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Monday, March 28, 2022

120 Calls for Submissions in April 2022 - Paying markets

This April there are ten dozen calls for submissions. 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 calls for submissions a few days prior to the first day 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!

(Image: Pixabay)

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Liquid ImaginationGenre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: $8 for short stories (1001 words up to 6000 words) and poems, and $3 for flash stories (up to 1000 words). A $2 bonus will be added for authors who accept payment via Paypal. Deadline: Early to Mid-April, 2022.

West BranchGenre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

They Come by Night: Original Vampire Stories Based on Traditional LoreGenre: Vampire stories based on traditional folklore from around the world. Payment: $10 or a contributor’s copy. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Legend: A Joint Task Force-13 AnthologyGenre: Military Scifi / Military Fantasy / Alt History. Word Count: 5,000-10,000 words. Payment: A percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Bullshit AnthologyGenre: "We wanna see your silly poems, inane stories, funky prose, blatherings, riddles, diss tracks, sketches, word games, and whatever." Payment: $5. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Shacklebound: War Torn AnthologyGenre: Military science fiction or science fiction stories that feature war in a big way. All accepted stories will have strong internal and external conflict. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 1, 2022. Reprints only.

Third Flatiron: After the Gold RushGenre: SF/Fantasy/Horror short stories on climate change, economics, effects of accelerated culture. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Lost Boys Press: Great Wars anthologyGenre: Fiction. "Write a story about a historical war of any culture and any era and change one aspect of it to see how the war might change and explore from there!" Length: 9K words max. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Modern MagicGenre: Stories about magic in today’s world. Not stories of witches and warlocks surrounded by vampires and werewolves that hide in the shadows, but of real, everyday people, in our real, everyday world. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Splatter Ink Publishing: Cryptid CarnageGenre: Horror. "We want your stories of Cryptids attacking people that either are innocently targeted, seemingly in the wrong place at the wrong time, or a story with people who are much deserving of their blood-soaked fate." Length: Up to 10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Gordon Square ReviewGenre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works.   Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

The Other Stories (Podcast). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: April 1, 2022. See themes.

Cemetery Gates: My Dark LibraryGenre: Horror novellas 25,000-40,000 words. "In My Dark Library you will find psychological, folk, quiet, supernatural, paranormal, body, found-footage, coming-of-age, spiritual, demonic, occult, cosmic, slasher horror. I’m not currently interested in extreme, science-fiction, bizarro, erotic, apocalyptic, creature/cryptid, zombie, eco, comedy horror." Payment: $1000 advance and royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

SalamanderGenre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Moonflowers and NightshadeGenre: Sapphic horror short fiction. "Moonflowers and Nightshade will include a diverse group of stories, including but not limited to stories involving genderqueer, non-binary, BIPOC, genderfluid, lesbian, trans, bisexual, and pansexual characters." Payment: 4 cents/word. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

BluestemGenre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: $20/poem and $75/prose piece. (Rates not posted on site, please inquire) Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Picnic in the GraveyardGenre: Horror stories that take place in a cemetery/burial place. 2000-4000 words. Payment: $0.07/word. Deadline: April 1, 2022, or until filled.

Witches of a Certain AgeGenre: Fiction. Length: 6000 – 8000 words. "I’m looking for female (or female-identifying) magic users between 40-99, women with some life experience under their belts, and who are well-established in their magical power." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Luna Novella for Speculative DiversityRestrictions: Under-represented writers only, all levels welcome (unpublished, published, solo or agented). Genre: Speculative fiction novellas, 20,000 - 40,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1 - 2, 2022.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch ShoresGenre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: April 1 - 2, 2022.

HavokGenre: Flash fiction on Theme of MACRO & MICRO. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: April 3, 2022.

Seaborne: The SeaGenre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about the sea. Fiction can be in any genre, “albeit we prefer folklore, gothic, fabulism, magic realism, weird and mysterious works. For vignettes, we are looking for pieces … which capture the essence of the sea, brief but evocative, like a message in a bottle.” For creative nonfiction, send “creative and personal essays, nature writing, historical & travel pieces, or evocative accounts of true stories.” Payment: £5. Deadline: April 3, 2022.

MiddlegroundRestrictions: Submissions are restricted to those who identify as mixed race. Middleground focuses on the voices of mixed-race people. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: "Small." Deadline: April 3, 2022.

VoiceworksRestrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. Theme: Gleam. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: April 3, 2022. Nonfiction pitches only.

Lookout: Writing + Art About Wildfire. Genre: Poetry, nonfiction, fiction, art about wildfires. Payment: $200. Deadline: April 4, 2022.

Cossmass InfinitiesGenre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: April 7, 2022.

Ninth LetterGenre: Prose and poetry. Payment: $25 per poem, $75 per story or essay, as well as two complimentary copies of the issue in which the work appears. Deadline: April 7, 2022.. See themes.

ScumGenre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: April 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on April 1.

Shredded: A Body Horror AnthologyGenre: Body horror in sports and fitness. Length: Stories should be between 2,000 and 4,500 words. Payment: 3 cents/word contingent on Kickstarter. Deadline: The extended submission period for women and non-binary writers is April 1st – 7th, 2022.

Griffith Review: Real Cool World. Genre: Essays, reportage, creative non-fiction, fiction, memoir and visual essays on Antarctica. Payment: Negotiated. Deadline: April 8, 2022.

Luna Novella for EveryoneGenre: Speculative fiction novellas, 20,000 - 40,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 8 - 9, 2022.

Riddled With Arrows. “For this issue of Riddled with Arrows we seek writing-related fiction, creative non-fiction, ars poetica, non-classifiable written objects and visual art exploring the theme of “writing endings” Length: Up to 1,500 words for fiction and nonfiction, up to 3 poems Payment: Unpublished Poetry & Prose – USD 3¢/word, minimum $5, maximum $25. Art $10. Reprints $5. Deadline: April 9, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Fusion FragmentGenre: Science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction stories and novelettes ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 15,000 words. Payment: Both previously unpublished work and reprints pay 3.5 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $300 (CAD) per story. Deadline: April 10, 2022. Opens April 8.

MslexiaRestrictions: Open to women. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: £25. Deadline: April 11, 2022.

Flame Tree Publishing: First Peoples Shared StoriesRestrictions: "We are looking for submissions from writers with appropriate heritage, whose stories will be cast alongside ancient origin stories and oral traditions from around the world and will bring new perspectives and attention to the legacy of First Nations, of Indigenous Peoples, of First Peoples." Genre: Short stories. "The stories themselves can be speculative, fantastic, sacred or folkloric, they can delve into themes including but not limited to origins, colonisation, other worlds, natural ecology and utopianism, they can be challenging and adventurous." Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: April 11, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Cast of WondersGenre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction of any length (yes, including flash!). For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: April 14, 2022. See themes.

Solarpunk MagazineRestriction: Open to BIPOC writers only. Genre: Solarpunk.  Payment:  $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay.  Deadline: April 14, 2022.

NarrativeGenre: Short story, novel excerpt, novella, poem, or literary nonfiction. Payment: Up to $1000. Deadline: April 14, 2022. (Narrative does not charge submission fees during the first two weeks of April.)

Shoreline of InfinityGenre: Science fiction, fantasy, 6000 words max. Theme: Science fiction fairy tales. Payment: £40/1000 words. Deadline: April 14, 2022. Accepts translations of stories originally published in another language.

The Quiet OnesGenre: Short fiction (up to 3000 words), flash fiction (up to 1000 words), and poetry on theme Post-Apocalyptic Pride. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 14, 2022.

Consequence ForumGenre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews, visual art, and translations focused on the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence. Payment: $40 - $80. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Hub City Press. The South Carolina Novel SeriesGenre: Novels by South Carolina writers. Payment: $1,500 and book publication. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Arsenal Pulp Press: Anthology on the Fibre Arts. Genre: Essays (approx. 2,000 to 5,000 words) that "engage fibre arts practice as a lens (positive or negative) through which to examine larger contemporary issues: identity, technology, climate change, personal struggle, politics, family, adventure, relationship, art, science, or any other complexities of life. These essays will challenge the traditional view of crafting and explore the role, purpose, frustration, joy, humour and necessity of fibre arts amidst the alienating pressures of modern life." Payment: Honorarium. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Cloaked Press: Summer of SpeculationGenre: Speculative short stories up to 10,000 words. Payment: $15. Deadline: April 15, 2022. See theme.

Dose of DreadGenre: Horror flash fiction. Preference for dread-inducing stories. Length: 500 - 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Translunar Travelers LoungeGenre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

TransformationsGenre: Essay focusing on “Courageous Acts” (1300 - 2000 words) or "Days of Displacement" (up to 600 words). Reflect upon bravery you have embodied or witnessed in a 600-750 nonfiction narrative. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: April 15, 2022. See themes.

Narratively: True DeceptiveGenre: First-person pieces about your own experience or reported stories about deception. "Have you ever let a secret or lie spin out of control, and kept the truth from your closest friends, family or coworkers for years, or even decades? Narratively is looking for first-person stories from people who have let a seemingly simple lie turn into years of increasingly complex deception, and are willing to speak openly about how the weight of that choice affected their life and relationships — and what it feels like to finally come clean." Payment: Starts at $500. Deadline: April 15, 2022. Pitches only.

Narratively: Extraordinary High School Sports StoriesGenre: Nonfiction. "We’re interested in profiling inspiring high school sports teams that have both an unexpected success story and a one-of-a-kind hook. We’re particularly excited about stories featuring skilled young players and/or coaches who aren’t typically represented on the field or in most sports narratives—whether that’s because they have different gender identities, ethnicities, or religious beliefs…and/or because they’re pursuing their passions in a surprising setting. Think a winning all-Muslim varsity girls basketball team in the heart of Texas; an exceptional soccer club made up entirely of teenage refugees; or a Hall-of-Fame pro who’s come out of retirement to coach and mentor an underdog roster." Payment: Starts at $500. Deadline: April 15, 2022. Pitches only.

Cthulhu FhConGenre:  Lovecraftian-style fiction set in a hotel. Payment: $.03/word. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: AngelsGenre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for true personal stories about how an angel has touched your life – stories of true wonder and awe from people who have directly encountered or received help from angels." Payment: $200. DeadlineApril 15, 2022. 

MasksGenre: Prose, art, film, audio, and poetry. Payment: Fiction and nonfiction writers will receive a $25-$35 honorarium per piece (3,000 words or less), and poets will receive $20 per poem. Artists, photographers, and audio/filmmakers receive $25.00 per piece (no more than two). The Featured Artist receives $100. "We have no restrictions on the writers or content we publish, but we’re passionate about publishing new writers, new artists, and new perspectives." DeadlineApril 15, 2022.

Thuya Poetry ReviewGenre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. DeadlineApril 16, 2022.

Seaside GothicGenre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: April 17, 2022. 

VoiceworksRestrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Theme: Gleam. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: April 17, 2022. 

FacesGenre: Nonfiction, activities for children 9 - 14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 18, 2022. Queries onlySee themes.

Poetry WalesRestrictions: Open to writers with disabilities. Genre: Poetry. Payment: £20/page for poems, £67.50/1,500-word review, £200/3,000 word articles. Deadline: April 18, 2022. 

Strange Weeds AnthologyGenre: Weed-centered horror stories of any sub-genre. "An estimated 40,000 people are currently incarcerated for non-violent, marijuana related offenses in the United States.  As many states begin to roll out decriminalization acts, medical licenses, and recreational stores, it is more important then ever that awareness is raised for folks that have been arrested, charged, or convicted for something that is widely no longer considered a crime in many parts of the country. For this project, 100% of the proceeds will go to The Last Prisoner." Payment: $10. Deadline: April 20, 2022.

First Flashes. Restrictions: Open to unpublished poets. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $ .10 to $1.00 per line. Deadline: April 20, 2022.

Flash Fiction OnlineGenre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: April 21, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Tales from the Moonlit PathGenre: Dark, eerie, speculative stories on theme of Demented Mother's Day. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 23, 2022.

Story Seed VaultGenre: Fiction based on science. Up to 200 characters. Payment: Up to $3AUD per story. Deadline: April 24, 2022.

Rough Cut Press. Restrictions: Open to the LGBTQIA community. Genre: Experimental fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. "We seek personal, lyrical, critical, and experimental work in under 650 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: April 27, 2022.

Their Ghoulish ReputationGenre: Folk horror. The genre blends the themes of horror and folklore to explore terror, alienation, displacement, and a sense of the other. Word Count: 2500-10000. Payment: $25 and a contributor’s copy. Deadline: April 28, 2022.

Rampage on the ReefsGenre: Horror. "We’re looking for colourful, weird aquatic horror; monsters in the shallows, coral formations hiding eerie beasts… psychedelic, high-thrills horror that proves it’s not always safe closer to the shore." Payment: $10. Deadline: April 28, 2022.

Dark Lake Publishing. Genre: Full-length novels and novellas. Gothic Horror/fiction, Literary Horror/fiction, Historical fiction with gothic elements, Literary Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Dark/Epic fantasy, Ghost/Haunted House Stories, and Psychological Horror. Payment: $100 advance and royalties. Deadline: April 28, 2022.

Dark Lake Publishing: Folk Horror AnthologyGenre: Folk horror: Rural settings, Cult Creeps, Mythological Horror, Weird Horror, Cosmic Horror, Horror of real people, Ghouls, witches, basically everything that makes a folklore chilling. Word Count: 2500-10000. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 28, 2022.

Science Write NowRestrictions: Only pays for pieces by Australian writers or by writers living in Australia. Genre: Poems, short stories, book reviews, or literary or personal essays related to science, technology, engineering, or math. Payment: $0.30/word up to $390 for new writing, $70 for a single poem or $180 for three poems, $40 for reprint stories or essays, and $20 for reprint poems. Deadline: April 29, 2022. See themesAccepts reprints

The Threepenny ReviewGenre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Deadline: April 30, 2022. (Nonreading period: May 1 through December 31.)

Strange HorizonsRestrictions: Open to Southeast Asian writers living in Southeast Asia as well as the Diaspora. Genre: Nonfiction, speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $0.10/word for fiction; $20-150 for nonfiction; $50 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Jellyfish ReviewGenre: Flash fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, essay and prose poetry, 1000 words max. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 30, 2022. See theme.

Sonder MagazineGenre: Fiction, CNF and poetry on theme of ‘A Bit Odd’, by Claire Gleeson. Payment: "Small." Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Shacklebound Books: Dystopia Drabble ShowcaseGenre: Dystopia. This is a drabble anthology where five authors will be showcased with five of their stories on the theme of Dystopia. To participate, you must submit five stand alone drabbles on the theme. Wordcount: Exactly 100 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Room MagazineRestrictions: Room publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art by folks of marginalized genders, including but not limited to women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. Theme: Audacity. Genre: Original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art. Payment: $50 (CAD) Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Rivanna ReviewGenre: Short fiction, essays, book reviews. Payment: $100 per story or essay, $50 per book review. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Fedowar Press: Camp Slasher LakeGenre: Horror/Slasher. "This is a tribute to the glorious slasher movies of the 1980s. We want the unstoppable killers, the claustrophobic sense of no escape, and of course, the blood." Length: Between 7.5k and 15k words. Payment: $.01 per word. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Black Angel Press: Gothic Ghost StoryGenre: "We are looking for quiet gothic darkness and whilst stories can be set in the traditional Victorian environment, we are also very much open to any who take the gothic tropes and place them in the present – or even the future." Payment: £5 per story and an electronic copy of the book. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Kingdoms of Wrath and IceGenre: Tales of stone cold villains (literally on the cold!) Payment: $25 and a contributors copy. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

MudroomGenre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Mud Season ReviewGenre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

MacroMicroCosmGenre: Speculative fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022. See themes.

Massachusetts Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, hybrid, translations. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Fee for online submissions. No fee for USPS.

NightlightRestrictions: Open to Black writers. Genre: Horror. 10,000 words max. Audio format. Payment: $75 - $200 depending on length. $50 for reprints. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Harbor ReviewGenre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

BrickGenre: Nonfiction. Payment: $55–660, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

“Home: What Is It and How Do I Get There?” Genre: Flash fiction, poetry. Payment: $15 CAD upon publication ($10 for reprints) Deadline: April 30, 2022. Reprints accepted.

TypehouseRestrictions: In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, no-fee submissions are open for all Arab creators, not limited to those in the US. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Android PressGenre: Punk-themed science fiction/fantasy Adult, New Adult, and YA manuscripts. Length: Up to 100,000 words for novels, 40,000 words for novellas. Payment: $1000 advance + Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

BansheeGenre: Short stories, flash fiction, essays. Payment: "Small payment." Deadline: April 30, 2022.

MythaxisGenre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Silver BladeGenreScience Fiction, Slipstream, Classic and Modern Fantasy; short fiction, flash fiction, novellas, and poetry. Payment$15 for novellas, $3 for flash fiction, $8 for short stories, $8 for single poems and $15 for Featured Poets (by invitation only). Silver Pen will pay half of these rates for previously published works. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Reprints accepted.

Midnight in the Dying Garden: Fairy Tales for the End of the WorldGenre: Horror stories with a fantastical twist. "We’re looking for tales that are horrific, enchanting, and sometimes lovely. We want stories that showcase devastation and ecstasy, divinity and savagery, terror and bravery, beauty and hideousness, joy and despair, and everything in between." Length: 1000 – 7000 words. Payment: For previously unpublished work, payment will be between $25 – $150 CAD depending on length after edits, and paid on publication. Reprints will receive $10 – $70 depending on length after edits, and will be paid on publication. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Reprints accepted.

It Was All A DreamGenre: Short horror, weird, dark fiction between 1500 and 4000 words that take your least favorite horror trope and make it work. Payment: $0.03 per word up to 4000 words.  Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Haven SpeculativeGenre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Rabbit Hole AnthologyGenre: Short stories, 5,000 words max. "We’re looking for odd, unusual stories where the end of that journey can be anything at all – happy or sad, good, bad, or even indifferent. Stories can emphasize the journey, the place, the people, or the end result. Just remember to keep it weird as befitting a trip down the Rabbit Hole." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022. 

The Arkansas InternationalGenre: Fiction, poetry, essays, comics, and works in translation.    Payment: $20 a printed page (capped at $250). Deadline: April 30, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee. 

Otoroshi JournalGenre: Horrorku, horror tanka, and horror haibun, art. Payment: Poetry, $1. Art, $10.  Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Harbor ReviewGenre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

khōréōRestrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and  $40-300 for art. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Dragon Soul Press: Age of ArtificeGenre: "All stories featuring steampunk (including similar subgenres) are welcome." Word Count – 1,000-15,000. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

FIYAHGenre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Theme: Food and Cuisine. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: April 30, 2022. 

The Black Explorer. Restrictions: Open to Black writers. Genre: Travel writing by Black writers. Payment: Digital: £50 per article max 1000 words. Print: £50 up to 1000 words, £100 up to 2000 words and up £150 per piece for photo journals and mixed media. Deadline: April 30, 2022. See themes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Crazy, eccentric, wacky, lovable, fun familiesGenre: True stories and poems. "Share your true stories and poems about those family members. With love and appreciation, please. No mean- spirited stories wanted. And don’t worry. You can put a pen name on your story if necessary." Payment: $200. DeadlineApril 30, 2022. 

Dragon Soul Press: Organic Ink: Volume 5Genre: Poetry. "All poetry pieces are welcome. There is no theme." Word Count – 500 words minimum. Payment:  Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Midnight In The StagecoachGenre: Splatterpunk horror western short stories set in the late 1800s Old West. Payment: $ 0.06/word. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Raven Canticle PressGenre: Speculative fiction in the following genres: Fantasy, Horror, Espionage/Thriller, Science Fiction. Up to 80,000 words, minimum of 15,000 words (novellas).  Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022. 

Nonbinary Review: Person First in an Identity WorldGenre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art around the theme of Person First. "We’re looking for poetry and stories of and by those who have been relegated to “them” status by virtue of a label that (validly) places them in a particular group." Payment: 1 cent per word for prose, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Accepts reprints.

Rewired: An Anthology of Neurodiverse HorrorGenre: Horror stories inspired by neurodiverse experiences. "Stories about perception, communication, the feeling of being ‘differently wired’. Challenge us. Scare us. Show us the world the way you see it. We’d love to see work that encompasses the whole spectrum of neurodiverse experience. SF and fantasy elements are welcome as long as your story is primarily horror." 1000 - 6000 words. Payment: 0.03 USD per word via PayPal and one paperback contributor’s copy. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Midnight & IndigoGenre: Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, and Personal Essays written by Black women writers. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Bioluminescent: A Lunarpunk AnthologyGenre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: Stories: at least $.08 per word + contributor copy. $30 per poem + contributor copy. Deadline: April 30, 2022. (Extended deadline)

“The Future’s So Bright …” Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, humor, and weird fiction. "For this collection, we want positive visions of the future. Show us terraces covered in gardens and solar panels, sprawling colonies under glass on Mars, and the explorers of tomorrow. Tell us what you think cities will look like in the year 2300, what it would be like to take a cruise on a spaceship, or what new organisms might evolve in the Amazon rain forest." Length: 2,000 - 8,000 words. Payment: $0.02 per word + two (2) contributor copies. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

The Temz ReviewGenres: Poetry and prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Micromacrocosm. Genre: Science fiction prose, poetry, art. "What's out there? Who are we now, and who will we be, when we find out? If space exploration is the goal, how do we fix things on earth to help it happen? We're taking a deep dive into space this year." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Variant: Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $7. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from heavenGenre: True stories and poems. "We want to hear from you if you have experienced communication from the other side or received a sign or signal from a loved one who has passed. Has someone who has died come to you in a dream? Given you counsel or comfort? Have you gone beyond, but returned to life with new knowledge, insight, or awareness? Have you intuitively known the moment someone died?" Payment: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Deadline extended.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: MiraclesGenre: True stories and poems. "We want your true stories, both religious and non-religious, that will awe us with examples of amazing events. Inspirational stories to remind us that each day stunning miracles do happen and that a miracle can happen at any.  time." Payment: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Deadline extended.

And a few more...

The Temz ReviewGenres: Poetry and prose chapbooks. Length: 20 - 45 pages. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Last Girls ClubGenre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.01 USD per word/$25 USD and copy of magazine; Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.01 USD per word/$10 USD; Poems-less than 200 words $10 upon acceptance and a PDF of the magazine. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Socrates on the BeachGenre: Longer essays and fiction at least 3000 to 10,000 words. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

HavokGenre: Flash fiction on Theme of COWARDICE / COURAGE. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Hungry ZineRestrictions: Open to writers located in Canada. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, art, poetry about food. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

FoglifterGenres: Poetry, prose, cross-genre work. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work." Payment: $25. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

BoulevardGenre: Poems up to 200 lines. Send up to five poems. Also fiction and nonfiction.  Payment: $25-250 for poetry, and $100-300 for prose. Deadline: May 1, 2022. No submission fee for mailed submissions.

Haunt PublishingGenre: Full-length manuscripts of Gothic, horror and dark fiction. Payment: $200 and Royalties. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

VoiceworksRestrictions: Open to Australians under the age of 25. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. Theme: Gleam. Payment: $100 for written work and art, $150 for multi-page comics or suites of art. Deadline: May 1, 2022. Art, comics and comic pitches only.

RuminateGenre: Nonfiction under 5,500 words. Payment: $20 per 500 words. Deadline: May 1, 2022. 

PanelRestrictionsSubmissions are restricted to people who live and work in Central and Eastern Europe. GenreFiction, poetry, non-fiction and the arts, currently being produced in Central and Eastern Europe and originally written in English or translated into English. Payment: 20 euros.  Deadline: May 1, 2022. 

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: May 1, 2022. See themes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanksgiving, Xmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa & New Year'sGenre: True stories and poems. "We want to hear about your holiday memories and traditions. The rituals of the holiday season give a rhythm to the years and create a foundation for our lives, as we gather with family, with our communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days. Please share your special stories about the holiday season with us. Be sure that they are “Santa safe” so that we don’t spoil the magic for precocious readers!" (Check Preteens for topics.) Payment: $200. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

The First LineGenres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

SundogGenre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 1, 2022. Submit early to avoid submission fee. 

Red Dog Press Crime Fiction AnthologyGenre: Crime fiction on theme Gone. Length: Up to 6K words. Payment: £30. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

december magazineGenre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction (essays, memoirs, biography, literary journalism, social or cultural commentary or analysis) and visual art that can be reproduced in our print format. Payment: $10.00 per page with a minimum of $40.00 and a maximum of $200.00. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

LightspeedGenre: Science fiction and fantasy flash fiction. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

JOURN-E The Journal of Imaginative LiteratureGenre: Adventure, Detection & Mystery, Fantasy, Horror & the Supernatural, and Science Fiction. Payment: One (1) cent per word for prose fiction and non-fiction, BUT with the following maximums: Up to $50.00 maximum for short stories; up to $35 maximum for scholarly articles; up to $15 maximum for reviews. Poetry from 3-13 lines--$7.50. Poetry from 14-50 lines--$15.00. Poetry over 50 lines--$15.00 plus 25 cents per line over 50 lines up to a maximum of $35.00. Interior Illustrations--$25-$50.00 (half-page to full-page). Cover Art in Full RGB Color--$100 [will be commissioned, or the illustrator should contact the editor with a concept before finished work and submission]. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch ShoresGenre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: May 1 - 2, 2022.

Friday, March 25, 2022

10 Dark Fiction and Horror Publications Open for Submissions NOW - Paying markets

Updated 9/15/22

Here are a dozen publications currently seeking horror, dark fiction and fantasy, and anything else that is scary, spooky, disturbing, or unnerving.

I freely admit that horror is not my cup of tea, but there are plenty of people who enjoy having their spines tingled. So, if you write horror, you will have an enthusiastic audience.

All of these publications pay, some quite nicely and none charge submission fees. A few accept reprints, as well as nonfiction articles and poetry. Art is also welcomed. Word counts range from flash fiction to novellas.

For more dark fiction and horror markets see:





325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction

 
(Image: Vincent Price: Piqsels)

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The Hungur Chronicles. Genre: Horror. Vampires or creatures with vampiric themes. Payment: The payment for original stories is $25.00; for reprints, $12.00. Payment for poems is $5. Payment for illustrations is $8.00. Payment for articles is $10. Payment for cover art is $25.00.

Midnight Bites. Genre: Horror. Two themes: Carnivale/Carnie Horror and Medical Horror (For this one, I’m not looking for body horror or stories derived from illness; rather, I’m seeking submissions that address the horror that is the medical care system.) Word Count: 10K – 25K words (firm) Payment: $50. 

Madness Heart Trigger Warning Anthology. Genre: "The grossest, most violent, most genuinely upsetting stories in your arsenal." Theme: Curses. The minimum word count is 1500. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 30, 2022.

Three Crows  Genre: Nonfiction and art. Dark and weird fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, with complex characters making morally ambiguous decisions. Payment: 0.01$/word up to $50 per piece for nonfiction. $50 for art.

White Cat Publishing accepts the following genres: mystery, romance, thrillers, suspense, ghost stories and horror stories (no slasher stories, please), westerns, steampunk and fantasy. Payment: 02 cents per word. They prefer short stories to be 2,500- 3,000 words in length.

The Dark is an online magazine published monthly. They are seeking Horror and Dark Fantasy 2,000 – 6,000 words. Payment: 6 cents/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words.

The NoSleep Podcast. "We want you to frighten us and mess with our heads, so we in turn can terrify our listeners. We welcome and encourage a broad, diverse range of submissions from all across the horror genre, and can’t wait to read the spine-tingling tales you send us." Payment: $100 for short fiction between 1200 and 2499 words, and $125 for stories of 2500 words and over.

Dark Moon Digest is a quarterly magazine featuring short stories, flash fiction, reviews, and columns. They want fiction reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, Tales from the Crypt, and Tales from the Darkside. "We want stories with complex characters and ideas spun in ways nobody’s ever conceived. Make our brains hurt. Make our hearts explode with love and terror. Make us fear." Word count: 1.5k—7k. Payment: $0.03 per word for original fiction/$0.01 per word for reprints. Note: Submittable will close every month once they reach 300 submissions, then reopen at the start of the next month.

Infinite Worlds/Infinite HorrorsGenre: Science fiction, horror between 1500–5000 words in length. Payment: 8 cents/word. Also accepts art.

ergot is a literary website interested in furthering the innovative and experimental tradition in horror.
ergot seeks fiction and hybrid work under 10k words that pushes out the boundaries of what literary horror is and what it might become. Payment: $25.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

64 Writing Contests in April 2022 - No entry fees

This April there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to a free writing class. 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! 

(Image: Pixabay)

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Creative Capital AwardRestrictions: Entrants must be US citizens or permanent residents, aged 25+, with 5+ years' professional writing experience, and not be full-time students. Genre: Performance, Technology, and Literature. Grant: Up to $50,000. Deadline: April 1, 2022.


The Orwell Society Dystopian Fiction Prize 2022Restrictions: Open to current students (both BA and MA) at British universities. Genre: Dystopian narratives of 3,000 words. Prize: £500. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Natan Notable Books AwardGenre: Nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes pub­lished for the first time between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Fountain Magazine Essay ContestGenre: Essay on theme: Revival. 1,500 - 2,500 words. "After a long dormancy in this Covid era, our lives seem to be taking off for a fresh start. Vaccination is speeding up, people are mostly cautious in their interactions with less handshakes and kisses, and despite ups and downs in new cases and deaths, signs for “revival” are getting more visible every passing day." Prize: 1st Place - $1,500, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $300, Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Strange Worlds Contest. Genre: Short fiction which presents a compelling and unusual world. Prize: $20 and publication in Euphony. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers. Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards fellowships for writers to spend time in McCullers' childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to dedicate to their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. Award: Stipend of $5000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients will be required to introduce or advance their work through reading or workshop/forum presentations. The Fellow will work with the McCullers Center Director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

The Great American Think-OffGenre: Essay on the theme: “Which should be more important: personal choice or social responsibility?” Entrants should take a strong stand agreeing or disagreeing with this topic, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction. Essay should be no more than 750 words. Prize: One of four $500 cash prizes. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

The Maya Angelou Book Award was founded in 2020 to honor the legacy of Missouri-born author Maya Angelou by celebrating contemporary authors whose work has demonstrated a commitment to social justice in America and/or the world. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. Citizens and reside within the United States. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Alpine Fellowship Writing PrizeGenre: Pieces of any genre up to 2500 words on the theme of “Freedom.” Prize: The winner receives a £10,000 cash prize and is presented with the award by the poet John Burnside. A £3,000 cash prize will go to the second place, and £2,000 to the third place runner up. The winner and two runners up are invited to attend the Fjällnäs symposium.  Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Alpine Fellowship Poetry PrizeGenre: Poem on the theme of “Freedom.” Prize£3,000 cash prize and an invitation to their symposium. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

If There's Anyone LeftRestrictions: Open to those who identify as a person of color, LGBTQ+, disabled, or of a marginalized gender. Genre: Speculative micro-fiction. Length: Up to 500 words. Prize: $250 US. Second prize: $100. 3rd Prize: $50. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Now in its 21st year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems, published and unpublished. Please enter one poem only, 250 lines max. Prize: $3,500 in prizes, including a top prize of $2,000, and publication on Winning Writers. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Robert Louis Stevenson Fable CompetitionGenre: Fable in up to 350 words, in the style of Robert Louis Stevenson. Prize: £500, £100. Deadline: April 2, 2022.

Cymera-Scotland’s Futures Forum-Shoreline of Infinity Prize for Speculative Short Fiction.  Restrictions: Open to unpublished writers living in Scotland. Genre: Speculative short stories. "What could life in a world, any world, after a global life-changing event be like? How will we be living, young, adult, mature – what are the possibilities?" Prize: Awards are in 2 categories: 14 to 17 year old and 18+. The winning writers in each age-range category will be awarded £75. Deadline: April 3, 2022.

Gwenn A. Nusbaum / WWBA “Poets To Come” AwardRestrictions: Open to poets at the beginning of their careers, ages 25-35 years. Prize: $1500 scholarship. Deadline: April 4, 2022.

Gordon Burn PrizeRestrictions: Open to permanent US or UK residents. Genre: Fiction or nonfiction book first published in the US or UK between July 1 of the preceding year and July 1 of the deadline year. Prize: 5,000 pounds and 3-month writing retreat at Gordon Burn's cottage in Berwickshire.    Deadline: April 5, 2022.

SpectatorGenre: Poem. ‘Bono’s Ukraine-themed poem for St Patrick’s Day has been dubbed ‘the worst poem ever written’. You are invited to submit a poem to mark St George’s Day (not necessarily with a topical theme) that rivals it in awfulness. Email entries (16 lines max.) to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 6 April.’ Prize: £30. Deadline: April 6, 2022.

SpectatorGenre:  French connection. "You are invited to take a passage from a classic of French literature (please specify)and recast it in Franglais. Please email entries of up to 16 lines/150 words to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 13 April." Prize: £30. Deadline: April 13, 2022.

Scotiabank Giller PrizeRestrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between March 1, 2022, and April 30, 2022 to be eligible for the 2022 Prize. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: April 14, 2022.

Mike Resnick Memorial Award: Best Unpublished Science Fiction Short Story by a New AuthorRestrictions: Open to an author who has not had any work published (including short stories, novelettes, novellas, and novels in paper, digital or audio form) that has been paid a per-word rate of 6 cents a word or more or received a payment for any single work of fiction totaling more than $50. Genre: Science fiction short story, up to 7,499 words. Prize: $250.00 and publication. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

53 Word Story ContestGenre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words about a date. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Quagmire. Genre: Absurd situations, surreal settings, experimental plots, characters, and ideas. "We want whacky, weird, and everything in between." Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Descant. Each year, descant offers four awards:
  • the $500 Frank O’Connor Award for fiction (for the best short story in a issue)
  • the $250 Gary Wilson Award (for an outstanding story in an issue)
  • the $500 Betsy Colquitt Award for poetry (for the best poem or series of poems by a single author in an issue)
  • the $250 Baskerville Publishers Award (for an outstanding poem or poems by a single author in an issue
There is no application process or reading fee. All published submissions are eligible for prize consideration. Simply submit your work. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Brilliant Flash FictionGenre: Flash fiction. Word limit: 500 words, excluding title. Prize: $100 first prize, $30 second prize, $20 third prize. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

MasksGenre: Prose and poetry. Prize: One poet and one prose writer will be awarded a prize of $100 each and publication in their Summer 2022 issue. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Wick Poetry Center Undergraduate Poetry CompetitionRestrictions: The competition is open to any undergraduate currently enrolled at Kent State University. Genre: Poem, maximum 100 lines long. Prize: One-time $1,500 scholarship to Kent State University. Second and third prize: $1,000 and $500 one-time scholarships. Deadline: April 15, 2022. 

Broadway Arts Festival: Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story PrizeGenre: Short Story, 2,000 words max. Prize: Ages 14-18yrs: £100, Age 13 and under: £50. Deadline: April 17, 2022. Note: No fee for writers under 18 years of age. Writers over 18 may enter for a fee.

Kingdoms in the Wild Poetry PrizeRestrictions: Open to those who have yet to publish a collection of poetry. Genre: Poetry Chapbook, 15 - 30 pages. Prize: $250 & Publication. Deadline: April 17, 2022.

The Lucien Stryk Asian Translation PrizeGenre: Book-length translation of Asian poetry into English. Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 18, 2022.

American Literary Translators Association Italian Prose in Translation AwardGenre: Translation of a recent work of Italian prose (fiction or literary non-fiction). Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 18, 2022. 

Solarpunk Microfiction ContestGenre; Microfiction, 250 words max. Prize: $25 and publication on the Solarpunk Magazine website. Deadline: April 21, 2022. See themeOpens April 15.

Author of TomorrowRestrictions: 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: April 22, 2022.

FSG FellowshipRestrictions: Open to emerging writers from an underrepresented community. US resident or citizen. Genre: Debut work  of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. Submit work samples as part of the application: 8-12 pages for poetry, and 40-50 pages for prose. Work samples can include previously published work and need not be from a single selection of the work. Prize: Stipend of $15,000 and mentorship. The opportunity is remote, and runs from September 2022 to August 2023. Note: Farrar, Straus & Giroux is part of Macmillan. Deadline: April 22, 2022. 

Voice.clubGenre: Flash fiction, 100 words max. Also 350 words max. (2 contests) Prize: $25 Amazon gift card. Deadline: April 23, 2022. Note: You have to join in order to enterSee themes.

The Young Romantics PrizesRestrictions: Open to anyone aged 16-18 years old. Genre: Essay or poem on theme. (See website for themes). Essays must be no shorter than 750 words and no longer than 1000, including quotations. Poems should be: no more than 30 lines in length and must fit onto a single A4 page. Prize:  £5,000. Deadline: April 24, 2022. 

Science Me A StoryGenre: Scientific stories of poems for children (ages 6-12) of up to four pages by authors over age 18. Stories can be in English or Spanish. Prize: £150, £100 or £50. Deadline: April 24, 2022.

Keats-Shelley Essay PrizeGenre: Essay on any aspect of the writing and/or lives of the Romantics and their circles. Length: 3,000 words including quotations. Prize: Total Prizes over £5000. Deadline: April 24, 2022. 

Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction GrantRestrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Whiting welcomes submissions for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel writing, and personal essays, among other categories. Writers must be completing a book of creative nonfiction that is currently under contract with a publisher. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: April 25, 2022. 

Rabbi Sacks Book PrizeGenre: Published nonfiction book that contributes significantly to the arena of modern Jewish thought. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: April 29, 2022. 

Sunken Garden Poetry Festival's Fresh Voices CompetitionRestrictions: New England high school students. Prize: Reading at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and publication. Deadline: April 29, 2022.

Toronto Book AwardsGenres: All genres accepted. Restrictions: Submission "must evoke the city itself, that is, contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.). Authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto. Ebooks, textbooks and self-published works are not eligible. Prize: A total of $15,000 CD will be awarded. Each shortlisted author (usually 4-6) receives C$1,000 and the winning author is awarded the remainder. Deadline: April 29, 2022. (For books published between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022.)

The John Byrne AwardRestrictions: Open to residents of Scotland. Genre: A piece of creative work on a chosen theme or value (written work must be no more than 15,000 words in length). Prize: £7500. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Coastal Shelf Ceiling 200 ContestGenre: Very short fiction or prose poetry under 200 words. Prize: 1st Place: $250, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50. All submissions are considered for publication in Coastal Shelf (which has a payment of $30 currently). Deadline: April 30, 2022.

The FuPo Poetry ContestGenre: “FUnny and POignant” poems under 60 lines. "We want witty, we want dark humor, we want to look at things in a new way or learn a fact that fits perfectly into a well-told-tale. We aren’t looking for linguistic puzzles, but we’re also not looking for Ogden Nash—apologies to Nashites." Prize: 1st Place: $250, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50. All submissions are considered for publication in Coastal Shelf (which has a payment of $30 currently). Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Friends of Falun Gong, Poetry ContestGenre: Poem. Submit one or two poems of no more than 50 lines each. Poems must encompass at least one of the following themes: Advocate for Falun Gong practitioner’s fundamental human rights. Expose the crimes against Falun Gong perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Share in the beauty, peacefulness and good nature of Falun Gong. Prizes: $500, $250, $100. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

#GWstorieseverywhereGenre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Baen Fantasy Adventure AwardGenre: Adventure fantasy, 8K words max. Prize: Winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at industry-standard rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive a handsome engraved award and a prize package containing $500 of free Baen Books. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Al Blanchard Crime AwardRestrictions: New England residents only. Genre: Crime short story.  Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Claudia Ann Seaman Awards For Young WritersRestrictions: High school students. Genre: Stories and poems. Prize: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

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: April 30, 2022.

Jacklyn Potter Young Poets CompetitionRestrictions: Open to high school students in the Washington, DC region. Genre: Poetry. Prize: A reading with honorarium in the Miller Poetry Series, a summer program occurring in June and July. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian YouthRestrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or residents attending junior high or high school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: C$400 in each of two age categories: Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12). Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished WritersRestrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Animal Nonfiction. “Stories should be factual and true accounts of an encounter or encounters by the author with a wild animal or animals. These include, but are not limited to, birds, fish, butterflies, snails, lions, bears, turtles, wombats, etc., as long as it is not a pet.” Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Principia Perspectives Writing ContestRestrictions: Open to middle school and high school students. Genre: Essay on theme of Transformation. Prize: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Sunlight PressGenre: Essay. Prize: $500. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Rune Bear QuarterlyGenre: Drabble: 100 words on the theme “Through the Looking Glass.” Prize: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. "EWF supports developing writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise by providing them with time, space, and an intellectually and culturally rich artistic community. The program’s goal is to actively support these writers – who are working to complete a book-length project within a year – and help them launch their literary careers. Emerging Writer fellows are granted professional experience in arts administration, teaching creative writing, and other opportunities; a $41,000 stipend; and strong literary community support to allow for 12 glorious months of uninterrupted time to craft their works."  Deadline: April 30, 2022.

RBC PEN Canada 2022 New Voices Award. "PEN Canada is now accepting original English language submissions for the RBC PEN Canada 2022 New Voices Award. The annual award aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative non-fiction, journalism, and poetry. This year the shortlisted submissions will be judged by distinguished Canadian writers Chantal Gibson, Eva Crocker and Hasan Namir." Prize: The winning entry will receive a $3,000 CAD cash prize and mentorship from a distinguished Canadian author. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

E-waste ScholarshipRestrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

SA Writer’s College Short Story AwardRestrictions: Open to unpublished writers in South Africa. Genre: Short stories. Theme: You Only Live Once. Prizes: 1st – R 10 000; 2nd – R 5 000; 3rd – R 2 000. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for FictionGenre: A book-length work of imaginative fiction written by a single author published in the U.S. in English or in translation to English. (In the case of a translated work winning the Prize, the cash prize will be equally divided between author and translator) Publication date between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022. Prize: $25,000. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Travel Writing Competition: “Wrong Turns” Genre: Travel writing. "Every once in a while, we, as travelers, make decisions that take us in unintended directions. These wrong turns may be as simple as going left when we should go right, taking the local bus when we know we should fly, or deciding to head off in a random direction for a long weekend away." Prize: $150 Top Prize. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words.  Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: April 30, 2022. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Rattle's Ekphrastic ChallengeGenre: Poetry responding to visual art. (See site) Prize: $100 and publication. Deadline: April 30, 2022.