Tuesday, December 31, 2024

2025 New Year's Writing Resolution (for writers): Recycle Your Work

Every year, I make a New Year's Resolution just for writing. I don't bother with personal resolutions, because I never keep them. (I have not, for example, run the Boston Marathon, cured cancer, or finished my PhD...yet.) But, without fail, I do keep my writing resolutions. 

In past years, I have made writing resolutions to Write What I Feared (we must all face our writing demons), and to get more rejections than C. S. Lewis. (He got over 800; I clocked in at a measly 160 that year.). In 2020, I resolved to begin (facing a blank screen is always daunting) and the following year, to finish what I had started. (This is a perennial problem for writers such as myself, who have a wealth of ideas, but little patience.) 

I have resolved to read, because it is only through reading and re-reading that we hone our writing skills, and I have resolved to observe the ordinary, because observing what goes on around us, and listening, really listening, with the heart as well as the ears, is the basis of all subject matter. 

Perhaps most important of all, I have resolved to be true to my own work - that is to say, to not conform to what I think an audience might like (or dislike, as the case may be), but to be loyal to my own message, my own thoughts, my own feelings. Most writers may not realize it, but ignoring a prospective audience is actually quite difficult, especially once editors and publishers get hold of your manuscript. 

Where was I? Oh yes...

After resolving to get off my butt and get published, and, miraculously, having done so, and having started, finished, faced my writing demons, observed, revised, and re-read the greats ... what is left?

Nothing. I am completely bereft of ideas.

No, just kidding. I do have one goal this year. Over the past few years (or is it decades?), I have gotten a number of short pieces published. It was exhilaring to see my work in print. So, like an addict, I kept pursuing the intoxication of publishing new work. Meanwhile, my older stories (some of which are quite good, even if I do say so myself), have been forgotten in my lust for novelty. 

There is simply no excuse for abandoning your prior work, especially when it has appeared in journals which are now defunct. (My strategy has always been to submit to print journals first. That allows me to submit to online journals later.)

So, this year, I shall delve into my neglected writings and recycle them. There are plenty of journals that accept reprints, and, because I happen to have a list of them right here, I shall begin to recycle.

*    *    * 

If you want to follow in my footsteps, this is my excellent list: 185 Literary Magazines Accepting Reprints. You are welcome to make ample use of it.

Previous resolutions (all of which are worth following in case you're stuck for inspiration):

2024 New Year's Writing Resolution: Revise Your Darlings

2023 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Motivation

2022 New Year's Writing Resolution: Observe the Ordinary

2021 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Read

2020 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Begin

2019 New Year's Resolution for Writers: To Thine Own Work Be True

2018 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Finish

New Year's Resolution: Write What You Fear

2016 - Your Year to Get Published!

Friday, December 27, 2024

94 Calls for Submissions in January 2025 - Paying markets

This January there are more than seven 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: Wikimedia)
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What If… Skunk Wurks EditionGenre: "Who doesn’t know the black projects that rolled out of the Skunk Works like the famous SR-71, U-2, or F-117 stealth fighter? What do you think they aren’t telling us about? This anthology dives into the concept of other black projects, their uses, and outcomes. Maybe the crazies are right. What If… the UFO’s are actually ours… Anything from discovery and design to use in application of the Aircraft, Heavy Weapons, Power Armor, Sea Vessels, and more are welcome." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Flame Tree: Robots Past & Future Short StoriesGenre: Short fiction on theme: Robots. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: January 1, 2025. Accepts reprints.

Glen Must Die! Genre: Speculative fiction. See theme. Payment: $.03/word pending a Kickstarter launch of the anthology. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

June Road PressGenre: Poetry collection, full-length, 40 to 60 poems, preferably the author’s first or second book. "We’re particularly interested in work with strong ecological/environmental themes, or that engages in meaningful ways with nature or place, by writers who identify as women." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Cafe IrrealGenre: Magical realism. Length: Up to 2,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Planet Black JoyRestrictions: Open to women and non-binary folk who identify as Black, African, or of Afro-descendent heritage. Genre: Fiction exploring and celebrating Black joy and pleasure. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Utopia Science FictionGenre: Utopian science fiction. See themePayment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

The Paris ReviewGenres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens January 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

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

CorditeGenre: Poetry. See themePayment: Not specified. Payment is available for Australian contributors only. Deadline: January 2, 2024.

Stone's ThrowGenre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See themePayment: $25. Deadline: January 4, 2025. Note: This is a monthly call.

Sci Phi JournalGenre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: Opens January 4, 2025.

The Fantastic OtherGenre: Fiction, flash fiction, poetry, art on theme: Storm. Payment: $5. Deadline: January 5, 2025.

Rainy Weather DaysGenre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction on theme of Defiance. Payment: $25 for prose, $10 for poetry.  Deadline: January 5, 2025.

All My Relations is an art and lit, online and printed magazine, exploring themes of interconnectedness. This volume is open to racially and ethnically marginalized, gender variant, and disabled creatives only, in consideration of the theme. Own voices only, please. Payment: $10. Deadline: Open until filled or until January 5, 2025, whichever comes first.

MslexiaRestrictions: Open to women. Genre: Fiction poetry, nonfiction. Payment: £25. Deadline: January 6, 2025.

Sunlight PressGenre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, photography, reviews. Payment: $15 - $40. Deadline: Opens January 6, 2025.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: All literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have a mn authors 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, Read their submission guidelines hereDeadline: January 6, 2025.

Sixty Inches From Center. "Sixty Inches From Center is a worker-led organization and publishing platform that produces collaborative projects about artists, archival practice, art history, and culture in Chicago and the Midwest. We are a collective of arts workers, writers, editors, artists, curators, librarians, and archivists who promote and prioritize the preservation of culture within Indigenous, diasporic, queer, and disability communities of our region." Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $150 per piece; $1 per minute transcribed for interviews. Deadline: Opens January 6, 2025.

Cosmic Horror MonthlyGenre: Weird and cosmic fiction under 5,000 words. Payment: 3 cents (USD) per word. Deadline: January 7, 2025.

Fraidy Cat Quarterly: ParanoiaGenre: Horror flash fiction and short stories, art. See theme. Payment: $10 - $20. Deadline: January 7, 2025.

Belmont Story ReviewGenre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: $100 for prose, $50 for poetry. Deadline: January 8, 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 to hello@14poems.com." Payment: £25 for each poem published. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

HeadlandRestrictions: Open to Māori writers. Genre: Poetry, short fiction and nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Hollow Oak Press: Short (b)Reads AnthologyGenre: Short stories on theme: Food. Word count: 2,500-7,000 words. Payment: $30. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Shoreline of InfinityGenre: Science fiction, fantasy, 6000 words max. Payment: £20/1000 words. Deadline: January 12, 2025. 

DaikaijuzineGenre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: January 12, 2025. Opens January 6.

Tin HouseGenre: Debut novels. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 12, 2025. Opens January 11.

MatchbookGenre: Flash fiction, creative nonfiction, and indeterminate prose. 1000 words max. Payment: $20. Deadline: January 13, 2025.

34 OrchardGenre: Fiction, poetry. "We like dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad." Payment: $50. Deadline: January 14, 2025. Opens January 1.

The Orange & BeeGenre: 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: January 14, 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 HEREDeadline: January 15, 2025.

GigaNotoSaurusGenre: Science Fiction or Fantasy (or any combination thereof) from 5,000 to 25,000 words. Payment: $200. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Puncher & WattmannRestrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Full-length fiction, memoir, poetry. Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Electric SpecGenre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

100-Foot CrowGenre: Speculative fiction drabbles. Payment: $8. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Tales from the CrosstimbersGenre: Science fiction, fantasy, splipstream, and horror. Payment:  $10 per story or 1 cent/word rounded to the nearest 100 words, up to a maximum of $25. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Shatter the Sun: Queer Tales of Untold AdventureGenre: Fantasy stories of queer heroes forged and tempered in the fire, fighting dark stars and bright suns, and overthrowing tyranny in all its forms. Sword and sorcery, sweat and sandals, souls and stars. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Beautiful Days PressGenre: Full-length and chapbook-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 15, 2025. 

Women Artists DatebookRestrictions: Open to women. Genre: Poems and art. Theme: Peace and Justice. Payment: $200 for art, $70 for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

OrionGenre: Essays on the environments in which songs are conceived and recorded. Payment: Who Pays Writers lists payment of 25 cents/word. Deadline: January 15, 2025. Pitches only.

PloughsharesGenre: Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Payment: $45/printed page, $90 minimum per title, $450 maximum per author. Deadline: January 15, 2025. (Charges for online submissions. No charge for snail mail.)

ShenandoahGenre: Fiction and novel excerpts. Payment: $80 per 1000 words of prose up to $400. Deadline: Opens January 15, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

Rattle: Tribute to Food PoemsGenre: Poetry about food. Payment: $200. Deadline: January 16, 2025. 

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

HavokGenre: Flash fiction. See themesPayment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected. No payment for online publication. Deadline: January 17, 2025. 

Seaside GothicGenre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: January 19, 2025.

Flame Tree: Witch CraftGenre: Stories that deal with what it means to be ‘witch’, and the rediscovery and reclaiming of that power, its links to nature – and the exploration of whether a witch is drawn to 'good' or 'bad', and why. Stories should be in the horror and folk horror veins, and we’d like to see as wide a range as possible. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word. Deadline: January 19, 2025.

Hearth Stories: Springtime Fair. Genre: Fantasy, literary fiction, romance, historical fiction or alternate history. "In this anthology we will be featuring stories that center around a craft, recipe, or ritual (see below for specifics). In addition to the story, each author will provide a set of instructions to make/enact the craft, recipe, or ritual that was featured in their story." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: January 20, 2025.

AstrolabeGenre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: January 21, 2025.

The Fairy Tale MagazineGenre: Fairy-tale inspired stories/poems. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 21, 2025.

Full House LiteraryGenre: Prose, poetry, hybrid, photography and artwork. Payment: £5. Deadline: January 24, 2025.

Splinter Journal. Genre: Poetry, fiction, memoir, nonfiction (pitches only). Payment: Profiles (pays AUD900), essays pays AUD900), writing about writing (pays AUD500), and criticism (pays AUD700), and completed submissions of poetry (pays AUD250/poem or AUD450/collection of up to four poems, fiction (pays AUD900), and memoir (pays AUD600). Deadline: January 25, 2025.

This MagazineRestrictions: Open to Canadians. Submissions by BIPOC, Q2ST, disabled, and other marginalized writers are especially welcomed. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $125 per accepted short story up to 2500 words; 60$ per flash fiction story under 1000 words Deadline: January 26, 2025.

Rough Cut PressRestrictions: Open to LGBTQ community. Genre: Short prose of up to 650 words on the ‘Reach’ theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 27, 2025.

Baubles From BonesGenre: Science fiction and fantasy. Length: All stories must be between 1,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: $.01/word. Deadline: January 29, 2025.

MythaxisGenre: Speculative fiction. Payment: €0.01 per word, with a €20 minimum. Deadline: January 30, 2025.

Frivolous CommaGenre: Speculative mystery. Payment: $0.10/word. Deadline: January 30, 2025.

GwyllionRestrictions: Writers living in Wales and writers who identify (fully, in part, or by ancestry) as Welsh. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Welsh themes. Payment: £15 per accepted story or poem. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Undertaker Books: Carnival of Horror AnthologyGenre: Horror. Amid the lights, games, and shows, in the shadows the bright lights don’t reach, are horrors of all kinds… We’re looking for stories of abandoned amusement parks, traveling carnivals, haunted attractions, chilling circuses and more!” Payment: $25. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Acre BooksGenre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2025. 

meat4meat AnthologyGenre: Body horror. “meat4meat is first and foremost intended to showcase the works of transgender creators, however the trans community is not the only marginalized community with a personal relationship to the genre of body horror. Creators who are disabled are also strongly encouraged to submit.” Payment: $0.05/word for originals, with a minimum of $50. Deadline: January 31, 2025. Reprints accepted.

Alpennia: Lesbian Historic Motif PodcastGenre: Short stories in the lesbian historic fiction genre. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

On SpecRestrictions:  Canadian writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $100CAD. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Event MagazineGenre: Poetry, fiction. Payment: CAD $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

JMS BooksGenre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See themePayment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Dark Peninsula Press: Phantom Worlds – The Cellar DoorGenre: Horror. They’re looking for parallel universe, alternate reality, time travel, survival horror, post-apocalyptic, and cosmic horror stories. Payment: $50. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

West Avenue: A Sparkle of Woodland MagicGenre: Short stories of up to 5,000 words and poems. See themePayment: £10. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

GarlandGenre: Poetry, prose poetry, short prose (<1500 words), and other experimental writing by queer, trans, and gender variant writers. Visual components and hybrid formats are welcome. Payment: $5. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

BrinkGenre: Hybrid, cross-genre fiction, nonfiction poetry. Payment: $25 Poem; $50 Work (less than 1500 words); $50 Art (1-3 Images); $100 Art (4+ Images); $100 Work (more than 1501 words). See themeDeadline: January 31, 2025.

The Temz ReviewGenre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Split Lip MagazineGenre: 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: January 31, 2025. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.

december magazineGenre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction (essays, memoirs, biography, literary journalism, social or cultural commentary or analysis) and visual art that can be reproduced in our print format. Payment: $10.00 per page with a minimum of $40.00 and a maximum of $200.00. Deadline: January 31, 2025. For the month of January, they open fee-free submission portals exclusively for BIPOC writers.

The Bombay Literary MagazineGenre: Fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. Payment: Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution. Deadline: January 31, 2025. Closes when cap is reached.

Parsec Ink: Triangulation: Dark HeartsGenre: Speculative stories and poems about women who are anti-heroes. Payment: 3¢ per word for fiction, 25 cents per line for poetry. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Heartlines SpecRestrictions: "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: January 31, 2025.

After Happy HourGenre: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, visual art, and hybrids. Reprints from defunct markets only. Payment: $10 honorarium on publication. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Library of Arabic Literature BlogGenre: Posts on Arabic literature. Pitches onlyPayment: $400. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Ampersand ReviewRestrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, reviews. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem/page to a maximum of $100. Fiction: $100 per story. Non-fiction: $100 per piece. Reviews: $100 per piece. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

EcotoneGenre: Prose and poetry that reimagines place. Payment: $100 minimum for poetry and a $200 minimum for prose. Deadline: January 31, 2025. Fee-free peroid opens January 26.

FictionGenre: Experimental fiction and translations of works previously unpublished in English. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Dragon Soul Press: Reach for the StarsGenre: Contemporary fiction stories. Must feature a character overcoming various obstacles to reach their goals. Can be based on true stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Inked in Gray: WriteHive AnthologyGenre: Science fiction, fantasy, or horror only. Theme: Surviving Humanity. Payment: $45. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Silver BladeGenre: Science Fiction, Slipstream, Classic and Modern Fantasy; short fiction, flash fiction, novellas, and poetry. Payment: $15 for novellas, $3 for flash fiction, $8 for short stories, $8 for single poems and $15 for Featured Poets (by invitation only). Silver Pen will pay half of these rates for previously published works. Deadline: January 31, 2025. Reprints accepted.

Poetry From the RockRestrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Short poems will receive $25 per poem, medium poems $50 per poem, and long poems $75 per poem. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

LitmosphereGenre: Art, flash (fiction and nonfiction), poetry, and short prose (fiction and literary nonfiction). Payment: $50 per accepted poem, flash fiction and nonfiction; $100 per short fiction and literary nonfiction; $250 for non-exclusive online use of 15-30 images. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Space and TimeGenre: Speculative fiction. "We welcome poetry, art and fiction that bend rules, transcend genre and break stereotypes." Submissions accepted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or Italian. See themePayment: 1 cent/word for prose, $5 for poetry. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Only PoemsGenre: Poetry. "We love prose poems, traditional forms (ghazals, villanelles, sestinas), love poems, sex poems, and experimental questionnaires, but we are not married to a style or genre. We are welcoming of anything you think is your most exciting work. Ultimately, we want poems that move us or make us go: “God, I wish I had written this!” Payment: $55. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Nashville ReviewGenre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

SouthwordGenre: Poetry. Payment: €50 per poem. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Vine Leaves PressGenre: Full-length manuscripts. "We are looking for: novels and novellas (all genres accepted, but with a literary bent), memoirs/biographies/autobiographies, creative nonfiction, writing/publishing reference books, short story collections, and poetry and vignette collections. For shorter works, such as poetry and vignettes, we will not accept anything shorter than 60 pages." Payment: 40% net royalty on all eBook and print sales. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Malahat Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: CAD $70/page. Deadline: January 31, 2025. (Note: Submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration all year.)

Nonbinary ReviewGenre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art. See themePayment: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 31, 2025. Closes when cap is reached.

AND A FEW MORE...

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

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

The Paris ReviewGenres: Fiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

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

Thursday, December 26, 2024

70 Free Writing Contests in January 2025 - No entry fees

This January there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $55,000 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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Defenestration Lengthy Poem ContestGenre: Lengthy poem (at least 3 pages). Prize: $300. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Vermont Writers' PrizeRestrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,250 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

The Fifty & Up Writer AwardsGenre: Fiction, CNF, poetry by writers aged 50 and up. Prize: $50. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

The Welkin Mini Writing PrizeGenre: Narrative prose (fiction and nonfiction) up to 100 words. Prize: £50 top prize. Deadline: January 2, 2025.

Jack Hazard FellowshipRestrictions: Open to writers who teach full time in an accredited high school in the United States. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoir. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 3, 2025.

San José State University: Center for Steinbeck Studies – The Steinbeck Fellows Program. Fellowships are currently offered in Creative Writing (excluding poetry) and Steinbeck Studies; Fellows may be appointed in many fields, including fiction, drama, creative non-fiction, and biography. The creative writing fellowship does not require that there be any direct connection between your work and Steinbeck’s. The emphasis of the program is on helping writers who have had some success but have not published extensively, and whose promising work would be aided by the financial support and sponsorship of the Center and the University’s creative writing program. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: January 5, 2025.

Furious FictionGenre: Flash fiction. "On the first Friday of every month, a new set of story prompts will be revealed. You will have 55 hours to submit your best 500-word (or fewer) story." Prize: $500AUD. Deadline: January 5, 2025. Opens January 3.

Miriam Chaikin Writing AwardGenre: Poetry and prose, including plays, short stories, and other creative writing. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 5, 2025.

Olive B. O’Connor Creative Writing FellowshipGenre: Fiction and poetry. Prize: $55,100. Deadline: January 6, 2025.

Shepton Snowdrops: Treasures of NatureRestrictions: No entry fee for poets under 18 years of age. Genre: Poem. See themePrize: £50-100. Deadline: January 6, 2025.

Bethesda Magazine Short Story ContestRestrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Short stories. Length: 4000 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 7, 2025.

Dr. Paul Kalanithi Writing AwardRestrictions: No fee for medical students, residents, fellows. Genre: Short stories, essays or poetry addressing patients and providers facing chronic or life limiting illness. Fiction and non-fiction submissions are welcome. Prize: $300. Deadline: January 7, 2025.

MoCo360 Short Story ContestRestrictions: Open to residents of Montgomery County, MD and Upper Northwest Washington, DC (20015 and 20016 zip codes). Genre: Short stories between 1,500 and 2,500 words. Prize: Publication in Bethesda Magazine as well as prizes up to $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (grades 9-12). Deadline: January 7, 2025.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2025.

The Bruntwood Prize for PlaywritingRestrictions: An address in the UK or Republic of Ireland or British Overseas Territory or British Forces Post Office. OR an entry code shared with you for submission to the International Award. NoteThe Bruntwood Prize International Award of  £8,000 is open to international playwrights who can apply through their partners. (See site for list) Genre: Play. Prize: £16,000. Deadline: January 9, 2025.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 6 - 10. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. (See website for theme) Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-10th Graders. Prize: $20,000 scholarship. Deadline: Grade 6-10: January 9, 2025.

The Bechtel PrizeGenre: Essays essays describing a creative writing teaching experience, project, or activity that demonstrates innovation in creative writing instruction. "We are looking for essays that describe a project or activity that got students excited about writing and fostered a vibrant and dynamic culture of literacy in the classroom." Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Luminarts Creative Writing Fellowship. The Creative Writing Fellowship awards two $10,000 grant Fellowships for excellence in creative writing in the categories of prose and poetry, in fiction and nonfiction. Applicants submit a two-page written piece (either a stand-alone piece or an excerpt of a larger piece such as a novel or short story). Open to writers between the ages of 18 and 30 years old at the time of application; be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a degree program; and live within 150 miles of the Union League Club of Chicago. Genre: Poetry or prose, fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Encore AwardRestrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid InitiativeRestrictions: Applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. Prize: Grant, amount not specified. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Discoveries PrizeRestrictions: Open to female novelists of all ages and backgrounds, from across the UK and Ireland. Genre: Novel in progress. Prize: The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000. Deadline: January 13, 2025.

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art. Prize: 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity. Deadline: January 13, 2025.

Hachette Children’s Novel AwardsRestrictions: Open to debut authors living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Debut children’s and early teen fiction, including but not limited to, romance, comedy, historical fiction, crime, mystery and fantasy. Prize: £3000 and a programme of mentoring opportunities with professionals at Hachette Children’s Group and a children’s publishing agent. Deadline: January 13, 2025.

Apparition LitGenre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: January 14, 2025. See themes.

Bethesda Urban Partnership Essay ContestRestrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Essays. Length: 500 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 14, 2025.

Bethesda Poetry ContestGenres: Poetry. Adult and high school student categories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First place: $350, published on The Writer's Center's blog and magazine, and a free class and membership to The Writer's Center. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Prize for high school students, $75. All winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website and honored at a special event during the Local Writer's Showcase. Deadline: January 14, 2025.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Hektoen Internationa Nurse Essay ContestRestrictions: Nurses, nurses’ aides, and nursing and midwifery students are encouraged to submit an essay to Hektoen International’s 2024–2025 nurse writing contest. Genre: Essays can be on any topic as it relates to medicine. Prize: $3,000 for the winner and $2,000 for the runner-up. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Moving Words Poetry Competition for AdultsGenre: Poems of 10 lines or less that will be displayed inside Arlington Transit buses. Prize: $250. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Women Artists DatebookRestrictions: Open to women. Genre: Poems and art. Theme: Peace and Justice. Payment: $200 for art, $70 for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry AwardGenre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Walter Muir Whitehill Prize in Early American HistoryGenre: Essay on early American history (up to 1825), not previously published, with preference being given to New England subjects. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Janet Heidinger Kafka PrizeRestrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Prose fiction. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the previous year considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

53-Word Story ContestGenre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words based on monthly theme. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: January 15, 2025. This is a monthly contest.

Patrick Henry Writing FellowshipGenre: Nonfiction book in progress. The project should address the history and/or legacy – broadly defined – of the American Revolution and the nation’s founding ideas. It might focus on the founding era itself, or on the myriad ways the questions that preoccupied the nation’s founders have shaped America’s later history. Fellowship amount: $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency (during the academic year) in historic Chestertown, MD. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 11 - 12. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. (See website for theme) Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 11-12th Graders. Prize: $20,000 scholarship. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards ProgramRestrictions: Open to current high school seniors at a public high school in the United States graduating Spring of 2025. Genre: Original literary composition in English in one of the following genres of poetry, spoken word, fiction, personal essay/memoir, or book bans prompt. Prize: $10,000 scholarship. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

French-American Foundation Translation PrizesGenre: Book. Best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Stephen A DiBiase Poetry PrizeGenre: Poetry. Prize: $600. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Washington State Book AwardsRestrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book: fiction, nonfiction, poetry for adults or children. Prize: Recognition (?) Deadline: January 17, 2025. (For books published Oct. 16-Dec. 31, 2024.)

Northern California Book AwardsRestrictions: Books written by authors based in northern California and published for the first time the previous calendar year are eligible for nomination. Genre: Published book. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 17, 2025.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000. The second-place winner receives $3,000. Up to five finalists receive $1000 each. Deadline: January 17, 2025.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year. Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 17, 2025.

Collaborative. Restrictions: Submissions must be written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry). Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Prize: $20. Deadline: January 17, 2025. Note: This is a monthly contest.

The Golden Triangle Golden Haiku poetry contestGenre: Haiku on theme “Bridges of Belonging.” Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: January 19, 2025. Note: The contest is open to all ages.

Zocalo Public Square Poetry PrizeRestrictions: Open to US poets only. Genre: Poetry that evokes a connection to place. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 24, 2025. 

Future Worlds PrizeRestrictions: Open to unpublished SFF writers of color. Genre: Speculative fiction. Submit a 5,000-10,000 word extract of either a short story or the opening chapters of a novel. Prize: £4,500 top prize. Deadline: January 26, 2025.

Nine Dots PrizeRestrictions: Open to authors age 18+. Genre: Summary response to "Is data failing us?" The winner will expand on the ideas expressed in their summary response by participating in a seminar at the University of Cambridge and by writing a short book (25,000-40,000 words) to be published by Cambridge University Press. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: January 27, 2025.

The Orwell Prize for Political WritingRestrictions: The Orwell Prize for Political Writing is open to nonfiction first published in the UK or Ireland. (See publication deadlines.) Genre: Nonfiction, including entries addressing political, social, cultural, moral and historical subjects. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 27, 2025.

The Orwell Prize for Political FictionRestrictions: The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction is open to novels and short story collections first published in the UK or Ireland. (See publication deadlines.) Genre: Fiction that explores ideas and issues, political themes, dilemmas and injustices through imagined narratives. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 27, 2025.

Scottish Book Trust: Monthly CompetitionRestrictions: Open to four categories: adult writers, all-age Gaelic writers, young writers 5-11 and young writers 12-18. Genre: Short story based on prompts. (See site for prompt) Prize: Various items. Deadline: January 28, 2025.

The Hillman Prize for JournalismGenre: Journalism. "Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honored journalists, writers and public figures that pursue investigative journalism and public policy in service of the common good." Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 30, 2025.

Action! PrizeRestrictions: Open to residents in the UK, Ireland or US and over 18 at time of submission. Genre: Full-length action novel for readers in one of these four age bands 7–9, 9–11, 12–14, 14+. Prize: FIRST PRIZE – A worldwide publishing contract with Faber with a £12,000 advance (subject to contract), SECOND PRIZE: A worldwide publishing contract with Faber with a £9,000 advance (subject to contract), THIRD PRIZE: A worldwide publishing contract with Faber with a £6,000 advance (subject to contract). Deadline: January 30, 2025.

Technology Addiction Awareness ScholarshipRestrictions: Open to a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction. Prize: $1000 scholarship.  Deadline: January 30, 2025.

Arnold Bennett PrizeRestrictions: Open to writers based in Stoke on Trent, the wider North Staffordshire area or living anywhere in the world if their work features North Staffordshire. Genre: Published fiction, nonfiction, poetry books, plays, including self-published works. Each submission should have an ISBN number and two copies should be either mailed or delivered to Jenny Amphlett, Staffordshire University, 3rd Floor, The Catalyst Building, Leek Road, Stoke on Trent. ST4 2DF. Prize: £500. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story AwardGenre: Short story of no more than 8,000 words that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. Prize: Publication as the featured story on the Baen Books main website paid at the normal paying rates for professional story submissions. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Keats-Shelley Essay PrizeGenre: Essay on any aspect of the writing and/or lives of the Romantics and their circles. Length: 3,000 words including quotations. Prize: Total Prizes over £5000. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Story Unlikely Short Story ContestGenre: Short story. Length: 4000 words max. Prize: First prize $1500. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Swamp PinkRestrictions: Submissions are restricted to Indigenous people in the USA. Genre: Short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Prize: $2000. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

A. C. Bose Grant for South Asian Speculative LiteratureRestrictions: Open to South Asian or South Asian diaspora writers. Genre: Speculative fiction. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book AwardGenre: Any published book, whether fiction or nonfiction, that promotes public understanding of Chicago; titles must be available for purchase by the general public in either hardcover or bound paperback form; All subject areas, disciplines, and genres are eligible, including but not limited to: history, biography, the social sciences, art, architecture, poetry, drama, graphic novels, or fiction; Translations, textbooks, anthologies, reprints or new editions of previously published works, pamphlets, condigital publications, travel guides, children’s books, or self-published works are not eligible. Prize: $25,000. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

North Carolina Student Poetry ContestRestrictions: Open to student poets from 3rd grade to university undergraduates attending schools in North Carolina. Genres: Unpublished poems (submit one poem). Prizes: 1st Place winners will receive a $100 check. 2nd Place winners receive $50. 3rd Place winners receive $25. Deadline: January 31, 2025. 

Cheshire Prize for LiteratureRestrictions: The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire, UK. Age ranges from 4 to adult. Genre: Short story, piece of poetry, script or children’s literature piece (this can be a script, story or poem, for children ages seven to 14). Prize: Cash prizes. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Dandelion Cottage Short Story Contest for Michigan StudentsRestrictions: Open to students attending or being home-schooled in an Upper Peninsula School District. Genre: Short story, 5,000 words max. Prize: Up to $250. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "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." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $150.00. Deadline: January 31, 2025.

#GWstorieseverywhereGenre: Micro fiction or essay on theme. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: January 31, 2025. This is a monthly contest.

Rattle Ekphrastic ChallengeGenre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: January 31, 2025. This is a monthly contest.

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: January 31, 2025. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Apex Magazine Monthly Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror. 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, whichever is more. Deadline: January 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.

 

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

13 (Warm) Writing Conferences and Workshops in January 2025

This January there are more than a 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.

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

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

(Image: Key West: Flickr)

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Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. January 4 - 14, 2025 (?): Seaside, 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. Application deadline: December 1, 2024. If you missed the deadline, put this on your calendar for next year.

Key West Literary Seminar. January 9–12, 2025: Key West, Florida. Each year, the Key West Literary Seminar explores a particular literary theme. This year the theme is: Family.

Aspen Winter Words. January 11 - March 14, 2025: Aspen, CO. The 2024 Aspen Words Winter Words lineup once again features acclaimed book club selections, bestselling authors, stunning stories of triumph and a world champion athlete. All winter long, explore these memoirs and works of fiction in person alongside the minds that conceived of them. Winter Words kicks off on January 11 with Ann Patchett and Elizabeth McCracken in conversation and runs through March 14 concluding with Abraham Verghese.

Writing By Writers DRAFT. Application deadline: January 15, 2025: Boulder, CO. DRAFT is an intensive program for 15 writers who are committed to completing a novel, memoir, short story, or essay collection over the course of two years. Whether starting a first draft, or working through a new revision, this program is appropriate for writers who want a rigorous and supportive community throughout their process. 

Writing By Writers GET THE LEAD OUT! January 17 - 19, 2025: Online. Th Each day will feature a craft talk by one of our faculty members and participants will split into small groups where they will dissect the art and craft of writing through lectures, writing exercises and class discussions. We won’t be reading and critiquing manuscripts, but rather closely examining elements of craft with the intention of allowing participants to see their work with deeper insight while also generating new material. Each participant will have the opportunity to work in a small group setting with all three faculty members. Whether you are just getting started or have projects that need new life, this workshop will offer inspiration and insight to take you to the next level.

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 17 - 20, 2025, Atlantic City, New Jersey. A participant-focused writers’ conference. Advance your craft and energize your writing at the 30th annual Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. Enjoy challenging and supportive workshops, insightful feedback and an encouraging community. Choose from workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, songwriting, playwriting and more.

Colrain Classic. January 17 - 20, 2025: Online. "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." Will be conducted online.

TMW January Jumpstart. January 18 - 19, 2025: Oak Ridge, TN. “We will have a “Meet and Greet” session Friday from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern. On Saturday there will be concurrent Poetry and Fiction morning sessions from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern, and afternoon sessions from 1:30 – 4:30 Eastern." Registration $150. Application deadline December 29. If you missed the deadline, put this on your calendar for next year.

Eckerd College Writers in Paradise Conference. January 18 -25, 2025: St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, manuscript consultation, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. Application deadline: November 1, 2024. If you missed the deadline, put this on your calendar for next year.

The Stowe Vermont Winter Writing Adventure. January 26 - 31, 2025: Stowe, VT. The Stowe Vermont Winter Writing Adventure is a week-long workshop with Pam Houston and CMarie Fuhrman where writers will work with both faculty members to generate new work while snowshoeing, XC skiing, and exploring the beauty of New England in the wintertime. The workshop is limited to 20 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and explore all the outdoor wonders Stowe has to offer.

Jaipur Literature Festival. January 30 - February 3, 2025. Presentations, panels, readings, and music performances. In an uplifting celebration of the mind and heart, authors from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe will take part in provocative conversations about life and society, economics and the arts, equity, freedom, and the care of our planet. In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community.

Sunshine State Book Festival. January 31 - February 1, 2025: Gainesville, Florida. "Authors from around Florida and the nation will gather at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on January 27th, from 10 am to 5 pm to sell books and talk about their work. Festivities include guest speakers, giveaways, storytelling, and more." Admission is free.

SCBWI In-Person Winter Conference 2025. January 31 - February 2, 2025: NY, NY. Come and be inspired by renowned authors and illustrators, learn about the state of the children's book publishing industry from panels of agents, editors and art directors, dive deep into your craft with TWO three-hour Creative Labs, and get your work in front of industry professionals!

Conferences with application deadlines in January 2025

Wild Seeds Writers Retreat. February 20 - 23, 2025. The Wild Seeds Writers Retreat (formerly the North Country Institute & Retreat for Writers of Color), a collaboration with the Center for Black Literature, the English Department at SUNY, Plattsburgh, and the Paden Institute and Retreat for Writers, provides a writing community where established and newly discovered writers of color can focus on the craft of writing and create cross-cultural conversations around the literature created by writers of the African diaspora. Deadline: January 10, 2025.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

101 Calls for Submissions in December 2024 - Paying markets

This December 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: Pexels)

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Tales from the NightsideGenre: Car Wars GameLit Fiction. Theme: Ride along with illegal street teams and see the criminal underbelly of the Autoduelling world. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Interstellar Flight PressGenre: Speculative poetry from poets who are both queer/trans and disabled. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Griffith ReviewGenre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD $200. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

ParabolaGenre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. See themesPayment: Not specified. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Fantasy is a Drag! AnthologyGenre: Fantasy stories that are, first and foremost, drag from members of the drag community. Payment: $50 + royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Never Whistle at Night, Part II: Back for Blood AnthologyGenre: Horror stories from emerging Indigenous writers in North America only. “Our anthology aims to showcase fresh, original voices in Indigenous Horror, and we encourage submissions that explore new and innovative themes.” Payment:  $1,500. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Burial Books: Inanimate Things – Volume TwoGenre: Horror about inanimate things that are living. It could be a doll, the dead flesh of zombies, or your Ford F-150. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

WallstraitGenre: Flash fiction, longer stories, and hybrid experimental work. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Ninth LetterGenre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $25 per poem and $100 for prose. Deadline: Opens December 1, 2024. Closes when they reach cap.

SundogGenre: Fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 1, 2024. 

Little MoaRestrictions: Open to New Zealand writers. Genre: Children's books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Eternal Haunted SummerGenre: Poetry, short fiction. Theme: Fortune and Luck. Payment: $5. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: December 1, 2024. See themes.

Serving House BooksGenre: Nonfiction essay collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Affirm Press Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: All literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have a mn authors 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, Read their submission guidelines hereDeadline: December 2, 2024.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch ShoresGenre: Speculative stories, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. $1 a line for poetry. 2 - 8 cents/word for nonfiction. Deadline: December 2, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Broken Tribe PressGenre: Memoirs. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Humour MeGenre: Humor stories and cartoons on the Christmas theme. “We are happy to accept all types of humour, from sharp satire to slapstick.” Payment: £20. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

MeetinghouseGenre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $40 for digital content, $100 for prose published in print, and $40 for each poem published in print. Deadline: December 3, 2024.

Stone's ThrowGenre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See themePayment: $25. Deadline: December 4, 2024. 

MIT Technology ReviewGenre: Narrative features, compelling investigations, essential profiles, and essays on theme Creativity. Pitches only. Payment: $1 to $2 per word. Deadline: December 4, 2024. 

GeistRestrictions: Canadian connection required. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $100 - $1000.  Deadline: December 4, 2024. Geist offers no-fee general submissions for Black writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of color.

AnodyneGenre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry, Art, Photography, Video on theme of Health. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: December 7, 2024.

Northern GritGenre: Prose, flash, poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 7, 2024. 

The Pedestal MagazineGenre: Poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 8, 2024.

Samjoko MagazineGenre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, play, screenplay. Payment: $20. Deadline: December 10, 2024.

Electric Literature: The CommuterGenre: Poetry, flash, graphic, and experimental narratives. Payment: $100. Deadline: December 11, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Dawn Hill Publications: In Every Way We LoveRestrictions: Open to submissions from UK-based writers, with a special focus on underrepresented voices. Genre: Short stories on theme of Love. Payment: £75. Deadline: December 12, 2024.

HavokGenre: Flash fiction. See themesPayment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected. No payment for online publication. Deadline: December 13, 2024.

Buckman JournalRestrictions: Open to Portland and Pacific Northwest creatives. Genre: Fiction and creative non-fiction. See themePayment: $100. Deadline: December 14, 2024.

Vivid WorldsGenre: Solar punk. Payment: 1p a word to a maximum of £50. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

The Journal of Compressed Creative ArtsGenre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, "and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way.” Payment: $50. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

OrcaGenre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash fiction. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

PropaguleGenre: Short stories that are intrepid with regard to experimentation and oddity; the strange, the surreal, the atypical, the unexpected. Payment: Up to $30. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Eye to the TelescopeGenre: Speculative poetry. See theme. $0.04/word, up to $25. Deadline: December 15, 2024. 

Brazenhead ReviewGenre: Poetry. Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Note: Closes when cap is reached.

Baffling MagazineGenre: Speculative flash fiction. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Copper NickelGenre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and translation folios. Payment: $30 per printed page + two copies of the issue in which the author’s work appears + a one-year subscription. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

A Public SpaceGenre: Fiction, essays, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. Payment: Honorarium. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Book WormsGenre: Horror: fiction, poetry, and essays. See theme. Length: Up to 1,500 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

RadonGenre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word for original work, half a cent per word for reprints. $20 per original poem and $10 for reprints. $100 for issue cover art, $30 for back cover art, and $20 for art used on their website. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

The Brothers Uber: Once Upon a Moonless Night – Tales of Betrayal, Revenge, and RedemptionGenre: Dark fiction. "These are the tales whispered in dark corners. Of good people pushed too far. Stories of revenge and redemption for past wrongdoings. Stories that excite the mind where what seems to be true isn’t always the case. Dark, foreboding, full of suspense, can you weave the story of what happens during the moonless night?” Length: 250-15,000 words. Payment: $0.05/word, capped at $400. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Bellevue Literary PressGenre: Narrative nonfiction books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Book XIGenre: Personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. See themePayment: $200 for prose; $50 for poetry. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Flame Tree: Latin American Shared Stories. Genre: Speculative stories highlighting the many voices, mythologies, folklore and storytelling prowess of authors from Latin American countries or writing in the traditions of the Latin American diaspora. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Utter Speculation Novella SeriesGenre: Speculative fiction novellas explaining or exposing the root of a real life supernatural mystery, urban legend or folklore. Payment: Royalty split. Deadline: December 16, 2024.

The OffingGenre: Creative nonfiction (usually personal essay) that centers one’s personal experience against the backdrop of art, literature, and culture. Length: 7,500 words max. Payment: $25 - $100. Deadline: December 16, 2024.

Roses & Wildflowers: Anarchy and HarmonyGenre: Mythopoeic fiction, poetry, and art. See themePayment: $20 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: December 17, 2024.

The MarginsGenre: Poetry by emerging and established Asian American and diasporic poets. Payment: $50 – $90 for a single poem. Deadline: December 18, 2024.

Made in AppalachiaRestrictions: Open to writers from Appalachia, who have lived in or visited Appalachia,  and/or whose writing is set in Appalachia. Genre: Fiction, short story. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 22, 2024.

Griffith ReviewGenre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD $200. Deadline: December 22, 2024.

Northern GravyRestrictions: Northern Gravy welcomes submissions from UK & Ireland writers of any background, including first-time writers. Genre: Fiction, Poetry and Kid Lit (writing for Middle Grade and Young Adult audiences) Payment: £100 per contributor. Deadline: December 22, 2024.

The Ex-PuritanGenres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: December 25, 2024.

Rough Cut PressRestrictions: Open to LGBTQ writers. Genre: Fiction on theme: Reach. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 27, 2024.

Every Day FictionGenre: Flash fiction on themes. Length: 1000 words max. Payment: $3. Deadline: December 27, 2024.

ZO MagazineGenre: Fiction and art. See themePayment: $50. Deadline: December 29, 2024.

Sonder MagazineGenre: Fiction, CNF and poetry on theme of Madness. Payment: €300. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Unnerving. Genre: Horror. Word count: 500 – 3,500. Payment: 1.5¢ CAD/word. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Jackleg PressRestrictions: JackLeg only publishes U.S.-based writers. Genre: Full-length fiction, CNF. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Midnight and IndigoGenre: Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, and Personal Essays written by Black women writers. Theme: Music. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

IslandRestrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction Nonfiction. Payment: 40 cents per word for print fiction, with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1500. Fees for print are less the cost of a 4-issue subscription if you are not a current subscriber. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Brigid's Gate: Poisoned Soup for the Macabre, Depraved and InsaneGenre: Horror short stories. See theme. Length: 1,500 to 4,000 words. Payment: $0.08 a word for flash fiction and short stories. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Three Ravens Genre: Full-length science fiction, fantasy, and horror. They are open to reprints and previously published work as long as you have the rights. Royalty rates usually range from 50 to 70% of sales. Read guidelines hereDeadline: December 31, 2024.

The Cincinnati ReviewGenre: 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: December 31, 2024. Opens on the first day of the month and closes once they hit the submissions cap.

Haven SpeculativeGenre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Short Story, LongGenre: Short stories, 2k-8k words long (3,000-5,500 range preferred). Payment: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Dancing Star PressGenre: Speculative fiction novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Theatre PhantasmagoriaGenre: Horror flash fiction up to 2,000 words. Payment: £10. Deadline: December 31, 2024. This is a monthly call. See themes.

Workers Write!Genre: "We're looking for fiction and poetry about the people who clean up after everyone, such as maids, janitors, custodians, waste management workers, crime scene cleaners, and even laundromat owners." Payment: $5 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

OwlCrate Press: Future States of StarsGenre: Speculative fiction. "We are specifically seeking stories in the dystopian sci-fi genre with a Black Mirror or Twilight Zone vibe. Authors are encouraged to explore themes of the near-to-far future of states, whether set here on Earth, in space, or in other dimensions. Consider exploring dystopian themes such as authoritarian regimes, environmental collapse, surveillance societies, loss of individual freedoms, or the impact of advanced technology on humanity.” Payment: $0.10/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024. (Extended deadline)

EastOver PressGenre: Book-length nonfiction manuscripts. "We are especially interested in collections of literary essays, but will consider essay-based memoirs, mixed genre works, and other hybrid works. We are interested in manuscripts that take a narrative approach to nonfiction." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

new words {press} manuscript open call: poetry & hybrid. Genre: Full-length manuscripts written by writers who are trans* and/or gender-expansive. Payment: $400 honorarium and 40% of net profits for first 300 copies and 50% royalties on sales >300. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Dracula Beyond StokerGenre: Fiction featuring characters and more from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. See theme. Payment: $0.05/word for stories of 1,500-5,000 words. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Meadowlark ReaderGenre: Personal essays, interviews, journalistic pieces. “True stories about Kansas written by Kansans." Payment: $10 plus one contributor copy. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

FIYAHRestrictions: 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. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Arc Poetry MagazineGenre: Poetry. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Gully MagazineGenre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: $15 - $30. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

ChannelGenre: Fiction, art, creative non-fiction, and poetry that engages with the natural world, and have a particular interest in work which encourages reflection on human interaction with plant and animal life, landscape and the self. Payment: €40/poem, and €50/page of prose up to €150. Deadline: December 31, 2024.
 
Dragon Soul Press: Between RealmsGenre: Speculative fiction. Theme – All stories involving dimension travel. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Collective Tales Publishing: Collective Madness – Schisms of the SoulGenre: Dark fantasy short stories on the theme of “schisms of the soul.” Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Silent NightmaresGenre: Dark holiday horror. Payment: 10 cents/word capped at 5,000 words. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Poisoned Soup for the Macabre, Depraved, and Insane: Nostalgic TerrorsGenre: Horror. Payment: 8 cents/word for prose, $50 per poem or drabble. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

OficGenre: Short fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, art. "Send us your dead doves, your blorbos, your plinkos, your wretched meow meows yearning to be free; that thing you wrote that made you think, “I don’t know where this belongs”; the stuff you’d never show anyone you know IRL. Give us your shameless, self-indulgent smut; the manuscript to the video essay you dictated to your YouTube subscribers in your head; your thoughtful explorations of trauma and identity; your Pepe Silvia wall; your sci-fi, your fantasy, your romance, your realism. We want anything and everything. As long as you identify as a fan, we want to read your work." (Up to 12,000 words). Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Workers Write! Tales from the CleanersGenre: Stories and poems from the cleaner's point of view. Word count: 500 to 5,000 words. Payment: Between $5 and $50 (depending on length and rights requested) Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Freeze Frame FictionGenre: Flash fiction. "Any genre, no content restrictions. We want your science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, drama, literary works, satire, bizarre fiction, or anything else you can come up with or mix together. The more original, the better. The weirder, the better.” Payment: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The New York Times: Modern LoveGenre: Essay on modern love. Payment: Not Specified. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Variant LitGenre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

EastOver Press: Rural Writers of ColorRestrictions: Open to BIPOC writers who live in or hail from rural or semi-rural locales in the U.S. and whose short stories feature characters living or working in rural or semi-rural spaces. Genre: Short stories. Payment: $100-$300. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Air and Nothingness PressGenre: Speculative fiction. "We are seeking submissions for an anthology to be titled Our Dust Earth which will collect stories that take place within the Our Dust Earth mini-RPG." Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Best AmericanGenre: Published short stories, essays, food writing, mystery and suspense, nature writing, science fiction and fantasy. Payment: ? Deadline: December 31, 2024.

We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2024Genre: Queer Speculative Fiction. Submissions are open for all speculative work published in 2024 under 17,500 words that deals either implicitly or explicitly with queerness. Editors and authors may submit. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

JMS BooksGenre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See themePayment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

SpookyGenre: Horror. "Cozy horror. Fun horror. Classy horror. Dare we say, wholesome horror?" Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

AllegoryGenre: Speculative Fiction. Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Letter ReviewGenre: Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Length: Up to 5000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

MaydayGenre: Short fiction, CNF, Poetry, Art, Interviews, Nonfiction. Payment: $20 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The DeadlandsGenre: 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: December 21, 2024. Accepts reprints

Made in AppalachiaRestrictions: Open to writers from Appalachia, who have lived in or visited Appalachia,  and/or whose writing is set in Appalachia. Genre: Nonfiction essay. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

foofaraw zine. Genre: Speculative and literary fiction. Payment: Fiction: $0.01 per word. Poetry: $5.00. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Chestnut ReviewGenre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.

AND A FEW MORE...

What If… Skunk Wurks EditionGenre: "Who doesn’t know the black projects that rolled out of the Skunk Works like the famous SR-71, U-2, or F-117 stealth fighter? What do you think they aren’t telling us about? This anthology dives into the concept of other black projects, their uses, and outcomes. Maybe the crazies are right. What If… the UFO’s are actually ours… Anything from discovery and design to use in application of the Aircraft, Heavy Weapons, Power Armor, Sea Vessels, and more are welcome." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

June Road PressGenre: Poetry collection, full-length, 40 to 60 poems, preferably the author’s first or second book. "We’re particularly interested in work with strong ecological/environmental themes, or that engages in meaningful ways with nature or place, by writers who identify as women." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Cafe IrrealGenre: Magical realism. Length: Up to 2,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Planet Black JoyRestrictions: Open to women and non-binary folk who identify as Black, African, or of Afro-descendent heritage. Genre: Fiction exploring and celebrating Black joy and pleasure. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

The Paris ReviewGenres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens January 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

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