9 New Agents Seeking YA, MG, Picture Books, Scifi, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Memoirs, Mysteries and more!

Here are nine 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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Sahar Kashi of Heirloom Literary

A seasoned development executive and producer, Sahar Kashi has spent over a decade bridging literary voices and the screen. She previously served as Head of Development and Production at Three Things Productions under an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, and as a Creative Executive at Anonymous Content, working on series including Shadow & Bone, On My Block, and 13 Reasons Why. 

What she is seeking: Sahar Kashi is open to adult and young adult fiction and memoir submissions. As an agent at Heirloom, Sahar is drawn to daring work that finds laughter alongside grief, explores mental health and emotional healing, and pushes narrative boundaries. She loves romance woven through immersive worldbuilding and stories that subvert genre expectations. She champions visionary storytellers who pair commercial insight with an authentic connection to their material.

How to submit: Please send Sahar your full manuscript and a query letter in which you succinctly describe your work, its place in the market, and anything about yourself that is pertinent to her consideration of the material. Please send all materials to QuerySahar@HeirloomLiterary.com.

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Chelsea Moyer of Raven Quill Literary Agency

Chelsea Moyer has been promoted to Literary Agent at Raven Quill Literary Agency. Prior to Raven Quill, Chelsea graduated with her Master’s Degree from the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults program and gaining experience in the publishing industry as an Agency intern and Adult Department Assistant.  

What she is seeking: She’s enthusiastically preparing to build a list of stories that are fantastical, fierce, and filled with “big feelings" in Middle Grade, YA, and Adult categories. "Universally, I love commercial genre fiction (especially fantasy, speculative fiction, and mysteries) but some of my absolute favorite titles are contemporary, so I usually leave that door open, too. More than anything, I’m seeking big feelings, yearning (romantic and not), interesting characters who make compelling, human decisions, pacy stories that keep me turning pages, and worlds and scenarios that set my imagination on fire."

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Andi Twaddle of Spencerhill Associates

Before joining Spencerhill Associates, Andi completed two in-depth internships with Creative Media Agency (CMA) and assisted two agents, including Bethany here at Spencerhill! In a previous life, she was an auditor for a Big Four accounting firm, an Assistant Controller at a High Frequency Trading firm, and an accounting specialist and bookkeeper for various companies across the world before taking down her CPA license. Andi spent a decade giving her time and energy to a career in accounting while quietly investing her heart and soul into stories through her own writing and writing community. Now, she aims to combine her favorite aspects of both worlds in service of uplifting other writers.

What she is seeking: Andi is looking for upmarket and commercial fiction for the adult & new adult markets. Across all genres, Andi wants stories that are dark, gritty, visceral, and perhaps a bit unhinged (okay, a lot unhinged). Please send her Romance - particularly Romance blended with Horror or Fantasy, fresh sports romance, and historical or contemporary with a magical or speculative bent. All spice levels welcome, but please no religious/inspirational romance, erotica, non-con, or dub-con. Andi particularly loves Sci-Fi and Fantasy - from grounded to epic - but must have the character first to be fully invested. She is open to a wide range of Horror, with a strong preference for indigenous North American (Canada & US) voices and anything that feels like mythology or folklore. Andi will also be looking for select Women's Fiction and Book Club fiction with dark, feminist vibes, gallows humor, and/or a speculative edge.

In KidLit, Andi is looking for Graphic Novels (author/illustrator only) for early readers to a young middle grade audience. She is also seeking Picture Books (authors and author/illustrators welcome) particularly with a subversive, wry, or quirky bent.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ryan Nuzzo of Speilburg Literary Agency

Ryan enjoys collaborating and is always open to having ideas bounced off of him, no matter how wild. Author career strategy chats are just as fun for him as conversations about character arcs and magic systems. His background in stage management means he isn't afraid to break down each scene of a manuscript into a spreadsheet.  

Ryan lives in Connecticut with a bunch of swords. He does Tai Chi, Jianfa (Chinese sword fencing), and HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) so if you need help choreographing a fight scene, you know who to call. He is excited to grow his client list and create lasting partnerships.

What he is seeking: Ryan is interested in science fiction, fantasy, LitRPG, horror, and romance in both adult and YA and would love to open doors for underrepresented voices. 

How to submit: Use his querymanager HERE.

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Olivia Greenan of Speilburg Literary Agency

Olivia joined Speilburg Literary Agency in 2024 as an intern under Eva Scalzo until becoming the agency’s Administrative Assistant. She is now an Associate Agent. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English Literature Honors and subsequently earned her Master’s of English from Binghamton University.

What she is seeking. She is excited to be accepting clients in the Adult and YA space. As a lifelong mystery reader, she is particularly interested in detective novels. Olivia is also interested in representing Gothic romances, darker Fantasy, and high concept horror, among others. 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Ms. Diana DeVault of The Rights Factory

Diana DeVault is an agency assistant with a background as a writer, editor, and author's aide. Calling the American East Coast home, she lives in New Jersey with her partner, their nine cats, and enough books to qualify as her own library. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Randolph College and a master’s degree in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Diana’s hobbies include reading, writing, playing video games, learning everything she can, and pretty much any activity that falls under the “cozy” umbrella. 

What she is seeking: She is excited to work with authors who write young adult, middle grade, science fiction, fantasy, and anything with a touch of magic, she is especially captivated by LGBTQIA+ content and underrepresented voices. She is interested in anything cozy, but specifically fantasy or science fiction. Open to all cozy genres though, including mystery, romance, and horror.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. J.D. Myall of The Tobias Literary Agency

J.D. Myall is an editorial agent and the author of the YA fantasy Heart’s Gambit and its sequel, Pawn’s Fate, from Wednesday Books. Having navigated querying, submission, revisions, and publication herself, she brings an author’s perspective to her work with clients.

She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Drexel University, where she teaches, and a BS in Criminal Justice from West Chester University. She has worked as a sensitivity reader, judged Writer’s Digest competitions, and written for Writer’s Digest, Ms. Magazine, and HuffPost. She also hosts the Craft Chat Chronicles podcast.

What she is seeking: J.D. represents picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels and illustrators. She is especially excited to grow her middle grade and young adult lists.

For middle grade, give her kids with big problems, questionable plans, and plenty of heart. She loves unexpected friendships, wild adventures, mysteries that need solving, and stories just creepy enough to make turning off the bedroom light feel like a bad idea. Humor is always welcome.

For YA, she especially loves fantasy, romantasy, and horror, and welcomes thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, magical realism, and contemporary stories. She’s drawn to magic with consequences, secrets that refuse to stay buried, and characters with something to lose. Bring on the yearning, impossible relationships, and falling in love when everything else is going wrong. Friendships and family relationships can break her heart just as easily.

Her criminal justice background informs her interest in crime, motive, and the reasons people do what they do.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE

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Sarah Fox of Belcastro Agency

Sarah’s first word was “book,” and she’s been talking about them non-stop ever since. She decided to pursue her love of medieval literature and dead languages by getting her BA in English Literature from Loyola University Maryland and her MA in English Language and Literature from The Catholic University of America. She has had the joy of working with hundreds of authors through her own editing company, One Sitting Books. She’s so thrilled she can help writers’ dreams come true as an agent at Belcastro Agency. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband, daughter, two corgis, and thousands of books.

What she is seeking: Across all genres, I’m looking for adult books from diverse writers that make me accidentally stay up until midnight reading.

Romance

• I am yearning for a high-concept contemporary romance.
• I’m a fan of romances with a speculative twist (like B.K. Borison’s Good Spirits) or are a genre blend.
• My favorite tropes are small town, workplace romance, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers (of course), fake dating, only one bed, and second chance romance, but I’d love to see a fresh spin on them.
• I adore stories where both the female main character and male main character are well-developed, messy people. I actually love a third act breakup and the miscommunication trope, but they both have to be earned and are realistic.
• I prefer open-door romances, but I’m open to closed-door romance as long as it remains sex positive.
• I’m dying for a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park. I also would love to read a modern version of Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.

Thriller

• I’m a sucker for domestic thrillers; ever since I read Gone Girl, I’ve been hooked! I’m particularly drawn to those that deal with themes of motherhood like Ashley Audrain’s The Push.
• I also love thrillers set in glamorous places or deal with the wealth and class disparities. Bonus points if the protagonist is a conman or the plot involves a heist.
• Ever since I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, I’m dying for a Gothic thriller. Even better if there’s an element of satire.
• I desperately want dark academia. If you have a book like The Maidens, send it to me!
• I am on the hunt for unreliable narrators and “unlikable” main characters.
• I’m not a fan of political, legal, spy, or military thrillers. I especially don’t want anything that involves AI or cybercrime.

Women’s Fiction

• I can’t stop reading weird girl lit, so please send me your manuscripts! I really can’t get enough of it. The weirder, the better.
• I’m a fan of unlikable female characters. I will like them!
• I enjoy books that explore ideas of new motherhood, but I’m looking for a fresh take.
• I’m on the lookout for manuscripts about female friendships, especially the messy and complicated parts of them.
• I’m an only child fascinated by sister dynamics.
• I also love upmarket and book club fiction.

Literary

• I love gorgeous writing, but there must also be a strong plot and developed characters.
• I’m a huge fan of writers who play with narrative form or conventions (like Trust by Hernan Diaz).

Non-Fiction

• For all non-fiction, I need a large platform, a fresh concept, and a hook that grabs me.
• For memoir, I love a book that reads like fiction and has a larger message (like Maid by Stephanie Land).
• I’m interested in non-fiction books that focus on pop culture, the arts, celebrities, history, biography, and parenting.
• I also would love a book by an adoptee or a birth parent on adoption.
• Journalists are my favorite people. Please, please send me your books!

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Phoebe Schmidt of Britt Siess Creative Management

Phoebe Schmidt BSCM after working as an independent scout and a book-to-film agent at Paradigm Talent Agency. She works primarily with upmarket science fiction and fantasy. She is a hands on agent with a developmental approach, and loves projects that turn everyday life upside down.

What she is seeking: Phoebe is actively growing her list, and has a particular interest in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She’s always interested in stories by queer and BIPOC authors, and she’s excited to help writers develop their projects in a way that feels most authentic to each of them.

How to submit: Please send all queries to phoebe@brittsiesscreative.com with “Query” in the subject line.

102 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 - Paying markets

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

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

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

[Image: Rawpixel]

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Philadelphia Stories. Restrictions: Open to authors living in, or originally from, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New Jersey. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

Rat Bag. Genre: Drabble. See theme. Payment: $1. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2026.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Prose. They prefer stories under 3,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: September 1, 2026. Free submissions open on the 1st of each month and close when cap is reached. 

WWPH: Capital Translation. Restrictions: Open to residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Genre: Translations of poetry or prose. All languages accepted. Payment: $25. Deadline: September 1, 2026, or until filled.

“Psycho Pulp” Anthology. Genre: Crime, horror, psychological thriller, western, science fiction, or any sub-genre or blend of these. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

Exquisite Undead: An Anthology of Vampires. Genre: Vampire fiction and poetry. Payment: $30/flash or poetry, $65 for longer stories. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

Wyldblood Press (UK) Genre: Short speculative fiction. Length: 5000 words max. Payment: £0.01 cent/word. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2026. Open for one day only.

Okay Donkey. Genre: One flash fiction OR one poem per author, per submission period. See website for details. Payment: $25. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Cincinnati Review. Genre: Literary nonfiction (up to 20 pages), fiction (up to 40 pages), poetry, poetry translations, drama, and art. Payment: $25/page for prose in the journal, $30/page for poetry, $25 for miCRo posts or special features. Deadline: Opens September 1, 2026. Note: Opens on the first day of the month and closes once they hit the submissions cap.

Pacific Northwest Gothic. Restrictions: Open to current residents of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art "that explore the region’s shadowed forests, coastal fog, urban isolation, and the quiet unease that lingers beneath its natural beauty." Payment: $25. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

Ricochet Editions. Genre: Hybrid/Experimental work between 40 and 200 pages. "We are looking for purposeful experimentation with language and form that challenges or plays with convention." Payment: $500 and 50 copies of the perfect-bound book. Deadline: September 1, 2026. No submission fee for POC and Indigenous writers and writers facing financial hardship.

Teach. Write. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, poetry, CNF. "I prefer writing that is either written by composition teachers and writing students OR about teaching and learning." Payment: $15. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

University of Wisconsin Press. Genre: Novels, short story collections, and works in translation. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

Phi Kappa Phi Forum. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: $4/ line. Deadline: September 2, 2026.

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

Raconteur Press: Giant Killer Kaiju. Genre: Short stories. “Daishikyuu hinan shite kudasai!” Take shelter, please! The kaiju are back and ready to rumble. See mankind’s desperate defenders pull out all the stops before there’s no planet Earth left! Wonder at the sheer size and power of all manner of giant beasts! Ponder the mysteries of time and space, like how do these things get around the inverse square law? Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 4, 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: September 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

Liars’ League. Genre: Short stories. Length: 800-2,000 words. See theme. Payment: £20, reading of your story by a professional actor, as well as podcast, video and online publication of your work. Deadline: September 6, 2026.

#EnbyLife Journal: Tribute, Restrictions: Open to non-binary and gender diverse creatives only. Genre: Poetry, microfiction (under 100 words), and art. See theme. Payment: $30 AUD. Deadline: September 7, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Black Inc. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Full-length general, literary and commercial non-fiction – including history, current affairs, memoir and biography. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 7, 2026. This is a monthly call.

University of Queensland Press. Restrictions: Open to Australian citizens or permanent residents. Genre: Non-fiction, literary fiction (including short stories), poetry, children’s and young adult. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 7, 2026.

Uncanny Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: September 7, 2026.

Sunlight Press. Genre: Poetry, CNF. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens September 8, 2026.

The Icarus Writing Collective. Genre: Stories that retell, adapt, or transcend literary classics and mythology. See theme. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 10, 2026.

Shenandoah. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $80 per 1000 words of prose up to $400. Deadline: Opens September 10, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Samjoko Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, play, screenplay. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 10, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: September 11, 2026.

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round. To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself." Payment: £30 for each poem published. Deadline: September 11, 2026.

Flame Tree: Romantic Fantasy: Of Love Forbidden and Of Fae & Fire. Genre: Romantic Fantasy. See themes. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: September 13, 2026.

Cursed Morsels: A Food Systems Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror and Weird fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.05/word. Deadline: September 14, 2026.

Cursed Morsels. Genre: Single-author horror and Weird fiction short story collection. Length: 40K to 60K words. Payment: $500 advance. 50% royalties split paid quarterly.. Deadline: September 14, 2026.

Penumbric. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art, animation, and music. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Orion Magazine. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Fifth Wheel Press. Genre: Poetry, prose poetry, short prose (<1500 words), and other experimental writing by queer, trans, and gender variant writers. Visual components and hybrid formats are welcome. See theme. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Waxen: Labor. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, and art. “We are interested in the weird, the occult, the surreal, and the horrific. We love experimentation.” See theme. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Philly Poetry Chapbook Review. Genre: Reviews of chapbooks coming soon or published in the past three years, essays on the crafts of poetry and chapbook making or publishing, and features about authors or publishers of chapbooks. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Metphrastics: Words. Genre: Poetry focusing on Words, responding to works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection and special exhibits  "This can be a literal or abstract wound depicted in a painting, a “wounded” or damaged work of art itself, kintsugi and other artistic repairs of “wounds,” weapons that have caused wounds, having your heart broken in the Egyptian Wing, or any other way you’d like to interpret this prompt.” Payment: $10 per poem. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings. Genre: Nonfiction. One of the most important keys to contentment and happiness is the ability to count your blessings. Even during the toughest times, if we can find gratitude and count our blessings we feel better. Each day holds something to be thankful for and it could be just as simple as having the sun shine or having food on the table. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2026 extended deadline.

Constellations of Becoming: Queer Futures and Other Worlds. Genre: Speculative fiction centering queer voices, characters and imaginations. Word Limit: 2,000 to 6,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Plott Hound. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry starring animals. Payment: 8 cents/word for original fiction. $20 - $100 for reprints. $50 for poetry. $300 for art. Deadline: September 15, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Midnight and Indigo. Restrictions: Open to Black women. Genre: Speculative Fiction. Payment: 7 cents/word. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Women with Weapons. Genre: Stories featuring women with weapons. Payment: INR 3000 for each accepted original English story PLUS INR 3 per word. (About USD $31.50 + $0.03 per word).  Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Slashed Budgets: An Anthology of Corporate Horror. Genre: Horror. See theme. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Liminal Lit. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. See theme. Payment: $100.  Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Exoplanet. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, weird fiction, and cross-genre stories. Payment: $0.01/word with a $5 minimum. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

Three-Lobed Burning Eye. Genre: Horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: September 16, 2026.

The Green Sheaf. Restrictions: Open to female and gender-fluid writers over 50. Genre: Flash fiction and poetry on theme: The Crone. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 18, 2026.

Island Online. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction. Payment: $600. Deadline: September 18, 2026.

Reject. Genre: Poetry, short stories (8,000-word limit), essays, lyrics, and articles. "We accept writing that wasn’t accepted by a publication, institution, contest, etc. Hell, even your school newspaper and family Christmas newsletter counts!" Payment: $50. Deadline: September 19, 2026.

Griffith Review. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD$200. Deadline: September 20, 2026.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Restrictions: September 15 - 21 is reserved for writers of color. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: September 21, 2026.

Strange Pilgrims. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. "The work we’re drawn to is surreal, philosophical, sincere, and unforgettable — stories and essays that get under your skin and reach the heart of the human condition." Payment: $200 per short story/essay, $50 per flash piece. Deadline: Opens September 21, 2026 for a 24-hour period.

The Deadlands. Genre: Poetry. "The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere. We are looking for fiction that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve." Payment: $50. Deadline: September 21, 2026. Accepts reprints.

The Ex-Puritan. Genre: Poetry, fiction, reviews, interviews, essays, and experimental work. "The Ex-Puritan now seeks to publish the best in all forms of writing." Payment: $100 - $200 (CAD). Deadline: September 25, 2026.

Iron Faerie Publishing: Watchers & White Knights. Genre: This is a tribute anthology honouring the legacy of actors Nicholas Brendon & Anthony Head. We’re looking for original stories that explore themes such as friendship, found family, courage, loyalty, hope, sacrifice, mentorship, redemption, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 28, 2026.

 
Red Wolf Editions. Genre: Poems on theme: “The Delights of Love.” Payment: Royalties? Deadline: September 29, 2026.

Black Hare Press. Genre: Dark stories, in any genre. Length: 5,000 - 50,000 words. Payment: $20 - $50, depending on length. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Socrates on the Beach. Genre: Longer essays and fiction at least 3000 to 10,000 words. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: A WINTER IN LOVE. Genre: All Christmas-themed stories are welcome. All genres accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Hearth Stories. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We publish fiction and poetry that explore connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world. The stories often fall into a fantasy, science-fiction, or magical realism sort of “slice of life.” No non-vegan stories. Payment: 1¢ per word for accepted stories (with a minimum of $20 regardless of length. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: $50.00 USD for featured authors, or $20.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $10.00 USD for poems. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Space Ace. Genre: Science fiction. "Stories must feature at least one asexual and/or aromantic character in a prominent role. This is inclusive of related identities within the wider asexual spectrum such as demi-sexual, demi-romantic, grey-ace. While we are primarily looking for human representation, we will consider stories with non-human (e.g. alien, robot, sentient computer, etc.) aromantic or asexual characters." Payment: £0.02 GBP per word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Air and Nothingness Press: Are You Everything Alright. Genre: Apocalypse stories. See theme. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Air and Nothingness Press: Endings. Genre: Fiction submissions comprising the last 15 minutes of the action/SF/fantasy story/film/book. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

The Bombay Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. Payment: Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

long con. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Genre: Prose and poetry about art. Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Black Anchor Publishing: Yuletide – A Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror on theme:Yuletide. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Fear in Dust: Portals. Genre: Horror poetry. See theme. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Infernal Museum: Galactic Mindsea Empire – Wonderdomes. Genre:Stories set in the Galactic Mindsea Empire. Payment: $0.04/word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Canid Literary & Art. Genre: Poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, and artwork that pays tribute to our best friend: dogs. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Hookers and Handguns Anthology: Crime Fiction Solved by Strippers, Streetwalkers and Other People of the Night. Genre: Short stories on theme: Crime Fiction Solved by Strippers, Streetwalkers and Other People of the Night. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Laughing Man Press: Smitten Land Magazine – The Plagues. Genre: Fiction with religious horror and biblical plagues. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

DILIM Press: Sirena's Song. Genre: Tales of thalassophobia, oceanic terror, underwater kingdoms, origins of the Yonaguni monument, creatures from Lemuria, musical echoes in the depths, or the dance of the stars in the heavens. See theme. Payment: $0.07/word for originals. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

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: September 30, 2026.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $75 for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews web issues. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.

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

Harbor Editions. Genre: Chapbook. Length: Chapbooks should be between 20-40 pages of poetry or 20-50 pages of prose. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026. No submission fee for BIPOC writers.

Manawaker Studio: 100 Word Project. Genre: Speculative fiction of exactly 100 words. See theme. Payment: $1. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ stories, 5,000 - 9,500 words. See theme. Payment: $30. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

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: September 30, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Positive Thinking. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for stories of optimism, faith and strength to encourage our readers to use positive thinking. What was the situation that inspired you to use positive rather than negative thinking? How did you change your attitude -- from negative to positive? How did that turn your life around? These inspirational stories will remind readers to use positive thinking, focus on hope and show them that each day holds something to be grateful for. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for true stories about random acts of kindness that have happened to you or stories about a kindness that you performed for someone else. Stories can be serious or funny but they should definitely inspire our readers to look for ways in which they can perform kind acts. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Aurealis. Restrictions: Australian and New Zealand writers. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy or horror short stories between 2000 and 8000 words. Payment: A$20 and A$60 per 1000 words. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Gutter. Genre: Poetry and prose in Scotland and beyond. Length: Poetry submissions can consist of up to three poems, totaling no more than 100 lines. Prose, up to 2500 words. Payment: £50. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Submit early to avoid submission fee.

Myths and Legends. Genre: Stories based in the world and legends of Robin Hood. Payment: $50 for original fiction, $20 for reprints. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Book Worms. Genre: Horror: fiction, poetry, and essays. See theme. Length: Up to 1,500 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Freefall. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Short story and novel excerpts; non-fiction, writing-related or general-audience topics; creative non-fiction; plays; and postcard stories. Payment: $10 per page in the magazine (to a maximum of $100) and one copy of the issue your piece is published in. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

The London Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Haiku Shack Anthology. Genre: Haiku. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Queer Love Project. Genre: CNF. Think “Modern Love”—but only queer stories. Payment: $75. Deadline: September 30, 2026. (Note: You must register to submit. Registration is free.)

Verlagi. Genre: Full-length nonfiction and fiction. "We publish novels driven by an idea: speculative and near-future stories, science fiction that takes its science seriously, and thrillers where the premise does the work." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Acre is an imprint of the Cincinnati Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Read submission guidelines here.

Kenyon Review. Genre: Prose, drama, poetry, translations, excerpts. See theme. Payment: $0.08 per published word of prose (minimum $80, maximum $450) and $0.16 per published word of poetry (minimum $40, maximum $200). Deadline: September 30th, 2026. 

Apex Magazine. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror. Payment: $.08 per word up to 9,000 words. Additoinal 1 cent/word if podcast. Minimum of $50. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. Theme: "Human-Shaped". Payment: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Short Story Substack accepts one short story every month. Genre: All genres. Word count 6,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Reprints accepted.

Poetry Substack accepts one poem every month. Genre: Poem. Must have a rhyme scheme or a rhythm scheme. No blank verse or free verse. Payment: Base Pay of $10 for the chosen poem + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Reprints accepted.

AND A FEW MORE...

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Adventitious. Genre: Speculative, surreal, and literary fiction. Length: Flash Fiction (including Micro): Up to 1,000 words; Fiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words. Novelette: 6,000 – 17,000 words. Payment: $0.08 USD per word. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Okay Donkey. Genre: One flash fiction OR one poem per author, per submission period. See website for details. Payment: $25. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

Mudroom. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026.

Rat Bag. Genre: Microfiction. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026.

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

Independence Literary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art of any theme. Payment: $25 - $200. Deadline: October 1, 2026.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 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: October 1, 2026.

Thinking Ink Press: The Neurodiversiverse – Bridging Worlds. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and art. See theme. Payment: $100 per short story; $50 per flash fiction; $50 per poem. Deadline: October 1, 2026.

Independence Literary Review: Healthcare and Healing Folio. Genre: Nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $50-200. Deadline: October 1, 2026.

Wyldblood Press (UK) Genre: Short speculative fiction. Length: 5000 words max. Payment: £0.01 cent/word. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2026. Open for one day only.

Delirious Doubles. Genre: Science fiction of at least 5,000 words that have pirates as their main characters. Payment: $30. Deadline: October 1, 2026.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Prose. They prefer stories under 3,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 1, 2026. Free submissions open on the 1st of each month and close when cap is reached. 

52 Writing Contests in September 2026 - No entry fees!

This September there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $25,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

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

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

Good luck!  

[Image: Rawpixel]

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Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not previously published any works of fiction for young readers. This includes self-published as well as commercially published work. Genre: Full-length work of fiction in English with universal appeal of Jewish content for readers aged 8-13 years, both Jewish and non-Jewish. It should reveal positive aspects of Jewish life. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

The Observer/Redstone Press Postcard Story Prize. Genre: Short story, poem, or other piece of writing of up to 250 words inspired by postcard images selected by sponsor. Prize: £300 and publication. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: PEN America will only accept submissions from editors of eligible publications. Authors may not submit their own short story for this award. Genre: First published short story. Prize: $2000 and publication in Catapult Best Debut Short Stories. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

The Barbellion Prize. Genre: Fiction, memoir, biography, poetry, or critical non-fiction. “The Barbellion Prize is dedicated to the furtherance of ill and disabled voices in writing. The prize is awarded annually to an author whose work has best spoken of the experience of chronic illness and/or disability." Prize: £600. Deadline: September 1, 2026.

The Jacki and Jeff Karsh Journalism Fellowship. Genre: Journalism. The Karsh Fellowship convenes journalists for immersive learning, mentorship, and collaboration, empowering them to produce original work of exceptional depth and authority on Jewish issues. Prize: $4000. Deadline: September 1, 2026. 

Young Lions Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens 35 years of age or younger. Genre: Novel or a collection of short stories. Each year, five young fiction writers are selected as finalists by a reading committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and librarians. Submissions by publisher only. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: September 3, 2026.

On The Premises. Genre: For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story between 25 and 50 words long that is also exactly three sentences long. The first sentence must be the story’s beginning. The second sentence is its middle, and the third sentence is its end. Prize: First place pays $35, second pays $25, and third pays $15, all in US dollars. Honorable mentions get published, but make no money. Deadline:September 4, 2026.

Stories Out of School. Genre: Flash fiction. The story’s protagonist, or its narrator, must be a K-12 teacher. Stories must be between 6 and 749 words and previously unpublished. Prize: First-prize winners receive $1000; second-prize winners, $500. Deadline: September 6, 2026.

Mavis Batey Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to any student, worldwide, registered in a bona-fide university or institute of higher education, or who has recently graduated from such an institution. Genre: Nonfiction. Scholarly essay on gardening history. Prize:  £250, free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year and consideration for publication. Deadline: September 6, 2026.

Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35 as of December 31 of the deadline year. Books must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language. Authors must be UK or Irish citizens, or residents for the three years preceding the award. Genre: Published or self-published book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: September 7, 2026.

Only Poems Poem of the Month. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Prize: $33. Deadline: September 7, 2026.

Hadassah-Brandeis Research Awards. Genre: Research or artistic projects in Jewish women’s and gender studies across a range of disciplines. Awards are made to graduate students, early career, and established researchers. Prize: $2000 - $5000. Deadline: September 8, 2026.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Genre: Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize: CAN $25,000.  Deadline: September 9, 2026. (For books published between January 1, 2026 and September 8, 2026)

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. Genre: Nonfiction book. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. Award: $25,000. Deadline: Opens September 9, 2026.

Wow! Literary Award. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers. Genre: literature, speculative fiction/sci-fi, experimental poetry, and philosophy that reflects and expands on the SETI Institute’s “Intelligence and Consciousness” research area. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 10, 2026. 

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for one story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: September 11, 2026.

Garden Party: Mental Health Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to poets who are currently struggling with or have struggled with any mental condition(s). Genre: Poetry (any topic). Prize: $100. Deadline: September 12, 2026.

Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. Genre: Scholarly essay. All work submitted must have been written or published within the last year. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: September 14, 2026.

Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, fiction, nonfiction, poetry: adults or children. Prize: Recognition (?) Deadline: September 15, 2026. (For books published June 1-Aug.15, 2026.)

American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish by a Scandinavian author born after 1800. Prize: $2000. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Fractured Lit Elsewhere Prize. Restrictions: Free entry for marginalized groups only until they reach a cap of 25 submissions in this category. Genre: Micro, flash, and sudden fiction stories from 100-1,500 words. "For this contest, we want writers to show us the forgotten, the hidden, the otherworldly. We want your stories to take us on journeys and adventures in the worlds only you can create; whether you make the familiar strange or the strange familiar, we know you will take us elsewhere." Prize: $3,500. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words based on monthly theme. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

WWPH Worlds Beyond: Poetry and Fiction Literary Contest. Restrictions: Open to writers living in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Genre: Literary speculative fiction or poetry that takes us beyond the ordinary, specifically, beyond this world. See theme. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Ambroggio Prize. Restrictions: Poet must be a U.S. Citizen; Resident of the United States for the ten-year period prior to the submission deadline, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Legal Permanent Status (LPS), or any subsequent categories designated by the U.S. authorities as conferring similar enhanced status upon non-citizens living in the United States. Genre: Book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Graybeal-Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets. Restrictions: Poets living in or born in Virginia, as well as those who have lived in Virginia for two or more years in the past, are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 15, 2026. (Closes after 500 submissions)

Worst Vacation Ever. Genre: "In 59 words or fewer, tell us the story of the worst vacation EVER. This can be fiction or nonfiction, but reach for something wacky or surprising—we've all heard the one about food poisoning." Prize: Winner receives a free Gotham class. Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Edge & Busby. Genre: Literary Horror. See theme. Prize: 1st, $500, 2nd prize - $200; $100 for runners-up. Deadline: September 15, 2026. 

KSP Short Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open to Australian residents and citizens. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100 first place prize for youth. Deadline: September 16, 2026. (Free entry for youth only)

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, fiction. Prize: $20. Deadline: September 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

Savage Science Fiction/Fantasy Writing Contest. Genre: Science fiction or fantasy short story. Prize: Winning stories are published in Toasted Cheese. If 50 or fewer eligible entries are received, first place receives a $35 Amazon gift card & second a $10 Amazon gift card. If 51 or more eligible entries are received, first place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second a $15 Amazon gift card & third a $10 Amazon gift card. Deadline: September 20, 2026. Opens September 18, 2026.

Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: September 18, 2026.

Crooked Spine. Genre: Horror Novella. See theme. Prize: $300 plus royalties. Deadline: September 20, 2026. 

International Booker Prize. The International Booker Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. The work must be published by a UK or Ireland publishing house. Authors are not permitted to enter their own works. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: For books published between 1 December 2026 and 30 April 2027 the deadline is September 24, 2026.

Cullman Center Fellowships. The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Award: A stipend of up to $90,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources. Deadline: September 25, 2026.

Society of Classical Poets Haiku Competition. Genre: Haiku. Prize: $200. Deadline: September 25, 2026.

50 Word Fiction. Genre: Story about a raincoat in 50 words. Four categories: adult writers, all-age Gaelic writers, young writers aged 5–11 and young writers aged 12–18. Prizes. Various. Prizes awarded to UK residents only. Deadline: September 29, 2026.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions: The Contest is 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. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre: Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

I didn't see that coming. Genre: Any writing with a surprise in it. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2026. You have to join to enter, but it's free. 

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: September 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.

Voice.club. Genre: Flash fiction, 350 words max. See theme. Prize: $25 Amazon gift card. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Note: You have to join in order to enter. 

the engine(idling Drive Award. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $205.58. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Don't Text and Drive 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 texting while driving. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

The Willie Morris Awards for Southern Fiction and Nonfiction. Genre: Novels and nonfiction books published in 2022. 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. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry. Genre: Poem that evokes the South. Prize: $2,500 and expenses-paid trip to award ceremony in Oxford, Mississippi. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Sejong International Sijo Competition. Genre: Sijo poem. Prize: $500. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $150. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

SLF Working Class Writers Grant. Genre: Speculative fiction. "These grants are awarded annually, since 2013, to assist writers of speculative literature to working class, blue-collar, poor, and homeless writers who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction, due to the financial barriers which have made it much harder for them to have access to the writing world. Such lack of access might include an inability to attend conventions, to purchase a computer, to buy books, to attend college or high school, to have the time to write (if, for example, you must work two jobs simply to pay rent and feed a family, or if you must spend all your waking hours job-hunting for months on end). " Prize: $1000. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Six Word Wonder. Genre: Stories, memoirs, poems, and jokes that are exactly 6 words. (You can enter up to 4) Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have lived in the state of Maine for at least one year. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

VersoFrontera. Restrictions: Open to any poet writing in English, or a combination of English and Spanish, who has not yet published a full-length collection of poetry. The author may have published chapbooks or books in other genres. Genre: Debut full-length poetry collection. Prize: Publication. Deadline: September 30, 2026.  

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: September 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: September 30, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.