48 Calls for Submissions in May 2020 - Paying markets

Pikrepo

While you are self-isolating, why not get published? There are four dozen calls for submissions in May. 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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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.

Bayou Magazine. Genre: Fiction, CNF, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment for fiction is $50 for published manuscripts of 3000 words or more and $25 for those less than 3000 words. 7,500 words max. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

University Press of Kentucky New Poetry & Prose Series. Genre: Books of poetry or fiction (novels, short story collections, etc.). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Running Dog: Crowd / the / Revolution. Genre: Long-form essays, video, poetry, digital interfaces, fiction and creative non-fiction. This is an ongoing series investigating four major concerns that are reshaping our world. Payment: All contributors will be paid for their work. 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.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Nonfiction up to 6,000 words. Payment: $50. 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.

Boulevard. Genre: 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." Payment: Prose minimum is $100, maximum is $300. Poetry minimum is $25, maximum is $250. Deadline: May 1, 2020. $3 to submit online. No charge for postal submissions.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of Angels. Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: May 3, 2020. On hiatus.

Midnight and Indigo. Genre: Short Stories and Personal Essays written by Black women writers. Payment: $50 - $75. Deadline: May 3, 2020.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction 300 - 1,000 words on theme of Touch. Payment: Pays for anthologies only. Deadline: May 3, 2020. See accepted genres.

Kanstellation. Genre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, poetry, CNF on theme of "Digital Fingers, Digital Roots, Digital Families." Payment: $30. Deadline: May 4, 2020.

Impulsive Walrus Press: Going Viral. Genre: Speculative fiction. "What does our world look like if the quarantine just…stays? We’re looking for near-future science fiction stories exploring the comedy, horror, and human drama of a life spent six feet away from each other, and a world where our interaction is done digitally, lest we be ravaged by disease." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: Opens May 5, 2020, closes when filled.

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: May 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on May 1.

Abyss and Apex. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. No horror. Payment: USD $.06/word (six cents a word) up to 1,250 words, and a flat payment of $75.00 for longer stories. Deadline: May 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on May 1.

* Disturbing the Body. Genre: Speculative autobiography from women and those who self-identify as women of all ages in the UK. "We’re looking for pieces that explore women’s personal experiences of fractured relationships with their bodies. Body themes could range from experiences with major operations, chronic health conditions or chronic pain, dealing with cancer, childbirth, disability, or any moment where a woman can feel powerless and out of the ordinary against her own body." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 7, 2020.

Bennington Review. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. 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. Deadline: May 8, 2020.

* Unsung. Genre: Poetry, micro or flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction. "We are looking for pieces related to all things love, sex, and eroticism. Priority will be given to artists and authors who are Black/POC, LGBTQ, or identify as womxn." Payment: $20 per piece of fiction / creative non-fiction between 1000-3000 words and $30 per piece between 3001-6000 words. $20 per poem.  Deadline: May 10, 2020.

Newfound. Genre: Fiction, Flash, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Visual Arts. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 14, 2020.

The Georgia Review. Genre: Submit up to five poems, fiction, nonfiction, and reviews. Payment: $4 per line of poetry, and $50 per page for prose. Deadline: May 14, 2020. Fee to submit online, no fee by post.

Selene Quarterly. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art that dwells in the shadows. Payment: $0.06 word for fiction. $50 for poetry, Reprints: Any length of poetry paid $15USD and 100-17,500 words of fiction paid $0.01USD per word. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

* Lamplight. Genre: Stories that are dark, literary; "we are looking for the creepy, the weird and the unsettling." Payment: Unpublished Fiction: 3¢ per word, $150.00 max. Reprints: 1¢ per word. Deadline: May 15, 2020. Note: Submit early in the month. They only get 300 submissions a month through Submittable. If the followed link reads “There are presently no open calls for submissions.” then they have filled our quota for the month. 

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. Theme: "Hope or do we have one: poetry for uncertain times." Payment: $30 - $150. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Grain. Genre: Poems, sequences, or suites of poems up to a maximum of six pages or fiction or nonfiction of no more than 3,500 words. Payment: $50 per page to a maximum of $250. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities, a program of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, is currently looking for parents with disabilities to contribute to a quarterly blog on the experiences and needs of parents with disabilities. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: Young adult short fiction up to 6,000 words in length. Theme: Banned Books. Audiocast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction of any length. For reprints, $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Rogue Blades Entertainment: We Who Are About to Die. Genre: Sword & ... “Not every hero survives. All heroes pay a cost, some the ultimate sacrifice. We’re examining that theme of ultimate sacrifice as key to heroism. Not only the willingness to sacrifice all, but the act of sacrifice for the greater ’cause,’ whatever that may be." Length: 500 words initially, 2,000-9,000 words for full submissions. Payment: $30. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Flash Nonfiction - Art Is Essential. Genre: Essay on a work of art: 300 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 19, 2020.

ArabLit Quarterly. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction translated from Arabic on theme of Crime. "As always, we are interested in a wide variety of interpretations of this theme from translations of true-crime stories to meditations on the nature of crime to the depiction of crime in Arabic children's literature." Payment: $15/page. Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Appalachia Genre: CNF. "Those who read and write for Appalachia journal find their true selves in the backcountry and wilderness areas around the world—but especially in the Northeast. And within the Northeast, the White Mountains of New Hampshire and wild areas of Maine especially call to us. Appalachia journal is looking for thoughtful essays in the range of 1,000 to 2,000 words on the COVID-19 pandemic. What has getting onto trails and cliffs and hills meant during this terrifying period? Do you see mountains more as life itself and less as recreation now? What is it like going to the backcountry and finding that facilities are closed, people must stay away from each other?" Payment: Not specified. "We do our best." Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Sick Cruising. Genre: Short stories with a minimum of 2000 words using their provided writing prompts. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Tinderbox Poetry Journal. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $15. Deadline: May 21, 2020.

Kweli Journal. "Kweli is the first online journal of its kind to celebrate community and cultural kinships. In this shared space, you will hear the lived experience of people of color. Our many stories. Our shared histories. Our creative play with language. Here our memories are wrapped inside the music of the Muscogee, the blues songs of the South, the clipped patois of the Caribbean." Genre: Self-contained novel excerpt, short story, or creative non-fiction piece, poetry. Length: No more than 7,000 words. Payment: "upon publication." Deadline: May 30, 2020.

Orca. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 30, 2020. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee. 

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Note: Submit early in the month.

What I Thought Of Ain’t Funny: An Anthology of Short Fiction Based On the Jokes of Mitch Hedberg. Genre: “We are looking for short fiction that “yes ands” a Mitch Hedberg joke. The pieces should be “based” on a specific Mitch Hedberg joke. We are not looking for pieces that emulate or mimic the style of Mitch Hedberg with no connection to his actual existing material.” Length: Up to 4,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Age Is Just a Number. Genre: True stories. "We are looking for stories about the humorous or serious sides of life after 60." Payment: $200. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Geek Out! III – Queer Pop Lit, Art & Ideas. Genre: Seeking the following, up to 7,500 words (or 5 pages for art), from LGBTQ+ writers and artists:

• Genre fiction (scifi, fantasy, western, romance, thriller, horror, etc.)
• Nontraditional/experimental poetry
• Creative nonfiction, opinion essays, topical articles and reviews (non-memoir)
• Scripts for stage, screen or audio
• Comics and graphic short stories
• Visual Art 

Payment: $5/page. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Antioch Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles and fiction geared to an educated audience. Payment: $20/page. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Snail mail submissions only.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Note: Submit early in May to avoid submission fees.

AGNI. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $20/page of poetry (up to $150), $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for accepted prose. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

One Story. Genre: Short stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Payment: $500. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Baltimore Review. Genre: Poetry; send up to three poems, fiction, creative nonfiction, videos (including poetry), and cross-genre work. Payment: $40. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

The Gettysburg Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays. Payment: $2.00 per line for poetry and $15 per printed page for prose. Published authors also receive a copy of the issue containing their work and a one-year subscription. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Charges small fee for online submissions. No fee for snail mail.

Dark Moon Digest:Night Frights. Genre: Horror for teens. "Cool it on the profanities, no sexual situations, nothing too graphic." Payment: $0.03/word. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

MORE...

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Poetry and fiction on theme of Lazy, Hazy, Crazy. Payment: $20 for featured author stories; $10 for stories published on &More page $5 for poems. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

The Bare Life Review: The Climate Issue. Restrictions: Open to immigrant and refugee authors, including foreign-born authors living in the US, and writers living abroad who currently hold refugee and/or asylum-seeker status. Also, for this issue, anyone who has been displaced by climate change. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $100 - $300. $750 for accepted full-length prose pieces. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

Fly on the Wall Press: Food. Genre: Poetry (up to 3 poems), flash fiction, short stories, book reviews, and artwork on the theme of Food theme. “I’m looking for personal connections with food. Cooking can be a delicate art. Sitting down at a family meal can be painful, explosive, a treasured moment; a special kind of chaotic seasonal holiday! What foods do we worship with in places of worship? What foods do we love with; give as gifts, bake with care?  Taste memory can be extremely evocative.  What kind of foods define us? What if a lack of food defines us?” Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

Speculative City. Genre: Afrofuturist fiction, poetry, and essays written by authors who are specifically of Black and/or African descent. They seek speculative works that are centered within a cityscape. Payment: $20-$55. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

Eerie River: It Calls from the Sky. Genre: Horror. "Send me your stories of lights in the sky, a storm that brings with it more than rain, comets that crash, aliens that secretly invade, or a wishing star that is hell-bent on revenge. The stories themselves do not have to take place in the sky, but the evil bad does need to come from it in some way or form." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

Eternal Haunted Summer: Holy Days. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, essays about Holy Days. Payment: $5. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Dark, eerie, speculative stories. Payment: $10. Deadline: June 1, 2020.

11 Established Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines Accepting Submissions - Paying markets

Pxfuel

Updated 9/10/23

Here are eleven well-respected science fiction and fantasy markets currently open to submissions. All of them accept submissions from previously unpublished writers. In fact, they relish discovering new talent. The majority of these are SFWA qualifying markets, which means they pay 8 cents a word or more.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) is the national organization for science fiction and fantasy writers. Writers who publish a story or poem in a qualifying market can become members. Membership benefits include help with contractual disputes, an emergency medical fund, promotion for your work, workshops, and networking opportunities. Nonmembers can take advantage of their resources as well. The SFWA site has an ample information center which includes Writer Beware, writing tips, sample contracts and other tools of the trade.

Happy submitting!

For a HUGE list of paying markets for speculative fiction see: Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

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Asimov’s Science Fiction

Asimov's is a big name among speculative fiction magazines. They are looking for “character oriented” stories, those in which the characters, rather than the science, provide the main focus for the reader’s interest. "Serious, thoughtful, yet accessible fiction will constitute the majority of our purchases, but there’s always room for the humorous as well. SF dominates the fiction published in the magazine, but we also publish borderline fantasy, slipstream, and surreal fiction. No sword & Sorcery, please. Neither are we interested in explicit sex or violence. A good overview would be to consider that all fiction is written to examine or illuminate some aspect of human existence, but that in science fiction the backdrop you work against is the size of the Universe."

Payment: Asimov’s pays 8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words, and 8 cents for each word over 7,500. They pay $1 a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Fantasy & Science Fiction

Like Asimov's, F&SF prefers character-oriented stories. They receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor. Their word count limits are generous - up to 25,000 words.

Payment: 8-12 cents per word on acceptance. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Clarkesworld

Clarkesworld Magazine is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes short stories, interviews, articles and audio fiction. Science fiction does not need to be "hard" SF, but rigor is appreciated. Fantasy can be folkloric, contemporary, surreal, etc. No horror, but dark science fiction and fantasy are accepted. Length: 1000-22000 words.

Payment: 10¢ per word. Payment via PayPal or check. (International authors may request wire transfers.) No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Analog Science Fiction and Fact

Analog is a well-established magazine that exclusively publishes science fiction. Future science must be integral to the story. "The science can be physical, sociological, psychological. The technology can be anything from electronic engineering to biogenetic engineering. But the stories must be strong and realistic, with believable people (who needn't be human) doing believable things–no matter how fantastic the background might be."

Payment: 8-10 cents per word for short fiction (up to approximately 20,000 words), 6 cents per word for serials (40,000-80,000 words), 9 cents per word for fact articles, and $1 per line for poetry. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons publishes all kinds of speculative fiction but they are particularly interested in fiction from or about diverse perspectives and traditionally under-represented groups, settings, and cultures, written from a non-exoticizing and well-researched position. Stories must be under 10,000 words. They also publish literary, SF/F, speculative, and slipstream poetry, nonfiction and reviews.

Payment: 10¢/word USD, within 60 days of contract. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Interzone

Interzone was founded in 1982 by David Pringle, John Clute, Alan Dorey, Malcolm Edwards, Colin Greenland, Graham Jones, Roz Kaveney and Simon Ounsley. The magazine is regularly shortlisted for prestigious awards, and is a winner of the Hugo and British Fantasy Awards. Many of its stories have also won awards and/or reprints in various Year’s Best anthologies. Interzone has helped launch the careers of many important science fiction and fantasy authors, and continues to publish some of the world's best known writers.

Payment: EUR 1.5¢ per word (one and one-half euro cents).

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Daily Science Fiction

Daily Science Fiction accepts speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc.) stories from 100 to 1,500 words in length. They will consider flash series - three or more flash tales built around a common theme. Each story needs to stand on its own. They may purchase dark fantasy, but try not to publish pure horror.

Payment: 8 cents/word. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Beneath Ceaseless Skies publishes “literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some fantasy feel, but written with a literary approach. "We want stories set in what Tolkien called a “secondary world”: some other world that is different from our own primary world in some way. It could be different in terms of zoology (non-human creatures), ecology (climate), or physical laws (the presence of magic)." Length: Up to 15,000 words.

Payment: 8 cents/word. No reprints. Simultaneous submissions are okay.

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East of the Web

East of the Web's new imprint is seeking science fiction and fantasy short stories. Stories should be accessible, with strong plots and compelling characters, written with a good knowledge of the science fiction or fantasy canon. Stories should be at least 7,000 words.

Payment: Starts at $0.05 per word or a mix of an advance and a royalty. Reprints accepted.

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Flash Fiction Online

Flash Fiction Online publishes all genres. "We want developed, empathetic characters and discernible, resolved plots. Please no non-fiction or poetry." Length: 500 to 1000 words.

Payment: 8 cents per word for original fiction. 2 cents per word for reprints. No simultaneous submissions. Their submission portal for original stories is open from the 1st to 21st of each month.

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Escape Pod 

Escape Pod publishes science fiction in 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. 

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

45 Writing Contests in May 2020 - No entry fees

Wallpaper Flare

This May there are more than three dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $60,000 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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West Virginia Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open to West Virginia residents or students. Genre: Short fiction, 5,000 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Molly Keane Creative Writing Award. Restrictions: Open to Irish residents. Genre: Unpublished short story, maximum 2,000 words. Prize: 500 pounds. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing. Restrictions: Open to first-generation residents of the United States. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated to the U.S., or to American-born residents whose parents were born elsewhere. Genre: Unpublished Fiction books. Prize: $10,000 and publication. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Questions Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-30. Genre: Short stories of any genre or nonfiction between 1500 and 2000 words. Prize: First place winners (or prize pool for a tie) is $2000. The work will also be published in a book. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Erbacce-prize for Poetry (UK) Genre: Poetry collection. Prize: Winner will be given a publishing contract with erbacce press who will publish a perfect-bound collection of the winner's book. "We will pay all costs including the legal registering of the book and supplying copies to the major libraries. The book will be sold through our sales/shop pages and the poet will be paid 20% royalties." Deadline: May 1, 2020.

CINTAS Creative Writing Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to any Cuban author (including those of direct Cuban lineage; need not reside in Cuba). Genre: Novel excerpts, short stories, plays, or poems of up to 25 pages. Prize: $20,000 fellowship. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

Remastered Words Short Story Competition. Genre: Fantasy short story up to 5,000 words on theme of ‘One Last Chance’. Prize: £75, £50, £25. The winning stories will be produced as audio shorts by voiceover artists. Deadline: May 1, 2020. Accepts reprints.

SemiSages of the Pages. Genre: Flash fiction on prompt: You receive an odd package and have no idea who sent it to you. Length: 250-500 words. Prize: $25 Amazon gift certificate and publication. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

JKP Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to trans and non-binary writers. Genre: Nonfiction. Essays should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. "We’re looking for original, own voice stories on the theme of Trans Everyday. What’s it like to be trans today?" Prize: £150 cash prize and publication. Deadline: May 3, 2020.

Mavis Batey Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to any student, worldwide, registered in a bona-fide university or institute of higher education, or who has recently graduated from such an institution. Genre: Nonfiction. Scholarly essay on gardening history. Prize:  £250, free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year and consideration for publication. Deadline: May 3, 2020.

Nick Darke Award. Restrictions: Open to UK and European scriptwriters. Genre: Full-length play. Prize: £6,000. Deadline: May 3, 2020.

Poets of the Midwest Contest #1. Restrictions: Open to poets living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties. Deadline: May 3, 2020.

Author of Tomorrow. Restrictions: Open to children and youth up to age 21. Genre: Adventure writing. Prize: 11 and Under | 500 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 12-15 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 16-21 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words |  Prize: £1,000. Deadline: May 5, 2020.

Harper-Wood Creative Writing & Travel Award for English Poetry and Literature.  Restrictions:  Open to any student who has graduated from any university in the UK, Ireland, the Commonwealth or the USA. Genre: The Award Holder is expected to engage in a course of study or research, and produce a piece of original fiction, drama or poetry. Prize: £15,000 is provided to cover accommodation and living expenses during the course of the year. Deadline: May 6, 2020.

RTÉ Radio Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to Irish writers and residents of Ireland. Genre: Short story. Prize: Up to 3,000 euros. Deadline: May 8, 2020.

North & South. Restrictions: Open to residents of New Zealand. Genre: Short story. Maximum number of words is 300. Prize: $400. Plus: $150 for two runners-up. Deadline: May 11, 2020.

Leeway Foundation: Transformation Award. Restrictions: Women and transgender poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers in the Philadelphia area who have been creating art for social change for five or more years. Writers who have lived for at least two years in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties, who are at least 18 years of age, and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Award: $15,000. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

The Fieldstone Review: Plastic Identities. Genre: Creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry. "The theme of this year’s edition is Plastic Identities. Topics might include, but are not limited to, identity cards, toys, environmental impacts, production, waste, and the flexibility or inflexibility of identity." Prize: $100. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

New Roscommon Writing Award. Restrictions: All entrants must have a connection with the county of Roscommon (born in, living in, currently working in, went to school in, etc). Genres: Short stories. Prize: €500.00. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Rachel Wetzsteon Chapbook Award. Genre: Literary fiction. 7,000-12,000 words. Prize: $250, publication, and 25 copies. Deadline: May 15, 2020. Entry is free until March 15.

Unified Caring Association Student Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to US High School Juniors and Seniors. Genre: Essay on topic: "Choose one category: children, animals, reforestation, or elderly. Write a 500 or more word essay addressing the caring actions you would take to make change for the better in your chosen category." Prize: 10 first prizes of $350 scholarship; 10 honorable mention essays will each receive a $100 scholarship. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher.    Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2020.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between March 11, 2020 and May 19, 2020. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between March 11, 2020 and May 19, 2020. Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Literary fiction, novel or short story collection. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $50,000 will be awarded to a literary fiction book or short story collection published between March 11, 2020 and May 19, 2020. Deadline: May 20, 2020.

Voice.club. Genre: Flash fiction, 350 words max. Theme: Resilience. Prize: $50 Amazon gift card. Deadline: May 21, 2020. Note: You have to join in order to enter.

On The Premises Mini Contest. "Life isn’t much fun right now, anywhere in the world. The pandemic has touched everybody to some degree. Wrap up how you feel about life today–the good, the bad, the ugly, the inspiring, the awful, the funny, the not funny–and because this is a contest challenge, send it to us in the form of a limerick. The limerick doesn’t have to be funny, but it does have to evoke thoughts and feelings in us like everything else we ask of you." Prize: $40. Deadline: May 23, 2020.

Green Stories Writing Competition. Genre: 10 minute episodes for mobile phones via Quibi 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: May 23, 2020.

The Canadian Women Artists’ Award. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women living in New York who are between the ages of 21 and 35 before the application deadline. Genre: Fiction, poetry.  Grant: $5,000. Deadline: May 27, 2020.

A Voice for Animals Teen Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 14-18. Genre: Essays on an animal rights topic.  In the 16-18 year olds category, essays must be 800-1,000 words long and be accompanied by a photograph; in the 14-15 year olds category, essays should be between 1,400-1,500 words. One climate change prize (both age categories compete) will be awarded for an essay on how climate change affects a particular animal species. Prize: $500.     Deadline: May 31, 2020.

The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans. This creative writing contest for U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel is hosted by The Iowa Review and made possible by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. The contest is open to veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre and about any subject matter. Prizes: First place: $1,000 plus publication in The Iowa Review. Second place: $750. Three runners-up: $500 each. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Cromwell Article Prize. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Genre: Articles published in the field of American legal history.  Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Thrill Seeker Writing Contest. Genre: Novels - thriller, horror, mystery, scary, crime or any other book with a dark, suspenseful or thrilling theme. Prize: Up to $650. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards. Restrictions: Open to aboriginal youth, 18 years or younger, residing in Ontario, Canada. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Essay: Naval history.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $100 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Creative Futures. Restrictions: Open to under-represented UK writers. Genre: Fiction, poetry on theme of Tomorrow.  Prize: Up to £75. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Bacopa Literary Review. Genres: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry. Prizes: First ($200) and Runner-Up ($160) prizes in each genre. All published will receive $20 and a copy of the print journal. After publication, Bacopa will be promoted online. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Words Without Borders Poems in Translation Contest. Genre: Contemporary international poetry translated from other languages into English. Prize: $150 each for winning poets and translators. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Sapiens Plurum. Genre: Short stories that personalize the consequences of climate change. "This year’s short-fiction contest challenges authors to ask: How can technology increase empathy and connection? The news today is full of examples of technology creating dissension and amplifying differences. We ask authors to imagine ways that technology can improve how we relate to each other and bring us closer, even across species. We welcome stories that view life from another species’ point of view and/or explore empathy between different forms of life."  Prize: 1ST PRIZE: $1000; 2ND PRIZE: $500; 3RD PRIZE: $300. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Admission Writer. Restrictions: Students. Genre: Essay on a given topic. (See topics) Prize: 1st place - $1000; 2nd place - $600; 3rd place - $400. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program. Restrictions: Debuting authors and writers with fewer than three previously published books who have yet to receive a major literary award are eligible for consideration. Exceptions are sometimes made for authors who have published more titles, but have yet to break out to a larger audience. Submissions must be original publications, penned by one author. Self-published works not allowed. Genres: Published or scheduled to be published fiction and literary nonfiction. Prize: $10,000 in each genre and in-store marketing/merchandising from Barnes & Noble. 2nd Place $5,000 in each genre, 3rd Place $2,500 in each genre. Deadline: May 31, 2020. (No date given. The books are featured monthly.)

25 Writing Conferences in May 2020

Pixabay

Like the May flowers that are the product of April showers, spring is usually when writing conferences start popping up.

In spite of the pandemic, you can still attend these conferences. Quite a few will be held virtually, including the famous Nebula conference, and others have been postponed. You may be self-quarantined, but don't give up on your writing career.

Plan ahead! Conferences often offer scholarships, but these have deadlines. If one of these conferences interests you, put the scholarship deadline date on your calendar for next year, or for whenever the conference rolls around again.

For a full list of conferences, organized by month, see Writing Conferences. While nearly all of these are in the United States, you can find links on that page that will take you to world-wide conference lists.

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Malice Domestic. May 1 - 3, 2020, Bethesda, MD. Malice Domestic™ is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan DC area that celebrates the traditional mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely identified as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore, or violence. Rescheduled for April 29 - May 2, 2021.

Gold Rush Writers Conference. May 1 - 3, 2020, Mokelumne Hill, CA. "Writing professionals will guide you to a publishing bonanza through a series of panels, specialty talks, workshops and celebrity lectures. Go one-on-one with successful poets, novelists, biographers, memoirists and short story writers." Writing workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Children's, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Travel, Young Adult. Individual sessions available. Rescheduled for October 2 - 4, 2021.

Hedgebrook VORTEXT Salon. May 1 - 3, 2020, Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island, about 35 miles northwest of Seattle. Workshops, panel discussions, lectures, open mics, and time to write in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for women writers. Postponed.

Colrain Classic. May 1 - 4, 2020. Arlington, Vermont. "The Arlington Inn is a village estate built in 1847 that was later turned into a summer hotel in Arlington, Vermont. Today, the inn encompasses four buildings throughout four acres. This includes three buildings, 16 guest rooms and a restaurant. Located in the heart of The Shires of Vermont on The Shires By-Way, the Arlington Inn is just a short drive from Manchester and Bennington, Vermont; Massachusetts, and New York. Please note that we will make all reservations and arrangements for conference participants. Other details will be sent to all registrants along with the pre-conference materials." Here you will work with poet-editors Joan Houlihan and Martha Rhodes. Will be conducted online.

Write Now!  May 2, 2020, Raleigh, NC. One day writing conference hosted by Triangle Association of Freelancers.Sessions include screenwriting, financial tips for writers, pillars of freelance success, copyediting, trade pubs, column writing, publishing tips and more. Cost: $89; $75 for students with ID, seniors 65+ and retired/active duty military; $109 at the door. Canceled.

Austin SCBWI 2020 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference. May 2 - 3, 2020: Austin, TX. Conference on children's books with keynotes; general sessions; breakout sessions for writing, professional development and illustration; intensives for novels, picture books and illustration; critiques; pitches and more. Will be held online.

Travel & Words: Northwest Travel Writers Conference. May 3 - 5, 2020. Bend, OR. Workshops, panels, networking and Writer Matchmaking: Writers attending Travel & Words are looking for story ideas and possibly press trips. These “speed dating” sessions connect destination marketers with freelance writers and bloggers on the “Experienced” track. Postponed until Fall 2020.

Annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. May 4 - 9, 2020 at various locations in New York City and Los Angeles. "Join more than 125 writers and artists representing over 50 nationalities in New York City for the 2019 PEN World Voices Festival: Open Secrets. In 60+ events in venues across New York City, the 15th anniversary of New York’s first international literary festival will gather nonfiction and fiction writers, thinkers, and activists to discuss what we reveal and what we withhold, and the opportunities and dangers inherent in the rapid reconfiguring of the public and the private in the literary, cultural, social, and political realms." Canceled.

Columbus State Community College Writers Conference. May 6, 2020, Columbus, Ohio. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Fiction, Journalism, Marketing, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting. This one-day conference is free of charge. Rescheduled for July 18, 2020.

10th Annual Nonfiction Writers Conference. May 6 - 8, 2020: Conducted online.

Lakefly Writers Conference. May 8 - 9, 2020, Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Workshops, talks, and a book fair for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Presenters: Beth Amos, Malinda Andrews, Valerie Biel, Rebekah Bryan, R. R. Campbell and more. Rescheduled for May 6-7, 2021.

Atlanta Writers Conference. May 8 - 9, 2020, Atlanta, GA. The conference features publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and a workshop on author branding for fiction writers, nonfiction writers, and graphic novelists. Participating publishing professionals include editors Lashanda Anakwah (Simon & Schuster), Sean deLone (Atria Books), Sarah Grill (St. Martin’s Press), Carolina Ortiz (HarperCollins), and Melissa Ann Singer (Tor), and agents Lisa Abellera (Kimberley Cameron & Associates), Ashley Lopez (Waxman Literary Agency), Ann Rose (Prospect Agency), Eva Scalzo (Speilburg Literary Agency), and Saba Sulaiman (Talcott Notch Literary Services). The cost of a single session ranges from $50 to $170, depending on the activity; the cost of the full conference is $620. For nonmembers of the Atlanta Writers Club, an additional $50 membership fee is also required. Lodging is available at the conference hotel for a discounted rate of $125 per night until April 16. The deadline to register for a manuscript critique is April 7. Space is limited; registration is first come, first served. The general registration deadline is May 7. May be held online (?)

Washington Writers Conference 2020. May 8 - 9, 2020: Bethesda, MD. Pitch sessions, expert sessions, author talks, and a luncheon, plus panels on how to query, how to pitch, and more publishing pros’ insights, are just some of the highlights. Past speakers include Bob Woodward, Bob Schieffer, Kitty Kelley, Judith Viorst, Alice McDermott, Ron Charles, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Susan Coll, E.J. Dionne, and Jeffery Deaver. Canceled.

Big Sur on Cape Cod. May 8 - 10, 2020, North Falmouth MA. Faculty: Andrea Brown and four of her agents, four editors and four authors. Children's writing. FULL. Rescheduled for September 11 - 13, 2020.

The Loft's Wordplay Conference. May 9, 2020, Minneapolis MN. "The Loft’s Wordplay aims to be Minnesota's largest celebration of readers, writers, and great books. Imagine a weekend full of famous authors and celebrated books; a weekend of readings, conversations, workshops, kids’ activities, demonstrations, and one-of-a-kind happenings with outdoor stages, cooking stages, book signings, quiet reading corners, boisterous parties, food trucks, beer tents, and books, books, books." Will be held online.

Longleaf Writers Conference. May 9 - 16, 2020: Seaside, Florida. "Formerly the Seaside Writers Conference, Longleaf Writers Conference is an annual gathering of creative writers from all over the nation, featuring award-winning writers in poetry and fiction and screenwriting who will offer a full week of intensive writing workshops, one day seminars, school outreach programs, and social events. This event occurs every year in May, and offers the opportunity for beginning, intermediate and advanced writers to celebrate writing, to network with other writers, and to hone their craft. There will also be seminars hosted by professional editors and literary agents who will offer one-on-one consultations. All participants who pay the full conference tuition fee will be able to take part in all daily activities, while those paying a la carte pricing will have the pick of which classes and workshops they would like to attend. The Longleaf Writers Conference is one of the only conferences in the nation to take place on one of the most beautiful beaches in the US, and every year will feature notable guest writers, literary agents, and professional editors."

Pennwriters Conference. May 14 - 17, 2020: Pittsburgh, PA. The 32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference features three days of workshops, panels, networking and learning to help you learn, grow, soar! Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature an open attendance slate of one-hour workshops on all things writing. The schedule is structured with open attendance, so you can take whichever classes appeal to you. Attendees will have 40+ hours of sessions to choose from. Our faculty is comprised of published authors, literary agents and editors, and other writing industry professionals. Pitch appointments are available at no additional fee. Postponed until 2021.

Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp. May 17 - 23, 2020: West Bend WI. 6-day, residential workshop-retreat for writers in all genres working on a novel or creative nonfiction book. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult. Registration is limited to 30 people.

Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers. May 18 - 22, 2020: Houston, Texas. Daily workshops, readings, craft talks, social events and professionalism panels in an intimate and supportive environment designed specifically with the needs of emerging writers in mind.

Balticon 54. May 22 - 25, 2020: Baltimore, MD. Balticon is sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award, the Robert A. Heinlein Award, and the winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest annually at this event. Faculty: Guest of Honor: Catherine Asaro. Multiple tracks of Programming over the four day weekend, featuring authors, artists, scientists, musicians, podcasters, publishers, editors, costumers and other creative SF luminaries. Will be held online.

Crafting Successful Author Visits. May 26 - May 30, 2020, Honesdale, PA. School visits are a powerful way to get your book into the hands of readers. But how do you take what you’ve written or illustrated and turn it into an attention-grabbing presentation for kids? This workshop will give you strategies for creating and delivering engaging talks, information on developing materials for teachers and students, and guidelines for developing other promotional tools. May be canceled.

Nebula Conference. May 28th - 31st, 2020, Los Angeles, CA. SFWA members and other individuals who are interested in the field of science fiction and fantasy are welcome to attend SFWA’s Nebula Conference. Attendees may participate in workshops, programming and special events throughout the weekend. You do not need to be a member of SFWA to attend. Will be held online.

Bear River Writers’ Conference. May 28 - June 1, 2020: Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake, near Petoskey, Michigan. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, discussions, nature walks, and time to write.

Sundress Academy for the Arts Summer Poetry Writing Retreat. May 29 - 31, 2020: Knoxville, Tennessee. The three-day, two-night camping retreat will be held at SAFTA's own Firefly Farms in Knoxville, Tennessee. All SAFTA retreats focus on generative poetry writing, and this year's poetry retreat will also include break-out sessions on writing political poetry, writing confession, kicking writer's block, publishing, and more.

Tallahassee Writers Conference.  "Whether you are a beginner or an advanced writer of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, you will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with other writers, editors, agents, cover designers, publishers and more!" Dates TBD.

6 Agents Seeking LGBTQ Fiction and Nonfiction

Updated 9/9/23

Here are six agents interested in LGBTQ fiction and nonfiction. Kiana Nguyen focuses primarily on YA Contemporary, but would love to work with low/high Fantasy (not-western/European based) and Sci-fi. Jessica Alvarez is looking for romance, rom coms, upmarket fiction, women's fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and suspense as well as a wide range of prescriptive and narrative nonfiction. Andrew Dugan is open to queries with particular interest in LGBTQ+ stories, gothic fiction, stories with a rich sense of humor, and literary fiction with a compelling hook. On the nonfiction end, he has a love for language-driven memoir and essay collections. Monica Rodriguez is looking for all genres of fiction. Analieze Cervantes is currently is looking for stories in YA and Adult Fiction. She specializes in Sci-Fi, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, and Mystery. Analieze is especially open to BIPOC and LGBTQ voices. Ayla Zuraw-Friedland is interested in literary fiction and nonfiction that inspect big questions about queer identity, class, community, and art & technology through a personal lens, as well as poetry and a limited number of graphic or hybrid projects.

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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Mr. Andrew Dugan of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

NO LONGER LISTED ON AGENCY WEBSITE

Andrew Dugan joined DG&B in 2020 as an assistant in business accounting and subsidiary rights. Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, he completed his B.A. in English at Drew University with coursework in Arabic and International Relations. After interning in magazines and attending the Columbia Publishing Course’s inaugural virtual session, he was fascinated by the symbiotic relationship between agent and author.

What he is seeking: Andrew is open to queries with particular interest in LGBTQ+ stories, gothic fiction, stories with a rich sense of humor, and literary fiction with a compelling hook. On the nonfiction end, he has a love for language-driven memoir that balances propulsive narrative with huge vulnerability. He’s also seeking narrative nonfiction that has strong elements of social justice and is interested in popular science. 

How to submit: Send your query to adugan@dystel.com

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Kiana Nguyen of Donald Maass

Kiana Nguyen joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2016, where she assisted several agents, and is now building her own client list.

She is seeking YA fiction across genres, particularly those with POC and queer voices. She is also interested in Adult romance and domestic suspense thrillers.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Jessica Alvarez of Bookends

Jessica is looking for a wide range of prescriptive and narrative nonfiction, but is particularly looking for unique, entertaining voices--think Mary Roach or Sarah Vowell. She’d like to see more self-help, pop science, true crime, and projects related to food, including cookbooks. She has a particular passion for projects on topics of gender, sexuality, and relationships. While she is open to memoir, please note that platform and hook are crucial. Jessica would like to see more projects relating to body image, women's issues, and LGBTQ+ topics. In terms of fiction, she wants romance of all heat levels (including inspirational and category romance), rom coms, upmarket fiction, and book club fiction. Across the board, she's looking for books that celebrate diversity in all its forms, and would love to see novels with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters.

How to submit: To submit to Jessica, please go to the following link: https://querymanager.com/query/JessicaAlvarez

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Ayla Zuraw-Friedland of the Goldin Agency

Ayla Zuraw-Friedland joined the Frances Goldin Literary Agency in 2022 after starting her agenting career at The David Black Agency in 2019. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant and assistant editor at Beacon Press in Boston, and as a development editor for encyclopedias at Oxford University Press. She received her BA in English and Creative Writing from Connecticut College in 2015, and her writing can be found or is forthcoming in The Drift, Excerpts Magazine, The Financial Times, GAY the Magazine, Publishers Weekly, and The Cape Cod Poetry Review. She is interested in literary fiction and nonfiction that inspect big questions about queer identity, class, community, and art & technology through a personal lens, as well as poetry and a limited number of graphic or hybrid projects.

What she is seeking: She is interested in literary fiction and nonfiction that inspect big questions about queer identity, class, community, and art & technology through a personal lens, as well as poetry and a limited number of graphic or hybrid projects.

How to submit: Send your query to azf@goldinlit.com For fiction, memoir, essays, or narrative nonfiction, please send a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of your email. For all other nonfiction (e.g. history, biography, technology, etc.), please send a query letter. If you have a proposal prepared, please send it as an attachment. Word is preferred but not required.

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Ms. Monica Rodriguez of Context Literary Agency 

Monica started her marketing career supporting non-profits and the arts. After gaining experience at an advertising agency, she worked on advertising campaigns within the tourism industry. "I got into agenting with a mission to help uplift underrepresented voices in publishing, specifically within the Latinx community. If you identify as (but not limited to) a person of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or have a disability, please send your query my way!"

What she is seeking: Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children's, Commercial, Family Saga, Fantasy, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, Mystery, New Adult, Picture Books, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult Non-Fiction: Cookbooks, Humor, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Travel.

Favorite sub-genres: Monica gravitates towards stories about identity, family relationships, and travel. She is looking to uplift underrepresented voices, including, (but not limited to) authors who identify as People of Color (BIPOC), disabled, neurodiverse, and LGBTQ+. In children’s literature, she is actively looking for PB, MG, YA & Graphic Novels. She is also open to adult and non-fiction submissions.

How to submit: Please send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. No attachments.​ querymonica@contextlit.com

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Ms. Analieze Cervantes of Rees Literary Agency

Analieze is a graduate from Cal State San Bernardino where she studied English: Creative Writing along with a minor in Screenwriting. She has also worked as an Editorial Freelancer for Independent Authors. She started her career as an intern at a New York Literary Agency and was mentored by Saritza Hernandez. She then joined the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency in 2020. 

What she is seeking: Analieze is currently building her own list and is looking for stories in YA and Adult Fiction. She specializes in Sci-Fi, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, and Mystery. Analieze is especially open to BIPOC and LGBTQ voices.

How to submit: Use her form here: https://querymanager.com/query/AnaliezeCervantes