103 Calls for Submissions in August 2023 - Paying markets

This August there are more than eight 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 upcoming calls for submissions shortly before 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: PxHere)

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The First Line. Genre: 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: August 1, 2023.

Lycan Valley Press Publications (LVP Publications). Genre: Horror, thrillers, dark fiction, steampunk and pulp/mysteries in novel, novella and short-story collection formats. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

The Polyglot. Genre: Multilingual art, poems, essays, stories, artworks, and translations on any theme. Payment: $100 CAD. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction. Length: Under 3,000 words preferred. Payment: $75. Deadline: They open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their quota.

Fractured Lit: BIPOC Love Story. Genre: Flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $50 for original micro fiction and $75 for original flash fiction. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

We'Moon Lunar Calendar. Restrictions: Open to women only. Genre: Art, poetry and prose, 350 words maximum. Payment: Small honorarium; art up to $500. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Totally Entwined: Falsely, Madly, Deeply. Genre: Novellas, 30,000 - 50,000 words. Theme: Fake relationships. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Wizards in Space. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. "We’re ready to hear about the chapters of your own journeys. Which pages have you turned, and which are you now opening? We want your cliffhangers, we want your tidy knots, we want your open endings. Fresh starts and sweet farewells." Payment: $40 per original poem or per page of original art; $20 per reprinted poem or per page of reprinted art; $0.04 per word for original prose, based on final published word count; $0.02 per word for reprinted prose, based on final published word count. Deadline: August 1, 2023. Accepts reprints. 

Grimoire: Medusa—The Stone-Cold Bitches. Genre: Short stories, poems, CNF. See theme. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Monosyllabic Queer Theory. Genre: Poem about queer theory using monosyllabic words. Payment: $250 per piece. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Occult Detective Magazine. Genre: Mystery short stories, nonfiction, art. "We love both old-style and modern, cutting edge weird fiction, and we love folk horror; we embrace unashamed arcane adventure, and we also draw gritty noir mysteries into our domain. At the heart of all these tales are the occult detectives." Payment: $0.01/word (up to $50, up to $30 for nonfiction). Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Parenting Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Kids (Written by kids for kids) Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book - Teenage Years (Written by teenagers for teenagers) Edition. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for theme. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Propertius Press. Restrictions: We are actively seeking submissions by and about persons who identify as Trans and/or Non-Binary. Genre: Full-length literary fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Propertius Press.  Genre: Cozy mysteries. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023. May close early if cap is reached.

Terrors from the Toy Box. Genre: Horror. Payment: £20 regardless of story length plus a paperback and digital (pdf & Epub.) copy. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Acre Books Genre: Poetry, nonfiction, translation, graphic essays, & fiction by women of color, including writing by trans, nonbinary, & genderqueer writers. Subject line: OPEN CALL. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

L’Esprit Literary Review. Genre: Short fiction, creative non-fiction, novel extracts, drama, art, literary criticism, autotheory, and book reviews "written in the fearless, risk-adept, and revolutionary spirit of High Modernism." Payment: $10. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Last Girls Club. Genre: 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: August 1, 2023.

Madame Gray's Graveyard of Blood. Genre: Horror. "Open to all subgenres of horror, as long as the story takes place in, or is connected in some way to a cemetery. The more ghoulish, the better! The scarier, the merrier! And a bit of gallows humor is always welcome, but not required." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

B Cubed Press: Alternative Leadership. Genre: Stories, poetry, and essays. "This anthology is about leadership. Leadership by the under-represented, by those too often forced to watch as those less qualified, less capable rise in a system that cannot see the value of diversity and change. We’re looking for broken barriers of all kinds. Can a man lead the National Organization of Women? Can a woman lead the NFL Players Association? Not in our current world, perhaps, but maybe in alternative worlds?" Payment: $.03 a word upon publication, plus a share of the profits. Deadline: August 1, 2023. Reprints accepted.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: August 2, 2023. Opens August 1.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $50 per essay. Deadline: August 3, 2023.

HAL. Genre: Visual art, poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, long form essays, reviews, video, film, and sound. Theme: Mundane is Radical. Payment: "Small honorarium." Deadline: August 3, 2023.

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: August 4, 2023.

Alien Magazine. Genre: All types of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 5, 2023.

the other side of hope. Genre: Poetry by refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants only. They accept submissions in any language other than English. Payment: £50. Deadline: August 5, 2023.

The Off-Season. Genre: New Weird horror set in landscapes and communities on the edge of the sea. Word Limit: 2000-4000 words, firm. Payment: $0.08/word, paid prior to publication. Deadline: August 6, 2023, for marginalized voices.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of Legendary Things. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: August 6, 2023.

Flame Tree: Folk Horror. Genre: Folk horror. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word. Deadline: August 6, 2023.

Cirsova. Genre: Genre fiction short stories. Payment: $0.0125 per word. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: August 7, 2023. Open to submissions the first week of every month.

Unnerving. Genre: HORROR and CRIME stories up to 3,500 words in length. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD150-275 for prose; AUD125-275 for poetry. Deadline: August 9, 2023.

Hungry Zine. Restrictions: Open to writers located in Canada. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, art, poetry about food. See tbeme. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 9, 2023. Submission deadline.

Shub-Niggurath’s Sweater. Genre: Cosmic horror. Short fiction and poetry. Stories should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: August 11, 2023.

Showcase: Object & Idea. Genre: Prose and poetry. "We explore Object & Idea. A poem and a prose piece are selected for each monthly issue, and the authors answer questions about the meaning behind their work." Payment: $50. Deadline: August 12, 2023. Reprints accepted. 

Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction Nonfiction. Payment: 40 cents per word, with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1500. Poetry for print - $175 per poem. Island Online - $450 for short-form fiction and nonfiction. Deadline: August 13, 2023.

Yolk. Restrictions: Print edition is open to residents of Canada. International submissions for digital publication. Genre: Fiction, art, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $100CAD honorarium for digital publication. For print, $30 per page, regardless of genre, up to a maximum of $200. $200 for print cover art. Deadline: August 14, 2023.

Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash fiction. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

evOke. Genre: All things Pagan, polytheist, and witchy. See themes. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Open from the 1 - 15 of every month.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Dark, eerie speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $10 for fiction. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

khōréō. Restrictions: 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. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and $40-300 for art. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: August 15, 2023. See themes. Queries only.

Sasee. Genre: First-person, non-fiction material that is for or about women. Essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their primary editorial focus. See theme. Payment: Varies. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Cricket Media: ASK Magazine. Genre: Science articles for children 7–10 years old. Theme: Wild in the city. Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Queries only.

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry and art. Payment: $7 per poem, $12 for cover art and $7 for inside art. Deadline: August 15, 2023. See themes.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Accepts reprints.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 15, 2023. Some reprints accepted.

Jersey Pines Ink. Genre: Fantasy flash fiction. 1,000 words max. Payment; 1/2 cent/word. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Speculative City. Genre: Speculative fiction set in the city.  Payment: $20-$55 according to the category and length of the submission. Deadline: August 16, 2023.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: August 18, 2023. See themes.

Impossible Worlds. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy. Payment : 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 18, 2023.

Flame Tree Publishing: African Ghost Stories. Genre: African Ghost Stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 27, 2023.

Northern Gravy. Restrictions: Northern Gravy welcomes submissions from UK & Ireland writers of any background, including first-time writers. Genre: Fiction, Poetry and Kid Lit (writing for Middle Grade and Young Adult audiences) Payment: £100 per contributor. Deadline: August 20, 2023.

Pseudopod. Genre: Horror (Audio format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: August 21, 2023. Reprints accepted.

Carte Blanche (Canada). Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF, translations. comics, photography. Payment: "Modest" Deadline: August 21, 2023.

Uncanny Magazine. Genre: Speculative poetry. Length: 750 to 10,000 words. Payment: $.10 per word. Deadline: August 21, 2023.

The Off-Season. Genre: New Weird horror set in landscapes and communities on the edge of the sea. Word Limit: 2000-4000 words, firm. Payment: $0.08/word, paid prior to publication. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

Tree and Stone: Queer as F*. Restrictions: Open to writers/artists who self-identify as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Our cishet/ cisallohet allies, are welcome to submit, but we ask that the story center around a character who self-identifies as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Genre: Short fiction, CNF, art. This issue is to celebrate queerness in all its forms, experiences, and expressions. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $50 per essay. Deadline: August 28, 2023.

JANE NIGHTSHADE'S SERIAL ENCOUNTERS. Genre: Horror. "For this anthology, we're looking for short stories about casual encounters of fictional people with serial killers, that turned creepy or deadly. Stories can be straight crime/thriller stories or ones with a supernatural bent (haunted objects, ghosts, demons, etc.)." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The power of positive thinking. Genre: True stories and poems. "How did you “think positive” and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of positive thinking!" Payment: $200. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Hellbound Books: Happy Hellidays. Genre: "We want your stories of of holidays (any holiday at all!) filled with terror and dread, blood and guts, ghosts, and demons most foul." Payment: $5. Deadline: August 30, 2023.

Dragon Soul Press: Magick and Mystery. Genre: "All witch stories for all genres." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Dark Moments. Genre: Drabble (100 words) on theme: Dumb Ways to Die. Payment: 4 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023. 

Autofocus Books. Genre: Book-length prose, poetry, or in-between manuscripts of artful autobiographical writing in its various genres and/or forms: personal essay, memoir, curated journal/diary, curated letters/e-mail, confessional prose-poetry, hybrid explorations of the self, and anything that makes art from your life. Length: 15,000-25,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Prototype. Genre: Book-length fiction and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Heartlines. Restrictions: 50% of content is from writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. Genre: Speculative fiction and about relationships. "We're looking for short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. We don't want the blaze of new love or the obsession of a new friend. We want pieces that show that comfort that develops when people know each other for years." Stories - 1,000 - 3,500 words. Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction (1,000-3,500 words) and $60 CAD flat per poem. Deadline: August 31, 2023 for equity-deserving groups.

Jolly Horror Press: Graveyard Boots. Genre: Old West horror. Payment: 1/2 cent/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023, or until filled.

Four Way Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Payment: "Small honorarium. Deadline: August 31, 2023. (No fee to submit in August) 

UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia). Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Escalators to Hell: Shopping Mall Horrors. Genre: Horror stories that take place in malls. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sadwrn: Wind Guide You. Genre: Poetic prose in English or Spanish. "Wind Guide You will be a pixelstruck anthology of enchanted texts devoted to exploring these territories and digital ramblings. We want pieces that talk about the most otherwordly and intense settings of virtual universes. We want your beautiful dérives. We want your utter escapism, your childlike stray in the woods." Payment: €40/text and a complimentary copy of the zine. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

B.E.N.T. Flash Novel Challenge. Genre: "Write a 50,000-word novel in the B.E.N.T. universe in 45 days, ready to be reviewed for publication." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

The McNeese Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Broken Antler publishes online and in print. Genre: All genres of horror, as well as sci-fi and dark fantasy. The editors are partial to a wide range of subgenres—body, cosmic, folk, gore, etc. "For poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid submissions, we’re looking for work that is haunting and monstrous, weird and bizarre. Extra points if your work is experimental or doing something unusual with form." Send up to two hybrid submissions. Payment: $10 - $20. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Hidden Villains—Betrayed. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Theme: Hidden Villains: Betrayed– Bold, imaginative fantasy, horror, and sci-fi sculpted to thrill and entertain readers with the bizarre or delve into the shadows. Finish it off with a twist of betrayal!" Word Limit: 2,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: 2+ cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Upbeat Tales. Genre: Upbeat and/or comedic fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. Payment: 1 cent/word. Length: 100-6,000 words. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Why Didn’t You Just Leave. Genre: Horror. "There are a lot of reasons why people don’t just leave scary situations, and we’d like to see smart, spooky stories that reflect the complexity behind that question." Length: 500 – 5,000 words. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Solar Press Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror. Length: 1,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Broken Sleep Books. (UK) Genre: Nonfiction prose pamphlets (up to 70 pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023. 

The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $275 for a short story or nonfiction entry, and $50 per poem or postscript story. Deadline: August 31, 2023. 

Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Necronomi-RomCom. Genre: Speculative comic romance. "In this anthology, we’re looking for cosmic tales with a light romantic twist." Payment: 1 cent/word for prose, $5 for poetry. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Quarter Press: Quarter(ly). Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. See themes. Payment: $5. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 - $75 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Note: Submit early to avoid submission fees.

After Happy Hour. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art, comics. Payment: "Small honorarium." Deadline: August 31, 2023. Closes when they reach 300 submissions, so submit early.

The Rumpus. Genre: Fiction. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry on theme of Reclamation. Payment: $30. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Opens August 15. Submission periods are extended by a week for BIPOC creators only.

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: 20.00 USD for featured authors, or $10.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $5.00 USD for poems. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words) Payment: 5 cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

The Underdogs Rise Vol. 2 (Working Title) Genre: Speculative fiction. "This is a sequel to our Current highly reviewed collection.  All stories must have science fiction or fantasy elements. Please no stories dealing with space exploration or colonization in this anthology. We want stories about underdogs that take fantastical worlds or places but want characters to be the focus. We are looking for polished manuscripts of about 3,500 - 12,000 words." Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Queens in Wonderland. Genre: Fiction. This is an LGBTQ+ Alice in Wonderland themed anthology. 1,500-5,000 word count. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sundress Publications. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Publication. Deadline: Submission is free until August 31, 2023 for BIPOC writers only. 

Ghoulish Tales. Genre: Horror. Word count: 5,000 max (short stories); 3,000 max (non-fiction). Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Ecotone. Restrictions: From August 25 to August 31, 2023, Ecotone will be open to no-fee Submittable submissions from BIPOC writers only. Genre: Prose and poetry. "We are particularly interested in place-based work by people historically underrepresented in literary publishing and in place-based contexts: writers and artists who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, gender-nonconforming, LGBTQIA+, women, and others. We welcome the work of emerging writers." Payment: $100 minimum for poetry and a $200 minimum for prose. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

UWAP (University of Western Australia Publishing). Genre: UWAP is interested in the following non-fiction genres: natural history, popular science, social history, Indigenous knowledge and history, narrative non-fiction and botany. UWAP is not currently looking to publishing autobiographies and/or family biographies/histories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

AND A FEW MORE...

The Wicked Bestiary: An Anthology of Monstrous Folk Tales. Genre: Horror short stories (5,000 - 8,000 words) that include creatures from legend, world myth, and folk tales.  Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy). Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Bad Day Book. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for themes. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Qwerty. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $15 CAD. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Teach. Write.: A Writing Teachers’ Literary Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $15. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. See themes. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2023. 

Orion's Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

Lethe Press. Genre: Speculative fiction, especially queer speculative fiction, historical fiction. Full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2023.

46 Writing Contests in August 2023 - No entry fees

This August there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

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

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

Good luck! 

(Image: Pixabay)

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Source Magazine. Genre: Book reviews, exhibition reviews or texts introducing sets of pictures. "But we are also interested in others forms of writing so if you want to submit something in a different form then please do. Our interest in photography is not only about the photographs that appear in books and exhibitions, it touches most aspects of life and we like to read about those encounters too." Length: 700 words max. Prize: £500. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Lucky Jefferson Poetry and Prose Contest. Restriction: Open to anyone over the age of 10. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100, publication, and a swag box. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

Granum Foundation Prize helps U.S.-based writers complete substantive literary works—such as poetry books, essay or short story collections, novels, and memoirs—or to help launch these works. Additionally, a Granum Foundation Translation Prize will be awarded to support the completion of a work translated by a U.S.-based writer. Prize: One winner will receive $5,000; up to three finalists will be awarded $500 or more; $500 or more will be awarded to one writer working in translation. Deadline: August 1, 2023.

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, 2023.

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 1, 2023.

Bennett Nieberg Transpoetic Broadside Prize. Restrictions: Open to trans poets who have yet to publish their first full-length book. Genre: Poem. Prize: $1,000 USD, 25 limited edition letterpress broadsides of the winning poem, and a feature in the upcoming issue of Gasher Journal. Deadline: August 2, 2023.

Spectator Competition No. 3211: Chamber music. Genre: "You are invited to submit a song suitable for inclusion in a parliamentary songbook. Please email entries of up to 16 lines to lucyATspectator.co.uk Prize: £30. Deadline: August 2, 2023.

Oregon Literary Fellowships. Two fellowships (one $10,000 grant and one $3,500 grant) are reserved specifically for writers of color. There are also fellowships for women/gender-nonconforming writers as well as special fellowships for fiction writers who have lived in Oregon over the past 5 years. Deadline: August 4, 2023.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Poetry. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: August 5, 2023. (It is difficult to find this information on their website.) 

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. "On each competition weekend, we’ll reveal a set of story prompts and you’ll have 55 hours to submit your best story of 500-words (or fewer)." Prize: $500AUD. Deadline: Opens August 4, 2023. Closes August 6, 2023. (Australian time)

Live Theatre's North East Playwriting Award. Restrictions: Open to playwrights who are either from or based in the North East of England, age 16 and older. Genre: Full-length play. Prize: £10,000 top prize. A second award will be exclusively for young people aged 16 to 25. This will be a commission fee of £7,000 (under 70 minutes) and a commitment to develop the play at Live Theatre. Deadline: August 7, 2023.

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 7, 2023.

Spectator Competition No. 3312: Cooking the books. Genre: "You are invited to supply a contribution to a book of recipes invented by fictional characters. Entries must be for the Carrollean, Dickensian or Shakespearean sections. Please email entries of up to 150 words/16 lines to lucyATspectator.co.uk" Prize: £30. Deadline: August 9, 2023.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between  July 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023. 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 11, 2023.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction between 1k words max based on the theme Reality Show Madness! Prize: $30. Deadline: August 14, 2023.

The Yale Drama Series. Genre: Original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Bruce Piasecki and Andrea Masters Award on Business and Society Writing. Restrictions: Author must be 18-40 years old and have published at least one work prior to the deadline date. Genre: Published work on any theme exploring key business and society issues. Possible themes include climate change, racial/gender equality, sustainability, innovation, and new approaches to lessen war and social stresses. Essays, research papers, books, and articles are eligible. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

The Gotham “Manuscript-to-Market” Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to people of color who have completed a book manuscript (or nonfiction book proposal) and are ready to go to market with their book. Three fellowships will be offered every year. Prize: Admittance to the Gotham Writers Conference—the panels and presentations as well as a seat at a pitching roundtable with two agents in your genre. The Gotham course How to Get Published or Nonfiction Book Proposal. A one-on-one Agent Evaluation session and a Query Letter Coaching session, both with a literary agent. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Ligonier Valley Writers. Genre: Flash fiction on theme of “jack-o’-lanterns”;1000 words max. Prize: The first prize winner will receive $50, second prize $25, and third prize $15. Deadline: August 15, 2023.

Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund. Restrictions: Australian citizens or residents. Applicants must be emerging, midcareer or established Australian writers and literary sector workers (not beginners) with a demonstrated publication and/or career history. Prize: $10,000 for travel expenses. Deadline: August 17, 2023.

Waterford Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Ireland. Genre: Poem. Prize: First prize is €400 plus attendance at a designated writing course. Deadline: August 21, 2023.

DC Reid Poets’ Grant. Restrictions: Open to poets of "modest means." Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, living in Canada, who have published at least two books of poetry with a traditional publishing house. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: August 21, 2023.

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction. Deadline: August 25, 2023.

Nan Shepherd Prize. Restrictions: Open to unpublished, underrepresented nature writers in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Nature writing. Prize: £10,000 and publishing contract with Canongate. Deadline: August  25, 2023.

Storyhouse. Genre: Biographical nonfiction. Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts. 1000 - 10,000 words in length. Stories must be suitable for children. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Kit Sora Flash Fiction Photography Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents in the Atlantic Provinces. Genre: Flash fiction inspired by a Kit Sora photo, 250 words max. Prize: 10 cents/word. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to poets of color with US citizenship who have not previously published a book-length volume of poetry. Genre: Poetry chapbook. Prize: $500, publication by Northwestern University Press, fifteen copies of the book, and a featured reading at The Poetry Foundation.. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Intrepid Times Travel Writing Contest. Genre: Factual, first-person travel story that incorporates music. Prize: $200. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Scifidea Science Fiction Writing Contest. Genre: Science fiction. 'The submitted works should be within the realm of science fiction, and must show a new worldview that conforms with scientific logic. It needs to conform to the concepts and characteristics of Dyson Sphere scientific theory, including the uses, size, structure of a Dyson sphere and other related basic settings, and reflect and expand them in the story." Length: 30,000-100,000 words. Only finished stories will be accepted. Prize: 10 winners will each receive US$20,000. "If your work is one of those winners, you agree to grant SciFidea a ten-year publishing license to that work, with the US$20,000 prize being an advance against royalties. The author will share 50% of the net income on print publishing rights (including foreign languages in foreign countries), and another 30% of the net income from developing your work into other media (film, television, animation, graphic novels/manga, and so on)." Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Morioka International Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. Prize: ? Deadline: August 31, 2023.

“Kusamakura” Haiku Competition. Genre: Haiku. Prize: ? Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Sundog Summer Collaboration Contest. Genre: "Sometimes teamwork is what makes the dreamwork, so this summer we want to see what you’ve created with another writer (or two or three⁠ — there’s actually no limit) for our annual Collaboration Contest. Submit your wildest, most inventive work of any or mixed genre. Just keep your hybrid masterpiece to 1,000 words or less." Prize: $300 and publication. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

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, 2023.

Nat 1 $h!TpOsT Shorts. Genre: Write a 3000+ word story for one of the six provided horrible covers. (See website) (The covers really are horrible) Prize: Publication, royalties and a $25 award. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Preservation Foundation Biographical Nonfiction Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $750 in any single year. Genre: Biographical Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme of Instability. 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, 2023.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Arena Fantasy Magazine Competition. Genre: Fantasy. The first line and last line have to be the same - It was the same as it ever was, and nothing changed. Prize: First place wins an annual subscription to AFM.  The 2nd & 3rd place will get a free issue. All entries will be considered for publication in an anthology as well as published in the magazine." Deadline: August 31, 2023.

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, 2023.

Poetry Archive NOW! WordView 2023. Genre: Poetry. "Make a video/film recording of yourself reading or reciting a single poem which you have written in 2022." Prize: £100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. Genre: Scholarly essay. All work submitted must have been written or published within the last year. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing. Genre: Short story with an overall word-count of 2000 on theme: "The Hungry Tide" Prize: £100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Rattle's Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poetry based on art. (See website) Prize: $100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Rattlecast Prompt Poem of the Month. Genre: Poetry based on prompts. (See website) Prize: $100. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

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: August 31, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35 as of December 31 of the deadline year. Books must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language, between June 23 of the preceding year and August 31 of the deadline year. Authors must be UK or Irish citizens, or residents for the three years preceding the award. Genre: Published or self-published book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: August 31, 2023.

25 Awesome Writing Conferences and Workshops in August 2023

This August there are more than two dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but many will be in-person or hybrid as pandemic restrictions ease. Virtual events still offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early.  

I've included conferences that have early application dates on my list. So, if you have missed a conference that is ideal for you, put the application deadline on your calendar for next year. (Many conferences are annual events.)

(Image: Mendocino, Roadtripping California)

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Writing As a Pathway Through Grief, Loss, Uncertainty and Change. August 1 - 7, 2023: Watsonville, CA. "The tool we’ll use for transformation is writing and sharing from the heart. Writing and being witnessed in community is a powerful catalyst on your journey of self-discovery. We'll teach you everything you need to know to experience the power of true stories shared and received."

Willamette Writers Conference. August 2 - 6, 2023: Portland, Oregon. Three full days of classes, workshops, keynotes, critiques, and events. There are also Master Classes with industry professionals in which you can learn from top instructors in a small group setting and many options for one on one critique, including On the Spot Critiques and Advance Manuscript Critique. As always, they will have a roster of agents, editors and film executives ready to hear about your project. 

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 3 -  August 5, 2023: Mendocino, California. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft seminars, panels, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and open mics. The faculty includes poet Claudia Castro Luna, fiction writers Jean Chen Ho and Lydia Kiesling, creative nonfiction writer Faith Adiele, and cross-genre writer Anastacia-Reneé. Fiction writer Karen Tei Yamashita will give the keynote address. Participating publishing professionals include agent Jonah Straus (Straus Literary). The registration fee is $675 and includes morning workshops, all afternoon events, and breakfast and lunch each day. One-on-one manuscript consultations are available for an additional $60. Lodging is available at a wide range of accommodations on the Mendocino Coast, including oceanfront inns, campgrounds, and motels. The registration deadline is June 30.

Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 3 - 6, 2023: 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! 

Florida Authors and Publishers Association Annual Conference. August 4 - 5, 2023: Orlando, Florida. "Six (6) optional small-group workshops are being scheduled, offering attendees options a more intimate setting to learn about specific topics related to the publishing industry.  These focused workshops will be offered a la carte and are scheduled so that you may register for up to three (3)."

The 2023 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. August 4-5, 2023: Pittsburgh, PA. "This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on August 4-5, 2023. In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. And even though this is the “Pittsburgh” Writing Workshop, make no mistake — writers from everywhere are welcome to attend virtually. Our WDW writers conferences have helped dozens of writers find literary agent representation." In person and virtual.

Into the Springs Writers Workshop. August 4 - 6, 2023: Yellow Springs, OH. Faculty: Jane Friedman & Jason Sanford.

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. August 4 - 6, 2023: Via Zoom. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions. Will be held online.

An Introduction to Engaging Kids with Podcasts. August 6 - 13, 2023. Online. Faculty: Matthew Winner OVERVIEW: A Short Intensive Online Course Thinking about starting a podcast for kids, but don’t know where to start? Join librarian, writer, and podcast innovator Matthew Winner to find the heart of your podcast for kids. This online intensive workshop will include presentations, small group discussions, a Q & A gathering, and more! 

Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 7 - 13, 2023: 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." 

Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. August 10 – 13, 2023: Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restaurateurs, guidebook writers, and more. 

Writing and Illustrating Science & Nature for Kids and Teens. August 12 - 16, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. Mentorship, hands-on activities, presentations, and ample time for retreating will help you on your path to energizing readers through science and nature-themed fiction or nonfiction.

Elk River Writers Workshop. August 13 - 18, 2023: Chico Hot Springs, MT. The Elk River Writers Workshop embodies the idea that deep, communal experiences with the wild open the door to creativity. We bring together some of the most celebrated nature writers in the United States with students who are serious about fostering a connection with the environment in their writing. It all happens at Chico Hot Springs, a historic retreat just north of Yellowstone National Park. 

Murphy Writing of Stockton University: Live Free and Write. August 13 - 18, 2023: Sunapee, NH. "Combine an extended writing retreat with a relaxing summer vacation in the picturesque mountains of New Hampshire. This getaway blends our trademark challenging and supportive workshop experience with plenty of free time for you to write and bask in the refreshing New England summer." 

The Speculative Fiction Bookcamp & Writing Retreat. August 13 - 19, 2023: West Bend, Wisconsin. The Bookcamp offers morning instruction, an afternoon editing clinic, group critique sessions, discussions on the current publishing industry, one-on-one consultations with our staff, pitch sessions with literary agents and acquisition editors, and presentations on writing or publishing topics.

From Idea & Sketch to Dummy & Submission: An Author/Illustrator Online Course. August 15 - September 19, 2023: Online. If you are illustrating AND writing your own book, and wondering how to prepare your dummy for submission, this is the course for you. You will focus on the craft of writing and illustrating a picture book with an intense level of feedback. Participants who complete all assignments should be able to finish or revise a working dummy in its entirety during the course, preparing for submission to editors, agents, or art directors.

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 16 - 26, 2023: 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. 

Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 17 - 20, 2023: 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."

The Whole Novel Workshop. August 17 - 22, 2023: Honesdale, PA. This intensive Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens. Application Deadline: June 1, 2023. 

Poetry at the Frost Farm. August 18 - 20, 2023:  Derry, New Hampshire. The retreat offers workshops, readings, and one-on-one consultations for formalist poets. "Join a small community of people at the historic Robert Frost Farm learning, reading and writing formal poetry with contemporary award-winning poets. Choose your focus from a series of offerings designed to provide tools for beginning poets as well as perfect the mastery of published poets." 

Shape Your Story: A 6-Week Novel Intensive with Author & Agent Linda Epstein (Fall) August 24 - September 28, 2023 Faculty: Linda Epstein OVERVIEW: A Six-Week Online Course with Pre-recorded Lectures, and Live Discussion/Q & A/Writing Exercises Mold your middle grade or young adult novel into the story only you can tell, with senior literary agent and writer Linda Epstein. Pre-recorded lectures released on Fridays (August 11, 25; September 1, 8, 15, 22) Live sessions via Zoom. 18 participants max.

Colrain Classic. August 25 - 28, 2023. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3-day conference designed for poets with manuscripts in progress. The Classic features in-depth pre-conference work and candid, realistic evaluation and feedback from nationally-known poets, editors and publishers. In preparation, participants work at home on pre-conference assignments and then, in the workshop, review, arrange, and winnow their work based on the pre-conference work. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop, manuscript workshop and editorial sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session."

PJ Library Retreat: Picture Book Summer Camp for Emerging Writers. August 27 - 31, 2023: Boyds Mills, PA. "If you’re a pre-published author with a Jewish picture book in progress (or no more than one published book) we invite you to apply for five-days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity on the beautiful campus of the Highlights Foundation." Closed.

Bear River Writers’ Conference. August 31 - September 1, 2023: Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake, near Petoskey, Michigan. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, discussions, nature walks, and time to write.

DragonCon. August 31 - September 4, 2023: Atlanta, Ga. HUGE sci-fi event, with parade, autograph sessions, live performances, readings, wrestling (!), workshops on belly dancing, writing (yes, there's even some writing), art show. (This conference sounds really wild.)

10 New Agents Seeking SF/F, Literary Fiction, Memoir, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Thrillers, YA, Kidlit and more

Updated 12/7/23

Here are ten new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Bea Fitzgerald of The Blair Partnership

I represent fantasy and sci-fi, while also working as the agency’s digital lead. My tastes vary but rather consistently I enjoy voice and character led stories with propulsive writing and strong worldbuilding. Across all genres, I’d love to see work by underrepresented writers.

In fantasy I’m looking for tropey romantasy especially any with stakes so high the world itself might be at risk. Give me messy characters in a complex world and foolish and difficult choices to be made. I’m also very happy to see these vary across the spice scale – from none at all to so hot my kindle might blow. My recent favourites include Fourth Wing, The Night Circus and Once Upon A Broken Heart.

At the other end, I’d love high-concept low-stakes cosy fantasy stories that feel like a don’t-leave-the-tavern DND session – like Legends and Lattes, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea.

I want to have fun with fantasy, so darker narratives have to feel indulgent or lyrical – a recent favourite was A Dowry of Blood. I can also get sucked into some really good world-building – like Dragonfall, Godkiller and The Final Strife. These stories were also wonderful for the queer normative worlds and I’d love to see that in my submissions.

I’m always thrilled by stories rooted in myth or folklore like Kaikeyi, Morgan Is My Name and Daughter of The Moon Goddess. I also really enjoy magical realism, especially in an evocative historical setting like the drawing of the 1930s in Shanghai Immortal or the 1920s in Gods of Jade and Shadow.

My sci-fi tastes are pretty specific in that I like sci-fi stories that use the possibility of space and the future to explore humanity and ideas of progress, often in a very fun and irreverent way. My favourites in this genre include The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet, Mindwalker and Frontier.

I do not represent children’s fiction but would happily look at any sci-fi or fantasy Young Adult fiction.

How to submit: You can submit to me at beasubmissions@theblairpartnership.com. If you are emailing us a fiction submission, please include the working title of your story in the subject line of your email. In the email, please include a one-line elevator pitch, a short blurb, the target market and genre of your writing and any competitions or prizes you’ve won for writing. Then, please attach the first thirty pages of your manuscript and a one-page synopsis in one Word document or PDF. Please lay out your manuscript and synopsis so they are easy to read.

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Elizabeth Pratt of Trellis Literary Management

Originally from Michigan, Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Columbia Publishing Course at Oxford. She lives on the Upper East Side, where she constantly obsesses over the many dogs (on the street and in strollers) and enjoys eating a lot of good food.

What she is seeking: Elizabeth is looking for fiction and nonfiction from diverse perspectives and emerging voices that takes something familiar and turns it on its head, recounts history from a different point of view, sheds light on something previously unnoticed, or makes us think about the world in a different way. Of particular interest to her are intergenerational family sagas, historical fiction, books with surreal elements, and deep dives into the inner workings of human relationships.

How to submit: Currently closed to queries.

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Mr. Matthew Cole of Northbank Talent Management (UK)

An experienced commissioning editor, Matt joined us from Pan Macmillan where he was responsible for signing and publishing some of the leading political, popular science, business, sport and lifestyle books of our time.

What he is seeking: Matt is responsible for Northbank’s non-fiction books representation in the UK, US and foreign language markets, including politics, history, science, economics, business, sport, lifestyle and memoir.

How to submit: Please send a cover letter, synopsis and the first three chapters of your submission as Word or Open Document attachments to nonfiction@northbanktalent.com.

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Elizabeth Counsell of Northbank Talent Management (UK)

Elizabeth's background is in book marketing, for the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival, the Klaus Flugge Prize and then here at Northbank, which gives her a keen understanding of the kinds of books which sell, how to pitch and position projects in the marketplace, and how to build audiences across both digital and physical channels.

What she is seeking: Elizabeth is responsible for Northbank’s fiction books representation in the UK, US and foreign language markets, spanning all genres of commercial adult and young adult fiction.

How to submit: Please send a cover letter, synopsis and the first three chapters of your submission as Word or Open Document attachments to fiction@northbanktalent.com.

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Amanda Bernardi of High Line Literary Collective

Amanda Bernardi comes to publishing after twelve years in publicity and branding. She did her graduate work in Social Science at the University of Colorado and a BA in English Creative Writing from Texas A&M University, where she was a lead reporter for The Battalion and founded a literary journal vandal with Angie Cruz and Daniel Pena. She then began communications work for purpose-driven organizations focused on environmental, fair labor, and health care initiatives.

What she is seeking: Amanda is actively building her client list and works exclusively with non-fiction. She is interested in platform- or expertise-driven cookbooks, home & design, art, investigative journalism, social justice, pop science, wellness, social science, sports, health, pop history, parenting, nature, environmentalism, pop culture and anything that advances our community dialogue towards a better tomorrow. She is looking for projects that are thoughtful, actionable, and engaging for a general audience.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Emma Dries of Triangle House

Emma Dries is a writer and editor, and an agent at Triangle House Literary. She has worked on bestselling and award-winning books in editorial at Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday Books, Ecco, and Flatiron Books. She has a B.A. in History from the University of Chicago and an M.F.A in Fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She grew up in Lower Manhattan, above the Fulton Fish Market, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. 

What she is seeking: Emma is interested in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that grapples with climate change; ambitious multigenerational novels; speculative fiction; and dark or darkly comic domestic fiction. In nonfiction, she is interested in institutional corruption; memoirs incorporating science or policy; essays and longform journalism; and environmental and travel writing. She likes to work with academic writers with great narrative sensibilities, such as historians who can target an understudied era and spin an incredible yarn. Most importantly, she seeks to be immersed—whether in our own world or a world that's entirely invented.

How to submit: To query Emma, please send a query letter and the first 20 pages of your manuscript or full proposal through her query manager here. 

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Mr. Thomas Dayzie of The Deborah Harris Agency 

Thomas received his BA from Princeton University in English, Creative Writing, and Humanistic Studies. His fiction thesis, “Elisha: The Collected Works of M. Amichai,” was the first to be awarded a prize for Recognition of Innovative Work. He grew up between San Diego and the Navajo Nation, and moved to Jerusalem in 2022.

What he is seeking: Thomas is interested in literary fiction, memoir, non-fiction, and any work that presents a novel or fresh perspective.

How to submit: Email your query to: thomas at DHliterary.com 

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Ms. Francesca Riccardi of Kate Nash Literary Agency (UK)

AGENCY CURRENTLY CLOSED TO QUERIES

Francesca has over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, starting at RNIB where she transcribed books into accessible formats for blind and partially sighted readers. She has since worked in sales and marketing roles at publishers Canelo, Atlantic Books, Constable & Robinson and HarperCollins.

What she is seeking: Francesca reads widely, especially across popular commercial genres, but is a particular fan of crime and thrillers, and loves a dogged detective or unusual sleuth. She also enjoys books about unusual family dynamics, toxic friendships and people keeping secrets.

How to submit: Follow the agency's submission instructions HERE.

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Ms. Sophie Cudd of The Book Group

Sophie  Cudd joined The Book Group as Associate Agent in 2023, after nearly  four years at William Morris Endeavor. Born and raised in Nashville, TN,  Sophie has a degree in English Literature from Southern Methodist  University, studied Shakespeare at the University of Oxford, and is a  member of Phi Beta Kappa. 

What she is seeking: In  fiction, Sophie loves compelling, high-stakes tales of love, loss,  mystery and belonging. She is drawn to accessible and deeply resonant  characters, plot-driven stories with a strong sense of time and place,  and is a sucker for a twist she never saw coming. In nonfiction,  Sophie's interests are wide-ranging, but she is particularly interested  in moving and introspective memoirs, food writing, essay collections, and well-researched narrative nonfiction. Sophie also occasionally acquires children’s picture books – particularly those that make her laugh. 

How to submit: Please email a query letter and 10 sample pages to submissions@thebookgroup.com. You will receive a bounce back to your query, which you should consider receipt of your work. Please include all materials in the body of the email, as we can’t open attachments.  We only accept electronic queries sent to submissions@thebookgroup.com, and do not accept paper queries or queries by phone.  Please include the name of the agent to whom you are submitting in the subject line of your query email. 

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Catherine Bradshaw of Writers House

Catherine Bradshaw (she/her) is a junior agent at Writers House, building her adult, young adult, middle grade, and picture book lists. Catherine joined Writers House in 2018 as the front desk administrative assistant and reader for the agency at large. In 2019, she began supporting Senior Agent Susan Ginsburg’s diverse list of clients. Under Susan’s guidance and mentorship, Catherine has worked closely—both editorially and administratively—with a broad range of award-winning and bestselling adult and children’s book authors, including Diane Chamberlain, Sara Farizan, Jessica B. Harris, Deborah Heiligman, Edward Humes, Pam Jenoff, Cedella Marley, Leonard Mlodinow, Sarah Morgan, and Alexandra Penfold. Prior to Writers House, Catherine worked for Alanna Feldman Scouting, advising international and domestic clients on acquiring translation and/or TV/film rights for upcoming releases. Before that, Catherine received her Bachelor of the Arts in English with a minor in Creative Writing from New York University, all the while interning in editorial at Scholastic Book Clubs, Viking Children’s Books, and Flatiron Books.

What she is seeking: 

ADULT: My taste is wide when it comes to adult fiction—on one end of the spectrum, I love literary fiction, with a particular interest in literary horror and speculative work, and on the other end, I would love to see all of the rom-coms, especially those that subvert common tropes and represent LGBTQ+ stories. As for everything in between, I’m especially grabbed by a narrative that doesn’t follow “traditional” storytelling, plays with format and structure, or covers underexplored time periods, locations, etc. On the nonfiction adult side, I love quirky microhistories, topics within fashion, sexuality, mental health, and mortality, anything related to the Bravoverse, essay collections, and the occasional offbeat memoir.

YOUNG ADULT: As for YA, I’m hungry for all things literary, unnerving, witchy, darkly funny, ghostly, Gothic, and rom-com. I am particularly interested in first-time encounters with mental illness, complicated sibling relationships, unconventional high school life, sex positivity, emo vibes, angst, and international stories. I’m always after a good graphic novel as well, and anything that will break my heart.

MIDDLE GRADE: I love a spooky/dark middle grade—bring on the weird! In this category, I am also a huge fan of quirky/silly/banter, unlikely friendships, and unusual hobbies. At the same time, I appreciate when serious topics (such as death and mental health) can be discussed in a lively, engaging, not overly heavy way. I’d very much like to see novels in verse and illustrated/graphic novels. I have a particular hankering for stories with series potential.

PICTURE BOOKS: I’m looking for author-illustrators who can be both silly and heartfelt and create read-aloud books that will be remembered well into adulthood. I love picture books that are interactive, challenge expectations, and make me belly laugh. I also fall hard for picture books that break down difficult emotions or concepts in a digestible, meaningful way.

How to submit: Please email me a personalized query letter and 10 sample pages pasted in the body of the email (or a sketch dummy with sample finished art for picture book submissions) to cbradshaw@writershouse.com. No attachments.