43 Calls for Submissions in November 2019 - Paying markets

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There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in November. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. Some accept reprints.

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

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

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Thema: What a Strange Question. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: What a Strange Question. Payment: $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2019. Accepts reprints.

The First Line. Genre: Short story with the first line provided. (See site for first lines). Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction, 500-800 words for nonfiction. Payment: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $5-10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Ellipsis. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, and art. Payment: $10 per poem and page of visual art, and $3 per page of prose. Only pays UK writers and artists. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Foglifter. Genre: Queer work in all its forms. Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Griffith Review 68: Getting On (Australia). Genre: Essays and creative non-fiction, reportage, fiction, poetry, memoir and picture stories. "Griffith Review seeks new work that examines the ramifications of this shift in population, and explores the transformations of our later years – the positive, the negative, the unanticipated. We particularly encourage submissions from older writers, both emerging and established, to provide their perspectives on these questions and more."  Payment: Negotiated. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Cricket: Animals, Animals. Genre: Middle-grade fiction, nonfiction, and poetry featuring an animal. (For children ages 9-14) Payment: Up to $0.25/word for prose, $3/line for poetry, $75 for activities and recipes. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Cricket: Yikes. Genre: Middle-grade fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about mysterious goings-on, hair-raising adventures, and narrow escapes that make you scream “Yikes!” (For children ages 9-14) Payment: Up to $0.25/word for prose, $3/line for poetry, $75 for activities and recipes.  Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry for special issue: Borderless. Payment: $25 per poem, $75 per story or essay, $50 per hybrid/uncategorized "Borderless" piece. Deadline: November 3, 2019.

Flame Tree Press: After Sundown. Genre: Horror. Length: Between 2000 and 5000 words. Payment: "Our standard rates apply." Deadline: November 3, 2019.

Pseudopod. Genre: Horror. Audio format. Payment: 6 cents per word. Deadline: November 3, 2019. Reprints accepted.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of Dynamic Duos. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: November 3, 2019.

Into the Void. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, CNF, art. Payment: $5 per printed page. Deadline: November 7, 2019.

Stormy Publishing: A Dysfunctional Family Christmas. Genre: Short stories about a dysfunctional family Christmas (or seasonal holiday). Payment: $5. Deadline: November 8, 2019.

The Albion Review. Note: Open to undergraduate students only. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, essays, and visual art. Payment: Each submission is eligible for a $200 prize for Poetry, Fiction, or Art. Deadline: November 9, 2019.

Third Point Press. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: November 13, 2019.

One Story. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $500. Deadline: November 14, 2019.

Lamplight. Genre: Dark fiction. Payment: $0.03/word, up to $150. Deadline: November 15, 2019.  Accepts reprints.

Fire Poetry. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $5. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Silver Blade. Genre: Science Fiction, Slipstream, Classic and Modern Fantasy. Payment: $15 for novellas, $3 for flash fiction, $8 for short stories, $8 for single poems. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

The Great Void. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 1000 - 4000 words. Payment: 30% of profits shared equally among contributors. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. Payment: $7.50 for short stories, $3.00 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $2.00 for reprints. Deadline: November 15, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Mojo. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, comics. Payment: $15. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Luna Station Quarterly. Genre: Speculative fiction by woman. Payment: $5. Deadline: November 15, 2018. Accepts reprints.

The McNeese Review. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Rebellion, Revolution and Rock ‘n Roll—The Sixties in Music. Genre: Cozy mystery short stories on theme of The Sixties in Music. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Shooter. Genre: Stories, essays, reported narratives and poetry on theme of Supernatural. "Send us stories, essays, reported narratives, memoirs and poetry on anything to do with the occult. Psychological spookiness, eerie suspense, weird mysteries and unexplained phenomena are welcome elements, as well as the more obvious demons, angels, witches and ghosts. Religious themes are also relevant. Writing must be of a literary standard, not genre fare trading on shocks or gore. As always, the theme is open to wide interpretation." Minimum 2000 words for stories. Payment: £25 per story and £5 per poem. Deadline: November 17, 2019.

Zyzzyva. Genre: Fiction, poetry, essays, and artwork. Payment: Token to semi-pro. Deadline: November 19, 2019. Snail mail submissions only.

Enchanted Conversation. Genre: Fairy tales, folktales, or myths using the season of WINTER somehow in the narrative. Payment: $10.00 U.S. dollars. Deadline: November 20, 2019.

Claw & Blossom. Genre: Flash fiction and poetry about the natural world on theme of Rings.  Payment: $25. Deadline: November 25, 2019.

Bronzeville Books: Twisted Love Anthology. Genre: Crime, sci fi, fantasy, horror and YA short stories about Twisted Love. http://www.bronzevillebooks.com/writers/twisted-love-guidelines/: $0.05 U.S. per word for first Worldwide English publication rights for stories up to 3,000 words in length. Deadline: November 26, 2019.

Crannóg. Genres: Poetry, short stories. Payment: €50 per story, €30 per poem. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Fiction. Payment: $25 per printed page, with a maximum payment of $150, as well as two complimentary copies of the issue in which the work appears. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

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

Freefall. Restrictions: Open to Canadians only. Genre: Nonfiction, fiction, poetry, art.  Payment:  $10/page prose up to $100 and $25 per poem plus a copy of the issue the work is published in. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Down & Out Books: Mickey Finn – 21st Century Noir. Genre: Hardboiled and noir crime fiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Michigan Quarterly Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, personal essays. Payment: $100 for prose and $25 for poetry. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Black Beacon Books: The Black Beacon Book of Mystery. Genre: Mystery stories. Payment: £0.01/word for short stories; £100 for novellas; £10 for reprints. Deadline: November 30, 2019. Accepts reprints.

The Fiddlehead. Genre: Fiction, excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: $60 CAD per published page, plus two complimentary copies of the issue with your work. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

JayHenge Publishing: Sensory Perceptions. Genre: Speculative erotic fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: November 30, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Neon Hemlock: Glitter + Ashes: Queer Tales of a World That Wouldn’t Die. Genre: Speculative stories that explore ramifications of the apocalypse through queer narratives. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Trivia Mundi: Nano Nightmares. Genre: Horror stories consisting of only two sentences. Payment: Profit sharing. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Dragon Soul Press: Lost Love. Genre: Short stories about Lost Love. Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Out of This World. Genre: LGBT science fiction romance stories set in space, whether it's on a spaceship or a planet or even the moon. Payment: 50% net royalties from all channels, paid quarterly. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

29 Writing Contests in November 2019 - No entry fees

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There are more than two dozen writing contests in November for short stories, poetry, essays, scripts, and books in every genre. None charge entry fees. Prizes range from $50 to $45,000. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

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

Good luck!

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the British  Commonwealth.   Genre: Unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. Prize: Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,835) and the overall winner will receive £5,000 (US$7,670). Deadline: November 1, 2019. 

Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: November 1, 2019 for works published between May 1 and December 31, 2019.

Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to fiction writers aged 21+ who has not yet published a book and has never been enrolled in an MFA program. Writer must not have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher at time of application, and writer cannot have been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Genre: Short fiction that "speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference." Prize: Free tuition for all of One Story's online classes and programming, a travel stipend of $2,000 and tuition to attend week-long summer writers' conference in Brooklyn, and a full manuscript review/consultation of a story collection or novel in progress with an executive editor. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers.  Restrictions: Writers must not have published a book, short story, or dramatic work in the mystery field, either in print, electronic, or audio form. Genre: Mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type—i.e., “traditional mysteries.” These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. Prize: Each grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers' conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award (no later than May 2016). In the case of nonfiction, the grant may be used to offset research expenses. Each grant currently includes a $1,500 award plus a comprehensive registration for the following year's convention and two nights' lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals. Deadline: November 1, 2019. Read details here.

Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize. Restrictions: Open to US poets for previously unpublished poems of any length that "help make real for readers the gravity of the vulnerable state of our
environment at present." Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $1,000. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Donald Murray Prize for Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Original, unpublished works of creative nonfiction with a preference for essays on writing, teaching, and teaching writing, but will consider quality entries on any subject, including topics related to social justice, civic action, and inequality. Prize: $300 in the form of an AMEX gift card and publication in the Spring 2018 issue of Writing on the Edge. All entries will be considered for publication in the journal. Length: 8,000 words maximum (2500–4500 preferred) Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,500 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: November 1, 2019.

Weird Christmas Flash Contest. Genre: Weird flash fiction. 350 words max. Prize: $50 first prize, $25 second prize. Deadline: November 2, 2019.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Canadian citizens only. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: C$25,000. Shortlisted authors receive $2,000. Deadline: November 4, 2019 for books published between October 1 and October 31, 2019.

Dylan Thomas Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be aged 39 or under. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31 of the year in which the deadline falls. Genre: Published books of poetry, fiction (novel, novella, or short story collection), radio scripts, or screenplays. Prize: 30,000 pounds, plus 1,000 pounds for shortlisted authors. Deadline: November 8, 2019.

Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published book by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: November 11, 2019.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada. Self-published books are not eligible. Genre: A 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. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500.  Deadline: November 11, 2019 for books published between September 11 and December 31, 2019. They have an unreadable website.

Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction book in progress. The project should address the history and/or legacy – broadly defined – of the American Revolution and the nation’s founding ideas. It might focus on the founding era itself, or on the myriad ways the questions that preoccupied the nation’s founders have shaped America’s later history. Fellowship amount: $45,000 stipend, health benefits, faculty privileges, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency (during the academic year 2018-2019) in historic Chestertown, Md. Deadline: November 15, 2019. 

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: PEN America will only accept submissions from editors of eligible publications. Authors may not submit their own short story for this award. Genre: First published short story. Prize: $2000 and publication in The PEN America Best Debut Short Stories. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Arts & Letters Awards. Restrictions: Open to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Genres: poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, dramatic script, art, music, and French language. Entries must be unpublished and completed during the previous 12 months. Prizes: C$1,000 and C$250. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Polar Expressions Publications Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to Canadian students in kindergarten through grade twelve. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $300, $200, $100. Deadline: November 29, 2019.

Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Student writers in the 11th grade. Prizes: First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100. Deadline: November 29, 2019.

Unified Caring Association Student Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to US High School Juniors and Seniors. Genre: Essay on topic: If you could change one thing in the world to make it a more caring place, what would you change? Explain why you feel this change would make a caring impact. Word count: 500 words minimum. Prize: 10 first prizes of $350 scholarship; 10 honorable mention essays will each receive a $100 scholarship. Deadline: November 29, 2019.

Paul Torday Memorial Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be over 60. Genre: First published novel. The novel must have been first published in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Green Stories Writing Competition. Genre: TV/Netflix 6 part series about building a sustainable society. Prize: £750: 1st prize £500, 2nd prize £100, third prize £50 plus £50 for best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best < 18 year submission. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Servicescape. Genre: Short story or nonfiction up to 5,000 words. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Renee Duke Youth Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to young poets age 17 and under. Genre: Poem relating to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Prize: $100. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Betty Trask Prize. Restrictions: Author must be a Commonwealth citizen. Genre: First novels, published or unpublished, written by authors under the age of 35 in a "traditional or romantic, but not experimental, style." Prize: Awards totaling 20,000 pounds. Top prize 10,000 pounds. The prize money must be used for foreign travel. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers. Restrictions: Open to writers aged 16-18. Genre: Poem (1). Prize: Full scholarship to The Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop, an intensive two-week summer seminar for writers aged 16-18. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

Somerset Maugham Awards. Restrictions: Open to UK writers under the age of 35. Genre: Published work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. Prize: 2,500 pounds apiece to four winners. Prize money must be used for travel. Deadline: November 30, 2019. 

UNT Rilke Prize. Restrictions: US citizens or residents. Open to authors with at least two prior published books of poetry. Genre: Book of poetry published between November 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: November 30, 2019. 

AVBOB Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to any citizen of South Africa. Genre: Poetry.  Prize: R10,000. Deadline: November 30, 2019.


Brunel International African Poetry Prize. Restrictions: The Prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African. It is for ten poems exactly in order to encourage serious poets. These poems may, however, have already been published. Only poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published are eligible. Poets who have self-published poetry books or had chapbooks and pamphlets published are allowed to submit for this prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: £3000. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

J. F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 30, 2019.

16 Writing Conferences in November 2019

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This November there are 16 conferences, intensive workshops, retreats and book fairs from coast to coast. You will also have a chance to pitch your work to agents, meet editors, and get to know your fellow writers. Conferences provide great opportunities to network, so make the most of your experience!

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

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

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The Loft's Wordsmith Conference. November 1 -  3, 2019, Minneapolis MN. "The conference is intended for those ready to pitch their work, those already with a book out or with an agent, and those who want to get more prepared to publish their work. It's intended for prose writers and poets, genre and literary writers, beginning and advanced. In short, we are working hard to pull together a gathering that will feature meaningful sessions, workshops, one-on-one pitch and craft meetings, and networking opportunities for writers of all levels and genres."

The Alabama Writers' Conclave. November 1- 3, 2019, Orange Beach, Alabama. The Conclave is today one of the oldest continuing writers' organization in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers and supporters of the writing arts may join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual meeting.

Ossabaw Weekend Writer’s Retreat. Nov 1 - 3, 2019: Ossabaw Island, GA. Workshops and seminars led by nationally recognized faculty, and evening readings (special emphasis on ghost stories) by faculty and participants. Application deadline: September 25.

2019 Nebraska Writers Guild Poetry Retreat/Workshops. November 1 - 3, 2019: Nebraska City, NE. Focus: Poetry. A day full of workshops and writing sessions followed by evening readings and a wine tasting. Get inspired, write poetry, learn new skills, and enjoy our facilitators and other attendees. Including two hours with the new Nebraska State Poet: Matt Mason!

Medical Writing and Communication Conference. Nov 6 - 9, 2019: San Diego, CA. Workshops in medical writing, designing materials for patients, analysis, clinical reports, and more.

Fall Nonfiction Writers Conference. November 7 - 8, 2019. ONLINE EVENT. Online conference devoted to writing, publishing and promoting non-fiction books. Participation is live via phone or Skype, and recordings can be downloaded. Features 15 speakers over three days. Private Facebook group for attendees!

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. November 7 - November 10, 2019: Rochester, NY. Panels, workshops, readings, a book fair, and opportunities to meet with editors for translators. "The ALTA Annual Conference is a refreshingly collegial gathering of amateurs and professionals alike, both within the profession and outside it, all wholeheartedly committed to fostering, furthering, and supporting the practice of literary translation."

Clearwater Writers 2019 Women's Writing Retreat. November 7 - 12, 2019: Clearwater, Idaho. Retreats are facilitated by the Inn’s writer-in-residence, Paula Coomer, poet and author of such books as Jagged Edge of the Sky, Dove Creek, Nurses Who Love English, and Blue Moon Vegetarian. With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher of creative writing, Ms. Coomer offers creative inspiration and support for writers at all levels of achievement and ability. FULL

Wright Women Writers Conference. November 8- 9, 2019: University of Central Arkansas. "The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference focuses on women-identifying writers from all genres and all experience levels, from journalism to mass market books to literary endeavors, and beyond. Our goal is to provide a space for camaraderie, connection-making, and inspiration, and while women-identifying writers are the only presenters at the conference, we welcome all of our male and male-identifying colleagues to attend. We believe that much of what we have to offer, including the specific, female perspective, is valuable for all audiences, and that male allies are necessary to changing the current gender imbalance in publishing."

2019 Kauai Writers Festival. November 8 – 10, 2019: Kalapaki Bay, Lihue, Kauai, HI. Join bestselling authors and agents in an intimate, oceanfront setting, with an emphasis on fiction, memoir, thrillers, and screenwriting. Includes in-depth sessions on craft, publishing, and the writing life, with opportunities for agent/editor feedback.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference. November 8 - 10, 2019: Asheville, North Carolina. The conference features workshops and master classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and panel discussions on editing, publishing, and pitching. The fall Conference attracts hundreds of writers from around the country and provides a weekend full of activities that include lunch and dinner banquets with readings, keynotes, tracks in several genres, open mic sessions, and the opportunity for one-on-one manuscript critiques with editors or agents. Master Classes will be led by Nickole Brown and Jessica Jacobs (Poetry) and Jeremy B. Jones (Nonfiction). Ron Rash will give the Keynote Address.

Writing by Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. November 8 - 11, 2019: Tahoe City, California. Workshops for book-length manuscripts, as well as craft talks, readings, and agent panels, and individual meetings with agents. "The Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp is for the writer who has a full book-length manuscript (novel, memoir, short story or poetry collection) and would like to engage with a small group for a serious and productive response. The long weekend will include an intimate full manuscript workshop, craft talks, readings, an agent panel and individual agent meetings – the perfect pre-publication boot camp for any manuscript."  Classes are limited to 5 participants. The cost of tuition, which includes a manuscript review of up to 300 pages with a faculty member, an individual meeting with an agent, lodging at the Granlibakken Resort, and all meals, is $3,250.

Red Clay Writers Conference. November 9, 2019: Kennesaw GA. The Red Clay Writers Conference is the annual conference of the Georgia Writers Association. Red Clay encourages and inspires writers across Georgia through a full day of literary events that focus on the art and craft of writing.

Autumn Writing Getaway. November 9, 2019: Galloway, NJ. "Our retreats are centered on the belief that when writers leave behind the distractions of their busy lives to gather in an encouraging community, they are able to make important breakthroughs in their writing. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration."

Historical Writers of America. November 10 - 13, 2019: The Woodlands, Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Workshops for fiction and nonfiction, research, the submission process, the road to publication, and the life of a historical writer; networking opportunities including keynote luncheon and dinner, theme receptions, and collaboration and brain-storming sessions.

The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. November 13 - 17, 2019: Monterey, CA. Participants in the Monterey Writer Retreat will work one-on-one with two of the best literary "closers" in the business: Gina Panettieri and Michael Neff combine 38 years of working with aspiring authors and ushering them to publication. They will be available for multiple private consultations from 9 AM to noon and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM each day of the retreat. Choice of sessions and focus will be up to each individual writer. Additionally, as circumstances permit, Gina and Michael will also join retreaters in their quest for superb dining and festivity opportunities in the Monterey and Carmel area.

32 Literary Magazines That Pay $100 or More

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Updated 8/27/23 

Writers should get paid for their work. Unfortunately, that can be an uphill battle. Most literary magazines don't pay, but there are some that offer professional rates for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Here are more than two dozen literary magazines that pay $100 and up for fiction and personal essays. (Poetry rates vary.) None charge submission fees. Nearly all have reading periods, so check their guidelines carefully.

For hundreds of paying markets, broken down by genre, see: Paying Markets.



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Boulevard

"Boulevard strives to publish only the finest in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. While we frequently publish writers with previous credits, we are very interested in less experienced or unpublished writers with exceptional promise. If you have practiced your craft and your work is the best it can be, send it to Boulevard." Submissions accepted between November 1 and May 1. $3 to submit online. No charge for postal submissions.

Payment: Prose minimum is $100, maximum is $300. Poetry minimum is $25, maximum is $250.

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Capilano Review

The Capilano Review is a Canadian journal that publishes art, poetry, fiction, essays and interviews commissioned by the editor, as well as a small selection of unsolicited poetry and prose. See reading periods.

Payment: $50 per published page to a maximum of $200.

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The Sun Magazine

"We publish essays, interviews, fiction, and poetry. We tend to favor personal writing, but we’re also looking for provocative pieces on political and cultural issues." They rarely run anything longer than seven thousand words; there’s no minimum length. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged.

Payment: Personal Essays $300 to $2,000; Fiction $300 to $2,000; Poetry $100 to $250.

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West Branch Magazine

West Branch Magazine is a publication of Bucknell University. They publish personal essays, poetry and fiction. They pay upon publication. See submission periods.

Payment: $50 per poem, 5 cents per word for prose with a maximum payment of $100.

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AGNI

Accepts poetry and prose. "We look for writing that catches experience before the crusts of habit form—poetry and prose that resist ideas about what a certain kind of writing “should do.” We seek out writers who tell their truths in their own words and convince us as we read that we’ve found something no one else could have written." See submission periods.

Payment: $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for accepted prose, and $20 per page for accepted poetry, up to a maximum of $150.

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Colorado Review

Accepts poetry of any style, personal essays, and fiction. Submit no more than five poems with a maximum of 15 pages. Colorado Review prefers short stories and essays that are somewhere between 15 and 25 manuscript pages. Has begun charging a fee for online submissions.

Payment: $10 per page ($30 minimum) for poetry and $200 for short stories and essays.

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Grain

Poems, sequences, or suites of poems up to a maximum of six pages or fiction or nonfiction of no more than 3,500 words. See reading periods. Has a monthly submittable cap.

Payment: $50 per page to a maximum of $250.

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Nashville Review

Accepts fiction and poetry. "Nashville Review seeks to publish the best work we can get our hands on, period. From expansive to minimalist, narrative to lyric, epiphanic to subtle—if it’s a moving work of art, we want it." See reading periods. 

Payment: $100/story, $25/poem.

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Highlights Magazine

Highlights is a magazine for children ages 6-12. Genre: Poems up to 10 lines, especially non-rhyming and/or humorous poetry. No poems with nature or seasonal themes or poems about dogs. Also publish short stories (see guidelines for current themes), puzzles, articles, activities, and cartoons.

Payment: $40 and up for poems, crafts, and puzzles, and $175 and up for fiction and nonfiction.

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The Ex-Puritan

The Ex-Puritan is one of Canada’s premier online literary magazines. Based in Toronto, and founded in late 2006, The Ex-Puritan is committed to publishing the best in new fiction, poetry, interviews, essays, reviews, and more, from both Canada and abroad — and has published many of today’s finest literary talents. See reading periods. 

Payment: $100 per interview, $200 per essay, $100 per review, $150 per work of fiction, and $25 per poem (or page, capped at $80 for poems running four pages or more).

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The Threepenny Review

The Threepenny Review is a respected literary magazine publishing fiction and poetry. Their nonreading period is July 1 through December 31.

Payment: $200/poem, $400/story.

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VQR

"VQR strives to publish the best writing we can find. While we have a long history of publishing accomplished and award-winning authors, we also seek and support emerging writers. We read unsolicited fiction, poetry, and nonfiction submissions June 15 to July 15, and October 1 to November 1 each year through our Submittable portal. We read nonfiction pitches from June 15 to December 1." Note: Genre fiction not accepted.

Payment: $200 per poem, up to 4 poems; for a suite of 5 or more poems, payment is $1,000. For short fiction, $1,000. For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Online content is generally paid at $100-$200, depending upon genre and length.

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The Georgia Review

Founded in 1947, The Georgia Review is the University of Georgia’s journal of arts and letters.  The journal has twice taken a top prize in the annual National Magazine Awards competition, winning out over the likes of the Atlantic, Esquire, the New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, and has been a finalist twenty times in various categories.

Payment: $50 per printed page for prose and $4 per line for poetry. Essay-reviews and standard reviews earn $50/printed page. In addition, all contributors receive a one-year subscription to The Georgia Review. No fee to submit by regular mail. Fee to submit online, no fee by post.

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Clarkesworld Magazine 

Clarkesworld Magazine is a Hugo, World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes short stories, interviews, articles and audio fiction. Issues are published monthly in ebook format, and via electronic subscription. All original fiction is also published in our trade paperback series from Wyrm Publishing. Currently open for art, non-fiction and short story submissions. No simultaneous submissions.

Payment: 10¢ per word. Length: 1000-22000 words, no exceptions.

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Asimov's Science Fiction

Asimov's Science Fiction is a renowned science fiction magazine. They are happy to publish new writers. Stories should be between 1,000 and 20,000 words. 

Payment: 10 cents per word for the first 7,500 words, and 8 cents (per word) for the rest of the story.

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Litmag

Accepts poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. "What We Look For: Work that moves and amazes us.We are drawn to big minds, large hearts, sharp pens."  Length: Print: 15,000 words; Online: 4,000 words. See submission periods.

Payment: Print: Upon acceptance, $1,000 for fiction or nonfiction; $250 for a poem, a group of short poems, or (the rare) short short. Online: Upon acceptance, $250.

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Bennington Review 

Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. "We aim to stake out a distinctive space for innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. In the spirit of poet Dean Young’s dictum that poets should be “making birds, not birdcages,” we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless." See reading periods. 

Payment: $100 for prose of six pages and under, $200 for prose of over six pages, and $20 per poem, in addition to two copies of the issue the piece is published in.

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Gay

"What we love and want: cultural criticism; thoughtful, clever and beautiful personal essays; short fiction; original artwork and photography. We do *not* want even the best hot take you can imagine, and we will not publish news. We do not want you to cannibalize yourself. We are interested in provocative work but we are not interested in senseless provocation." See themes.

Payment: $1 a word for work up to 3,500 words in length.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul

"A Chicken Soup for the Soul story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people having extraordinary experiences. It is a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. It is a simple piece that touches our readers and helps them discover basic principles they can use in their own lives. These stories are personal and often filled with emotion and drama. They are filled with vivid images created by using the five senses. In some stories, the readers feel that they are actually in the scene with the people." 

Payment: $200.

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Contemporary Verse 2

"Contemporary Verse 2 is a quarterly literary journal that publishes poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. It is our policy to publish new writing by both emerging and established poets. The writing we encourage reflects a diversity representing a range of social and cultural experience along with literary excellence." See reading periods.

Payment: $30 - $150.

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One Story

"One Story is seeking literary fiction. Because of our format, we can only accept stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone." See submission periods.

Payment: $500.

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Escape Pod

Science fiction - audio and text. "We are fairly flexible on what counts as science (we’ll delve into superheroes or steampunk on occasion) and are interested in exploring the range of the genre. We want stories that center on science, technology, future projections, and/or alternate history, and how any or all of these things intersect with people." Length: 1500-6000 words. See reading periods.

Payment: $0.08 per word for original fiction; $100.00 flat rate for reprints of any length.

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Woods Reader

"Woods Reader is a publication for those who love woodland areas: whether a public preserve, forest, tree farm, backyard woodlot or other patch of trees and wildlife. Our readers like to hear about others’ experiences and insights, especially those that make an impression that they think about long after they have finished the article. Submitted content should center around trees and woodlands."

Length: They accept essays of 500-1,000 words and occasionally may serialize work of 2,000-5,000 words. They also accept fiction/fantasy.

Payment: $25 to $150.

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Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope magazine creatively focuses on the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts. This publication expresses the experience of disability from the perspective of individuals, families, friends, healthcare professionals, educators and others.

"The material chosen for Kaleidoscope challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. We accept the work of writers with and without disabilities; however the work of a writer without a disability must focus on some aspect of disability. The criteria for good writing apply: effective technique, thought-provoking subject matter, and in general, a mature grasp of the art of story-telling. Writers should avoid using offensive language and always put the person before the disability."

Kaleidoscope accepts electronic (website and email) submissions. Electronic submissions should be sent as an attachment when submitted both on the website and within an email. Please include complete information-full name, postal and email address and telephone number(s)

Payment is made upon publication, and varies from $10 to $100.

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Craft

In addition to fiction and creative nonfiction (up to 6,000 words), Craft accepts critical pieces on craft, book annotations, and interviews. Critical essays and craft talks range from 1,500 to 2,500 words concerning the craft of fiction or creative nonfiction. For interviews, they are interested in conversations with fiction and creative nonfiction writers/novelists focusing on the craft of writing. Book annotations generally focus on fiction or creative nonfiction writers/novelists who explicitly explore craft in their work. These pieces are typically between 1,500 and 2,000 words. 

Payment: $100 for original flash and $200 for original short fiction and creative nonfiction. Nonfiction craft articles pay $50 - $100. They do not pay for reprints. 

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Iron Horse Literary Review 

Iron Horse Literary Review publishes three print issues a year and three e-editions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They publish established writers, new writers, and, in particular, women, LGBTQIA writers, and writers of color.

Payment: $100 per essay or story, and $50 per poem or flash piece.

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GigaNotoSaurus

GigaNotoSaurus accepts Science Fiction or Fantasy (or any combination thereof) from 5,000 to 25,000 words. "We actively seek to include stories told from and by a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and genders. We are particularly interested in #ownvoices stories." See reading periods.

Payment: $100 per story.

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Ahoy Comics

"We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words. Mostly, we want short fiction for mature readers, pieces that uphold the story-telling legacy of comics. It could be a delirious rant, a personal anecdote, a tale of horror or even poetry. It can be about anything, but we have a soft spot for submissions with a dash of humor. These stories can be political, but they must not be based on events that might be outdated by the time we publish. Whatever the subject, it must still be relevant a year from now." 

Payment: $200 per story.

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Substack

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." The prize is $100 for the chosen story plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Submit stories by the end of the month. (Only one story receives the full payout.) Their preferred length is 6000 - 10,000 words. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. Read more about the competition HERE.

 fiction or prose poetry between 250 and 500 words. Payment: $100. See reading periods.

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First Person Singular

They are looking for completed personal essays of 1500 to 2500 words.  They are interested in a diverse variety of authors subjects and voices and tones, and look generally for pieces that make meaning of deeply personal experiences. See resding periods. Payment: $200.

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Suspect

"SUSPECT, as in "we suspect this work has qualities of greatness." As in looking from the ground up, and not top down. As in "incredulity towards metanarratives" (Lyotard) in favor of microhistories, subversive perspectives, and marginalized identities. We SUSPECT that a SUSPECT like you has something SUSPECT to say. Say it. We seek poetry, literary fiction, essays, and any kind of writings that do not fall into these categories, written or translated into English by authors who identify as Asian. We also publish reviews of books by Asian authors and interviews with Asian writers and artists." Payment: $100.

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Book XI

Book XI is a journal dedicated to publishing personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. The journal is on-line, and will appear twice a year. Book XI is housed at Hamilton College’s Arthur Levitt Center for Public Affairs. We will consider only previously unpublished and philosophically informed creative work (though our understanding of “philosophically informed is capacious.” Payment: $200 for prose; $50 for poetry. 

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Dismantle Magazine

"Dismantle isn’t just a digital magazine. Dismantle is a refuge within a vast and varied digital landscape, dedicated to making time and space for the critically minded. On paper, we publish “Essays, Prose, Poetry, Art.” In practice, we’re interested in work that imagines better ways to be in the world. We want your weird and inspired bits and bobs. We want your love letters, passion projects, top-secret diary entries, and blood-curdling manifestos. 

We at Dismantle welcome your wildest ideas with open arms."

Payment: $100.00 per prose over ~1000 words. 

5 Million Page Views ... and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog

Seven years ago, one of my spawnlings told me I needed to write a blog. I forget which one ... I often get them confused, but it was probably the same spawnling who said I needed to have a Twitter account (whatever that was) and a Facebook page.

I have since regretted both of those decisions, because prior to joining the world of social media I was pleasantly removed from humanity, lost in a haze of thinking that all was right with the world. (It wasn't.)

But I digress.

The blog experience is somewhat like the publishing experience: If you don't promote your writing, it may as well not exist. Whatever you write, whether it's a book or a blog, the only way people will know it exists is to advertise. Granted, you may not want anyone to know what you've written, but if that was the case, you wouldn't be reading this. So, read on.


Promotion, promotion, promotion

In the real world of writing, promotion is everything. Writers would like to think that polished prose and fascinating ideas move a story into the public eye. Sadly, that is not the case. More often than not a brilliant writer's work remains unknown while some piece of utter trash makes it onto the best-seller list. Is this fair? Not a bit. But it is reality. The same holds true for your blog. You may put a lot of effort into getting your ideas into written form, but you are only talking to yourself unless someone reads them.

Having spent the better part of my life talking to myself, I can tell you no good will come of it. You will either be diagnosed and thrown into a psych ward or end up teaching in a junior Ivy League college. (Trust me, you don't want to end up teaching in a junior Ivy League school. It's hell.)

But, once again, I digress.

So, how do you get your blog into the jaded public eye? First, you have to write it. People mainly read blogs for two reasons: 1) They are fun to read, and/or 2) They are informative. People like to be entertained, which, being a writer, you can easily pull off. They also like information that will help them reach their goals. You can pull that off, because there is lots of information about how to do everything on the net, and because there must be something you can do other than write The Great American Novel. Write about cat sitting if you have to. Someone will want to know how to sit on a cat.

What was I saying? Oh, yes. Promotion.

Once you have produced a blog with a theme, your next step is to tell the world about it. Do these things:

1) Tweet. I hate to say it, but Spawnling number 2 (or was it number 1?) was right. Build a Twitter following. Normally I would throw cold water all over the idea of building a social media following, but in this case it will be useful. Tweet about anything you like, follow cool people like mad, and get people to follow you. The reason you need Twitter followers is not because Twitter is a good promotional tool for your book (it really isn't), but because of Medium.

2) Post on Medium. Medium is a great platform for writers of any ilk. But unlike most other platforms, you don't have to start from scratch. Your Twitter followers can be imported. (There is nothing like an instant base of followers to warm the cockles of your writer's heart.) Your next step is to find a publication within Medium that caters to whatever you are blogging about. Ask to be accepted, and then submit your blog posts. Conveniently, these can be imported directly onto Medium.

3) Post on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg is a little capitalist twat, but now that Google+ has bitten the proverbial dust, Facebook is the best place to promote your blogs. Join groups! You can easily find them by typing a word or two into a Facebook search. Then post links to your blog posts.

4) Hunt around for any other platform you can find. There are too many to list here, and many of them are topic specific, so the platforms you choose will depend on what you are writing. If your blog host includes analytics, check to see where your traffic is coming from. Sometimes these can lead to new venues.

It was by doing all of the above that my humble blog ended up with five million page views.

Lessons Learned

I am going to repeat myself: If you want people to read what you have written, you have to promote your work every day. Whether it's your blog, your short story, your poetry, or anything you've put into words - you have to let people know it's there. In the age of the Internet, online writing has a short lifespan. You can't count on it being seen for more than a day or two at most.

I will now quote myself. "The most important lesson, and this applies to writing a blog, a book, a short story, poetry, or a personal essay - is write for yourself. The fact that you have an audience can be a little daunting, and it can tempt you to write for them. But the minute you lose track of what's in your heart, what you are compelled to say, your writing will become hollow."

Here are some posts with good information for promoting your blog (and other writing):

10 Simple Ways to Promote Your Blog (For Writers)

Flogging your Blog

How to Get 40,000 Readers Without Guest Blogging

3 Agents Seeking Children's Books: Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult

Updated 6/29/22

Here are three literary agents actively building their client lists. All work with reputable literary agencies with solid track records. These agents are seeking children's literature, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult in all genres.

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

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

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Ms. Christy Ewers of The CAT Agency Inc.

Christy Ewers is the new owner and lead representative of the CAT agency. Christy has been working in the children's literature industry since her mother started the agency in 1994, and joined as an agent in 2013. Although Christy is not an artist herself, art has been a huge part of her life and career, even before joining the agency. With a degree in English/Journalism and over a decade of experience in various creative fields, Christy offers a different perspective to the agency, while maintaining the enthusiasm and love that her mother brings to the industry. She works closely with the entire “family” of artists, spearheading the promotion and deals for CAT Agency illustrators, as well as working alongside the authors in the group to help craft their stories and hone their writing for young readers.  

What she is seeking: Author illustrators, and illustrators.

How to submit: To submit your artwork to Christy, email submissions@catagencyinc.com, and have the subject line read: “Submission to Christy”

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Ms. Kelsey Klosterman of Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency

NO LONGER AN AGENT

Kelsey holds a certificate in publishing from the Columbia Publishing Course, and graduated from Emory University with high honors in English and creative writing.

What she is seeking: I’m an editorial-style agent looking primarily for young adult (YA) fiction, middle grade (MG) fiction, and graphic novels in the YA and MG spaces, though I'll take on a picture book if it's really something special! I’m also on the hunt for some good new adult (NA) fiction. My preferred areas for all the above age groups are fantasy of all types, contemporary fiction, magical realism, speculative fiction, and genre-benders. I’m open to suspense, thrillers, and mild horror in YA and MG spaces. In addition to authors, I’m also looking for illustrators

How to submit: Please send your submission to querykelsey@sheedylit.com with “query” and the title of your book in the subject line. Include your query letter and the first one or two chapters pasted in the email—no attachments unless it’s an illustration sample, please! Include the word count, genre, target audience, your writing / publishing creds if applicable, whether you’ve had agent representation before, and whether the book is meant to be a standalone or part of a series.

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Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau2, Inc.

Nicole Tugeau is the agent/owner behind the T2 Team. She is ecstatic about the ever-growing agency and committed to working happily for the network of illustrators surrounding her. What she enjoys most about being an Agent is the partnership-making, the relationships and of course the success stories.  Nicole's husband, Jeremy, is a long-time children’s illustrator. He continues to work as an artist and public school art teacher while maintaining some involvement with Tugeau 2, Inc. as a creative resource and promotional guru.

What she is seeking: Author illustrators, and children's book authors.

How to submit: Please send an email introducing yourself, along with five samples of your work and/or a link to your personal website.