76 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 - Paying markets

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

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

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

[Image: Wikimedia]

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West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Rat Bag Lit. Genre: Short story. Payment:  1 cent/word. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: April 2, 2026. Opens April 1.

The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Cafe Irreal. Genre: Magical realism, Length: Up to 2000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Crimson Quill. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: $35. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026.

Ninth Letter Web Edition. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $25 per poem and $75 for prose. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Ex-Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Raconteur Press: For Want of a Nail…. Genre: Short stories.An alternate history anthology for all you rivet counters out there! Divergence from history, but with hard clear lines to keep it from being confusing. Counterfactual stories of those pivotal moments in history. Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 3, 2026.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: April 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

Daikaijuzine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

Varnish. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 - $250. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: Speculative YA stories, Holidays theme. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: April 5, 2026.

Mslexia. Genre: Stories, poems and script on themes. 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: April 6, 2026.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: Affirm Press accepts all literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have an author or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month and twice yearly on their children’s & teen list. Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: April 6, 2026.

Black Inc. Restrictions: Accepts proposals from Australian writers only. Genre: General non-fiction, including history, current affairs, biography and memoir, and for fiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2026.

University of Queensland Press Genre: Adult non-fiction submissions that address environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. We are looking for potential new books that engage with current science, with themes of hope, resilience and innovation. Full or partial manuscripts (minimum 15,000 words) will be accepted. They do not publish books in the following categories: Genre fiction (including romance, science fiction, fantasy, and erotica), travel guides, cookbooks, self-help books, plays/scripts/music scores, textbooks, unrevised theses or conference proceedings. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2026. Open the first seven days of every month.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: April 10, 2026.

Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

The Threepenny Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay, $100 for reprint cover art, $200 for original unpublished cover art, $50 for reprint interior art, $100 for original unpublished interior art.  Deadline: April 14, 2026.

OTHERSIDE. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Payment: $0.08/word for prose. $50 per poem. $100 for nonfiction and reprints. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

fifth wheel press: motherboard. Genre: Poetry, prose poetry, short prose (<1500 words), and other experimental writing by queer, trans, and gender variant writers. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Cutleaf. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, and literary nonfiction. Payment: $100 to $300 for published prose and from $50 to $100 per published poem. Deadline: April 15, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Pig’s Back. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Payment: €300. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Quest Magazine: Power. Genre: Speculative fiction. See theme. Payment: $250 for prose (or per story instalment), $100 for poetry. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Cahava. Genre: Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and prose poetry. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Whisper House Press: Doom Scroll Anthology. Genre: Social media horror fiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: April 15, 2026. Extended deadline for writers from diaspora communities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or Autistic writers.

Consequence Magazine: The Culture of War. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and visual art mainly focused on the culture of war. Payment: $20 - $50 for prose and poetry, $150 for art. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Electric Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Horror Tree: Trembling With Fear. Genre: Horror short stories. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Rattle: A Tribute to the Future. Genre: Poetry. "Our Fall 2026 issue will be dedicated to poems about the future—what it might look like, feel like, or become. Whether speculative, surreal, hopeful, or dire, we’re looking for poems that imagine what lies ahead, for the world or the self. The future can be political, ecological, technological, spiritual, or deeply personal. However you interpret the idea, we want to see how poetry can be a vehicle for foresight, fantasy, or reflection on what comes next." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

In a Flash. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Neon Hemlock: What Elegant Stars: Queer Tales of Impossible Style. Genre: Space opera stories involving style, fashion and society. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. See theme. Payment: $0.05/word, up to $25. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Raconteur Press: The Muse Within Us. Genre: Short stories. Stories where the act of creation itself becomes unearthly. Tales in which a painting, sculpture, song, manuscript, poem, or any creative impulse is touched—or possessed—by supernatural forces. Tell us about people whose inspiration springs from uncanny sources: muse spirits, cursed artifacts, spectral patrons, cosmic whispers, haunted landscapes, or otherworldly entities. Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 17, 2026.

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: April 19, 2026.

Astrolabe. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 20, 2026.

OTHERSIDE. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Payment: $0.08/word for prose. $50 per poem. $100 for nonfiction and reprints. Deadline: April 21, 2026. Extended deadline only for BIPOC, trans, and/or disabled authors.

Kaleidotrope. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry—science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but also compelling work that blurs the lines between these and falls outside of neat genre categories. Payment: For fiction, $0.01/word (1 cent a word) USD. For poetry, a flat rate of $5 USD per accepted piece. For artwork, a flat rat of $60 for cover art. Deadline: April 25, 2026.

American Poets Continuum Series. Genre: Poetry collection. "Poets who have previously published a full-length book of poetry with a traditional publisher are eligible to submit to the American Poets Continuum Series." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

berlin lit. Genre: Poetry. Payment: 20 euros per poem. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Massachusetts Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, hybrid, translations. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Fee for online submissions. No fee for USPS.

Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: Short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: Early submission period for equity-deserving groups April 23-30, 2026.

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry, art. See theme. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dragon Soul Poetry Anthology. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 0.01 per word, with a $20 minimum. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Strange Aeon. Genre: Cosmic Horror Fiction. Payment: $20 - $35. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

After Happy Hour. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, comics. Payment: $2.50 per printed page, with a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $50, on publication ($25 for the cover artist). Deadline: April 30, 2026. Free submissions are capped at 300, so submit early.

Long Con. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Writing and art. "“art about art” means artworks created in direct response to other objects, artifacts, or performances that can be considered “art”—including all forms of writing; gallery & theatre arts; pop culture (fashion, sports, comics); infrastructure (monuments, architecture, tools); ephemera (ads, memes, user manuals); propaganda (parades, political speeches); and non-human creations (elephant paintings, bird nests, insect dances)." Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Margins. Genre: Creative nonfiction by emerging and established Asian American and diasporic writers. Payment: $60 – $450 depending on length. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Texas Review Press. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry, both full-length collections and chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Temz Review. Genre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Brick. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Payment: $65–$720, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: April 30, 2026.  Closes when cap is reached so submit early.

Terrain.org. Genre: Nonfiction, fiction on place, climate, and justice. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dragon Soul Survival Anthology. Genre: All apocalyptic stories are welcome. All genres are accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Zero Street Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Full-length literary fiction. "Zero Street will be committed to LGBTQ+ literary fiction with commercial potential, providing marginalized authors opportunities for a wide readership in the trade fiction market. The series editors are Timothy Schaffert, bestselling author of The Perfume Thief, and SJ Sindu, author of Blue-Skinned Gods. The series seeks LGBTQ+ literary fiction of all kinds, from stories of modern life to innovations on traditions of genre and are particularly interested in BIPOC authors, trans authors, and queer authors over 50." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $400. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Xnital Books. Genre: Poetry Collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to submissions by authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Bracken. Genre: Poetry and art. "Bracken is a literary magazine born of the love of the woods and its shadows." Payment: $30. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Engen Books. Genre: Full-length nonfiction manuscripts. "Engen Non-fiction is committed to sharing diverse narratives as well as shining a light on unique and unexplored stories from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Plentitude. Restrictions:. LGBTQ2S+ writers only. Genre: Poetry, Fiction. Payment: $60 per poem, $125 for fiction and CNF. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Rabbit Hole Anthology. Genre: "Weird" poems and short stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

the other side of hope: journeys in refugee and immigrant literature. Restrictions: Open to refugee, asylum seeker, and immigrant poets worldwide. Genre: Poetry in any language other than English. Payment: £50 per published poet, and £25 for the English translation. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dread House Publishing: Poisoned Folk Tales Anthology. Genre: Folk horror. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Cookout. Restrictions: Open to to authors from Africa and the African diaspora. Genre: Speculative and mainstream stories on theme. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mad Creek Books: 21st Century Essays. Genre: Essays. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Shacklebound Books: Wired Hearts. Genre: Reprint stories of 500-2,000 words to the science fiction theme of “Robots and AI” for a digital and print anthology, titled Wired Hearts. Stories must be exactly 500-2,000 words. Payment: Flat fee of $5 for stories 500-1,000 words. Flat fee of $10 for stories 1,000-2,000 words. Deadline: April 30, 2026 (or until full). Reprints only.

Thinking Ink Press. Genre: Speculative fiction novels and novellas and nonfiction. "We’re most interested in speculative fiction relating to our mission: To amplify disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and other historically under-recognized voices." Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

56 Writing Contests in April 2026 - No entry fees!

This April there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 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! 

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The Great American Think-Off. Genre: Essay on the theme: “Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?” Entrants should take a strong stand agreeing or disagreeing with this topic, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction. Essay should be no more than 750 words. Prize: One of four $500 cash prizes. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers. Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards fellowships for writers to spend time in McCullers' childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to dedicate to their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. Award: Stipend of $5000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients will be required to introduce or advance their work through reading or workshop/forum presentations. The Fellow will work with the McCullers Center Director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Maya Angelou Book Award was founded in 2020 to honor the legacy of Missouri-born author Maya Angelou by celebrating contemporary authors whose work has demonstrated a commitment to social justice in America and/or the world. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. Citizens and reside within the United States. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

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: April 1, 2026.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. This contest seeks today's best humor poems, published and unpublished. Please enter one poem only, 250 lines max. Prize: $3,750 in prizes, including a top prize of $2,000, and publication on Winning Writers. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Creative Capital Award. Restrictions: Entrants must be US citizens or permanent residents, aged 25+, with 5+ years' professional writing experience, and not be full-time students. Genre: Visual arts, performing arts, literature, technology, and film. Grant: Up to $50,000. Deadline: April 2, 2026.

On The Premises. Genre: For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story about some kind of family dispute or disagreement… TWICE. Give us a longer version of the story (75-100 words long) and then rewrite that same story into a traditional mini-contest length (25-50 words long). Prize: $45 for first place, $35 for second, $25 for third. Deadline: April 3, 2026.

The Solitary Daisy Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First place $25, second place $15, third place $10. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG). Genre: Environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists in the United States and U.S. Territories. Prize: A total of $470,000 in funding—up to $20,000 per project. Deadline: April 7, 2026. 

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: April 10, 2026.

Soho Theatre: The Verity Bargate Award. Restrictions: Open to UK and Ireland based playwrights. Genre: One-hour play written for stage. Prize: £12,000 and full production.  Deadline: April 13, 2026. Bienniel award.

Northern Territory History Book Award. Restrictions: You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to enter. Genre: The Chief Minister's Northern Territory History Book Award recognises the most significant historical book about the Northern Territory published in the previous 12 months. To apply, your book must be a work on Northern Territory history, written in English or one of the First Nations languages of the Northern Territory, available for general sale, and published between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Prize: Recognition. Deadline: April 13, 2026. 

Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be Canadian, and an entry must be the writer's first or second published book of any type or genre and must have a Canadian locale and/or significance. Genre: Print books and ebooks of creative non-fiction published in the previous calendar year. Prize: C$10,000.00. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words. See prompt. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book for books published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Prize: $12,000. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes pub­lished for the first time between Novem­ber 1, 2025 and Novem­ber 1, 2026. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $75,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $70,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Mike Resnick Memorial Award: Best Unpublished Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author. Restrictions: Open to an author who has not had any work published (including short stories, novelettes, novellas, and novels in paper, digital or audio form) that has been paid a per-word rate of 6 cents a word or more or received a payment for any single work of fiction totaling more than $50. Genre: Science fiction short story, up to 7,499 words. Prize: $250 and publication. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Casa Africa: Purorrelato. Genre: Micro-stories related to Africa. Length: 1500 characters max. The micro-stories can be submitted in Spanish, English, French or Portuguese. Prize: First award: 750 euros, Second award: 375 euros, Third award: 225 euros. Deadline: April 16, 2026.

Collaborature. 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: April 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: Books published between March 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026 must be received on or before April 17, 2026.

The Ponderosa Prize for Poetry. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC poets. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscript. Prize: $500 plus royalties. Deadline: April 17, 2026.

Author of Tomorrow. Restrictions: Open to children and youth up to age 21. Genre: Adventure writing. Prize: 11 and Under | 500 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 12-15 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 16-21 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: April 19, 2026.

Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize: Think. Topic: Essay on themes. Prize: Publication. Deadline: April 20, 2026.

Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing. Genre: Editorial writing. The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship was established to enable a mid-career editorial writer or columnist to have time away from daily responsibilities for study and research. Freelancers may also apply. Fellowship: Up to $100,000.  Deadline: April 20, 2026.

Screen Door Press. Restrictions: Open to diverse views from throughout the Black diaspora. Genre: Novel/novellas, Short Story Collections, poetry, and “other." Payment: $5000 and a publishing contract. Deadline: April 20, 2026.

Harper-Wood Creative Writing & Travel Award for English Poetry and Literature. Restrictions: Open to any student who has graduated from any university in the UK, Ireland, the Commonwealth or the USA. Genre: The Award Holder is expected to engage in a course of study or research, and produce a piece of original fiction, drama or poetry. Prize: £20,700 is provided to cover accommodation and living expenses during the course of the year. Deadline: April 22, 2026.

The Sophie Coe Prize. Genre: Informative article or essay on any aspect of food history relating to any period, place, people or culture  Prize: £1,500 top prize. Deadline: April 24, 2026. 

Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Writing Competition. Genre: Original, fictional short story.  "The theme of the competition is ‘The Art of Listening’ and you are invited to write an original, fictional short story.  Your short story can be inspired by our theme in any way." Prize: "The winning stories (the winner and two runners up) will be recorded as an audiobook by multi-award winning and best-selling Austen narrator, Alison Larkin, published WORLDWIDE and promoted for all to hear!" Deadline: April 28, 2026. 

Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors. Restrictions: Open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently residing in Australia. Genre: Junior/YA full-length fiction manuscript intended for readers aged 8-18. Length: 40,000 and 100,000 words. Prize: A$15,000 and possible publication. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Black Lawrence Fellowship for New Immigrant Authors. Restrictions: Immigrant authors with no more than one published book. Genre: All genres. Prize: Free 12-month subscription to Sapling worth $50, a gift card in the amount of $150 to purchase books from Black Lawrence Press, a full manuscript consultation for a full-length project worth between $425 and $795, and $150 in cash. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Baen Fantasy Adventure Award. Genre: Adventure fantasy, 8K words max. Prize: Winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at industry-standard rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive a handsome engraved award and a prize package containing $500 of free Baen Books. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Erbacce-prize for Poetry (UK) Genre: Poetry collection. Prize: Winner will be given a publishing contract with erbacce press who will publish a perfect-bound collection of the winner's book. "We will pay all costs including the legal registering of the book and supplying copies to the major libraries. The book will be sold through our sales/shop pages and the poet will be paid 20% royalties." Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Kyoto Writing Competition. Genre: Short poems, character studies, essays, travel tips, whimsy, haiku sequence, haibun, wordplays, dialogue, experimental verse, etc. In short, anything that helps show the spirit of place in a fresh light. A clear connection to Kyoto is essential. Length: 300 words max. Prize: ~¥20,000 top prize. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest. Restrictions: The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. Genre: Essay. The theme of the contest is "Community in the Commonwealth." Prize: Past prizes have included certificates, resources for winner's school, visits to Cambridge University, a trip to London and a week of activities, work experience at international organisations, and having your entry featured in worldwide media. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or residents attending junior high or high school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: C$400 in each of two age categories: Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12). Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Furphy Literary Award. Genre: Short stories up to 5000 words, Theme: Australian Life in all its diversity. Prize: First prize of $15,000 in the open category (2nd prize - $ 3,000,  3rd prize - $2,000.  A junior & youth category with a prize pool of $1800 will seek entries for short stories and poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Toronto Book Awards. Genres: All genres accepted. Restrictions: Submission "must evoke the city itself, that is, contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.). Authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto. Ebooks, textbooks and self-published works are not eligible. Prize: $28,000 in prize money; finalists receive $2,000 and the winning author is awarded $20,000. Deadline: April 30, 2026. (For books published between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026) 

African Human Rights Refugee Voices Essay Writing Challenge. Restrictions: Open to Africans of all ages, including refugees and displaced persons. Genre: Essays that spotlight the multifaceted realities of forced migration and displacement on the African continent. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Scholarly essay on naval history.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Al Blanchard Short Crime Story Award. Genre: Crime short story. 5,000 words maximum, with a New England setting (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) or by a New England writer. Mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror genres all welcome. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. "EWF supports developing writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise by providing them with time, space, and an intellectually and culturally rich artistic community. The program’s goal is to actively support these writers – who are working to complete a book-length project within a year – and help them launch their literary careers. Emerging Writer fellows are granted professional experience in arts administration, teaching creative writing, and other opportunities; a $50,000 stipend; and strong literary community support to allow for 12 glorious months of uninterrupted time to craft their works." Deadline: April 30, 2026. 

Fieldstone Review. Genre: Creative nonfiction/literature & book reviews, fiction, poetry, and reviews on theme: Wild Spaces. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

Rattlecast Prompt Poem of the Month. Genre: Poetry based on prompts. (See website) Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $250 in any single year. Genre: Animal Nonfiction. “Stories should be factual and true accounts of an encounter or encounters by the author with a wild animal or animals. These include, but are not limited to, birds, fish, butterflies, snails, lions, bears, turtles, wombats, etc., as long as it is not a pet.” Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

EACWP Flash Fiction Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to any participant living in Europe (including countries culturally linked to Europe such as Russia, Turkey, and Israel). Eleven different European languages will be leading this year’s competition: Arabic, Catalan, Czech, Dutch, English,, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. Genre: Flash fiction. Length: 100 words. Prize: €600 top prize. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

E-waste Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be 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 e-waste. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

October Project. Genre: Poetry. Prizes: To be announced. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction Grant. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Whiting welcomes submissions for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel writing, and personal essays, among other categories. Writers must be completing a book of creative nonfiction that is currently under contract with a publisher. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Ibby Rivers Poetry Prize. Restrictions: The prize is open to Oregon and SW Washington residents only. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $300. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black writers of African descent who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press. Authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply. Genre: Unpublished, original collections of poems written in English. Prize: $10,000, publication by Graywolf Press in fall 2025, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Biennial prize.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: April 30, 2026. 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: April 30, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

34 Awesome Writing Conferences and Workshops in April 2026

This April there are more than two 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, how to market your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

I have included conferences with deadlines that have already passed on this list to give you advance notice. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

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

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

[Image: Colorado Springs: Jasen Miller: Flickr]

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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted.

Norwescon. April 2 - 5, 2026: Sea Tac, WA. Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions in the United States.

The Creativity Workshop in New York. April 3 - 6, 2026: New York, New York. "The Creativity Workshops take away the fear of writing and open the way to new ideas. They are especially helpful for writers in fiction, poetry, memoir, theatre and film to get over writing blocks. In our Creativity Workshop Retreats you will generate both new work and ideas for the work you are in the midst of creating. We use many different techniques to help you find your way through the novel, essay, poem, memoir, or script you are writing or hope to write. In The Creativity Workshop you will be doing free writing, writing from guided visualizations, collaborative writing, journaling and memoir work and even some rudimentary drawing, collage and photography." 

Writing the Speculative Diaspora. April 8, 2026: Online. Every story is a diaspora story, and every diaspora story is speculative in nature. In this craft talk and workshop, open to all genres, students will gain an appreciation for diaspora stories and be able to spot and understand the presence of the speculative within them. We’ll discuss perspectives on diaspora narratives from authors such as Ocean Vuong, Viet Thanh Nguyen, R.F. Kuang, and Ling Ma; diaspora stories’ role in challenging western storytelling conventions; and how diaspora pushes against genre, concepts of truth and authenticity, and the confines of individuality and representation. We’ll then discover the speculative diaspora form and its potential, and explore the speculative diaspora through writing prompts such as truth/lie (“speculative truth”)/dream activities and a collective storytelling exercise.

The 2026 Sacramento Writing Workshop. April 10, 2026: Sacramento, CA. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more."

Buffalo Writing Workshop. April 10, 2026: Buffalo, NY. This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Buffalo. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Ohio Writing Workshop. April 10 - 11, 2026: Online. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). Will be held virtually.

The 2026 Minnesota Writing Workshop. April 11, 2026: St. Paul, MN. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference. April 11, 2026: Hamilton, NJ. "In addition to our wonderful and diverse keynote speakers, we have a number of editors and agents who will be attending to take pitches as well as some awesome writer and reader workshops!"

The 2026 Minnesota Writing Workshop. April 11, 2026: St. Paul, MN. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Rally of Writers Conference. April 11, 2026: Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more. 

San Antonio Book Festival. April 11, 2026: San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages. 

The 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco. April 11, 2026: San Francisco, CA. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more."

Writing a Picture Book 101: Get to the Heart of Your Story. April 14 - 16, 2026: Online. Start your picture book writing journey here and explore formats and structures for turning your spark of an idea into a wonderful story!

Novels in Verse: Creating an Image System. April 15 - May 6, 2026: Online. Learn how to use an image system to give your verse novel clarity, cohesion, and emotional resonance through purposeful, recurring imagery.

Chicago-North RWA's Spring Fling. April 16 - 18, 2026: Oak Brook, IL. Three day Biennial writer's conference geared towards both aspiring and established writers of any genre but focused on romantic fiction. Bookseller/Blogger/Librarian event, Masterclass in Craft and Marketing, Closing Gala. Biennial conference. 

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 16 - 19, 2026: Bellingham, Wash. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more. 

Embrace Your Inner Intuitive Writer to Fuel Your Writing. April 16 - 23: Online. Whether you outline carefully, or write by feel, this workshop invites you to explore ways to embrace and cultivate your writing intuition.

Florida Writing Workshop. April 17 (Orlando) and 18 (Tampa), 2026. Two separate full-day “How to Get Published” writing events in Florida. These writing events are a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the events."

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference. April 17 - 19, 2026: Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The three-day conference is full of topical, in-depth workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, opportunities for one-on-one time with agents and editors, the chance to read your work aloud for constructive critique, plus time to socialize with fellow writers. Will be held in person.

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 17 - 19, 2026: Round Top, Texas. Poetry at Round Top is an annual festival presenting the nation’s most exciting and prominent poets over three days of readings,  workshops, and conversations on craft. Located on the gorgeous Festival Hill campus between Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Poetry at Round Top is an immersive experience like no other poetry gathering.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 18, 2026: Asheville, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

Poetic Flow Studio: Generative Writing Sessions for Poets. April 20, 2026: Online. Dive into exercises and prompts that will help you develop creative flow and explore the power of poetry to connect with your roots, ignite new ideas, and transform your writing.

ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) Writers Conference. April 20 -  22, 2026: Online. The ASJA Virtual conference will have three tracks: Journalism, Books and Content writing with 12 50-minute sessions per track. There will be, three keynotes (one per day) as well as networking and social experiences. Sessions will run from 11:00 am to 6 or 7 pm EST. Attendees who cannot attend live will be able to watch recordings for a limited time. Our signature event, Client Connections will be held April 23 and 24.ASJA will once again offer scholarships to cover conference registration.​​​​​​​"

Las Vegas Writer’s Conference April 23 – 25, 2026: Las Vegas, Nevada. Join writing professionals, agents publishers and marketing experts for a weekend of workshops and enlightening discussions about the publishing industry. A chance to pitch your manuscript and ideas to agents. 

Nebraska Writers Guild Annual Conference and Writing Retreat. April 23 - 25, 2026: Omaha, NE. Workshops, pitch sessions with an agent and writing sessions followed by evening keynote speakers.

Kentucky Writing Workshop, April 24, 2026: Louisville, KY. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

Malice Domestic. April 24 - 26, 2026: Bethesda, MD. Malice Domestic™ is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan DC area that celebrates the traditional mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely identified as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore, or violence. 

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry and Writers Retreat. April 24 - 26, 2026. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

Tennessee Writing Workshop. April 25, 2026: Nashville, TN. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Philadelphia Writing Workshop. April 25, 2026: Philadelphia, PA.  This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

Annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. April 29 - May 2, 2026 at various locations in New York City and Los Angeles. With more than 80 writers from 30 countries, the 2026 festival will celebrate great writing and the power of storytelling against the current headwinds of attacks by those who seek to censor and silence. This gathering of writers from every part of the globe is a potent reminder—in fact, an antidote in an era of censorship—that books drive culture and identity, while empowering and transforming our lives. The PEN World Voices Festival was founded by Salman Rushdie, Michael Roberts, and Esther Allen.

Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers. April 30 - June 25, 2026: Online. A transformative opportunity to have your entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program is for any writer of a middle grade or young adult novel. 

EVENTS WITH APPLICATION DEADLINES IN APRIL

Odyssey Writing Workshop. June 1, 2026 (6 weeks): Online. Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Will be held online. Application deadline April 10.

The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA”. June 10 - 16, 2026: Boothbay Harbor, Maine. "The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA” is a unique, hybrid, comprehensive writing program. Our programming includes our TWH two-editor pre-conference Team Reading and our conference, to be held in person, June 4-10, 2025. We have even built in a free day so that attendees can enjoy the surrounds. Space is extremely limited. From our virtual pre-reading process through to conference, TWH takes writers and their writing to the next level. It's an extraordinary opportunity." Deadline to apply to TWH is April 6, 2026.

Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence Program supports writers from all over the world for residencies of two to four weeks. The cottage, all meals, and the entire residency experience at Hedgebrook is free to selected writers. Travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for. Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in their own handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.  Writers must be women, which is inclusive of transgender women and female-identified individuals. Because gender inequity still occurs in all spaces including literary ones, it is part of our explicit mission to support and promote women’s voices. Deadline: Applications open February 17 - April 17 for 2027 Residency.

6 New Literary Agents Actively Seeking YA and Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Thrillers and more!

Here are six new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Ms. Olivia Emerick of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

A Boston College graduate with a background in English and Classics, Olivia Emerick has always had her nose in a book. With her experience in the literary and theatrical spaces, she values collaboration, communication, and human stories. She is passionate about advancing authors' careers while respecting their artistic visions. Outside work, she enjoys writing poetry and attending local theatre productions.

What she is seeking: Under the umbrella of commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences, she is looking for manuscripts in the romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, and thriller genres.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Kelsey Evans of Rosecliff Literary

Kelsey Evans is a publishing professional with a background in communications, marketing, and editing.

After a decade helming marketing strategy and content development for agencies with major clients like AAA, Dannon, and Target, she transitioned into publishing.

She began as an editor, helping writers shape their work through developmental feedback, query critiques, and revision guidance.

Later, she moved into agenting, interning with Triada US and Creative Media Agency (CMA), where she gained hands-on experience in manuscript evaluation, submissions, and client development.

What she is seeking: YA and Adult fiction, all genres and nonfiction.

Fiction: Action/Adventure, BIPOC Literature, Crime, Fantasy, Folklore, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Mystery, Neo-Western, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romcom, Science Fiction, Speculative, Thriller, Upmarket Speculative, Young Adult

Non-Fiction: Cookbooks, Cultural criticism, Current Events, Feminism and women's issues, History, Journalism, Science, Sports 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Arizona Bell of Rosecliff Literary

Arizona Bell is an author, bestselling ghostwriter, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, popular podcaster, sought-after conference speaker.

What she is seeking: She’s seeking daring nonfiction that pushes boundaries and changes conversations.

Arizona’s list centers on voice-driven narrative and creative nonfiction, big-idea books, high-stakes journalism with receipts, fresh slants on culture and creativity, and meaningful explorations of spirituality, religion, or philosophy. And yes—she’s also a sucker for anything astrology!

At the core, she’s hunting for writing that tackles resilience, belief, and the human spirit under pressure, and does so with literary pizazz.

Whether it’s a survival memoir that doubles as cultural critique, a narrative that blows open an underground world hiding in plain sight, or a political exposé that keeps you turning pages like a thriller—she wants true stories that refuse to look away.  

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Mr. René Kooiker of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

René J. Kooiker joined DG&B as Digital Coordinator and Junior Literary Agent in 2026, following stints in book-to-screen scouting, magazine editing, and academia. He consulted on new fiction for major book-to-screen clients in Hollywood and was Assistant Editor at The Yale Review. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University and a B.A. in French and English from Amherst College. Having grown up in the Netherlands, he also lived and studied abroad in Avignon and Paris, France.

What he is seeking: René is actively building his list, balancing fiction with non-fiction. In fiction, he’s drawn to high-concept or speculative upmarket fiction, literary debuts, friend groups and family sagas, grounded love stories and romcoms, psychological thrillers, crime or noir, and elevated horror. Generally, he loves reading fiction that has potential to be adapted for the screen. For non-fiction, he will consider previously untold or marginalized histories, research-driven narrative, incisive or funny essay collections, and smart cultural criticism for a broad audience. 

How to submit: Use his querymanager form HERE.

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Ms. Marrissa Childs of Ladderbird Literary Agency

An Arkansas Native, Marrissa has come a long way in her journey into publishing. She doubled majored in professional writing and creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Since she has obtained her MFA in Creative writing at Chapman University in California, she has dedicated herself, wholeheartedly, to publishing through leading her literary innovation team, JourneyWriter, in their path to healing the literacy crisis. She is also a member of the New York non-profit, Inkluded Inc.- assisting them with introducing young BiPOCs publishing professionals to the industry. She has also had the opportunity to work with Publisher’s Weekly as a writer and Booklife extern. She is now entering her path to agenting with Ladderbird with a clean slate, but experienced mind.

What she is seeking: I am currently interested in accepting Adult, New Adult fiction, and Craft/Homemaking. I do not accept Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, legal, mystery/spy thrillers, paranormal, religious, hyper-sexual, or dark romance. I am looking for works that depict BIPOC voices in our full spectrum- from the most mundane to the most spectacular lifestyles, from the bittersweet to the joyous.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Shania Soler of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Shania has been an avid book lover from the moment she picked up Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy. Ever since then, her TBR pile has steadily grown. Currently working on an MA at the University of Leeds, she has received her Bachelor’s of Arts in English from the University of Maine and plans to pursue a PhD in Japan, where she spent 7 months during her undergrad studying the language and culture. When not reading, she can be found lounging with her cat, Marlow, or studying for her degree.

What she is seeking: Looking for novels in the fantasy genre or romance (YA and NA).

• For fantasy, I'm interested in more than just the romance that two characters have. Give me intricate political and/or magic systems and complex character backstories.
• For contemporary romance, I'm looking for things that take me off the beaten path. Think Butcher & Blackbird or Haunting Adeline.
• Horror (Young Adult, New Adult)
• Mythology (Young Adult, New Adult)
• Magical Realism (Young Adult, New Adult)

How to submit: Use her form HERE.