53 Calls for Submissions in August 2020 - Paying markets

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There are more than four dozen calls for submissions in August. 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: August 1, 2020.

Lethe Press: Burly Tales. Genre: Classic fairy tales populated with gay Bears. “Strapping heroes are fine as long as they are stout.” All the stories should have a measure of whimsy and/or wonder, and be romantic with a happily ever after or happy-for-now ending. Payment: $0.05/word. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Violent Vixens: An Homage to Grindhouse Horror. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Our second fiction anthology, Violent Vixens, will focus on Grindhouse horror films, made famous by movies such as Night of the Living Dead, Death Proof, and Suspiria." Payment: $50. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Eerie River: With Blood and Ash. Genre: Dark Fantasy. "Earth, wind, fire, water and spirit. Dark versus light. We are giving a lot of leeway for story building, but magic must play a part in your world and there must be a dark fantasy element. Create a fantasy world for this to all play out in, or build something in ours. The choice is yours. The only requirement is that you must feature elemental magic." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

18th Wall. Genre: Supernatural stories set in the 1980s. "I love the Mall. But you wouldn’t want to be trapped here alone at night…" Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Cemetery Gates Media: Personal Local Lore/Oddities Anthology. Genre: Horror. The theme is: local lore or location-based oddities. "Write something dark into a setting you’ve experienced — it could be a place you’ve lived, or even just somewhere you’ve visited on a vacation." Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Mojo. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Payment: $15. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Third Flatiron: Brain Games: Stories to Astonish. Genre: SF, urban fantasy on theme of: Brain Games. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Timeworn Literary Journal. Genre: Historical fiction stories under 5,000 words. Must be set before 1996. "We're looking for "Historical Fiction from the fringe." Work with a bend toward the surreal, the dream-like, the strange. The offbeat kind of story that settles into your heart long after reading. That said, we also value beauty and warmth and a generally well-written story with soul. Romance, Mystery, Crime and the Gothic are all acceptable. Speculative elements strongly encouraged." Payment: $25. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Rogue Blades. Genre: Heroic adventure. Theme: No Ordinary Mortals. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Hawk and Cleaver: The Other Stories. Genre: Horror short stories. Theme: Underwater. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

midnight & indigo. Restrictions: Open to Black women writers. Genre: Fiction and personal essays. Payment: $50 - $75. Deadline: August 2, 2020.

Frontier Poetry: Types of Burns. Restrictions: Open to Black writers. Genre: All genres. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 2, 2020.

Third Flatiron: Infinite Lives: Short Tales of Longevity. Genre: Speculative fiction on theme of : Longevity. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: August 3, 2020.

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

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of Angels. Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: August 3, 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: August 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on August 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: August 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on August 1.

Fantasy. Genre: Fantasy short stories and flash fiction. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: August 7, 2020. Opens to submissions on August 1.

Reads & Eats. Restrictions: Open to writers are new to publishing and BIPOC, differently abled, neuro-atypical, LGBTQIA+, or otherwise under-represented (for “new to publishing,” please read “published five or fewer times, and never in book form”). Genre: Essay or a short story (750 words or fewer) related to food. Payment: $100. Deadline: August 8, 2020. Will be open every month.

Marginalized Voices in Horror. Genre: Stories about or centered around LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, people with mental illness, neurodivergent, and people with disabilities. "We are looking for Own Voices fiction only." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: August 12, 2020.

Ruminate. Genre: Fiction. Length: 5,500 words max. Payment: $20 per 400 words. Deadline:  August 14, 2020. Opens to submissions on August 1.

Hawk and Cleaver: The Other Stories. Genre: Horror short stories. Theme: The Dark Web. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 14, 2020.

Mizna, the only Arab lit and art journal in the United States, is seeking submissions for a special Comix Issue. Genre: Comics. "We are seeking comics submissions by Arab and SWANA artists living anywhere in the world responding to the prompt of A New World Order. These days, it seems as though revolutionary changes are happening daily. From global political upheavals to public health crises, we are living in unprecedented times that are changing the ways we think, work, act, live, and love. We may not know what the future holds, but one thing is certain: the world as we know it is changing forever. For this issue, we are seeking comics that explore what it means for reality (whether the personal micro realities that we inhabit, or the larger political realities that engulf us) to undergo radical, transformative shifts, for better or for worse." Payment: $25. Deadline: August 14, 2020.

Understorey Magazine. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women writers only. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, spoken word, and visual art about women, gender, and technology. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: August 14, 2020.

Lackington’s: Archives. Genre: Speculative fiction on theme of Archives. Payment: 1 cent/word (CAD). Deadline: August 14, 2020.

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

Songs of Eretz. Genre: Poetry, cover art on theme of Politics. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Honeyguide Magazine. Genre: Stories, art and poetry that examine the connection between animals and humans. Payment: $25 for featured writers, $50 for art. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

The New Gothic Review. Genre: Gothic fiction. Eerie atmosphere is key. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Consumed: Tales of the Wendigo. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Submissions do not have to have characters turn into a literal Wendigo. Character(s) must go through some sort of a transformation due to the “hunger.” You do not have to use the term Wendigo. We just ask that authors use the core concept of the Wendigo as inspiration for their story." Payment: $20 for the first 3,000 words, half a cent per word after that. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Critical Read. Genre: Short essays of around 300 words on the particular work of art—be it a work of visual art, performing art, or literature—that you are turning to right now. Payment: $25.  Deadline: August 15, 2020.

FU Review: Interrupt. Genre: Prose, poetry, nonfiction, and English-language translations on theme of Interrupt. Payment: €20. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Demon’s Dreaming Press: Something Good to Eat. Genre: Horror set in or around Halloween.  Payment: $100. Accepts reprints. Deadline: August 21, 2020.

The Ghastling. Genre: Psychological horror, folk horror, ghost stories and the macabre on theme of STRANGE SIGNS // RITUAL PROTECTION MARKS. Payment: £15 per story plus copy of magazine. Deadline: August 23, 2020.

Speculative City. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and essays on theme of Governance. Must be set in a city. Payment: $20-$55. Deadline: August 24, 2020.

Tor.com: Breathe Fiyah. Restrictions: Open to Black authors, including those from the Black diaspora and Black African authors. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. Payment: $250. Deadline: August 28, 2020. Opens August 26.

Night Shift Radio. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, memoir - 7,000-10,000 words. Payment: $50 or $25. Deadline: August 28, 2020. Opens August 21.

Fireside Quarterly. Genre: Short stories, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: 12.5 cents per word. Deadline: August 28, 2020. Opens August 24.

Motherland. Genre: Short stories/weird fiction "All stories must be set in Motherland, a landyke community founded on the Delmarva Peninsula in 1968 by Ida Marmer and Robinia Atwell." Payment: 6 cents per word. Deadline: August 28, 2020.

Satan Rides Your Daughter. Genre: Horror. "We are looking for the truly satanic and downright demonic for this anthology! 'Satan Rides Your Daughter' will be HellBound's loving homage to Dennis Wheatley, William Peter Blatty, Clive Barker, and every other documenter of hellish realms and their nefarious citizens!" Payment: $5. Deadline: August 30, 2020.

Barrelhouse. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 30, 2020. Opens August 28.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles & Divine Intervention. Genre: True stories. "Miracles are all around us if we’re open to them. Sometimes we just can’t explain how good things came about. Are they celestial, otherworldly, heavenly? However they happened, these events give us peace and comfort, guidance, hope and faith." Payment: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Westerly. Genre: Short stories, poetry, memoir and creative non-fiction, essays and literary criticism. Payment: Poems: $120 for one poem or $150 for two or more poems; Stories: $180; Articles: $180; Visual art/Intro essay: $120; Reviews: $100; Online Publication: $100. "We expect our contributors to be subscribers of the Magazine. While we will accept submissions from non-subscribers, should your work be accepted for publication in this instance, you will be asked to accept a subscription to the Magazine as part payment for your work." Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Claw & Blossom Equinox Issue: Rise. Genre: Prose and poems that touch upon the natural world. Payment: $25. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

The McNeese Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Kingdoms in the Wild. Restrictions: Open to Black and African writers only. Genre: Poetry.  Payment: $125. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Strange Horizons. Restrictions: Open to Indigenous people in Mexico, Mexican people, and people of Mexican origin. This includes people living in Mexico, in the borderlands/la frontera and Rio Grande Valley, and in diaspora, as well as displaced and undocumented peoples making home in these places. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 0.10 USD per word for original fiction and $100 flat rate for reprints. Translators will be paid 0.08 USD per word in the source text. Deadline: August 31, 2020. Reprints accepted.

Shenandoah. Genre: Fiction, CNF, novel excerpts, translations, comics. Payment: $100 per 1000 words of prose up to $500, and $50 per page of comics up to $500. Deadline: August 31, 2020. Opens August 15.

Strange Aeon: 2020 (Lovecraftian Tales). Genre: Lovecraftian Tales. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Spartan. Genre: Literary prose, 1500 words max. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Short stories and poetry on theme of Satisfaction. Payment: $0.03 per word, minimum of $30.00 dollars for short stories and a flat fee of $30 per poem. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Curiosities. Genre: Retropunk,  steampunk, dieselpunk, dreadpunk, bronzepunk, others that haven’t even been invented yet punk. Digital, print and podcast format. Payment: 4 cents per word.  Deadline: August 31, 2020. Accepts reprints.

AND MORE...

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

Bicycles and Broomsticks. Genre: Speculative short fiction that combines themes of witchcraft and bicycling, through a feminist lens. Both witchiness and bicycles must be inherent to accepted stories Payment: A portion of profits after expenses from the Kickstarter project used to fund the book is split between contributors; payments are not less than $30 each. Deadline: September 1, 2020.

Jellyfish. Restrictions: "Writers of colour." Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, 1000 words max. Payment: $50. Deadline: September 1, 2020.

51 Writing Contests in August 2020 - No entry fees

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This August there are more than four dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from two cases of beer to $15,000. 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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PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists. Restrictions: Candidates must have published one or more novels for children or young adults that have been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated sufficient income to support the author. Genre: Book-length children's or young-adult fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grants. Restrictions: Open to women and trans artists in Greater Philadelphia to fund art for social change projects. People living in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties Delaware who are 18 years of age or older and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Genres: Art in traditional or nontraditional modes, mediums or disciplines. Prize: $2500. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

The PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Literary Oral History. Genre: Literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement. Prize: $15,000 each. (Two prizes) Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Texas Teen Book Festival Fresh Ink Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to Texas residents aged 11-18 years. Genre: Fiction, no more than 2,000 words in length. Prize: $150. Deadline: August 1, 2020.

Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Delaware poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who have lived in Delaware for at least one year prior to application and who are not enrolled in a degree-granting program. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each. Deadline: August 3, 2020.

BlackInk: New Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora based in the UK. Genre: Short story up to 3,000 words. Prize: £500 top prize. Deadline: August 3, 2020.

Spectator Prize. Genre: Sonnet. "You are invited to supply a sonnet with the following rhyme words in the given order: dead, sun, run, mead, lead, done, fun, weed, never, frost, shrills, ever, lost, hills." Prize: Publication. Deadline: August 5, 2020. Note: Please email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: Opens August 7, 2020. Closes August 9.

The Spectator. Genre: Double dactyls on stars of popular or classical music (a maximum of three entries each). Prize: Publication. Deadline: August 12, 2020.

Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller. Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK or Ireland, 18 years or older. Unpublished authors only. (Author may be self-published.) Genre: Novel (adult). Prize: Publication with Welbeck Publishing. Deadline: August 14, 2020.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between July 1, 2020 and Sept 30, 2020. 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: August 14, 2020.

Rebecca Swift Women's Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to women poets in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: August 14, 2020.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Poets living in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., or West Virginia. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500, publication by Broadkill River Press, ten author copies, and two cases of Dogfish Head craft beer. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Nan Snow Emerging Writer Award. Restrictions: Open to emerging women-identifying writers. Genre: Any and all fields and genres are accepted. Prize: $500 top prize. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Ligonier Valley Writers. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of "snakes and other reptiles";1000 words max. Prize: The first prize winner will receive $50, second prize $25, and third prize $15. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Recen­t­­ly pub­­lished or soon to be pub­lished nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

The Emma Lazarus Project Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry on theme: “If you could write a poem for the Statue of Liberty today, what would it say?” Prize: $1000. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

The Yale Drama Series. Genre: Original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: August 15, 2020.

TU Dublin Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story. "The planned 2020 anthology will be called 'Creation, Cosmos, & Caboodle' and we are looking for strong stories that (even loosely) reflect this title." Prize: €500.Deadline: August 19, 2020.

Endless Ink Publishing: Earth’s Final Chapter Short Story Competition 2020. Genre: Short stories set in the world of Earth’s Final Chapter. Prize: Top prize winner will receive $500.00 USD with the following three runners-up receiving $100.00 each. Deadline: August 21, 2020.

Stirling Spoon. Genre: Prose and poetry on theme of "Identity in America." Prize: $150.  Deadline: August 21, 2020.

Wax Poetry and Art. Restrictions: Open to residents of India. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties.  Deadline: August 23, 2020.

Wax Poetry and Art. Restrictions: Open to residents of Nigeria. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties. Deadline: August 23, 2020.

Wax Poetry and Art. Restrictions: Open to residents of Nigeria. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties. Deadline: August 23, 2020.

Peter Blazey Fellowship. Restrictions: Applicants must either be an Australian citizen or have Australian residency. Genre: Non-fiction in the fields of autobiography, biography or life writing. Prize: $15,000, and a one-month writer-in-residency at The Australia Centre. Deadline: August 24, 2020.

Costa Short Story Award. Restrictions: Open to writers in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Short story (maximum 4,000 words). Prize: £3,000. Deadline: August 28, 2020.

Pacifica Literary Review: Community Chest Contest. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Prose submissions must be under 5,000 words. Flash fiction submissions must be no more than 1000 words individually. Novel excerpts are acceptable, but must be able to stand alone. For poetry, please submit no more than three poems in a single document. For flash fiction, please submit no more than three pieces in a single document. Prize: $350. Deadline: August 29, 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: Travel Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 30, 2020.

Debra E. Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize. Genre: Article that furthers the understanding of the history of working people. Articles focused on historical events AND articles about current issues (work, housing, organizing, health, education) that include historical context are both welcome. The work should be published in print or online between August 26, 2019 and August 30, 2020. Prize: $1000. Deadline: August 30, 2020.

Wax Poetry and Art. Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties.  Deadline: August 30, 2020.

Wax Poetry and Art. Restrictions: Open to residents of Canada. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Royalties. Deadline: August 30, 2020.

SLF Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants. Restrictions: Open to writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, such as writers of color, women, queer writers, disabled writers, working-class writers, etc. -- those whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing / publishing process. Genres: Book-length works (novels, collections of short stories) of speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Restrictions: Emerging African American writers.  Genres: Short story collection or novel published in the current year. Prize: $10,000.  Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Lee & Low Books New Voices Award is sponsored by Lee &Low Publishers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published. Genre: Children's books - fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation or Multi-Lingual Texts. Restrictions: Translators and authors of multi-lingual texts. Genres: Poetry and prose. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Kindle Storyteller Award (UK). Restrictions: The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk. Genre: Book. Prize: £20,000. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story on theme: ‘The Next Chapter.’ Prize: £200. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Jack Grapes Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Prize: WINNERS will receive $200 each, plus publication. FINALISTS will receive $50 each, plus publication. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme of Daring Move. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Under the Hood. Restrictions: Open to USA residents. Genre: YA Fantasy short story about facing down a monster and overcoming it. Prize: $100. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Words on the Waterway. Restrictions: Open to UK residents 16 years or older. Genre: Story in 300 words or less about your most memorable visit to rivers and canals. Prize: The winning entries will be published on the Canal & River Trust website and receive personally signed copies of books by Emmy award-winning actor and writer Stephen Fry - The Ode, Paperweight and Mythos. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Virus Poems. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Donations. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Hysteria. Genre: Poetry, short story, flash fiction. All genres except erotica or horror. Writers under 16 may enter. Prize: £25. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Nottingham Writers Studio: The George Floyd Short Story Competition. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. “With this anthology, we seek to capture not only stories of social justice that capture the mood, tone, and energy of the vital Black Lives Matter movement, but the entire gamut of BAME life experience, from social justice to comedies by black authors to romances with a predominantly Asian cast. This competition is open to all as we welcome the experiences of advocates and allies as well as voices from the black community. Above all, we want to ensure in publishing the anthology we amplify, centre, and celebrate the voices and writings of people of colour.” Prize: £250, £125, £75; £30 for runners-up. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to residents of the UK. Genre: Prose and poetry about mountains or mountaineering. Prize: Prose Category: 1st prize £200: 2nd prize £100; 3rd prize £50. Poetry category:1st prize £200; 2nd prize £100; 3rd Prize £50 Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Rattle's Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poetry responding to visual art. Prize: $100 and publication.  Deadline: August 31, 2020.

The Liberties Press Humorous Short Story Competition. Restrictions: You must be an Irish citizen or long-term resident of Ireland. Genre: Humorous story, real or imagined. Prize: €500 top prize.  Deadline: August 31, 2020.

Young Writers’ Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers in the UK aged 16 – 27. Genre: Short story. Prize: £250. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

New Beginnings. Genre: Poems that embody the sense of a new beginning in the sense of  “starting over.” Prize:$250 top prize and publication in the Winter/Spring 2020 issue of Prospectus. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

African American Voices in Children's Literature Contest. Restrictions: The award is open to writers of African American heritage who are residents of Minnesota and at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age and residing in Minnesota. Genre: Fiction or nonfiction board books for ages 0-4 (50-125 words) and picture books for ages 4-8 (300-800 words) featuring contemporary African American characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character development, self-esteem, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development. Deadline: August 31, 2020.

19 Writing Conferences in August 2020 - Most held online

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While a good number of summer writing conferences have been rescheduled, many are going ahead as planned via online formats. You can still attend workshops, presentations, readings, discussions, lectures, and critiques via Zoom.

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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Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 7 - August 21, 2020, Provincetown, Massachusetts. The faculty and presenters include poets Erin Belieu, Traci Brimhall, Mahogany L. Browne, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Peter Campion, Tina Chang, Michael Collier, Mark Conway, Vievee Francis, Kimiko Hahn, Terrance Hayes, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Ada Limón, John Murillo, Eileen Myles, Porsha Olayiwola, Matthew Olzmann, Gregory Orr, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Martha Rhodes, and Nicole Sealey; fiction writers Kristen Arnett, Andre Dubus III, Aja Gabel, Pam Houston, Reif Larsen, Wendy C. Ortiz, Shobha Rao, Victoria Redel, Sarah Schulman, Justin Torres, and Joan Wickersham; nonfiction writers Alysia Abbott, Elissa Altman, Jill Bialosky, Garrard Conley, Nick Flynn, Ann Hood, Paul Lisicky, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, T Kira Madden, Gregory Pardlo, Dani Shapiro, Susanna Sonnenberg, Brian Turner, and Marion Winik; and graphic memoirist Nicole J. Georges. Tuition ranges from $650 to $750. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 10. General registration is first come, first served.  (See individual workshops for dates.)

Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Week. August 1 - 7, 2020: Washington, DC. For more than 20 years, the Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Workshop has offered a safe space for black writers in intensive workshop sessions and master classes. Workshops are led by award-winning writers who are influencing today’s literature. The program features critiques, craft talks, writing time and public readings. Hurston/Wright workshops serve emerging and experienced writers who are starting projects, developing projects or seeking to polish projects. More than a thousand writers have participated in workshops since the first session in 1996. Will be held virtually.

The 2020 Writers' Police Academy: Mudercon. August 6–9, 2020: Raleigh, NC. "MurderCon is a rare opportunity for writers to participate in hands-on “for law enforcement eyes only” training, using modern testing and evidence collection tools and equipment, in workshops taught by some of the world’s leading homicide investigation experts. This incredibly detailed, cutting-edge instruction has never before been available to writers, anywhere."

Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 6 - 9, 2020: Hyannis, Massachusetts. Supporting published and aspiring writers. Featuring distinguished authors, editors and agents in workshops on fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry, mysteries and thrillers, social media, promotion and more!

The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference, August 7 - 9, 2020: West Coast Writers Conferences presents a full weekend of panels, workshops and presentations by educators, noted speakers, and industry professionals focused on the craft and business of writing.

Colrain Classic. August 7 - 10, 2020. "A select group of poets will work with nationally known poets, publishers, and editors Joan Houlihan (Conference Founder / Lesley University MFA Program); Rusty Morrison (Co-founder/Publisher Omnidawn Press); Hilda Raz (Editor/Mary Burritt Christiansen Poetry Series, University of New Mexico Press); and Ellen Dore Watson (Smith College/Editor of Massachusetts Review). All poets with an in-progress book-length or chapbook-length manuscript are welcome to apply." Will be conducted online.

Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. August 7 - 10, 2020: Truchas, New Mexico. The conference features evaluation and discussion of book-length and chapbook-length manuscripts with poets, editors, and publishers. The cost of the conference is $1,400, which includes lodging and meals. Using the online submission system, submit a brief bio and three to four poems.

Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 10 - 16, 2020: Montpelier, Vermont. The conference is designed for writers with graduate degrees or equivalent experience. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, craft classes, and individual consultations with faculty members. "At the heart of the Postgraduate Writers' Conference's unique model is the small workshop size, with groups led by acclaimed faculty limited to five or six writers. The intimate format allows for an extraordinarily in-depth, far-reaching discussion of participants’ work. Beyond the daily group sessions, each member has an individual consultation with the workshop instructor. The schedule also features a rich menu of readings by faculty and participants, craft talks, generative writing sessions and social events that galvanize our vibrant, inclusive community." Will be held online.

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 12- 22, 2020: Ripton, VT. Workshops in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days. Groups are kept small to facilitate discussion, and all participants meet individually with their faculty leaders to elaborate on workshop comments. Faculty members also offer lectures on issues around literary writing and one-hour classes on specific aspects of the craft. Readings by the faculty, conference participants, and guests take place throughout the day and into the night. Participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and publishers who provide information and answer questions, individually or in small groups. Will be rescheduled for Fall 2020.

Writer’s Digest Conference. August 13 - 16, 2020: New York City. Annual Writer's Digest Conference featuring: Pitch Slam, with more than fifty agents and editors in attendance, educational tracks devoted to publishing and self-publishing, platform and promotion, and the craft of writing,  speakers and instructors.

The Whole Novel Online Workshop 2020. August 16, 2020 - August 22, 2020. "This is a seven-day online workshop that features a full manuscript critique, evening “live” lectures and discussions, daily writing prompts, one-to-one mentorship, faculty Q&A, optional open mic readings and more! Online Workshop Participant Cap: 20 students. Join Us To: Have the entire draft of your novel read and critiqued." Will be held online.

The Sci-Fi Short Story Workshop. August 18, 25, Sept 1, Sept 8, 2020. "This workshop is for sci fi short stories, but is useful to anyone who has a story they want to write. We will be focused on 1500 word, short stories, in the Science Fiction (and maybe a touch of horror or humor, or both!) genre." Will be held online. FREE!

Trekking the Outer Zones: Science Fiction on Screens Big and Small. August 20, 2020. Join Sci-Fest LA for a lively, FREE discussion featuring special guests:

* AMY BERG (Screenwriter/TV Showrunner - “Warrior Nun”, “Counterpart”)
* DANIELLE COSTA (VP of Visual Effects, Marvel Studios)
* DERIC A. HUGHES (Producer/Writer - "Arrow", "The Flash")
* TAMARA KRINSKY (Moderator - Actress/Writer/On-Air Correspondent)
* RENA OWEN (Actor - “Siren”, “Star Wars”)
* TONYA PINKINS (Actor/Writer/Director - "Fear the Walking Dead", "Red Pill")

Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 20 - 23, 2020: Nashville, TN. The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. "At the conference, we try diligently to ensure that the weekend has something for every writer and lover of literature, and our sessions are structured to assist writers on multiple career levels. Our learning tracks tackle the craft of writing, business of writing, marketing, and forensics. Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, live music performances and—of course—all the great activities one can enjoy in downtown Nashville."

North Words Writers Symposium. August 27 - 30, 2019: Skagway, Alaska. Faculty: Bill Streever, Caroline Van Hemert, Heather Lende, Eva Holland, M. Jackson, Bryan Fierro, Nicole Stellon O’Donnell. Special Theme: Writing at a time of a threatened natural world.

Writing the Unknown: A Conversation about Great Science Fiction Writing. August 28, 2020. Novelists across sci-fi and fantasy genres share their ideas on what makes for great sci-fi writing!

Featuring:
CECIL CASTELLUCCI (Tin Star)
HENRY LIEN (Peasprout Chen)
LARRY NIVEN (Ringworld)
ROSALIND HELFAND (Moderator - Sci-Fest LA)
And more!

Romance Writers of America. August 28 - 30, 2020: San Francisco, CA. The RWA Conference is the place where career-focused romance writers meet, mingle, and get down to the business of being an author. Conference highlights include the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing; the Keynote speech; hearing from great speakers; book signings; and the Awards Ceremony. At the conference, career-focused romance writers can anticipate: education and information, networking with fellow writers, interaction with editors, agents, publishers, booksellers, and other romance publishing industry professionals. Will be held online.

49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat. August 28 - 30, 2020: Tutka Bay, Alaska. Guest Instructor: Elena Passarello.

Developing a Series in Chapter Books Online Workshop 2020. August 30, 2020 - September 02, 2020. "This is a four-day online workshop that features evening “live” lectures, discussions, online Q&A sessions in addition to a revision roundtable, office hours for informal discussion, hands-on sessions and an optional open mic. There will be one-to-one sessions with faculty on your series overview and first chapter. Online Workshop Participant Cap: 16." Will be held online.

5 UK Literary Agents Actively Seeking Crime Novels, Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, SF/F and more

Updated 9/12/23

Here are five UK agents actively seeking writers. Ben Clark loves smart non-fiction of all kinds whether narrative, prescriptive or illustrated. On the fiction side he’s currently looking for tightly plotted thrillers, crime series and science fiction and fantasy. Anthony Goff represents literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction, and also several children’s writers. Margaret Halton focuses mainly on fiction. Anne-Marie Doulton's particular interests include literary fiction, narrative non-fiction (current affairs, biography etc) and high-quality thrillers and mysteries. Allan Guthrie's main area of interest is crime fiction.

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. Anthony Goff of David Higham Associates Ltd 

Anthony has been Managing Director of David Higham since 2000. He began his publishing career at Faber & Faber, starting in rights and then moving to editorial. After four years he decided that he preferred working with authors to sitting in meetings, and he became an agent. Anthony was President of the Association of Authors’ Agents from 2009 to the beginning of 2012.

What he is seeking: He represents many high-profile and successful authors of literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction, and also several children’s writers. 

How to submit: Read submission details HERE.

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Ben Clark of The Soho Agency

Ben has been with the agency for ten years, he is an agent and actively building his list.

What he is seeking: Ben loves smart non-fiction of all kinds whether narrative, prescriptive or illustrated. Whether that is history, philosophy, memoir, technology, science, business, nature writing, or anything that explores the world we live in. He works extensively with brands, television producers and magazines in developing their IP for publication. He has a soft spot for fantasy and science fiction that transports you out of the everyday, something he feels we all need a bit more of. He is drawn to the strange and unusual, stories from the fringes that need to be seen by the mainstream or different perspectives on established narratives that challenge a status quo.

In particular he is on the lookout for academics who have a story to tell to a wide audience, experts who can help us understand what is going on in the world and people who can distill something fundamental about the human experience into the written word. On the fiction side he’s currently looking for tightly plotted thrillers, crime series and science fiction and fantasy with expert world building that reflects back something about the real world. Also anything that blurs the boundaries between genres.

How to submit: Send your query to sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com along with the first three chapters or first thirty pages of your manuscript in word format, along with a synopsis.
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Margaret Halton of PEW Literary

Margaret Halton joined PEW as an Agent in 2018. She studied English at Oxford and has had a varied career working for publishing houses and literary agencies on both sides of the Atlantic, including ICM and Rogers, Coleridge & White. She has been responsible for selling international rights in non-fiction titles as wide-ranging as Margaret Thatcher’s memoirs and Naomi Klein’s THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, and in novels by Toni Morrison, Richard Ford, Zadie Smith and Nick Hornby amongst many others. She worked as an editor at Granta Books where she was responsible for acquiring Mohsin Hamid’s first novel MOTH SMOKE and titles by Kamila Shamsie, Herta Muller and Colson Whitehead.

What she is seeking: Margaret focuses mainly on fiction. She loves novels that pack an emotional punch with characters you feel you get to know personally.

How to submit: Please submit the opening three chapters (or fifty pages) along with a synopsis. The synopsis should be a clear explanation of the plot from first to final chapter. Please accompany your submission with a brief cover letter that tells us a little about you as a writer. Send your work to submissions@pewliterary.com

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Ms. Anne-Marie Doulton of The Ampersand Agency

Anne-Marie Doulton has been an agent for over 10 years, and is based in London. Before joining Ampersand she worked as a commissioning editor for various general publishers and as a literary scout. Her clients at Ampersand include Philip Barclay, Sharon Bolton, Annie Caulfield, Kate London and Stephen Williams.

What she is seeking: Anne-Marie’s particular interests include literary fiction, narrative non-fiction (current affairs, biography etc) and high-quality thrillers and mysteries. 

How to submit: Send your first three chapters, together with a brief outline and some biographical details to: amd@theampersandagency.co.uk

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Allan Guthrie of The North Literary Agency

Allan has worked in the book trade since 1996 and has been a literary agent since 2005. He is also an award-winning novelist, freelance editor and former publisher. 

What he is seeking: His main area of interest is crime fiction.

How to submit: Use the agency's submission form HERE.

4 New Agents Seeking Romance, Fantasy, YA, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir and more

Updated 11/21/20

Here are four new literary agents actively seeking clients. Mariah Nichols is interested in adult and young adult fiction with genres including thriller, upmarket, romance/rom-com, horror, family drama, science fiction/paranormal, and women’s fiction. She is also wanting to represent nonfiction in categories such as cookbooks, memoirs, self-help, lifestyle, and how-to. Stories that showcase diversity and highlight mental health or special needs is something that she would especially like to see.

Amy Giuffrida wants middle grade and YA horror, romance, fantasy and mystery as well as adult Horror, Romance/Chic Lit/Rom Com and nonfiction. Shanna Furey is looking for Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comedic, or General Fiction. Devon Halliday is interested in literary and upmarket fiction with sharp, insightful writing and vivid characters. She’s partial to speculative fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, metafiction, light psychological suspense, and romcoms. She leans toward adult fiction, but will also consider YA and cross-over projects. On the nonfiction side, Devon is on the lookout for creative and narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, broad-perspective memoir, and popular science, psychology, medicine, and philosophy.

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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Devon Halliday of Transatlantic Literary Agency

NO LONGER AN AGENT

Devon Halliday joined Transatlantic as a Literary Agent in the summer of 2020, with prior experience at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Susanna Lea Associates, Writers House, Maria B. Campbell Associates, and Folio Literary management in agenting and scouting. She grew up in Athens, OH, and studied Comparative Literature at Brown University. After years in the NYC publishing scene, she has returned to Ohio and is excited to build a list at Transatlantic.

What she is seeking: On the fiction side, Devon is interested in literary and upmarket fiction with sharp, insightful writing and vivid characters. She’s partial to speculative fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, metafiction, light psychological suspense, and romcoms. She leans toward adult fiction, but will also consider YA and cross-over projects. Devon is not the right agent for most thrillers, horror, mystery, or historical fiction.

On the nonfiction side, Devon is on the lookout for creative and narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, broad-perspective memoir, and popular science/psychology/medicine/philosophy. She’s interested in any strong narrative voice that can bring a complicated or niche subject to the average reader.

How to submit: To query Devon, please send a query letter, author bio, and 20-page sample (for fiction) or proposal (for nonfiction) to querydevon@transatlanticagency.com. Please include “Query” in the subject line, and notify her if another offer of representation is received. Devon responds to all queries, though she regrets that she cannot offer personalized feedback.

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Mariah Nichols of D4EO

Mariah has a great passion for storytelling and for the publishing industry. With a BS degree in Business she wanted to apply her degree towards the world of books. After interning at Howland Literary her senior year, she soon transitioned to the role as a reader and in-house editor for the D4EO Literary Agency, working with Bob Diforio in all aspects of the business, with the intention of being named a D4EO literary agent.

What she is seeking: Mariah is interested in adult and young adult fiction with genres including thriller, upmarket, romance/rom-com, horror, family drama, science fiction/paranormal, and women’s fiction. She is also wanting to represent nonfiction in categories such as cookbooks, memoirs, self-help, lifestyle, and how-to. Stories that showcase diversity and highlight mental health or special needs is something that she would especially like to see.

How to submit: Use the agency form HERE.

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Amy Giuffrida of Belcastro Literary Agency

After Amy earned her BA at the University of Kutztown and a M.Ed. from Lock Haven University, she incorporated her love of reading and books with being a middle school teacher. Amy’s biggest joy was to put the perfect book in the hands of a teen and change their minds about reading. Amy turned this love into a career by reading romance slush for a publishing company, then interned for various literary agencies, until she became an associate literary agent in 2020. In her spare time, you can find Amy either listening to, reading, or talking about books. She also loves binge-watching teen and reality TV shows—all while snuggling with one or more of her three rescue dogs.

What she is seeking: Non-Fiction

If you have a strong platform and love what you do, feel free to pitch me a concept.

• Narrative non-fiction
• Blogger cookbooks
• Popculture
• Self-Help – especially for teens

Young Adult

• Realistic/Contemporary
• Fantasy grounded in our world
• Horror
• Thriller/Mystery

Adult

• Book Club/Commercial Fiction
• Upmarket Fiction
• Romance – Rom-Com and Contemporary
• Gothic Horror
• Psychological Horror
• Thriller
• Mystery

Note: I am ONLY currently seeking picture books with human characters focused on BIPOC and historically marginalized voices.

In all fiction, I am a sucker for dysfunctional families, messy and unlikeable characters, unreliable narrators, diverse casts, undercurrents of social commentary, and twists I couldn’t possibly see coming. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I love stories that are joyful and tender-hearted—it’s hard to make me laugh or cry, but if you have a story that will do either or both…I’d love to see it! I am especially passionate about stories with a feminist slant and about representing BIPOC and historically under-represented voices, so please send me your diverse #OwnVoice stories.

In horror, I love stories fraught with social commentary, as well as tension-filled psychological horror. Literary or lyrical, please send it my way.

How to submit: Queries should be submitted through QueryManager: https://querymanager.com/query/AmyGiuffrida

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Shanna Furey of Metamorphosis

CLOSED TO QUERIES

It was uncommon growing up to find Shanna without her nose in a book. An avid reader from a young age, she began to get lost in the lives of historical figures long gone, which aided her love of history and pursuit of a Bachelor of Arts in History at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Shanna currently lives in Colorado with her husband and their two very cuddly cats. When she is not reading Shanna enjoys baking, knitting, and doing DIY projects.

What she is seeking: Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comedic, or General Fiction.

How to submit: Use the agency form: https://querymanager.com/query/1805