16 Literary Magazines Accepting Hybrid and Experimental Work - Paying Markets

Hybrid writing encompases any literature that breaks down barriers. It can hop from one genre to another and fuse disparate forms, such as prose and poetry. Hybrids can blend fiction and nonfiction, experiment with novel approaches to plot and dialogue, employ lists, letters, or art to tell a story. If it defies categorization, it's a hybrid.

Hybrid writing has been around for a long time. William Blake's 18th century work, Marriage of Heaven and Hell, combined poetry, art, and prose. Some of our finest speculative fiction is hybrid. Is George Orwell's novel, 1984, literary fiction, science fiction, or political satire? Magical realism, as exemplified in novels such as Anthony's Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, or works by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is, by definition, a hybrid.

If you are a writer who does not like to be hampered by the constraints of genre or style, here are more than a dozen literary magazines that are happy to pay for your untrammeled artistic expression.

(Image: Maxpixel)

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beestung

Beestung is a quarterly online micro-magazine for non-binary and two-spirit writers and readers, with an emphasis on intracommunity sensibilities. beestung resists the canon and all forms of bigotry. Beestung considers poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrids, and art, by creators who fall under the non-binary umbrella or who are two-spirit. Multilingual work and work in translation is welcome. Payment: $20.

Bennington Review

Bennington Review publishes innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. "we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless." Payment: $100 for prose of six typeset pages and under, $200 for prose of over six typeset pages, and $20 per poem. See submission periods.

Brink

Brink accepts a variety of creative work from Nonfiction to Fiction, from Poetry to Translation, as well as hybrid work that falls into the cross-genre category of Evocations. "We are looking for contributions that engage both the particular theme of each issue as well as the idea of being on the brink."  Payment: $25 - $100. Brink has two reading periods: February 1 - March 31 and July 1 - August 31. 

Foglifter

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: $25.

Gordon Square Review

Gordon Square Review considers short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Please submit one piece of prose up to 5,000 words OR up to three flash pieces of 1,000 words or fewer (attached in a single document). Their focus and aesthetic is literary. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. See submission periods.

Lammergeier

Lammergeier publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction. "Have a piece you think doesn't quite fit into the previous three categories (or is a combination of said genres)? Feel free to send it in as hybrid. Submit either one piece of up to 5,000 words or less or up to three flash pieces of 1,000 words or less or equivalent audio/visual material. (Hybrids will be considered with nonfiction submissions for featured writer submissions until further notice)." Payment: $25. See submission periods.

MARY: A Journal of New Writing

MARY: A Journal of New Writing is a student run online arts journal sponsored by Saint Mary’s College of California’s MFA in Creative Writing program. MARY accepts previously unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid genres. Please send no more than five poems or 15 pages of fiction or nonfiction per submission period. "We like weird and risky and humming a little." Payment: $50. 

Neon Hemlock 

Neon Hemlock is a Washington, DC-based small press publishing queer speculative fiction magazines and chapbooks, as well as queer speculative fiction novellas and anthologies. Novellas are distributed in paperback and ebook formats. They ask for exclusive Worldwide English rights. They do not ask for audio rights. Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Slipstream, & Weird.  Hybrid work or difficult to categorize novellas are also welcome. Payment: Advance+Royalties option or a Royalties Only option for novellas. Payment for short work varies. See submission periods.

Ninth Letter

Ninth Letter is published semi-annually in print at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They are interested in prose and poetry that experiment with form, narrative, and nontraditional subject matter, as well as more traditional literary work. Payment: $25 per printed page, with a maximum payment of $150. No submission fee during November and December.

No Niin

No Niin publishes works in a variety of forms: text from different genres, video, photography, podcasts, comics and hybrids of all kinds. Payment: €150-250 for fiction (short story, a short play or short script); €100-200 for poems; €150-350 for essays, articles, exhibition reviews, manifestos, letters; €150-300 for interviews; they also pay for memes, illustrations, comics, photos, videos, podcasts, and playlists.

The Offing

The Offing publishes personal essays, memoir, art, enumerate, back of the envelope. "The Offing publishes work that challenges, experiments, provokes — work that pushes literary and artistic forms and conventions. The Offing is a place for new and emerging writers to test their voices, and for established writers to test their limits." Payment: $25–$100.

Scrawl Place

Scrawl Place accepts CNF, Fiction, Poetry, Hybrids. Length: 900 words max. "Scrawl Place is part visitor’s guide, part literary journal. "The audience for this online publication is the guest, the visitor, the traveler, the day-tripper, the out-of-towner, and the in-towners eager to wander. I’m looking for submissions about “places in the places” where you live or where you’ve visited." The only fixed criteria is that your submission be about or connected to or associated with a specific, physical place that someone could visit. The more specific the place, the better. How that manifests in terms of content, style and form is up to you. The place you write about could be a Wonder of the World, a random street corner that means something to you, or anything in between." Submit up to 3 pieces at a time.  Payment: $35. 

Shrapnel

Shrapnel is a Canadian literary magazine that publishes experimental writing from emerging writers in the genres of fiction, creative non-fiction, essays, and poetry. They are also interested in publishing graphic narratives and comics, as well as transgenre work that is not easily categorized.  Payment: All fiction, CNF, and essay publications are paid $25; original artwork for stories and comics are paid $20; and poetry, book reviews, interviews, and columns are paid $15. On top of their rates for written work, there is an additional $5 for writers who are able to record themselves reading their piece.

Smokelong

SmokeLong publishes flash narratives: fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid up to 1000 words. This word limit is firm. They do not consider poetry. "We are not interested in works previously published in online magazines. Pieces published only on your personal web site or blog will be considered, but inform us of this in your cover letter. Translated work must also be previously unpublished in the original language." Payment: $50.

Storm Cellar

Storm Cellar is a nationally distributed, independent literary arts magazine rooted in the Midwest, appearing in print and ebook editions. They publish fiction, poetry, art/images/graphics, and hybrid work. For hybrid works, send up to 15 pages and pick a home genre. “We want your prose, poems, chimeras, and ideas penned on envelopes in buses and train cars. The magazine aims to publish amazing work by new and established writers and artists, present a range of styles and approaches, and be as un-boring as it can. If you write one thing to be read while waiting for the all-clear to sound, send it here.”  Payment: $10

Whose Pleasure is it Anyway?

Whose Pleasure is it Anyway? is a digital collection of essays, interviews, poems, visual art, film, music, and multimedia/hybrid works that will explore the feminist pleasures that activate or infuriate us. "We’re looking for grouchy and disobedient desires, feral and exploratory delights, and playful and improvisational delectations. We’re looking for pieces that firmly place pleasure at the centre of their aesthetics, poetics, or politics. Submissions that laugh, tickle, and shriek in the face of frivolity, shame, and institutionalization highly encouraged." *Please note that Canthius celebrates poetry and prose by women, trans men, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming writers. Payment: $50 for traditional works (up to three poems, one essay, one story, or one visual art piece with an artist statement), and $100 for multimedia works.

7 New Agents Seeking Commercial Fiction (all genres), Memoir, Literary Fiction, Kidlit, Romance, Fantasy and more

Here are seven new agents actively expanding their client lists. Hannah Todd (UK) is actively looking for commercial fiction across all genres including women’s fiction; police procedurals; clever thrillers; cosy crime; romantic comedies; accessible historical fiction focusing on WW2 and including dual timeline novels; sagas; emotional issues-led fiction. Madison Scalera wants domestic fiction, historical fiction, romance, and memoirs, particularly coming-of-age novels. Dani Segelbaum is looking for narrative non-fiction, popular culture, fashion, lifestyle, feminism, memoir, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, politics, and cookbooks. 

Elizabeth Fithian is looking for creators and creator/illustrators who create non-fiction, picture books, middle grade, YA fiction, and graphic novels. On the adult side, she’s eager to find a debut novel, as well as book club fiction, narrative non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir, fantasy, and mystery. Tasneem Motala is interested in character-driven MG and YA fiction and graphic novels, with or without a touch of magic, written by BIPOC authors only. Rachel Altemose represents a diverse array of genres (children’s through adult) and is particularly keen on narratives with unique voices, diverse perspectives, immersive settings, complicated familial relationships, young/twenty-something protagonists, magical realism/surrealism, or experimental style. Barbara Jones is looking for fiction and nonfiction, from highly literary works to much more commercial fare.

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 two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another.

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

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Ms. Hannah Todd of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK)

Hannah started her career at an editorial company. Working to introduce authors, agents and editors, Hannah quickly discovered that it’s the people of publishing that make it such an interesting industry. Having graduated with First Class honours, she secured her first in-house publishing job at Bookouture and then went on to work at Canelo, Avon, One More Chapter and Head of Zeus, cultivating a specialism in digital publishing.

What she is seeking: Commercial fiction. Hannah is actively looking for commercial fiction across all genres including women’s fiction; police procedurals; clever thrillers; cosy crime; romantic comedies; accessible historical fiction focusing on WW2 and including dual timeline novels; sagas; emotional issues-led fiction.

How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Madison Scalera of Olswanger Literary 

As a native New Englander, I currently reside in a shoebox on the Upper West Side with my two dogs and an excessive amount of plants. Each day, I hike up and down my sixth floor walk-up, which leaves me plenty of time to think about how to market your book. 

What she is seeking: Domestic fiction, historical fiction, romance, and memoirs, particularly coming-of-age novels. I enjoy fictional narratives that reflect postmodernism—books that are layered, have an awareness of realism, and delight in being self-reflexive.

How to submit:  Please send a query letter to madison@olswangerliterary.com, including a minimum of five sample pages and an author bio that explains your background, how you want to tell readers about the way you see the world, and how you can make those experiences entertaining and relatable to others.

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Ms. Dani Segelbaum of Carol Mann Agency 

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Dani is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication, where she studied journalism and political science. She has been a voracious reader for as long as she can remember. Dani began her publishing career as an editorial assistant at HarperCollins Publishers, focusing primarily on highly designed nonfiction titles.

What she is seeking: Narrative non-fiction, popular culture, fashion, lifestyle, feminism, memoir, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, politics, and cookbooks.

How to submit: Queries may be emailed to submissions@carolmannagency.com. For fiction, send a query letter including a brief bio, and the first 25 pages of your manuscript. For nonfiction, send a query letter including a brief bio, a synopsis/proposal and the first 25 pages of your manuscript. All material should be pasted into the body of your message; attachments will not be opened.

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Elizabeth Fithian of PS Literary Agency 

Elizabeth Fithian is a literary agent at PSLA. Her publishing career spans over 20 years with a concentration in children’s books and bestseller marketing. Before joining PSLA she worked at HarperCollins, Scholastic, Macmillan, Abrams, and Penguin Random House. She has been fortunate to work with established creators as well as new voices.

What she is seeking: Elizabeth is looking for creators and creator/illustrators who create engaging high-interest non-fiction, whimsical picture books, heartfelt middle grade, daring YA fiction, and gripping graphic novels. On the adult side, she’s eager to find an extraordinary debut novel. She’s keen on reading queries for book club fiction, narrative non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir, fantasy, and mystery. For illustrators interested in submitting their work, please send a query letter detailing your background illustration and include links to a website with examples of your work.

How to submit: Read their submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Tasneem Motala of The Rights Factory 

Tasneem has a degree in English and Classical Civilizations and a post-grad in Publishing. Her experience includes writing beauty articles for Elevate Magazine, promoting Sonia Faruqi’s book, The Oyster Thief, to the book-blogging sphere as a marketing manager, and building her #ownvoices literary zine, KROS Magazine.

What she is seeking: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, New Adult, Science Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary YA, Cyberpunk, Fairytale Retellings, Low Fantasy, Magical Realism, Robots/A.I., Steampunk, Urban Fantasy. Tasneem is currently looking for character-driven MG and YA fiction and graphic novels, with or without a touch of magic, written by BIPOC authors only.

How to submit: Use her querymanager form HERE.

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Ms. Rachel Altemose of Salky Literary Management 

Rachel Altemose (she/hers) is a junior agent and has been with Salky Literary Management since its inception in 2019. Prior to SLM, she interned at Eden Street Literary Agency and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. She has a burgeoning list of picture book, MG, YA, narrative/serious nonfiction, and literary fiction authors and also assists Jesseca, Eryn, Kate, and Charlotte with SLM and CSLA clients. Rachel is a lifelong lover of storytelling and graduated from Vassar College with degrees in English and drama. 

What she is seeking: Rachel is interested in a diverse array of genres (children’s through adult) and is particularly keen on narratives with unique voices, diverse perspectives, immersive settings, complicated familial relationships, young/twenty-something protagonists, magical realism/surrealism, or experimental style.

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Ms. Barbara Jones of Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, Inc. 

Barbara became a literary agent after several decades as an editor, first in magazines (Grand Street, Harper’s, Vogue, Real Simple) and then in books (as editorial director at Hyperion Books and, most recently as executive editor at Henry Holt). She has also led writing workshops for thirty years, at Yale University, New York University, Queens University of Charlotte, and elsewhere.

What she is seeking: Fiction and nonfiction, from highly literary works to much more commercial fare, with an emphasis across all forms on voices from previously underrepresented communities and on durable talents and stories.

How to submit: Please send a query letter and the first few (up to 10) pages of your manuscript or proposal in the body of an email (not an attachment) to bjquery@skagency.com

91 Calls for Submissions in October 2021 - Paying markets

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

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

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

Happy submitting!

(Image: Flickr)

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Cicada's Lament. Restrictions: Open to marginalized creators, particularly work by disabled and/or LGBTQIA+ folx. Genre: Fiction or poetry with elements of Southern Gothic or horror. Theme: (re) birth. Births, baptisms, beginnings. "Cicada's Lament wants your hanging moss and blue porch ceilings. We want your deer skulls and old ghosts, your ancient and decrepit houses." Payment: $5. Deadline: October 1, 2021. 

The Spectacle. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid fee.

Metaphysical Times. Genre: Nonfiction. "We serve a large pagan audience and would like more diverse perspectives on metaphysical topics, including spirituality, religion, divination, witchcraft, and more."  Payment: $0.05 per word up to 1200 words. Deadline: October 1, 2021. 

Cutleaf. Genre: Poetry. Send up to seven poems. Payment: $50 to $200. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round.  To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself to hello@14poems.com." Payment: £25 for each poem published. Deadline: October 1, 2021. 

Dark Peninsula Press. Genre: Survival Horror. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

Slash - Her. Genre: Horror written by women. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: October 2, 2021.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of “Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.” Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: October 3, 2021.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of INNOCENT / SAGE. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: October 3, 2021.

Awake. Restrictions: Awake is a digital zine for Black authors by Black authors. Genre: Poetry, essays, art. Payment: $15. Deadline: October 3, 2021.

Honeyguide Magazine. Genre: Stories, art and poetry that examine the connection between animals and humans. Payment: $25 for featured writers, $50 for art. Deadline: October 4, 2021.

Tangled Feathers Blog. Genre: Nonfiction that examines the connection between animals and humans. Payment: $25 for featured writers. Deadline: October 4, 2021.

Derailleur Press. Genre: Short fiction between 3,000 and 6,000 words. "We want submissions that deal with intimacy in all of its forms. We want you to highlight intimacies such as sex, death, love, birth (consider these merely suggestions), but we're really looking for pieces that grapple with lesser known intimacies and the joys, consequences, and indignities of them." Payment: $100. Deadline: October 4, 2021.

Quill and Crow: Grimm and Dread. Genre: Short stories (5,000 - 8,000 words) that give Grimm's Fairy Tales a unique and creative twist - extra points for maintaining a Gothic feel. Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy). Deadline: October 5, 2021.

Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: October 7, 2021.  Opens to submissions on October1.

Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word for original short stories and flash fiction. $40 per poem. Deadline: October 7, 2021.  Opens to submissions on October1.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essay on theme: Generations."Our November issue will be our 101st, and we want to mark the occasion with essays on cinematic generations in all their forms.” Payment: $100. Deadline: October 8, 2021.

Luna Novella. Genre: Speculative fiction novellas by writers who identify as "Other than White."   Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Where the Weird Things Are. Restrictions: Open to writers from Australia and New Zealand. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $15AUD for each accepted story and free e-copy of the anthology.  Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Untethered. Genre: Poetry and visual art or pieces that blend those mediums. Payment: $20 (CAD). Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poems, stories, essays, and spoken word pieces that describe, imagine, advance, or respond to themes and emotions evoked by Odilon Redon's art. Payment:$25 per accepted prose piece and $10 per accepted poem. Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Deadset Press. Restrictions: Open to writers from Australia and New Zealand. Genre: Speculative fiction novellas. Payment: Each successful author will receive a payment of $100 upon publication, plus 50% royalties of ebook sales and 40% royalties of paperbacks. Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Shoreline of Infinity. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy. Payment: £10/1000 words. Deadline: October 13, 2021.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Dark, eerie speculative fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 14, 2021.

Dose of Dread. Genre: General horror flash fiction. Preference for dread-inducing stories. Length: 500 - 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Dorothy is an award-winning feminist press dedicated to works of fiction or near fiction or about fiction. Genre: Full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of A Star Is Born. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry. Theme: Sick Poetics. "We are looking for poetry that explores the limits and boundaries of sickness, disability, illness, madness, and crip." Payment: $30. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Fat Coyote. Restrictions: Writers must be neurodivergent. Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF, Art, Photography, Comics. Payment: 3 cents/word for prose. $1 line for poetry. $30 - $40 for art. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Midnight Echo. Restrictions: Open to writers in (or originally from) Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. Genre: Original, previously unpublished horror fiction, poetry and non-fiction on horror-related subjects. Payment: AU$0.05/word for fiction (that’s 5 Australian cents per word). Word limit: 5,000 words firm. $20 AUD per poem. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Consequence Forum. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews, visual art, and translations focused on the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence. Payment: $40 - $80. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: October 15, 2021. Opens September 21, 2021.

Mirror, Mirror. Genre: Short stories (prose poems will also be considered), to include a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical, history, and romance elements on theme of "Mirrors." Payment: 6¢/word on acceptance. Deadline: October 15, 2021. 

Wordworks. Restrictions: Open to BC and Yukon writers. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short story, and creative non-fiction on theme of Beginnings. Payment: $125 per page for original articles, $100 for cover art and $25 for other interior illustrations, $50 for reprints. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Neon Hemlock. Genre: Queer speculative fiction novellas. Wordcount: 17,500–40,000 words. Payment: Advance+Royalties option or a Royalties Only option. Deadline: October 16, 2021.

AHVAZ // AAVAZ // AVAAZ. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers who identify as South Asian. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 18, 2021.

Belt Magazine. Genre: Features, essays, poetry, and photography for a series on the ‘Indigenous Rust Belt.’ "We are particularly interested in stories that engage with the geographies and everydayness of Indigenous life in the contemporary Rust Belt.” Payment: Various rates. Deadline for pitches/submissions: October 18, 2021.

Going Down Swinging. Genre: Fiction, creative non-fiction, experimental/hybrid work, digital and interactive literature, poetry, comics, artworks, spoken word, commentary, and essays. "This month, we’re particularly looking for submissions of speculative fiction and pieces about love, but we’re also happy to receive your submissions of any theme." Payment: Prose under 500 words $60; Prose over 500 words $170; Poem $100; Comic (less than 5 frames) $180; Comic (longer than 5 frames/demonstrative of extensive effort) $220. Deadline: October 20, 2021.

Scare Street. Genre: Horror short horror stories with a focus on ghosts, the supernatural, paranormal, monsters, and dark tales. Payment: $10 for every 1,000 words prorated, $50 for every 5,000 words prorated, and so on. Deadline: October 20, 2021.

Suburban Review. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, and art on theme of Ugly. Payment: $75- $150. Deadline: October 20, 2021.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: October 21, 2021.

Story Seed Vault. Genre: Microfiction tweets based on science. Payment: Short Fiction (<150CH) $3AUD per story; Long Fiction (>150CH/<200CH) $2AUD per story. Deadline: October 24, 2021. Opens on the 10th.

580 Split. Genre: Poetry, visual art, photography, short stories, creative nonfiction on theme "Fever Dreams." Payment: $50. Deadline: October 27, 2021.

Thuggish Itch. Genre: Horror, sci-fi and speculative fiction stories. Theme: By the Seaside. Payment: AU$5.00 for stories under 2500 words / AU$10.00 for anything above 2500 words.  Deadline: October 30, 2021.

Rahila's Ghost Press. Genre: Poetry chapbooks. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: October 30, 2021.

khōréō. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and  $40-300 for art. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Room Magazine. Restrictions: Room publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art by folks of marginalized genders, including but not limited to women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. Genre: Original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art. Payment: $50 (CAD) Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Rattle. Genre: Poetry. Ekphrastic Challenge. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Kissing Dynamite. Genre: Poetry microchap manuscripts. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Madhouse Books: Dark Secrets Anthology. Genre: Horror stories of sinister secrets and hidden evil. "We are seeking stories of the evil of mankind. We are not seeking stories with paranormal elements. Think serial killers, secret identities, and hidden pasts." Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2021. 

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

And the Walls Came Crashing Down. Genre: Short stories about the Fuller family. (The editors provide you with the characters and the setting.) "Anything that's dark, creepy, weird and just a little off-kilter. We're open to genre fiction, particularly anything related to horror, science-fiction, speculative fiction or weird fiction. But we're also interested in anything that twists or subverts these genres in some unexpected way." Payment: $15. Deadline: October 31, 2021. (May close early)

Otoroshi Journal. Genre: Horrorku, horror tanka, and horror haibun, art. Payment: Poetry, $1. Art, $10.  Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

JMS Books: Jolly Holidays. Genre: LGBT romance. "Stories set during winter holidays: New Year’s, Valentine's Day. Please state the holiday in your submission so we know where it might fit into our schedule." Length: 12,000 words or higher. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and flash, up to 3000 words on theme of Person of Interest. Payment: For prose, 1¢ US per word, and $10 US per poem. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Titanic Terastructures. Genre: Speculative fiction set in or about megastructures, gigastructures, TERASTRUCTURES! Payment: $5 per thousand words. Deadline: October 31, 2021. Reprints accepted.

Dream Pop Press. Genre: Chapbook manuscripts in the genres of poetry, speculative diary, and hybrid work that confounds definition 20-50 pages in length. "We lean heavily toward more experimental, non-narrative work in general." Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Dead Stars and Stone Arches: A Collection of Utah Horror. Genre: Cosmic Horror. Payment: Poetry - $10 USD, Flash - $15 USD, Short Fiction - $35 USD, Novelette - $75 USD. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Trees Anthology. Genre: Dark speculative fiction involving trees. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2021. (Or until filled.)

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Eerie River Publishing: It Calls from the the Veil. Genre: Horror. "Give me your nightmares. These stories should take place in our reality with a supernatural twist. Think evil entities." May have elements of Dark Fantasy, Dark Fiction and Cosmic horror. But must have the intention to scare the readers. Payment: Up to 3000 words $10.00; Up to 5000 words $15.00; Above 5001 words $20.00. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Brick. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $55–660, 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: October 31, 2021.

Carousel. Restrictions: Open to Canadians only. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Payment: Poetry: $20 per poem — Fiction: $40–$80 per story — Experimental Reviews: $20–$40 per review. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Toilet Zone. Genre: Horror. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

(I Just) Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired By One-Hit Wonders. Genre: Crime stories based on songs. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem.  Deadline: October 31, 2021. 

Black Hare Press: War Anthology. Genre: Short stories. THEME : War/conflict. Must be dark, any genre. 5,000 words minimum. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2021. 

Death of a Bad Neighbor Anthology. Genre: Crime and mystery fiction. Payment: Payment: 10 cents/word and royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2021. 

Cutleaf. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $100 to $400. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Black Hare Press: Myths and Legends. Genre: Drabble (exactly 100 words) on theme: Myths and Legends. Payment: 4 cents/word.  Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Welkin. Genre: Magical realist, fabulist, fairy tale, fantasy, gothic, metafictional, slipstream, fantastic, weird, surrealist, and experimental genres. Payment: 1cent/word. Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

Lost Boys Press: Heroes Anthology. Genre: "Write a story using a hero/heroine from any era or culture and the original major plot points from their legends to craft a retelling in an entirely alternate setting." Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

Save the World. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We’re focusing exclusively on climate change futures. Stories should be science fiction/climate fiction (cli-fi) with a hopeful tone. Stories can focus on a proposed solution to part or all of climate change, or on adaptations that will allow us to live with it." Length: Minimum 2,500, Maximum 15,000 words. Payment: $75-$125 per piece. Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

The Book of Queer Saints. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Horror. "It is an anthology where unabashedly queer villains, anti-heroes, and outlaws reign supreme." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

Ghost Orchid Press: Beyond the Veil: Queer Tales of Supernatural Love. Genre: Short stories, 1000 - 6000 words. "We’re looking for queer tales of supernatural love for our next major anthology, slated for a February 2022 release to coincide with Valentines Day. Sweet, sexy, scary or tragic… We’d love to see your own interpretations on what queer love means to you. We only ask that your story has a supernatural / Gothic / dark element of some kind." Payment: 0.01 USD per word via PayPal and a digital contributor’s copy. Deadline: October 31st, 2021.

Escape Pod: Joy. Genre: Science fiction on theme of "Joy." (Audio and written format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: October 31st, 2021. Reprints accepted.

The Temz Review. Genre: Fiction and creative non-fiction up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20 for prose, $20 per batch of poems. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Opulent Syntax. Restrictions: Open to writers living in Ireland as well as Irish writers abroad. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment; 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Orison Books. Genre: Novels, short story or flash fiction collections, novellas, personal or lyric essays and memoir. Payment: Small advance and royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Humainologie. Genre: Stories in any style between 500 to 2,000 words in length in the English language on theme of Loss. Payment: $250. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Off Topic Publishing: Wanderers: Poetry from Those Who Cross Borders. Genre: Poetry. “This poetry chapbook is open to poems from immigrants, serial migrants, Third Culture Kids, global nomads, displaced people, refugees, Indigenous people and other groups living within overlapping nations, expats, émigrés, chronic travelers, and anyone else who has crossed borders in life-changing ways. All styles are welcome. Poems should be primarily in English but can include words or phrases from other languages. The poems should clearly relate to the theme of crossing borders.” Reprints (if previously published with “small circulation”) considered. No simultaneous submissions. Payment: $15 CAD upon publication (more if fundraising goals are met) and a contributor copy. All payments through PayPal (or etransfer where possible). Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Rivanna Review. Genre: Short stories, essays, reviews of general interest for young adults to senior citizens. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Unnerving. Genre: Horror and suspense. Fiction and poetry. Payment: 3¢/word for original fiction, 1¢/word reprint fiction, and $0.20 line for original poetry. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Feast. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: Poems - $15; submit up to 4; Short stories - $30.00 USD; Creative nonfiction - $30.00 USD; Artwork - $20.00 USD, artists may submit up to 3 works. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Low Down Dirty Vote: The Color of My Vote. Genre: Short fiction. Stories can be in any crime sub-genre. Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Black Cat Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and art. Payment: $30. Deadline: October 31, 2021. Reprints accepted.

Sage Cigarettes: Cryptids. Genre: Poetry, art, flash fiction, nonfiction on theme of Cryptids. Payment: $5 - $20. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Journalstone. Genre: Horror manuscripts. Minimum word count for novels and fiction collections: 50,000. They don’t have a maximum word count, but anything over about 120,000 words will be a hard sell. Minimum word count for novellas: 20,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

AND A FEW MORE...

The First Line. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: 

$25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Ornithopter. Genre: Poetry chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Death in the Mouth. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers and other ethnically marginalized writers and artists from around the world. Genre: Horror. "We're looking for original manifestations of horror, dread, grief, fear, and anxiety. Embodiments of mania and displacements of faith. Harrowing ecstasy and debilitating hope. Consuming, relentless love. Transgressions of the body, the spirit, and the community. Quiet, creeping absurdities. Unique and terrifying alien mythology from the future. Weird and unsettling folklore from secondary worlds. Quiet contemporary techno-panic." Payment: 8 cents/word.  Deadline: November 1, 2021. Some reprints accepted.

Lethe Press. Genre: Speculative fiction, especially queer speculative fiction, historical fiction. Full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Thema: Get It Over With! Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: Get It Over With!  Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2021.  Accepts reprints.

Foglifter. Genres: Poetry, prose, cross-genre work. "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." Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

ellipsis… literature & art. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. Payment: $3 per page. Deadline: November 1, 2021. (Only pays American writers.)

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on theme of Video Games. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Future Fire: Noir. Genre: "We are looking for stories that combine themes or aesthetic from Noir fiction and cinema with the existing goals of TFF (progressive, feminist, queer, postcolonial, inclusive, accessible, ecological and international speculative and genre fiction)." Payment: $50.  Reprints $25. Deadline: November 1, 2021. Reprints accepted.

United Faedom. Genre: Cozy Romance. Theme: Young Adult/Clean Adult. Length: 8k-10k. Payment: $20. Deadline: November 1, 2021. Some reprints accepted.

United Faedom. Genre: Romantic Fantasy. Theme: Adult rated, mild erotica. Length: 8k-10k. Payment: $20. Deadline: November 1, 2021. Some reprints accepted.

Cardinal Rule Press Genre: Children’s picture books that empower children through meaningful stories for readers, age 4-11. They also publish non-fiction books for parents (word count up to 70k). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Poems and short fiction. "The theme for this issue is Return. As in, to return to a former place, person, or situation. Haven’t we been here before?" Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror. Poetry, short stories, flash fiction, essays. Theme is DEVOUT: Martyrs, Cults, and Mayhem. What do you find frightening about deeply religious people and social movements? What does feel like to be “possessed “ by a god or goddess? Payment: $10 - $25. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

44 Writing Contests in October 2021 - No entry fees

This October there are more than three dozen contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and short plays. Prizes range from $60,500 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. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

(Image: Pxfuel)

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Non-Binary Stars. Genre: Speculative fiction stories containing a character or characters that are representational of oppressed/under-represented groups, whether that be due to issues of gender, orientation, mental/physical health, body size, skin color, etc. Prize: $100, $50, $25. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

No Tokens: Young Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers ages eighteen and under. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and hybrid works. Prize: $300, $200, $100. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

The Furious Gazelle’s 2021 Halloween Writing Contest. Genre: Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays and creative non-fiction. Prize: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2021.

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: October 1, 2021.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. Contestants have 55 hours to write a 500-word story based on the prompt. Prize: $500. Deadline: Opens October 1, closes October 3, 2021. 

Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Full-length novels (no short story collections or novellas) by women, first published in the UK. Prize: 30,000 pounds. Deadline: October 4, 2021.

#PassOrPages Query Contest. Participating agents give brief feedback on a handful of entries, explaining why they're passing ... or requesting pages! The queries and accompanying feedback are posted on our blog anonymously, which helps querying authors get a peek into agents' minds as they go through their slush piles. Genre: Genre reveal September 21. Deadline: October 4 - 8, 2021.

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2021.

Embracing Our Differences Quotation Contest. Genre: An original quotation to accompany a piece of artwork. Length: 20 words max. Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 6, 2021.

Arthur Flowers Flash Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color and not have published or been contracted to write a full-length book at the time of submission. Writers with chapbooks are eligible. Genre: story of no more than 1,000 words. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: October 10, 2021.

Dream Foundry. Restrictions: Conditions: You have published a total of less than 4,000 words of paid or income-earning speculative fiction in English. You have earned a total of less than USD 320 from those words. You have never been nominated for any award listed here as a major award in speculative fiction. Genre: Short speculative fiction, up to 10,000 words. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: October 11, 2021.

The Lancaster Playwriting Prize. Restrictions: Open to anyone from the North West of England who identifies as LGBTQAI+ aged 16 and up to and including the age of 30. Genre: Script (for a play). Scripts must be a minimum of 30 minutes long. Prize: £1500. Deadline: October 11, 2021.

Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to fiction writers aged 21+ who have not yet published a book and have never been enrolled in an MFA program. Writer must not have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher at time of application, and writer cannot have been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Genre: Short fiction that "speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference." Prize: Free tuition for all of One Story's online classes and programming, a travel stipend of $2,000 and tuition to attend week-long summer writers' conference in Brooklyn, and a full manuscript review/consultation of a story collection or novel in progress with an executive editor. Deadline: October 11, 2021.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Short story on theme of Halloween; 2000 words max. Prize: $50. Deadline: October 14, 2021.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States.  Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement.  Prize: $60,500 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2021.

North Carolina State Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of North Carolina with no published fiction books. Genre: Short stories. Prize: $500 for fiction (up to 5,000 words) and $250 for shorter fiction (up to 1,200 words). Deadline: October 15, 2021.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction; under 1,000 words. Prize: $30. Deadline: October 15, 2021. Opens October 1.

John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize. Genre: Published book of poems. Publishers may submit four copies of a debut full-length poetry collection (or bound galleys) published originally in the English language between October 1st 2020 and October 18th 2021. Prize: €10,000 (approximately $11,400) Deadline: October 18, 2021.

Welter Micro Fiction Contest. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, or prose-poem pieces no longer than 100 words. “We are particularly looking for pieces related to the theme of ‘Home,’ but we will consider other pieces." Prize: $100. Deadline: October 19, 2021.

The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 22, 2021.

Writers’ Trust / McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize. Restrictions: Only works from writers who are Black Canadian citizens, whether living in Canada or abroad, or permanent residents of Canada are eligible. Genre: Short story or excerpt from a fiction work-in-progress first published by a Canadian magazine or annual anthology during 2019 and 2020. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 25, 2021.

Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to residents of UK. Genre: Short stories between 2000-6000 words on the theme "Crime." Prize: £500 and 10 shortlisted authors will be published in an ebook anthology. Deadline: October 29, 2021.

The Funny Pearls Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to women of all nationalities. Genre: Humor. "Please send us your farce, satire, screwball, or any other subgenre that qualifies as comedy. We need the laughs." Length: 1,000 - 2500 words. Prize: Amazon gift card to the value of £200. Deadline: October 30, 2021.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Travel Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The John Byrne Award. Restrictions: Open to residents of Scotland. Genre: A piece of creative work on a chosen theme or value (written work must be no more than 15,000 words in length). Prize:  £7500. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

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: October 31, 2021.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the most prestigious literary award in the US. Restrictions: Authors must be living American citizens. Self-published works not accepted. Genres: Novels, novellas, and collections of short stories. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Young Walter Scott Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK authors aged 11-19. Genre: Historical fiction between 800 and 2000 words. Prizes: £500 travel and research grant to further explore historical places in the UK, and an invitation to the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Two runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all four winning stories are published in a special YWSP anthology book. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre: Essay: How can laws promoting gender and disability rights support economic development? Prize: $500 scholarship. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize. Restrictions: Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. Prize: First prize of £750, second prize of £500. Winning entries will be posted on the website and also published online by The Telegraph. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40 on December 31, 2021. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Otherwise Award. Genre: Work that is changing the way we think about gender through speculative narrative. Prize: $500. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Smokelong Comedy Prize. Genre: Comedy flash fiction and nonfiction up to 782 words. Prize: $400. Deadline: October 31, 2021. Entry fee waived for writers who are financially unable to pay an entry fee.

ECW Press Best New Speculative Novel Contest. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Speculative Novel. Prize: $3000 prize and a publishing contract. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Rune Bear Quarterly. Genre: Drabble of exactly 100 words on theme of  “Last Bus to Station 9.” Prize: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Storyhouse. Genre: Nonfiction. Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts. 1000 - 10,000 words in length. Stories must be suitable for children. See themes. Prize: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

Volcano Prize Restrictions: Open to aUK or Irish writer, or a writer currently resident in those countries. Genre: A novel focusing on the experience of travel away from home. Inspired by Malcolm Lowry’s novel, Under the Volcano and in celebration of its author, the prize aims to inspire literary excellence and encourage writers to travel and to write from the resulting experience. For books published in UK or Ireland between 1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021. Publishers must enter the work. Prize: The winner will receive £2,000 and the runner-up £750. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The LoveReading Very Short Story Award. Genre: Short story in any genre of 600-1,000 words. Prize: £300; £200. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

The Miracle Monocle Award for Ambitious Student Writers. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled as students (high school, undergraduate, or graduate). Genre: All. Prize: $200.   Deadline: October 31, 2021. Or until quota is reached.

Storytwigs micro-writing competition. Restrictions: Open to citizens/residents of United States or Canada. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Genre: Short prose 100 words or fewer on prompt. Prize: From $10 to $100. Deadline: October 31, 2021.

36 Outstanding Writing Conferences in October 2021

This October there are three dozen outstanding writing conferences. You can attend workshops, presentations, readings, discussions, lectures, and critiques via Zoom. Some are also offering workshops in person. 

Conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry, they make you feel like a writer.

Plan ahead! Conferences often offer scholarships, but these have deadlines and most close early. If one of these conferences interests you, put the deadline date on your calendar for next year.

For a full list of conferences, organized by month, see Writing Conferences. While nearly all of those are in the United States, you can find links on that page that will take you to world-wide conference lists.

(Image: Im a Puzzle)

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Bookgardan: A Year's Sustenance for Writers. October 1, 2021 - October 1, 2022: Keene, NY. "Devote a year to writing your book in community with an intimate group of dedicated writers, nurtured from start to finish by acclaimed author, seasoned editor, and literary mentor Kate Moses. The program opens and closes with week-long fall residency intensives at Craigardan, a secluded artists' retreat set at a circa-1800s farm nestled in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. From the first residency onward Kate will provide writers the structure, tools, and guidance required to cultivate and nourish their manuscripts, with the goal of bringing projects to fruition (a full first draft, a revised draft, or meeting an individual goal) by program's end. Throughout the year, writers will receive ongoing individual and group mentorship, one-on-one monthly conferences in response to their manuscript submissions, and take part in online craft tutorials, group seminars, interviews with published writers and publishing professionals, and other opportunities for connection with like-minded artists sharing in an often solitary endeavor. Bookgardan culminates twelve months later—once again syncing with the autumn harvest—with a second Craigardan residency focused on the business of writing and publishing, the sustenance of lasting fellowship, and a deserved celebration. Limited to a maximum of 6 participants each year." Will be held online and in person.

The Loft's Wordsmith Conference. October 2021, Minneapolis MN. "The conference is intended for those ready to pitch their work, those already with a book out or with an agent, and those who want to get more prepared to publish their work. It's intended for prose writers and poets, genre and literary writers, beginning and advanced. In short, we are working hard to pull together a gathering that will feature meaningful sessions, workshops, one-on-one pitch and craft meetings, and networking opportunities for writers of all levels and genres." Will be held online.

Idaho Writers Guild Conference. October 1 - 2, 2021, Boise, Idaho. Meet with agents, editors, and authors. Panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote speaker. Your registration - $195 for IWG members, $225 for non-members. Canceled.

Write on the Sound Writers' Conference and Pre-Conference. Oct 1 - 3, 2021: Edmonds, WA. WOTS offers the opportunity to explore various writing craft techniques with nationally recognized industry professionals in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Will be held online.

Gold Rush Writers Conference. October 1 - 4, 2021, Mokelumne Hill, CA. "Writing professionals will guide you to a publishing bonanza through a series of panels, specialty talks, workshops and celebrity lectures. Go one-on-one with successful poets, novelists, biographers, memoirists and short story writers." Writing workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Children's, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Travel, Young Adult. Individual sessions available. 

Picture Book Summit. Oct 2, 2021, Online. A one day live event for picture book writers including author keynotes, interviews, workshops and agent & editor panels. Recordings provided for attendees for four months post-conference.

Orion Nonfiction Writers' Workshop. October 2 - November 6, 2021. Online. This nonfiction course taught by Jessica J. Lee will center on long-form nature writing, personal essays, and a wealth of contemporary work inspired by the more-than-human world. We’ll examine ways of portraying our changing planet on the page, considering not just place and nature in our writing, but also the commitments such writing can make. For example, we’ll ask how readers can be excluded from or invited into environmental conversations, how writing about land engages with issues of access and migration, and how writing about nature is necessarily tied to struggles for justice and a better world. Six consecutive Saturdays from 12-3 p.m. ET. Application Period: August 1 – 15, 2021.

Ozark Creative Writers Conference. Oct 7 - 9, 2021: Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Workshops by published authors, editors and agents; Publishers Row, independent publishers available to hear about your next project; Writing contests available to all participants. 

Women Writing the West 2021 Conference. October 7 - 9, 2021. "Women Writing the West resonates the inspiration of Colorado Springs for its 2020 Virtual Conference. Just as mountain climbers find the niches necessary to scale vast heights, so we, too, will discover our own niches in craft, identity, and platforms. We’ll tackle methods to mount our own walls and climb to our summits. We’ll discover endless vistas of possibilities and create our personal visions, as endless as the views around us." Will be held online.

Youngstown Fall Literary Festival. October 7 - 9, 2021: Youngstown, Ohio. Conference Theme: “Our Shared Story.” Featured Writers: Jan Beatty (memoirist & poet), Teri Ellen Cross Davis (poet), Matt Forrest Esenwine (children’s author), Bonnie Proudfoot (novelist & poet), & Mike Geither (playwright). 

New York Comicon. October 7 - 10, 2021. On Youtube. New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest popular culture convention: Show Floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television; Panels and Autograph Sessions give Fans a chance to interact with their favorite Creators; Screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit big and small screens. Online format.

San Francisco Writing Day Workshop. October 8 - 9, 2021: Online. 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." Online format.

The Pacific Coast Children's Novel Workshop & Retreat. Oct. 8-10 & 22-24, 2021: Santa Cruz, CA. Intensive seminar offers editor or agent feedback on selected whole-novel manuscripts, including two in-person consults with your mentor. Editor and agent critiques on your polished, opening chapters. Faculty includes Sarah Shumway of Bloomsbury USA, Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media, Allison Hellegers of Stimola Literary Studio and more. Will be held online.

Be a Better Freelancer October 8 - 10, 2021: St. Louis, MO. Annual conference for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, graphic artists, website managers and developers, etc., with presenters offering guidance and tips on marketing, promotions, new skills and other business aspects of freelancing. Focus: Nonfiction. 

James River Writers Conference. October 8 - 10, 2021: Richmond, Virginia. The conference will feature pitch sessions with agents and panel discussions for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The conference will also offer pre-conference master classes on October 8. The keynote address will be given by fiction writer David Bowles. Participants include poets Roscoe Burnems and Mila Cuda; fiction writers Mike Chen, Alechia Dow, Kosoko Jackson, and Ruta Sepetys; nonfiction writer Shonda Buchanan; and literary agents Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative Management), Heather Carr (Friedrich Agency), Dawn Michelle Hardy (Literary Lobbyist), Rebecca Podos (Rees Literary), Eric Smith (P. S. Literary), Latoya C. Smith (LCS Literary), and Laurel Symonds (Bent Agency). The cost of the conference, which includes a virtual one-on-one meeting with an agent, is $249 for James River Writers members and $309 for nonmembers. Single-day tickets are also available starting at $130 for members and $155 for nonmembers. The cost of a master class is $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. The cost of a ShopTalk pass, which includes query letter and first page critiques, is $50 (free for members). The deadline for registration is October 4. Will be held online.

State Writing Conference & Convention, sponsored by The Kansas Authors Club, Oct 8 - 10, 2021Wichita, Kansas. Writing workshops, panels, and presentations by Timothy Keane, Thomas Fox Averill and more. Will be held on Zoom.

Orion Poetry Workshop. October 10 - November 21, 2021. Six consecutive Saturday afternoons from 3-6pm EDT. Instructor: Nickole Brown. Each six-session Zoom workshop is available for $500. Payment within five days of acceptance will guarantee your spot. Cancellations up until a week before the start of the course will result in a full refund. After that, refunds will be conditional on our ability to fill your spot before the course begins. Application deadline: August 15.

Annual Florida Writers Conference. October 14 - 17, 2021: Altamonte Springs, Florida. Over 75 workshops, major speakers, agent interviews, professional manuscript critiques, lively social events, and much more.

Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. October 15 - 16, 2021, Grapevine, Texas. The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level. Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, and student classes. In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals, who receive hand-made trophies, more than $26,000 in cash awards and have their work published in Mayborn's journal, Ten Spurs, or anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. October 15 - 17, 2021: Denver, CO. Keynote Speakers: Gail Carriger, Rachel Howzell Hall, and John DeDakis. Faculty includes a wide variety of published authors, marketers, editors, and agents. Opportunities to pitch projects to agents and editors. 

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. October 15 - 17, 2021: Rochester, NY. Panels, workshops, readings, a book fair, and opportunities to meet with editors for translators. "The ALTA Annual Conference is a refreshingly collegial gathering of amateurs and professionals alike, both within the profession and outside it, all wholeheartedly committed to fostering, furthering, and supporting the practice of literary translation." Will be held virtually and in person.

Flathead River Writers Conference. October 15 - 17, 2021: Kalispell, MT. Writers help writers in this two day conference packed with energizing speakers and workshops. Features: Workshops, MS preparation & submission, working with agents, movie deals, media use, & children's book publishing.

Haiku North America Conference. October 15 -17, 2021. Winston Salem, NC. Conference devoted to haiku as a literary art. Includes presentations, readings, panels, bookfair, exhibits, banquet, anthology. ​Haiku North America is designed for, and open to, everyone—beginners and seasoned specialists alike.  We are expecting participants from Japan, Australia, Europe, and of course, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.  Workshops, performances, as well as readings, panels, and presentations for all levels of accomplishment will fill the four days, in addition to a very full Tanka Sunday plus for those interested. HNA 2017 saw over 220 attendees. 

Gotham Writers Conference. October 15 - 17, 2021: NY, NY. A writing conference built by agents, for writers, with a faculty of some of the top agents in New York City. Receive focused attention within your genre from some of the best in the business. Will be held on Zoom.

Emerald City Writers' Conference. Oct 15 - 17, 2021, Bellevue, WA. Local Romance Writers of America conference, featuring film and television scouts, who will be taking pitches along with editors and agents, keynote speakers, workshops, and a master class. Will be held online.

Craft of Writing Conference. October 16, 2021: Glenpool, Oklahoma. The Craft of Writing Conference is focused on learning the skills needed to be an excellent writer. This includes topics such as plot & story structure, character development, conflict & motivation, point of view, editing—facets of the craft.
Faculty: Michael Wallis, Keynote Speaker; Rex Griffin, Tierney James, Julie Kimmel-Harbaugh, Betsey Kulakowski, Christopher Murphy (and others to be confirmed). The conference is free to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.

6th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference. October 16 - 17, 2021: Atlanta, GA. Once again, we have assembled one of the strongest list of writers you will ever find at a conference, with a list of agents, editors and publisher representatives ready to guide you forward! Combined with educational sessions and workshops, the 6th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will offer you all that you need to refine and improve your craft and get you on the road toward publication! Will be held online.

Annual Maryland Writer’s Conference. October 16 - 17, 2021: Baltimore, MD. The Brain to Bookshelf Annual Conference offers over 20 workshops and agent panels. Agent pitches and critiques are available, but agent slots are limited, so register early. Jane Friedman is the keynote speaker presenting two Master Session Workshops. Saturday: Essential Book Marketing Strategies for All Authors Sunday: Today's Key Book Publishing Paths: What's New, What's Old and What's Right for You? 

Writing By Writers Workshop @ Tomales Bay. October 20 - 24, 2021: Tomales Bay, California. Manuscript and poetry workshops are limited to 12 participants and generative workshops are limited to 15 to ensure an intimate setting. 

Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference. October 21 - 24, 2021: Pasadena, CA. Experienced authors, editors, agents and publishing experts will be on hand, ready to help you develop your own craft and position yourself for success.

Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference. October 23, 2021: Rochester, Michigan. Lectures, Workshops and Panel Discussions in fiction, non-fiction and business of writing presentations. Open to new, working and published writers of all genres. Attendees select four presentations from a dozen to tailor fit their needs.

Kentucky State Poetry Society. October 23 - 24, 2021. Readings, workshops, panels, and keynote. "The Kentucky State Poetry Society seeks to inspire, encourage, and develop Kentucky’s poets through a wide variety of workshops, lectures, and publishing opportunities. The Kentucky State Poetry Society publishes the biannual literary journal Pegasus, offers a student and adult poetry contest, and hosts an annual poetry conference." Note: Membership not limited to Kentucky residents. Registration: $15. Will be conducted via Zoom.

Medical Writing and Communication Conference. October 27 - 29, 2021: San Diego, CA. Workshops in medical writing, designing materials for patients, analysis, clinical reports, and more. Will be held virtually.

Orion Nonfiction Writers' Workshop. October 27 - December 1, 2021. Online. Instructor: Pam Houston. This will be a workshop in which we focus on all the ways the sensory details that surround us—the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures from the physical world, often the natural world—can give us access to that much more elusive interior landscape we are always trying to access when we write. We will focus on what I believe to be the real artistry of prose writing: the way we dip our ladles into the bottomless pot of metaphor soup of our lived and witnessed experience and pull out what we need; the way we pick up hunks of the physical world and bring them back to the page, translated into language. We will work toward demystifying some of the essential components of prose writing (image, metaphor, structure, dialogue, character, scene, among others) and turning them into comprehensible tools that are at our disposal. Six consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7-10pm ET. Application Period: August 1 – 15, 2021.

TLA Power of Words Conference. October 29 - 31, 2021: Scottsdale, Arizona. Conference that explores the use of expressive language arts, including written, spoken, and sung words. Special tracks in Narrative Medicine, Right Livelihood, and Social Change.

Ossabaw Weekend Writer’s Retreat. October 29  - 31, 2021: Ossabaw Island, GA. Workshops and seminars led by nationally recognized faculty, and evening readings (special emphasis on ghost stories) by faculty and participants. Application deadline: September 15.