97 Calls for Submissions in December 2024 - Paying markets

This December 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!

Note: I update this list continually throughout the month, so check back frequently for new submission calls.

 (Image: Pexels)

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Tales from the Nightside. Genre: Car Wars GameLit Fiction. Theme: Ride along with illegal street teams and see the criminal underbelly of the Autoduelling world. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Interstellar Flight Press. Genre: Speculative poetry from poets who are both queer/trans and disabled. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Griffith Review. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD $200. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. See themes. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Fantasy is a Drag! Anthology. Genre: Fantasy stories that are, first and foremost, drag from members of the drag community. Payment: $50 + royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Never Whistle at Night, Part II: Back for Blood Anthology. Genre: Horror stories from emerging Indigenous writers in North America only. “Our anthology aims to showcase fresh, original voices in Indigenous Horror, and we encourage submissions that explore new and innovative themes.” Payment:  $1,500. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Burial Books: Inanimate Things – Volume Two. Genre: Horror about inanimate things that are living. It could be a doll, the dead flesh of zombies, or your Ford F-150. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Wallstrait. Genre: Flash fiction, longer stories, and hybrid experimental work. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $25 per poem and $100 for prose. Deadline: Opens December 1, 2024. Closes when they reach cap.

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 1, 2024. 

Little Moa. Restrictions: Open to New Zealand writers. Genre: Children's books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Eternal Haunted Summer. Genre: Poetry, short fiction. Theme: Fortune and Luck. Payment: $5. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: December 1, 2024. See themes.

Serving House Books. Genre: Nonfiction essay collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Affirm Press Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: All literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have a mn authors or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month, Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. $1 a line for poetry. 2 - 8 cents/word for nonfiction. Deadline: December 2, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Broken Tribe Press. Genre: Memoirs. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Humour Me. Genre: Humor stories and cartoons on the Christmas theme. “We are happy to accept all types of humour, from sharp satire to slapstick.” Payment: £20. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

Meetinghouse. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $40 for digital content, $100 for prose published in print, and $40 for each poem published in print. Deadline: December 3, 2024.

Stone's Throw. Genre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: December 4, 2024. 

MIT Technology Review. Genre: Narrative features, compelling investigations, essential profiles, and essays on theme Creativity. Pitches only. Payment: $1 to $2 per word. Deadline: December 4, 2024. 

Geist. Restrictions: Canadian connection required. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Payment: $100 - $1000.  Deadline: December 4, 2024. Geist offers no-fee general submissions for Black writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of color.

Anodyne. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry, Art, Photography, Video on theme of Health. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: December 7, 2024.

Northern Grit. Genre: Prose, flash, poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 7, 2024. 

The Pedestal Magazine. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 8, 2024.

Samjoko Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, play, screenplay. Payment: $20. Deadline: December 10, 2024.

Electric Literature: The Commuter. Genre: Poetry, flash, graphic, and experimental narratives. Payment: $100. Deadline: December 11, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Dawn Hill Publications: In Every Way We Love. Restrictions: Open to submissions from UK-based writers, with a special focus on underrepresented voices. Genre: Short stories on theme of Love. Payment: £75. Deadline: December 12, 2024.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected. No payment for online publication. Deadline: December 13, 2024.

Buckman Journal. Restrictions: Open to Portland and Pacific Northwest creatives. Genre: Fiction and creative non-fiction. See theme. Payment: $100. Deadline: December 14, 2024.

Vivid Worlds. Genre: Solar punk. Payment: 1p a word to a maximum of £50. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, "and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way.” Payment: $50. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash fiction. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

Propagule. Genre: Short stories that are intrepid with regard to experimentation and oddity; the strange, the surreal, the atypical, the unexpected. Payment: Up to $30. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. See theme. $0.04/word, up to $25. Deadline: December 15, 2024. 

Brazenhead Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $200. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Note: Closes when cap is reached.

Baffling Magazine. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Copper Nickel. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and translation folios. Payment: $30 per printed page + two copies of the issue in which the author’s work appears + a one-year subscription. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.

A Public Space. Genre: Fiction, essays, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. Payment: Honorarium. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Book Worms. Genre: Horror: fiction, poetry, and essays. See theme. Length: Up to 1,500 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Radon. Genre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word for original work, half a cent per word for reprints. $20 per original poem and $10 for reprints. $100 for issue cover art, $30 for back cover art, and $20 for art used on their website. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

The Brothers Uber: Once Upon a Moonless Night – Tales of Betrayal, Revenge, and Redemption. Genre: Dark fiction. "These are the tales whispered in dark corners. Of good people pushed too far. Stories of revenge and redemption for past wrongdoings. Stories that excite the mind where what seems to be true isn’t always the case. Dark, foreboding, full of suspense, can you weave the story of what happens during the moonless night?” Length: 250-15,000 words. Payment: $0.05/word, capped at $400. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Bellevue Literary Press. Genre: Narrative nonfiction books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Book XI. Genre: Personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. See theme. Payment: $200 for prose; $50 for poetry. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Flame Tree: Latin American Shared Stories. Genre: Speculative stories highlighting the many voices, mythologies, folklore and storytelling prowess of authors from Latin American countries or writing in the traditions of the Latin American diaspora. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Utter Speculation Novella Series. Genre: Speculative fiction novellas explaining or exposing the root of a real life supernatural mystery, urban legend or folklore. Payment: Royalty split. Deadline: December 16, 2024.

The Offing. Genre: Creative nonfiction (usually personal essay) that centers one’s personal experience against the backdrop of art, literature, and culture. Length: 7,500 words max. Payment: $25 - $100. Deadline: December 16, 2024.

Roses & Wildflowers: Anarchy and Harmony. Genre: Mythopoeic fiction, poetry, and art. See theme. Payment: $20 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: December 17, 2024.

The Margins. Genre: Poetry by emerging and established Asian American and diasporic poets. Payment: $50 – $90 for a single poem. Deadline: December 18, 2024.

Made in Appalachia. Restrictions: Open to writers from Appalachia, who have lived in or visited Appalachia,  and/or whose writing is set in Appalachia. Genre: Fiction, short story. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 22, 2024.

Griffith Review. Genre: Poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD $200. Deadline: December 22, 2024.

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: December 22, 2024.

The Ex-Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: December 25, 2024.

ZO Magazine. Genre: Fiction and art. See theme. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 29, 2024.

Sonder Magazine. Genre: Fiction, CNF and poetry on theme of Madness. Payment: €300. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Unnerving. Genre: Horror. Word count: 500 – 3,500. Payment: 1.5¢ CAD/word. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Jackleg Press. Restrictions: JackLeg only publishes U.S.-based writers. Genre: Full-length fiction, CNF. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Midnight and Indigo. Genre: Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, and Personal Essays written by Black women writers. Theme: Music. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction Nonfiction. Payment: 40 cents per word for print fiction, with a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1500. Fees for print are less the cost of a 4-issue subscription if you are not a current subscriber. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Brigid's Gate: Poisoned Soup for the Macabre, Depraved and Insane. Genre: Horror short stories. See theme. Length: 1,500 to 4,000 words. Payment: $0.08 a word for flash fiction and short stories. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Three Ravens Genre: Full-length science fiction, fantasy, and horror. They are open to reprints and previously published work as long as you have the rights. Royalty rates usually range from 50 to 70% of sales. Read guidelines here. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Cincinnati Review. Genre: Literary nonfiction (up to 20 pages), fiction (up to 40 pages), poetry, poetry translations, drama, and art. Payment: $25/page for prose in the journal, $30/page for poetry, $25 for miCRo posts or special features. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Opens on the first day of the month and closes once they hit the submissions cap.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Short Story, Long. Genre: Short stories, 2k-8k words long (3,000-5,500 range preferred). Payment: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Dancing Star Press. Genre: Speculative fiction novellas. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Theatre Phantasmagoria. Genre: Horror flash fiction up to 2,000 words. Payment: £10. Deadline: December 31, 2024. This is a monthly call. See themes.

Workers Write!. Genre: "We're looking for fiction and poetry about the people who clean up after everyone, such as maids, janitors, custodians, waste management workers, crime scene cleaners, and even laundromat owners." Payment: $5 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

OwlCrate Press: Future States of Stars. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We are specifically seeking stories in the dystopian sci-fi genre with a Black Mirror or Twilight Zone vibe. Authors are encouraged to explore themes of the near-to-far future of states, whether set here on Earth, in space, or in other dimensions. Consider exploring dystopian themes such as authoritarian regimes, environmental collapse, surveillance societies, loss of individual freedoms, or the impact of advanced technology on humanity.” Payment: $0.10/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024. (Extended deadline)

EastOver Press. Genre: Book-length nonfiction manuscripts. "We are especially interested in collections of literary essays, but will consider essay-based memoirs, mixed genre works, and other hybrid works. We are interested in manuscripts that take a narrative approach to nonfiction." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

new words {press} manuscript open call: poetry & hybrid. Genre: Full-length manuscripts written by writers who are trans* and/or gender-expansive. Payment: $400 honorarium and 40% of net profits for first 300 copies and 50% royalties on sales >300. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

Dracula Beyond Stoker. Genre: Fiction featuring characters and more from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. See theme. Payment: $0.05/word for stories of 1,500-5,000 words. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Meadowlark Reader. Genre: Personal essays, interviews, journalistic pieces. “True stories about Kansas written by Kansans." Payment: $10 plus one contributor copy. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

FIYAH. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to people of the African Diaspora. Genre: Speculative fiction, art, and poetry about African Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Arc Poetry Magazine. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Channel. Genre: Fiction, art, creative non-fiction, and poetry that engages with the natural world, and have a particular interest in work which encourages reflection on human interaction with plant and animal life, landscape and the self. Payment: €40/poem, and €50/page of prose up to €150. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

 

Dragon Soul Press: Between Realms. Genre: Speculative fiction. Theme – All stories involving dimension travel. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Collective Tales Publishing: Collective Madness – Schisms of the Soul. Genre: Dark fantasy short stories on the theme of “schisms of the soul.” Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Silent Nightmares. Genre: Dark holiday horror. Payment: 10 cents/word capped at 5,000 words. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Poisoned Soup for the Macabre, Depraved, and Insane: Nostalgic Terrors. Genre: Horror. Payment: 8 cents/word for prose, $50 per poem or drabble. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Ofic. Genre: Short fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, art. "Send us your dead doves, your blorbos, your plinkos, your wretched meow meows yearning to be free; that thing you wrote that made you think, “I don’t know where this belongs”; the stuff you’d never show anyone you know IRL. Give us your shameless, self-indulgent smut; the manuscript to the video essay you dictated to your YouTube subscribers in your head; your thoughtful explorations of trauma and identity; your Pepe Silvia wall; your sci-fi, your fantasy, your romance, your realism. We want anything and everything. As long as you identify as a fan, we want to read your work." (Up to 12,000 words). Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Workers Write! Tales from the Cleaners. Genre: Stories and poems from the cleaner's point of view. Word count: 500 to 5,000 words. Payment: Between $5 and $50 (depending on length and rights requested) Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Freeze Frame Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction. "Any genre, no content restrictions. We want your science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, drama, literary works, satire, bizarre fiction, or anything else you can come up with or mix together. The more original, the better. The weirder, the better.” Payment: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The New York Times: Modern Love. Genre: Essay on modern love. Payment: Not Specified. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

EastOver Press: Rural Writers of Color. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers who live in or hail from rural or semi-rural locales in the U.S. and whose short stories feature characters living or working in rural or semi-rural spaces. Genre: Short stories. Payment: $100-$300. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Air and Nothingness Press. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We are seeking submissions for an anthology to be titled Our Dust Earth which will collect stories that take place within the Our Dust Earth mini-RPG." Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Best American. Genre: Published short stories, essays, food writing, mystery and suspense, nature writing, science fiction and fantasy. Payment: ? Deadline: December 31, 2024.

We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2024. Genre: Queer Speculative Fiction. Submissions are open for all speculative work published in 2024 under 17,500 words that deals either implicitly or explicitly with queerness. Editors and authors may submit. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Spooky. Genre: Horror. "Cozy horror. Fun horror. Classy horror. Dare we say, wholesome horror?" Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Allegory. Genre: Speculative Fiction. Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Letter Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Length: Up to 5000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Mayday. Genre: Short fiction, CNF, Poetry, Art, Interviews, Nonfiction. Payment: $20 - $50. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Deadlands. Genre: Fiction. "The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere. We are looking for fiction that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve." Payment: 10 cents/word for fiction. Deadline: December 21, 2024. Accepts reprints. 

Made in Appalachia. Restrictions: Open to writers from Appalachia, who have lived in or visited Appalachia,  and/or whose writing is set in Appalachia. Genre: Nonfiction essay. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.

AND A FEW MORE...

What If… Skunk Wurks Edition. Genre: "Who doesn’t know the black projects that rolled out of the Skunk Works like the famous SR-71, U-2, or F-117 stealth fighter? What do you think they aren’t telling us about? This anthology dives into the concept of other black projects, their uses, and outcomes. Maybe the crazies are right. What If… the UFO’s are actually ours… Anything from discovery and design to use in application of the Aircraft, Heavy Weapons, Power Armor, Sea Vessels, and more are welcome." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

June Road Press. Genre: Poetry collection, full-length, 40 to 60 poems, preferably the author’s first or second book. "We’re particularly interested in work with strong ecological/environmental themes, or that engages in meaningful ways with nature or place, by writers who identify as women." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Cafe Irreal. Genre: Magical realism. Length: Up to 2,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

Planet Black Joy. Restrictions: Open to women and non-binary folk who identify as Black, African, or of Afro-descendent heritage. Genre: Fiction exploring and celebrating Black joy and pleasure. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: January 1, 2025.

The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens January 1, 2025, and closes when they reach capacity.

The Other Stories (Audio). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: January 1, 2025. See themes.

61 Writing Contests in December 2024 - No entry fees

This December there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $25,000 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. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

(Image: Pickpik)

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Charlotte and Wilbur Award For Compassion for Animals. Genre: Picture book, chapter book, middle-grade book (or graphic novel), or young adult book traditionally or self- published in 2024. Books in translation are welcome. The Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals will award one winning book and one honor book for their dedication to promoting compassion and respect for animals in their readers. Prize: The winning book will receive a prize of $2,500 and the honor book will receive $1,000. If the winning or honor book is a picture book, the prize will be split between the author and illustrator. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Weird Christmas Flash Contest. Genre: Weird flash fiction. 350 words max. Prize: $35 - $50. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction is offered annually to the best book in American historical fiction that is both excellent fiction and excellent history. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The Pushcart Prize honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in small presses and literary magazines. Magazine and small press editors may nominate up to six works. Pushcart Press publishes yearly anthologies of the winning submissions. Prize: Publication and enormous prestige. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Poetry Center at Smith College Prize. Restrictions: Open to sophomore or junior high school girls in New England. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry. Restrictions: Open to African poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

The Schneider Family Book Award is sponsored by the American Library Association. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Prize: Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0-10), middle school (age 11-13) and teens (age 13-18). (Age groupings are approximations).  Genre: May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Ezra Jack Keats Children's Book Award. Genre: Published or self-published picture books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. Restrictions: Open to published writers who are writing from the region. Genres: All. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 1, 2024. 

The Association of Jewish Libraries Jewish Fiction Award. Genre: All works of fiction with significant Jewish thematic content written in English–novels, short story and flash fiction collections–by a single author published and available for purchase in the United States during 2022 are eligible for the award. Jewish thematic content means an extended grappling with Jewish themes throughout the book, including Judaism, Jewish history and culture, Jewish identity, etc. Prize: The award will include a $1,000 cash prize as well as support to attend the AJL conference to receive the award. Deadline: December 1, 2024.

Subnivean New Writers Award: CNY High School Writing Scholarship Competition. Restrictions: Open to high-school-aged writers in Oswego County, Onondaga County, Oneida County, Herkimer County, Madison County, Cayuga County and Cortland County. Genre: Short stories and poetry. Prize: $100 bookstore gift certificate, $1,000 scholarship to attend SUNY Oswego as a creative writing or English major. Deadline: Opens December 1, 2024.

One Teen Story. Restrictions: Open to writers age 13 -19. Genre: Short story between 2,000 to 4,500 words. Prize: $500 upon publication and 25 copies of the magazine. Deadline: December 2, 2024.

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. Genre: Nonfiction book. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. Award: $25,000. Deadline: December 5, 2024.

RSL Christopher Bland Prize. Restrictions: Writers must be a citizen of, or resident in, the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. Books must have been published for the first time in the UK or RoI within the 2023 calendar year. Books must be entered by trade publishers or agents based in the UK or RoI; each publisher, imprint of a publisher, or agent may enter two books only. Genre: Debut novel or non-fiction book first published by a writer aged 50 or over. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: December 6, 2024. 

Kim Wall Memorial Fund. Restrictions: Open to "journalists whose work embodies the spirit of Kim’s reporting. The grant will fund women or non-binary reporters covering subculture, broadly defined, and what Kim liked to call “the undercurrents of rebellion.” Kim wanted more women to be out in the world, brushing up against life, and the Kim Wall Memorial Fund honors this legacy.” Genre: Journalism. Prize: $5,000 grants. Deadline: December 8, 2024.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 8, 2024. Opens December 6.

Jane Martin Poetry Prize (UK). Restrictions: Open to UK residents between 18 and 30 years of age. Genre: Poetry. Prize: First prize £1000, second prize, £500. Deadline: December 9, 2024. 

Smokelong Fellowship for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: All writers previously unpublished in SmokeLong Quarterly and who do not have a published chapbook or book-length work in any genre (or are not under contract for such) are eligible to apply. Genre: Flash fiction (1000 words max). Prize: $500. Deadline: December 12, 2024. For writers who cannot afford an application fee, there is a free submission option in Submittable.)

THE GEORGE ELIOT FELLOWSHIP ESSAY PRIZE. Genre: Paper on George Eliot's life or work. Prize: £500. Deadline: December 12, 2024. 

International Booker Prize. The International Booker Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. The work must be published by a UK or Ireland publishing house. Authors are not permitted to enter their own works. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: December 13, 2024 for works published between December 31, 2024 and April 30, 2025.

Friends of American Writers. Restrictions: The author must be a resident (or previously have been a resident for approximately five years) of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin; or the locale of the book must be in a region identified above. The author must not have published more than three books under his/her own pen name. Genres: Books can be fiction or creative non-fiction and published in 2024. Self-published and e-Books are not eligible. Prize: $500 - $2000. Deadline: December 14, 2024.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: December 14, 2024. See themes.

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition. Restrictions: The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Eggtooth Editions Chapbook Contest. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not previously published a full-length book. Genre: Chapbook in any genre. Prize: $250 and 20 copies of the chapbook. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

The King's English Poetry Competition. Genre: Poem. See theme. Prize: £100. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Massachusetts Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Massachusetts residents. Genre: (1) fiction, (2) nonfiction, (3) poetry, (4) children’s picture books/early readers, (5) middle-grade/young adult literature, (6) translated literature, and (7) graphic novel/memoir published in 2024. Additionally, the Notable Contribution to Publishing award recognizes the exceptional output of the Massachusetts publishing community. Prize: Prestige. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

Fabuly Writer's Challenge. Genre: 2,000-word (max) story on the theme of "An Unexpected Encounter."  Prize: $500. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Note: submissions are capped at 200.

Lit Fox Award. Genre: Full-length poetry collection. Prize: $1500 and publication. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

The sine qua non prizes for prose and poetry. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 15, 2024. Closes when cap is reached.

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Candidates must be: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident; Under the age of 35; Unpublished in book form and without a book contract. Genre: Poetry and fiction. Prizes: Up to C$10,000. Deadline: December 16, 2024.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships are awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period. Prize: $8,000 cash awards are made to individual originating artists living and working in the state of New York for unrestricted use. These fellowships are not project grants but are intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development. Deadline: December 17, 2024.

The Andromeda Award. Restrictions: Open to to anyone based in the UK or USA. Genre: Full-length science fiction or fantasy manuscript. Prize: First Prize - $5,000. Deadline: December 18, 2024.

Love Letters to London Writing Competition. Genre: Poetry and "open." The theme this year is “Dreams for London”What are your passions, hopes and dreams for this incredible city? Just let your imagination run wild. It can be reportage, an historical essay, a ‘think piece’, a spot of futurology, a work of fiction, a poem." Prize: £150 - £500. Deadline: December 20, 2024. Open to all ages. Some reprints accepted.

Porter House Review 2024-2025 Editor’s Prize. Genre: Poetry (submit up to 5 poems), Nonfiction (up to 6,000 words), and Fiction (up to 8,000 words). Prize: $750. Deadline: No submission fee December 22nd through December 28th.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published in 2024. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 30, 2024.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. Restrictions: Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. Genre: Essay Topic: What challenges awaken your conscience? Is it the conflicts in American society? An international crisis? Maybe a difficult choice you face or a hard decision you had to make? Engage us. Enlighten us. Explore the ethics of any problem, question, or issue, whether close to home or in the world at large. We are eager to learn from you. Prize: First Prize $10,000, 2nd Prize $5,000, 3rd Prize $3,000, two Honorable Mentions $1,000 each. Deadline: December 30, 2024. 

Griffin Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. To be eligible for the prize, a book of poetry must be a published first-edition collection (i.e. not previously published in any country), written in English, or translated into English, by a poet/translator from any part of the world, including Canada. Entries must come from publishers only. Inquiries about entries must also come from publishers only. Prize: The winner will receive C$130,000 and the other shortlisted poets will each receive C$10,000. Deadline: December 20, 2024, for books published between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions: The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre: Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Laureate Prize. Genre: Full-length poetry book. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: December 31, 2024. No entry fee for BIPOC writers. 

Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award.  Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter free of charge. Others must pay a $15 entry fee. Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Chapter House Indigenous Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Indigenous writers. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $250. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

PEN Prison Writing Contest. Restrictions: Anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison is eligible to enter. Genres: Poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction. Prize: $25 - $250. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Fiction. Short story of interest to Jewish women. Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Restrictions: Emerging African American writers. Genres: Short story collection or novel published in the current year. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Prize: $500 and publication in Meridians Journal: feminism, race, transnationalism. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in M.D. and D.O. programs in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada, and a physician category, open to any rank of physician (M.D. or D.O.) at any career stage, from residency to retirement, in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $300. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Hooks Institute National Book Award. Genre: Nonfiction book that best furthers understanding of the American Civil Rights Movement and its legacy. Prize: $1000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Four Quartets Prize. Genre: Unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook. Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were brought together and they form a complete sequence. Prize: Three finalists will receive $1,000 each. The winner will receive an additional $20,000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction. Genre: Military fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition. Genre: Essay  on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. 600 words. Prize: $200 (R2 000 or £100).  Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Caribbean Writer Prizes. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays or one act plays which explore the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora, written by a US or UK Virgin Islands resident accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer during the deadline year. See theme. Prize: $300 - $600. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

The Lyric College Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. Sponsored by Rattle. Genre: Poetry. All published submissions during the year are considered for the prize. Follow their regular submission guidelines. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Read more about the award HERE.

The Drabble Harvest Contest. Genre: Drabble on theme of "Hunting With the Wolves." A "drabble" is defined as a short story containing exactly precisely no more and no fewer than 100 words. It has a title, which can be from 1 to 15 words-- but no more than 15. Prize: $5. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Pages in Progress 2025: An AAWW Fiction Contest. Genre: Novel in progress by Asian American writers. Prize: One-month residency with Writing Downtown in Las Vegas, Nevada; One-hour virtual consultation with Third State Books, a new publishing house amplifying stories from Asian America; One-hour virtual consultation with an AAPI literary agent; One complimentary seat to an AAWW workshop; One full-day pass to the AAWW’s 2025 Publishing Conference. Deadline: December 31, 2024.

Voice.club. Genre: Flash fiction, 350 words max. Prize: $25 Amazon gift card. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Note: You have to join in order to enter. See themes.

Maureen Seaton Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to persons who reside, either full or part-time, in South Florida. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: December 31, 2024. Closes after cap is reached.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre: Essay: How can laws regulating climate change and the environment support economic development?Prize: $500 scholarship. Deadline: December 31, 2024. (Registration deadline October 31)

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction or essay on theme. 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: December 31, 2024. This is a monthly contest.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: December 31, 2024. This is a monthly contest.

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: December 31, 2024. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

3 Distinctive Writing Conferences in December 2024

Because of the holidays, writing conferences are sparse in December. That doesn't mean there are none worth attending.

The Write to Pitch Conference is well worth attending if you are ready to publish a book. This conference draws editors from all the major publishing houses, as well as agents who want to hear your pitch. If you write commercial fiction or nonfiction, this conference is a career starter. Please note: This conference is held every December, but it is limited to 65 participants, so you have to apply early. 

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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WTP 2024. December 5 - 8, 2024: NY. NY. "The goal of this conference, and all its companion editorial and development programs, is to set you on a realistic path not only to publication, but to becoming a career author. The Write to Pitch 2024 utilizes a time-tested methodology that works to get writers published. Pitching TV/Film pros, literary agents, and publishing house acquisition editors is a vital component (see the Schedule), of course, but when asked what specific elements make the event unique and better than other writer conferences, our response lists a number of game-changing factors, both major and minor." This conference is limited to 65 participants so apply early. Closed. (Note: This is a yearly conference. If you missed it this year, put it on your calendar for next year.)

Online Writing Workshop of Chicago. December 6 - 7, 2024. "This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” online writing workshop. 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 Online Fall “San Diego” 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." 

The Mesa Book Festival. December 7, 2024: Mesa, Arizona. The festival features presentations, readings, visits with authors, and a poetry open mic. "Everyone! Authors, Publishers, and Book Sellers are invited to  register for space to showcase, promote, and sell their books. Readers are invited to come and buy their books direct. We're encouraging a wide variety of literary arts purveyors to share their work to create a bigger audience for everyone." All events are free and open to the public.

Conferences with application deadlines in December

Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. January 4 - 14, 2025 (?): Seaside, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing. Application deadline: December 1, 2024.

TMW January Jumpstart. January 18 - 19, 2025: Oak Ridge, TN. “We will have a “Meet and Greet” session Friday from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern. On Saturday there will be concurrent Poetry and Fiction morning sessions from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern, and afternoon sessions from 1:30 – 4:30 Eastern." Registration $150. Application deadline December 29.

8 New Agents Seeking SFF, Horror, YA, Romance, Mysteries, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction and more

Here are eight 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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Connor Smith of Hesperides Literary

I’ve spent time as a ghostwriter in a multitude of genres, edited numerous manuscripts that later secured representation and publishing deals, managed several businesses, served as Chief Editor and Client Success Coach at major copywriting companies, have published award-winning short stories, delivered lectures and keynote addresses at various universities and conferences, and currently guide narrative efforts as the Lead Writer for Inevitable Studios, where our narrative-driven game Always in Mind is set to release next year. Now, as a literary agent and member of the AALA, I leverage my extensive experience as a professional writer, ghostwriter, and editor to routinely hop into the trenches with writers to help them produce the polished work necessary to secure publication. Because writing is fun.

What he is seeking: Seeking Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Magical Realism, particularly those that have a literary bent. Powerfully written Horror, Speculative, Romance (all subgenres except fantasy), YA, Humor, and Meta-Fiction. In these genres, I am looking for fast-paced plots penned with style and verve.

Nonfiction that expands a reader’s understanding of the world, Please have a well-structured proposal for nonfiction queries.

How to submit: Use the submission form HERE.

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Jennifer Pien of Hesperides Literary

Jennifer brings her years of editorial and advisory experience working with agents and publishers to Hesperides Literary. She has worked with authors through her role as a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University and Director of Pegasus Physician Writers, an organization of creative physician authors whose members include Dr. Daniel Mason, Dr. Seema Yasmin, and Dr. David Eagleman. In addition to her faculty leadership role in Stanford Medical Humanities and Arts, she is the Founder of The Pegasus Review, and serves as a founding faculty editor for the Oxford Review of Books x Stanford collaboration. Jennifer also serves on the Advisory Board for The Bellevue Literary Press and the Stanford School of Medicine Medical Humanities Fellowship.   Jennifer's writing is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. She is the author of Healing the Healers, Johns Hopkins University Press, forthcoming 2025. 

What she is seeking: Seeking Literary and Upmarket Women's Fiction including Magical Realism and Speculative Fiction. Science Fiction and Fantasy that appeals to a cross-sectional audience. I especially gravitate towards dark academia, science fantasy, space opera, and narratively driven nonfiction. Nonfiction with emphasis on creative narrative nonfiction or essays. Medical, Nature, Science, Psychology/Self-help or travel books.

How to submit: Use the submission form HERE.

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Emily MacDonald of 42 Management & Production (UK)

Emily MacDonald joined 42 in 2019, working with Eugenie Furniss across her clients. She is now an agent in the Books Department, and is building her own list.

What she is seeking: Bring me a story with characters that never leave you and a narrative that pulls you in, keeping you in the world well after you’ve finished reading. I read across a wide-range and have a particular interest in; book club, high-concept crime/thriller, upmarket and literary fiction (with a real soft spot for witty romcoms with an unassailable hook!) In both fiction and non-fiction, I love stories woven into their surroundings, where the setting is as central a character as those who drive the narrative.

I’m also looking for narrative non-fiction which immerses the reader into an untold true story (personal or historical), exploring a new point of view, and providing a compelling social commentary, with an investigative twist! Think the obsessive vein of Kirk W. Johnson or personal/political dispatches of Aidan Hartley. I want to have my horizons expanded when I read. Please note, I am not currently accepting submissions for Children's lit/YA and SFF.

In both spheres, I’m keen to hear from Scottish and regional voices with stories to tell.

How to submit: Please email all relevant submissions to - emilymacdonald@42mp.com

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John Meils of DeFiore & Company

John Meils joined DeFiore & Company in 2024 after five years as an editor at Workman Publishing. Previously, he held editor roles at Macmillan, Sterling/Union Square, and award-winning book packager Melcher Media. John has acquired and edited national bestsellers, including most recently Smart Brevity. Other titles of note that John acquired as an editor include: You Are What You Watch, Murderabilia, Brave New You, Patient Zero, How Sex Changed the Internet, and the forthcoming Whiskey Bible. John has also worked as a journalist in Washington, DC, where he covered national politics as well as local issues including cannabis regulation, corruption, and climate change.

What he is seeking: John is looking to build a wide-ranging non-fiction list that includes: how-to of all sorts, health & wellness, science (pop, space, biological, and psychological), technology, nature/outdoors, true crime, quirky histories (medical, adventure, offbeat), investigative journalism, international relations, sports, parenting, and business. For prescriptive how-to, John is particularly keen to see books with a clear promise and message, a programmatic approach, and a strong author platform.

John has a deep history of producing illustrated books as an editor and will consider author-artist and visually driven projects with a clear and unique focus. He has also worked extensively helping brands (Nike InStyle, Harley Davidson, Axios) translate their messages to books and is open to guiding established and emerging brands interested in launching book programs.

How to submit: John accepts only email queries. Send a brief email describing yourself and your project to john@defliterary.com. Please be sure to include the word “QUERY:” at the beginning of your subject line, followed by your book title. Attachments will not be opened unless expressly requested. John’s response time is usually less than two weeks and you need not query him exclusively. If you have not received a response within a month, please check that the defliterary.com domain name is on your email server whitelist, as the response may have been rejected by your server. John does not consider fiction queries of any kind or hard copy submissions.

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Edwina de Charnacé of MMB Creative (UK)

Edwina joined Mulcahy Sweeney Associates (literary agency of MMB Creative) after completing an English Language and Literature degree at Oxford University and an MA in East Asian Art History at SOAS.

What she is seeking: At the top of her present wishlist are family sagas, stories spanning multiple generations, horror amplified (rather than lightened) by dark humour, fantasy with romance (rather than romance with fantasy), socially-inflected psychological thrillers, expert-led non-fiction in self-help/personal development, investigative journalism on topics related to the beauty industry (like plastic surgery) and writing by academics on art history and non-canonical literature. 

How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE. Note: Accepts UK authors only.

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Mason Rowlee of DeFiore & Company

Originally from rural Upstate New York, Mason Rowlee holds a BA in English, with a concentration in creative writing and journalism from Fordham College at Rose Hill. While in college, he interned at DeFiore & Company, as well as McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency, Gotham Writers Workshop, CBS Television Production and Farrar, Straus & Giroux. He previously worked as an assistant literary scout at Jenny La Plante, Inc., where he developed an eye for the types of literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction that also appeal to international publishers as well as film production companies. 

What he is seeking: Mason loves innovative, boundary-pushing literary fiction, engrossing upmarket fiction, and nonfiction that amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices in publishing, particularly those by queer authors.

How to submit: Mason accepts only email queries. Send a brief email describing yourself and your project to mason@defliterary.com with the first five pages of your manuscript or proposal pasted in the body of an email. Attachments will not be opened unless requested. Submissions do not need to be exclusive, and response time is generally no more than two weeks. If you have not received a response within four weeks, please check that the defliterary.com domain name is on your email server whitelist; the response might have been rejected by your server.

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Lydia Caudill of Andrea Hurst Literary Management

Originally from a small town in Eastern Kentucky, Lydia developed a passion for literature early on, often seen toting around a book and seeking any opportunity to read. She is a graduate of NC State University, where she earned her B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. When she’s not editing or reviewing submissions, you can find her attending live music events, tutoring Spanish, working on her own writing, or spending quality time outdoors with her dog, Rocky.

What she is seeking: Lydia is primarily looking for YA and Adult contemporary fiction, YA and Adult fantasy (she can appreciate both an urban setting or an immersive new world, and bonus points if there’s a romantic element, but the plot must shine regardless), light and cozy science fiction, mysteries with a strong and innovative protagonist, domestic suspense, and historical fiction that is not war-based or rooted in medical/medicinal history.

She is also an enthusiast of lyrical prose, atmospheric writing, emotionally complex and diverse characters, high-conflict stories with an unforgettable and witty heroine, and stories that explore deep and resounding themes. After she finishes a story, she wants it to linger in her head for days after.

As a hopeless romantic at her core, Lydia holds the romance genre close to her heart and is always on the lookout for raw and intimate depictions of love—all kinds by all voices. She also appreciates rom-coms with a good trope or two, and any period piece that provides a much-needed escape from reality. A few of her favorites include Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, and Normal People by Sally Rooney.

A few more of Lydia’s favorites include: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, Go As a River by Shelley Read, and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.

How to submit: To query Lydia, submit by email only to Lydia@andreahurst.com. Please include a query letter and paste the first five pages into the email. Due to the high volume of queries received, Lydia will only respond to those she is interested in. Check her socials for updates on her current query status.

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Keith Stillman of Sobel Weber Associates

Keith is a former writing teacher and bookseller. He graduated from the NYU Summer Publishing Institute and the Writer’s House Internship Program, and holds a Master of Arts in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University. He has a diverse taste in books, but tends to lean toward upmarket crime and horror fiction with a tilt toward the bizarre and fantastic. 

What he is seeking: Keith is open to crime fiction, mystery, light speculative fiction, and horror. 

How to submit: Please send your pitch, first ten pages, and bio to kstillman@sobelweber.com.