24 Paying Markets for Blog Posts

Pixabay

There are a gazillion blogs out there. Yours is probably one of them. But not all blogs are created equal. Some get considerably more traffic than others. So, if you want your views, opinions, and/or brilliant writing to be noticed in this world of non-stop communication, you may want to consider writing for a blog that has a larger audience than yours.

This can be done two ways: 1) Write for free, 2) Get paid.

Writing for free is good idea provided that the site has substantial traffic. Well-trafficked sites can offer you a boost if they include a bio, and links to your blog or website. Getting paid is the preferable option, especially if the pay is decent. These sites can also provide links to your website as well as a bio. In both cases, read their terms carefully. Many sites, whether they pay or not, acquire all rights, meaning you will not have the right to use your article in the future.

Useful articles:

List of Guest Blogging Sites (140+ best sites) - Peter Sandeen keeps a huge list of blogs. Most do not pay.

Writers in Charge also has an enormous list of blogs that accept guest posts. Some of them pay.

________________

3rd Act Magazine

3rd Act Magazine is a blog and magazine that publishes articles "that are interesting, entertaining, important and relevant to older adults in the third act of their lives." Payment: $25 - $50. "If you are a published writer with proven expertise and submit articles that are well researched and require little editing, you will be considered for our paid list of writers at a per word rate of $.25." Read their submission guidelines.

Bless This List

Bless This List originated with readers who didn’t have any experience as writers but decided to put a list together and send it in. "You don’t need to be an expert—you just need to have great English, a sense of humor, and a love for things unusual or interesting." Payment: $100. Read their submission guidelines.

Cooking Detective

CookingDetective.com (CD) is a cooking, recipe and food blog. "Here at CD we constantly publish informative articles, useful tips, how-to guide, expert interviews, experts round-up, and product reviews dedicated to cooking, cooking courses, cooking products, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, entertaining menus, fitness guides and other related topics." Payment: $70 - $150. Read their submission guidelines.

Extra Crispy

It's all about breakfast. Extra Crispy wants opinion pieces, reported stories, personal essays, works of humor, illustrated narratives, breakfast-y profiles of people, original recipes, how-tos and unusual points of view on the beloved morning meal are all welcome. No restaurant reviews. Payment: Average pay is 46 cents/word, according to Who Pays Writers. Read submission guidelines.

Freelance Mom

Freelance Mom is is a community for professional moms who believe that women can still be who they are after becoming a mom. "We believe the landscape has completely changed and that there is no better time for parents to be a freelancer or solopreneur." Your article should offer current practical and actionable advice, tips and be *in-depth enough that the reader walks away with new knowledge and new approaches. Articles should be between 900 to 1,500 words. Payment: $75 to $100. Read their submission guidelines.

The Hairpin

The Hairpin is a general-interest site aimed at women. Payment: Who Pays Writers lists average pay at 18 cents/word. Read guidelines here.

Healthy Living

Healthy Living accepts articles on health related topics. (See the site for a list of topics.) Payment: Pay rates fluctuate. Read their submission guidelines.

The Introspectionist

The Introspectionist publishes more intelligent and in-depth articles than your average woman's magazine. "We expect thought-provoking insights, uniquely informative pieces, and above all else, for you to show your work. Every article should have footnotes and links to where the reader can find more information. Reference peer reviewed articles from journals, books, and other high quality material." Read their editorial calendar and include the edition and theme for which your article idea would apply. Pitches only. Payment: $25 for department piece (from 100 to 500 words). For a feature article up to 2000 words,  $100. For a feature article up to 5000 words, $200. Short fiction pieces pay $25. Poems pay $25. Read guidelines here.

The IWA Wine Blog

The IWA Wine Blog is the official blog of International Wine Accessories. "Do you enjoy sharing your wine know-how with other wine lovers? Do you have a knack for writing original, engaging content? We’d love to hear from you!" Payment:  $20-$50. Read guidelines here.

MoneyPantry

MoneyPantry is looking for anyone with unusual and interesting, yet practical, ideas for earning and saving more money. They like detailed stories with numbers, strategies, and tips. 700 words minimum. 1000 to 2000 words preferred. Payment: $30 to $150. Read guidelines here.

Ms. Magazine

Ms. is looking for pieces from a feminist perspective. "We consider articles on politics, social commentary, popular culture, law, education, art and the environment. We do not consider articles on fashion, beauty, fitness, travel, food or of a "self-help" variety. Film, music and book reviews are covered in-house." To pitch the Ms. blog, please email blog@msmagazine.com. You may also submit completed works for consideration. Pitches should include a detailed description of what your piece will look like and when you can turn it around. Please also include links to previously published work if possible. Payment: Rates are negotiated. Read guidelines here.

Michelle Pippin

Michelle Pippin is looking for experts with first-hand experience about a business topic. "I do not want “writers” who write about “anything.” I want to share real-world experience from other business owners." Payment: $50 – $150. Read guidelines here.

My Mind Body Metabolic Workout

My Mind Body Metabolic Workout focuses on women's health. "The purpose of each post is to educate other women and provide personal insight into the realm of Health and Wellness." Posts must be at least 750 words. Payment: $50. Read guidelines here.

RebelsMarket

"We love articles that entertain, educate and inspire. If you have a strong opinion on why tattoos and fishnets are not acceptable office attire, great. Or if you think this is absolute bullshit - that's even better! We’re looking for strong opinion pieces, written with a fearless tone. But this doesn’t mean we won’t accept well thought out ‘how to’ guides and articles that are a little more neutral. Let’s face it – learning how to style a gothic corset is pretty important!" Payment: $50. Read guidelines here.

Re:Fiction

Re:Fiction is looking for informed articles about the craft, lifestyle, and business of fiction writing. "Are you an author, editor, or publisher with relevant experience to share? Drop us a line, and let's talk!" Payment: $0.06 to $0.10 per word of the final edited version. Read guidelines here.


The Rooted in Rights

The Rooted in Rights Blog is a platform dedicated to amplifying the authentic perspectives of disabled writers. "We’re seeking articles and op-eds on disability rights topics, written by people who identify as disabled. In order to have your piece considered for publication, keep in mind that it’s important to interweave your personal insights and experiences with broader cultural and disability rights issues. We accept a mix of narrative and reported pieces." Payment: $100. Read guidelines here.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Blog 

The SFWA Blog is open to nonfiction submissions that might be of interest to new and/or established writers of science fiction and fantasy. Length: 500-1000 words. Payment: 6 cents per word. Read guidelines here.

SlickWP

SlickWP  is a blog focused on teaching people how to get the most out of WordPress and the Genesis Theme Framework. They are mainly interested in publishing WordPress and Genesis focused tutorials or reviews of WordPress themes and plugins. Payment: $100. Read their submission guidelines.

Submittable

Submittable is interested in sharing your work about the publishing industry, creativity, and digital media. They prefer submissions of 1000 words or less. Payment: $50 per post, payable upon publication. Read their submission guidelines.

Travel Fashion Girl

The title says it all. This site is all about traveling literally in style - just for women. Payment: 5 cents/word. Read guidelines here.

WeAreTeachers

WeAreTeachers welcomes submissions on a wide range of topics pertaining to education and teacher life. We also accept submissions for our sister site, School Leaders Now. Payment: If we publish your submission, you will receive a $100 honorarium. Plus, if you’re a blogger, we’ll include a link to your blog or website. Most of their blog posts run between 500–700 words.Read their submission guidelines.

What Culture

What Culture (UK) covers TV, Gaming, Music, History, Science, Technology, Comics, Sport, and Literature, and become the biggest unofficial Wrestling website in the world. "List-driven written features are our bread and butter. But we'll also consider Quizzes, Galleries, Video submissions or News pieces." Payment: £0.50 for every 1,000 views generated in the first 28 days of publication. Read submission guidelines.

Women on Writing

WOW! welcomes queries from its audience of women writers. "We are now open to general queries, as long as it relates to the craft of writing and publishing. We are particularly looking for how-tos on a variety of writing and publishing topics, and interviews/round-ups with acquiring editors/literary agents/publishers. All articles must have takeaway value for fellow writers." Payment: $50 or $75. Read submission guidelines here.

Women's Voices for Change

Women's Voices for Change invites submissions of news commentaries, personal essays, and expert analysis. "We encourage all WVFC readers to take part in the ongoing conversation aimed at redefining the way women over 40 are seen in the culture, and how we see ourselves. Previously unpublished nonfiction work is preferred." Payment: $50 per post. Read their submission guidelines.

Write Naked

Write Naked is a blog about writing. Topics include: Interviews, Publishing Trends, Writing Essentials, Behind the Pen, and Day-in-the-Life of a Writer. Posts must be 450-650 words. See submission periods. Payment: $75.00 per post. Read their submission guidelines.

Writer's Weekly

WritersWeekly.com focuses on “selling” the written word. "We do not seek articles on how to write. Rather, we seek articles on how to make more money doing what you love….writing! We are also interested in other forms of home-based businesses and self-employment that may result from writing, such as self-publishing, corporate writing, ghostwriting, etc. All ideas that help writers support themselves performing the work they love are warmly welcomed." Payment: $60. Read their guidelines here.

Being a Writer Is the Fastest Way to Starve to Death

Wikimedia

When my son was contemplating various professions, I told him, "Whatever you do, don't become a writer. It's the fastest way to starve to death." It turns out I was right. (I hate being right all the time.)

The Authors Guild, of which I am a proud member, has released a report on writing income for American authors. In their terms, we are facing a “'crisis of epic proportions for American authors'” when it comes to making a living from writing, especially for literary authors." I would like to think this is why I've gotten over a thousand rejections. I'm just too literary! But in fact, every writer's income has dropped dramatically.

So, all you young and old writers, keep your day job. You're gonna need it.

(My son, much to my chagrin, is a writer. He is starving to death in Los Angeles.)

____________________

New Guild Report Finds More Declines in Author Earnings

By Calvin Reid, January 7, 2019

In what the Authors Guild is calling the “largest survey of U.S. professional writers ever conducted,” the organization reports the median income published American authors received for all writing-related activity in 2017 was $6,080 in 2017, down from $10,500 in the guild's 2009 survey. The survey further found that the median income for specifically book-related income for published authors declined 21%, to $3,100, in 2017 from $3,900 in 2013 and just over 50% from 2009’s median book earnings of $6,250.

The survey was conducted by the Authors Guild in collaboration with 14 other writer and publishing related organizations, and includes data from more than 5,000 published book authors. Previous surveys had focused mainly on guild members and drew a smaller number of responses. A guild spokesperson acknowledged that the surveys have different pools of respondents, but said the guild still believes the figures indicate the general income decline holds true for guild members and for published authors as whole.

Read the rest of this depressing article HERE.

3 UK Agents Seeking Thrillers, Narrative Nonfiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction and More

These three UK agents are actively seeking to expand their client lists. Claire Paterson Conrad represents a wide range of subjects and authors, both fiction and non-fiction, literary and commercial. Joanna Swainson is looking for crime and thrillers, ghost stories, speculative fiction, horror, and narrative nonfiction. Cara Jones is looking for exciting new voices in fiction, particularly crime and thrillers, and is also interested in thought-provoking narrative non-fiction.

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.
___________________

Cara Jones of Rogers, Coleridge & White

Cara Jones started her career in publishing in 2002 at Random House and joined Rogers, Coleridge & White in 2006.

What she is seeking: Cara is looking for exciting new voices in fiction, particularly crime and thrillers, and is also interested in thought-provoking narrative non-fiction.

How to submit: Send a query letter to cara@rcwlitagency.com. For fiction, send the first three chapters or approximately the first fifty pages of the work to a natural break, and a brief synopsis. Non-fiction submissions should include a proposal up to twenty pages explaining what the work is about and why you are best person to write it. Material should be in 12 point font, double-spaced.
___________________

Claire Paterson Conrad of Janklow and Nesbit (UK)

Claire Paterson Conrad began her publishing career at Chatto & Windus, went on to work for Granta and Canongate Books, then subsequently moved to New York, where she lived for five years and worked for the New York Review of Books. There she became Publisher of the NYRB Classics series, an imprint which republishes great and sometimes forgotten literature. Claire returned to the UK in 2002, and joined Janklow & Nesbit as a literary agent. 

What she is seeking: She represents a wide range of subjects and authors, both fiction and non-fiction, literary and commercial.

How to submit: Please include a covering letter in the body of your email and attach other components in Word format if possible, or as PDFs.  Please send your submission to submissions@janklow.co.uk, including your name, the title of your work and the name of the agent you wish to submit to in the subject line. If you are submitting fiction, you should include a covering letter, synopsis, and either the first three chapters or the first fifty pages, whichever you feel is appropriate. Your covering letter and synopsis should ideally be no longer than a page each. If you are submitting non-fiction, you should include a covering letter, a full outline setting out the aims of each chapter, and if possible a sample chapter. Please title all documents and your email with your full name and the title of your work for ease of reference. Your submission should be double-spaced, size 12 and in a reasonable font.
___________________

Joanna Swainson of Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency (UK)

After a degree in French Joanna ran a business for several years, providing a range of copy writing and editing services. Her love of books and an interest in writing led her to freelance for a number of literary agents, including one of the most commercial agencies in London as well as a specialist children’s agent.

What she is seeking: "In fiction, I am looking for complex, larger-than-life characters. I love crime and thrillers at both ends of the commercial / literary spectrum. I also love a good ghost story and accessible speculative fiction, as well as a bit of horror. Whatever the genre, whether literary or commercial, for adults or children, historical or contemporary, thriller or crime, I’m looking for originality and distinctive voices. On the non-fiction front, I enjoy narrative non-fiction, especially popular history and science. I’m very partial to a memoir. I also enjoy nature writing."

How to submit: Send a query, and attach a one-page synopsis as well as the full manuscript, and send by email to: submissions@hardmanswainson.com. For nonfiction send an email outlining your book, why it has a place on the bookshelf and why you are qualified to write it, along with a proposal and a sample chapter of the whole work, if it is completed. Please include the sample material along with the query – either as an attachment or in the body of the email.

2 Agents Actively Seeking YA, Romance, Mysteries & Suspense and more

Here are two agents actively expanding their client lists. Jessica Errera is looking for commercial women’s fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, mysteries and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. Kelli Martin is passionate about romance, focusing on contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and is also excited to discover new talent and shape content in commercial women’s fiction, including love stories, romantic comedies, suspense, family dramas, friendship dramas, beach reads, and women-coming-into-their-own stories.

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.
___________________

Jessica Errera of Jane Rotrosen Agency

Jessica has been with JRA since 2014. Jessica is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she spent four years cheering on the Tar Heels and a few fantastic months interning with Algonquin Books.

What she is seeking: She is looking for commercial women’s fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, mysteries and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. 

How to submit: Submissions should be emailed to jerrera[at]janerotrosen[dot]com

Send a query letter that includes a synopsis of your work, any relevant biographical information/publishing history, and the first three chapters pasted into the body of the email.

_______________

Kelli Martin of Wendy Sherman Associates

Kelli Martin began her book publishing career over twenty years ago. She started at Simon & Schuster and rose up the editorial ladder at HarperCollins, Harlequin, and Amazon Publishing. At Amazon Publishing, Kelli acquired and edited some of the house’s highest selling, breakout authors and books in romance and commercial fiction; in addition, she served as the launch editor and public face of Montlake Romance as well as Executive Editor at Lake Union.

What she is looking for: Kelli is passionate about building the agency’s romance program, focusing on contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and is also excited to discover new talent and shape content in commercial women’s fiction, including love stories, romantic comedies, suspense, family dramas, friendship dramas, beach reads, and women-coming-into-their-own stories.

How to submit: Please send all e-mail submissions to submissions@wsherman.com.  Include your last name, title, and the name of the agent you are submitting to in the subject line.  For fiction, please include a query letter and your first 10 pages copied and pasted in the body of the email.  They will not open attachments unless they have been requested.

2019 New Year's Resolution for Writers: To Thine Own Work Be True

Pixabay

Every year, at about this time, I make a special New Year's writing resolution. To my credit, I have managed to carry most of them through. In 2017 I resolved to write what I feared. That resolution had to do with stretching my boundaries. I am a fiction writer, and I have terror of writing memoirs, so I began to write one. (And it has been every bit as frightening as I thought it would be.)

The following year, in the throes of memoir-phobia, I resolved to finish. Starting new projects is fun and exciting, but actually finishing them is another matter entirely. I promised myself I would finish writing my memoir in 2018. Sad to say, I failed. (In my defense, I did write more than 80,000 words of it. And I swear I will finish it before I die.)

This year, after giving much thought to the process of writing, I have resolved to ignore my potential audience, along with the requirements of agents and editors, and simply fulfill the potential of my work the best I can.

For writers, who lately have been saddled with all sorts of marketing tasks ("Who will read your book?" "Give us three comps," "Do you have an online platform?" and so forth.), simply maintaining loyalty to your work can get short shrift. What you have to say can get overshadowed by considerations of whether it will have market appeal, and if your hypothetical audience will want to read your words.

The primary loyalty of any author should be to the work itself. You have something to say? Then say it to the best of your ability, pushing all other considerations aside until you have fully and completely expressed yourself. Once you have finished your book, it will take on a life of its own, much like giving birth to a baby. It will have its own personality, and it will acquire meaning, often independent of the one you have given it. But that will only happen if you devote yourself to putting the work first, and all other considerations second.

Now go tell your story, the way only you can.

36 Calls for Submissions in January 2019 - Paying markets

Public domain

There are three dozen calls for submissions in January 2019. 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 monthly calls for submissions on the last day of the previous 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.)

________________________

Crystal Lake Publishing: Tales from The Lake. Genre: Horror. Payment: $0.03/word. Deadline: January 1, 2019.

Ellipsis Zine, Five: Love Pride. Genre: Fiction celebrating LGBTQ writers and writing. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 3, 2019.

The Stinging Fly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: Fiction and nonfiction: €25 per magazine page. Poetry: €40 for single poem/magazine page. Featured Poet: €200. Deadline: January 9, 2019.

Texas Home School Coalition Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles about home schooling. (See website for topics.) Payment: $40 for nonexclusive print and electronic rights to feature articles that have been published previously, or works to which the author wishes to retain the copyright. (Authors should confirm that agreements with previous publishers will not conflict with THSC’s nonexclusive rights.) $110 for the exclusive print and electronic copyright to previously unpublished works.  Deadline: January 10, 2019.

Grumpy Old Gods Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We’re looking for stories about mythical Gods who are waning, reborn, retired, or otherwise AWOL from their assigned post." Payment: Profit sharing. Deadline: January 13, 2019.

Overland. Genre: Progressive fiction on theme of ‘future sex’. Payment: $150. Deadline: January 14, 2019.

Shifters United: Shifter Mix-ups. Genre: Paranormal romance/urban fantasy novellas featuring shape shifters. Length: 20,000 to 50,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Rattle: Instagram Poets. Genre: Poetry. The poems may be any style, length, or subject, but must have first appeared on Instagram and not yet appeared in print. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Ruminate. Ruminate welcomes submissions that both subtly and overtly engages faith from all the world religions. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $17/page of poetry (with a maximum of $60 per poem).
Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Women Artists Datebook. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $70. Deadline: December 15, 2019.

Sanitarium Magazine. Genre: Horror. Payment: Token. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Helios Magazine. 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: January 15, 2019.

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, 2019.

Wizards in Space. Genres: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: January 15, 2019. Reprints accepted.

Outlook Springs. Genre: "Weird, wobbly wordwork: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry." Payment: $10 for poems, $25 for prose. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Slice. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry on the theme of Birth. Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose. Payment: $250 for stories and essays, $75 for poems. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Prairie Fire: Work Matters. Genre: Fiction, creative non-fiction, essays, and poetry on the topic of work. Payment: Print - Prose: $0.10 per word. Poetry: $40 per poem. Deadline: January 18, 2019.

18th Wall Productions: War of the Worlds – Absolute War. Genre: Short stories expanding on H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. They’re seeking to show the entire world’s response to the Invasion. They have detailed guidelines about what they do and do not want in the stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 20, 2019.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Prose or poem fairy tale on theme "Love." Payment: $30/story; $10/poem US dollars only. Deadline: January 20, 2019.

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." Theme: Books of Blood. Payment: Semi-pro. Deadline: January 23, 2019.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction up to  1000 words. Payment: $3. Deadline: January 27, 2019.

The School Magazine: Celebrate Science. Genre: Stories, articles, plays, poems and activities on the theme of ‘Celebrate Science’, on any aspect of science. Length: Up to 1,500 words for fiction and plays, 800-2,000 words for nonfiction. Length: Up to 1,500 words for fiction and plays, 800-2,000 words for nonfiction. Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: January 28, 2019.

EVENT. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $25/page. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

The Children of Clark Ashton Smith. Genre: Fantasy inspired by CAS. 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: January 31, 2019. Reprints accepted.

Room Magazine. Genre: Feminist fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, interviews, and book reviews. Next issue: "Sports." Payment: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Freeze Frame Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction; issues are themed. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Arc. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Less than Three Press: Bound By Nothing – LGBTQIA Collection Call. Genre: Stories of shape shifters with disabilities, from the physical to mental, visible to invisible. Payment: Royalties.   Deadline: January 31, 2019.

To Seoul, from the World. Genre: Short stories set in and/or about the city of Seoul. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Ashland Creek Press. Genre: Book-length fiction and nonfiction on the themes of the environment, animal protection, ecology, and wildlife. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, 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, 2019.

Atthis Arts: Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove. Genre: Fiction. Stories must take place over a span of five minutes, and they must take place at a specific era, location, and time of day within the rooms or grounds of the Hotel Stormcove. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Welcome to the Alpaca-lypse. Genre: Animal-themed apocalypse stories. The apocalypse can be big or small (the larger scale the better), but it must include an animal as a major part of the story. The animal can be the cause of the apocalypse, the salvation from the apocalypse, or the pet that helps the one hero get through it all. It can even be from the animal's point of view. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Fiyah: Hair. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry by and about Black writers of the African Diaspora on the theme of Hair. Length: Up to 4 poems, 2,000-7,000 words for short fiction, up to 15,000 words for novelettes. Payment: $50 for poems, $150 for short fiction, $300 for novelettes. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Third Flatiron: Hidden Histories. Genre: Speculative fiction on the theme of Hidden Histories. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Northern New England Review Raven Prize in Creative Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to US residents. Genre: Previously unpublished piece of creative nonfiction, maximum 3,000 words. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

45 Writing Contests in January 2019 - No entry fees

"Does this coat make me look fat?" - Pixabay

January is a great month for writing contests. This month there are 45 contests, and none charge entry fees. Prizes range from $40,000 to a camera. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

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

___________________

On Teaching Poem Prize. Genre: Unpublished poem written about K–12 teaching and/or teachers. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 1, 2019.

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 2, 2019.

Columbia College Literary Review Editors’ Prize. Genre: Creative nonfiction or fiction in 5000 words or less. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 7, 2019.
Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 6 - 12. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: January 9, 2019 for Grades 6-10, January 16, 2019 for Grades 11-12.

The Mogford Prize for Food And Drink Writing. Genre: Short story which specifically includes the subjects of food and/or drink within the plot. 2500 words. Prize:£10,000 to be awarded during the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival in April 2016. Deadline: January 7, 2019. (This prize was free but now charges a 10-pound fee. Sorry guys.)

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Arkansas residents. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Winners will also give a public reading of their work; and One-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming. Deadline: January 7, 2019.

Leah Ryan's FEWW Playwriting Prize. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Completed full-length work for theater.  Prize: $2,500, a workshop at the Vassar Powerhouse Theater, and a reading in New York City. Deadline: January 7, 2019.

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, 2019.

New York Times 'Win a Trip with Nick Kristof' Contest. Restrictions: US college and graduate students. Genre: Essay. Prize: Trip with Nick Kristof. Deadline: January 11, 2019.

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition. Restrictions: The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 11, 2019.

Writing with the Stars. Genre: Picture book writers and illustrators. Prize: Free three-month mentorship with a published author or author/illustrator. Mentors will help mentees further develop their craft and share invaluable advice and insight into the publishing world. Deadline: January 13, 2019.

Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st January 2018. All entries must have a clear British link. Journalism and ‘exposing Britain’s social evils’.   Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 14, 2019. (Their website is impossible to figure out, which is ironic.)

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book - best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 14, 2019.

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 15, 2019.

Beatrice Medicine Award for Scholarship in American Indian Studies. Genre: Essay and/or book about Native American studies published in 2018. Prize: $250. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Rattle Instagram Poets. Genre: Poem that first appeared on Instagram. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

Electa Quinney Award for Published American Indian Stories. Genre: Story. "This award seeks to highlight the work of story creators who continue the tradition of teaching through narratives often crossing the boundaries of genres, formats and disciplines. To celebrate the dissemination of stories into spaces where they can be shared all published stories qualify including small press and fine arts printing." Prize: $250. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

The Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Ellen Meloy. The Fund provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen’s writing and her commitment to a “deep map of place.” Ellen’s own map-in-progress was of the desert country she called home. Genre: Only literary or creative nonfiction proposals will be considered. No fiction or poetry proposals will be reviewed. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

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, 2019.

Northern California Book Awards. Restrictions: Books written by authors based in northern California and published for the first time in 2018 are eligible for nomination. Genre: Published book. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2019.

The Page Street Kids Prize (USA). Genre: Picture books of typical length by any USA author. Prize: $1000 Visa gift card, text and art development feedback, and consideration for publication. Submit a book dummy aimed at ages 4-8 (or narrative nonfiction for ages 8-12).  Deadline: January 15, 2019. More info here.

Ellipsis. Restrictions: Open to authors who have not had a collection/novel/novella published previously. Genre: Flash fiction collection. Prize: Publication and royalties. Deadline: January 17, 2019.

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 18, 2019.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April. Genres: Essays and short stories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: January 18, 2019.

Poetry Society of Virginia - Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in Virginia, grades 3 - 12. Prize: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 19, 2019.

Nine Dots Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors age 18+.  Genre: Summary response on topic "Is there still no place like home?" 3,000 words. Prize: $100,000. Winner will be asked to write a book on the topic. Deadline: January 21, 2019.

Sweekstars Competition. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 22, 2019.

Driftless Unsolicited Novella Contest. Genre: Novella. Prize: $250 and publication with Brain Mill Press. Deadline: January 22, 2019.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships, awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period, are $7,000 cash awards 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 23, 2019.

Roswell Award for Short Science Fiction. Genre: Science fiction, 1500 words max. Prize: $500. Finalists have their stories read by celebrities in Hollywood. Deadline: January 28, 2019.

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, 2019.

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: $100.00.  Deadline: January 31, 2019.

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, 2019.

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, 2019.

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, 2019.

Sunburst Awards. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Speculative fiction short stories published in 2018. Prize: ? Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for Short Fiction. Genre: Short story, maximum of 3,500 words or 10 pages, accepted by The Caribbean Writer. See theme. Prize: $400. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Daily News Prize. Genre: Poem, of any length, written by a US or UK Virgin Islands resident accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer during the deadline year. Prize: $300. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

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 31, 2019.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $600. The winner of the youth division (18 or younger) will receive $400. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Nelson Algren Literary Awards is a short story contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. This contest is open to residents of the United States. All entries must be: fiction, less than 8,000 words, double spaced, written in English. Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $3,500. Four finalists will each receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $500. Total value of all prizes: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2019.

16th 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, 2019. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.