. Private Facebook group for attendees!

Editing for Impact: Revising Your MG or YA Novel (Spring). May 7 - June 11, 2025.Online. Join novelists Jennifer Gennari and Lisa Moore Ramée for a six-week online deep dive into revision, where you’ll learn to enhance emotion, sharpen action, and refine your novel’s impact. Through live sessions, structured assignments, community support, and personalized feedback, you’ll build the skills needed to enrich your novel.

Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers. May 7 - July 16, 2025: Online. A transformative opportunity to have your entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program is for any writer of a middle grade or young adult novel. Apply by March 24. Waitlisted.

Storymakers Conference. May 8 - 10, 2025: Provo, Utah. The Storymakers conference features over a hundred classes geared toward aspiring and established writers alike, taught by some of the best presenters in the publishing industry. Some past keynote speakers have included such names as Brandon Sanderson, Lois Lowry, Jennifer A. Nielsen, Shannon Hale, Ally Condie, and more!

2025 Portland Writing Workshop. May 9, 2025: Portland, OR. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (175 total).

Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. May 9 - 10, 2025: Online. "This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. And even though this is the “Pittsburgh” Writing Workshop, make no mistake — writers from everywhere are welcome to attend virtually. Our WDW writers conferences have helped dozens of writers find literary agent representation." Will be held virtually.

Seattle Writers Workshop. May 10, 2025: Seattle, WA. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Longleaf Writers Conference. May 10 - 17, 2025: Seaside, Florida. "Formerly the Seaside Writers Conference, Longleaf Writers Conference is an annual gathering of creative writers from all over the nation, featuring award-winning writers in poetry and fiction and screenwriting who will offer a full week of intensive writing workshops, one day seminars, school outreach programs, and social events. This event occurs every year in May, and offers the opportunity for beginning, intermediate and advanced writers to celebrate writing, to network with other writers, and to hone their craft. There will also be seminars hosted by professional editors and literary agents who will offer one-on-one consultations. All participants who pay the full conference tuition fee will be able to take part in all daily activities, while those paying a la carte pricing will have the pick of which classes and workshops they would like to attend. The Longleaf Writers Conference is one of the only conferences in the nation to take place on one of the most beautiful beaches in the US, and every year will feature notable guest writers, literary agents, and professional editors."

The Craft of Short Stories: An Online Workshop. May 15 - June 12, 2025: Online. The short story is a nimble medium that leaves room for experimentation. Some stories run entirely on language, some on mood. Some contain an entire world, some are slices of life. In this generative writing workshop, we will study the engines of a wide range of contemporary short stories and figure out why they are effective. We will look at voice, character, setting, point of view and story to discuss techniques and terminologies, craft and content. By the end of this course, we will have tools to create, revise and polish our own short stories. Participants are encouraged to bring a work-in-progress to develop, or come empty-handed to write something brand new.

Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. Application deadline May 15, 2025: Forest Grove, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing.

IBPA Publishing University. May 15 - 17, 2025: Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and more! 

Bookstock Literary Festival. May 16 - 18, 2025: Woodstock, Vermont. Expect 50+ speakers, author signings, live music, workshops, exhibits, special events and a huge tent sale of 10,000-12,000 used & rare books. All events and workshops are free and open to the public.

Colrain Classic. May 16 - 19, 2025: Via Zoom. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3.5 day conference designed for poets with manuscripts in progress. The Classic features in-depth pre-conference work and candid, realistic evaluation and feedback from nationally-known poets, editors and publishers. In preparation, participants work at home on pre-conference assignments and then, in the workshop, review, arrange, and winnow their work based on the pre-conference work. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop and editor sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session." 

The 2025 Cincinnati Writing Workshop. May 17, 2025: Cincinnati, OH. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Courtyard Cincinnati North at Union Centre (West Chester). In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference. May 17 - 20, 2025: Homer, Alaska. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the 2025 conference on May 17-20 at the beautiful Kachemak Bay Campus in downtown Homer, Alaska. There will there be four-days of craft classes, agent and editor meetings, panel discussions, readings by the participants and the faculty, and more chances for folks to interact with each other and form the community of writers that sustains us when we return to our desks.

Writeaway in New Mexico. May 17 - 24, 2025: Casa Bellisima, New Mexico. $3.200 for private room; $2,800 each for friends or couple sharing a room Includes writing consultations and daily writing workshops, all meals, wine and cocktails, plus a cooking class and excursion. Full

Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers. May 19 - 23, 2025: Houston, Texas. Daily workshops, readings, craft talks, social events and professionalism panels in an intimate and supportive environment designed specifically with the needs of emerging writers in mind.

The Poetry Bandit: An Online Workshop. May 19 - June 23, 2025: Online. Enliven your language, invoke your inner child and fall in love with writing all over again. In this course, we will rekindle our creativity and expand our writing toolbox by experimenting with found text. Inspiring exercises will lead us to write centos and erasures, lift speech from overheard conversations and interrogate repetitive language to refresh our storytelling. We will share our work and also cover the ethics of using found texts as well as best practices when submitting for publication. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or new to poetry, here’s an opportunity to learn some fun tricks to elevate your writing.

From Pencil Or Paint To Pixel: A Two-Night Mini For Beginning Illustrators. May 20  - 22, 2025: Online. Beginning illustrators can join children’s book author/illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur to talk about approaches to using different media (traditional and/or digital) in your illustrations. Special guest Aram Kim will join us the second day for ten tips about submitting work to an art director (traditional and/or digital). Will be conducted online.

Balticon. May 23 - 26, 2025: Baltimore, MD. Balticon is sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award, the Robert A. Heinlein Award, and the winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest annually at this event. Multiple tracks of Programming over the four day weekend, featuring authors, artists, scientists, musicians, podcasters, publishers, editors, costumers and other creative SF luminaries. 

North Words Writers Symposium. May 28 - 31, 2025: Skagway, Alaska. "Exploring the Frontiers of Language," the North Words Writers Symposium welcomes all to an intimate setting with just 40 participants engaging with authors in a spectacular Alaska setting. Join this year's faculty of Alaska-NW authors for four days of panel discussions, writing workshops, readings, and adventure in Skagway, Alaska. Symposium events include activities such as hiking and writing workshops, a barbecue with live music at Alderworks Writers & Artists Retreat in Dyea; and a keynote banquet in a show garden.  REGISTER by May 10.

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing (Spring). May 28 - July 30, 2025: Online. Join lead faculty Harold Underdown and special guests for a Crash Course in Children’s Publishing. At the end of the course, you will understand how the children’s book publishing industry works, including submitting, publishing, marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults, and beginning ideas about craft and critique.

Mountain Heritage Literary Festival. May 30 - 31, 2025: Cumberland Gap, TN. "Every year writers gather at the ancient and beloved Cumberland Gap to celebrate writing, music, and Appalachian heritage. Events include workshops, panels, readings, concerts, lectures, open mic, and more." 

The Bay Area Book Festival. May 31 - June 1, 2025: Berkeley, California. The free Bay Area Book Festival celebrates books and literature with a heavy focus on readings and author talks. But you’ll also find panel discussions and writing workshops for youth and adults. There’s one large adult program stage, a robust children’s area with activities and readings, and more than 100 exhibitors and food vendors. 

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival. May 31 - June 1, 2025: Salem, Massachusetts. The Mass Poetry Festival offers nearly 100 poetry readings and workshops, a small press and literary fair, panels, poetry slams, and open-air readings. More than 150 poets will engage with thousands of New Englanders. Biennial.

Workshops with application deadlines in May

Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop. June 15 - 20, 2025: The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. This program is for writers who want to learn how to write an Orion essay, short story, or poem; for writers who seek to become better advocates for the environment through their writing; for poets who are drawn to writing about nature and culture; for teachers and scholars who wish to write for a more general readership; and for environmental professionals who want to bring better writing skills to bear on their work. The program will feature small writing workshops dedicated to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as faculty readings and lectures, student readings, and presentations on publishing. Application deadline May 1.

Viable Paradise Science Fiction Writers' Workshop. Oct 19 - 24, 2025: Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Viable Paradise is a unique one-week residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. The workshop is intimate, intense, and features extensive time spent with best-selling and award-winning authors and professional editors currently working in the field. VP concentrates on the art of writing fiction people want to read, and this concentration is reflected in post-workshop professional sales by our alumni. Application deadline May 15. 

98 Calls for Submissions in April 2025 - Paying markets

This April there are more than eight dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

Note: I update this list continually throughout the month, so check back frequently for new submission calls.

(Image: PxHere)

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Escape Plan: Earth. Genre: Pulp Mad Science Fiction. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: A percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors. Deadline: April 1, 2025.

Salamander. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 1, 2025.

Skull and Laurel. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers. Genre: Weird Folk Horror/Folk SF/Folk Fantasy, broad interpretation, all kinds of folklore and lore welcome. Word count: 100 to 4999 words. Payment: 3c/word (USD) originals; $25 (USD) reprints. Deadline: April 1, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $25 per poem and $100 for prose. Deadline: April 1, 2025. Closes when they reach cap.

The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

Zero Street Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Full-length literary fiction. "Zero Street will be committed to LGBTQ+ literary fiction with commercial potential, providing marginalized authors opportunities for a wide readership in the trade fiction market. The series editors are Timothy Schaffert, bestselling author of The Perfume Thief, and SJ Sindu, author of Blue-Skinned Gods. 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." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2025.

The Ex-Puritan. Genre: Poetry, fiction, reviews, interviews, essays, and experimental work. "The Ex-Puritan now seeks to publish the best in all forms of writing." Payment: $100 - $200 (CAD). Deadline: April 1, 2025.

Moss. Restrictions: Open to current and former residents of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia, or those with a substantial connection to the region. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: $150 for accepted fiction and nonfiction, and $50 for poetry. Deadline: April 1, 2025.

EastOver Press will open April 1, 2025 for book-length short fiction manuscripts (short story collections) from debut writers. No submission fee. Payment: Royalties.

West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2025.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: April 1, 2025. See themes.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: April 2, 2025. Opens April 1.

Stone's Throw. Genre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 4, 2025. Note: This is a monthly call.

Poetry Wales. Genre: Poetry. "We are especially interested in submissions of innovative poetry (in form, content or a combination of both), as well as innovative essays and reviews." Payment: £20/page. Deadline: April 4, 2025.

Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 5, 2025.

Daikaijuzine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: April 5, 2025.

Arts Midwest. Genre: Nonfiction articles on "Creativity at Work in Midwest Communities."  "We’re seeking engaging, people-centered stories that showcase the power of creative action across our coverage region—especially from Greater Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. We cover Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography. Pitches from outside of this region will not be considered." Length: 500 words.  Payment: $500.  Deadline: April 5, 2025. Pitches only.

Anodyne. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry, Art, Photography, Video on theme of Health. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: April 7, 2025.

Mslexia. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Fiction poetry, nonfiction. See theme. Payment: £30. Deadline: April 7, 2025.

Write or Die. Genre: Short fiction, essays Length: Up to 4000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 7,  2025. No fee to submit the first week of the month.

Black Inc. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Full-length general, literary and commercial non-fiction – including history, current affairs, memoir and biography. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2025.

University of Queensland Press. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Full-length non-fiction (history, politics, current affairs, biography and memoir, environmental issues), literary fiction, including short stories, children’s and young adult (YA) books (fiction and non-fiction), poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2025.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: Affirm Press accepts all literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have an author or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month and twice yearly on their children’s & teen list. Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: April 7, 2025.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay, $100 for reprint cover art, $200 for original unpublished cover art, $50 for reprint interior art, $100 for original unpublished interior art  Deadline: April 14, 2025.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. See themes. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: April 14, 2025.

The Orange & Bee. Genre: Original works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction that engage in a significant way with the long history of fairy tales. Payment: Poetry: flat rate $US50.00 per poem; Flash fiction/non-fiction: flat rate $US80.00 per story (max 1000 words); Short fiction/non-fiction: $US0.08 per word (max 4000 words). Deadline: April 14, 2025.

Blood, Sweat & Queers. Genre: Queer vampiric love stories. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: April 14, 2025.

Shenandoah. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $80 per 1000 words of prose up to $400. Deadline: Opens April 15, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: April 15, 2025. 

Cutleaf. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 to $100. Deadline: April 15, 2025. Closes when they reach capacity.

Cutleaf. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $100 - $300. Deadline: April 15, 2025. 

Consequence Magazine: The Culture of War. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and visual art mainly focused on the culture of war. Payment: $20 - $60 for prose and poetry, $150 for art. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Rattle: Tribute to Late Bloomers. Genre: Poetry. "Our Fall 2025 issue will be dedicated to poems written by "late bloomers"—those who only started publishing poetry regularly after the age of 50." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Graveside Press: Witchcraft Anthology. Genre: Horror on theme: Witchcraft. Payment: 2¢ per word. $75 for illustrations. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Electric Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Restrictions: March 15 - 21 is reserved for writers of color. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Trans Survivors: Healing in Action. Genre: Visual art, poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. "We welcome content that focuses on trans voices, survivorship and healing from harm/trauma/violence, creative expressions of all kinds." Payment: $25. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Inch. Genre: Inch is a quarterly journal focused on the miracles of compression. Each “issue” is a micro-chapbook featuring the work of a single author. We feature small collections of poetry, short fiction, or short creative nonfiction, with each chapbook focusing on a separate genre. We dedicate one issue per year to featuring the work of a North Carolina author. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Tales From the Crosstimbers. Genre: Speculative fiction between 1000 and 2500 words. Payment: Payment will be the larger of $10 per story or 1 cent/word rounded to the nearest 100 words, up to a maximum of $50. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

The Threepenny Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Jungle Scandals. Genre: NSFW jungle adventure. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 16, 2025.

Ghost to Ghost to Ghost. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Flash fiction on theme strange, unsettling, spooky tales featuring a ghost of one kind or another  - open to your interpretation. Payment: $15.00 (CAD). Deadline: April 16, 2025.

Strange Horizons. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: Opens April 16, 2025. Closes when cap is reached.

Epic Echoes. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, mystery, crime, adventure, horror, and everything in between. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 17, 2025.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: April 18, 2025.

Astrolabe. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 20, 2025.

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: April 20, 2025.

Meanjin. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Payment: $250 per poem, 40 cents/word for prose. Deadline: April 21, 2025.

Stygian Lepus Magazine. Genre: Dark speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 25, 2025.

Rabbit Poets Series. Restrictions: Submissions are open to Australian-based poets at all stages - emerging, mid-career or established. Genre: Poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 25, 2025.

Usawa. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, reviews, interviews, essays, and creative non-fiction, based around the theme, ‘Memories of the Future ’. Payment: 1000 INR/12 $.  Deadline: April 25, 2025.

Geist. Restrictions: Canadian connection required. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $100 - $1000. Deadline: April 25, 2025. Geist offers no-fee general submissions for Black writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of color.

Rough Cut Press. Genre: Short prose from the LGBTQIA community on theme: Spirals. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 27, 2025.

Electric Literature: The Commuter. Genre: Poetry, prose, personal essays, flash fiction, graphic, and experimental narratives. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 27, 2025. Closes when cap is reached.

Nimrod. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Payment: $10 per page, with a $200 maximum. Deadline: April 30, 2025. Fee to submit online; no fee for postal submissions.

Nine Arches. Genre: Poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

The Wild Umbrella. Genre: Poetry, prose. Payment: €10 per poem and €25 per prose piece. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

filling station. Genre: Stories, poems, CNF, nonfiction, and art. See theme. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Strange Horizons: Afrosurrealism. Restrictions: Open to people of African descent. Genre: Afrosurrealism. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Purple Toga Publications: Feast or Famine? Genre: Fiction about food. Payment: $5 - $10. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Oddity Prodigy Productions: Where Legends Walk. Genre: Superhero stories. “We are looking for your best stories featuring heroic feats of derring-do in the face of immeasurable evil." Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Graveside Press: Monsters Anthology. Genre: Monster stories. Payment: $0.02/word. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1889 & 1890. Genre: Sherlock Holmes stories. Send synopsis first. Payment: $125. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Green Bottle Press. Genre: Poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Cabin Reading Series. Genre: Poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Mad Creek Books: 21st Century Essays series. Genre: Essays. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Long Con. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Writing and art. "“art about art” means artworks created in direct response to other objects, artifacts, or performances that can be considered “art”—including all forms of writing; gallery & theatre arts; pop culture (fashion, sports, comics); infrastructure (monuments, architecture, tools); ephemera (ads, memes, user manuals); propaganda (parades, political speeches); and non-human creations (elephant paintings, bird nests, insect dances)." Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Dragon Soul Press: Soul Chaser. Genre: Poetry. Must submit minimum of five (5) poems. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. See theme. Length: Up to 3,000 words for prose; up to 3 pages for poetry Payment: $0.01/word for prose, $10 for poetry. $25 flat fee for visual art, or $50 for pieces chosen as cover art. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

FIYAH. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to people of the African Diaspora. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. See theme. Payment: 8 cents/word per story or novelette. $50 per poem. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

The Rabbit Hole. Genre: Weird stories and poems. Theme: “A.I. and Other Weirdness.” Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

After Happy Hour. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, comics. Payment: $2.50 per printed page, with a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $50, on publication ($25 for the cover artist). Deadline: April 30, 2025. Free submissions are capped at 300, so submit early.

The Temz Review. Genre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

the other side of hope. Genre: Poetry by refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants only. They accept in English. Payment: £50. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Creature Feature Anthology. Genre: Horror, Scifi, Fantasy. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Strange Legacy: 2025 (Creature Feature). Genre: “Classic” monster story. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Women of the Weird West Anthology. Genre: Weird West stories featuring women. Payment: Stories: 10¢ per word; Poems: $50; Drabbles: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Strange Aeon. Genre: Stories of mad science, monster-based horror, weird western, and stories that “peel the onion.” Length: 5,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2025. May close early if cap is reached.

Purple Toga. Genre: Speculative fiction. Theme: Food. " All of the stories must have a meal or dish as part of their central theme, and as usual we prefer stories that fall under the speculative fiction umbrella." Payment: Stories 5000 to 7999 words - $5. Stories 8000 to 12000 words - $10. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Midnight Meadow Publishing's goal is to publish engaging and unique LGBTQ+ stories while elevating marginalized voices. They are interested in a wide variety of genres. Read submission guidelines HERE. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

American Poets Continuum Series. Genre: Poetry collection. "Poets who have previously published a full-length book of poetry with a traditional publisher are eligible to submit to the American Poets Continuum Series." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Shenandoah Valley Fantastic. Genre: Speculative fiction "that transforms our beloved region into a realm of mystery, magic, and the unexpected. From witches haunting Winchester’s historic alleys to spectral happenings on the Field of Lost Shoes, we invite you to re-imagine the Valley’s rich landscapes and legends." Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Brick. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Payment: $55–685, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: April 30, 2025. 

Terrain.org. Genre: Poetry, nonfiction, fiction, artwork, videos, and other contributions on place, climate, and justice. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: €0.01 per word, with a €20 minimum. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Air and Nothingness Press. Genre: "We are seeking stories for an anthology to be titled Mmeory which will collect stories of memory manipulation." Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

fifth wheel press: brainrot. Genre: Poetry, prose poetry, short prose (<1500 words), and other experimental writing by queer, trans, and gender variant writers. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Texas Review Press. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and scholarly works. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025. Submissions cap at 300.

Radon. Genre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 2 cents per word for original work. $20 per original poem. $110 for issue cover art, $50 for back cover art, and $20 for art used on their website. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: Short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: Early submission period for equity-deserving groups April 23-30.

Trollbreath Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Payment: 4 cents/word. 1/2 cent/word for reprints. Deadline: April 30, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Dragon Soul Press: Quantum Rising. Genre: All cyborgs, robots, mecha, etc. stories are welcome. Preferred genres are sci-fi, dystopian, cyberpunk, etc. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2025.

Massachusetts Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, hybrid, translations. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2025. Fee for online submissions. No fee for USPS.

AND A FEW MORE...

The First Line Journal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry using the line provided. (See theme) Payment: $25-$50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Solar Pons: A Year of Mystery 1919. Genre: Mystery featuring Solar Pons. Payment: $100. Deadline. May 1, 2025.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $50. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Folly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, CNF. "We look for works with blunt, provocative humour, satirical takes on the social scene, and starkly honest accounts of ordinary life. We are particularly seeking content that is provocative, a bit sexy and is starkly honest." Payment: NZD $25-$50. Deadline: May 1, 2025. May close early if cap is reached.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Shenandoah. Genre: CNF. Payment: $80 per 1000 words of prose up to $400. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: May 1, 2025. See themes.