35 Writing Conferences in July 2018

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By July writing conferences are in full swing. This month there are nearly three dozen writing conferences that span the country from one coast to the other. There are conferences that focus on the craft of writing, pitch conferences with agents and editors, and retreats for those who just need to get away.

Conferences that include intimate coaching sessions tend to fill up quickly. I have included these, even if they are full, so you can plan ahead for next year. 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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Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 17 - August 24, 2018, Provincetown, Massachusetts. The faculty includes Marisa Silver, Ariel Levy, Julia Glass, Henri Cole, Marie Howe, Marie Ponsot, Vijay Seshadri, Dean Albarelli, Kimiko Hahn, David Updikel, Pam Houston, Julia Glass, Alice Mattison. Tuition ranges from $600 to $725.

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program Writers Week. July 2 - 6, 2018, Idyllwild, California. Workshops, craft talks, readings, and one-on-one consultations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. "For decades Idyllwild Arts has been a gathering place for some of the world's finest poets and writers - among them Ray Bradbury, Norman Corwin, Lucille Clifton, Sharon Olds, Maxine Kumin, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Philip Levine, Luis J. Rodriguez, David St. John and Natasha Trethewey. That fine tradition continues with our second annual Writers Week, a gathering of talented writers from Idyllwild Arts and beyond."

New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College. July 2 - 27, 2018: Saratoga Springs, NY. Workshops on Mon, Wed, Fri. Q & As with visiting writers on Tues and Thurs. Readings & presentations by visiting and staff writers. Symposia and student readings on weekends. Extra Manuscript Tutorials in fiction novels, and book-length non-fiction and poetry. Faculty: Danzy Senna, Amy Hempel, Adam Haslett, Joanna Scott, Claire Messud, Phillip Lopate, Campbell McGrath, Vijay Seshadri, Carol Muske-Dukes, Rosanna Warren, Victoria Redel, Garth Greenwell, Rick Moody, Jonathan Dee, Peg Boyers, Henri Cole and others.

IWWG Summer Writers Conference. July 6 - 13, 2018: Allentown, PA. The International Women's Writing Guild sponsors this residential writing program for women. Features: Over two dozen workshops ranging from three to six days in length and spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, writing as performance, social justice, multi-genre, and mixed media; Critique sessions in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting; A multimedia open studio and Two book fairs.

The Summer Writers Institute. July 6 - 20, 2018, St. Louis, Missouri. The Washington University Summer Writers Institute is an intensive, two-week program featuring workshops in fiction, micro fiction, modern humor, personal narrative, playwriting, and poetry, as well as reading and individual conferences with instructors. Adult writers of all levels of experience work together with published authors and exceptional teachers in a supportive, non-competitive format that allows for personalized attention and constructive feedback.

Frost Place Conference on Poetry. July 8 - 14, 2018: Franconia, NH. Spend a week at “intensive poetry camp” with writers who are deeply committed to learning more about the craft of writing poetry. The Frost Place Poetry Conference offers daily workshops, classes, lectures, writing and revising time in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Tin House Summer Workshop. July  8 - 15, 2018, Portland, Oregon. Workshops with afternoon craft seminars and career panels. Evenings are reserved for author readings and revelry. Tin House editors and guest agents are available to meet individually with students throughout the week. Participating writers include poets Matthew Dickman, Dorianne Laux, Ada Limón, Shane McCrae, and Tommy Pico; fiction writers Dorothy Allison, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Robert Boswell, Alexander Chee, Lauren Groff, Randa Jarrar, Tayari Jones, Antonya Nelson, Chinelo Okparanta, Benjamin Percy, Wells Tower, and Lidia Yuknavitch; and creative nonfiction writers Melissa Febos, Lacy M. Johnson, and Kiese Laymon. Tuition is $1,200; the fee for lodging and meals is $600. Scholarships are available. Workshops may be audited for $300. The deadline for scholarship applications is March 18. Cost: $1200. Application deadline: April 29, 2018.

Young Writers Workshop. July 8 - 28, 2018, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Restrictions: For students completing grades 9, 10, 11. Three 90-minute workshop sessions daily, including imaginative writing activities and discussion of readings. Weekly individual meetings with workshop instructor. Focus is on using various forms of creative writing to develop language and thinking skills.

Stonecoast Writers’ Conference. July 9 - 14, 2018, Portland, ME. Workshops in poetry, short fiction, novel, and nonfiction/memoir, and a mixed-genre Creative Writing Bootcamp. The Stonecoast Writers’ Conference is open to students of all experience levels. However, admission is selective. Writing sample and deposit required.

Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers. July 9 - 15, 2018: Wallowa Lake, Oregon. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panel discussions, readings, and open mics. "Held each July at Wallowa Lake in northeast Oregon, Summer Fishtrap gathers writers for a week of inspired writing workshops and culminates with a weekend of passionate discussion on a key issue facing the West."

ThrillerFest XIII. July 10–14, 2018, New York City. This is the annual conference of the International Thriller Writers. The ThrillerFest conference has four main components: Master CraftFest, CraftFest, PitchFest, and ThrillerFest. Master CraftFest was designed as an educational tool for aspiring writers as well as debut and midlist authors to gain advanced training from the masters of the craft in an intimate, day-long training session. CraftFest was designed for all writers to learn from bestselling authors and subject experts who kindly offer their advice and assistance to advance attendees’ writing techniques and further their careers. PitchFest was designed to match writers with agents, editors, publishers, and producers. ThrillerFest, the final two days of the conference, is intended to offer readers a chance to meet the best authors in the industry and be introduced to debut and midlist authors. Expect innovative panels, spotlight interviews, and workshops to educate and inspire.

Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Summer Seminar. June 10 - 16 and 17 - 23, 2018, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Workshops in poetry and fiction, one-on-one manuscript consultations, panel discussions, and readings. Offers fellowships. Deadline April 21, 2018.

Southampton Writers Conference. July 11–22, 2018, Long Island, NY. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and publishing, as well as readings, lectures, and a master class series. Creative writing workshops are the heart and soul of the summer experience, meeting four afternoons or mornings throughout the session. Enrollment is limited to 13 lucky writers who have applied with writing samples. Those accepted have the privilege of sharing their work in an intimate, rigorous and friendly setting.

Green River Writers Workshops:Turning Memory into Story: Memoir Writing Workshop. July 12 - 15, 2018, Las Vegas, New Mexico. Using memory as a starting point, Green River Writers Workshops focus on the craft of storytelling through memoir, fiction, historical writing, and poetry. Both experienced and beginning writers are welcome.

The Gathering. July 13 - 15, 2018, La Plume, Pennsylvania. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and performances. "Each year The Gathering is structured around a theme that relates everyday experiences to broader issues. The purpose of The Gathering is to promote understanding and empathy to bridge cultural, social, and economic gaps. Lecturers include authors, poets, scientists, philosophers, musicians, performers, and artists who help shape contemporary thought in their field. A reading list gets us thinking ahead of time about the issues we’ll be immersed in at The Gathering. Our presenters have included Salman Rushdie, Gregory Maguire, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Diane Ackerman, Chris Abani, Susan Jacoby, Katherine Paterson, Peter Bohlin, Nancy Willard, Victor Navasky, Sandy Tolan, and many others. Their availability for conversation during meals and breaks and at social gatherings offers important opportunities for participants to gain new insights into the speakers’ work."

Peripatetic Writing Workshop and Retreat. July 13 - 18, 2018: Deal, Kent, England. The first week of the conference features daily workshops, discussions, readings, and time to write. The second week of the conference features writing time, discussions, readings, and individual manuscript tutorials. The workshop will be led by NYU teachers and authors Maureen Brady and Martha Hughes.

The Cleveland Writing Workshop. July 14, 2018, Cleveland, OH. A full-day “How to Get Published” writers conference. "One day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Antioch Writers' Workshop. July 14 - 20, 2018, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Featuring Keynoter  and Sunday Morning Craft Class Instructor, Connie Schultz.  Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and professional in residence at Kent State University's school of journalism. Morning classes and afternoon seminars in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry for all levels of writers--beginning to advanced. The workshop includes opportunities to give readings, receive professional critiques, interact with faculty, and meet with a visiting agent.

Port Townsend Writers’ Conference. July 15 - 22, 2018, Port Townsend, Washington. workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft lectures, readings, open mics, and time to write. "The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference has been since 1974 at the wild heart of the thriving Pacific Northwest literary scene. With a focus on community and rigorous attention to craft, the Conference offers morning workshops, afternoon workshops, residencies, guided freewrites, and a vibrant readings and lectures series presented by vital, contemporary writers."

Green Mountain Writers Conference. July 16 - 20, 2018, Chittenden, Vermont. The program features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as one-on-one consultations, lectures, publishing discussions, and readings. The faculty includes poets Justen Ahren, Chard deNiord, Gary Margolis, Verandah Porche, and Kate Rushin; fiction writers T. Greenwood, Elizabeth Inness-Brown, and Stephen Kiernan; and creative nonfiction writers Chuck Clarino and Yvonne Daley. Tuition is $650 before June 1 and $675 thereafter.

Sewanee Writers’ Conference. July 17- 29, 2018: Sewanee, TN. Faculty will give readings and provide instruction and criticism through workshops and craft lectures, as well as meet individually with participants to discuss their manuscripts. The Conference will offer five fiction workshops, four poetry workshops, and a playwriting workshop supported by two professional actors. In addition, a substantial number of literary agents will attend.

Romance Writers of America. July 18 - 21, 2018, Denver, CO. The RWA Conference is the place where career-focused romance writers meet, mingle, and get down to the business of being an author. Conference highlights include the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing; the Keynote speech; hearing from great speakers; book signings; and the Awards Ceremony. At the conference, career-focused romance writers can anticipate: education and information, networking with fellow writers, interaction with editors, agents, publishers, booksellers, and other romance publishing industry professionals.

Writing the Rockies. July 18 - 22, 2018: Gunnison, Colorado. Workshops, readings, panels, seminars and other events in poetry, genre fiction, screenwriting and publishing. One-to-one visits with faculty for critiques & pitches. Sponsored by Graduate Program in Creative Writing, Western State Colorado University.

Saskatchewan Festival of Words. July 19 - 27, 2018, Moose Jaw, Canada. Workshops for all ages, reading sessions, concerts, film, panel discussions, interviews, music, theatre, a slam poetry competition as well as workshops and author readings.

North Carolina Writers' Network Squire Summer Writing Residency. July 19 - 27, 2017: Raleigh, North Carolina. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as a presentation and readings. The faculty includes Paul Cuadros, Rob Greene, and Elaine Neil Orr. The cost of the residency ranges from $425 - $675, depending on membership and housing preferences.

Cascade Writers Critique and Pitches. July 20 –22, 2018: Tacoma, WA. Milford-Style critiques, agent pitches and query information, panels on writing, editing, self-publishing, and more. "Join us for our three-day event this July with editors and/or publishers John Joseph Adams, author Christie Yant, agent DongWon Song, author Spencer Ellsworth, author Randy Henderson, author John J.A.Pitts, author David D. Levine, author Rachael K. Jones, and author Liz Coleman. More to come!"

Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. July 20 - 22, 2018, Grapevine, Texas. The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level. Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, and student classes. In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals, who receive hand-made trophies, more than $26,000 in cash awards and have their work published in Mayborn's journal, Ten Spurs, or anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.

Gemini Ink Writers Conference. July 20 - 22, 2018: San Antonio, Texas. In this moment of social and historic flux, Gemini Ink’s Writers Conference will contemplate the role writing can play in reflecting and driving social, aesthetic and personal change. Participate in panels, roundtables, workshops, and readings. Engage in dynamic conversations on writing as an agent for change.

Juniper Institute for Young Writers. July 22 - 29, 2018:  Amherst, MA. For high school students. Daily workshops in poetry, fiction, & nonfiction; interactive craft sessions that include discussions & writing exercises; evening readings by faculty & writers-in-residence. The faculty includes poets Dorothea Lasky, Rickey Laurentiis, Camille Rankine, Bianca Stone, and Dara Wier; fiction writers Noy Holland, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Joy Williams; and creative nonfiction writer Eileen Myles. Visiting writers include poets Terrance Hayes, Lisa Olstein, Evie Shockley, Safiya Sinclair, and Matthew Zapruder; fiction writers Stephen Graham Jones, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, and Leni Zumas; and creative nonfiction writer Paul Lisicky. Tuition, which includes some meals, is $1,600. Manuscript consultations are available for an additional $150. Several lodging options are offered, from $48 per night for a dorm room to $140 per night for a private room at a nearby campus hotel. Scholarships and grants are available. Scholarships available.

Mountain Maryland Writers' Institute. July 26 - 29, 2018: McHenry, MD. MMWI is a 3-day camp for adult writers of all abilities. Morning and afternoon writing sessions focusing on research, topic selection, poetry, destination travel guide. Guided by local and regional authors in a combination of indoor and outdoor venues. Faculty: Dr. Neal Brooks, Jess Daddeio, Jack DuBose, Rose Gordy, James Rada, Jr., and Ellouise Schoettler.

Midwest Writers Workshop. July 27 - 28, 2018, Muncie, Indiana. Craft and business sessions, agent pitches, manuscript evaluations. MWW includes quality instruction by a faculty of authors, agents, editors, and specialists.

Bookstock Literary Festival. July 27 - July 29, 2018: Woodstock, Vermont. From Poets & Writers: "The festival features workshops, readings, discussions, and a book fair for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Participating writers have included poets Benjamin Aleshire, Laura Foley, Pamela Harrison, April Ossmann, and Elizabeth Powell; fiction writers Jean Hanff Korenlitz and Roland Merullo; and nonfiction writers Jabari Asim, Bruce Coffin, and Sarah Prager. All events and workshops are free and open to the public."

Napa Valley Writers’ Conference. July 29 - August 3, 2018, St. Helena, California. Workshops in poetry and fiction, craft lectures, panels, and evening readings with wine receptions at venues around Napa Valley. Conference will feature poets Camille Dungy, Brenda Hillman, Jane Mead, and Carl Phillips, and fiction writers Lan Samantha Chang, Lauren Groff, Mat Johnson, and Howard Norman.

Pennsylvania Writers Conference. July 29 - August 4, 2018: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. PWC includes workshops in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. The conference will offer pitch sessions with agents, as well as certificate programs in publishing and arts advocacy and education.

VQR Conference. July 30 - August 4, 2018: Charlottesville, VA. This conference focuses on writing. Conference participants pay $1,100, which includes lodging and meals. For participants who do not need housing, the cost is $950. Deadline: Once admitted to the conference, a nonrefundable deposit of $200 is due by June 15.

20 Publishers Accepting Nonfiction - No Agent Required

Here are twenty publishers seeking nonfiction. They are looking for a wide range of subjects, including art, theater, children's nonfiction, calendars, memoirs, pop culture, politics, history - in short, if it isn't fiction, they want it. All are traditional publishers, and none require an agent.

Unlike fiction, in which writers are asked to either submit a sample of their writing or a full manuscript, nonfiction writers are required to submit a proposal. Proposals typically run about 25 pages. They contain an overview, a detailed table of contents, a bio of the author, a business plan, a competitive title analysis showing which similar books are already on the market and why yours is better, and sample chapters. The proposal is essentially a quick guide to your book that will enable a publisher to decide whether it is worth their time and effort, so make sure you spend time and effort writing your proposal.

For detailed information on how to write a proposal read Jane Friedman's excellent article: Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal.

For more nonfiction publishers see: 22 Cookbook Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. Many of these publishing houses accept other nonfiction titles as well.

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Allworth Press publishes business and self-help information for the general public and creative professionals. It is now owned by Skyhorse. Read their submission guidelines  here. Seeking: Graphic Design, Business, Performing Arts, Interior Design, Art, Theater, Web Design, Book Arts, Photography, Crafts.

Andrews McMeel Publishing is the country's premier calendar publisher. Its core publication categories include: inspiration, middle grade children's books, comics and humor, puzzles and games, inspiration and gift, and comics for middle grade children. Interestingly, they also publish poetry. See submission guidelines HERE.

Barricade Books publishes quality non-fiction manuscripts--preferably that lean toward the controversial. Send an outline, one or two chapters, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to Carole Stuart, Barricade Books, 2037 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024. No email submissions.

Ben Bella publishes niche market books, works by celebrities and experts in their fields, pop culture books, and anything that is associated with a brand. Prospective authors should send a pitch.

Career Press, Inc. publishes quality, nonfiction books for adult readers seeking practical information to improve themselves in careers, college, finance, parenting, retirement, spirituality, and other related topics. Read submission policy. Seeking: Business, Career, Job Search, HR & Work Place Issues, College Preparation, Small Business/Entrepreneurship, Motivation/Self-Help, Management, Marketing/Sales, Negotiation, Study Aids, and more.

Free Spirit Publishing. "Our mission is to provide children and teens with the tools they need to overcome challenges and make a difference in the world. We publish high-quality nonfiction books and learning materials for children and teens, parents, educators, counselors, and others who live and work with young people."

Greystone Press. "We pursue high-quality non-fiction books about nature and the environment, travel and adventure, health, and current issues. We do not publish poetry or fiction." Read submission requirements here.

Gryphon House, Inc. publishes books that help teachers and parents enrich the lives of children from birth through age eight. They do not accept children's books. Seeking: Educational resource books for parents and teachers aimed at young children. Read submission policy.

Haymarket Books. "We are interested in manuscripts that are accessible to a wide range of progressive and radical political activists, while also being useful to an academic audience. We are not accepting fiction submissions at this time." Read submission guidelines here.

Hohm Press is committed to publishing books that provide readers with alternatives to the materialistic values of the current culture and promote self-awareness, the recognition of interdependence and compassion. Their subject areas include religious studies, natural health, parenting, women’s issues, the arts and poetry. Read submission guidelines here.

Menasha Ridge Press and its sister company, Wilderness Press, publish primarily books on adventure, nature, and wilderness sports activities (excluding hunting and fishing). Read submission policy. 

New Internationalist is a multi-award winning, independent, non-profit media co-operative. "For over 40 years, we’ve specialized in investigative reporting, publishing our magazine and books on human rights, politics, social and environmental justice. We investigate global injustice and expose inequality. We cover stories the mainstream media sidestep and provide alternative perspectives on today’s global critical issues." Read submission policy here.

OneWorld Publications was founded in 1986 by husband and wife team Juliet Mabey and Novin Doostdar as an independent publishing house focusing on stimulating non-fiction. Located in the UK. Read guidelines here.

Osprey is a UK publisher specializing in military history. Read submission guidelines here. (Scroll down to "Proposals.")

Roaring Forties Press is a small publisher located in Berkeley, CA. They are especially interested in these kinds of nonfiction projects: General nonfiction/investigative reporting, Biographies, Travel books with a twist, Books about music, Books about art, Small-format gift books.

Rowman & Littlefield offers academic and scholarly works aimed at a professional audience. Their submission requirements include a CV and a list of potential peer reviewers.

Shambhala. "Our acquisition interests are on the topics of Buddhism, mindful living, yoga, psychology, parenting, crafting, creativity, and cooking. We do not accept proposals for fiction (children’s books excepted), poetry, exposés, end-time prophecies, channeled works, martial arts manuals, quotation books, card decks, or audio/video. Anything sent within these genres/formats will not receive a response." Read guidelines here.

Skyhorse publishes a broad range of nonfiction titles. They only accept submissions that fall into their categories, so make sure you consult their list before submitting. See submission requirements here.

The New Press is a non-profit independent publisher focusing on contemporary social issues, with an emphasis on race relations, women's issues, immigration, human rights, labor and popular economics, and the media; education reform and alternative teaching materials; cultural criticisms; art and art education; international literature; and law and legal studies. The Press has also taken a leading role in publishing a wide range of new work in African American, Asian American, Latino, gay and lesbian, and Native American studies, as well as work by and about other minority groups. They are very selective.

Ulysses Press is a small house focusing on niche markets. Genres they publish include Cleanse, Arts and Crafts, Coloring, Gifty Grabs, Fashion and Beauty, Healthy Eating, Krav Maga, Mmm Bites, Pop Culture, Prepping (for the apocalypse), Fitness, Special Diets, Trivia, Working Out, Rehab and Injury Prevention.

2 New Agents Seeking Romance, Mysteries, Thrillers, Fantasy, MG and YA

Here are two new literary agents seeking clients. Tara Gelsomino (One Track Literary Agency) represents romance, women's fiction, mysteries, and young adult. Matthew Huff  (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency) is interested in novels with a dash of mystery and adventure, whether that be a middle grade/young adult novel, a high concept fantasy saga, or a twisty literary thriller.

As always, go to the agency website and carefully review submission guidelines before submitting. Guidelines can change, and agents may close their lists or switch agencies.

Note: For a comprehensive list of new and established agents expanding their client lists see Agents Seeking Clients.

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Tara Gelsomino of One Track Literary Agency

Tara is the founder of One Track Literary Agency. A voracious genre reader since childhood, Tara began her publishing industry career at Romantic Timesmagazine in 1998 as a writer/editor then managing editor, before transitioning to audiobook publishing in 2005 with BBC Audiobooks America as managing editor, acquisitions editor, and executive marketing manager. During her time with BBCAA, she also spearheaded creating and publishing the first
crowd-sourced audiobooks via Twitter with renowned bestselling authors Neil Gaiman and Meg Cabot.

What she is seeking: One Track Literary is currently seeking completed works with vibrant, fresh voices in these genres: romance, women's fiction, mysteries, and young adult.

How to submit: Use the online submission form HERE.
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Matthew Huff of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency

Hailing from what he believes is the best state, Michigan, Matthew grew up on a steady diet of mystery novels and milkshakes, before heading to Grove City, Pennsylvania for college. While majoring in English, his tastes in literature expanded to include everything from T.S. Eliot to Tina Fey, while his tastes in food remained that of a picky third grader. Scrounging around for any crack in the fortress of New York publishing, Matthew worked three jobs at once until he eventually landed at LGR. Now a solidified Manhattanite, he spends his weekends watching The Sopranos, eating donuts, and unashamedly dragging his friends to the touristiest venues the city has to offer.

What he is seeking: Matthew's tastes in books vary widely but he especially loves anything with a dash of mystery and adventure, whether that be a middle grade/young adult novel, a high concept fantasy saga, or a twisty literary thriller.

How to submit: Use the online submission form HERE.

17 Publishers Accepting Dark Fiction and Horror - No Agent Required

"First dates can be so awkward" (Wikimedia)

Here are seventeen publishers accepting dark fiction, horror, urban fantasy, military horror, and anything that goes bump in the night - including vampires. None require an agent, and all are traditional publishers.

Some of these publishers have been in business for a long time and have a great track record. Others are start-ups. Read their websites, look at the covers of the books they publish (do you like the art?), check out their authors on Amazon - in short, investigate before you submit your work. And be sure to read submission requirements carefully and follow them to the letter.

You can find additional speculative fiction publishers (including some horror) here: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. All of these are traditional publishers. (No vanity presses.)

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Arkham House published its first book, The Outsider and Others by H. P. Lovecraft, in 1939. Other writers published by Arkham House include Greg Bear, Michael Bishop, James Blaycock, David Case, August Derleth, John Kessel, Mary Rosenblum and many more. Submissions: Please submit a synopsis of your manuscript to: PO Box 546, Sauk City, WI  53583.  Do not make submissions via email. Arkham House does not return submissions or acknowledge that they have received your manuscript. They will contact you only if they are interested in publishing your work. Snail mail only. Read guidelines here.

Bell Bridge Books / BelleBooks, Inc. BB is looking for dark, gritty, serious urban fantasy & horror. Vampires, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night on the mean streets of contemporary life. "A book we've currently bought is an epic series about a clan of vampires. (Right, epic means the series spans centuries. You can never trust guidelines.) Read Laurell K. Hamilton, Robin McKinley (Sunshine), Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, etc." Advance: Yes. Simultaneous submissions: No. Formats: Print and ebooks. Read guidelines here.

Black Bed Sheet Books. Black Bed Sheet Books specializes in publishing fiction of a dark nature: Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller. Accepting novels, novellas, short story collections. Black Bed Sheet Books has published over 80 authors. Advance: No information. Formats: Print and ebooks. Read guidelines here.

By Light Unseen Media. "By Light Unseen Media is currently seeking outstanding and unique manuscripts in the area of vampire fiction and non-fiction. Authors are asked to query before submitting manuscripts. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be considered." Advance: $200; Formats: Print (POD) and ebooks. Read guidelines here.

Chaosium Fiction. Currently, the Chaosium fiction line primarily features works centered on the Cthulhu Mythos. "We will consider original novels, anthologies, single-author collections, and non-fiction. Our target length for book releases is 90,000 to 100,000 words, though we will consider longer or shorter works if the content is compelling. We will consider reprints." Chaosium is a professional fiction market, offering advances, royalties, and, for short fiction, a word rate in line with HWA and SFWA guidelines. Read guidelines here.

Cohesion Press is an award-winning press based in Australia. Seeking: Military horror, SHTF, apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic horror (there are too many bad zombie tales out there already, so if you have the shambling (or running) dead in your story, it better be damn good), Biological/Creature horror ie. beasties rising up against man, giant creatures devouring cities etc. ACTION is important. No romance, no thrillers based on tension, no subtle horror. ACTION is important. No romance, no thrillers based on tension, no subtle horror. Go here for complete submission details.

Cosmic Egg. Cosmic Egg is an imprint of John Hunt Publishers, a mid-list house located in the UK. The publisher offers traditional publishing deals as well as co-operative publishing for authors. The parent company publishes a total of 300 titles per year with global sales and a focus on physical stores. Worldwide distribution. Cosmic Egg imprint publishes speculative fiction: Vampires, Werewolves. Dragons and Faeries or Angels and Demons, Fantasy (including magical realism and spiritual fantasy), Metaphysical Cosmology, Horror or Science Fiction (including Steampunk). Advance: None. Royalties are 10% of net. Formats: Print and ebooks. Note: It has come to my attention that in some cases authors are expected to pay for some or all of publishing costs. Legitimate publishers do not require authors to pay for publishing their books under any circumstances. Read guidelines here.

Dark Hall Press. Dark Hall Press, a division of New Street Communications, LLC, was launched on October 31, 2011, "The Dark Hall list includes works of supernatural and non-supernatural horror, as well as cross-genre pollinations (sci-fi/horror, fantasy/horror, noir/horror, etc.) and experimental works." Formats: Print and Kindle. Read guidelines here.

Dark Regions Press is a small press specializing in dark fantasy, horror and science fiction. "Each book that is accepted for publication in Dark Regions Horror, Dark Regions Fantasy and Dark Regions Sci-Fi will have a Kickstarter/crowdfunding campaign associated with it. The campaigns will be created as a means for readers to preorder the book and to fully fund each project. Authors, artists, editors and everyone else involved in each book project will be asked to contribute to the campaign with videos, promotional efforts etc. Crowdfunding campaigns aren't always favored by authors, so it's important to know before thinking about submitting that if your manuscript is accepted for publication in Dark Regions Horror, Dark Regions Fantasy or Dark Regions Sci-Fi a crowdfunding campaign will be associated with it." Advance: Author will receive a base payment (or advance) in the amount of $500 and starting rates of 35% NET royalties (profit sharing) for trade paperback editions and 45% NET royalties (profit sharing) for ebook editions which can increase to 40% and 50%, respectively, based on sales thresholds being reached. Note: Books are crowd-funded. Please read guidelines here.

Elder Signs Press is looking for Dark Fantasy, Dark Fiction Thrillers, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, and Supernatural Thrillers. Submissions: Send a synopsis of up to three pages. This should include information about your characters, major plot points, and how the book ends. Also send the first three chapters; a cover letter with your real name, the name you wish to publish under (if different), contact information (address, email), word (not page) count, publication history, and any specific knowledge/experience you have relating to the material. Electronic submissions only. Responds in 1-3 months to queries. Responds in 3-6 months to proposals. Read full guidelines here.

Flame Tree Press, an imprint of Flame Tree Publishing, specializes in speculative fiction, including horror. Flame Tree sells through all major wholesalers, retailers, and online outlets. In addition, foreign language co-editions and translation rights are sold to publishers in many countries around the world, including France, Germany, China and Brazil. They publish simultaneous hardcover, paperback and ebook editions to the trade market, online and retail stores, and library markets and pay industry standard royalties. Advances are modest. Read guidelines here.

Grinning Skull Press publishes novels, novellas, and anthologies. Terms: 50/50 split on royalties. Read full guidelines here. No simultaneous submissions.

Journalstone wants horror in all its forms—from literary to weird, Gothic to psychological, and (almost) everything in between. Standard royalties. (Advance not mentioned.) No reading or application fees. Read guidelines here.

Rainfall Books  is a British publisher of fantasy, horror and science fiction, specializing in modern works inspired by the writing of H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. Submissions: Rainfall has published 150 chapbooks over the past three or four years and have many more waiting in the wings. They are always looking for submissions for chapbooks in the form of poetry and short stories. They are happy to publish reprints. Please read guidelines here.

Severed Press. "Established in 2008 Severed Press is a leading independent publisher of horror and science fiction. Publishing trade paperbacks and E-Books. Severed Press has earned a reputation for excellence, quality and commitment to new and established authors alike. We are proud of the diversity of our authors and aim in continuing to build strong relationships worldwide. Authors include seasoned masters of horrors such as Tim Curran, Mark Tufo and Jake Bible to best selling newcomers David Achord and Joseph Talluto." Severed Press is currently accepting novel submissions in the following categories: Apocalypse/Survival Horror, Dark Humour, Sci-Fi Horror, Anything out of the ordinary. Advance: None. Pays royalties. Note: Promotion and marketing for novels locally in Australia. Please read full submission guidelines here.

Tartarus is a small British independent press founded in 1990. They specialize in collectible hardback

limited editions of literary supernatural/strange/horror fiction. They also publish paperbacks and ebooks. Tartarus has been the recipient of four World Fantasy Awards, and in 2010 received a "Stoker" from the Horror Writers Association. Submissions: Tartarus is looking for short story collections and novels of between 75,000 and 120,000 words. They are not interested in high fantasy, violent horror or young adult fiction. Electronic submissions should be sent to rosalieparker@btinternet.com as a Word or rtf attachment. Please send a synopsis or first two or three chapters/stories when first getting in contact. Additionally, they are now accepting single short story submissions for Strange Tales V. Please read full guidelines here.

Voodoo Press is primarily a German language publisher, but they have branched out into English. What they are looking for: Apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic, survival horror, traditional horror novels. No reprints or self-published. Terms: 50% share of the net profit plus 5 years of rights. Please read full guidelines here.

2 New Agents Seeking MG, YA fantasy, commercial fiction, humor and more

Here are two new literary agents expanding their client lists. Lara Lea Allen (Lotts Agency) is seeking all genres of commercial fiction, YA fantasy, and nonfiction. Emma Sector (Prospect Agency) is interested in picture books and Middle-grade and YA of all types, but especially fantasy adventure, magical realism, and historical fiction.

Remember to check the agency guidelines before submitting. Agents may switch agencies or close their lists, and guidelines can change.

For a comprehensive list of new and established literary agents seeking clients see: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Lara Lea Allen of The Lotts Agency

Lara has worked in large publishing houses like HarperCollins and St. Martin's. She is particularly skilled at working with an author to shape and hone their manuscript without losing an author's voice.

What she is seeking: "I’m currently looking for upmarket commercial fiction across all genres. The common thread is a strong, interesting voice and an atmospheric sense of place.  I appreciate a good sense of adventure and wit in a story--extra points if it has a strong female protagonist—but I’m not above an emotional pull if the story warrants it.  I’m more open to fantasy if it’s YA than adult, and I’m not looking for straightforward romance.

On the YA and middle grade side, the style of writing—a strong, sure plot, a sense of adventure, and a memorable protagonist with a sure voice—is the same. I’m not currently looking for nonfiction on the YA side. I am open to graphic novels, however.

For nonfiction, I like unusual histories (like COD) and pop culture narratives, including humor, though not celebrity bios or memoirs. I don’t represent business, lifestyle, self-help or cookbooks."

How to submit: Please send a brief email query that includes a description of the book, any information on previous publications, and the first 5-10 pages in the body of the email to queryla@lottsagency.com. Please put the title of the work and your name in the subject line of your email.

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Emma Sector of Prospect Agency

Emma majored in English at the University of Vermont. She was an intern in Hachette's advertising and promotions department. She worked for Simon & Schuster's Children's Division for the next six years, first in marketing and later in editorial.

What she is seeking: Middle-grade and YA of all types, but especially fantasy adventure, magical realism, and historical fiction. She loves picture books with big ideas and few words and chapter books with quirky, vibrant characters.

How to submit: Submit a query letter, three chapters and a brief synopsis via the online form.

42 Calls for Submissions in June 2018 - Paying Markets

Pixhere

There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in June. As usual, anything you can think of is wanted - flash fiction, speculative fiction and poetry, creative nonfiction, children's stories, along with several interesting themed issues. All of these literary magazines pay, and none charge submission fees.

Make sure to follow submission requirements carefully. Editors become 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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Augur. Genre: Dreamy fiction and poetry. Payment: $10 for flash, $20 for short story. Deadline: Open to submissions in June. (Check their submissions page for details,)

Spark: The “Aww” Factor. Genre: Flash fiction between 300 and 1000 words. "Write us a story where a single parent meets his daughter’s science teacher and there’s chemistry or maybe a vet falls for a police officer who brings in his K9. Think sweet and charming stories that make us go “aww!” Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Eternal Haunted Summer. Genre: Original poetry and short fiction about the Gods and Goddesses and heroes of the world’s many Pagan traditions. Also reviews, interviews, and essays. Payment: $5. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Contrary. Genre: Original commentary, fiction, and poetry. Payment: $20. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

TALES FROM THE CRUST: An Anthology of Pizza Horror. Genre: You read it right. They want horror stories about pizza. Story length: 1k – 5k. Payment: $0.03 per word. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

SubTerrain Magazine: Margins. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and commentary on theme of: Life on the margins, being on the border or edge of society. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem; Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500.) Canadian dollars. Deadline: June 1, 2018. Charges fee for online submissions; no fee for snail mail.

Ye Olde Magick Shoppe” Fantasy Anthology. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: Authors will receive a minimum of $100 each (max $500) if the Kickstarter succeeds. If it fails, authors will receive $25. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Nature’s Healing Spirit: Real Life Stories to Nurture the Soul. Genre: Nature essay between 1,200 and 2,000 words. Payment: $50 per essay. Accepted poems pay at the rate of $25. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Slice. Genre: Poetry, prose on theme of "Time." Payment: $250 for long stories and essays, $75 for flash fiction, and $75 for poems. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Shout Out. Genre: Comics for queer-identified teens age 13-17. Payment: $11 per page for writers, $25 per page for artists. Deadline: June 10, 2018.

Rattle: Young Poets. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $100. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Cricket. Genres: Middle Grade (9 - 14) fiction, nonfiction, poetry, recipes, and activities on theme of Escapes and Rescues. Payment: Fiction: up to 10¢ per word, Nonfiction: up to 25¢ per word, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Lamplight. Genre: Dark fiction. Length: Up to 7,000 words. Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: June 15, 2018. Reprints accepted at 1 cent per word.

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: June 15, 2018.

Living Education Updates. Genre: Nonfiction articles on homeschooling. Payment: $50/article.  Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Spider Magazine. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, activities, crafts, and recipes for children on theme of Inventions. "Bring on the claws, sharp teeth, tails, and larger-than-life creatures. We’re interested in age-appropriate monster stories that introduce kids to old urban legends like river and lake monsters, the Chupacabra, and Big Foot as well as other creatures that go bump in the night—jumbies, trolls, poltergeists, giants, werewolves, vampires, zombies, or beings we’ve never heard of before. Send us your spooky ghosts and growling, howling beasts who might want to eat you or just be your friend." Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum, Activities and recipes: $75.00 flat rate. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Ladybug. Genre: Stories and poems for children ages 3 - 6. Theme: My Friend - "How do young children make friends, and what roles can friends play in their lives? Does a friend have to be another child? When reading submissions, we look for playfulness, humor, and a sense of wonder. Works by and about people of color, LGBTQAI+ people, people with disabilities, and other marginalized peoples are especially welcome. Our readers like simple yet strong plots, memorable characters, and humor. We prefer short work for young children (stories may be up to 800 words, poetry up to 20 lines)." Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Transmundane Press: In the Air Anthology. Genre: Fantasy, horror, erotic, and science fiction tales. Length: 3,000-7,000 words. Payment: $10-20, depending on length, and author copies: one physical and one electronic. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Horror Bites. Genre: Horror. Payment: 1/4 cent per word. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Arsenika. Genre: All; flash fiction and poetry. Payment: $60 USD for fiction and $30 USD for poetry. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Eye to the Telescope: The Dark. Genre: Poetry that addresses all aspects of the dark in the speculative realm. Poems should show the dark in some way and be of darker content. Payment: US 3¢/word. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Riddled With Arrows. Genre: Writing-related fiction and metafiction, ars poetica, essays, visual art and non-classifiable written objects that reveal the unseen. "Think automatic writing, runes, prophets, magic scrolls, disappearing ink, smoke signals, treasure maps, messages on steamed mirrors. We are particularly interested in the interplay of light and shadow and the myriad ways that writing illuminates our world(s)." Payment: 3¢/word, minimum $5, maximum $25 for previously unpublished poetry or prose and a $5 flat payment for reprints.  For original visual art, a flat $10 payment. Deadline: June 17, 2018.

Changelings & Faery Rings: An Anthology of Elemental Creatures & Nature Spirits. Genre: Poetry and 750-words-or-less flash and micro fiction. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: June 22, 2018.

Rambutan. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art with a focus on Southeast Asia. Please keep all submissions under 2,000 words. Payment: $15. Deadline: June 23, 2018.

The Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: June 25, 2018.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: June 28, 2018.

Splickety: Senioritis. Genre: Flash fiction between 300 and 1000 words. Sub-genres: Coming of age, life lessons, pranks. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline. June 29, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: "The Golden Years - Life After 60". Genre: True stories. "So, you've crossed that magic age of 60 and you are ready to retire or start a second career. But you're not ready to stop living! You feel energetic and young and there is still so much to see and do and enjoy. We are looking for stories that will share with our readers humorous and fun adventures from those, or about those, who are actively enjoying their "senior years!" Tell us about your new careers, your volunteer work, your sports and sports cars, your new love interest, your travels, your families and all of those things you always wanted to do that you are finally doing now that you have the time." Payment: $200. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Everyday Queer Heroes: An LGBTQ+ True Stories Anthology. Genre: True stories. All contributions must involve an everyday queer person who is a hero to you and why. Payment: $25 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Less Than Three Press: Home for the Holiday — LGBTQIA Collection Calls. Genre:  LGBTQIA  stories about holidays, and all the ways we celebrate them. Length: Stories should be at least 15,000 words and should not exceed approx 40,000 words in length. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Alban Lake: City in the Ice. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy set in Antarctica. Payment: $25.  Deadline: June 30, 2018.

FurPlanet Anthology: The Rabbit Dies First. Genre: Anthropomorphic fiction. "We are looking for stories of all genres: scifi, fantasy, horror, mystery, crime, romance, or slice of life -- to name a few -- all centered around two concepts: the rabbit is going to die, and someone else is next. Payment: 1/2 cent per word." Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Mad Scientist Journal. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1st person. Payment: Flash (500-2,000): $10.00 original, $5.00 reprint; Short (2,001-8,000):$20.00 original, $10.00 reprint. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Thuggish Itch. Genre: Horror and speculative fiction on the theme of Viva Las Vegas. Length: 1,000-6,000 words. Payment: AU$5.00 for stories under 2000 words / AU$10.00 for anything above 2000 words. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Gallery of Curiosities. Genre: Speculative fiction up to 7,500 words. "Anachropunkish retro-vintage elements." Payment: Originals, 3 cents/word; reprints 1 cent/word. Deadline: June 30, 2018.  Magazine and podcast.

Allegory. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $15. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Black to the Future. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry by black writers. Payment: $50.  Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Downstate Story. Genre: Short stories. Payment: $50. Deadline: June 30, 2018. (Snail mail only.)

Deadite Press. Genre: Extreme horror and splatterpunk. Length: 20,000 to 100,000 words. Payment: 50% royalties. Deadline: June 30, 2018. No simultaneous submissions.

Broken Eye Books. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We are now open to original short stories of urban weird fiction (so stories about cities and dealing with the complexity that is other people) for the upcoming Nowhereville: Weird is Other People. These are modern weird tales (give or take a few decades) that could only be told of the weirdness of the urban experience and our interactions with one another." Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: June 30, 2018. (The website says "to" July 1, which is ambiguous. It should be "through.")

Weird City. Genre: Weird fiction. Theme: “Coexistence.” Weird City is a literary magazine dedicated to strange things in dense places. Payment: $20 - $87. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Some July 1 deadlines (It doesn't hurt to submit early):

Cloaked Press. Genre: Fantasy stories. Payment: $10 and 3% of sales. Deadline: July 1, 2018.

Alt-Minds. Genre: Fiction and non-fiction/memoir (1,000 to 3,000) of any genre and poetry (no more than 40 lines) that is related to mental health, in theme, subject matter, characterization, whatever “mental health” means to you. Payment: $50.00 CDN per fiction, non-fiction, and memoir piece, and $20.00 CDN per poem. Deadline: July 1, 2018.

Spring Song Press: Oath and Iron Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction,fantasy. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: July 1, 2018.

Nexis Fantasy: Corporate Shadows. Genre: Speculative fiction on theme of Net Neutrality. Length: 2,000-15,000 words. Payment: $0.01 per word. Deadline: July 1, 2018.

Barrelhouse. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics by unpublished writers only. Payment: $50. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

42 Writing Contests in June 2018 - No entry fees

Ryan Hickox - Flickr

June is a great month for writing contests. There are more than three dozen free writing contests this month, some of which offer substantial prizes. Every genre, form, and style is covered, from short stories, to poetry, to published works. 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. It never hurts to plan ahead.

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Stony Brook Short Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Only undergraduates enrolled full time in United States and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2017-18 are eligible. "This Prize has traditionally encouraged submissions from students with an Asian background, but we urge all students to enter." Genre: Fiction of no more than 7,500 words. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: June 1, 2018. 

On The Premises Mini Contest. "For this mini-contest, show, tell, or evoke a complete story in no more than 50 words. Exactly ONE of those words must be “graft”. (No variations like “grafted” or “grafts”, either.) Be sure to use it only once! Length: Maximum of 50 words." Prize: $25 for first place, $15 for second, $10 for third. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Dan Veach Prize for Younger Poets. Restrictions: Open to poets aged 18-23. Genre: Poetry. Prize:  $100 and publication in the Atlanta Review. Deadline: June 1, 2018. 

ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction. Sponsored by the American Bar Association. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.  Genre: Original works of short fiction that illuminate the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society. 5000 words max. Prize: $3,000 and publication in ABA Journal. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Sapiens Plurum. Genre: Short stories that personalize the consequences of climate change so readers feel as well as know them. But stories must offer hope, at least a possibility, for without hope people rarely act. This year, the contest asks brilliant imaginers such as you "Can you rewrite our children's history?" Prize: 1ST PRIZE: $1000; 2ND PRIZE: $500; 3RD PRIZE: $300. Deadline: June 1, 2018. Read rules here.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest. Restrictions: Children aged 18 and under. Entrants must reside within a Commonwealth country or territory, or the Gambia, the Maldives, and Zimbabwe. Max word count is 1500 for entrants aged 14-18, and 750 for entrants younger than 14. Prizes are not stated explicitly but “have included certificates, resources for winner’s school, visits to Cambridge University, a trip to London and a week of activities, work experience at international organisations, and having your entry featured in worldwide media.” Genre: Essay. The theme of the contest is “Towards a Common Future.” Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Governor General's Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. They do not need to be residing in Canada. Genre: The Governor General’s Literary Awards are given annually to the best English-language book in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Young People’s Literature (Text), Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: June 1, 2018. 

Amy Awards. Poets & Writers presents the Amy Award each year to recognize promising women poets, age 30 and under, living in the New York City metropolitan area or on Long Island. Winners receive a modest honorarium and give a reading in New York City. The award was established in 1995 by Paula Trachtman and Edward Butscher of East Hampton, New York, in memory of Ms. Trachtman's daughter, Amy Rothholz, an actor and poet. Genre: Poetry. Deadline: June 1, 2018.

Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. Created by the Missouri Humanities Council, the Warrior Arts Alliance, and Southeast Missouri State University Press, this series of anthologies preserves and shares military service perspectives of our soldiers and veterans of all conflicts and of their families. It is not only an outlet for artistic expression but also a document of the unique aspects of wartime in our nation's history. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction, Essay, Photography, Interview with a Warrior. Prize: $250 and publication. Deadline: June 1, 2018 (postmarked).

RBC Taylor Prize. Restrictions: Open to citizens or residents of Canada. Must be published author. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Prize: $25,000 (CAN). Deadline: June 1, 2018 for books published between November 1 and May 31, 2018. 

Literary Taxidermy. Genre: Short story, must begin and end with lines from one of three chosen novels. Prize: Up to $1500 and publication. Deadline: June 4, 2018. Note: There is a voluntary $10 fee. Entrants are encouraged to pay the fee, but are asked to spread the word via social media if they cannot.

Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have lived in the state of Maine for at least one year. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. Prize: $5,000.  Deadline: June 14, 2018.

Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest. Genre: Essay. "Professionals, freelancers, and aspiring writers are encouraged to write articles that describe their experience living, moving, and working abroad. Often your experience living abroad may be extended by working or studying in the host country, so living/working/studying/and traveling abroad are often inextricable—and we are interested in exploring these interconnections." Prize: The first-place winner’s entry will receive $500, the second-place winning entry $150, and the third-place winner $100. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: Books published between May 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 must be received on or before June 15, 2018.

The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. Sponsored by Sisters in Crime. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. Prize: $1,500. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish by a Scandinavian author born after 1800. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Bard Fiction Prize. Genre: Published fiction book. Prize: $30,000 and a one-semester appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Towson University Prize for Literature. Restrictions: Open to Maryland writers. Genre: Book-length manuscript of fiction, poetry, drama or imaginative non-fiction. The work must have been published within the three years prior to the year of nomination or must be scheduled for publication within the year in which nominated. Self-published works will not be considered. Prize: $1,000.  Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Norton Writer's Prize. Sponsored by W.W. Norton & Company. "The Norton Writer’s Prize will be awarded annually for an outstanding essay written by an undergraduate. Literacy narratives, literary and other textual analyses, reports, profiles, evaluations, arguments, memoirs, proposals, mixed-genre pieces, and more: any excellent writing done for an undergraduate writing class will be considered." Genres: Creative Nonfiction, Scholarly Essay. Prize: $1,500. Two runner-up prizes of $1,000. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest for Young People. Restrictions: Open to people 25 years of age or less. Genre: Essay (max 700 words). Theme: "Education to Build a Better Future for All." Prize: 1st US$840, 2nd US$420. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Vermont Studio Center – Full Fellowship Awards. The Vermont Studio Center offers 54 fellowships; open to anyone in the world. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Singapore Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. The poem may be about any aspect of Singapore. Prize: 1st Prize $100. 2nd Prize $50, 3rd Prize $20; all winners will be published online. Deadline: June 15, 2018.

Baltimore Science Fiction Society Amateur Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Maryland residents or students at a MD 2- or 4-year college, and not a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America or published in a professional science fiction/fantasy magazine Genre: Science fiction short stories. Prize: 1st place is $250; 2nd place is $100; 3rd place is $50. Deadline: June 17, 2018.

Ocean Awareness Youth Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in grades 6 - 12. Genre: Art, poetry, prose, film. "Your work should explore the relationship between human systems, climate change, and our oceans. We challenge you to create a piece that not only presents issues and challenges, but also communicates a message that inspires others to act. We encourage you to connect your submission to your own life, your local community, or something else that motivates you."  Prizes: $100 - $1,500. Deadline: June 18, 2018.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Genre: Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize: CAN $25,000.00. Deadline: Books published between January 1 and June 19, 2018 must be received by June 20, 2018.

A Midsummer Tale Narrative Writing Contest. Theme: Thunderstorms. Length: 1,000 words minimum; 5,000 words maximum. Prize: $35 - $50 Amazon gift card. Deadline: June 21, 2018.

Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing. Genre: Editorial writing. The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship was established to enable a mid-career editorial writer or columnist to have time away from daily responsibilities for study and research. Freelancers may also apply. Fellowship: $75,000. Deadline: June 21, 2018.

Utah Division of Arts and Museums Original Writing Competition. Restrictions: Utah writers. Genres: Poetry and prose. Prize: $1,000 top prizes for book-length manuscripts of novels, creative nonfiction & history, collection of poetry or short stories, and juvenile book; $300 top prizes for individual poems, short stories, and personal essays. 2nd Prize $500 for the book-length categories, $150 for poetry. Deadline: June 22, 2018.

Artist Trust. Restrictions: Open to poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are residents of Washington State. Students enrolled in a degree-granting program are ineligible. Submit a writing sample of up to 12 pages with a project description, synopsis, budget, and résumé. Grant: $1,500.  Deadline: June 25, 2018. 

Peter Blazey Fellowship.  Restrictions: Applicants must either be an Australian citizen or have Australian residency. Genre: Non-fiction in the fields of autobiography, biography or life writing. Prize: $15 000, and a one-month writer-in-residency at The Australia Centre. Deadline: June 25, 2018.

Sweek Poetry Awards. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: June 25, 2018.

Great Lakes Colleges New Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to Americans and Canadians.  Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. In each category, the submitted work must be an author’s first published volume. Prize: $500. Deadline: June 25, 2018.

Undiscovered Voices Fellowship. "The Writer’s Center seeks promising writers in the Washington area earning less than $25,000 annually to apply. This program will provide complimentary writing workshops to the selected applicant for a period of one year, but not to exceed 8 workshops in that year (and not to include independent studies). We expect the recipient will use the year to make progress toward a completed manuscript of publishable work." Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Blue Mountain Poetry Card Contest. "Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write." Prize: First prize $300. Second prize $150. Third prize $30. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Drue Heinz Literature Prize. Restrictions: The award is open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals of national distribution. Online and self-publication does not count toward this requirement. Genre: A manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Prize: $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Restrictions: Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment and at least 5,000 copies (or 5,000 hits for online publication). Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi or Horror.  17,000 words max. Prize: $1,000 1st Prize awarded each quarter; one of those winners also receives the $5,000 annual "Golden Pen Award" grand prize. 2nd Prize $750, 3rd Prize $500. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, Griffin Poetry Prize. Restrictions: One prize goes to a living Canadian poet or translator, the other to a living poet or translator from any country, which may include Canada. Genre: Poetry. Books must have been published in English during the calendar year preceding the year of the award. Prize: C$200,000, is awarded annually in two categories – International and Canadian. Each prize is worth C$65,000. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Essay: Naval history.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon. Genre: Short story. " Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 50 paragraphs. The contest provides the first and last paragraph and the short story writer crafts the rest." Prize: First prize is $1000, 2nd prize is $500, and 3rd prize is $250 with the winning short story published in an ebook short story anthology for Amazon, as well as an invitation to give a public reading at Inkberry Books in Niwot, CO. Twenty-four (24) Finalists will also have their short stories included in this ebook anthology. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Letheon. Genre: Poetry related to the perioperative setting. "Are you a medical professional or related to one? Perhaps you have been anesthetized recently, or you are overly acquainted with the waiting room. If you are connected to the world of anesthesia, we encourage you to share your experience with us." Prize: $500. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Louise Meriwether First Book Prize. The Feminist Press has partnered with TAYO Literary Magazine to launch a contest seeking the best debut books by women and nonbinary writers of color. Genres: Fiction, including novels and short story collections, or narrative memoir, of 50,000 to 80,000 words. Prize: $5,000 and a publishing contract from the Feminist Press. Deadline: June 30, 2018.

Costa Book Awards. Restrictions: Prize is for books first published in the UK or Ireland by authors who have lived in the UK or Ireland for at least six months of each of the preceding three years. Books must be published between November 1 of the previous year and October 31 of the current year. Self-published works not allowed. Books are entered by publishers only. Genre: Five categories - First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. Prize: £30,000.00 across all genres. 5,000 pounds in each category (poetry, novel, first novel, biography, children's book). Deadline: June 30, 2018.