3 New Literary Agents Seeking Literary Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Memoir, Women's Fiction & more

Here are three new agents expanding their client lists. Kristin van Ogtrop represents memoir, commercial women’s fiction, biography, lifestyle and big idea books driven by counterintuitive thinking. Lisa Leshne is most interested in narrative and prescriptive non-fiction, especially on social justice, sports, health, wellness, business, political and parenting topics. She loves memoirs that transport the reader into another person’s head and give a voyeuristic view of someone else’s extraordinary experiences. Lisa also enjoys literary and commercial fiction and some young adult and middle-grade books that take the reader on a journey and are just plain fun to read. Ryan Eichenwald is looking for Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Adventure, set in any time period and for any age group.

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

If these agents don't suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Kristin van Ogtrop of Inkwell Management

Kristin van Ogtrop, the former editor-in-chief of Real Simple, has joined InkWell Management as a literary agent. Under her stewardship, Real Simple became the #1 American women’s lifestyle magazine brand with a print and digital reach of 25 million and was nominated for 15 National Magazine Awards. Kristin’s blog, “Adventures in Chaos,” was nominated for a Media Industry Newsletter “Best of the Web” award, and in 2014, she was named by Fortune magazine as one of the “55 Most Influential Women on Twitter.” She is a contributor to the New York Times bestseller, The Bitch in the House and the author of Just Let Me Lie Down, published by Little, Brown.

What she is seeking: Kristin represents memoir, commercial women’s fiction, biography, lifestyle and big idea books driven by counterintuitive thinking.

How to submit: Queries should be emailed to: submissions@inkwellmanagement.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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Lisa Leshne of The Lisa Leshne Agency

Originally from the cornfields of Champaign, Illinois, Lisa has a BA in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MBA from Harvard. She has been profiled for entrepreneurial activities on 60 Minutes, Prime Time Live, the BBC, and featured in Fortune, Money, The New York Times, Washington Post, London Times, Advertising Age, Smithsonian and other publications. Lisa is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study on The Prague Post, and has been an invited speaker and panelist at Harvard and Columbia Business Schools.

What she is seeking: Lisa is most interested in narrative and prescriptive non-fiction, especially on social justice, sports, health, wellness, business, political and parenting topics. She loves memoirs that transport the reader into another person’s head and give a voyeuristic view of someone else’s extraordinary experiences. Lisa also enjoys literary and commercial fiction and some young adult and middle-grade books that take the reader on a journey and are just plain fun to read.

How to submit: This agency uses author.me for submissions. Click HERE.

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Ryan Eichenwald of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Ryan Eichenwald started with the agency in August of 2018. Ryan attended college at Duke University, where he taught himself guitar, founded an a capella group (that quickly collapsed), and worked as an editor for The Archive, the Duke literary magazine. He graduated with high distinction in English and philosophy, and wrote a gaslamp fantasy novella for his thesis project. Ryan is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course, and can frequently be found singing, writing, or attempting not to set his kitchen on fire. He tends to read instead of sleep.

What he is seeking: Ryan is looking for Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Adventure, set in any time period and for any age group. (He longs to see fantasy fiction set in space. SPACE WIZARDS.) He is interested in fiction of any kind except erotic, and will be willing to review narrative nonfiction pieces as well. His preference is for Adult or Young Adult, but is interested in Middle Grade as well. Ryan is particularly partial to richly developed characters and settings, especially realistic or unusual magic systems. If you can make a fantasy world work in a rational manner, then he would DEFINITELY love to talk to you.

​How to submit: Please submit send a query, a 1-2 page synopsis, and the first 25 pages of your project to Ryan's Query Manager at http://QueryMe.Online/ryaneichenwald. You will receive an automatic response from Query Manager which lets you know your submission is in his inbox, and you can track your query’s progress. He’ll respond within 6 weeks, but only to projects that interest him.

3 Agents Seeking YA, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Literary Fiction, Commercial fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Crime, Mystery & Thrillers, Memoir & More

Here are three agents actively expanding their client lists. Jennifer Grimaldi is building a list of historicals, romance, horror, and YA & adult sci-fi and fantasy. Weronika Janczuk is looking for: Young adult, fantasy & sci-fi, literary fiction, commercial fiction, women’s fiction. romance, crime, mystery & thrillers, memoir, non-fiction (innovative ideas & research; projects with a potential for social & cultural impact, etc.).  Rhea Lyons is looking for literary/commercial crossover (especially those with a speculative bend), plot-driven commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. She is also interested in narrative nonfiction, health & wellness, pop culture, and true crime-- particularly books that blend history, science, and pop culture. For children's books and young adult, Rhea is especially interested in novels about girls who play sports for the sake of sports, and in nonfiction books that hint at being educational / empowering but are primarily entertaining.

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

If these agents don't suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Jennifer Grimaldi of Chalberg & Sussman

Now an agent with Chalberg & Sussman, where she first started her publishing career in 2012, Jennifer is building a list of historicals, romance, horror, and YA & adult sci-fi and fantasy. 

What she is seeking: Across all genres, Jennifer loves strong, voice-driven novels, dark and romantic themes, and books that make her think—and learn. She is particularly excited by books that explore gender and sexuality, especially those with diverse, LGBTA+ leads, and own-voice writers. 

Aspects sure to delight her include: cities and urban-planning, anecdotal histories, that trope where there were supposed to be two rooms at the hotel but they’re all booked up so the leads have to share, spies, thieves, mythological retellings, witches just trying to get by, weird obsessions, and puns. 

How to submit: To query Jennifer, please email jennifer@chalbergsussman.com and include the first five pages of your manuscript in the body of an email. Jennifer accepts queries by email only.

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Weronika Janczuk of D4EO

Weronika broke into publishing in 2009, through a high school workshop that placed her with former young adult editor Brian Farrey at Flux (now North Star), a small imprint in Minnesota, where she pulled, from the slush pile, the lovely Out of the Blue by Holly Schindler, which received a starred review in Booklist. She then moved on to intern with Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency.  From 2010-2011, she worked with Bob Diforio and sold an array of projects.

What she is looking for: Young adult, fantasy & sci-fi, literary fiction, commercial fiction, women’s fiction. romance, crime, mystery & thrillers, memoir, non-fiction (innovative ideas & research; projects with a potential for social & cultural impact, etc.).

How to submit: You can submit a query directly via the QueryTracker form linked here. No account is necessary. If you prefer to query over email, paste your query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript to weronika(at)d4eo(dot)com, and include the word QUERY in your subject line. She will respond personally only if she requests your manuscript.

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Rhea Lyons of Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency

Rhea began her publishing career while studying at the University of Rochester and interning at Open Letter, a press which exclusively publishes literature in translation. She then joined the Random House Publishing Group, which includes the imprints of Random House, Spiegel & Grau, Ballantine, Bantam Dell, and Del Rey, working in Subrights. In 2011, she became a scout at Franklin and Siegal Associates, and spent the next few years working to help international publishers discover and acquire new and upcoming works of fiction and nonfiction. Most recently, Rhea was the Subsidiary Rights Director at Rodale, where she also acquired books for their adult list as well as for their newly launched children's imprint, Rodale Kids.

What she is looking for: For fiction, Rhea is looking for literary/commercial crossover (especially those with a speculative bend), plot-driven commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. She is also interested in narrative nonfiction, health & wellness, pop culture, and true crime-- particularly books that blend history, science, and pop culture. For children's books and young adult, Rhea is especially interested in novels about girls who play sports for the sake of sports, and in nonfiction books that hint at being educational / empowering but are primarily entertaining.

How to submit: Please send a query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript (within the email–no attachments please!) to rlyons@hsgagency.com

39 Calls for Submissions in October 2018 - Paying Markets

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There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in October. As always, anything you can think of is wanted - flash fiction, speculative fiction and poetry, horror, creative nonfiction along with several themed issues and anthologies.

All of these literary magazines pay, and none charge submission fees.

Make sure to follow submission requirements carefully. Editors get cranky when writers don't follow their submission rules.

If you want to get a jump on next month's calls for submissions, check the page Calls for Submissions, which is where I post new calls as they come up.

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American Psychos. Genre: Dark crime, thriller, brutal horror. (This series is about serial killers.) Length: 3500-5500 words. (Word count is somewhat flexible). Payment: $100. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

The Blue Route. Restrictions: Only the work of current undergraduate writers will be considered. Genres: Fiction, or creative nonfiction totaling no more than 3000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Blood Bound Books: Crash Code. Genre: Speculative fiction. "This anthology is going to focus on just how far human kind is willing to fall in pursuit of the next innovation, whether it’s paying for bionic sex in bitcoins, five-year-olds browsing the Dark Web, bar code tattoos, mainstream holographic snuff films, or corrupted neural implants driving their users mad." Payment:  $0.03/word. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

The Last Line. Genre: Short stories. All stories must end with the last line “I will visit again if I am ever back this way.” Length: 300-5,000 words. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Cherry Tree. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and literary shade. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 for prose, $10 for poetry. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Griffith Review: The New Disruptors. Genre: Essays, reportage, creative non-fiction or non-fiction on the "upheavals that have come with our increasingly technological world." Payment: Negotiated. Deadline: October 2, 2018.

Flame Tree Publishing: Urban Crime. Genre: American Gothic: With handsome young men who never grow old, and the strangest of relatives appearing from dark corridors and long shadows, the frenzied imagination of the American Gothic is a fertile theme for this new anthology in the Gothic fantasy short story series. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: October 14, 2018. Some reprints accepted.

Flame Tree Publishing: Urban Crime. Genre: Stories from this collection will feature gritty murders on the streets of London and Paris, horrors in dark alleys, as well as many more scenes from urban crime that elicit a dark curiosity. Think classic authors such as Edgar Wallace and E.W. Hornung. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: October 14, 2018.

Helios Magazine. Theme: “Songs of Yesteryear.” Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art. Payment: $0.03 USD per word for the first 1,500 words and $0.01 USD after for short stories, and $0.25 USD a line for poetry. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook. Genre: "The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook, the latest in Belt's series of idiosyncratic city guides (after Cleveland and Detroit), aims to explore community history and identity in a global city through essays articulating the lived experience of its residents." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

SunLit Story Time November Podcasts. Genre: Short story. Length: Minimum of 1250 words. Maximum of 2500 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

American Chordata. Genre: Short works of original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translation.  Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Rattle. Genre: Persona Poems. (A persona poem is one where the speaker of the poem is a dramatic character other than the poet.) Payment: $100. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Aqueduct Press: Ursula K. Le Guin Tribute Poetry Anthology. Genre: Poetry that pays tribute to Ursula Le Guin. Payment: $20/poem. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Shifters United: Urban Fantasy. Genre: Urban fantasy novellas featuring shape shifters. Length: 20,000 to 50,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Tell-Tale Press: Winter Holidays. Genre: Fantasy, horror, mystery and science fiction. Theme includes Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year’s, Winter Solstice, Chinese New Year, and any other winter holidays. Length: 500-5,000 words Payment: $5-25. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

The Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Vol IV. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment:  AUD$75. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Tin House. Genre: The Horror—From the mundane frights of everyday life to the truly macabre, if it makes your hair stand on end, we want to hear about it. Send us your scariest stories, eeriest essays, and most petrifying poetry! Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Heart and Humanity: Breaking with Tradition. Genre: Short stories, poems, personal essays. Tell us about a time in your life when you chose the road less traveled; when you rebelled against family, religion, education (or even common sense!), how did your journey change? Payment:  $15-25. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Tin House. Genre: Open submissions for nonfiction, fiction, and poetry (no theme). Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Subprimal Poetry Art. Genres: Flash fiction and poetry. "We're looking for work that enables the reader / listener to experience something that they might not otherwise in their regular life and causes them to think. We like pieces that use language in new ways. We have a special fondness for prose poems. Voices outside of the status quo keep us awake at night." Payment: $20. Reprints $10. Deadline: October 16, 2018.

Riddled With Arrows: Objects & Artefacts. Genre: All genres and styles on the topic of writing about writing. Also publish poetry, hard-to-classify pieces, and nonfiction. "Riddled with Arrows is seeking writing-related fiction and metafiction, ars poetica, essays, visual art and non-classifiable written objects that explore the physical manifestations of the written world: think books, paper, letters, writing implements, stone tablets, engraved jewelry, illuminated manuscripts, gravestone etchings, writing on skin, holy texts, ancient scrolls, etc.  We are also interested in submissions that incorporate physical written objects (found poems, epistolary fiction, collage, paper art, etc.)" Payment: $0.03/word for prose, up to $25, for poetry or prose. Deadline: October 18, 2018.

Star Maps & Planets’ Paths: An Anthology of Astrology & Celestial Myths. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: October 19, 2018.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Fiction, CNF, poetry, and art on the theme of "Dante's Inferno. Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction and nonfiction, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry (singular poems or a suite) and $25 per piece of visual art. Deadline: October 24, 2018.

Gorse. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews, translation. Payment: Small. Deadline: October 28, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: "Life Lessons from my Cat". Genre: True stories about cats. "We are working on another wonderful and entertaining collection of stories about cats the lessons that we have learned from our feline family members. We know that our cats can teach us things about life and we know that you have many great stories to share with us. Those stories can be serious or humorous... or both. If you submitted a story for a previous Cat book title and we DID NOT publish it, please do submit it again if you think it will fit in this title." Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Pseudopod. Genre: Horror. Audio format. Payment: 6 cents per word. Deadline: October 31, 2018. Reprints accepted.

Wolfpack Press. Genre: Short stories. "We crave the wild, weird, wonderful, and witty." Length: Fiction, up to 6000 words, nonfiction up to 5,000 words, also accepts poetry (up to 3 poems per submission). Payment: $15. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Tech Horror: Kill Switch. Genre: Horror. Length: 2,000-7,000 words. Payment: $10 + digital contributor copy. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Robbed of Sleep. Genre: Horror. Length: 100 - 4,000 words. Payment: $10 short story, $5 flash fiction. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: "Life Lessons from my Dog". Genre: True stories about dog. "We are working on another wonderful and entertaining collection of stories about dogs the lessons that we have learned from our canine family members. We know that our dogs can teach us things about life and we know that you have many great stories to share with us. Those stories can be serious or humorous... or both. If you submitted a story for a previous Dog book title and we DID NOT publish it, please do submit it again if you think it will fit in this title." Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

The Realm of British Folklore. Genre: Stories and poems for a new anthology that involves British Folklore. Payment: One penny Sterling per word, with a minimum payment of £10 Sterling for poems and very, very short stories. For illustrations, £30 for ‘header’ illustrations to a story, £100 for full page illustrations and £200 for the cover illustration. Deadline: October 31, 2018. Reprints accepted.

Barking Sycamores is a literary journal entirely edited and operated by queer, neurodivergent people of color. Genres: Creative nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Write Naked. Genre: Blog posts about writing. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Spectre Press: The Realm of British Folklore. Genre: Stories that evoke British folklore. Payment: £0.01/word. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Horror Addicts. Genre: Horror. Your story must involve technology in some way. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Ellipsis. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, and art. Payment: $10 per poem and page of visual art, and $3 per page of prose (sometimes more, depending on our budget), plus two free copies of the issue. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Our Loss Anthology. Genre: Stories, poetry on theme of Loss/Pain. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Occult Detective Quarterly. Genre: Stories based on intrepid investigators who explore the weird, exotic and bizarre. “These are the people who explore the darkness, both within and beyond, often to their own peril and the expense of their very lives and sanity. … We are looking for well-written stories featuring those who are investigating the strange and unusual. They do not have to be set in Victorian or Edwardian London (although they can be). We are eager to read stories featuring a diverse range of characters, cultures and periods. You may cheerfully pursue established Lovecraftian, Pulp or Dystopian themes, for example, but a fresh twist on the classics is always more likely to catch our eye. We do like stories with unusual protagonists, or with less common settings, and we have an appetite for the weird tale as long as it fits the overall concept.” They accept reprints, articles on any aspect of occult detectives, reviews, and artwork. Length: 3,000-5,500 words for fiction, 3,000-5,000 words for nonfiction. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

28 Writing Contests in October 2018 - No entry fees

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There are more than two dozen writing contests in October, none of which charge entry fees. This month there are contests for short stories, essays, poetry, and for both published and unpublished full-length works. Prizes range from publication to $25,000. As always, read the guidelines carefully. Many contests have geographical and age restrictions.

If you want to get an idea of what kinds of contests are offered throughout the year, take a look at Free Contests. The majority of these contests are yearly events. When it comes to contests, it's always a good idea to plan ahead.

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The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize. Topic: Philosophy and International Relations.  Prize:  £2,500 top prize. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

Victoria Literary Festival Writing Competition. Genre: Short story: 1500 words, taking into consideration the theme of the 2018 VLF festival: Surrender to the Mystery. Prize: First prize will receive 350 CDN$ with four runners up receiving 50 CDN$ each. Deadline: October 1, 2018.

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2018.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to published Canadian authors. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: CAN$25,000.00. Deadline: October 5, 2018 for books published between August 21 and September 30, 2018.

Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: October 6, 2018.

The NC State Short Story Contests. Restrictions: Open to all North Carolina residents except 1) tenured/tenure-track professors in the University of North Carolina system or 2) writers with a published book, 3) previous winners. Genres: An unpublished SHORT STORY of no more than 20 double-spaced pages; limit 5000 words OR an unpublished SHORT-SHORT FICTION story of no more than 5 double-spaced typed pages; limit 1200 words. Prizes: James Hurst Fiction Prize for the winning story is $500. There will also be some Honorable Mention awards. Prize for short-short is $250. Deadline: October 8, 2018.

READ Foundation Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers 18 years or older living in the UK. (Younger people preferred.) Genre: Poem, short story or first person essay on the theme of “My education helped me….”. Prize: Publication. Deadline: October 10, 2018.

NUHA Blogging Prize. Genre: Article on specific topic. (See website) Prize: $150 - $2400.  Deadline: October 13, 2018.

Wax Poetry and Art Poetry Contest. Genre: Poem. (Enter 1 poem for free. There is a charge for additional poems.)  Prize: 1st place, $70 CAD. 2nd place, $20 CAD. 3rd place, $10 CAD. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States. Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement. Prize: $54,000 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Civil Beat. Genre: Journalism about Hawaii. Prize: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. Deadline: October 15, 2018.

Bobbing Around Book Contest. Genre: Manuscripts currently seeking an editor. Submit the first 1000 words and a 200-word synopsis for consideration. The editor will provide feedback for all 1000-word entries and post the top ten entries on his website. These will be voted upon, and the final winner will receive a “Christmas present” from the editor. Deadline: October 15 - 21, 2018.

Author Mentor Match. Genre: Completed YA or MG manuscript. Prize: Mentorship by published author. Deadline: October 15 - 21, 2018.

Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to residents of UK. Genre: Short stories between 2000-6000 words on the theme "Café Stories." Prize: £500 and 10 shortlisted authors will be published in an ebook anthology. Deadline: October 26, 2018.

Halloween Writing Prompt Contest. Genre: Horror. "We are asking for writing prompts from YOU. In this case we are asking for writing prompts that will produce scary stories." Prize: $500. Deadline: October 28, 2018.

50 Word Horror Story Halloween Contest. Genre: Horror: 50 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: October 28, 2018.

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the most prestigious literary award in the US. Restrictions: Authors must be living American citizens. Self-published works not accepted. Genres: Novels, novellas, and collections of short stories. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize. Restrictions: Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. Prize: First prize of £750, second prize of £500. Winning entries will be posted on the website and also published online by The Telegraph. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Burt Award for Caribbean Literature. Restrictions: Caribbean authors age 12 through 18. Genres: Published books, previously self-published books, and unpublished manuscripts are eligible for the Award. Prize: First Prize of $10,000 CAD, a Second Prize of $7,000 CAD and a Third Prize of $5,000 CAD.  Deadline: October 31, 2018.

The Young Walter Scott Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK authors aged 11-19. Genre: Historical fiction between 800 and 2000 words. Prizes: £500 travel and research grant to further explore historical places in the UK, and an invitation to the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Two runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all four winning stories are published in a special YWSP anthology book. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40 on December 31, 2018. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Creative Writing Institute's Flash Fiction Award. Genre: Flash Fiction. Prize: $25 - $100. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre: Essay: How can laws affecting the free movement of people reduce poverty and support economic development? Prize: $500 scholarship. Deadline: October 31, 2018.

38 Writing Conferences in October 2018

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October offers writers a bumper crop of writing conferences. There are no fewer than 38 conferences, retreats, expositions, and fairs this month, spanning the country. Genre-specific conferences include romance, science fiction, fantasy, children's literature, poetry, mystery, thrillers, horror and more. There is something for everyone!

I can't recommend attending a conference enough. There is nothing like making personal contacts with agents, editors, and writers to advance your career as a writer.

If you can't make your ideal conference this year, plan ahead for next year. Many conferences are yearly events. Planning ahead also gives you an opportunity to apply for the scholarships offered by some of these conferences. You can find a comprehensive list of conferences throughout the year here: Writing Conferences.

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Digital Book World Conference + Expo, Nashville, TN, October 2 - 4, 2018. This is the premier event for digital publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models.

Georgia Romance Writers: Moonlight and Magnolias. October 4 – October 7, 2018: Atlanta, Georgia. Includes keynote speakers, workshops, editor/agent appointments, autographing & bookfair, awards banquet.

Beginner’sClass In World Building And World Conjuring 2018. October 4 – October 7, 2018: Honesdale, PA. If you are in the beginning stages of creating a speculative, science fiction, magical realism, or fantasy novel, this workshop will teach you the techniques of worldbuilding, the process of constructing an imaginary world. Workshop leader Cori McCarthy is well versed in the challenges of the craft and will guide you to create depth in your world and characters with techniques that lend themselves to fantastical worlds: ways to establish rules and meaning, build relationships, and structure governments. Special guest authors Amy Rose Capetta, Sage Blackwood and Kristen Simmons will help Cori immerse you in the process of building compelling and believable worlds in your fiction and help you develop new ideas for your work-in-progress. Along with daily lectures and writing, Cori will host one-on-one consultations on the first 10 pages of your work-in-progress and facilitate writer’s roundtables on additional pages.

New York Comicon. October 4 - 7, 2018: New York, New York. New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest popular culture convention: Show Floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television; Panels and Autograph Sessions give Fans a chance to interact with their favorite Creators; Screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit big and small screens.

2018 Creative Retreat for writers, photographers. October 5 - 7, 2018: Mountain View, Missouri. Relax & refuel your creativity along a scenic river, while picking up tips from professionals in writing & photography. There will be time to learn & time to create. Participants stay in rustic cabins & enjoy family-style meals in dining hall.

Colrain Classic. October 5-8, 2018: Leicester, Massachusetts. The conference will be held at the beautiful Barred Owl Retreat, a 15-room, 1920′s colonial home located just outside the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. The retreat’s lovingly landscaped acreage hosts an orchard, a brook, two ponds and an abundance of wildlife including herons, beavers, otters, deer, and of course, barred owls. The property abuts a secluded 114-acre nature preserve so on the grounds one might feel away from it all, yet Barred Owl Retreat is just four miles from downtown Worcester. Here, you will work with poet-editor-educators Joan Houlihan, Rusty Morrison, and Ellen Dore Watson.

PictureBook Illustration: From Conception To Birth 2018. October 5 – October 7, 2018: Honesdale, PA. A down-to-earth, hands-on workshop for the illustrator who’s looking for the inside track, packed with valuable pointers and solid advice. Picture book illustration is a highly competitive field. Art directors and editors are not only looking for the illustrator with the right style for a particular book. The edge goes to the professional who’s confident in the craft of making picture books. This workshop is designed to give you that competitive edge by providing practical tips and direction from an art director with many years of experience working in the trenches.

Creatures, Crimes & Creativity. October 5 - 7, 2018: Columbia, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.

State Writing Conference & Convention, sponsored by The Kansas Authors Club, Oct 5 - 7, 2018, Salina, Kansas. Writing workshops, panels, and presentations by Kevin Rabas, Jeff Broome and more.

Write on the Sound Writers' Conference and Pre-Conference. Oct 5 - 7, 2018: Edmonds, WA. WOTS offers the opportunity to explore various writing craft techniques with nationally recognized industry professionals in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. SOLD OUT.

Imaginarium. Oct 5 - 7, 2018: Louisville KY. A three day annual event held in Louisville, Kentucky centered entirely around creative writing, including the worlds of books, movies, gaming, music, and comics/graphic novels. Imaginarium Convention features extensive programming content, with panels and workshops presented by over 150 professional guests covering everything from the craft of writing to various genres, industry-specific topics, publishing, and social media/publicity. The convention features a film festival with a full array of awards, a masquerade/costume contest, live music, gaming, an expo open to the general public, an awards banquet, a series of literary awards called the Imadjinns, and many more activities, creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that is content-rich and ideal for networking, promotion and personal development.

Picture Book Summit. Oct 6, 2018, Online. An online, one day live event for picture book writers including author keynotes, interviews, workshops and agent & editor panels. Recordings provided for attendees for four months post-conference.

WritingFor All Young Readers: Board Books Through Mg Series 2018. October 7 – October 9, 2018: Honesdale, PA. This workshop is for anyone looking for ways to break in or expand upon a career in writing for children, from board books to middle grade series. Crystal Allen, Kelly Starling Lyons, Kristy Dempsey, and Gwendolyn Hooks met at the Highlights Foundation’s Chautauqua Workshop over a decade ago. Their friendship was forged over works-in-progress, critiques, and the drive to publish great books for all children. Fast forward to now, and between the four women, they have over 30 books published for readers of all ages. They’ve designed a workshop to share with you all that they have gathered over years of their journeys.

Ozark Creative Writers Conference. Oct 11 - 13, 2018: Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Workshops by published authors, editors and agents; Publishers Row, independent publishers available to hear about your next project; Writing contests available to all participants.

Other Words Literary Conference. Oct 11 -13, 2018: University of Tampa, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. Their goal is "to bring together writers, editors, agents, publishers, book sellers, grant administrators, directors of writers' colonies and retreats, and other interested folk in one place. We'll be talking about the how to of the literary arts: how to write it, make it, sell it, fund it, and nurture it."

2018 Greater Nebraska Writers Conference. Oct 12 -13, 2018: Aurora, Nebraska. Hear Keynote Speaker: Alex Kava and attend 22 great classes! New this year: Boot Camp! Split into groups with a facilitator at each table. Read your first chapter or 2,000 words. Get personal feedback and give others feedback.

Northern Woodlands Writers & Readers Conference. Oct 12 - 14, 2018: Fairlee, Vermont. Sponsored by The Trust for Public Land, the conference explores how writers, artists and educators express the rich forest heritage of the Northeast: both the natural history of our region, and the interactions of people and place. The event will include writing workshops, readings, a nature illustration class, special workshops for educators, woods walks, fun talks on forest topics, and plenty of time for informal conversations over meals and around the campfire. Register by Oct 1.

TLA Power of Words Conference. Oct 12 - 14, 2018: Plainfield, Vermont. 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.

When the Personal Becomes Political. October 13, 2018: Galloway NJ. "Are you eager to contribute to the political conversation? Take advantage of our supportive atmosphere as a safe space to write a provocative personal essay worthy of submitting to the Op-Ed editors of major publications. Whether you lean left or right—or stand smack dab in the middle—this invigorating workshop will help you transform your fiery arguments into an eloquent and persuasive, thought-provoking piece."

James River Writers Conference. October 13 - 14, 2018: Richmond, Virginia. Participants include poets Tyree Daye and Pavana Reddy; fiction writers Xhenet Aliu and Mackenzi Lee; nonfiction writers David Coogan and Laurie Gwen Shapiro; literary agents Moe Ferrara (BookEnds Literary), Jessica Felleman (Foundry), Dara Kaye (Ross Yoon Agency), Chad Luibl (Janklow & Nesbit Associates), Beth Phelan (Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency), and Rebecca Scherer ( Jane Rotrosen Agency); and editor Latoya C. Smith (LCS Literary Services). The cost of the conference, which includes some meals and a one-on-one meeting with an agent, is $335, or $195 for a single day. The cost of a master class is an additional $65.

The Craft And Heart Of Writing Poetry For Children 2018. October 14 – October 18, 2018: Honesdale, PA. If you have a passion for writing children’s poetry, then please join us. Beginning poets, seasoned writers, teachers, and dreamers are all welcome. Would you love to work in an intimate setting with published poets, make new friends, and immerse yourself in writing poetry and working on the craft? Then this workshop is for you. Our goal is to bring poets together to delve into the heart, joy, and craft of poetry. We will be discussing, learning, writing, revising, and working on the craft of writing poetry for children. This workshop will offer plenty of interaction, direction, and free creative writing time. We’ll focus on all elements of poetry, from the importance of word choice to surprising metaphors. There will be plenty of writing exercises to inspire new poems followed by group discussions. As a group, we’ll brainstorm ideas, share our writing process, and generate original poems. You’ll be inspired to create new poems or bring works in progress to polish.

Writing By Writers Workshop @ Tomales Bay. October 17 - 21, 2018: Tomales Bay, California. Manuscript and poetry workshops are limited to 12 participants and generative workshops are limited to 15 to ensure an intimate setting.

TellingIt True: The Art Of Storytelling In Picture Book Biography AndNarrative Nonfiction 2018. October 18 – October 21, 2018: Honesdale, PA. Engage children in the lives of others through captivating events and compelling narrative threads. Unfamiliar names may not hook your readers, but a well-told true story can inspire, delight, teach, and enthrall. It’s an exciting time for nonfiction in the children’s book world. Teachers are craving more of it. Authors are experimenting with structure and story-telling technique. And kids are realizing that nonfiction can read with the same page-turning momentum as great fiction. Join Leda Schubert and Tod Olson as they explore the art of writing nonfiction for children and teens in both long and short forms. The process, for both picture books and narrative nonfiction, starts with the idea and research—lots of it. From there, the art of storytelling takes over.

Cagibi Hudson Valley Writing Retreat. October 18 - 21, 2018, Rhinebeck, NY. "Join a small group of writers for a long weekend of dedicated writing time and workshops co-led by teachers and editors under the spell of Hudson Valley’s spectacular autumn. Tuition includes gorgeous accommodations on-site in a stunning renovated farm house, three scrumptious meals a day, and one-on-one consultations. The retreat leaders will be Matt Pasca (author of A Thousand Doors and Raven Wire) and Terri Muuss (author of Over Exposed, co-editor of Grabbing the Apple), along with Cagibi founding editors."

Annual Florida Writers Conference, October 18 - 21, 2018: Altamonte Springs, Florida. Four workshops and panels dedicated to help you learn how to pitch your story, and more than fifty acclaimed authors, poets, and publishing industry experts for three days of networking opportunities.

Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers. October 19 - 20, 2018: University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, master classes, panel discussions, and individual manuscript consultations with faculty. Participants include poets Kaveh Bassiri and Patricia Smith; fiction writers Rilla Askew, Erin Bow, Sarah MacLean, and Julia White; poet and creative nonfiction writer Jill Bialosky; editor Carl Engle-Laird (Tor); and recent winners of the Nimrod Literary Awards. The cost of the conference is $60, which includes lunch. Scholarships are available. The deadline to register for a one-on-one manuscript consultation with an editor is October 13.

Magna cum Murder XXIII. Oct 19  - 21, 2018: Indianapolis, IN. 45+ authors of crime writing fiction Guest of Honor: Terence Faherty; International Guest of Honor: Reavis Wortham.

Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference, October 20, 2018: Rochester, Michigan. Lectures, Workshops and Panel Discussions in fiction, non-fiction and business of writing presentations. Open to new, working and published writers of all genres. Attendees select four presentations from a dozen to tailor fit their needs.

DAWG Writing Workshop, Write to Publish: Climbing Toward Success!  Oct 20, 2018: DeSoto, TX. Faculty: Stephen Fraser, Sarah LaPolla, Brian Smith and more.

ElementsOf Plot With Grace Lin And Padma Venkatraman 2018. October 21 – October 24, 2018: Honesdale, PA. Find your way through your novel, from point to point and place to place. Crafting engaging characters and an interesting concept are only part of what makes a novel successful. For all stories, plot is a crucial element. It provides the energy to move your story from beginning to end. Plot must be responsive in its point of view, dialogue, and characterization. Join Newbery winner Grace Lin and critically acclaimed author Padma Venkatraman in a hands-on experience designed to help you understand the analytical nature of plot and uncover ways to plan your novel. You’ll examine the internal and external conflicts of your story and whether or not an emotional arc is achieved. Grace and Padma will offer feedback on pacing, tension, and stakes, as well as guide you in planning the journey of your story. Whether plot comes to you intuitively or you struggle to bring structure to your concepts, this workshop is designed to help you strengthen your novel under the support and guidance of Grace and Padma. Writers will be asked to submit 10 pages from the beginning of their work-in-progress, along with a chapter-by-chapter summary of the entire manuscript. Picture book writers are also welcome to attend and may send a single manuscript in its entirety.

Viable Paradise Science Fiction Writers' Workshop. Oct 21 - 26, 2018: Martha’s Vineyard, MA. One-on-one & workshop critiques, participation in student group critiques, writing sessions, daily readings. Instructors include Scott Lynch, Debra Doyle, Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Sherwood Smith, James D. Macdonald and Daryl Gregory, with Elizabeth Bear and Laura Mixon as writers in residence. Applications close June 1.

John R. Milton Writers' Conference. Oct 25 - 27, 2018: Vermillion, South Dakota. The 2018 conference theme is “This Lonely Frontier: Exploring Boundaries of Space, Identity, and Genre." Percival Everett, Ellen Forney, Karen Salyer McElmurray and Erika T. Wurth are keynote and featured authors. In addition, Ellen Forney will deliver a workshop on creating comics.

Emerald City Writers' Conference. Oct 26 -28, 2018, Bellevue, WA. Local Romance Writers of America conference, featuring film and television scouts, who will be taking pitches along with editors and agents, keynote speakers, workshops, and a master class. 

Retreat to the Springs! Oct 26 -28, 2018: Yellow Springs, OH. Includes instruction and one-on-one manuscript critique. Faculty: Ann Hagedorn (creative nonfiction), Donna MacMeans (romance), Jason Sanford (scifi/fantasy), and Valerie Coleman (self-publishing).

Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, Oct. 26 - 28, 2018: Pasadena, CA. Experienced authors, editors, agents and publishing experts will be on hand, ready to help you develop your own craft and position yourself for success.

Steel Pen Conference. October 27, 2018: Fair Oaks, IN. Featured speakers and experts in the field provide workshops, and authors can showcase books, or receive direct critiques on their work from experienced writers and network with fellow writers. This is an annual conference.

FundamentalSteps To Writing Historical Fiction 2018. October 28 – October 31, 2018: Honesdale, PA. Give your historical fiction a strong start by learning the fundamentals of this popular genre. Are you writing a novel where a historical event or historical figure plays a main role? This workshop is designed to help you finish or revise your historical novel with five thoughtful steps. Using the acronym STEPS, award-winning historical fiction author Joyce Moyer Hostetter will introduce the basics of writing historical fiction.

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. October 31 - November 3, 2018, Bloomington, IN. Panels, workshops, readings, a book fair, and opportunities to meet with editors for translators. "The ALTA Annual Conference is a refreshingly collegial gathering of amateurs and professionals alike, both within the profession and outside it, all wholeheartedly committed to fostering, furthering, and supporting the practice of literary translation."

18 Magazines Accepting Reprints - Paying Markets

Escher - Flickr - Attanatta

There is nothing quite like having your work published after you have spent months sending your stories or poems to magazines that take forever to respond. Sadly, the elation you feel when you have finally seen your work published may be short-lived.

Most stories and poems that make their way into literary journals have only a brief shelf-life. After readers have read your work and the issue has been archived, now what? One good way to extend the life of your story is to send it to literary magazines that accept reprints.

Very few magazines are willing to pay for reprints. But some make exceptions, especially if your work is not still available online. Writers who submit reprints must always own the rights to their work.

For more paying markets in a variety of genres see: Paying Markets.

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Allegory. Genre: Speculative Fiction. Payment: $15. See reading periods.

Fabula Argentea. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: $8 for short stories and poems, $3 for flash, $15 to $25 for Longer Stories (7500 to 20,000 words). Only accepts work that is not currently available online.

Kaleidoscope. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry - Must focus on some aspect of disability. Payment: $10 - $100. 

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. Payment: $2. See reading periods.

Los Angeles Review of Los Angeles. Genre: "Stories and poems and stuff. Pictures. Sound files. Non-fiction." Payment: "A few pennies."

Maniacal. Genre: "Twisted humor, funny horror, or anything else you think will disturb and amuse us." Payment: $2. See reading periods.

NonBinary Review. Genre: Art and literature that "tiptoes the tightrope between now and then. Art that makes us see our literary offerings in new ways. We want language that makes us reach for a dictionary, a tissue, or both. Words in combinations and patterns that leave the faint of heart a little dizzy. We want insight, deep diving, broad connections, literary conspiracies, personal revelations, or anything you want to tell us about the themes we’ve chosen." Themed issues. Payment: Semi-pro. See reading periods.

Pantheon. Genre: Most genres of fiction and poetry. Themed issues (see prompts). "We are looking for myth in our stories—contemporary, weird, horrific. We want work that taps into the greater truths of humanity through storytelling. We want stories from all over the world, from all voices, from all cultures, backgrounds, and orientations—and we particularly welcome stories from voices that have been marginalized. Speculative elements are very welcome but not required, but we do look for a sense of the uncanny. Our tastes skew dark." Payment: Semi-pro.

Sanitarium Magazine. Genre: Horror. Payment: Token. See reading periods.

The Savage Kick. Genre: "Contemporary grit" articles and short stories between 1000-8000 words. Payment: Token.

Still Point Arts Quarterly. Genre: non-fiction and fiction (up to approximately 5000 words). Poetry is published on occasion. Focus on art, nature, and spirit. Payment: Token.

Sub-Saharan Magazine. Genre: Stories that present Africa in a Fantasy, science fiction, or horror setting or with speculative elements (2000 words max) Payment: $5. 

Tales of the Zombie War. Genre: Zombies! Prose and poetry. Payment: Semi-pro.

THEMA. Genre: Poetry and prose - themed issues. Payment: Token.

Workers Write! More Tales from the Classroom. Genre: Stories and poems from educational settings. "We're looking for fiction about teachers, counselors, admins, school librarians, principals, janitors - anyone who works in a school or classroom setting." Length: 500-5,000 words. Payment: $5-50. Deadline: December 31, 2018, or until filled.

Timeless Tales. Genre: Retellings of fairy tales and myths. Themed anthologies. Payment: $20.

The Lascaux Review. Genre: Stories, poems, and essays. Payment: $25.

The Bark Genre: Essays and fiction, as well as a few short poems about dogs. Payment: Who Pays Writers lists a payment of 67 cents/word.

5 Major Australian Publishers That Accept Unagented Manuscripts

Chris Samuel - Flickr

Unlike US and UK publishing houses, Australian publishers suffer from a dearth of submissions. Why submit to a publisher Down Under? All of these are major traditional publishers, with worldwide distribution, and all offer an advance and royalties. (You don't have to be Australian to submit to three of these publishers.)

Submission periods are limited for some of these publishers, so make sure to read their requirements carefully before you submit.

For a list of 150 publishers that accept submissions directly from writers, no agent required, see Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. 

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Allen & Unwin accepts submissions every day of the week. Allen & Unwin is an independent Australian publishing company established in 1976 as a subsidiary of the British firm George Allen & Unwin Ltd., one of the leading publishers of the twentieth century. They currently publish up to 250 new titles a year, including literary and commercial fiction, a broad range of general non fiction, academic and professional titles and books for children and young adults.

Pan Macmillan Australia accepts electronic manuscript submissions directly from writers between 10am and 4pm the first Monday of every month as part of its manuscript submission process. Pan Macmillan is a major Australian publisher with a wide range of titles under group imprints, including Macmillan, Pan, Picador, Plum, Momentum, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, Pancake, St Martin's Press, Tor, Forge, Griffin and Sidgwick & Jackson. They publish commercial and literary fiction, children's and YA fiction, picture books, Australiana, history, biographies, cooking, health and self-help, sports and travel. It also handles sales for Guinness World Records.

Penguin Australia accepts unsolicited manuscripts the first week of every month. Currently, they only accept children's literature. Their reading period of from February to November.  Australians only.

Text Publishing Australia accepts non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, including middle grade and young adult. Submissions are by hard copy only. Send the first 3 chapters and a brief (1-page) synopsis. If they want to see more they will contact you. Responses generally take three months.

Hachette Australia accepts work from Australian or New Zealand residents. They do not accept science fiction/fantasy, illustrated children’s books, illustrated books, cookbooks, poetry, self-help, screenplays or academic submissions. They will contact you only if they are interested. Responses take four weeks.