112 Calls for Submissions in October 2024 - Paying markets

This October there are more than nine 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: Pickpik)

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Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024, and closes when they reach capacity.

Phano. Genre: Short stories and essays, 5000 words maximum. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024. 

Mudroom. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and essays in translation. Payment: $15. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024. 

Over/Exposed. Restrictions: "We prioritize the work of graduate students, so please indicate in your submission if you are a graduate student, including your university, and department." Open internationally. Genre: Flash, short fiction, and non-fiction personal essays/memoir, poetry, reviews, experimental, art. "We are focused on the publication of works that are vulnerable, experimental, a little bit weird and sexy." Payment: CAD $15, Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024. 

Strange Horizons. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 10¢/word USD. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024, and closes when they reach capacity.

Polar Borealis. Restrictions: Open to Canadians only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word. $10 for one thousand words or less. $20 for two thousand words or less (but reasonably above one thousand). $30 for three thousand words or less (but reasonably above two thousand). Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction. Length: Under 3,000 words preferred. Payment: $75. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024. They open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their quota.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024, and closes when they reach capacity.

Galaxy’s Edge. Genre: Fantasy or urban fantasy. Payment: $0.07/word for stories up to 10,000 words. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

White Stag. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays on theme: personal mythology & familial lore. Payment:  $5 per poem or $10 per flash fiction or lyrical essay piece + one copy of the printed anthology. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Quist. Restrictions: Open to writers and artists between the ages of 14 and 21 and based in Quebec. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $75. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Toronto Journal. Genre: Short stories from anywhere in the world. No word limit. "We will also consider non-fiction pieces that are either set locally or explore some local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding)." Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2024. 

The Iowa Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $1.50 per line for poetry ($100 minimum) and $0.08 per word for prose ($100 minimum). Deadline: October 1, 2024. No fee for snail mail submissions. $4 fee for online submissions.

The Paris Review. Genres: Fiction, poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024, and closes when they reach capacity.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works.  Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Cutleaf. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Length: Less than 6,000 words. Payment: $100 to $400. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on film and TV. See theme. Payment: $100 per essay. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

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

Cogs and Cutlasses. Genre: Steampunk Adventure Fiction. Theme: A collection of piracy themed stories, set in a steampunk environment. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 1, 2024. 

Science Fiction Is a Drag! Genre: Science fiction stories that are, first and foremost, drag. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2024. 

Humour Me. Genre: Humorous short stories and cartoons. See themes. Payment: Flat fee of £20.00 per accepted submission for stories. Flat fee of £5.00 per accepted cartoon submissions. Deadline: October 2, 2024. 

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: October 2, 2024. Opens October 1. This is a monthly call.

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

Gutter. Genre: Poetry and prose in Scotland and beyond. Length: Poetry submissions can consist of up to five poems, totaling no more than 120 lines. Prose, up to 3000 words. Payment: £30. Deadline: October 4, 2024.

Space Cowboys 6. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Cowboys have a certain reckless reputation and that doesn’t fade away when you move them into space and onto alien worlds. Men and women who face hardships and rope a living out of an unforgiving landscape without waiting for orders from a distant authority. They do what needs to be done and take care of their animals, their people, and themselves." Payment: Royalty share. Deadline: October 4, 2024. 

Ecotone. Genre: Poems in the French repeating forms: Especially rondeaux, rondels, rondelets, ballades, and the like.Flash fiction and nonfiction: Up to three works between 750 and 2,000 words Payment: $100 minimum for poetry and a $200 minimum for prose. Deadline: October 5, 2024. Fee-free peroid opens October 1.

Stone's Throw. Genre: Noir, dark fiction, crime short stories. Length: between 1,000 and 2,000 words. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 7, 2024. 

Cosmic Horror Patreon. Genre: Cosmic horror, Lovecraftian, and weird fiction. Payment: 3 cents/word. Deadline: October 7, 2024. 

Confounding Cupids: When Love Goes Awry. Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, humor, and romance, appropriate for up to a “PG-13” audience. Look past Cupid’s bow, and show us the beautiful chaos of love. Confound your Cupids with unexpected results, hilarious mistakes, and terrifying consequences. Central to your story should be a match or matches full of paradoxes and delightful disorder. Payment: 6¢/word. Deadline: October 7, 2024. 

The Aesthete. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 7, 2024. 

Affirm Press. Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: All literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have a connection to Austria. 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. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 7, 2024. 

Black Ink Books. Restrictions: Open to Australian writers. Genre: Full-length general, literary and commercial non-fiction – including history, current affairs, memoir and biography. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 7, 2024. Note: Open to submissions the first week of every month.

Tales from the Moonlit Path. Genre: Dark, eerie speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $10 for fiction. Deadline: October 12, 2024. 

Flame Tree Publishing This Way Lies Madness. Genre: Horror on theme: Madness. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: October 13, 2024. 

Griffith Review. Genre: Short fiction and nonfiction up to 4,000 words. See theme. Payment: AUD 0.75/word for print prose. Deadline: October 13, 2024. 

Daikaijuzine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: October 13, 2024.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay.  Deadline: October 14, 2024.

Inner Worlds Zine. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror prose with a strong emotional or psychological focus. "We are mainly interested in fiction, but we’re open to speculative memoir or creative non fiction, as long as it has speculative elements.” Payment: £0.02 per word for each piece accepted, with a minimum £20 payment. Deadline: October 14, 2024, for members of marginalised groups only.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction; podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: Deadline: October 14, 2024.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: October 15, 2024. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, there are no submission fees for Latinx writers from September 15th to October 15th.

Electric Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

QT: Queer Toronto Literary Magazine Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, book reviews, personal essays, reflections, memoirs, as well as artwork, drawings, comics, photographs, collages, and other visual media. "Here, queer literature is not limited to explicitly queer content, but rather works created by LGBTQ2SIA+ people. Individuals from underrepresented communities, especially women, trans people, and BIPOC artists and writers are encouraged to self-identify in their submission email. Creators based in, or content featuring Toronto will be given extra consideration, but QT welcomes all pieces and artists with a connection to Canada." Payment: Featured artists and authors will receive an honorarium of $15. Issue designers will receive an honorarium of $100. Deadline: October 15, 2024. 

Spring Into SciFi. Genre: Science fiction short stories. Payment: $15. Deadline: October 15, 2024. 

Winter Horrorland. Genre: Horror. Word Count: 1,500-4,000. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Midnight Meadow Publishing's goal is to publish engaging and unique LGBTQ+ stories while elevating marginalized voices. They are interested in a wide variety of genres. Read submission guidelines HERE. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Consequence Magazine: The Culture of War. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and visual art mainly focused on the culture of war. Payment: $20 - $60 for prose and poetry, $150 for art. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

McClelland & Stewart is a division of Penguin Random House. Restrictions: Open to Black, Indigenous, and racialized writers, as well as those of other traditionally underrepresented communities. Genre: Full-length literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Painted Hearts Publishing. Genre: HOLIDAY short stories! Submissions should be between 15k and 25k words, be of a romantic nature, and contain a holiday/winter theme. All genres of LGBTQ+ romance and all heat levels are welcome. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Hub City Press. Genre: Books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. "We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 15, 2024. Fiction only.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: October 15, 2024. 

Rattle: Tribute to the Haibun. Genre: Haibun. Payment: $200. Deadline: October 16, 2024.

Belmont Story Review. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: $100 for prose, $50 for poetry. Deadline: October 16, 2024.

Roxane Gay Books. Genre: Un-agented novels, short fiction collections, memoirs, narrative nonfiction books, and personal essay collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 16, 2024.

Roxane Gay Books. Genre: Novels, short fiction, memoir, essay collections, and nonfiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 16, 2024.

Shooter. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art on theme of Coming of Age. Payment: £25 per story and £5 per poem. Deadline: October 20, 2024.

Lunate. Genre: Short stories and nonfiction of approximately 2,000 to 10,000 words. Payment: £100.  Deadline: October 20, 2024. Print journal.

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: October 20, 2024.

Speculative City. Genre: Speculative fiction set in the city.  Payment: $20-$55 according to the category and length of the submission. Deadline: October 20, 2024.

Smoking Pen Press: Time Travel. Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure on theme: Time Travel. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 21, 2024.

Girl Dad Press: Sex Change and the City. Restrictions: Any and all queer people, whatever that means to you. Genre: Personal essays, critical analyses, comics, fanfic, visual art, games, power rankings, personality quizzes, and "anything else that could theoretically be printed in a weird little book" on theme: Sex Change and the City. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 21, 2024.

Typehouse. Restrictions: October 14-21: In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, no-fee submissions are open for all Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x creators, not limited to those in the US. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 21, 2024.

Astrolabe. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 22, 2024.

Off Topic Publishing: Poetry Box. Genre: Poetry. Payment $40 CAD. Deadline: October 25, 2024. This is a monthly call. Submit by the 25th of each month.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: October 25, 2024.

Riddlebird. Genre: Literary fiction, personal essays. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 26, 2024.

Flame Tree Press: Afrofuturism. Genre: Speculative fiction that is located in "the African point of view, experience, culture, themes, and history with technology based in Africa, not the diaspora." Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: October 27, 2024. Accepts reprints.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. Theme: Disability. Payment: AUD150-275 for prose; AUD125-275 for poetry; comics and art AUD100-300. Deadline: October 27, 2024.

Flame Tree Press: Were Wolf Short Stories. Genre: Stories about werewolves, shapeshifting humans, rivalries and alliances between vampyr and werewolves. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: October 27, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 30, 2024.

Deadset Press: Rebels and Rainbows. Restrictions: Open to all Australian and New Zealand authors who identify as LGBTIQA+, from any gender identity, and ally authors. Genre: Stories that feature LGBTIQA+ characters of any gender identity across the wide universes of speculative fiction. Swashbuckling pirates, mischievous necromancers, charming elder gods, dashing bounty hunters, anything goes! Payment: $25. Deadline: October 30, 2024.

Agbowo. Restrictions: Open to African origin writers only. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, book reviews and art/photography. Payment: Single Poems - $25; Suites of poems (2-4) - $50; One act plays -$50; Essays/Nonfiction - $60; Fiction - $60; Visual Art - $35. Deadline: October 30, 2024.

How2Conquer. Genre: Nonfiction books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

The Rialto. Genre: Poetry. Payment: £20. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Banshee. Genre: Poetry, essays, flash fiction, short stories. Payment: €250 for a story/essay; €75 for flash fiction; €50/poem. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

No Exit: A Collection of Utah Horror. Genre: Travel horror with a Utah connection. Payment: Poetry - $15 USD; Flash - $20 USD; Short Fiction - $40 USD. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

Dread Mondays. Genre: Workplace horror. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Into the Dark. Genre: Character-driven dark fantasy and fantastical horror stories "that take on challenging themes, spark fear and wonder and so many other emotions, and immerse the reader in extremes of experience." Payment: $20. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

Nine Arches. Genre: Poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series. Restrictions: Open to any individual living in the U.S. who identifies as an immigrant and who either (i) was born in another country, (ii) has at least one parent who was born in another country (iii) is a refugee, or (iv) lives in the United States under Asylum or a Protection Program, such as TPS or DACA. Genre: Books of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), and hybrid texts of poetry and prose. Payment: In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Brick. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: $55–725, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Uproar. Genre: Poets and storytellers will be asked to submit a piece of writing (poem or short story) that centers around an original photograph. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

The Temz Review. Genre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

MetaStellar. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy or horror. 1000 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Diet Milk: ‘In The Bleak Midwinter.' Genre: Gothic micro/flash fiction. Payment: $3 for micro fiction, $5 for flash fiction. Deadline: October 31, 2024. (Runs from October 1 - 31)

New Writing Scotland. Restrictions: Open to writers resident in Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. Genre: All forms of writing. Payment: £50 for the first published page and £25 for each subsequent published page. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Rebel Satori Press. Genre: Book-length nonfiction on the occult and esoterica. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Cozy Mysteries from the Rock. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Cozy mystery. Length: under 10,000 words. Payment: $0.01 CAD per word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Glass Poetry Press Genre: Poetry chapbooks. "We are interested in poetry that enacts the artistic and creative precision of glass. We are not bound by any specific aesthetic; our only mission is to publish collections of high quality writing. All styles, forms and schools of poetry are welcome, though easy rhymes and "light" verse are less likely to inspire us. We like poems that show a careful understanding of language, music, passion and creativity." Payment: Authors receive ten complimentary copies and may purchase additional copies at a discounted price. Authors also receive a complimentary copy of the other chapbooks published during their year and a 15% royalty on the sales of their chapbooks. Read full guidelines HERE. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Inner Worlds Zine. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror prose with a strong emotional or psychological focus. "We are mainly interested in fiction, but we’re open to speculative memoir or creative non fiction, as long as it has speculative elements.” Payment: £0.02 per word for each piece accepted, with a minimum £20 payment. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Isele Quarterly. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography, visual art, and hybrid works that explore the theme: Air Pollution. Payment: "Modest." Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Midnight Menagerie. Genre: Stories that feature the strange and bizarre from around the cosmos and other dimensions. Payment: $15. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Dust & Dark. Genre: Horror. Payment: £0.07 per word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

 

Flash Point Science Fiction. Genre: Speculative fiction stories from 100 to 1,000 words in length. "Send us your science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and everything in between, so long as it’s short." Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: October  31, 2024.

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

Parallel Universe Publications: Swords & Sorceries. Genre: Heroic fantasy. Payment: £25; and an additional £25 if a hardcover version is issued. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

Augur Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.14 cents (CAD) per word for short fiction (1000+ words), and a flat fee of $112.00 per flash fiction piece (1000 words and under). Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Tales and Feathers. Genre: Cozy SFF fiction up to 2500 words. Payment: 11 cents CAD/word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Summer of Sci-Fi & Fantasy. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy. Length: 1500-7500 words. Payment: $0.005/word up to 7500 words. Minimum of $15. Reprints paid at full rate. Deadline: October 31, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Hub City Press. Genre: Books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. "We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024. Nonfiction only.

Dragon Soul Press: Dragon Legends. Genre: "All dragon stories. All genres accepted." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Graveside Press: Cosmic Horror Anthology.  Genre: Cosmic horror. 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. Payment: $0.02/word. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Kaleidotrope. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry—science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but also compelling work that blurs the lines between these and falls outside of neat genre categories. Payment: For fiction, $0.01/word (1 cent a word) USD. For poetry, a flat rate of $5 USD per accepted piece. For artwork, a flat rat of $60 for cover art. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Black Beacon Books: Steampunk Sleuths. Genre: Steampunk Sleuths will be an anthology of four novelettes (15 - 20,000 words) featuring detectives in a steampunk setting solving peculiar crimes. The only requirements for submission will be that the means of committing the crime (murder, theft, kidnapping...) must be clearly steampunk and the reader must be given the tools to crack the case before the solution is revealed.  Payment: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

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

The Rumpus. Genre: Essays, comics. Payment: $400 divided among all contributors. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dog Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays, and art. See theme. Payment: $10 - $25. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Rebellionlit: Three x The Fun. Genre: Flash fiction and short stories that rebel in some way. All genres. Payment: 1.5 cents/word. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

Owlkids. Restrictions: Open exclusively to BIPOC writers this month. Genre: Children's book writers and illustrators. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 31, 2024. 

Trollbreath Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 4 cents/word for originals; 1/2 cent/word for reprints. Deadline: October 31, 2024. Accepts reprints. 

AND A FEW MORE

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction. Length: Under 3,000 words preferred. Payment: $75. Deadline: Opens November 1, 2024. They open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their quota.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 15 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Ninth Letter Web Edition. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $25 per poem and $75 for prose. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of  queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Olit. Restrictions: Strong preference for Orlando based writers/submissions about Orlando and surrounding areas. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Artwork, Photography. "Send us all kinds of stuff. We love the artfully weird." Payment: $10. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Poetry Ireland Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: €50, or a year's subscription to the review. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Antiphony Press. Genre: Poetry collection. Payment: $500 plus 10 copies of your book. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

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

Cutleaf. Genre: Poetry Payment: $50 to $100. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Iron Horse. Genre: Poems, stories, and essays that center around deception: false pretenses, fraud, sleight-of-hand tricks, the Big Lie, poker faces, academic dishonesty, infidelity, AI, spin jobs, any type of monkey business. "We'll be especially happy to receive manuscripts about the lies that save people."

Payment: $100 per essay or story, and $50 per poem or flash piece. Deadline: Free day November 1, 2024.

Wyld Magick. Genre: Fantasy. Theme: Forest Fae. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

Thema. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: Maybe Next Time. Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2024. Accepts reprints.

The First Line. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.) Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction. Deadline: November 1, 2024.

57 Writing Contests in October 2024 - No entry fees

This October there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes this month range from $150,000 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! 

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

(Image: Pexels)

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Brave New Weird Award. Genre: Weird Horror reprints. "Any previously published piece of short fiction under 7.499 words originally published in the English language within the previous calendar year. Stories published in other languages are welcome if there is an English translation available." Prize: $25. Deadline: Opens October 1, 2024.

PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative. Restrictions: Applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. Prize: Grant amount not specified. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Stephen Fraser Encouragement Fund. “The Impact and Legacy Fund of SCBWI is thrilled to announce the establishment of a brand new grant program, the Stephen Fraser Encouragement Fund. Genre: Children's book. Prize: A $2,000 grant will be awarded to three children’s book authors, artists or translators who have traditionally published at least one book. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Recen­t­­ly pub­­lished or soon to be pub­lished nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Genre: Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize: CAN $25,000.  Deadline: October 1, 2024. (For books published between April 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024)

Changes Book Prize. Genre: First or second collection of poems. Prize: $10,000 and publication, Deadline: October 1, 2024.

The Russell Freedman Award for Nonfiction for a Better World. Genre: Any nonfiction book published for children or young adults, released between January 1 and December 31, 2024, is eligible. If both an author and illustrator are listed on the book cover, the prize will be split between them. Prize: $2500 plus $1000 to purchase copies of the winning book for distribution to schools and libraries. Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative. Genre: Short stories (fiction and creative nonfiction) touching on themes related to money and personal finance. Prize: The winner will receive a $1000 honorarium, and each finalist will also receive an honorarium of $150. Deadline: October 2, 2024.

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2024.

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: October 6, 2024.

The Furious Gazelle’s Halloween Writing Contest. Genre: Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays and creative non-fiction. Prize: $50. Deadline: October 6, 2024. (Unfortunately, the website lists a deadline date without the year. So this could be last year's contest deadline.) 

Neal Peirce Foundation Journalism Travel Grants. Genre: Journalism. "Grants are intended to support journalists in covering undertold stories about ways to make cities and their metro regions work better for all their people. Grants will cover travel expenses necessary for on-the-ground reporting. Full-time freelancers as well as journalists currently employed by a news organization are eligible to apply. The grants are for journalists to travel to cities within the U.S. to produce one or more stories for publication." Prize: Up to $1500. Deadline: October 7, 2024.

Quarterly West.  Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $500. Deadline: No fee days: October 7 -8, 2024. (After that point, submissions for BIPOC writers only will remain free.)

Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to fiction writers aged 21+ who have not yet published a book and have never been enrolled in an MFA program. Writer must not have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher at time of application, and writer cannot have been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Genre: Short fiction that "speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference." Prize: Free tuition for all of One Story's online classes and programming, a travel stipend of $2,000 and tuition to attend week-long summer writers' conference in Brooklyn, and a full manuscript review/consultation of a story collection or novel in progress with an executive editor. Deadline: October 9, 2024.

Welter: 60 Years, 60 Words Contest. Genre: "Give us 60 of your most provocative, compelling, relevant words." Prize: $60. Deadline: October 11, 2024.

North Carolina State Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of North Carolina with no published fiction books. Genre: Short stories. Prize: $500 for fiction (up to 5,000 words) and $250 for shorter fiction (up to 1,200 words). Deadline: October 12, 2024.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction; under 1,000 words. See theme. Prize: $30. Deadline: October 14, 2024. Opens October 1.

Waltham Forest Poetry Competition. Genre: Poem on theme: FRIENDSHIP. Prize: 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20. Deadline: October 14, 2024. No entry fee for writers aged 18 and under.

Latino Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Latino authors who are at least 18 years of age or older and residing anywhere in the United States. Genre: Children’s stories written by and about Latino people. Must be original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–800 words). Prize: $1,000 cash prize. Deadline: October 14, 2024.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States.  Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement.  Prize: $60,500 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Peripheries Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem. Prize: $500 - $700. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Cave Canem Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black writers of African descent. Genre: Poetry.  Prize: Winner receives $10,000, publication by Graywolf Press in Fall 2025, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading with the judge presented by Cave Canem. Deadline: October 15, 2024.

Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. Restrictions: Books must be first edition English-language books written by a Canadian or American citizen or permanent resident of either country. Works written by women or non-binary authors are eligible for submission. The Prize welcomes and encourages submissions by transgender woman authors. Genre: Published novel, short story collection or graphic novel. Prize: $150,000 Canadian dollars. Deadline: Entries for books published between August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, must be received on or before October 16, 2024.

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures. Awards are given for both fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 16, 2024.

John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize. Genre: Published book of poems. Publishers may submit four copies of a debut full-length poetry collection (or bound galleys) published originally in the English language. Prize: €10,000 (approximately $11,400) Deadline: October 18, 2024.

Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry. “We are looking for poems that capture the spirit of a certain place, its texture and histories, that consider water pollution in local/global environments and the damage done to our rivers, or which focus in on the grandeur of an old oak tree, aware of its subterranean network of roots and mycelial webs speaking to other organisms in the forest.” Prize: First prize £200, with £50 for second place, and £25 for third place. There will also be 10 highly commended poems with no financial remuneration. Entrants can be of any or no faith. No previous experience of creative writing or poetry required. All are welcome." Deadline: October 23, 2024.

The Letter Review Prizes. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, unpublished books. Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 24, 2024.

Eye Contact Award in Genre Flash Fiction. Genre: Romance flash fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: $250. Deadline: October 25, 2024.

Zocalo Book Prize. Genre: US-published nonfiction book that best enhances our understanding of community and the forces that strengthen or undermine human connectedness and social cohesion. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 25, 2024.

Writers' Hour. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words or less in any genre on theme. (See website for theme) Prize: $100. Deadline: October 25, 2024. Note: This is a weekly contest.

The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 27, 2024.

T Paulo Urcanse Prize For Literary Excellence. Genre: Poetry and prose. " Whether you be a lonely writer looking for community and wanting to make your literary debut, or a similarly eggheaded and celebrated writer in the vein of the namesake of this prize, we welcome your submissions with open arms, without fees or prerequisites, without ever having known you or met you at a cocktail party where we discussed the terror of contemporary history and post-structuralist theory or the pitfalls of the first person perspective in a short story or weird childhood stories that involve stray cats and the throwing of tennis balls at moving vehicles from behind bushes at night in the summer on the Main Street of the provincial town where we were raised." Prize: $50 - $250. Deadline: October 28, 2024.

Storyhouse: Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $250 in any single year. First prize winners of previous contests, while ineligible for prizes in regular contests, can compete in this one.  Genre: Travel Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Deadline: October 30, 2024.

Queer Adventurers LGBTQIA Writing Contest. Restrictions; Open to any writer 18+ from anywhere in the world who identifies as LGBTQ+. Genre: 1,000 to 1,500 word personal essays on the theme of Border Crossings. Prize: $150. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Scottish Book Trust: Monthly Competition. Restrictions: Open to four categories: adult writers, all-age Gaelic writers, young writers 5-11 and young writers 12-18. Genre: Short story based on prompts. (See site for prompt) Prize: Various items. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

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

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: October 31, 2024. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

Toad Shade Zine. Genre: Fiction art. See theme. Prize: $50. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

US Naval Institute Essay Prize. Genre: Essay. Length: 3,000 words max. Great power competition will require the Sea Services to rethink how to address national, strategic, and operational challenges and the way they will have to fight. Essays may address any topic. Prize: First Prize: $6000; Second Prize: $3000; Third Prize: $2000. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Shady Grove Literary. Genre: Any style, genre, tone of flash fiction. Length: 300 words max. Prize: $100. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

The Solstice Prize. Restrictions: Open to 7-17 year olds. Genre: Short stories, blog posts, and poems. Nature writing. Prize: Publication and cash prizes for winners in three age groups: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-17. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Graybeal-Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets. Restrictions: Poets living in or born in Virginia, as well as those who have lived in Virginia for two or more years in the past, are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 31, 2024. (Closes after 500 submissions)

New York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize. Genre: Nonfiction history or historical fiction for middle-grade readers that was published in the US in the current calendar year. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £2,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Volcano Prize Restrictions: Open to a UK or Irish writer, or a writer currently resident in those countries. Genre: A novel focusing on the experience of travel away from home. Inspired by Malcolm Lowry’s novel, Under the Volcano and in celebration of its author, the prize aims to inspire literary excellence and encourage writers to travel and to write from the resulting experience. Publishers must enter the work. Prize: The winner will receive £2,000 and the runner-up £750. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

USNI General Prize Essay Contest. Genre: Essay may be on any topic. "We are living in an era of intense global competition. Renewed great power competition will require the Sea Services to rethink how to address national, strategic, and operational challenges and the way they will have to fight. Authors may address any topic." Prize: $6,000. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

ACDI Literary Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors with a disability and/or chronic illness. Authors must be a British national OR resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for three years prior to the date of submission for the award, and writing in English and submissions must have been published or self-published in the UK. Genre: Novel which includes a disabled or chronically ill character or characters. Prize: Winner will receive £1,000 and two runners-up £500 each. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

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: October 31, 2024.

Writers & Artists Working-Class Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to unagented and uncontracted UK or Republic of Ireland residents age 18+ who self-identify as a writer from a working-class background. Genre: Unpublished work-in-progress. Prize: 200 pounds prize, mentoring sessions, networking event opportunities, a complimentary one-year membership to The Society of Authors, and various Bloomsbury books. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

The Young Walter Scott Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK authors aged 11-19. Genre: Historical fiction between 800 and 2000 words. Prizes: £500 travel and research grant to further explore historical places in the UK, and an invitation to the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Two runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all four winning stories are published in a special YWSP anthology book. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: October 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: October 31, 2024. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

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, 2024)

44 Outstanding Writing Conferences and Workshops in October 2024

This October there are more than three dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events 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. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

Be sure to check out Highlights list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year. 

(Image: James River, Flickr)

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Bookgardan: A Year's Sustenance for Women Writers. October 2024 to October 2025. "Bring your book project and your literary practice to full fruition in Bookgardan, a year-long program of sustained, one-on-one mentorship and advanced craft curriculum created by an acclaimed writer, seasoned editor, and devoted & inspiring literary mentor, shared with an intimate cohort of like-minded literary artists. Hone your work-in-progress, develop your technical expertise, and refine your inimitable artistic process over twelve months bookended by two full retreat weeks as fall writers-in-residence at Craigardan, an interdisciplinary mountainside residency program for artists in the majestic Adirondacks of upstate New York. Now enrolling its fifth cohort, Bookgardan is unlike any other writing program, book incubator, or literary mentorship. Designed for women writers with book-length, literary fiction and creative nonfiction projects, created in partnership with a residential artists’ program that fosters collaboration and cross-fertilization among artists, and intentional in its goal of building a lasting, mutually supportive community of women writers, at Bookgardan’s heart is Kate Moses’ passionate dedication to helping other women writers realize their vision for their work, made manifest in the unstinting one-on-one mentorships she forges with each writer and their book." Applications due September 1, 2024. 

Travel & Words: Northwest Travel Writers Conference. October 1 - 3, 2024: Tacoma, Washington. TRAVEL & WORDS offers a multi-faceted conference for travel journalists interested in exploring Northwest destinations. The primary focus of the conference is to connect journalists with destinations throughout the Northwest. Attendees will have one-on-one meetings with destination marketers to learn about their destination and lay a foundation for productive working relationships. In addition, attendees will enjoy expert presentations about current topics in travel content publishing and have plenty of opportunities for networking and exploring the host destination. In more than a decade of conferences, Travel & Words has become an important force in the Northwest travel industry. Travel & Words is by invitation only. There is no registration fee for journalists. If you would like to be considered for an invitation to the next Travel & Words conference, email Allen Cox at editor@nwtravelmag.com.

Georgia Romance Writers: Moonlight and Magnolias. October 3 – 5, 2024: Atlanta, Georgia. Includes keynote speakers, workshops, editor/agent appointments, autographing & bookfair, awards banquet.

Eerie Elixir 2024. October 3 - 6, 2024: Bethlehem, PA. Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls! Oh my! Join us for a special spoooooooky Elixir Writing Retreat! Co-hosted by professional ghost hunter turned literary agent, Stacey Graham, Eerie Elixir will surprise and inspire you. And maybe scare you just a bit! Eerie Elixir 2024 features:

• Daily dedicated writing time

 

• Expert instruction on craft and the business of writing

 

• A community of writers at all stages of their career

And if we’re lucky, we’ll enjoy a paranormal experience or two ourselves!

The 2024 Online Florida Writing Workshop. October 4-5, 2024: Online. This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop, October 4-5, 2024. 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 “Florida” 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.

Flathead River Writers Conference. October 4 - 6, 2024: Kalispell, MT. Writers help writers in this two day conference packed with energizing speakers and workshops. Features: Workshops, MS preparation & submission, working with agents, movie deals, media use, & children's book publishing.

Write on the Sound Writers' Conference and Pre-Conference. Oct 4 - 6, 2024: Edmonds, WA. Founded in 1985, Write on the Sound writers’ conference (WOTS) is a small, affordable conference focused on the craft of writing. A variety of sessions, workshops and panel discussions are available for all levels and interests, including valuable information regarding today’s writing and publishing industry. 

James River Writers Conference. October 4 - 6, 2024: Richmond, Virginia. James River Writers is excited to offer both in-person and online elements for our conference this year. Join us for Master Classes online, on Friday, October 4. Then, join us at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (in Richmond, Virginia) for a full slate of programs focusing on the craft and business of writing. Look forward to lively panel discussions, live critique sessions with literary agents, fun and engaging plenary sessions, and agent one-on-one meetings (standard with your ticket). In addition, we’ve included opportunities for networking and socializing, because community is at the heart of everything we do. Since 2003, this multi-day event  has been known for its inspiring, collegial atmosphere and hospitality. Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey, or a seasoned professional, there’s something for everyone. Application Deadline: September 30, 2024. (If you missed the deadline, put this on your calendar for next year.)

State Writing Conference & Convention, sponsored by The Kansas Authors Club, Oct 4 - 6, 2024: Junction City, KS. Theme: Words Take Flight: Choose Your Own Adventure. Writing workshops, panels, and presentations. 

The Creativity Workshop in New York. October 4 - 7, 2024: NY, NY. "The Creativity Workshop is an experiential course of doing and experimenting. Our exercises and instructors’ talks focus on helping you learn practical techniques to stimulate your imagination and innovative thinking." 

Central Coast Writers' Conference. October 5, 2024: San Luis Obispo, CA. "Unlike other Writers' conferences, this year's conference has been expanded to encompass the wider 'Content Creator Community.' Our goal is to amplify the connection of content creators on the Central Coast and beyond including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, influencers, authors, narrators, journalists, artists, screenwriters, musicians, and of course - writers of all genres! As the medium for literary work has expanded beyond the book, content creators from all walks of life are encouraged to attend. There will be 16+ expert panels, featuring 50+ experts & thought leaders." 

Picture Book Summit. Oct 5, 2024: Online. A one day live event for picture book writers including author keynotes, interviews, workshops and agent & editor panels. Recordings provided for attendees for four months post-conference.

DFW Writers Conference. October 5 - 6, 2024: Hurst, TX. Featuring pitch sessions with literary agents, advanced classes, engaging panels, interactive workshops.

Working Retreat: Novels in Verse. October 6 - 9, 2024: Boyds Mills, PA. Verse Novelists, Novelists, and Poets, join Rajani LaRocca and Chris Baron for time to create and connect. Ideal for those working on a verse novel at any level, even in the idea stage.

Crafting Meaningful Contemporary Novels: An Online Course with Editor Kat Brzozowski. October 8 - 29, 2024: Online. Join editor Kat Brzozowski to develop the essential elements of character and voice that will help you craft a deeply meaningful contemporary novel for today's readers. The course features weekly live discussions and writing exercises, Q&A sessions, 1:1 feedback, and more.

Writing More Than One Place: A Generative Workshop. October 9, 2024: Online. Exploring the ecology and history of diaspora, this class turns to the work of Catherine Chen, Leslie Sainz, and Xiao Yue Shan to examine our personal connections to place in the context of colonialism. What happens when we celebrate the “exotic” cultivar, but not the body who imagined it? How do we interpret displaced species in the context of climate change? Through generative exercises, we’ll study language formed in the ecotone between home and homeland, offices and public spaces.

Revising Your Novel in Verse: An Online Course. October 9 - November 20, 2024: Online. The verse novel is an art all its own—sculpted through story, and the act of revision. If you’ve done the hard work of drafting your novel in verse and are now ready to immerse yourself in revisions, we invite you to join us!

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference. October 10 - 12, 2024: Tempe, AZ. "The Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference creates a unique and intimate creative writing experience where writers of all backgrounds, genres, and skill levels gather together and connect through the celebration and study of literary craft, culture, and community. Featuring over 25 faculty members teaching more than 50 sessions, we seek to create a warm and welcoming environment that meets people wherever they are, where writers can learn from and support each other as they work toward their goals. Beyond regular programming, we also feature advanced pre-conference workshops, an exhibitor fair, scholarships, and fellowships. We also offer opportunities to advertise with or sponsor the conference as well."

Ozark Creative Writers Conference. October 10 - 12, 2024: Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Workshops by published authors, editors and agents; Publishers Row, independent publishers available to hear about your next project.

Women Writing the West 2024 Conference. October 10 – 12, 2024: Denver, CO. Twelve Workshops and Panels will be presented during the conference. Our guest Editors and Agents will present a panel on the state of the publishing industry, and be available for Pitch Appointments. 

Futurescapes. October 10 – 13, 2024. Workshop the first 6,500 words of your Novel;  7:1 Student-Faculty Ratio; Polish Your Query Package (Query & Synopsis); Work with Top Agents & Authors in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror. APPLY EARLY.

Emerald City Writers' Conference. October 12 - 13, 2024: Online. Local Romance Writers of America conference, featuring film and television scouts, who will be taking pitches along with editors and agents, keynote speakers, workshops, and a master class. 

Working Retreat: Chapter Books and Early Readers. October 13 - 16, 2024: Boyds Mills, PA. Join Debbi Michiko Florence, Kashmira Sheth, and guests for time to create and connect. This working retreat is open to all who are writing for newly independent readers, including those beginning their creative journeys and those who have more experience. 

Why Horror: A Two-Part Mini on Haunted Tales for MG Readers. October 15 - 17, 2024: Online. Join award-winning middle grade author Ally Malinenko for this short course in (as Ally says), "Crafting stories that show readers how to recognize the monsters on the page so that one day, when they inevitably come in real life, they know how to slay them!"

Youngstown Fall Literary Festival. October 17 - 19, 2024: Youngstown, Ohio. This year's festival will feature 145 accomplished presenters from California to Maryland and Rhode Island to Florida, presenting on understanding, writing, teaching, translating, editing and publishing literature. Discover your new favorite writer; peruse the dozens of bookfair tables; get a jump on a new piece of writing; join a discussion on writing programs in the community college, publishing as a small press, nature and eco writing, coming to writing late in life, and so much more.

Writer's Digest Annual Conference. October 17 - 20, 2024: NYC. Writer's Digest Annual Conference offers everything you need to advance your writing career creatively and professionally. Gain invaluable tips to improve your craft, explore publishing options and learn how to establish a sustainable career—all while being inspired by successful authors and your fellow attendees. It’s all brought to you by Writer’s Digest, the experts at nurturing and developing writers at every stage of their career for over 100 years.

New York Comicon. October 17 - 20, 2024. "New York Comic Con is your event. Where you can feel unafraid to geek out. Where you’re accepted and embraced for being yourself. Where you can experience the best in pop culture because no matter what fandom you’re passionate about, we have it waiting here for you. Be inspired by award-winning comic artists and Japanese anime creators. Get star struck over your favorite TV and film idols. Treat yourself to exclusive fandom gear and unique artwork. But most importantly, create all of those memories with the people you care about the most. Because this event is for you. To embrace your inner hero or root for the villain. To geek out as a family. To celebrate a weekend together you’ll never forget."

Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (October). October 17 - 22, 2024: Boyds Mills, PA. This intensive, transformative 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. Application deadline July 31. (Put this on your calendar for next year)

Annual Florida Writers Conference. October 18 - 20, 2024: Altamonte Springs, Florida. Over 75 workshops, major speakers, agent interviews, professional manuscript critiques, lively social events, and much more.

Steamboat Springs Writers Conference. October 18 - 19, 2024: Steamboat Springs, CO. Two instructors, seminar-type workshops for all levels, beginning to professional. Topics change each year. Limited enrollment. 

The Rochester Writers Fall Conference. October 19, 2024: Rochester, MI. Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions with a focus on nonfiction. Open to new writers, working journalists, and published authors. Professional development to move writers to the next level. 

Annual Maryland Writer’s Conference. October 19 - 20, 2024: Baltimore, MD. The Brain to Bookshelf Annual Conference offers over 20 workshops and agent panels. Agent pitches and critiques are available, but agent slots are limited, so register early. Keynote each day from award-winning best-selling author Moriah Richard.

Craft of Writing Conference. October 19 - 20, 2024: Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Our theme this year is The Power of Storytelling and we will highlight Native American storytelling and Native American writers will be presenting one track of sessions on Saturday. We will have even more breakout sessions and are adding a second day on Sunday that will be a standalone focus on publishing and marketing your work. You’ll be able to register for just one or both days – whichever fits your needs best!" 

Viable Paradise Science Fiction Writers' Workshop. Oct 20 - 25, 2024: Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Viable Paradise is a unique one-week residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. The workshop is intimate, intense, and features extensive time spent with best-selling and award-winning authors and professional editors currently working in the field. VP concentrates on the art of writing fiction people want to read, and this concentration is reflected in post-workshop professional sales by our alumni. Closed. Application deadline May 15. (Put this on your calendar for next year)

Research Techniques: A Two-Night Mini. October 22 - October 24: Online. Research is the backbone of nonfiction. It also adds depth, detail, and accuracy to fiction. Join authors Stephanie Gibeault, Jolene Gutiérrez, and Anita Yasuda as they share the tools and strategies writers need to dig into research with confidence. Whether you’re writing for the trade market, the educational market, or magazines, understanding how to conduct and organize your research matters.

Medical Writing and Communication Conference. October 23 - 26, 2024: New Orleans, LA. Workshops in medical writing, designing materials for patients, analysis, clinical reports, and more.

Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. October 25 - 26, 2024: Dallas, Texas. The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level. Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, and student classes. In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals, who receive hand-made trophies, more than $26,000 in cash awards and have their work published in Mayborn's journal, Ten Spurs, or anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.

Ossabaw Weekend Writer’s Retreat. October 25 - 27, 2024: Ossabaw Island, GA. Workshops and seminars led by nationally recognized faculty, and evening readings (special emphasis on ghost stories) by faculty and participants. Application deadline: September 30. (Put this on your calendar for next year)

Kentucky State Poetry Society. October 25 - 27, 2024: Online. Readings, workshops, panels, and keynote. "The Kentucky State Poetry Society seeks to inspire, encourage, and develop Kentucky’s poets through a wide variety of workshops, lectures, and publishing opportunities. The Kentucky State Poetry Society publishes the biannual literary journal Pegasus, offers a student and adult poetry contest, and hosts an annual poetry conference." Note: Membership not limited to Kentucky residents. Registration: $15. Will be conducted via Zoom.

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. October 25 - 28, 2024: Milwaukee, WI. Panels, workshops, readings, a book fair, and opportunities to meet with editors for translators. "The ALTA Annual Conference is a refreshingly collegial gathering of amateurs and professionals alike, both within the profession and outside it, all wholeheartedly committed to fostering, furthering, and supporting the practice of literary translation." Will be held in person.

Latinx Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers. October 27 - 30, 2024: Boyds Mills, PA. Join M. García Peña, NoNieqa Ramos, and Alex Villasante for their fifth annual, in-community retreat designed exclusively for Latinx writers and illustrators. 

Breakout Novel Intensive. October 29 - December 10, 2024: Online. Included are new or revised units on story discovery, strong voice, standout characters, the inner journey, compelling story worlds, beautiful writing, creating resonance and finding meaning in both story and process. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more. Instructor: Donald Maass. 

Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. October 30 - November 3, 2024: Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah. The Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp is for the writer who has a full, book-length manuscript (novel, memoir, short story or essay collection) and would like to engage with a small group for a serious and productive response. The extended weekend will include an intimate manuscript workshop, craft panels, readings, and individual meetings – the perfect pre-publication boot camp for any manuscript. Classes are limited to 5 participants.

Rainbow Retreat: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers. October 31 - November 3, 2024: Boyds Mills, PA. Experience our in-community Rainbow Retreat that warmly welcomes queer and questioning authors and illustrators who are crafting stories for children and teen audiences. Our goal is to provide a lightly structured retreat for you to explore your creativity and share your stories while fostering connections with a diverse and accepting community. Embrace your authentic self, make progress on your stories, and find ways to amplify fellow creatives.