47 Calls for Submissions in April 2020 - Paying markets

Pxfuel

There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in April. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post the following month's calls for submissions toward 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 next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

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West Branch. Genres: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Payment: $50 per poem, 5 cents per word for prose. Deadline: April 1, 2020.

Hybrid: Future//Tense: Gender. Genre: Transfuturistic science-fiction. "Rhe stories will explore the way gender, transition, and trans issues may change over time, from the near future to far, on Earth or other planets, in humans or those from the stars. transfuturistic science-fiction. The stories within will explore the way gender, transition, and trans issues may change over time, from the near future to far, on Earth or other planets, in humans or those from the stars." Payment: 2½¢ per word (maximum $100 per story). Deadline: April 1, 2020.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Listen to Your Dreams. Genre: True stories. "We want to know about your dreams. What have you learned from your dreams? Did you listen? Did any of your dreams come true? Did a dream strengthen your faith or help you change the direction your life was headed in? Did some miraculous insight serve as a warning about something that was going to happen?" Payment: $200. Deadline: April 3, 2020.

*Space and Time. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 3, 2020.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction 300 - 1,000 words on theme of The MacGuffin. Payment: Pays for anthologies only. Deadline: April 5, 2020. See accepted genres.

Excession Press. Genre: Horror, science fiction, weird western, or dark fantasy manuscripts, 30,000 - 60,000 words. Payment: $300 advance and royalties. Deadline: April 5, 2020.

*Flame Tree: Strange Lands Anthology. Genre: Gothic fantasy. "‘Strange Lands Short Stories: Packed with strange and distant places, from underground cities, undiscovered islands, ancient lands, hidden continents, civilisations on the moon and Mars this new book will bring together the tales of Washington Irving, H.G. Wells, Otis Kline, with Homer, Samuel Butler and a generation of modern writers for a thrilling read of speculative fiction." Payment: 8 cents/6 pence for each word for new stories and 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: April 5, 2020.

*Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to residents of Australia under the age of 25. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 5, 2020.

Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: April 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on April 1.

*Grindhouse Books: Worst Laid Plans – An Anthology of Vacation Horror. Genre: Horror about summer vacations gone wrong. Length: 2,000-6,000 words. Payment: $0.01/word. Deadline: April 10, 2020.

*Voiceworks. Restrictions: Open to residents of Australia under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction.  Payment: $100. Deadline: April 12, 2020.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on theme of Big Brother. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 13, 2020.

Cricket Media: Faces: New Zealand. Genre: Nonfiction articles, fiction, activities for children. Send query only. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 13, 2020.

Narrative. Genre: Nonfiction articles, fiction, poetry. Send query only. Payment: $150 to $350 for 500 to 2,000 word manuscripts. $350 to $1,000 for 2,000 to 15,000 word manuscripts. $50 minimum for each accepted poem and audio piece. ($25 for poetry reprints.)  Deadline: April 14, 2020.

Epoch Magazine is edited by faculty at Cornell University. Genres: Poetry in all forms, including the long poem; send up to five poems, fiction, essays, cartoons, screenplays, graphic art, and graphic fiction. Payment: $50 per poem, and $150 per short story, more for longer stories. Deadline: April 15, 2020. Snail mail submissions only.

The Rush. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art. "We're looking for high-energy pieces that reflect the rush of life." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 USD per word with a minimum payment of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

*Ghost Anthology. Genre: Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Noir, Crime, or Horror.   Payment: $35. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

*Trench Coat Chronicles. Genre: Murder mysteries. Must include a trench coat! Payment: $10.  Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Rattle: Service Workers. Genre: Poetry. Their Fall 2020 issue will feature a tribute to service workers. "This is a field broadly interpreted, but for our purposes we're defining service workers as those who are employed in direct service to customers, typically for the purposes of convenience or leisure. This may include those in the hotel, lodging, food service, tourism, or customer service industries, as well as many others. Poems may be written on any subject, in any length, but the poet must currently be, or have been, employed as a service worker for a significant period of time (years, not months)." Payment: $50. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Catapult: Genre: Nonfiction: Queer Life. "Pieces in this series feature queer writers examining the experience of what it means to be a queer person in the world today. Often, the essays we publish are a mix of memoir, cultural criticism, and/or reporting, though we welcome new formats as well." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 17, 2020.

Catapult: Genre: Nonfiction: On Writing. "Pieces in this series feature writers on their favorite topic—writing." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 17, 2020.

Catapult: Genre: Nonfiction: 15 Minutes. "Pieces in this series are hybrid profile-essays that feature people of interest to the writers and often explore the subjects' relationships to their communities, cultures—even the writers themselves." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 17, 2020.

Human/Kind. Genre: Poetry, prose and art on themes. (See site for themes.) Payment: $5 for each poem, prose, art, video, experimental or hybrid piece and $3 for each micropoem. Deadline: April 21, 2020.

*Falling Star: Twenty. Genre: Short stories on theme of twenty. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 22, 2020.

*Story Seed Vault. Genre: Short tweet-length fiction based on science. (Up to 200 characters). Payment: Short Fiction (<150CH) $3AUD per story. Long Fiction (>150CH/<200CH) $2AUD per story. Deadline: April 24, 2020. Opens on April 10th.

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: April 30, 2020.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Is in the Air. Genre: True stories. "We are now collecting stories for our HOLIDAY 2020 book and we are looking for stories about the entire December holiday season, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities too." Payment: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

The Massachusetts Review. Genre: Poetry up to 100 lines. Submit up to six poems. Also fiction and essays. Payment: $50 for work published in a single issue. Deadline: April 30, 2020. Translations, including poetry, are accepted year-round. No fee for mailed submissions.

FIYAH. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: April 30, 2020. (Check this)

JMS Books: LGBTQ Second Chances. Genre: LGBTQ stories about finding love the second time around. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Pole to Pole Publishing: Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered. Genre: Short stories. "The anthology will contain short stories that pay tribute in some way to Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’. " Payment: $0.02/word. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Antioch Review. Genre: Poetry geared to an educated audience. Payment: $20/page. Deadline: April 30, 2020. Snail mail submissions only.

Colorado Review. Genre: Poetry of any style, fiction and nonfiction. Submit no more than five poems with a maximum of 15 pages. Payment: $10 per page ($30 minimum) for poetry and $200 for short stories and essays. Deadline: April 30, 2020. No submission fee for mailed submissions.

Queer Around & Around the World: LGBTQ+ True Stories Anthology. Genre: Short personal memoirs in prose, poetry and dramatic form up to 3,500 words on the themes of travel, immigration and multiculturalism from a LGBTQ+ perspective. Payment: $5/page. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Room Magazine. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art by women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. They also accept pitches for book reviews. Payment: CAD50-150. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Quommunicate Publishing: Queer Around & Around the World Anthology. Genre: Short personal memoirs in prose, poetry and dramatic form up to 3,500 words on the theme of travel from an LGBTQ+ perspective. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Subterrain. Genre: Creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry on theme of Disobedience. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem; Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500). Deadline: April 30, 2020. No fee if submitted by mail. Journal is located in Canada.

*Madness Heart: Devouring Earth. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We want your stories of massive monsters causing mayhem, from strange things rising from the ocean to dragons emerging from subway tunnels. We crave destruction on a scale that only the Kaiju can bring." Payment: $5.  Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Kissing Dynamite. Genre: Poem on theme of Punk. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*87 Bedford: Historic Fantasy Anthology. Genre: Literary fantasy short stories between 1000 and 5000 words. Payment: $0.08 per word. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Smoking Pen Press: Time Travel. Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, etc. Payment: $20 or 2 copies. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Unidentified Funny Objects. Genre: Funny science fiction and fantasy. Length: 500-5,000 words. Payment: $0.10/word. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Dark Ink Books: The Half That You See – Nightmares, Deliriums, and Illusions. Genre: Literary horror stories that contain major plot elements of nightmares, illusions, hallucinations, delusions, or waking dreams. Length: 1,500-6,500 words. Payment: $0.01/word, up to 7,000 words. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Decoded: a SFFH story for every day of Pride month. Genre: Queer science fiction, fantasy, and horror by queer authors. Length: Up to 7,500 words for fiction. Payment: $25-200 for fiction; $75 for comics. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

*Corrugated Sky Publishing: Pixies, Fae and Sprites – A Mythical Rebellion. Genre: Short stories that deal with the theme of rebellious pixies, fae, and sprites. Length: Up to 10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

New Rivers Press. Genre: Book-length literary manuscripts. Payment: Royalties (?) Please inquire. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

And on May 1, 2020...

The First Line. Genre: Stories that use a first line provided by the journal. (See journal for first lines.) Also 500-800 word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work.  Payment:  $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction (all U.S. dollars).  Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry and art on theme of Love. Payment: $5. Deadline: May 1, 2020. Opens April 10.

Hybrid Ink. Genre: Transfuturistic science-fiction. "The stories within will explore the way love, relationship, and identity issues may change over time, from the near future to far, on Earth or other planets, in humans or those from the stars." Payment: 2½¢ per word (maximum $100 per story.) Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Bloodbath: Vampires. Genre: Horror fiction, poetry and art on theme of Vampires. "Note: For this issue, we will not be accepting work by straight, white, cisgender men." Payment: £30. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

The Evil Cookie: Brewtality – Alcohol Infused Extreme Horror. Genre: Horror. Length: Up to 3,000 words. Payment: $0.03/word. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Black Beacon Books: Murder and Machinery. Genre: Horror. "Send us your terrifying tales of machinery old or new used as a means of murder or menace. We're looking for suspense, technological horror, even a little sci-fi or steampunk for this one." Length: Short stories between 2,500 and 7,000 words. Payment: 43 pounds for short stories and 12 pounds for reprints. Deadline: Until filled.

Claw & Blossom: Theme: FLAME. Genre: Flash fiction and poetry on theme of flame. The work must contain elements of the natural world. Length: Up to 1,000 words for prose, one poem.  Payment: $25. Deadline: ?

35 Writing Contests in April 2020 - No entry fees

Pickpik

This April there are more than two dozen contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees. 

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

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

Good luck!

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Alpine Fellowship. Genre: Pieces of any genre up to 2500 words on the theme of “Forgiveness and Retribution.”  Prize: The first place winner receives £3000 and an invitation to enter the symposium in Venice (two runners-up also receive the invitation). Deadline: April 1, 2020.

The Great American Think-Off. Genre: Essay on the theme: “Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?” Entrants should take a strong stand agreeing or disagreeing with this topic, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction. Essay should be no more than 750 words. Prize: One of four $500 cash prizes. Deadline: April 1, 2020.

The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers. Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards fellowships for writers to spend time in McCullers' childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to dedicate to their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. Award: Stipend of $5000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients will be required to introduce or advance their work through reading or workshop/forum presentations. The Fellow will work with the McCullers Center Director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. Deadline: April 1, 2020. 

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Now in its 18th year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems, published and unpublished. Please enter one poem only, 250 lines max. Prize: $2,250 in prizes, including a top prize of $1,000, and publication on Winning Writers. Deadline: April 1, 2020. 

Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be Canadian, and an entry must be the writer's first or second published book of any type or genre and must have a Canadian locale and/or significance. Genre: Print books and ebooks of creative non-fiction published in the previous calendar year. Prize: C$10,000.00. Deadline: April 1, 2020. (Check this deadline)

The Waterston Desert Writing Prize. Genre: Literary nonfiction, desert theme. Prize: $1,500.  Deadline: April 1, 2020.

Wick Poetry Center High School Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to Ohio high school seniors. Genre: Poetry: 3 poems, maximum 100 lines per poem, and one-page essay describing your interest in poetry. Prize: One-time $1,500 scholarship to Kent State University. Second and third prize: $1,000 and $500 one-time scholarships. Deadline: April 1, 2020.

William Saroyan Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in 1st grade through college.  Genre: Short story, 2 pages. Prize: $50 - $100. Deadline: April 1, 2020.

Eliza So Finish-Your-Book Fellowship. Restrictions: This fellowship is for Native Americans.   Genre: A novel, collection of stories, or memoir in progress (100 pages minimum) or poetry collection in progress (30 pages minimum). Prize: The 2020 Eliza So Fellowship will include lodging in Missoula, along with a $1,000 stipend for food and travel. Fellows will stay in a private house on the Clark Fork river trail, just blocks from downtown, grocery shopping, farmers markets, parks, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. Deadline: April 5, 2020.

“You Will Be Found” Essay Challenge. Genre: Essay. "Write a college-application style essay (no longer than 650-words) that describes how “You Will Be Found” resonates with and inspires you. Did it prompt you to challenge your thinking or actions in some way? Was it a catalyst for personal growth? Explain the song’s significance to you and the impact on your life. Essays should be specific, have a clear narrative arc, and adhere to the theme of the challenge." Prize: $1,500 college scholarship a and free Gotham writing class. Deadline: April 6, 2020.

Parsec Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to non-professional writers. Genre: Speculative fiction. The theme for the 2018 contest is: Forging. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. Prize: $200 and publication. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Gary Fincke Creative Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Everything Change Climate Fiction Contest 2020. Genre: All genres. Stories about climate change. "We are looking for short stories that help us imagine how humans can live within Earth’s planetary boundaries—at the individual level, yes, but more importantly at the level of organizations, communities, and societies, and at the level of a global human civilization. What would our world look like if we actually respected and lived within planetary boundaries?" Length: Up to 5,000 words. Prize: $1,000 and nine prizes of $100 each. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020 to be eligible for the 2019 Prize. 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: April 17, 2020.

Queer Sci Fi: Innovation. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, or horror LGBTQIA stories of up to 300 words on the theme of Innovation. Prize: $75, $50, and $25. Deadline: April 17, 2020.

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: April 17, 2020 (postmarked).

Sunlight Press Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Flash fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: $125 and publication. Deadline: April 17, 2020.

Green Stories Writing Competition. Genre: Screenplay 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: April 18, 2020.

The Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize. Genre: Book-length translation of Asian poetry into English. Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 20, 2020.

American Literary Translators Association Italian Prose in Translation Award. Genre: Translation of a recent work of Italian prose (fiction or literary non-fiction). Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 20, 2020.

Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction Grant. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Whiting welcomes submissions for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel writing, and personal essays, among other categories. Writers must be completing a book of creative nonfiction that is currently under contract with a publisher. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: April 20, 2020. 

Science Me A Story. Genre: Scientific stories for children (ages 6-12) of up to four pages by authors over age 18. Stories can be in English or Spanish. Prize: £150, £100 or £50. Deadline: April 20, 2020.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or residents attending junior high or high school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: C$400 in each of two age categories: Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12). Deadline: April 20, 2020.

Is Royalty Relevant? Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry. "We invite you to write a poem about a member or members of royal families from countries around the world. You can write about any aspect of royalty: their role, actions, dress sense, sense of duty, scandals, economic relevance, artistic or sporting interests, their dogs and other pets or even their handbag (what's in it?). You can be a royalist or staunch republican, that's all fine, as long as, we are moved, excited, amused, annoyed or inspired by your poem." Prize: 200 pounds and online publication. Deadline: April 27, 2020.

The John Byrne Award. Restrictions: Open to residents of Scotland. Genre: A piece of creative work on a chosen theme or value (written work must be no more than 15,000 words in length). Prize:  £7500. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

E-waste Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

SA Writer’s College Short Story Award. Restrictions: Open to unpublished writers in South Africa. Genre: Short stories. Prizes: 1st – R 10 000; 2nd – R 5 000; 3rd – R 2 000. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Toronto Book Awards. Genres: All genres accepted. Restrictions: Submission "must evoke the city itself, that is, contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.). Authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto. Ebooks, textbooks and self-published works are not eligible. Prize: A total of $15,000 CD will be awarded. Each shortlisted author (usually 4-6) receives C$1,000 and the winning author is awarded the remainder. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships. Restrictions: Applicants must reside in the U.S. or be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 31 years of age as of April 30, 2020. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $25,800.  Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Irene Adler Prize for Women Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: $1,000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Friends of Falun Gong, Poetry Contest. Genre: Poem Submit one or two poems of no more than 50 lines each. Poems must encompass at least one of the following themes: Advocate for Falun Gong practitioner’s fundamental human rights. Expose the crimes against Falun Gong perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Share in the beauty, peacefulness and good nature of Falun Gong. Prizes: $500, $250, $100. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Al Blanchard Crime Award. Restrictions: New England residents only. Genre: Crime short story. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors. Restrictions: Open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently residing in Australia. Genre:  Junior/YA full-length fiction manuscript intended for readers aged 8-18. Length: 40,000 and 100,000 words. Prize: AU$15,000 and possible publication. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Claudia Ann Seaman Awards For Young Writers. Restrictions: High school students. Genre: Stories and poems. Prize: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: General Nonfiction. Stories must be between 1000--10,000 words in length. Prize: First prize in each category will be $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Secret Attic. Genre: Short stories. Prize: £25 + Publication. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

30 Writing Conferences in April 2020

Needpix

April is normally a great month for conferences. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, many have been canceled. (Two are online.) I’ve indicated which conferences have been canceled, and some have already been rescheduled. Keep these events on your radar for upcoming changes.

All of these conferences and workshops charge tuition, but some offer financial assistance. There are deadlines for applying for aid, so if any of these looking appealing, plan ahead for next time.

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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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted. Cost: $400 per class.

IBPA Publishing University. April 3 - 4, 2020, Redondo Beach, CA. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and so more! Cost: $195-$475. Canceled.

Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference. April 4, 2020: Clark, NJ. "We are so excited about what promises to be a very special, educational, and entertaining 11th Anniversary Conference. In addition to our wonderful and diverse keynote speakers, we have a number of editors and agents who will be attending to take pitches as well as some awesome writer and reader workshops!" Canceled. New date October 10.

Tennessee Mountain Writers Annual Conference, Apr 2 - 4, 2020: Oak Ridge, TN. Speakers and session leaders include Joseph Bathanti, Karen Salyer McElmurray, Tracy Barrett, and more! Canceled. New date April 8 - 10 2021.

Las Vegas Writer’s Conference is sponsored by the Henderson Writers’ Group, Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada. April 2 – 4, 2020. Join writing professionals, agents publishers and marketing experts for a weekend of workshops and enlightening discussions about the publishing industry. A chance to pitch your manuscript and ideas to agents. This Year’s Conference is ONLINE Thursday thru Saturday April 2-4, 2020.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Retreat. April 2 - 5, 2020, Colorado Springs, CO. An intensive 3-day writing retreat. Canceled.

Grub Street Muse and the Marketplace Conference. April 3 - 5, 2020, Boston, Massachusetts. The Muse and the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking. On all three days, prominent and nationally-recognized established and emerging authors lead sessions on the craft of writing—the "muse" side of things—while editors, literary agents, publicists and other industry professionals lead sessions on the business side—the "marketplace." Canceled.

New York Writers Workshop Fiction Pitch Conference. April 3 – 5, 2020: Ripley-Grier Studios (NY Spaces) 520 Eighth Ave (36th/37th), 16th Fl. Participants polish their pitches with the help of conference leaders who are members of the New York Writers Workshop faculty, then they present them to three different editors from major New York publishing houses. Editors provide feedback and may request proposals and manuscripts after the conference.

San Antonio Book Festival. April 4, 2020, San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages. Next fair will be held on April 10, 2021.

Great Plains Writers Conference. April 4, 2020: South Dakota State University. "Intimate conversations about the writing craft."

Rally of Writers Conference. April 4, 2020, Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more. Canceled. New date April 17, 2021.

Breakout Novel Intensive 2.0. April 6 - 12, 2020: Hood River, Oregon. "Writers of commercial fiction who wish to soar out of category, as well as literary novelists who want to learn how to make powerful story principles work for them, will find the Breakout Novel Intensive 2.0 an idea-packed and career enriching experience. This workshop is as ideal for those just beginning a new project as it is for those embarking on a revision of a completed work. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more."

Norwescon. April 9 - 12, 2020: Sea Tac, WA. Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions in the United States. Canceled.

WonderCon. April 10 - 12, 2020, Anaheim, CA. HUGE comic book convention. Canceled.

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 17 - April 19, 2020: Bellingham, Washington. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more. Canceled. Rescheduled for September 4 – September 6, 2020.

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference. April 17 - 19, 2020. Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The three-day conference is full of topical, in-depth workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, opportunities for one-on-one time with agents and editors, the chance to read your work aloud for constructive critique, plus time to socialize with fellow writers. Canceled.

William Paterson University Spring Writer’s Conference.  April 18, 2020: Wayne, New Jersey.  Readings and workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Featuring the poet Brenda Shaughnessy. Canceled.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 18, 2020, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) Writers Conference, April 19  - 20, 2020 NYC, NY. Focus on Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Nature, Non-fiction, Publishing, Religion, Screenwriting, Travel. Attending: more than 100 editors, authors, literary agents, and publicists. Canceled.

Six Bridges Book Festival. April 23 - 26, 2020: Little Rock, Arkansas. "Prestigious award-winners, screenwriters, comedians, an expert witness, artists, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions." Free. Canceled.

Ozarks Writers League Conference. April 24 - 25, 2020: Branson, MO. The Ozarks Writers League is a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to promoting writing, literacy, photography, and art. Since 1983, OWL has welcomed individuals at all stages of their development.

Idaho Writers Guild Conference. April 24 - 25, 2020, Boise, Idaho. Meet with agents, editors, and authors. Panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote speaker. Your registration - $195 for IWG members, $225 for non-members. Canceled. Rescheduled for May 21 - 22, 2020.

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 24 - 26, 2020. Round Top, Texas. he faculty includes Mark Doty, Allison Joseph, Alicia Ostriker, ire’ne lara silva, Mary Szybist, Edward Vidaurre, and Jenny Xie. The cost of the conference is $150 ($50 for students) or $75 for Saturday only. Workshops are an additional $40. Private manuscript consultations are available for an additional $70. Canceled. Rescheduled for April 16 - 18, 2021.

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat. Apr 24 - 26, 2020. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

The Spring Writers' Conference. April 25, 2020: Rochester, MI. Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions with a focus on nonfiction. Open to new writers, working journalists, and published authors. Professional development to move writers to the next level.

Northeast Texas Writers Organization. April 25, 2020, Jefferson, TX. One-day bootcamp.

Michigan Writers Conference, April 25, 2020, Detroit, MI. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Livonia Novi. In other words, it’s 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.

Writing in the Pines. April 25, 2020, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Choose from workshops in memoir, poetry and revision. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration.

Chicago-North RWA's Spring Fling. April 30 - May 2, 2020, Oak Brook, IL. Three day Biennial writer's conference geared towards both aspiring and established writers of any genre but focused on romantic fiction. Bookseller/Blogger/Librarian event, Masterclass in Craft and Marketing, Closing Gala. Canceled.

Northern Colorado Writers Conference. April 30 -  May 2, 2020, Fort Collins, CO. Workshops, seminars, speakers, entertainment, agent roundtables, pitch sessions, networking with authors and industry professionals.

4 UK Agents seeking Nonfiction, Thrillers, Memoir, Literary Fiction and more

Updated 9/8/23

Here are four UK literary agents seeking writers. All are from established agencies with good track records. Alice Saunders is actively looking for new talent in crime, thrillers, epic family sagas; book club literary fiction, and memoir. Stephanie Glencross is looking for commercial and upmarket fiction, including accessible literary fiction/ contemporary fiction, crime & thrillers, psychological suspense and legal thrillers/court-room dramas. Toby Mundy is looking for gripping narrative non-fiction, and well written, mind-expanding works in the areas of history, biography, memoir, current affairs, sport, popular culture and popular science. He also represents a small number of thriller writers and literary novelists. Carrie Plitt is actively building a list of authors writing non-fiction and fiction, with a focus on debuts.

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

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

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Ms. Alice Saunders of The Soho Agency

Alice loves storytelling, in all its forms. Whether it’s fiction or narrative non-fiction. Alice is active in all types of representation - literary, audio, live audiences, film and television.

What she is seeking: She is actively looking for new talent in crime, thrillers, epic family sagas; book club literary fiction, memoir – in fact everything apart from science fiction and fantasy. Asides from tight narratives and compulsive characters, she’d love to see writing with bundles of humor, heart and unusual takes on the everyday.

How to submit: Send your query to: sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com and attach the first three chapters or first thirty pages of your manuscript, in word format, along with a synopsis. (Address your query to Ms. Saunders.)

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Mr. Toby Mundy of Aevitas Creative Management

Before becoming a literary agent, Toby founded Atlantic Books Limited, where he served as chief executive and publisher from 2000 to 2014, publishing a significant number of number of bestsellers and prize-winning titles. He won ‘Editor of the Year’ and Atlantic Books also won ‘Imprint of the Year’ (2005, 2008) and ‘Independent Publisher of the Year’ (2008) at the British Book Awards.

What he is seeking: He is looking for gripping narrative non-fiction, and well written, mind-expanding works in the areas of history, biography, memoir, current affairs, sport, popular culture and popular science. He also represents a small number of thriller writers and literary novelists.

How to submit: Follow instructions on the agency website HERE.

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Ms. Stephanie Glencross of David Higham Associates Ltd

Stephanie Glencross joined David Higham Associates in January 2018, having previously been the Editor at Gregory & Company.  Before joining Gregory & Company Stephanie was at the BBC for a number of years, first in the Radio Drama department then in the Story Department of EastEnders. During that time Stephanie learned an enormous amount about the power of characterization and cliffhangers. Stephanie has been a judge on the CWA Debut Dagger Award for three years and continues to have a love affair with crime fiction that started with Nancy Drew and was nurtured by Sara Paretsky.

What she is seeking: Stephanie is keeping her list focused on the crime & thriller genre including but not limited to; psychological suspense; meaty, puzzling mysteries; fresh police procedurals and legal thrillers/courtroom dramas. Stephanie does not have a highly prescriptive wish list and welcomes finding a ms she didn’t know she was looking for. However, Stephanie is particularly excited to receive novels that have a fresh take on the way in which it is told, for procedurals with compelling partnerships, for a really twisty mystery and for stand out concepts that deliver.

How to submit: If you would like to submit your work to Stephanie, please email stephanieglencross@davidhigham.co.uk. You should include a covering letter in the body of your email and attach a synopsis and the first three chapters (in Word, double-spaced and with page numbers) of your book. Please put your name and the title of your manuscript in the subject line of your email.

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Ms. Carrie Plitt of Felicity Bryan Literary Agency

What she is seeking: "I am actively building a list of authors writing non-fiction and fiction, with a focus on debuts. I love well-written non-fiction by authors (often experts) who are passionate about their chosen topic, and I have a particular interest in books about the issues facing our society today, narrative non-fiction, popular science, big ideas, nature writing, history, travel, feminism and art. In fiction, the books I represent range from the very literary to those you might read in a book club. Besides excellent writing, I am often drawn to novels that have unique voices, are portraits of complex characters, examine relationships, are coming of age stories, or capture the zeitgeist. I am always on the look-out for writers from underrepresented backgrounds."

How to submit: Read guidelines HERE. This agency prefers writers in the UK and Ireland.

3 New Agents Seeking Science Fiction, MG, YA, Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction and more

Updated 3/28/21

Here are three new agents seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively expanding their lists and will go the extra mile for their clients. Megan Barnard wants adult fiction, thrillers, memoirs, fairy-tale retellings, women's fiction, family sagas, and historical fiction. Ashley Herring Blake is acquiring projects in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction. In both Middle Grade and Young Adult, she's only looking for queer and/or BIPOC contemporary and fantasy stories at this time. Reeves Hamilton is seeking Science fiction - particularly hard Sci-Fi, space opera, climate dystopias, and alternative histories, with some other interest in dark fantasy and classic-style sword and sorcery.

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

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

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Ms. Ashley Herring Blake of Rees Literary Agency

NO LONGER AN AGENT

Ashley Herring Blake is the author of the Middle Grade novels Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World and The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, as well as the Young Adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars.

What she is seeking: She is actively acquiring projects in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction. In Middle Grade and Young Adult, she’s drawn to heartfelt contemporary and voice-driven stories, as well as magical realism, contemporary fantasy (all the fairies and witches, please), historical fiction, and graphic novels. She’s always ready for a fresh  Young Adult rom-com, especially those featuring LGBTQIA romances. In both Middle Grade and Young Adult, she's only looking for queer and/or BIPOC contemporary and fantasy stories at this time. Ashley is also seeking character-driven literary and upmarket Adult fiction and romance. Across all genres and ages, she is highly interested in marginalized and LGBTQIA voices, as well as stories that explore complex family relationships and friendships.

How to submit: Use her submission form HERE.

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Mr. Reeves Hamilton of Vertical Ink Agency

Reeves Hamilton, a twenty-plus year veteran of the publishing industry, is a new agent at Vertical Ink.

What he is seeking: Science fiction - particularly hard Sci-Fi, space opera, climate dystopias, and alternative histories, with some other interest in dark fantasy and classic-style sword and sorcery.

How to submit: Send your query to: VIAQuery [at] Gmail [dot] com. Address your query to Reeves Hamilton in the subject line of your email. Send a concise email query and a synopsis or chapter outline for your project. In your email, please include your contact information, any relevant background information on yourself or your project, and a paragraph of description of your project.  All of this material must be included in the body of your email.
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Ms. Megan Barnard of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

CLOSED TO QUERIES

Megan joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as an associate agent in 2020, after interning for nearly three years at several top literary agencies, including P.S. Literary Agency and Folio Literary Management. She has worked as an editor and copywriter and has a BA in English (with a concentration in Creative Writing) from Hollins University. When not working, she runs, drinks coffee, and travels widely. Her favorite places to read across the globe are Île Saint-Louis in Paris, Pacific Grove, CA, and Portmagee, Ireland.

What she is seeking: Adult Fiction:

• Historical- I particularly want historical fiction in the vein of Kate Morton, Kate Atkinson, and Susanna Kearsley. I prefer time periods after the 19th century (but will consider others). I also love what I think of as “historical fiction with magic”. 
• Women’s Fiction- upmarket or commercial is fine  
• Literary and upmarket- wonderful prose, but a strong commercial hook is important too. 
• Family Sagas- I come from a big family, so I have a soft spot for stories about big families and/or sister/sibling relationships.  
• Thrillers- in the vein of The Beloveds, The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl (I love unreliable narrators). I’m looking for psychological suspense over gore. A little blood is fine, a lot, not so much. 
• Fairy tale retellings- I’m quite picky about these, they need to be new and fresh, but I love retellings that turn old fairy tales on their heads (think The Hazel Wood, Snow Glass Apples). I’d particularly love to find retellings outside the well-known western canon. Fairy tales/stories from all cultures are welcomed and encouraged. 

I’m not looking for any of the following: romance, erotica, epic fantasy, SF, YA, MG, picture books, short stories, screenplays, or poetry collections.

I’m only looking for narrative non-fiction right now. I particularly love memoirs that show beauty that comes out of adversity or pain, like Once More We Saw Stars by Jayson Greene, The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, and Educated by Tara Westover. I’m also interested in nature writing like that of Robert Macfarlane and John Lewis-Stempel. If you have something that combines memoir with nature writing like Amy Liptrot’s The Outrun, I definitely want to see it.

How to submit: Use her submission form HERE. For fiction, submit your query and your first five pages. For nonfiction, submit your query and proposal. Any emailed queries will be deleted unread.