24 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required

Settling in to devour a good book  (credit: Max Pixel)

There are dozens of children's book publishers that do not require an agent, which means children's book authors generally find it easier to break into publishing than those who write adult fiction and nonfiction. This holds true for juveniles of all ages, from birth to young adult.

Picture books are geared to children ages 3 - 8. Lengths can vary from 500 to a thousand words. In most cases, the author provides the text, while publishers arrange for an illustrator. (An exception is  made for author-illustrators.) Rarely do publishers take on both a writer and an illustrator.

You can find more children's book publishers that accept unagented writers here: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. All of these are traditional publishers.

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Albert Whitman & Company has been publishing award-winning children’s books since 1919. Albert Whitman’s special interest titles address subjects such as disease, bullying, and disabilities.  Submissions: Albert Whitman and Company currently has an open submissions policy. They read and review unagented manuscripts and proposals for picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. Novellas accepted. Email submissions only. Note: They will not review any submissions that do not follow their submission guidelines.

Peachtree Publishers, located in Atlanta Georgia, publishes 30 books per year. Seeking: Children's books, from picture books to young adult fiction and nonfiction; consumer references in health, education, and parenting; and regional guidebooks about the American South. Read their submission guidelines here.

Penny Candy Press publishes kids' books that reflect a wide range of authors and illustrators from around the globe. "We are not interested in perpetuating a publishing culture that ALL authors, illustrators, and readers do not have access to. While we will not exclude anyone from our catalog, we focus on underrepresented, unheard, or forgotten voices as part of our mission." They are open to submissions from January to March. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Arthur A. Levine Books was founded in 1996 as an imprint of Scholastic Press. Since then, they have produced more than one hundred seventy-nine works of hardcover literary fiction and nonfiction for children, and teenagers. Submissions: Picture Books: Query letter + the full text; Novels: Query letter + the first two chapters + synopsis; Other: Query letter + five page samples (five poems, five nonfiction pages, etc.); Illustration: Three sample illustrations via attachment, and links to online portfolios. Do not send full manuscripts. Read submission guidelines here. 

Boyds Mills Press is the trade division of Highlights for Children, Inc.They publish under five imprints. Submissions: Picture Books: Please submit the entire manuscript of your picture book; Middle Grade Fiction: Please submit the first three chapters (do not include chapters from the middle of the book) and a plot summary; Nonfiction: Include a detailed bibliography with your submission and a detailed explanation of the books in the marketplace that are similar to yours. Regular mail only. Read guidelines here.

Flashlight Press publishes books for 4 - 8-year-olds. Books must be under 1000 words, have a universal theme, and deal with family or social situations. Read guidelines here.

Free Spirit publishes books for infants to age 4 and picture books for ages 4 to 8 that focus on social skills and getting along, early learning, character education, self-esteem, and other topics related to positive early childhood development. They also consider fiction that relates directly to these areas of focus. Read guidelines here.

Holiday House specializes in hardcovers, from picture books to young adult, both fiction and nonfiction for ages four and up. They do not publish mass market books, including pop-ups, activity books, sticker books, coloring books, or licensed books. Submissions: Holiday House only responds if they are interested in publishing your manuscript. Please send the entire manuscript, whether submitting a picture book or novel. They do not accept submissions by email or fax. Read guidelines here.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers are the oldest publishers in the world. Submissions: They do not respond unless they are interested in publishing your work. Response time is twelve weeks. Manuscripts should be typed and submitted via regular mail. They do not accept submissions by e-mail or fax. For picture books and novels, please send the entire manuscript. For nonfiction, submit a synopsis and sample chapters. Please submit exclusively to one HMH imprint only. Read guidelines here.

Ideals Children’s Books publishes fiction and nonfiction picture books for children ages 4 to 8. Subjects include holiday, inspirational, and patriotic themes; relationships and values; and general fiction. Submissions: Manuscripts should be no longer than 800 words. CandyCane Press publishes board books and novelty books for children ages 2 to 5. Complete manuscripts only, sent by regular mail. Read guidelines here.

Pajama Press publishes picture books—both for the very young and for school-aged readers, as well as early chapter books, novels for middle grade readers, and contemporary or historical fiction for young adults aged 12+. PP also published nonfiction. Pajama Press is looking for manuscripts from authors of diverse backgrounds. Stories about immigrants are of special interest. See their submission guidelines here.

Pants On Fire Press publishes picture, middle-grade and young adult books. They are always on the lookout for Action, Adventure, Animals, Comedic, Dramatic, Dystopian, Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-fi, Supernatural and Suspense stories. Submissions: Pants on Fire is acquiring Chapter Books, Middle-grade and Young Adult fiction. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Red Deer Press is a Canadian company that publishes books for children across the ages, from picture books to young adult fiction and non-fiction. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Ripple Grove Press is a new family-owned publisher based in Massachusetts. They are seeking picture books. Read submission policy.

Sky Pony Press is the children's book imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. They publish picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction. "We’re open to any genre and style, and we’re always looking for something new and different. We love original concepts, fresh voices, and writing that knocks us off our feet." See their submission guidelines here.

Second Story Press is a Canadian feminist press publishing books of special interest to women. Their list is a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and books for young readers. They look for manuscripts dealing with the many diverse and varied aspects of the lives of girls and women, as well as social justice, diversity, and children's empowerment. They not publish poetry, short story collections, traditional romance novels, rhyming picture books, or books with anthropomorphized animals. Canadian authors only. Read guidelines HERE.

Sleeping Bear Press is a publisher of quality children’s books. They specialize in picture books and middle grade novels. They accept both fiction and nonfiction submissions. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Immedium publishes picture books for ages 4-8 or 6-10. The general format is 32-pages with color illustrations. "Do not submit children's picture books which you consider to be complete with "finished art", since we want the flexibility to help improve and refine your concept."  Please read complete author guidelines here.

UK PUBLISHERS

Andersen Press (UK) publishes picture books, approximately 500 words (maximum 1000), juvenile fiction 3-5000 words and older fiction up to 75,000 words. Please send all submissions on paper, by regular post, along with a stamped, addressed envelope. They do not accept International Reply Coupons. Many titles have also been adapted for Spanish editions. They publish 12-14 titles per year. Read their submission guidelines here.

Frances Lincoln publishes over 100 new books a year for both adults and children. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books publishes picture books, multicultural books, picture books and information books. Submissions: Proposals must be sent by regular post. Click here for details.

Hogs Back Books is a small publishing house that publishes picture books and YA novels.  Submissions: For children’s books aged 0-10 years, send a complete manuscript along with a cover letter. For young adult novels, include a synopsis and the first three chapters of your manuscript. Click here for details.

Nosy Crow is a small, independent company established in 2011. They publish commercial fiction and non-fiction books for children aged from 0 to 14. Submissions: They prefer email submissions, though regular postal submissions are also accepted. For novelty/picture books email the full text. For longer works, submit a short synopsis plus the first chapter (double-spaced) with a cover letter containing all relevant information about you and your work. Click here for details.

Piccadilly Press publishes Picture Books for young children (2 to 5 years old). Texts should be 500 to 1,000 words long, Children's and Teenage Fiction, contemporary and humorous, dealing with the issues and problems which teenagers face in their own everyday lives. Children's books aiming at 6+ to 8–12 can vary in length; books for teens are intended for 11–15-year-olds, between 25,000 and 35,000 words. Teenage Non-Fiction, mostly humorous, giving practical and sympathetic advice. Submissions: By regular post only. Click here for details.

Templar is a publisher and packager of illustrated children's fiction, novelty and picture books. They have an extensive backlist built over 30 years and sell their products in over 25 languages in more than 50 countries. Submissions: Templar is currently accepting Picture Book and Novelty Book submissions. They are not currently accepting fiction submissions. Click here for details.

2 New Agents Seeking Science Fiction, Thrillers, Horror, Nonfiction and more

Here are two new agents expanding their client lists. Claire Harris wants psychological and commercial thrillers, serial detective stories, works of fiction inspired by actual crimes, mystery, suspense, cozies, anything involving serial killers, contemporary family dramas and nonfiction. Anne Tibbets is seeking science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Claire Harris of Foundry Literary + Media

Claire received her B.A. in English from The University of Texas at Austin and attended the NYU Summer Publishing Institute before joining Foundry Literary + Media. She enjoys the creative process of working with writers and collaborating closely with them throughout all stages of their careers. Claire is a thriller fanatic, candy addict, and a lover of all things creepy. Her favorite place to curl up with a good book is on a screened porch during a thunderstorm. She’s been on more ghost tours than she can count. Follow her on Twitter @claire_m_harris.

What she is seeking: In fiction, Claire wants psychological and commercial thrillers, serial detective stories, works of fiction inspired by actual crimes, mystery, suspense, cozies, anything involving serial killers, and contemporary family dramas. She is a lover of the dark and twisted, and she’s happiest when reading manuscripts with unexpected endings, especially those that stay with you for days. Having grown up in Wisconsin, Claire has a special love of stories set in the Midwest.

For nonfiction, Claire looks for a range of projects, including humor, celebrity memoir, lifestyle guides, pop culture celebrations, and illustrated books for adults. While she is interested in a variety of nonfiction projects, her passion lies in true crime.

How to submit: Query Claire at chsubmissions@foundrymedia.com. For fiction, please send: Query letter, Synopsis. First three chapters of manuscript and an Author bio. For nonfiction, please send: Query letter. Sample chapters, Table of contents, Author bio.

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Anne Tibbets of Red Sofa Literary

Anne Tibbets is the author of multiple science fiction novels and a former screenwriter. She joined Red Sofa Literary as an Associate Agent in 2018. As an agent, Anne hopes to represent adult science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and horror, with the occasional crossover YA. Bonus points if you combine genres. In her free time, Anne watches television, reads, games, and participates in a myriad of “Old Lady” hobbies. She lives in Los Angeles, but don’t hold that against her. She can be found on Twitter @AnneTibbets.

What she is seeking: 

• Adult Science Fiction: Give me your dystopia, your utopia, your bloody, bomb-ridden, and gun-blazing shoot ‘em ups with hearts of gold and threads of hope. Earth bound or in space. Bring on your new planets and aliens of all sorts. I’m not afraid of grit, but I do detest sexism. Blow my socks off.
• Adult and YA Fantasy: Give me your twist on magic, urban or high fantasy. Give me a unique kingdom or city to conquer, and I will be your greatest champion. Bonus points if female driven.
• Adult Thrillers: Innovative thrillers only. Can’t stress this enough. ‘Just say no’ to alcoholic detectives investigating dead girls. Give me something fresh and well researched. Historical a plus. No redemptive Nazi plots. Anything else? Bring it on.
• Adult and YA Horror: I want demons, ghosts, ghouls, vampires, werewolves, zombies, aliens, or just really awful human beings – perhaps not all at once. Think early Stephen King mixed with Gillian Flynn. Scare me. Make me sleep with the lights on and marvel at your creepy word choice. My soul is ready.

How to submit: Send a query to anne@redsofaliterary.com

5 UK Agents Seeking Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, MG, YA, Thrillers, Nonfiction & more

Here are five UK literary agents seeking clients. Rebecca Carter is looking for ground-breaking new literary fiction writers, as well as writers of upmarket crime and thrillers, and some children’s and YA authors. In non-fiction, she works mainly in the fields of history, politics, social and cultural commentary, design and technology, the environment and travel, often mixed together with memoir, and with a strong emphasis on quality of writing and storytelling.

Liz Dennis is looking for middle grade and YA which challenge the stereotypes, the mysterious where things are not always as they seem, and where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Zoe Plant is looking for commercial, exciting middle-grade, young adult and adult fiction, including science fiction, fantasy and horror of all types.

Claudia Young is interested in all types of writing, in particular cooking and food journalism, comedy and travel writing, literary fiction, contemporary as well as historical novels, crime fiction and thrillers. Matthew Marland is  seeking nonfiction, crime, thrillers, historical fiction, literary and commercial fiction.

IMPORTANT: Always read the agency website and agent bio before submitting!

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Zoe Plant of The Bent Agency

"A Londoner by birth, I studied for my degree in Russian and Spanish at Cambridge and lived in Moscow for a year before making my way back to the UK to start my publishing career. I started out as an intern at the Bent Agency in 2014 and went on to spend five years working as a literary scout, scouring the UK market for the very best children’s and adult books to recommend to international publishers. I was named as one of the ’30 under 30′ publishing professionals to watch on the London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards shortlist in 2018. As an agent, I am delighted to now have the opportunity to work with talented authors to bring their books into the world, and I welcome submissions from authors based anywhere."

What she is seeking: "I am looking for commercial, exciting middle-grade, young adult and adult fiction. Across all age ranges, my favourite books are full of pace and plot, but have something quirky and fresh about them: a speculative or high-concept setting, an unusual twist or a voice that changes how I see the world. I particularly love fantasy, science fiction and horror, so am looking for these genres across both adult and children’s.

For middle grade and young adult fiction, I am on the hunt for action, adventure and worlds that I can fall in love with, no matter the genre. Whether it’s about spies, astronauts, zombies, or just an odd day at school, if it has a strong voice and a compelling setting I would love to read it.

On the adult side, as well as science fiction, fantasy and horror of all types, I’m looking for commercial crime and thrillers. I am open to anything—cosy or gritty, speculative, historical or contemporary, as long as it has a good hook and an inventive plot."

How to submit: Send your query to plantqueries@thebentagency.com  Include the title of your project in the subject line of your email. Then paste the first ten pages of your book in the body of your email (not as an attachment, please).

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Rebecca Carter  of Janklow and Nesbit (UK)

Rebecca Carter joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2012, after fifteen years as a Commissioning Editor at the Random House imprints Chatto & Windus and Harvill Secker. 

What she is seeking: In fiction, she is looking for ground-breaking new literary fiction writers, as well as writers of upmarket crime and thrillers, and some children’s and YA authors. She has very varied taste in fiction, enjoying the spare and the dark as well as the rich and linguistically playful; the big family drama alongside the smaller prose poem; the bitingly contemporary as well as the reflectively historical; novels set in worlds already familiar, as well as those opening up different, distant lives and places. In non-fiction, her curiosity and tastes are similarly broad but she works mainly in the fields of history, politics, social and cultural commentary, design and technology, the environment and travel, often mixed together with memoir, and with a strong emphasis on quality of writing and storytelling.

How to submit: Please send your submission to submissions@janklow.co.uk, including your name, the title of your work and the name of the agent you wish to submit to in the subject line. Address your submission to Rebecca Carter. If you are submitting fiction, attach the first three chapters or the first fifty pages in Word format or as PDFs. If you are submitting non-fiction, submit a full outline setting out the aims of each chapter, and if possible a sample chapter. Please title all documents and your email with your full name and the title of your work for ease of reference. Your submission should be double-spaced, size 12 and in a reasonable font.

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Liz Dennis of Johnson & Alcock Ltd

Liz Dennis joined Johnson & Alcock in 2015. She is the agency’s office manager and is developing a children’s list. Inspired at an early age by a teacher who invited an author to school, Liz has always loved working in children’s fiction – and Philippa Pearce's Tom’s Midnight Garden remains a huge favourite to this day.  Drawn to children's books long after she supposedly grew up, her university dissertation was on gender images in children's fiction. After 12 years selling foreign rights for major publishing houses, including Orion, HarperCollins Children's and Orchard, she took time out to read books to her own children.

What she is seeking: Liz is looking for middle grade and YA which challenge the stereotypes, the mysterious where things are not always as they seem, and where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Above all she wants to be transported to another world and still loves a time slip fantasy.

How to submit: Please email your query to liz@johnsonandalcock.co.uk and attach a synopsis and the first three chapters (approximately 50 pages) to the email.

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Claudia Young of Greene & Heaton Ltd

Claudia Young joined the agency in 2009. Claudia also works closely with radio and television production companies, and the speakers and presenters side of the agency.

What she is seeking: Claudia is interested in all types of writing, in particular cooking and food journalism, comedy and travel writing. Claudia loves literary fiction, contemporary as well as historical novels, crime fiction and thrillers.

How to submit: Submissions should be sent by email to submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk. Please attach a synopsis and the first three chapters (or about fifty pages) in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Mention the name of your preferred agent in the subject line of your email. Children’s or YA submissions should also be clearly marked in the subject line.

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Matthew Marland of Rogers, Coleridge & White

Matthew Marland joined Rogers, Coleridge & White in 2016 after working at Conville & Walsh. He has a BA and MA in English Literature. Matthew works closely with Natasha Fairweather, Peter Robinson, and Peter Straus, and is also building his own list.

What he is seeking: Nonfiction, crime, thrillers, historical fiction, literary and commercial fiction.

How to submit: Send a query to matthewm@rcwlitagency.com For fiction send the first three chapters or approximately the first fifty pages of the work to a natural break, and a brief synopsis. Non-fiction submissions should take the form of a proposal up to twenty pages in length explaining what the work is about and why you are best placed to write it.

3 New Agents Looking for Kidlit, YA, Romance, Literary and Commercial Fiction and more

These three new agents are actively seeking clients. Heather Cashman is currently seeking submissions for middle grade and young adult. For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new. Cecilia Lyra is actively seeking literary and commercial adult fiction that feature diverse, layered characters and unexpected plot twists. Garrett Alwert is looking for smart, funny, contemporary stories. He enjoys romance and stories that focus on friendship, family, and all the ways those relationships come together. He also likes well paced psychological thrillers as well as stories with unique story structures and timelines.

IMPORTANT: Always read the agency website and agent bio before submitting!

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Heather Cashman, Associate Literary Agent of Storm Literary Agency

Heather has always loved meeting authors and working on their books as a collaborative partner. She was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor.

Before becoming an associate agent at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing. She’s helped authors from the pre-query stage to acquisitions, and she’s also worked as a freelance editor and consultant for traditional and non-traditional publishing. She’s excited to continue helping authors as their agent.

What she is seeking: Heather is currently seeking submissions for middle grade and young adult.
For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new. For all writing, Heather enjoys unique characters formed from their own experiences in a unique world. The characters need to feel real with a distinct voice from the first line. Thematic elements and strong character arcs are a must. She loves commercial fiction that has a literary flair and inclusive books that bring us together as citizens of the world.

How to submit: Please email (only) to: heather.stormliteraryagency@gmail.com with "Query TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT" in the subject line of your email. (No need for the quotes.) For middle grade and young adult, send the first twenty pages in the body of your email below your query letter and signature. If interested, she'll contact you for the full. Links to social media platforms are appreciated.

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Cecila Lyra of the Rights Factory

Cecilia is a new agent with the Rights Factory in Canada. She holds a Master’s Degree in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University and is completing a graduate certificate in publishing. In 2016, she bid adieu to her life as lawyer and professor of law to become a writer and a literary agent. She blames this heretical career move on her nine-year-old-self, who was bitten by the reading bug and began to dream of the day when she would work with books. When she isn’t devouring novels—or dessert—Cecilia can be found drinking wine, writing her own novels, and snuggling with Babaganoush, her adorable English bulldog. Follow her on Twitter @ceciliaclyra

What she is seeking: Cecilia is actively seeking literary and commercial adult fiction that feature diverse, layered characters and unexpected plot twists. As a feminist, Cecilia loathes the term women’s fiction — it’s just fiction — but, for the purposes of clarity, that is her favorite genre. Cecilia is also looking for unique and compelling narrative nonfiction and memoirs (think: nonfiction that would be perfect for book clubs). She is particularly passionate about representing under- or misrepresented voices and stories that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. Do not send a manuscript where the dog dies — Cecilia can’t handle it.

How to submit: Submissions can be emailed to cecilia@therightsfactory.com

Please include (in the body of the email):

• a pitch;
• a bio (including a summary of your writing credentials and platform, if applicable); and
• the first ten pages of your work.
• Preferred format: Times, 12-size font, justified paragraphs, 1.5 spacing. Attachments will not be opened.

Because Cecilia understands writers’ anxiety, she will respond to each and every query within 6 weeks. For more information, please visit www.therightsfactory.com

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Garrett Alwert, Associate Agent of Emerald City Literary

Prior to joining Emerald City Literary, Garrett graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business. He played professional baseball and worked as a contractor until he found his true passion in publishing. In 2016 he began interning for Mandy Hubbard then became Agency Assistant before being promoted to Associate Agent. A long-time book lover Garrett can be found reading just about anything he can get his hands on. He is currently co-representing multiple authors alongside Mandy Hubbard.

What he is seeking: Garrett is considering select Middle Grade and YA alongside Mandy Hubbard. Garrett is looking for smart, funny, contemporary stories with fresh voices, a strong hook and awesome dialogue. He enjoys romance and stories that focus on friendship, family, and all the ways those relationships come together. He also likes well paced psychological thrillers as well as stories with unique story structures and timelines. He is actively looking for projects by POC authors or with LGBTQ+ themes.

How to submit: If you would like him to consider your work, please send your query, with the first 5 pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email, to: QueryMandy@EmeraldCityLiterary.com. Please put “ATTN: Garrett” in the subject line if it is intended for Garrett’s review.

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9 Digital Imprints of Major Publishers Accepting Submissions - No agent required

Wikimedia

Did you know that you can get published by a major publisher without an agent? Under normal circumstances, the doors of major publishers are closed to unagented writers. But with the advent of the digital revolution, major publishers are seeing the possibility of making sales without much outlay. Publishers still have to edit ebooks and hire graphic designers for covers, but they don't have to spend anything on printing costs, at least not initially.

The advantage of digital first imprints with major publishers is that they can lead to print runs, provided the ebook sells well. You also get the advantage of having been published by a major publisher, which gives you significant bragging rights. In addition, if your first ebook does reasonably well, you can continue with the publisher.

All of these are traditional publishers.

For a list of over 150 publishers that don’t require an agent click HERE. 

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Forever Yours is a digital-only imprint of Grand Central Publishing, which is part of Hachette Book Group. Forever Yours publishes new works as well as backlist titles from its nine-year-old Forever imprint. The imprint publishes two to four e-book titles a month. What they are looking for: Forever Yours is currently accepting romance submissions from all subgenres, including but not limited to: contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, western, historical, inspirational, paranormal, sci-fi/fantasy, futuristic, urban fantasy, steampunk, time-travel, and erotica. How to submit: They are accepting novella length works (8,000-35,000 words), as well as longer works from 35,000-100,000 words.

Tor Teen is an imprint of Tor/Forge, which is an imprint of Macmillan. Tor is one of the top sci-fi/fantasy publishers in the world, but they also publish general fiction for young adults. Since Tor Teen launched in 2003, they have published fiction by Cory Doctorow, Brandon Sanderson, Kendare Blake, David Lubar, Veronica Rossi, Susan Dennard, and Kristen Simmons, among others. Submissions: Tor's guidelines are quite detailed. Make sure you follow them to the letter, otherwise your submission will not be read. See their submission guidelines here. 

Tor/Forge is an imprint of Macmillan. They publish Science fiction and fantasy, Fiction of all other types including but not limited to general fiction, historical fiction, horror, mystery, paranormal, suspense/thriller, urban fantasy, and women's fiction, Children's and Young Adult. They also have a Children's and Young Adult Division for middle grade, and young adult audiences. They do not publish picture books. See their submission guidelines here. 

Avon Impulse (UK) is a is a division of HarperCollins. They publish Romance. Avon Impulse (digital first) wants full-length novels of approximately 50-60,000 words. Formatting choices are up to you. If they can read it, you can submit it. No need to submit to a specific editor. If a specific editor has requested your manuscript, please let them know and they’ll get it to her. No need to submit to specific imprint, either; you’ll work with the same editorial team. Response time: You should receive an answer either way in about three months. See submission instructions HERE.

Carina Press is one of Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction single-title imprints, publishing first in digital, with releases in audio and print as well. Carina Press publishes a wide range of adult fiction genres and features books from talented authors in all genres, including romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and more. What they are looking for: All subgenres of romance with all levels of sensuality, from the very sweet to the incredibly erotic, featuring couples (or multiples) from all walks of  life and sexual orientation, including same-sex romances. They publish novels and novellas. How to submit: Please submit queries for only completed, fully polished manuscripts, unless previously arranged otherwise with an editor. If a response has not been received after 12 weeks, please follow-up via your submittable account by adding a note to your submission log. Read full guidelines HERE.

DAW Books Inc., a division of Penguin, accepts work directly from novelists.They are looking for unsolicited submissions of science fiction and fantasy novels. They do not consider short stories, short story collections, novellas, or poetry. The average length of the novels they publish is almost never fewer than 80,000 words. For complete submission details go HERE.

Versify is a new imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. Versify was started by author Kwame Alexander. He is looking for books that edify, electrify, and exemplify the wonders and woes of childhood. Part of their mission is to publish writers whose voices haven’t been heard before. For complete submission details go HERE.

SMP Swerve is the digital first imprint of St. Martin’s Press. They want all sub-genres of romance. Manuscripts must be between 25,000 and 100,000 words. For complete submission details go HERE.

Loveswept and Flirt are two digital imprints of Random House. They want romance. "Digital authors will have a complete and unique publishing package. Every book will be assigned to an accomplished Random House editor and a dedicated marketer and publicist. Not only do our authors benefit from working with the finest cover designers to ensure irresistibly eye-catching books, but they are also offered the unique advantage of social media tools and training that will allow them to connect directly with their readers." For complete submission details go HERE.

43 Calls for Submissions in March 2019 - Paying markets

Henriette Browne, Girl Writing - Wikimedia

There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in March 2019. 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 monthly calls for submissions on the last day of the previous 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.)

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THEMA. Genre: Short stories, flash fiction, poems, art on theme of "Six before Eighty." Payment: short story, $25; short-short piece (up to 1000 words), $10; poem, $10; artwork, $25 for cover, $10 for interior page display. Deadline: March 1, 2019. Reprints accepted.

Copper Nickel. Genre: 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: March 1, 2019.

Contrary Magazine. Genres: Fiction and poetry. Payment: $20 per author. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction 300 - 1,000 words on theme of Relocate. Payment: Pays for anthologies only. Deadline: March 1, 2019. See accepted genres.

Jaggery. Genre: Art, poetry, reviews, and fiction connecting South Asian diasporic writers and homeland writers; "we also welcome non-South Asians with a deep and thoughtful connection to South Asian countries, who bring their own intersecting perspectives to the conversation. (By South Asia we mean Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.) Our hope with Jaggery is to create a journal that offers the best writing by and about South Asians and their diaspora." Payment: $25 for art, poetry, reviews and essays, $100 for fiction. Deadline: March 1, 2019. (Possibly March 31. Website is unclear.)

The Blue Route. Restrictions: Undergraduate students. Genres: Prose – Submit 1-3 pieces of fiction or creative nonfiction totaling no more than 3000 words. Poetry – Submit up to 3 poems. No genre fiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

World Weaver Press: Glass & Gardens: Solarpunk Winters Anthology. Genre: Fiction. "For this anthology, I want to see solarpunk stories that take place in winter. That might mean working together to survive extreme blizzards, or feeling the heat in places that no longer see snow. Which renewable tech works best during long winter nights? How do solarpunk societies celebrate the winter holidays? Keep it planet-based (Earth or other), and optimistic. Solarpunk worlds aren’t necessarily utopias, but they definitely aren’t dystopias." Payment: TBD (Determined by Kickstarter success. $10 minimum.) Deadline: March 1, 2019.

The Cincinnati Review. Genres: Prose and poetry. Payment: $25 per page (prose), $30 per page (poetry). Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Upstreet. Genres: Fiction, CNF. Payment: $50-$150 per work. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Goblin Fruit. Genre: Fantastical poetry. Payment: $15.00 USD on publication for original, unpublished poems, and $5.00 for solicited reprints. Deadline: March 3, 2019.

Tell-Tale Press: Creatures. Genre: Fantasy, horror, mystery and science fiction stories about creatures: animals, insects, arachnids, dinosaurs, aliens, monsters, cryptids, legends, mythical, or mythological. Payment: $5-25; $50 for novelette. Deadline: March 4, 2019.

Wordworks. Restrictions: Canadian writers? (Not clear from site) Genres: Short stories, poetry, CNF. Theme of Publishing. Payment: .22/word for prose submissions, $50 per poem, $100 per cover art. Deadline: March 5, 2019. (No indication of year on site.) Reprints accepted.

Into the Void. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. Payment: $5 CAD per printed page. Deadline: March 7, 2019. (Submit on March 1 to avoid submission fees.)

Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 1000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: March 7, 2019.

Riddled With Arrows. Genre: Writing-related fiction and metafiction, ars poetica, creative essays, non-classifiable written objects and visual art exploring the relationships between writing and the places where writing congregates. Payment: Unpublished Poetry & Prose – USD 3¢/word, minimum $5, maximum $25; Reprints: USD $5 Flat Rate; Visual Art: USD $10 Flat Rate.  Deadline: March 8, 2019.

The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human: Tales From Many Muslim Worlds. Genre: First-person, unpublished literary/creative non-fiction. 2500-4000 words, in English. Translations of excellent quality are welcome. "This is not a book about religion; it is a collection of personal stories revealing the multi-faceted and universal experiences of people living all over the world. Each story follows Joseph Campbell’s classic hero’s journey, that classic narrative arc on which the most successful stories of our time have been based." Payment: Honorarium of 100 SGD and a copy of the book. Deadline: March 10, 2019.

The Lifted Brow. Genre: Translations only. Writing that focuses on the arts, gender, race, ecology, economics, politics, work, and sexuality. Australian focus preferred. Payment: $75-$100. Deadline: March 10, 2019.

Mslexia. Genre: Stories, poems and scripts on the theme of clothes. Length: Stories up to 2,200 words, poems up to 40 lines, and short scripts up to 1,000 words (including character names and stage instructions). Payment: £25. Deadline: March 11, 2019.

Pentimento. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction and art by individuals with a disability or a community member.  "If you are an individual with a disability or part of the disability community as a family member, caregiver, special educator, or in any way connected to disability, we want to see your disability-related writing." Payment: $25 - $250. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Shenandoah. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $50/page. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Greene County Creative: Sorghum & Spear Anthology: The Way of Silk And Stone. Genre: Fantasy. "We are looking for original works that fit the inclusive fantasy world of our comic book series, featuring young girls and women of all walks of life as they are influenced by their roles in the Forever War."  Length: 2,000-7,500 words. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Podcastle. Genre: Fantasy podcast. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word for original; $100 for reprints, $20 for flash fiction reprints. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $10 per poem, $15 for prose. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Southword. Genres: Prose and poetry. Payment: €30 per poem and €120 per short story. Payment to writers within the Republic of Ireland is made by cheque. Writers abroad must accept payment through Paypal. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: US 3¢/word rounded to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

The Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: March 25, 2019.

Flame Tree Press: Detective Mysteries Anthology. Genre: Detective Mysteries. "Private Eyes with eagle eyes and rare skills, PIs and gumshoes, bloodhounds and sleuths: the shadowy arts of the detective have intrigued us since tales of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and Sherlock Holmes. Add some treachery, intimacy, and a little murder to the mix and you'll find a powerful series of dark stories from classic and contemporary writers." Length: 2,000-4,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: March 24, 2019.

Flame Tree Press: Epic Fantasy Anthology.  Genre: Epic Fantasy. "George R.R. Martin drew on Tolkien, who was inspired by William Morris, Medieval epics, and Norse mythology. This new collection of epic fantasy tales explores the classic themes of good vs. evil, the low-born hero, and the arrogant overlord, lacing them with a taste of sorcery that reaches back to the early sources and stirring them in with the brand new storytellers of today." Length: 2,000-4,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: March 24, 2019.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: March 28, 2019.

Hippocampus Magazine: Ink Anthology. Genre: Creative nonfiction about small town America.  "We want to hear about small family-owned businesses, such as the stores and specialty shops that used to rule Main Street America. What did you family sell? Make? Fix? Build? How did these businesses define you or your family members? How did they evolve over time? While we’re open to all time periods, we’re most interested in business that began in the pre-Internet era—and we’re especially interested in places that span generations." Payment: $25. Deadline: March 30, 2019.

Grumpy Old Gods Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction stories about retired gods. “We invite you to re-imagine old myths, mine your local retirement home for things that tickle your fancy, and invite your Muse to go wild.” Length: 3,000-4,000 words. Payment: A percentage of the profits. Deadline:  March 30, 2019.

Orbannin Books: Letters from the Grave – A Collection of Epistolary Horror. Genre: Horror. “The epistolary form has a long, proud tradition in the horror genre. From the classics such as Frankenstein and Dracula, through modern classics like World War Z. We want to see your fresh takes on the idea. Remember that the epistolary genre doesn’t just include letters. It can be stories created from nearly any kinds or combinations of documents, i.e. crime scene reports, diary entries, interview transcripts, etc. This can include modern electronic and digital “documents” such as texts, voicemails, Tweets, blog posts, and more.” Length: 2,000-10,000 words. Payment: $0.05/word. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Darkhouse Books: Mid-Century Murders. Genre: Cozy to cozy-noir crime stories set in the late forties through the very early sixties. Payment: 50% of royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2019. Some reprints accepted.

Arkansas International. Genre: fiction, poetry, essays, comics, and works in translation. Payment: $20 a printed page (capped at $250). Deadline: March 31, 2019. (Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.)

Notre Dame Review. Genres: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $5 per printed page. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Quommunicate Publishing: Queer Around the World Too. Genres: True stories: Personal essays, scripts, and poetry. Theme: travel, immigration, or multiculturalism from an LGBTQ+ perspective. No erotica. Payment: $5 per printed page. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Quommunicate Publishing: More Queer Families. Genres: Short personal prose and poetry memoirs from queer parents, children, spouses and extended family about life in their families. Payment: $5 per printed page. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

JMS Books: Missed Connections. Genre: LGBTQ+ romance stories about missed connections. Length: 12,000 words minimum. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

West Branch. Genre: Prose, poetry. Length: Up to 6 poems or 30 pages of prose. Payment: $0.05/word for prose, up to $100; $50 per poem. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Verity La. Genre: Fiction, poetry, essay or reviews. Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose. Payment: AUD100. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Parks & Points & Poetry. Genre: Poetry about US national parks. Payment:$10. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Arkana: Micro Issue. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short CNF (500 words max). "We want work that celebrates its smallness, amplifies the tiniest voices with the most to say, and challenges society’s perceptions of the marginal, modest, and miniscule." Payment: All entries will be considered for an editor's choice payment of $50. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Foundry. Genre: Poetry, essays about writing poetry. Payment: $20. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

55 Writing Contests in March 2019 - No entry fees

Pixabay

March is a great month for writing contests. This month there are 55 contests, and none charge entry fees. Prizes range from tens of thousands of dollars to publication. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

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

Good luck!
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Fountain Magazine Essay Contest. Genre: Essay. 1,500 - 2,500 words. "Should We Be Grateful?" The question is: Why do we feel grateful? What should be we grateful for? And even, should we still be grateful when we’re depressed or when our lives are a mess? Prize: 1st Place - $1,500, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $300, Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

The Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award is sponsored by Broadside Lotus Press. Restrictions: This competition is open to African American poets only. If you have already had a book published by Lotus Press, you are ineligible. However, inclusion in a Lotus Press anthology does not disqualify you. Genres: Poetry collections of approximately 60-90 pages. Prize: $500 in cash and publication  by Broadside Lotus Press as well as free copies and discounts. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Women on the Water. Restrictions: Female writers only. Genre: Short story. "Tell us how you felt about leaving (either home or the voyaging life). How did you cope? Was it worth it?  Perhaps you spent time somewhere you became particularly attached to while travelling? Stories may be any length up to 3,000 words." Prize: First $250, Second $100, Third $50. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Wiley-Silver Prize in Civil War History. Genre: First book or monograph in Civil War history published in the previous year. Books or monographs published by scholarly or popular presses are eligible. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

United States/Japan Creative Artists Residencies. This is a 3-5 month residency in Japan. Grant: $24,000. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Balticon Poetry Contest. Sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Genre: Speculative poetry. Prize: 1st prize: $100; 2nd prize: $75; 3rd prize: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

The Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers resident in the UK and Ireland who have yet to secure a publishing deal. Genre: Proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words). Prize: £3,000 advance against publication with Fitzcarraldo Editions. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Beverly Hopkins Memorial Poetry Contest for High School Students. Restrictions: High school students living within 100 miles of St. Louis. Genre: Poetry. Prize: First prize $200, Second prize $125, Third prize $75. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK students between 16-18 years of age. Genre: Poetry, one poem, maximum 48 lines. Theme is "underwater." Prize: £5,000. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Jittery Monks Essay Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to college students. Genre: Essay. (See site for topic.) Prize: $1,500. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

The Lakefly Writers Conference. Restrictions: Open to residents of Wisconsin. Genres: Short story fiction:  1500 words or less. Any genre. Flash fiction:  500 words or less. Any genre. No theme. Poetry:  All poems, free verse to formal and everything in between—75 lines max. Theme: Wisconsin Choices. The Jean Nelson Essay for Young Adults: For young adult writers (ages 12 through 17). 2500 words or less. Theme: Notable Wisconsin figure (living or dead) who most inspires me. Prize: First place winners will receive a cash prize of $100; second place winners will receive $75; and third place winners will receive $50. Winners must be able to attend an awards ceremony. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Genre: Adventure writing novel. Separate categories for published and unpublished books. Self-published books accepted. Prize: £15,000. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Myong Cha Son Haiku Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Rhina P. Espaillat Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Original poems written in Spanish and translations of English poems to Spanish. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Poetry composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme and received forms. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Alabama Arts Council Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to any author who has lived in Alabama for at least 2 years. Genre: Fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction of 10-20 pages. Prize: $5,000.  Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Mississippi Artists Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to permanent residents of Mississippi. Genre: Nonfiction of 15-20 pages. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Author Mentor Match. Genre: Completed YA or MG manuscript. Prize: Mentorship by published author. Deadline: March 1 - 5, 2019.

"It's All Write!" Teen Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Grades 6-12. Genre: Short story, and flash fiction, unpublished. Prize: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100. Deadline: March 3, 2019.

Arts Club of Washington Scholarship Competition. Restrictions: Open to college students (including first two years of graduate school) aged 18-26 in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $2000 scholarship. Deadline: March 4, 2019.

NEA Literature Fellowships are sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Prize: $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Deadline: March 6, 2019.

The Ungar German Translation Award is bestowed biennially in odd-numbered years. Genre: Book-length literary translation translated from German into English and published in the United States between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Prize: $1,000, a certificate of recognition, and up to $500 toward expenses for attending the ATA Annual Conference in San Francisco, California.  Deadline: March 7, 2019.

Forward Prizes. Genre: Collections and single poems published in the UK and Ireland between September 2018 and September 2019 are eligible for the Prizes. Must be submitted by publisher. Prize: £1,000 to £10,000 Deadline: March 8, 2019.

BBC National Short Story Award. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over, who have a history of publication in creative writing. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: £15,000 to the winner, £3,000 for the runner-up and £500 for three further shortlisted writers. Deadline: March 11, 2019.

Neltje Blanchan/Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Awards. Restrictions: Wyoming writers. Genres: The Frank Nelson Doubleday Award is given for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script written by a woman writer. The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award is given annually for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script which is informed by a relationship with the natural world. Prize: $1,000.00. Deadline: March 11, 2019.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between October 1, 2018 and March 12, 2019. Deadline: March 13, 2019.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2018 and March 12, 2019. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: March 13, 2019.

Gordon Burn Prize. Restrictions: Open to permanent US or UK residents. Genre: Fiction or nonfiction book first published in the US or UK between July 1 of the preceding year and July 1 of the deadline year. Prize: 5,000 pounds and 3-month writing retreat at Gordon Burn's cottage in Berwickshire. Deadline: March 14, 2019.

McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize is awarded to the author of the best first novel published in the previous calendar year. Restrictions: Only American authors publishing in English are eligible. Non-eligible books include short story collections, flash fiction, memoirs, biographies and books published solely in electronic format. Prize: $500. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to Kentucky poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Genre: Literary arts. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Hodson Trust–John Carter Brown Library Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction (includes creative nonfiction). A book-in-process  relating to the literature, history, culture, or art of the Americas before 1830. Award: $20,000. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Governor General's Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written or translated 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 the best 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) and Translation (from French to English). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Lynn DeCaro Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to Connecticut Student Poets in Grades 9-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st $75, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Greater Yellowstone Creative Writing and Journalism Fellowship. Restrictions: Established and recognized authors are being sought, but emerging and mid-career writers are also encouraged to apply. Genre: Seeking creative writers (poetry, fiction, nonfiction), or those in the field of journalism (writer, photojournalist, videographer, documentary filmmaker, online or print media) who demonstrate serious inquiry and dedication to the Greater Yellowstone region through their work. Fellowship: $3,500. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

ILA Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction English-language books for children in grades pre-K to 12 and published for the first time during the year preceding the deadline year. Must be the author's first or second book. Prize: $800. Deadline: March 15, 2019.

Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition for High School Students. Restrictions: Open to students in Grades 7-12. Genre: Haiku. Prizes: $50. Deadline: March 21, 2019.

Modern Love College Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to US college students age 18+.  Genre: Personal essay that tells the plain truth about what love and relationships are like for college students today. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 24, 2019.

Sunken Garden Poetry Festival's Fresh Voices Competition. Restrictions: New England high school students. Prize: Reading at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival on August 5, 2018 and publication.  Deadline: March 29, 2019.

The Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Genre: Novel published in 2018 (50,000 words minimum). Book has to be set in one of the original eleven states in the Confederacy. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.) Prize: $2,500.00, and an expense paid trip to New York City. (The winner must come to NY to receive the award, attend a luncheon with the contest judges and a reception in his/her honor.) Deadline: March 29, 2019.

Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative Grant. Restrictions: Open to journalists aged 22-38. Genre: Investigative journalism piece about modern prejudice. Prize: $5,000 grant. Deadline: March 30, 2019.

Limnisa Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story under 3,000 words on theme of Plastic. Prize: One-week, all-inclusive writers' retreat or workshop in 2017 or 2018 in Limnisa, Greece and online publication, or five online personal tutoring sessions instead. Deadline: March 30, 2019.

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: March 31, 2019.

Foley Poetry Contest. Genre: One unpublished poem on any topic. The poem should be 30 lines or fewer and not under consideration elsewhere. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Restrictions: open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Genres: Science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy up to 17,000 words. Prizes: Three cash prizes in each quarter: a First Prize of $1,000, a Second Prize of $750, and a Third Prize of $500, in US dollars. In addition, at the end of the year the winners will have their entries rejudged, and a Grand Prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Sarah Mook Poetry Prize for Students. Restrictions: Students in grades K-12. Genre: Poetry.   Prize: $100. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. Genre: Poetry or literary prose. Translation of modern Arabic literature into English. Books must have been published and be available for purchase in the UK via a distributor or online. The source text must have been published in the original Arabic in or after 1967. Must be submitted by publisher. Prize: £3,000. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Archibald Lamp­man Award. Restrictions: Open to residents of Canada's National Capital region (Ottawa). Genre: Book of any genre published by a recognized publisher. Prize: $1500. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Jacklyn Potter Young Poets Competition. Restrictions: Open to high school students in the Washington, DC region. Genre: Poetry. Prize: A reading with honorarium in the Miller Poetry Series, a summer program occurring in June and July. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Lake Superior State University High School Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to high school students students residing in the Midwestern United States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) or Ontario, Canada. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $500 and publication.  Deadline: March 31, 2019.

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: March 31, 2019.

Value of Being Fit Scholarship Program. Restrictions: Open to students who are currently enrolled in colleges, universities or high schools. Genre: Essay, info graphics, or article (750-1000 words) on “Obesity: A New Epidemic.” Prize: $750. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Writers' HQ Flash Quarterly Contest. Genre: Unpublished flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: 450 pounds. Top three winners win membership to Writers' HQ, a British writing resource site, and admission to three WHQ writing retreats. Winners outside the UK can substitute a manuscript critique for the retreats. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Jack L. Chalker Young Writers' Contests. Restrictions: Open to writers between 14 and 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year who reside in, or attend school in Maryland. Genre: Science fiction or fantasy, 2,500 words max. Prizes: $150, $100 and $75. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

Descant. Each year, descant offers four awards:

• the $500 Frank O’Connor Award for fiction (for the best short story in a issue)
• the $250 Gary Wilson Award (for an outstanding story in an issue)
• the $500 Betsy Colquitt Award for poetry (for the best poem or series of poems by a single author in an issue)
• the $250 Baskerville Publishers Award (for an outstanding poem or poems by a single author in an issue

There is no application process or reading fee. All published submissions are eligible for prize consideration. Simply submit your work. Deadline: March 31, 2019.

The Lindisfarne Crime Prize. Restrictions: Residents of the North of England, or whose work celebrates the North of England. Genre: Crime short story of up to 10,000 words. Prize: £2500.   Deadline: March 31, 2019.