10 Paying Markets for Narrative Journalism, Essays, Personal Essays, and Cultural Criticism

In most cases, not only is nonfiction easier to publish than fiction, it's lucrative. Professional rates of several hundred dollars up to a thousand for features are not unusual. And some magazines with substantial circulations, like Cosmopolitan, are willing to accept pitches from freelancers.

If you are a fiction writer, don't be discouraged. Personal essays are well within your grasp. They have the same structure as short fiction - a beginning, a middle, and an end. If you can write short fiction, you can write a personal essay.

For more nonfiction publishing opportunities see:

The New York Times Wants Your Personal Essays - Paying market

Top 12 Paying Markets for Fiction, Personal Essays and Poetry

42 Paying Markets for Personal Essays

27 Magazines that Publish Freelance Book Reviews - Paying markets

Freelancing: Getting Paid to Write Nonfiction Articles

(Image: Flickr)

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Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is looking for personal essays, reported pieces, and cultural criticism for the opinion section. From the editor: "Your pitch should center on an opinion that you’ll justify with thoughtful reasoning, insightful facts, and strong resources that support your viewpoint. Show me how your piece will help readers make sense of and better understand people, events, ideas, trends, or culture. Topics can range from irreverent pop culture rants to nuanced takes on public policy. Whether it's niche or mainstream, beloved or unpopular, timely or random, I’m down as long as you’ve got a clear opinion and a strong, thoughtful argument to back it up." 

Payment: Rates typically start between $250-$350 and can scale up depending on the scope and requirements of each piece. Ideal word count typically ranges from 600-900. Send an email to patrice dot peck at hearst dot com. In the subject line, write PITCH: [A Possible Headline For Your Piece]. Include the projected word count and a feasible deadline. Several pitches in one email is fine as long as they each have the info above. And if you’ve already written the piece, feel free to include it. 

Read more here.

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Insider and Business Insider 

Insider and Business Insider are publications looking for journalistic articles with "heat." 

"We at Insider want great, heat-seeking narrative journalism. Ambitious pieces with character, color, tension, and drama. Stories that trace an obsession, unlock a secret, or expose some WTF-level insight about how power works. Ripping yarns, stories of true crime, of loves lost and won. Rivalries in sports, tech, and entertainment. Chronicles of dreams realized and broken. Politics, entertainment, business, international intrigue. We're into all of it."

Payment: Who Pays Writers reports payment of between 20 and 35 cents a word.  

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Bitch Magazine

"Our definition of culture is broad, encompassing cultural attitudes and myths, phenomena of the popular imagination, and social trends as well as movies, TV shows, web series, books, internet subcultures, and the like. For Bitch, culture also includes politics, science, health, and life, including food, parenting, chronic illness, relationships, religion, activism, education, climate change, and different elements of our lives that we all consider as we decide who we are as feminists."

Payment: $700-$1000 for features, $350 for dispatches, and between $250-$700 for culture stories.

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Air Canada En Route Magazine

"What makes an Air Canada enRoute story? We engage our audience through intelligent writing, insight, humour and spot‑on service journalism. Our stories exemplify narrative journalism at its best, exploring the world through first‑hand, highly experiential pieces. We look for articles with unique, unexpected angles and for subjects that will remain fresh during our four‑to‑six‑month lead time. Air Canada enRoute commissions stories that focus on everything from food and drink, design and architecture to style, arts and culture, technology, social trends and sports, all told through the lens of travel."

Payment: Who Pays Writers reports payment of $1 a word. 

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Longreads

"Longreads is dedicated to publishing and sharing the best longform nonfiction storytelling on the web. Personal/Critical Essays and Columns These pieces typically run between 2,000 and 6,000 words, but can be longer or broken up into a series depending on the length and subject matter.  Personal essays should be submitted on spec. We look for smart, original angles and fresh, unique voices." 

Payment: $500 per essay or column.

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WhatCulture.com

What Culture is a huge site with articles about popular culture. The minimum word length is 1500 words. You do not need to have any relevant experience or hold any particular qualifications, but you do need to:

• Possess excellent creativity
• Have a keen eye for detail
• Show a passion for content creation
• Stay on top of trends

"List-driven written features are our bread and butter. But we'll also consider Quizzes, Galleries, Video submissions or News pieces."

• Film, TV, Gaming, Sport & More
• Recommended minimum 1500 words for lists - galleries and quizzes are even simpler!
• Have your work published
• Share it on Facebook/Twitter

You can submit as many articles as you want.

Payment: £0.50 for every 1,000 views generated in the first 28 days of publication. 

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Global Comment

"We welcome pitches from people at all levels of experience from all over the world. Our goal is to promote conversations and diverse media.

We don’t like neo-Nazis. Or terrorists. We strive to publish a variety of opinions on this site, but we do have a strong view as to what is and isn’t acceptable discourse. We lean towards progressive voices and oppose populism; if you read the existing writing on the site, you will probably have a good idea of whether or not your work is right for us. If you aren’t sure, ask!"

What they are looking for:

• Well-informed essays on a topic you are fascinated by or passionate about
• Well-researched opinion or comment pieces on a topic you feel strongly about
• Reviews of films, TV, books, music or theatre that’s at a national or international level.

Payment: $50

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Griffith Review

"Lyrical essays, researched essays, creative non-fiction, analytical pieces – we publish them all. We like new and creative ideas, and we like you, the writer. Don’t be afraid to let yourself shine through in your writing. Griffith Review is not an academic journal (although academics may be able to obtain research credits for their writing), and while we often tackle complex ideas, we are committed to giving our writers space for their own voice. Give us your provocations and opinions, so long as they are considered and backed up." Pieces generally range from 2,000 to up to 5,000 words, unless previously negotiated with the editors. They publish some fiction as well.

Payment: Negotiated.

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The Point

"The Point is a magazine of philosophical writing that embodies two distinct but complementary convictions: on the one hand, that humanistic thinking has relevance for contemporary life; on the other, that our lives are full of experiences worth thinking about. We welcome submissions for our print journal, which is published three times a year, and for our website, which is updated continuously. 

Each issue of the magazine has three main sections: ESSAYS, SYMPOSIUM and REVIEWS. Our essays blend memoir, criticism and journalism to examine the ideas and beliefs that shape our world. The symposium is a collection of responses to a question chosen by the editors (e.g., What is protest for? What is marriage for? What is privacy for?). Reviews can be about pretty much anything at all. Print essays run between 3,000 and 6,000 words; reviews and symposium articles are of medium length (1,500-3,000 words). We also accept ideas-driven reported pieces for our CORRESPONDENCE section (3,000-5,000 words). The website runs articles of any length but preferably of about 1,500-3,000 words."

Payment: "Contributors whose articles appear in the print journal will be compensated." 

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The Audacity

THE AUDACITY features an emerging writer twice a month. (An emerging writer is someone with fewer than three article/essay/short story publications and no published books or book contracts.)

"Please submit your best nonfiction and nonfiction only. I am interested in literary essays and memoir. Please submit only one essay at a time. Essays should be between 1500 and 3000 words. I am interested in thoughtful essays, beautiful, intelligent writing, deep explorations, timelessness, and challenging conventional thinking without being cheap and lazy. We may take up to eight weeks to respond but we will respond to all submissions."

Payment: All essays are paid a flat fee of $2,000.

Most Popular Publishing Posts of 2021

Every January I do a "year in review" of my most popular posts during the previous year. Most people who visit my blog want to get published, so it's natural that my most viewed posts are calls for submissions. 

Last year was no exception. There were over 50,000 visits to my Calls for Submissions page. 

In 2021, I published 81 posts. (My total number of posts since 2012 is 892.) I don't know whether to be proud or ashamed of this apparent "blog addiction." I blame my children. (They also said, "Mom, you need a Facebook page," and look where that has gotten me!) (Oh, and Twitter...don't get me started!)

In 2021, my most popular post was (drum roll):

30 Traditional Publishers Accepting Submissions - No agent required (15,300 views)

Despite the popularity of self-publishing, most people visiting my blog want to get traditionally published. That is not at all surprising. Most writers want the pedigree that an established publishing house offers, not to mention the marketing and distribution. 

At this time of year, I also like to do a review of my most popular posts of all time. (All of these posts have been recently updated.)

5 Most Popular Posts - All Time

22 US Children's Book Publishers Accepting Manuscripts Directly From Writers 279,000 views

325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction 155,000 views

Agents Looking for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers 156,000 views

3 Major Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts 94.700 views

6 Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts from Writers - No Agent Needed 77,600 views

Some Additional Popular Posts

16 UK Children's Book Publishers Accepting Manuscripts Directly from Writers 60,900 views

Mega-List of Paying Markets for Horror, Dark Fiction and Poetry 55,400 views

40 Paying Markets for Personal Essays 37,324 views

20 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required 30,600 views

20 Magazines That Pay $500 or More 22,000 views

2022 New Year's Writing Resolution: Observe the Ordinary

Last year I made a resolution to re-read some of the books that have impressed me with their brilliant prose, their poetic insights, their ability to make me lose myself completely in another time and place. These are the books I hug after I get to the last line, unwilling to give them back to the library. Eventually, I will  purchase them to display on shelves where I can gaze upon their spines, and open them when the mood strikes me, to revel once again in the joy of fine prose.

Why then, do I keep devouring Anne Tyler novels? Between reading Cloud Cuckoo Land and Piranesi, both of which are magnificent recent contributions to the literary world, I read Anne Tyler novels - ten of them, to be precise. Tyler has written twenty-four novels. She churns them out every year or so like a litter of kittens, barely taking a breath before the next one pops out. There is no need for her to research her books. They all take place in Baltimore, where she lives. They all revolve around somewhat dysfunctional families and marriages, which I assume she has experience with. And they all have happy-ish endings. She even recycles her characters, dressing them up in new bodies, but keeping all their old foibles and quirks. I view these characters as variations on a theme, not as individuals. Indeed, I had a hard time remembering any of their names, even while I was reading about them. And yet, like popcorn, I couldn't consume just one of her books, even though none of them seemed to have plots.

Why are Tyler's novels so addictive? I believe the answer is literally as plain as the nose on your face. Tyler does not take us to another time and place. Nor does she delve into anything that is outside of our experience. There are no bombs about to explode, no hair-raising chase scenes, no imminent threats. There are no detailed descriptions of the siege of Constantinople, or excursions into the tangled prisons of a deranged mind. There are no new worlds to discover. Instead, her novels are loaded with descriptions of the familiar. Her dialogue is what we hear in everyday speech. Her characters are ordinary, not outstanding, or even memorable, much like strangers you might encounter on a grocery check-out line. And nothing of note ever happens to them. In short, her subject matter is relentlessly mundane.

That is precisely what makes her books so easy to read. It is their utter familiarity. With each and every phrase, we are reminded of things we already know. Reading is simply an act of recognition. The question is, how does one write a book that is as effortless to read as an Anne Tyler novel ... without being boring? Without being predictable? For it is unpredictability that keeps readers turning the pages.  

I have resolved this year to solve that puzzle. 

In 2022 I am going to pay attention to the mundane. I have to face facts: I'll never write like an Anthony Doerr or a Susannah Clarke. I don't have their talent. But what I can do is look around me, pay more attention to my locale, describe it in terms that are familiar, I can listen - really listen - to people when they talk. The content is less important than the style of their delivery. I can watch what people do in everyday settings. And I can try to find the unpredictable in life. There is certainly enough of it.  

Like all creative endeavors, the trick to writing is to make it appear effortless, natural, unstudied. Because it is only by entering into the familiar recesses of a reader's mind that people can forget they are reading. And that brief amnesia, my lovely readers and writers, is a writer's ultimate goal. 

4 New Agents Seeking Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, MG, YA, Picture Books, Graphic Novels and more

Here are four new literary agents seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

Laura Stone is seeking: Romance, Mystery/Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA, MG, Historical Fiction, Action/Adventure, Thrillers. Carol Woien wants Inspirational Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, True Crime. 

Leslie Truex is looking for Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedies, Inspirational Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense/Mystery, New Adult Romance, YA Romance, YA Fantasy. Regina Bernard-Carreno represents Non-Fiction, Picture Books, MG, YA, Picture Books, and Graphic Novels.

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. Leslie Truex of Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Temporarily closed to queries. Will reopen in February.

Leslie Truex began her writing career by accident. After starting a career website in 1998, she wrote two traditionally published non-fiction books, was the home business expert at About.com (now DotDash: The Balance Small Business), and her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Personal Branding Blog, and Business 2 Community. However, her passion lies in writing fiction. She is the author of a dozen romance and mystery novels using a pen name. She is passionate about helping writers through her online community for romance writers, and as the President of the Virginia Writers Club. She's excited to work with writers in getting their works published through Blue Ridge Literary Agency.

What she is seeking: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedies, Inspirational Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense/Mystery, New Adult Romance, YA Romance, YA Fantasy.

How to submit: Use her online form HERE.

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Laura Stone of Blue Ridge Literary Agency

After spending more than twenty years as an editor, Laura Stone joins Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She began her career as a freelance editor, eventually working with Entangled Publishing as a senior editor, working as the managing editor of The Manning Times, and integrating mentoring and coaching into her business. Now, as an accomplished editor, mentor, coach, and published author, Laura is eager to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams.

What she is seeking: Romance, Mystery/Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA, MG, Historical Fiction, Action/Adventure, Thrillers.

How to submit: Use her online form HERE.

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Ms. Carol Woien of Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Carol lives in Indiana with her husband. Under a pseudonym, she's the author of two previously published Cozy Mysteries. She spends her free time near a pool or beach, reading, writing, visiting with family, and avoiding math.

What she is seeking: Inspirational Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, True Crime. 

How to submit: Use her online form HERE.

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Regina Bernard-Carreno of Martin Literary Management

Regina joined Martin Literary Management in 2021. She holds a PhD in Education from the Graduate and University Center at the City University of New York, and graduate degrees in African American Studies from Columbia University and Philosophy from the Graduate Center (CUNY). She holds other degrees in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). Alongside writing and teaching, Regina facilitates Reader Discussion Groups, Private Reading groups and has served as a reader and sometimes editor for both literary and academic journals. She has published widely in academia as well as in trade magazines. The work she hopes to accomplish as a literary manager is to help writers, as well as author-illustrators, think through their projects, see multiple opportunities where perhaps they don't readily exist and help shape their work into successful books. Ultimately, she looks forward to championing great ideas.

What she is seeking: Non-Fiction: In non-fiction, she’s open to seeing true crime projects (No crimes against children or graphic gore against women/children) as well as memoir. Regina also loves cookbooks that help the reader travel to new places. She wants to see cookbooks that have personal narratives tied to them, whether that's a personal story woven throughout, cultural traditions and practices, and/or dishes that tie together cultural memories. She is also accepting submissions for artisanal projects such as crafting (think knitting, sewing, crafting, home-gardening/homesteading, apothecary/healing, and alternative health practices). 

Picture Books: Regina is looking for picture books that deal with a little magical realism, immigrant stories, bilingual picture books, and stories that deal with children and their relationship to animals, earth, and the environment. She’d love to see folktales from a wide variety of places reimagined, especially from authors-illustrators. 

 

Middle Grade: Regina is seeking chapter books and middle-grade novels dealing especially with adventures, solving mysteries, and facing/overcoming hardships and developing friendships.

Graphic Novels: Regina is looking for Middle Grade, Young Adult, and adult graphic novels. She’d love to see more writers of color telling stories of MG & YA and has her eye out for BIPOC creators in this genre. For adult graphic novels, Regina is interested in projects in the vein of Marjane Satrapi’s work and projects in that spirit telling of immigrant stories.

Young Adults: Regina would love to receive rom coms of all kinds. Think Hallmark cards and movies geared towards young adults, complete with heartbreak, friendships, and triumph.

How to submit: Queries should be sent to Regina@MartinLit.com

83 Calls for Submissions in January 2022 - Paying markets

This January there are more than five 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: Pixabay)

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The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on theme of Victorian England. Payment: 15 GBT.  Deadline: January 1, 2022.

Antilang. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Poetry, short/flash fiction, creative non-fiction (including, but not limited to: creative essays, ficto-criticism, flash memoir, photo essays), and hybrid/multi-media such as comics, postcard fiction, and collaborations across media. Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: January 1, 2022. See theme.

Liquid Imagination. Genre: Modern fantasy, science fiction, slipstream, or literary ficiton and poetry up to 6,000 words. "We want awe and intensity, maybe tinged with the ominous side of life." Payment: $8 for short stories (1001 words up to 6000 words) and poems, and $3 for flash stories (up to 1000 words). A $2 bonus will be added for authors who accept payment via Paypal. Deadline: January 1, 2022. 

Folkloric: Lovecraftian Inspired Tales of Folklore & Horror. Genre: Dark fantasy and horror. Payment: $100-150. Deadline: January 1, 2022. 

Particular Passages. Genre: Poetry, fiction, art on theme: Particular Passages. "The theme is: you just don’t know what’s behind that door until you open it." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

The Quiet Ones. Genre: Queer-centered horror and dystopian fiction for adults and young adults. Theme: True Love Never Dies. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 1, 2022.

The Best New True Crime Stories. Genre: Nonfiction, true crime accounts on theme of Crimes of the Famous and Infamous. Payment: $130, and 2 print copies of the book. Deadline: January 1, 2022.

Tin House. Restrictions: Eligible writers must not currently have an agent, and must not have previously published a book (chapbooks okay). Genre: Debut novels (including Graphic novels) Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: January 3, 2022.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of DISCOVERIES & EXTINCTIONS. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: January 3, 2022.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of “Weather.” Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: January 3, 2022.

fine. press. Genre: Full-length collections of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and visual art collections. "We aim to publish books that experiment, provoke, and engage with humour and heart." Payment: $600 CAD publishing contract, 15% royalties and promotion by fine. press. Deadline: January 4, 2022.

Martian. Genre: Science fiction drabbles (exactly 100 words). Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 4, 2022.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction on theme: mythology. Payment: Revenue sharing.  Deadline: January 5, 2022. 

Fahmidan Publishing. Restrictions: Fahmidan & Co. Publishing is a publisher for all POC & Women ardent in battle against subjugation. Genre: Poetry or fiction chapbook. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 5, 2022. 

Nectar. Genre: Fiction, poetry. "We especially encourage BIPOC and QT poets to submit — your work will take priority in our consideration. However, we welcome all work however you identify." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 7, 2022.

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: January 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on January 1.

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:  January 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on January 1.

Cossmass Infinities. Restrictions: Open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: January 7, 2022.

Diet Milk: Gothic. Genre: Gothic fiction, poetry, and art (drawings, paintings, comics, collages). Payment: $0.01/word for fiction (minimum $40); $15/poem; $50/art piece. Deadline: January 8, 2022.

Berkley is a division of Random House. Genre: Full-length romance, women’s fiction, mystery, suspense and thrillers, horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 9, 2022.

Flame Tree Press: Compelling Science Fiction. Genre: Science fiction short stories, 2000-4000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word, 6 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: January 9, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Flame Tree Press: Christmas Gothic Short Stories. Genre: Gothic horror on theme of Christmas, 2000-4000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word, 6 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: January 9, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Elevator Stories. Genre: Unpublished, original stories of fiction, CNF, memoir, personal essay, or a hybrid of any. 1 piece over 1,000 words, but a max of 2,000 words, or 2 with under 1,000 words each. Audio format. See themes. Payment: $20. Deadline: January 9, 2022.

Faces. Genre: Nonfiction, activities for children 9 - 14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 10, 2022. Queries only. See themes.

Mslexia. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Fiction poetry, nonfiction. Payment: £25. Deadline: January 10, 2022.

The Creative Pandemic. Restrictions: Open to those who self-identify as part of the LGBT+ community. Genre: Short Stories (max 2,000 words), Poetry, and Blog-style brain dumps.on theme of Chosen Family. Payment: £10. Deadline: January 10, 2022.

SAND is a Berlin publication that "looks for submissions that push the boundaries of form, message, and voice in fresh and unpredictable ways—work that is haunting for its soul, edge, and truth." Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, art, poetry, translations. Payment: Professional rates. Deadline: January 10, 2022. (Or until filled)

Cosmic Horror Monthly. Genre: Cosmic horror, Lovecraftian, Weird, and dark science fiction stories, original and reprints. Art accepted as well. Payment: 3 cents per word for original fiction. 5k words = $150; 1 cent per word for reprints. Deadline: January 14, 2022. Accepts reprints.

The Cellar Door: Forbidden Magic. Genre: Horror/dark fantasy stories featuring forbidden or taboo magic. Must include some form of spell casting or alchemy. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Adi Magazine. Genre: Short stories that examine lives affected by policy and politics. Payment: For full-length stories, 2,500 words or more, payment is $500. For flash fiction, under 1,000 words, payment is $200. Deadline: January 15, 2022. 

Cobblestone. Genre: Fiction, poetry and nonfiction articles of historical accuracy and lively, original approaches to the themes for children from ages 9–14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2022. See themes. Queries only.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2022. See themes. Queries only.

Great Weather for MEDIA: Annual Print Anthology. Genres: Poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction. "Our focus is on the fearless, the unpredictable, and experimental but we do not have a set theme for our anthologies." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Paper Lanterns. Genre: Fiction and poetry for young adults. Payment. €50 for poetry or flash fiction and €75 for short stories. If you are under 16, you will receive a book voucher. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Arc Manor Books: The Reinvented Detective Anthology. Genre: Updated crime fiction. "As we move forward into the age of information, what happens to our ideas of detection and crime? How do you handle it when your smart car blackmails you or you need to murder the downloaded personality of your enemy? What acts to enforce society's norms and catch those violating them in the future?" Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Adi Magazine: Political Fictions. Genre: Short fiction. "We’re looking for short stories that examine lives impacted by policy and politics. We’re not interested in the drearily righteous; we want stories that unearth new worlds, that plumb interior lives alongside external conflicts, that satirize and fantasize, that disturb, beguile, challenge, surprise, ignite." Payment: For full-length stories, 2,500 words or more, payment is $500. For flash fiction, under 1,000 words, payment is $200. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Shenandoah. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $100 per poem. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Counting Your Blessings. Genre: True stories and poems. "Please share your stories about handling challenges in your life, finding the silver linings, and counting your blessings, whether the challenges you are facing are COVID-19 related or other kinds. Stories can be serious or funny, but definitely should be inspirational and heartwarming. Attitude adjustments, finding contentment and gratitude, a new way of handling your daily life, and other great ideas to inspire readers to find their own paths to happiness and to remember to count their blessings every day are what we are looking for." Payment: $200. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Skepticism. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Cobblestone. Genre: Fiction, poetry and nonfiction articles of historical accuracy and lively, original approaches to the themes for children from ages 9–14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2022. See themes. Queries only.

Qu. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $100 per prose piece, $50 per poem or visual art. Contributors will also receive one copy of magazine. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Ploughshares: Look2 Essays. Genre: Essays about underappreciated or overlooked writers.  Payment: $45/page, up to $450. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

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. Theme: Audacity. Genre: Original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art. Payment: $50 (CAD) Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Women Artists Datebook. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Poems and art. Theme: Peace and Justice. Payment: $200 for art, $70 for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2022. 

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: January 16, 2022. 

Jaggery is a DesiLit arts and literature journal, connects South Asian diasporic writers and homeland writers. "We also welcome non-South Asians with a deep and thoughtful connection to South Asian countries, who bring their own intersecting perspectives to the conversation. (By South Asia we mean Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.)" Genre: Art, Essays, Fiction, Poetry, Reviews. Payment: $100 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction/poetry/art/reviews.  Deadline: January 17, 2022.  

Planet Scumm Genre: Hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, speculative fiction, weird fiction, and slipstream. Payment: $0.04/word. Deadline: January 17, 2022.

 

Solstice 2022. Genre: Winter-themed short literary works. Poems, short stories, literary non-fiction. Think Northern Lights, candles against the darkness, the rolling year, spirits (both in a glass and in the ether), warm hearths. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 20, 2022.

Off Topic Publishing: Wayward and Upward. Genre: Poetry and fiction. “A multimedia project inspired by the electrosymphonic album “Wayward & Upward” by Spinoza Gambit. The music already exists. Your job is to fill in the words.” No simultaneous submissions. Payment: $50 - $100 CAD upon publication. Deadline: January 20, 2022. Or until filled.

Puncher and Wattmann. Genre: Full-length manuscripts of poetry, fiction, life writing, poetry anthologies and critical non-fiction. Payment: Royalties (?) January 20, 2022.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: January 21, 2022.

MQR Mixtape. Genre: short stories, essays, and poetry, and a variety of other work that isn’t standard fare in most literary journals. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 21, 2022.

Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 23, 2022. Note: Nonfiction pitches due January 9.

The Ghastling. Genre: Literary fiction and illustration devoted to psychological horror, folk horror, ghost stories and the macabre. Payment: £15. Deadline: January 23, 2022.

Ecotone. Restrictions: From January 20 to 25, 2022, Ecotone will be open to no-fee Submittable submissions from BIPOC writers only. Genre: Prose and poetry. "We are particularly interested in place-based work by people historically underrepresented in literary publishing and in place-based contexts: writers and artists who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, gender-nonconforming, LGBTQIA+, women, and others. We welcome the work of emerging writers." Payment: "Honorarium." Deadline: January 25, 2022.

Tolka. Genre: Non-fiction: personal essay, memoir, reportage, travel writing, auto-fiction, and the writing that falls in between. Payment: €300. Deadline: January 27, 2022.

Blood Rites Horror: Terror in the Trench. Genre: Stories “on the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. Feel free to interpret this theme as you wish; we’ll consider stories about the unknown, about strange, leviathan creatures." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 28, 2022.

Cricket: Ask Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children 7–10 years old who are curious about science and the world they live in. Theme: Facing Fear. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 30, 2022. Pitches only.

Devil's Party Press: Solstice. Genre: Poems, short stories, literary non-fiction. PROSE limit 5,000 words. THEME for all pieces: Think Northern Lights, candles against the darkness, the rolling year, spirits (both in a glass and in the ether), warm hearths. Payment: $25/ 1 short prose piece or up to 3 poems and one print copy of the book. Deadline: January 30, 2022.

Off Topic Publishing. Genre: Short stories and poems. "A multimedia project inspired by the electrosymphonic album “Wayward & Upward” by Spinoza Gambit. The music already exists. Your job is to come up with stories and poems that resonate." Payment: $100 CAD. Deadline: January 30, 2022.

Otoroshi Journal. Genre: Horrorku, horror tanka, and horror haibun, art. Payment: Poetry, $1. Art, $10.  Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

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. See themes. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and  $40-300 for art. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Mudroom. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Circumference. Genre: New translations of poetry, essays, long-form writing, and drama. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Glass. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Dragon Soul Press: Everlast. Genre: Romance. "Romance can be difficult on its own, even before adding the complications of time travel to the equation. These couples find themselves from separate timelines in history, but cross paths due to unforeseen circumstances." Word Count – 5,000-20,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2022. (Deadline extended)

Event. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction and book reviews. Payment: $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Nonbinary Review: Shared Worlds. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art around the theme of Shared Worlds. Payment: 1 cent per word for prose, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Summer of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Anthology. Genre: Sci-Fi and Fantasy in the range of 1500-7500 words. Payment: $0.005/word up to 7500 words. Minimum of $15. Reprints paid at full rate. Deadline: January 31, 2022. Accepts reprints.

The Rumpus. Genre: Fiction and poetry. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Hydra Publications: Ghosts of the Old Gods. Genre: Epic fantasy/sword and sorcery. Length: 6,000 – 10,000 words. Payment: $35. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

A Public Space. Genre: Fiction, essays, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. Payment: Honorarium. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Luminescent Machinations: Queer Tales of Monumental Invention. Genre: Speculative stories focusing on queerness in the darker side of science-fiction, fantasy and horror: mechs, mecha and cybernetics as both extensions and perversions of humanity. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Horror That Represents You. Restrictions: Open to marginalized authors. Genre: Horror, 1000 to 7000 words. Payment: 11 cents/word. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Midnight & Indigo. Restrictions: Open to black women. Genre: Fiction, personal essays. Payment: $50 for essays, and $50-$75 for fiction. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Deep in the Woods Anthology. Genre: Horror and dark fiction. All stories must take place in the woods/forest. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: January 31, 2022. Note: Submit early in January to avoid submission fees.

34 Orchard. Genre: Fiction, poetry. "We like dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad." Payment: $50. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard sci-fi. See topics. Payment: 3 (Euro) cents per word for original fiction and 1 (Euro) cent per word for translations of fiction into English. Deadline: January 31st, 2022.

Raven Canticle Press. Genre: Speculative fiction in the following genres: Fantasy, Horror, Espionage/Thriller, Science Fiction. Up to 80,000 words, minimum of 15,000 words (novellas). Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: January 31st, 2022. 

Belmont Story Review. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: $50 for prose, $25 for poetry. Deadline: January 31st, 2022. 

The Margins. Genre: Original and translated poetry and short prose works by Asian and Asian diasporic writers that center stories, images, and sensations related to the transformative influence of wine. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31st, 2022. 

Rivanna Review. Genre: Short fiction, essays, book reviews. Payment: $100 per story or essay, $50 per book review. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Nothing Without Us Too. Restrictions: Open to writers (age 18 and older) across the disability, mental illness, developmental disabilities, neurodiversity, Blind, and d/Deaf spectrums. "We welcome those who manage what are known as “invisible” and “visible” disabilities and/or chronic conditions." Canadian writers prioritized. Genre: Short fiction (no reprints, not even if the story had previously appeared on a website or blog) between 500–3500 words, maximum, Payment: 8 cents/word.  Deadline: January 31, 2022.

And a few more... 

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on theme of Metamorphosis. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

Please See Me. Genre: Poetry, creative nonfiction/essays, fiction/short stories/flash fiction, and digital media (photography, drawings, podcasts, and short films) on theme of Women’s Health. "We are especially looking for content that connects us, make us feel something, or helps us see illness, wellness, health, or the healthcare environment differently." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

The Temz Review. Genres: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

Wishing Well. Genre: Poetry, fiction, art on theme: Wishes. "We want stories about wishes granted. Whether they played out the way the wisher wanted is up to you." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Magic Portals. Genre: Poetry, fiction, art on theme: Magic Portals. "We want stories about magic portals that open up to other places, other worlds, other times, or just other." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

CatsCast. Genre: Speculative stories about cats. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

The Century. Genre: First-person narratives (under 1,000 words) on theme of Eye. Payment: $100. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

The Southampton Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Payment: Prose: $100+, Poetry: $75 per poem. Illustration: $100 per page. Art Portfolios: $200 for up to 12 images. Deadline: February 1, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid fees.

Samhain Sorceries. Genre: Sword-and-sorcery stories where Samhain/Halloween is relevant to the plot. Payment: One cent per word, plus one copy of the paperback edition. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

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: February 1, 2022.

Fit For The Gods Anthology. Genre: Greek mythology. "Fit For the Gods will shine new light on these beloved myths, and bring much-needed representation to them. All genres except nonfiction are welcome (additional note: we are unable to accept art or poetry). Please note that this anthology is intended for an adult audience; we will not be considering works written for YA or younger audiences." Payment: $1500. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

63 Writing Contests in January 2022 - No entry fees

This January there are more than four dozen writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and short plays. Prizes range from $60,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

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

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

Good luck!

(Image: Pixabay)

___________________________

Defenestration Lengthy Poem Contest. Genre: Lengthy poem (at least 3 pages). Prize: $300. Deadline: January 1, 2022.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: January 1, 2022.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,250 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: January 1, 2022.

elements&flour//LOAFOFBREAD Contest. Genre: Translations in Poetry. You may submit three pieces maximum of translated works. Prize: $200. Deadline: January 1, 2022. (Extended)

Tony Hillerman Prize. Sponsored by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Debut mystery novel set in Southwest. Prize: $10,000 advance against royalties and publication, Deadline: January 1, 2022.

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 3, 2022.

BOA Editions — Blessing the Boats Selections. Genre: Poetry by Women of Color. Prize: $5,000 + Publication. Deadline: January 5, 2022.

The Spectator. Genre: Vindalism. ‘You are invited to provide an example of pretentious wine-writing. Please email your entries of up to 150 words to lucy@spectator.co.uk.  Prize: £30. Deadline: January 5, 2022.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2022.

The Prism Prize for Climate Literature. Restrictions: Open to USA and UK writers. Genre: Full-length book: fiction, poetry, and literary non-fiction writing in the emerging genre of climate literature. Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: January 8, 2022. 

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art. Prize: 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity. Deadline: January 10, 2022.

Northern California Book Awards. Restrictions: Books written by authors based in northern California and published for the first time the previous calendar year are eligible for nomination. Genre: Published book. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 10, 2022.

Bethesda Urban Partnership Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Essays. Length: 500 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 10, 2022.

Bethesda Magazine Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Washington, DC and select counties in Maryland and Virginia. Genre: Short stories. Length: 4000 words maximum. Prize: $500 in adult category (age 18+) and $250 in high school category (ages 14-17). Deadline: January 10, 2022.

Novel Slices. Genre: Section of novel, 4,000 - 6,000 words. Prize: $175. Deadline: January 10, 2022.

The Spectator. Genre: Have I got news for you. ‘You are invited to retell a news story from the past year in sonnet form. Please email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk  Prize: £30. Deadline: January 12, 2022.

Author Mentor Match. Genre: Completed YA or MG manuscript. Prize: Mentorship by published author. Deadline: January 12 - 14, 2022.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 14, 2022.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: January 14, 2022. See themes.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book. Best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 14, 2022.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: January 14, 2022.

Andres Montoya Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Latino authors who are residents of the US. Genre: First book of poetry published by a Latino author. Prize: $1,000 and publication by the University of Notre Dame Press. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Story of interest to Jewish women. Prize: $250.  Deadline: January 15, 2022. (Deadline extended)

Defenstration Flash Suite Contest. Genre: Flash fiction. "“A series of at least three flash fiction works that correlate, and build to something greater.  Recurring characters, extended motifs, harmonious subject matters, and/or sustained narrative are such correlations– but we encourage innovation and new ideas." Prize: $75. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Moving Words Poetry Competition for Adults. Genre: Poems of 10 lines or less that will be displayed inside Arlington Transit buses. Prize: $250. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. Restrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Novel. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the year 2018 considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Walter Muir Whitehill Prize in Early American History. Genre: Essay on early American history (up to 1825), not previously published, with preference being given to New England subjects. Prize: $2,500.  Deadline: January 15, 2022.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry.  Prize: $5000.  Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Arnold Adoff Poetry Awards. Genre: Poetry books for children and young adults. Novels in verse, memoirs in verse, collections of original poetry, and edited collections are all acceptable formats for the awards. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

WE Poetry Awards 2022. Restrictions: Open to poets residing in India. Genre: Poetry. There are four awards: WE Kamala Das Poetry Award 2022, WE Eunice de Souza Poetry Awards 2022, WE Trailblazer Poet Teacher Award 2022, WE Gifted Poet Award (Emerging Voices) 2022. Prize: ?  Deadline: January 15, 2022.

Novella-in-Flash Award. Genre: Flash fiction/Novella. 6000 to 18000 word limit – each flash should not be more than about 1000 words. Prize: £300 prize for the winner, two runner-up prizes of £100. Deadline: January 16, 2022.

Discoveries Prize. Restrictions: Open to female novelists of all ages and backgrounds, from across the UK and Ireland. Genre: Novel in progress. Prize: The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000. Deadline: January 17, 2022.

Bethesda Poetry Contest. Genres: Poetry. Adult and high school student categories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First place: $350, published on The Writer's Center's blog and magazine, and a free class and membership to The Writer's Center. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Prize for high school students, $75. All winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website and honored at a special event during the Local Writer's Showcase. Deadline: January 17, 2022.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. Restrictions: Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2015 Semester. Genre: Essay Topic: Articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself. 3,000 to 4,000 words. Prize: First Prize $5,000, 2nd Prize $2,500, 3rd Prize $1,500, two Honorable Mentions $500 each. Deadline: January 18, 2022. 

Hindsight Climate Change Contest. Restrictions: Open to works of creative nonfiction by undergraduate students currently attending the University of Colorado, Boulder. Work made by non CU undergraduates can still be submitted as long as it was created while an undergrad. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: First Place $600, Second Place  $400. Deadline: January 18, 2022. 

Poetry Society of Virginia - Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in Virginia, grades 3 - 12. Prize: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 19, 2022.

Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, all genres. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 20, 2022.

Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to authors who either are citizens or permanent residents of Western Australia. Genre: Book published during the preceding calendar year in a variety of genres. Prize: Up to A$60,000. Deadline: January 21, 2022.

Zocalo Public Square Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to US poets only. Genre: Poetry that evokes a connection to place. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 22, 2022. Note: Winning author gives up all rights.

Scottish Book Trust: Monthly Competition. Restrictions: Open to four categories: adult writers, all-age Gaelic writers, young writers 5-11 and young writers 12-18. Genre: Short story based on prompts. (See site for prompt) Prize: Various items. Deadline: January 25, 2022.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships are awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period. Prize: $7,000 cash awards are made to individual originating artists living and working in the state of New York for unrestricted use. These fellowships are not project grants but are intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development. Deadline: January 26, 2022.

Afro-Solarpunk Futures. Restrictions: Open to black authors only. Genre: Speculative micro-fiction. Length: 250 words max. Prize: $25. Deadline: January 27, 2022.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship. Restrictions: Open to a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction. Prize: $1000 scholarship.  Deadline: January 30, 2022.

The Hillman Prize for Journalism. Genre: Journalism. "Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honored journalists, writers and public figures that pursue investigative journalism and public policy in service of the common good." Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 30, 2022.

The 2022 Stratford Literary Festival/Salariya Books Children's Picture Book Competition.  Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK and Ireland. Writers must be unpublished by a mainstream publisher. Genre: Children's picture book, unpublished. Prize: First prize: £1000.   Deadline: January 30, 2022.

Papatango New Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to anyone resident in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Genre: Script of roughly 25 – 50 pages. Prize: £7000. Their scripts will be produced as audio plays and tour the UK in free listening stations. The scripts will also be published digitally by Nick Hern Books. Deadline: January 30, 2022.

William Saroyan Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in 1st grade through college.  Genre: Short story, 2 pages. Prize: $50 - $100. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

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: January 31, 2022.

Cheshire Prize for Literature. Restrictions: The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire, UK. Age ranges from 4 to adult. Genre: Short story, piece of poetry, script or children’s literature piece (this can be a script, story or poem, for children ages seven to 14) on the theme of Sustainability. Prize: Cash prizes. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.  Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

The Lumiere Review Writing Contest. Genre: Poetry, prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2022. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Storytwigs. Genre: Microfiction up to 100 words. Prize: 1st Place: $100; 2nd Place: $25; 3rd Place: $20; 4th Place: $15; 5th Place: $10. Deadline: January 31, 2022. See prompt.

Victor Howes Prize in Poetry. Restrictions: Undergraduate English majors currently enrolled at a New England college (2-year or 4-year). Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Snarl Prose & Poetry Contests. Restrictions: Snarl seeks work from creators of marginalized identities. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: $300 and publication. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets. Restrictions: The prize is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: January 31, 2022. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: January 31, 2022.

The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award. Genre: Any book, whether fiction or nonfiction, that promotes public understanding of Chicago; titles must be available for purchase by the general public in either hardcover or bound paperback form; All subject areas, disciplines, and genres are eligible, including but not limited to: history, biography, the social sciences, art, architecture, poetry, drama, graphic novels, or fiction; Translations, textbooks, anthologies, reprints or new editions of previously published works, pamphlets, digital publications, travel guides, children’s books, or self-published works are not eligible; Books must bear a copyright of 2020 or 2021 to be eligible for the 2022 prize. Prize: $25,000. Deadline: January 31, 2022.