Top 12 Paying Markets for Fiction, Personal Essays and Poetry

Mr B finds Pamela writing (Wikimedia Commons)

Here are a dozen prestigious literary magazines that accept submissions of poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. None charge submission fees, and all pay writers at professional or semi-professional rates.

Although these are big names in the world of literary magazines, you don't have to be an established writer to submit to them. In fact, many of these magazines are proud of their reputation of discovering new voices and launching the careers of famous authors. You could be one of them!

There are, of course, many more prestigious magazines than the ones on this list. Check out these lists. (Some of the magazines on these lists charge fees to submit.):

Top 50 Literary Magazines -Every Writer

20 Respected Literary Journals and Magazines that Publish Creative Writing

Ranking of the 100 Best Literary Magazines

For hundreds of additional paying markets, see: Paying Markets

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Agni

Agni is a respected publication put out by Boston University. They publish poetry, short fiction, and essays. Payment: $40 per page for poetry, with a $300 maximum. Reading period: September 1st to May 31st.

The Antioch Review

The Antioch Review, based in Antioch College, has been publishing prominent and promising poets, authors, and critics since 1941. "Authors published in the Review are consistently included in Best American Anthologies and Pushcart Prizes. We have been recognized by the National Magazine Awards in essays and criticism and fiction. Our writers and poets are routinely recipients of prominent literary awards." Payment: $20.00 per printed page (about 425 words) plus 2 copies of the issue. Regular mail submissions only.

The Atlantic

The Atlantic is a highly prestigious magazine founded in 1857 as The Atlantic Monthly in Boston, They always interested in great nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Payment: Professional rates. To submit poetry, send your manuscript to: poetry@theatlantic.com.

The Georgia Review

Founded in 1947, The Georgia Review is the University of Georgia’s journal of arts and letters.  The journal has twice taken a top prize in the annual National Magazine Awards competition, winning out over the likes of the Atlantic, Esquire, the New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, and has been a finalist twenty times in various categories. Payment: $50 per printed page for prose and $4 per line for poetry. Essay-reviews and standard reviews earn honoraria of $50/printed page. In addition, all contributors receive a one-year subscription to The Georgia Review. No fee to submit by regular mail.

Harper's Magazine

Founded in 1850, Harper's Magazine is one of the oldest magazines in the country. It has a circulation of more than 220,000. They publish fiction, art and nonfiction. Payment: According to Who Pays Writers Harper's pays between 25 cents and a dollar a word. Snail mail submissions only.

The Kenyon Review

This is another long-standing publication with a great reputation. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction, plays and creative nonfiction. Payment: Professional rate. Reading period September 15th through November 1st, 2018.

One Story

One Story is seeking literary short stories. "They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone." Single stories are sent to email subscribers every month. Length: Between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Payment: $500 and 25 contributors copies.

The Paris Review

In its long history as a literary magazine The Paris Review has published such luminaries as Jack Kerouac, Philip Larkin, V. S. Naipaul, Philip Roth, Adrienne Rich, Italo Calvino, Samuel Beckett and Robert Bly. It has a readership of over 22,000. The Paris Review accepts fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: Who pays writers reports payments of 10 cents/word to $100 flat fee.

Poetry Magazine

Poetry is a highly prestigious publication, and therefore has a high rejection rate. But do not be afraid to give it a whirl. (The worst that can happen is that they will cut your head off and stick it on a pole as a warning to other poets.) Payment: $10 per line (with a minimum payment of $300), and $150 per page of prose, for first serial rights. Closed to submissions during the month of August.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker is New York. It started as a humor weekly in 1925, and has since grown to be one of the most prestigious magazines in the country. The New Yorker publishes one short story per issue and several poems. Payment: Professional rates. Submission guidelines are here.

VQR

"VQR strives to publish the best writing we can find. While we have a long history of publishing accomplished and award-winning authors, we also seek and support emerging writers. We read unsolicited fiction, poetry, and nonfiction submissions June 15 to July 15, and October 1 to November 1 each year through our Submittable portal. We read nonfiction pitches from June 15 to December 1." Note: Genre fiction not accepted. Payment: $200 per poem, up to 4 poems; for a suite of 5 or more poems, payment is $1,000. For short fiction, $1,000. For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Online content is generally paid at $100-$200, depending upon genre and length.

ZYZZYVA

ZYZZYVA is a print journal based in San Francisco. "We have established a vigorous tradition of finding and fostering new talent, in our backyard and beyond. For over thirty years ZYZZYVA has nurtured emerging writers, many of whom go on to spectacular careers (Haruki Murakami, Po Bronson, F.X. Toole, Kay Ryan, Sherman Alexie) and whose work in ZYZZYVA is recognized by the Pushcart Prize, the Best American series, the O. Henry Prize Stories, and other awards organizations." They publish fiction, poetry, essays, and artwork. Payment: Token to semi-pro. They accept submissions from January 7 through May 31, and September 1 through November 19. Snail mail submissions only.

16 Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions - Paying markets

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Speculative fiction is near and dear to my heart. It's also what I write, so I am always on the lookout for speculative fiction magazines open to submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

For over a hundred paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions see: Mega-List of Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions

For paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions in September see:

47 Calls for Submissions in September 2019 - Paying Markets

Happy submitting!

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Unfit Magazine: Stories that bend the rules of science. Genre: Quantum Fiction, Cyberpunk, Alternative Histories and Steampunk. Payment: $0.03/word for fiction; $0.01/word for nonfiction. Deadline: Open now. Accepts reprints.

Unreal Magazine: Stories that bend the rules of magic. Genre: Fantasy, magic realism, and experimental fiction. Payment: $0.03/word for fiction; $0.01/word for nonfiction. Deadline: Open now. Accepts reprints.

Lethe Press: Burly Tales. Genre: Gay themed short stories and novelettes that adapt classic fairy tales. "All stories should be romantic (HEA or HFN). Erotic content is not a necessity but our burly men should be sex-positive about their lives." Payment: 5 cents a word for original fiction, considerably less for reprints. Deadline: Open until filled. Accepts reprints.

TANSTAAFL Press: Of Witches, Warriors, and Wyverns. Genre: High fantasy. Payment: $0.025 per word. Deadline: Open until filled. Accepts reprints.

The Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Volume V. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Payment: $75AUD. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Zombie Pirate Publishing. Genre: Short stories for CLOCKWORK DRAGONS: A Fantasy Punk Anthology, 1,500-8,000 words long. Stories should be set in a world where magic or fantasy elements have become the prevailing means by which mainstream technology is powered or run. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Havok. Genre: Mystery, scifi, comedy, thriller, and fantasy on theme of Open Mic Night. Length: 300 to 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 18, 2019.

The Overcast. Genre: Speculative fiction podcast. Payment: $20 minimum. Deadline: October 31, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Aether&Ichor. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: £5 (or equivalent currency) per 1,000 words, at a minimum of £5. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Compelling Science Fiction. Genre: Science fiction. Payment: 6 cents/word for original stories. 1 cent/word for reprints. Deadline: December 1, 2019.

Cast of Wonders Podcast. Genre: Speculative fiction for teens. Length: 3,000 words max. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: December 15, 2019.

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. Genre: Sword and sorcery fantasy. Payment: $100 for stories and $25 for poems, upon publication. Deadline: December 31, 2019.

Excalibur 2020: Tales From Beyond Tomorrow Volume 3. Genre: Speculative fiction. The work must have a thematic connection to Japan and/or the Olympics. Payment: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2019.

PodCastle. Genre: Speculative fiction: podcast. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: January 15, 2020. Accepts reprints.

The Overcast. Genre: Speculative fiction podcast. Payment: $20 minimum. Deadline: January 30, 2020. Accepts reprints.

Hinnom. Genre: Weird fiction. Payment: 2 cents/word for fiction. $50 for poems. Deadline: February 28, 2020.

9 Literary Agents Actively Seeking Thrillers, Memoir, Pop Culture, Cookbooks, Speculative Fiction and more

Here are nine literary agents actively building their client lists. All work with reputable literary agencies with solid track records. These agents are seeking everything - from nonfiction, to children's literature, to adult fantasy and science fiction, to thrillers and much more.

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

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

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Mr. Jon Michael Darga of Aevitas Creative Management

Jon Michael Darga has edited titles across a diverse range of genres, including Dianne Hales’ La Passione: How Italy Seduced the World; transgender activist Sarah McBride’s memoir Tomorrow Will Be Different; Nico Tortorella’s poetry collection all of it is you.; and the paperback edition of Pulitzer Prize winner Sheri Fink’s Five Days at Memorial. Darga graduated from the University of Michigan with Honors with a BA in English and Creative Writing, and later attended the Columbia University publishing program. Before coming to Aevitas, he worked as an editor at Crown, a division within Penguin Random House.

What he is seeking: Jon Michael Darga represents both nonfiction and fiction as an Aevitas agent based in New York. He is most interested in voice-driven pop culture writing and histories that re-cast the narrative by emphasizing unexpected or unheard voices.

How to submit: Use the agency form HERE.

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Ms. Agnes Carlowicz of Carol Mann Agency

Agnes Carlowicz joined the Carol Mann Agency as assistant to Carol Mann in late 2017.  She previously worked at the David Black Agency as Joy Tutela’s assistant, while completing her English B.A. with a Creative Writing concentration from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York.

What she is seeking: Her interests include both fiction and non-fiction, with a special passion for literature that amplifies underrepresented voices and subverts the status quo. Among others, she enjoys: intersectional feminism, millennial self-care, female-driven memoir,  true-crime, and humorous pop culture.

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. A pass from an agent is a pass from the agency.

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Ms. Lindsey Smith of Speilburg Literary Agency

Lindsey Smith got her start in the publishing industry as an author. After her own publishing success, she started working with other writers to help launch their books and shape their careers. To date, Lindsey has worked with over 1,000 authors and negotiated book deals even before becoming an agent. Her unique perspective helps shape her passion for the industry and her role as an advocate for her clients. Formerly a publicist and hailing from the world of self-publishing, Lindsey understands the importance of branding, and she works with each client not only to sell a book but to build a career.

What she is seeking: Lindsey is interested in cookbooks, lifestyle, health, pop culture, gender issues, self-help, true crime, and current events. She is especially interested in podcast-to-book ideas, journalists who specialize in specific research, and cookbooks that have a niche and/or narrative voice. Please do not send diet books.

How to submit: Fill out the online form HERE: https://querymanager.com/query/lindsey

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Ms. Erin Clyburn of Corvisiero Literary Agency

Erin received her BA in English Literature from Mississippi State University and her MA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University. She has worked in the book and publishing industries for the past 12 years, currently as Copy Editor for Food & Wine magazine. (Unable to stray too far from children’s books or her kindred spirits, people who love books, she also recently moonlighted as a children’s librarian.) She’s an annual judge for the Audio Publishers Association’s Audie Awards and works every year at the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at Southern Miss.

What she is seeking: 

In children’s:

• Picture books: Nonfiction picture books ONLY, particularly multicultural picture books and picture books about lesser-known individuals or historical events
• Chapter books: High-concept chapter book series
• Middle grade: All of it! Stories with big hearts and unforgettable voices, and especially mysteries (Did you write a novel like The Westing Game, Holes, or Greenglass House? Send it to her!)
• YA: Dark contemporary, horror, thriller, mystery, unreliable narrators
• All children’s: Graphic novels, high-interest nonfiction, magical realism, characters going on journeys

In adult:

• Fiction: Character-driven literary fiction; plot-driven suspense, mysteries, and thrillers in the vein of Gillian Flynn or Tana French; laugh-out-loud novels about quirky, dysfunctional families; all horror from psychological to gothic to slasher; multigenerational family sagas like We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas
• Nonfiction: Pop science (Oliver Sacks, Mary Roach); high-interest nonfiction, particularly stories about fascinating people and issues that haven’t been told before (Radium Girls, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks); true crime; cookbooks; memoirs (I’d love anything along the lines of My Brain on Fire, Educated, Wild, Full Body Burden)

How to submit: Use the agency's online submission form HERE.

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Mr. Jonathan Cobb of Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency

Jon began working at HSG in the summer of 2016. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, he decided to follow his dream of joining the publishing industry by moving to New York. He gained valuable experience interning at NYU Press and Writers House, while also pursuing a Master’s degree in Publishing: Digital and Print Media at NYU.

​What he is seeking: Jon reads all genres of fiction but has a particular interest in contemporary middle grade and YA, adult science fiction and fantasy, African-American fiction, literary fiction, and mysteries and thrillers.

How to submit: Jon accepts unsolicited queries through Query Tracker at http://QueryMe.Online/Cobb​.

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Ms. Phoebe Low of InkWell Management

Phoebe Low studied English and architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining InkWell, she worked at Penguin Random House and interned at Foundry Literary + Media and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

What she is seeking: She gravitates toward high-concept fantasy, science fiction, horror, and narrative nonfiction on offbeat topics, but will pick up just about anything with strong prose and compelling characters.

How to submit: Queries should be emailed to: submissions [at] inkwellmanagement [dot] com
In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters). Emails with large attachments will be discarded.

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Mr. Matthew Belford of David Black Literary Agency

Matt joined the David Black Agency in 2017 after previously working at the Aaron M. Priest Agency. He received his undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and Economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and went on to get his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Emerson College.

What he is seeking: Matt is interested in receiving submissions for both graphic memoirs and graphics novels, as well as adult science fiction and fantasy, and some popular nonfiction. He is not interested in YA.

How to submit: If you would like to query him, please send your query letter along with the first 50 pages of your work, in the body of your email, to Mbelford (at) dblackagency.com

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Ms. Alicia Brooks of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency

Alicia Brooks began her career over twenty years ago in book publishing as an editorial assistant at Penguin USA. She worked her way up to an assistant editor position at Nan A. Talese/Doubleday where she worked with noteworthy authors, including Margaret Atwood, Pat Conroy, and Ian McEwan. Alicia then made the transition to an editor position at Picador/St. Martin's Press. Alicia is a graduate of Wellesley College with a B.A. in English and Philosophy and has a Master's Degree in the Teaching of English from Columbia University.

What she is seeking: As an agent at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, she is looking for Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Self-Help, Pop Culture, Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, YA Fiction, Mystery/Crime, and Historical Fiction.

How to submit: Use the agency's online form HERE: http://www.jvnla.com/submissions.php

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Mr. Bobby O'Neil of FinePrint Literary Management

Bobby began his publishing career as an assistant at William Morris Endeavor, after taking on internships in both publishing houses and literary agencies. After two years at WME, he moved to Folio Literary Management where he worked in foreign rights. In 2019 he joined FinePrint as an Associate Agent and is currently developing his client list.

What he is seeking: Bobby is looking for middle grade and young adult fiction across the board ranging from the grounded to the fantastic. In adult fiction, he is primarily interested in fantasy and speculative fiction that push the conventions of the genre, and character-driven commercial fiction. For nonfiction, he loves a strong narrative and is especially partial to memoir and historical. He is drawn to powerful voices and unique points of view that tell the stories from underrepresented communities.

How to submit: For fiction a query letter with a synopsis of your book, your bio, and the first two chapters (no more than 30 pages) embedded in the body of your email — DO NOT SEND AN ATTACHMENT WITHOUT A REQUEST TO DO SO. For nonfiction send a query letter and your bio via email. bobby@fineprintlit.com.

12 UK Literary Agents Seeking New Clients NOW

Here are twelve UK literary agents actively seeking clients. All are from reputable literary agencies with solid track records. They are seeking a wide variety of genres, including literary fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, scripts, fantasy, children's literature and much more.

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

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

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Ms. Laura McNeill of Peters Fraser & Dunlop

Laura McNeill is an Associate Agent in the Books Department at Peters Fraser and Dunlop. After completing a degree in Classics at Oxford University, she worked with pre-1650’s books and manuscripts in the antiquarian book trade, and briefly as a magician’s assistant, before joining PFD in 2015. She works closely with Tim Bates and Annabel Merullo across all their titles, and looks after the UK & Commonwealth rights for New Directions, the New York based independent publishing house, on behalf of Tim.

What she is seeking: She is currently building her own list and is on the look out for new voices and ideas. She is particularly interested in non-fiction, but encourages submissions of all types and genres.

How to submit: Please send the first three chapters of your novel or non-fiction project, as well as a full synopsis. In the body of the email, please write a covering letter, including brief details about your writing career. lmcneill@pfd.co.uk

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Ms. Megan Carroll of Watson, Little Ltd

Megan graduated from Goldsmiths with a BA in English and American Literature in 2013 and worked as an intern at Watson, Little and Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency before returning to the agency as the assistant in July 2014. She is now an Associate Agent and is building her own list.

What she is seeking: Megan is looking for commercial fiction & reading group fiction with original voices and an interesting hook, YA with realistic themes and characters, memoir and good narrative non-fiction writing on film, popular culture and issues from a female perspective. She’s especially keen on finding debut authors as well as growing a list of talented illustrators. Megan is also interested in discovering new, diverse, quirky and imaginative voices across all ages in Children’s Fiction.

‘I’d love to find a regional family drama with multiple voices, generations and realistic characters – think East is East meets Parenthood – and I’m keen for more stories about sisters or mothers and daughters. If you’re writing funny, female focused MG, I would love to read it. Psychological thrillers are not for me but I’d love to see a female led police procedural or a Big Little Lies-esque mystery.’

How to submit: Send all queries to submissions@watsonlittle.com. For fiction, send approximately 10,000 words or the nearest equivalent. Please send this as a single document, taken from the beginning of the book. For non-fiction send a proposal.

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Ms. Florence Rees of A.M. Heath & Co. Ltd

"I love that feeling of having to read one more chapter.  Characters (real or fictional) can stay with me for years. I’ve spent memorable hours weeping over the last pages in the beautiful, heart-wrenching memoirs of Paul Kalanthi’s When Breath Becomes Air and Cathy Rentzenbrink’s The Last Act of Love. It’s not limited to non-fiction though. Marian Keyes’s character, Amy, from The Break had me imagining my life had my (non-existent) husband of twenty years left me for a gap year. I read Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams recently and felt such empathy for Queenie, who is just trying to live her life as best she knows how. Aren’t we all?"

What she is seeking: Fiction, memoir, fantasy.

How to submit: Use their online submission form HERE.


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Ms. Charlotte Seymour of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Ltd

After graduating from Oxford with a degree in French & Italian, Charlotte worked as a literary scout at Eccles Fisher Associates. In April 2015, she joined Andrew Nurnberg Associates, where she handles English-language rights and is actively building a list of fiction and non-fiction.

What she is seeking: In fiction, Charlotte is looking for stories that grip and move her, be they nail-biting and suspenseful, funny and uplifting or heart-breaking. She loves beautiful writing that crosses boundaries, whether geographic or linguistic or in bringing a twist to a genre. She has a penchant for the dark and haunting, and occasionally a hint of the speculative or uncanny. She is always on the hunt for a great love story.

In non-fiction, she is looking for accessible, engaging writing on a range of subjects including popular science, social and environmental issues, linguistics, social and cultural history, nature, food and cookery, and popular culture. She especially loves hybrid books, for example, when in a memoir, the personal is interwoven with a bigger story or subject.

Charlotte enjoys working editorially with her authors, bringing existing projects to fruition and helping come up with new ideas. As well as championing literature in translation, she is eager to see more submissions from new and original voices in English from around the world.

How to submit: Please send your query letter and a 1-page synopsis (attached) and the first three chapters or 50 pages (attached); For non-fiction proposals, please send an overview, chapter outlines and three sample chapters. Send to: submissions@nurnberg.co.uk

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Ms. Meg Davis of Ki Agency

Meg worked in the theatre and in bookselling before becoming an agent.  After some years at MBA, she started Ki Agency in 2011 to represent authors and scriptwriters. Meg’s work for her clients is informed by her involvement behind the scenes, previously as co-Chair of the Dramatists’ section of the PMA, on the management board of Public Lending Right, and as the external examiner for the MA in Scriptwriting course at Sheffield Hallam. She is currently Chair of the Writers’ Organisations Advisory Group, and serving a third term on the committee of the Association of Authors’ Agents.

What she is looking for: Meg is happy to consider scripts in all genres, and books in some genres, especially genre fiction.  Not a good bet for fiction that might be considered to be wearing a cardigan, or which is narrated by an animal.

How to submit: Please send scripts for film, TV and theater as a PDF file. For books, send a full synopsis and the first 3 chapters/50 pages as a doc file or PDF to meg@ki-agency.co.uk.

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Ms. Jennifer Christie of Graham Maw Christie Literary Agents

Jennifer worked in marketing and advertising for 12 years, and as a literary agent for 13 years. Starting in PR ( The Rowland Company, Saatchi & Saatchi), she moved into advertising (TBWA, Ogilvy and Mather) and then journalism (BBC and freelance). She has also worked as a ghostwriter.

What she is seeking: Memoir, autobiography, parenting and self-help to popular philosophy, science, food, creativity, history and smart thinking

How to submit: Please email your submission to submissions@grahammawchristie.com with the title of your work in the subject header and the word 'submission'. See the website for details.

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Ms. Jane Gregory of David Higham Associates Ltd

After thirty years of running her own literary agency, Jane, her team and all her authors were delighted to join the like-minded agents and colleagues at DHA in January 2018. Before setting up as an agent, Jane was a Rights and Contracts Director for publishers. In the past, Jane has been on the Virago advisory panel; co-founded ‘Women in Publishing’; produced, directed and co-wrote several publishers’ pantomimes; and was a co-founder of The Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously Orange and Baileys Prize). She also co-founded, and is currently still on the committee of, the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate.

What she is seeking: Jane Gregory represents authors of crime, thrillers, psychological suspense, historical and literary fiction. She works closely on all editorial matters with Stephanie Glencross.

How to submit: Please send a one-page synopsis that gives a full explanation of the plot, and the first three chapters or up to fifty pages (double spaced). Read submission details HERE.

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Mr. Jamie Maclean of Coombs Moylett MacLean Literary Agency

Educated at Edinburgh College of Art, Jamie was fortunate enough to join the pilot scheme of the Sotheby’s Works of Art Course. Subsequently he worked for Sotheby’s and briefly ran the newly formed Victorian paintings department before moving to Michael Parkin Fine Art, a gallery specializing in modern British art. His next job was at Wildenstein & Co, the international art dealers. Three years later he set up his own dealership, the Maclean Gallery, holding exhibitions of paintings, drawings and prints from the 18th century to the present day, for which he produced several catalogues. In 1985 he curated the first exhibition of erotic art to be held legally in the UK.

What he is seeking: Jamie specialises in both fiction and non-fiction and is particularly interested in sexual politics, relationship, lifestyle how-to’s, erotica, thrillers, whodunit and historical crime.

How to submit: Use their online form HERE.

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Ms. Cara Lee Simpson of Jonathan Clowes Ltd

Cara Lee Simpson joined the agency in 2016, after working as a literary agent and a freelance literary scout. She is interested in submissions for bold literary and upmarket fiction – anything with a compelling narrative voice and a new way of seeing the world.

What she is seeking: At the moment she is on the lookout for memoirs by women with a feminist edge, books that explore gender politics and sexuality, and more fiction from BAME and working class perspectives. She’s also looking for nature writers who do something different with the genre, and for accessible psychology and popular science books. Adult submissions only please.

How to submit: Send a query, synopsis and three chapters (or an equivalent sample) to cara@jonathanclowes.co.uk.

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Ms. Sophie Gorell Barnes of MBA Literary Agents Ltd

Sophie studied theatre and television and worked as a researcher for several years on factual programmes and for the COI. She has written children’s books for Macmillan Education, reviewed theatre and worked on magazines as a sub editor. She joined MBA at the end of 1993 and moved to agenting original and talented children’s writers, working on picture books to YA fiction.  She also agents writers for theatre, adult non fiction and handles audiobook rights for MBA.

What she is seeking: She is looking, in particular, for slick and humorous middle grade fiction.

How to submit: Please send the first three chapters and a synopsis as attachments and a covering letter in the body of the email. All attachments must be in Word, PDF or Final Draft format. Please e-mail all submissions to submissions@mbalit.co.uk marking your email for the attention of the relevant agent.

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Lucy Morris of Curtis Brown

Lucy Morris joined the Curtis Brown Books Department in September 2014 from Bloomsbury Publishing.

What she is seeking: She is actively building her list of reading group and literary fiction, narrative non-fiction and memoir.

"In fiction, I look for books with heart and humour, brilliant social observation and clever storytelling. I’m on the hunt for a great returning detective like Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie or Susie Steiner’s Manon Bradshaw. I’d also be keen to find some stylish suspense in the vein of Patricia Highsmith. Stories about families are guaranteed to pique my interest. I’m a huge fan of Liane Moriarty, and some other recent favourites include Ayobami Adebayo’s Stay With Me, Tin Man by Sarah Winman, and Katherine Heiny’s outstanding short story collection Single, Carefree, Mellow.

In terms of non-fiction my tastes are pretty broad, but I am always drawn to memoir, the professional and the personal, beautifully written stories told with wit, warmth and precision. I was entranced by Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm as the study of an expert nearing the end of his career but still in awe of his subject, and I often return to Nigel Slater’s utterly delightful Toast. Other favourites include Maggie O’Farrell’s I Am, I Am, I Am and Tara Westover’s Educated."

How to submit: Use their online form HERE.

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Ms. Seren Adams of United Agents Ltd

Seren Adams worked at Granta and Foyles before joining United Agents in 2015. As well as assisting Anna Webber, she is building her own list. She is looking for excellent short fiction, unconventional literary novels, and narrative non-fiction.

How to submit: When submitting please send the following: 1) A cover letter introducing yourself and your work, 2) A one to two page synopsis, 3) The first three chapters of your novel or a non-fiction book proposal to SAdams@unitedagents.co.uk.

48 Calls for Submissions in September 2019 - Paying Markets

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There are four dozen calls for submissions in September. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. Some accept reprints.

As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post upcoming calls for submissions at the end of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on upcoming calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)


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Briarpatch Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction writing and artwork on a wide range of topics, including current events, grassroots activism, electoral politics, economic justice, ecology, labour, food security, gender equity, indigenous struggles, international solidarity, and other issues of political importance. Payment: $50-$150. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Underland Press: Eighteen. Genre: Mystery, crime, dark fantasy, horror, and other speculative fiction for an anthology called ‘Eighteen.’ Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Contrary. Genres: Fiction, poetry, commentary. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 1, 2018.

Darkness Wired Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction stories on the intersection of elder gods, old monsters and new technology. Payment: $15.00 to $25.00. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Griffith Review. Genre: Nonfiction writing that reveals the ways our institutions are transforming, reshaping, renewing. Payment: Negotiated. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Poetry and fiction on Family Functions (or Dysfunctions).  Payment: $20 for featured author stories; $10 for stories published on &More page $5 for poems. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Portland Review: Labor. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and mixed-genre works on theme of LABOR. Payment: $30. Deadline: September 2, 2019.

Rogue Blades: Death's Sting Anthology. Genre: Sword & Sorcery tales about immortals in the vein of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, Barry Sadler's Casca, Steven Erikson's Rhulad Sengar and Kallor, and Dennis O'Neil's Rā's al Ghūl. Payment: $30. Deadline: September 2, 2019.

Rogue Blades: Slaughter is the Best Medicine Anthology. Genre: Heroic Fantasy tales in the ways of Low Fantasy. Payment: $30. Deadline: September 2, 2019.

Rogue Blades: Reach for the Sky Anthology. Genre: Fantasy about cowboys and aliens! Payment: $30. Deadline: September 2, 2019.

Timeless Tales: The Abduction of Persephone. Genre: Poetry an short story retellings of fairy tales and myths. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 3, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Left Hand Publishers. Genre: Short stories based on classics. Payment: $25. Deadline: September 6, 2019.

SubTerrain Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and commentary on theme of 1984. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem; Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500.) Canadian dollars. Deadline: September 6, 2019. Charges fee for online submissions; no fee for snail mail.

Fu Review. Genre: Short stories on theme of Melt. Payment: 20 Euros. Deadline: September 7, 2019.

Claw & Blossom. Genre: Flash fiction and poetry on theme of Fierce. Payment: $25. Deadline: September 8, 2019.

Bronzeville Books: Latinx Screams Anthology. Genre: Horror stories by Latinx and AfroLatinx writers with protagonists facing overwhelming fears and rising to fight horrifying foes. Payment: $0.05 U.S. per word for previously unpublished stories. Deadline: September 13, 2019.

Havok. Genre: Mystery, scifi, comedy, thriller, and fantasy on theme of The 90s. Length: 300 to 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 13, 2019.

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

Broken Pencil. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Payment: CAD $50-100 for fiction, CAD $30-300 for articles. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Horror for the Throne: One Sitting Reads. Genre: Horror. Payment: $20. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Lackington’s: Birds. Genre: Speculative fiction stories on the theme of ‘Birds.’ Illustrations accepted. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

The Spectacle. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry, fiction. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Shenandoah. Genre: Fiction, novel excerpts and creative nonfiction. Payment: $100 per 1000 words of prose up to $500. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Eye to the Telescope: Tricksters. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: $0.03/word, up to $25. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Raconteur. Genre: Fiction, art, and poetry. "Raconteur is a literary magazine publishing engaging, interesting, eclectic and witty writing and artwork by international writers and artists, online and in print, 3 times per year." Payment: $10 for fiction, $5 for poetry. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

Reckoning. Genre: Creative writing about environmental justice. Payment: 6 cents a word for prose, twenty dollars a page for poetry, art negotiable, minimum twenty-five dollars per piece. Deadline: September 23, 2019.

Story Seed Vault. Genre: Microfiction with one condition – your story must be based on science. Payment: Short Fiction (<150Characters) $3AUD per story. Long Fiction (>150CH/<200CH) $2AUD per story. Deadline: September 24, 2019.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction (1000 words max) Payment: $3. Deadline: September 26, 2019.

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

Cast of Wonders Podcast. Genre: Speculative fiction for teens. Length: 3,000 words max. Theme: Artemis Rising. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Arc. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 per page for poetry or prose published in the magazine. $50 per webpage for online reprints on the website. $50 per column for How Poems Work. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $25 per poem and $100 for prose and art pieces. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Writer’s Chronicle. "The editors look for articles that demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of literary issues and a generosity of spirit that esteems the arguments of other writers on similar topics." Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $18 per 100 words. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Truancy. Genre: Revised folktales, legends, myth and other traditional narratives that have been made new by your retelling or your original fiction that has these folkloric elements or mythic elements.  Payment: 2 cents/word for fiction. $15 per poem. Deadline: September 30, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Golden Years or Second Wind. Genre: True stories. "We are looking for stories about the humorous or serious sides of life after 60." Payment: $200, publication, and 10 author copies. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Laughter is the Best Medicine. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life - in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud." Payment: $200, publication, and 10 author copies. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

PodCastle: Artemis Rising. Genre: Speculative fiction: podcast. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: September 30, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. Genre: Sword and sorcery fantasy. Payment: $100 for stories and $25 for poems, upon publication. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Aether&Ichor. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: £5 (or equivalent currency) per 1,000 words, at a minimum of £5. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Songs of Eretz. Genre: Poetry, cover art on theme of Autumn. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Event Magazine. Genre: Short stories and poetry. Payment: Canadian $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500; $200 for a cover photo, $500 for 10 commissioned black-and-white illustrations. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Hallmark Publishing Genre: Romance, and cozy mystery, full-length novels (65,000 – 85,000 words). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Chronically Lit. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction that relates to chronic illness in some way.  Payment: $10. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Understorey. Restrictions: Open to writers in Canada who identify as women or non-binary. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry on theme of Nature: World Under Threat. Payment: $30-$60.  Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Aurealis. 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, 2019.

AfroMyth 2: A Fantasy Collection. Genre: Stories about magic, gods, mysticism, and mythical creatures; old fairy tales with an Afrocentric twist. The main character should be of indigenous African descent. Payment:1.5 cents/word. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Deep Magic. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy (no violence, sex or language). Payment: $0.06/word, capped at $599 for stories longer than 10,000 words, Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Augur. Genre: Dream-touched realism, slipstream, fabulism, magical realism (note: educate yourself before you claim this term) and, for lack of a better descriptor, “literary” speculative fiction. Payment: $10 for flash, $20 for short story. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Qwerty Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and art. Payment: $10 CAD. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

35 Writing Contests in September 2019 - No entry fees

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There are over two dozen writing contests in September for short stories, poetry, essays, scripts, and books in every genre. None charge entry fees. Prizes range from a gift basket to $25,000. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

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

Good luck!

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Green Stories Writing Competition. Genre: Screenplay about building a sustainable society. Prize: £750: 1st prize £500, 2nd prize £100, third prize £50 plus £50 for best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best < 18 year submission. Deadline: ?

Helen Schaible Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $50, 2nd Prize $35, 3rd Prize $15, three Honorable Mentions, three Special Recognitions. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Brilliant Flash Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction. Word limit: 300 words, excluding title. Prompt: “Feed Us” Prize: $100.00 first prize, $30.00 second prize, $20.00 third prize Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Transitions Abroad. Genre: Essay on living, working or moving abroad. Prize: $500. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

The Critical Junior Poet’s Award. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

PEN Prison Writing Contest. Restrictions: Anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison in the year before the September 1 deadline is eligible to enter. Genres: Poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction. Prize: $200 top prize per category. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Wrightwood Literary Festival Young Poets Competition. Restrictions: Open to school-aged poets in the Tri-Community area and beyond (Wrightwood, CA). Genre: Poetry. Prize: Gift basket and invitation to read at the festival. Deadline: September 1, 2019.

Hubert Butler Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to European Union citizens aged 18+. Genre: Essay on theme "Where does a citizen of the world belong?" 3,000 words max. Prize: Up to 1,000 pounds. Deadline: September 2, 2019.

IWSG. Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy. Theme: Voyagers. Word count: 3500-5000. Prize: The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press' imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Deadline: September 4, 2019.

#PitMad Pitch Party. #PitMad is a pitch party on Twitter where writers tweet a 280-character pitch for their completed, polished, unpublished manuscripts. Agents and editors make requests by liking/favoriting the tweeted pitch. Every unagented writer is welcome to pitch. All genres/categories are welcomed. Deadline: September 5, 2019.

Young Lions Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens 35 years of age or younger. Genre: Novel or a collection of short stories published between January 2017 and December 2017. Submissions by publisher only. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $10,000.00.    Deadline: September 6, 2019.

Pass or Pages. Genre: Novel. Prize: Possible agent representation. Deadline: September 9 - 13, 2019.

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 $25,000.00. Deadline: Books published between July 31 and September 10 must be received by September 11, 2019.

Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets. Restrictions: Poetry pamphlet. Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom between September 2018 and this year’s closing date are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize:  £5,000. Deadline: September 12, 2019.

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 15, 2019.

Scriptlab. Genre: TV script or short screenplay. Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: September 15, 2019.

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction. Deadline: September 16, 2019.

Three Cheers and a Tiger. Genre: Science fiction/fantasy short story. Prize: Winning stories are published in the December issue of 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 21, 2019.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story on theme: ‘Love Letters.’ Prize: £200.    Deadline: September 21, 2019.

The Furious Gazelle’s 2019 Halloween Writing Contest. Genre: Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays and creative non-fiction. Prize: $50. Deadline: September 21, 2019.

Slackjaw Humor Writing Challenge! Genre: Humor Prize: Up to $2000. Deadline: September 21, 2019.

Cullman Center Fellowships. Fellowship. 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 $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources. Deadline: September 27, 2019.

The Lancaster Playwriting Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers aged over 55 who are based in North West England. Genre: Script (for a play). Scripts must be a minimum of 40 minutes long. Prize: £1500. Deadline: September 27, 2019.

Writers' HQ Flash Quarterly Contest. Genre: Unpublished flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: 450 pounds. Top three winners win membership to Writers' HQ, a British writing resource site, and admission to three WHQ writing retreats. Winners outside the UK can substitute a manuscript critique for the retreats. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon. Genre: Short story. " Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 50 paragraphs. The contest provides the first and last paragraph and the short story writer crafts the rest." Prize: First prize is $1000, 2nd prize is $500, and 3rd prize is $250 with the winning short story published in an ebook short story anthology for Amazon, as well as an invitation to give a public reading at Inkberry Books in Niwot, CO. Twenty-four (24) Finalists will also have their short stories included in this ebook anthology. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Salisbury Story Prize. Genre: Short fiction (500 words) on theme of "Rivers." Open to ages 4 and up. Prize: £50 for children to be spent at Waterstones. Free online course for adults.  Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards. Genre: Short story collection. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press, royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

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, 2019.

Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers of Caribbean birth or citizenship, living and working in the Anglophone Caribbean and writing in English, over the age of 18 by 30 September, 2018 and have no previously published a book-length work in the genre in which they are making a submission.Genre: Literary non-fiction work in progress.   Prize: $20,000TT (or the equivalent in US dollars). Deadline: September 30, 2019.

Victoria Literary Festival Writing Competition. Genre: Short story: 1500 words, taking into consideration the theme of the 2019 VLF festival: Hats Off. Prize: First prize will receive 350 CDN$ with four runners up receiving 50 CDN$ each. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

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 between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Prize: €10,000 (approximately $11,400) Deadline: September 30, 2019.

My Writing Journey. Genre: A 600-word piece on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. Prize: $200 (R2 000 or £100) Deadline: September 30, 2019.

The Great Lake Drabble Contest #15. Genre: Drabble on theme of "Treasure Hunt." (100 words max) Prize: $1. Deadline: September 30, 2019.

36 Fabulous Writing Conferences in September 2019

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With the change in seasons, writers are energized, and raring to go. This September there are 36 conferences, intensive workshops, retreats and book fairs from coast to coast. You will also have a chance to pitch your work to agents, meet editors, and get to know your fellow writers. Conferences provide great opportunities to network, so make the most of your experience!

I strongly recommend that you plan ahead for next year if you miss your perfect conference or workshop. Many of these conferences offer scholarships, but you have to apply early.

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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Writing Retreat for Jewish Kidlit Authors! September 5 -8, 2019:  Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. A 4-day writers retreat. Special guest Agent Linda Epstein.

LoonSong Retreat. September 5 -9, 2019: Cook, Minnesota. Workshops for poetry, novels, picture books, nonfiction and manuscript consultations.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. Sept. 6 - 8, 2019: Denver, CO. Keynote Speakers: Marie Force, John Gilstrap, and Anne Hillerman. Faculty includes a wide variety of published authors, marketers, editors, and agents. Opportunities to pitch projects to agents and editors.

Poets on the Coast. Sept. 6- 8, 2019: La Conner, Washington. Workshop, one-on-one mentoring, craft classes, and yoga for women poets. The faculty includes poets Kelli Russell Agodon and Susan Rich. Tuition, which does not include lodging or meals, is $429. (Closed but check for cancellations)

Slice Literary Writers’ Conference. September 7 - 8, 2019: Brooklyn, NY. Craft workshops, panels, and one-on-one agent meetings for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Fiction and nonfiction writers Mira Jacob and Kiese Laymon will deliver the keynotes. Participating publishing professionals include agents Amy Elizabeth Bishop (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret), Sarah Bowlin (Aevitas Creative Management), Reiko Davis (DeFiore & Company), Stephanie Delman (Greenburger Associates), Mitch Hoffman (Aaron Priest Literary Agency), Annie Hwang (Folio Literary Management), Heather Jackson (Heather Jackson Literary Agency), Jacqueline Ko (Wylie Agency), Ayesha Pande (Ayesha Pande Literary), Anjali Singh (Ayesha Pande Literary), and DongWon Song (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency). The cost of the conference is $375 for both days or $275 for one day; students receive a $50 discount. Agent meetings are an additional $100 to $175; workshops are $50.

UCLA Extension Writing Retreat at Lake Arrowhead. Sept 8 - 13, 2019: Lake Arrowhead, CA. Join a small group of committed writers for four full days of uninterrupted writing time at UCLA’s beautiful conference center at Lake Arrowhead. Participants will enjoy private bedrooms, private baths, and three gourmet meals each day, along with complimentary beverages all day long. The Writers’ Program will coordinate some structured activities, including pre-dinner social hours and nightly open mic events, but your time will ultimately be yours to accomplish your writing goals at your own pace.

PNWA Conference. September 12 - 15, 2019, Seattle, Washington, Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. More than 50 seminars, editor/agent forums & appointments, practice pitching, keynote and featured speakers, reception, awards ceremony. Many agents and editors attending.

Creatures, Crimes & Creativity. September 13 - 17, 2019: Columbia, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.

San Francisco Writing for Change. September 14, 2019: San Francisco, CA. This event is for writers of nonfiction AND fiction who want to change the world for the better through their work.

The Art & Craft of Fiction. September 14, 2019: Litchfield, CT. Seven in-depth workshops with writer/editor/instructors John and Natalie Bates. Cost: $125 includes workshop, manuscript feedback, and lunch.

2019 Flathead River Writers Conference. Sept 14 - 15, 2019: Kalispell, MT. Writers help writers in this two day conference packed with energizing speakers and workshops. Features:Workshops on VOICE, HOOK, Your WORLD & TRIBE, MS preparation & submission, working with agents, movie deals, media use, & children's book publishing. Past presenters: Susan Adrian, Christine Carbo, Kathy Dunnehoff, Larry J. Martin, Jess Owen. Agents: Kate Testerman and Cindy Uh.

Connecting Writers with Hollywood. September 15, 2019: Spokane, WA. CWWH is a writers conference where writers and screenwriters can pitch their material directly to film agents and producers. It is a weekend of education, panels and pitch sessions.

Brooklyn Book Festival. September 16 - 23, 2019: Brooklyn, NY. The festival features readings, panels, and a book fair. Participants include poets Jericho Brown, Tina Chang, Rigoberto González, Ilya Kaminsky, and Sally Wen Mao; fiction writers Ted Chiang, Susan Choi, Edwidge Danticat, Jonathan Safran Foer, Amitav Ghosh, Aleksandar Hemon, Marlon James, N. K. Jemisin, Laila Lalami, Courtney Maum, Maaza Mengiste, Joyce Carol Oates, Téa Obreht, and Nell Zink; and nonfiction writers Christopher Bonanos, Dave Cullen, Benjamin Dreyer, Bill McKibben, Mary Norris, Rebecca Traister, and Damon Young. All events are free and open to the public.

Idaho Writers League Annual Conference. Sept 19 -21, 2019: Sandpoint, Idaho. Workshops focusing on writing, publishing, marketing and IWL awards. Faculty includes Mary Buckham, keynoter; active settings for all fiction; pacing; one-on-ones; Jack Nisbet, memoirs, non-fiction; Janet Oakley, researching/writing historical fiction; Tom Reppert, character development, time-travel; Jim Payne, Jennifer Lamont Le.

Hampton Roads Writers Eleventh Annual Writers' Conference. Sept 19 -21, 2019: Virginia Beach, Virginia. 1 evening plus 2-full days of workshops, 2 best-selling keynoters, 2 first ten-lines critique sessions, 60 workshops during 10 breakout sessions, ten-minute agent and/or publisher pitches, cash prize contests for short fiction, short nonfiction, and poetry, complimentary 90-minute cocktail social, 2-hour open mic, optional 4-hour add-on WRITER'S BOOT CAMP SESSION (pre-conference); workshops cover fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, screenwriting, songwriting, marketing, and the business of getting published. A bookshop, book signings, and many networking opportunities.

Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Sept. 19–22, 2019: Lexington, KY. The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is the longest running literary festival of women in the nation. About 1,000 individuals attend the conference each year. Daytime sessions attract about 150 writers at all stages of development, and free evening events gather a lively community of readers. Most come seeking literary sisterhood, help with a manuscript, or practical advice about the publishing industry. Many are students or beginning writers.

New York Pitch Conference. Sept 19 - 22, 2019: New York, NY. Features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.Workshops, homework & pitch training, agent/editor feedback, market study, publication plan.

Writing for Illustrators: An Author/Illustrator Intensive. Sept 19 - 22, 2019: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. Grow as a writer while honoring your illustration background. Join author/illustrators a three-day intensive workshop.

Ridgefield Writers Conference. Sept 20, 2019: Ridgefield, CT. Faculty-led workshops; agent, editor and publisher panels; networking; readings; and post-conference resources.

KABAM! (Kingman Area Books Are Magic). September 20-21, 2019: Kingman, AZ. The KABAM! book festival & writers conference welcomes writers of all skill levels to breakout sessions, pitching tables, and other events. Faculty includes Mystic Publishers; Crystal Publishing. Headline Author: YA - Randall Platt. Headline Poet: Myrlin Hepworth. Marketing Specialist: Brian Rouff Jo A. Wilkins, author/publisher/writing coach. Richard Draude, author/graphic design.

A Weekend For Words. Sept 20 - 22, 2019: Irvine, CA. 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. Costs $325-$425. Manuscript critique & one-on-one consultation additional.

The Pacific Coast Children's Novel Workshop & Retreat. Sept 20 - 22, 2019: 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 Agent Kari Sutherland, Editor Liesa Abrams, and Editor Samantha Gentry.

Connecticut Fiction Fest. Sponsored by Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Sept. 21, 2019: Danbury, CT. Learn to Write Naked: A one-day craft & marketing workshop with Jennifer Probst.

Mini Writing Getaway. Sept 21, 2019: Atlantic City, NJ. Need a brief break from your life? Need to rekindle your love affair with writing? Join us for a welcoming getaway designed for writers of fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction and poetry. This retreat will trigger your imagination, giving you the freedom to compose new and exciting work. Spend the day immersed in the literary life: writing, discussing craft and sharing new drafts.No distractions. Just a day of writing. Led by Peter E. Murphy.

Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference. Sept 21, 2019, Athens, GA. "Got Writer's Block? Give Your Creativity a Kick in the Pants! In this interactive workshop with editor Val M. Mathews, you’ll learn fun tools to jump-start your writing day, prevent the blank-page stare, and make your writing pop."

ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival at Boulder. Sept 21 - 22, 2019: Boulder, CO. Presentations, panels, readings, and music performances. In an uplifting celebration of the mind and heart, authors from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe will take part in provocative conversations about life and society, economics and the arts, equity, freedom, and the care of our planet. In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community.

4th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference. Sept 21 - 22, 2019: Decatur, GA. Headlined by #1 NYT bestseller Angie Thomas, bestselling writers, literary agents, and sessions packed with insightful information and experience, our conference offers what you need to improve your craft and get you on the road toward publication!

Plotting Madness Boot Camp, Scene Structure Book Camp. Sept 21 - 25, Sept 26 - 28, Sept 29 - Oct 2, 2019 : South Lake Tahoe, CA. Three intensive days in a mansion at South Lake Tahoe. With a small group of writers and instructors you will plot out a full novel outline. Breakfast and lunch included. Led by C. S. Lakin, author, editor and writing coach and Catharine Bramkamp author and writing coach.

Nurturing Your Artistic Voice: A Guide for Kidlit Rebels and Risk-takers. Sept 22 - 25, 2019: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. Illustrator Carolyn Flores and author Meg Medina will lead participants in an exploration of identity, creativity, and publishing.

Breakout Novel Intensive 2.0. September 23 - 29, 2019: San  Antonio, Texas. Included are new or revised units on story discovery, strong voice, standout characters, the inner journey, compelling story worlds, beautiful writing, creating resonance and finding meaning in both story and process. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more. Instructor: Donald Maass.

Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop. September 25 - 29, 2019: Sterling,Virginia. This event is now enhanced with new pre-event studies and pre-event phone consultation, a broader range of faculty, an array of vital workshops, as well as extended personal time with business professionals. "You can be as goal-oriented or as hesitant in approach as you wish. You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, have your work read by our writer mentors, attend our workshops, pitch a literary agent or two, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer.

Taking Your Writing & Art to New Places: Published Authors and Illustrators at Work 2019. September 25 - 29, 2019: Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. With this workshop, we are aiming for meaningful conversation about how to continue to push the boundaries of our work. How do we acknowledge the power of our recurring themes and at the same time find ways to break new ground and find innovation? For published authors only.

TLA Power of Words Conference. September 26 - 29, 2019: 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.

Authorpreneur Workshop. September 27 - 28, 2019: Red Bank, NJ. Workshop for authors of all genres that imparts writing and publishing business skills to attain success in the publishing industry, plus insider tips and guidance on everything from plotting to submissions to publishing deals. Faculty includes Marisa Corvisiero, Esq. Amy Bishop, Lit Agent, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, Alec Shane, Lit Agent, Writers House, Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, Lit Agent, LKG Agency, Katherine Prosswimmer, Acq. Editor, McElderry, Simon & Schuster Eva Scalzo, Lit Agent.

LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 27 - 29, 2019: Tieton, WA. The workshop features readings, performances, and meditation for poets. The faculty includes poets Susan Blair, Thom Caraway, Laura Da’, Natalie Diaz, Christopher Howell, Claudia Castro Luna, Finn Menzies, Saretta Morgan, Cynthia Neely, Matthew Nienow, Dan Peters, and Maya Jewell Zeller. The registration fee, which includes weekend classes and a banquet dinner on Saturday night, is $220 until August 31 and $250 thereafter. Master classes are available for an additional $50 to $120 each.

Wrightwood Literary Festival. September 28 - 29, 2019: Wrightwood, CA. Features workshops and readings by new guest faculty.This year’s festival will also feature an all-new nature walk, a new member of the local faculty in Melissa Chadburn, and a keynote address by Janet Fitch.