YA Debut Gets Six-Figure Deal: How did Scott Bergstrom Do It?

Scott Bergstrom made publishing news last November when his debut novel, The Cruelty, got a six-figure advance with attached movie rights.

Scott originally self-published his book, but not in the usual fashion. As an advertising executive, Scott knew that marketing was everything. He formed a LLC, NuCodex Publishing, which allowed him to display his book at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It generated a huge amount of interest, grabbing the attention of an agent - and Hollywood.

What is interesting about Scott's self-publishing story is that he planned on making a bestseller from the start. He did not spend time querying agents (which may have taken years). Instead he built success with careful planning.

First he chose to write a thriller (great for film adaptations), with a teenage main character (YA is very popular), using tried-and-true tropes from previously successful books/movies.

Then he drew on his own experience as a marketer to catapult his book into the limelight. And he began his plan when he had only written a few pages.

The moral to this story - think ahead.

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YA Debut Gets Six-Figure Deal, Sold to 16 Territories and Jerry Bruckheimer

By Sue Corbett, Nov 24, 2015 Publishers Weekly


A six-figure deal for North American rights to The Cruelty is the latest in a string of good things that have happened to Scott Bergstrom’s debut novel in just the past month. The manuscript, self-published a year ago, caught fire in October at the Frankfurt Book Fair with sales, so far, into 16 territories. “Every morning I wake up to more exciting e-mails,” said his agent, Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

The buzz that those foreign sales generated ignited interest from Hollywood. In late October, Paramount secured the film rights, with Jerry Bruckheimer attached. (Yes, that Jerry Bruckheimer – Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop.)

And, now, Bergstrom has a U.S. publisher for his thriller, which Adams describes as a “YA Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets The Bourne Identity, with a dash of Homeland.” (Adams said she got one offer for the book based on nothing more than that description.) Jean Feiwel of Macmillan’s Feiwel and Friends won the book, plus a sequel, in a six-house auction. Publication is scheduled for winter 2017.

Read the rest of this fascinating article at Publishers Weekly. 

2 Agents Seeking Clients - Science Fiction, Fantasy, MG, YA, Nonfiction & more

Updated 7/3/20

Here are two new agents seeking writers. Paul Stevens (Donald Maass Literary Agency) is looking for science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and humor (both fiction and nonfiction). Tanusri Prasanna (Foundry) is looking for kidlit, ranging from picture books and middle-grade to YA (including YA/Adult crossovers), and narrative nonfiction.

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

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

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Paul Stevens of Donald Maass Literary Agency

CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS

About Paul: Paul Stevens joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2016. He has worked as an editor for 15 years, primarily at Tor Books, where he edited science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Paul has worked with authors such as Alex Bledsoe (The Hum and the Shiver), Marie Brennan (A Natural History of Dragons), Robert Brockway (The Unnoticeables), Tobias S. Buckell (Crystal Rain), Adam Christopher (Made to Kill), Hilary Davidson (The Damage Done), David Edison (The Waking Engine), Michael Livingston (The Shards of Heaven), A. Lee Martinez (Gil’s All Fright Diner), and Patrick Taylor (An Irish Country Doctor).

What he is looking for: Paul is looking for science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and humor (both fiction and nonfiction). He’s looking for strong stories with interesting characters. Well-rounded LGBT characters and characters of color are a plus.

How to submit: Please query at query.pstevens@maassagency.com. Include a cover letter and a synopsis pasted in the body of the email. (If your book has a twist at the end, please don’t reveal the twist in the synopsis. Paul needs to judge how well a twist works in the actual manuscript, and it’s better to read the ending cold without spoilers.) Please also include the first 5 pages of your manuscript pasted into the email. No attachments.

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Tanusri Prasanna of DeFiore and Co.

About Tanusri: Tanusri had a somewhat unorthodox transition into publishing. A lawyer by training, she has a PhD in legal philosophy & human rights from Oxford University, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Law School. Along the way she worked in the legal department of the World Bank in Washington and as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School. An avid fan of children’s literature, Tanusri joined a book club devoted to kidlit in 2012, which sowed the seeds of her decision to become a literary agent specializing in children’s books. To this end, before joining HSG, she gained valuable experience interning at Knopf Young Readers and Foundry Literary+ Media.

Tanusri was born and raised in India and although she has lived in the UK and then in New York for the past fourteen years, she has strong roots in the Indian sub-continent. She lives with her husband and two children in a household of multiple languages and religions; together they cover all four houses of Hogwarts (even Slytherin). Given her varied professional and personal background, Tanusri is also eager to find writers who can authentically articulate diverse voices and communicate the beautiful complexity of the world around us in their stories. You can follow her on twitter at @TanusriPrasanna.

What she is seeking: She looks for accessible and wide-reaching, narrative nonfiction set against themes in social justice and representation, as well as memoirs and select fiction featuring diverse perspectives, contexts, and even storytelling styles. In the YA and middle-grade spaces, Tanusri is drawn to contemporary coming-of-age stories, charming and relatable romances, ambitious world-building fantasies, and well-plotted, voice-driven suspense. She’s also a big fan of stories set in schools or interesting neighborhoods told from fresh viewpoints. For picture books, her list includes both meaningful, lyrical, stories as well as ones that bring alive the wonder and complexity of our world with humor and heart. She’s also interested in nonfiction that excites the imagination and curiosity of young readers.

How to Submit:  You can query her at tpsubmissions@defliterary.com with a concise pitch, short bio, and a two-page synopsis if querying YA/MG fiction. For picture books, please include the entire text in the body of your email. If querying an illustrated project, please provide sample illustrations and links to your website/Instagram page.

4 Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts from Writers

Updated 1/13/25

Here are four science fiction and fantasy publishers that don't require an agent. Several offer competitive advances and royalties.

In publishing, as with all businesses, it is "brand recognition" that counts, and some of the names on this list are very well known.

Related posts:

Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

Top 5 Sites for Science Fiction Writers


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Edge Publishing

Small Canadian press. You do not have to be Canadian to submit your work, they accept manuscripts from any nationality worldwide. They have a distribution throughout North America.

What they are looking for: Science Fiction and Fantasy between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Adult audience (20 and up).

Terms: Advance and royalties. "We rarely ever negotiate the royalty percentages and/or advances that we offer, and if we do so, then only with previously published writers."
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Aethon

Aethon is open to all genre fiction, with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy. "We don’t care what sub-genre you write in. Hard Sci-fi, Epic Fantasy, Space opera, Military SF, Alt/History, Time Travel and more." Aethon does not offer an advance, though they do give royalties. Books are published in all English-language territories – notably the US, Canada, UK and Australia – and are distributed through Ingram. Length should be between 60,000 and 80,000 words. Read their guidelines here.

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Baen Books

Baen Books was founded in 1983 by science fiction editor and publisher Jim Baen (now deceased). Baen was one of the first publishers to use the Internet as a means of "spreading the word" about a book or author. Publishes in digital and print format.

What they are looking for: Science fiction with powerful plots with solid scientific and philosophical underpinnings are essential for science fiction submissions. For fantasy, any magical system must be both rigorously coherent and integral to the plot, and overall the work must at least strive for originality. Manuscripts should be at least 100,000 words. 

How to Submit: Send your manuscript by using the submission form at: https://www.baen.com/slush/index/submit

Attach the manuscript as a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file. Any other format will not be considered.

Send the manuscript as a single file (do not break it into separate chapter files). The form only accepts a single file so any synopsis and contact info needs to be in the file with your manuscript.

Your submission must include your name, email address*, postal mailing address, and telephone number on both your cover letter and the first page of the manuscript. *[If you have an alternate permanent email address, please include it, in case your primary account goes out of service.] Include a plot outline if possible.

Click HERE for more details.
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Arcadia

Arcadia (UK) is Quercus’ imprint for science fiction, fantasy and horror. Established in 2011 as Jo Fletcher Books, and helmed by the inimitable Jo herself, the imprint established a reputation as the home for a small and beautifully curated list of incredible authors and modern classics 

Submissions: See their guidelines here.

7 Agents Seeking Women's Fiction

Updated 1/12/25

Here are seven agents looking for women's fiction. All work with reputable agencies. Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

You can also look up the agent on Query Tracker to get information about response times, and do a search to see if the agent has done any interviews. Knowing an agent's preferences before submitting will help you hone your query letter.

Note: For a complete list of new and established agents actively seeking clients go to: Agents Seeking Clients

Carly Watters (P.S. Literary)

About Carly: Carly is a Senior Agent and VP at P.S. Literary. She began her publishing career in London at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. She has a BA in English Literature from Queen's University and a MA in Publishing Studies from City University London. Since joining PSLA in 2010 Carly has had great success launching new authors domestically and abroad.

How to submit: Send your query to: query@psliterary.com. For fiction queries, please format email subjects as “Fiction: TITLE / GENRE / CREATOR NAME” “Do not send attachments. If you don’t receive a response to your query within 4-6 weeks it means a no from the agency. 

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Stacy Testa (Writers House)

About Stacy: Stacy joined Writers House in 2011 as an assistant to senior agent Susan Ginsburg and has been actively building her own client list since 2013. Previously, she interned at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Whimsy Literary. Stacy graduated cum laude with a BA in English from Princeton University.

How to submit: Please submit your query, including the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email (no attachments), to stesta [at] writershouse.com. Please do not query multiple Writers House agents simultaneously.

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Sharon Pelletier (Dystel & Goderich)

About Sharon: Sharon Pelletier joined DG&B in 2013 after working for Europa Editions, Vantage Press, and Barnes & Noble. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, Sharon moved to New York in 2009 and now can't imagine ever living anywhere else. In addition to growing her own list, Sharon oversees digital projects and social media for the agency.

How to submit: Submit your query via her querymanager HERE.

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Carrie Pestritto (Laura Dail Agency)

About Carrie: Carrie Pestritto worked at Writers House and Prospect Agency before becoming part of the LDLA team. She earned her BA in English, cum laude, from Amherst College in 2009, also spending a year studying abroad at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University. As an agent, she loves the thrill of finding new authors with strong, unique voices and working closely with her clients. Carrie always strives to help create books that will introduce readers to new worlds and is drawn in by relatable characters, meticulous world-building, and unusual, compelling premises.

How to submit: Use her submission form here. 

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Ann Leslie Tuttle (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC)

Ann Leslie Tuttle joined DG&B in 2017 after working for 20 years at Harlequin Books where she worked on an extensive and varied list of bestselling and award-winning titles in romance and women’s fiction.  She received her B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from the University of Virginia. Helping to grow the careers of established and debut writers has always been Ann Leslie’s passion.

What she is looking for: Ann Leslie is especially seeking women’s fiction (e.g. relationships, family sagas, historical fiction and psychological thrillers) romance (e.g. romantic comedies, medical romance and contemporaries).

How to submit: Send your query to atuttle@dystel.com, and include the full query in the body of the email, not as an attachment. Do include a writing sample of the first 25 pages of your manuscript (fiction) in the body of the email below your query letter.

                                                               

Logan Harper of Jane Rotrosen

Prior to joining JRA in 2021, Logan was an Associate Agent at a mid-sized literary agency in Manhattan. A native Washingtonian, Logan is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle and the Columbia Publishing Course in Oxford.

What she is seeking: She’s seeking a variety of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to women’s fiction, book club fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, mystery/crime, upmarket and literary fiction. She is always eager to read and champion underrepresented voices and perspectives.

How to submit: Send your query to: LHARPER@JANEROTROSEN.COM. For fiction, include a synopsis and the first three chapters of your work in the body of the email.

                                                               

Ms. Darlene Chan of Linda Chester Literary Agency

A veteran of the film industry, Darlene Chan served as an executive for Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures (both times under Jeffrey Katzenberg), Davis Entertainment, and as an independent producer. Among the titles she has been associated with are Grumpy Old Men, Beverly Hills Cop, A Thing Called Love and Shattered. In 2009, Darlene established Darlene Chan PR, which specializes in web PR and social media for authors. Among her PR clients are Live Talks Los Angeles, Daniel H. Wilson, Joe Ide, Elizabeth Brundage, Tara Ison, and Denise Hamilton. 

What she is seeking: Darlene is interested in stories by and about BIPOC, women’s fiction, literary fiction, chick lit/rom-com, crime fiction, pop culture, narrative non-fiction and non-fiction books on film and the entertainment industry.

How to submit: Please send queries to her at darlene@lindachester.com, including the first two chapters in the body of the email.

19 Magazines That Pay $500 or More

Updated 1/10/25

While most literary journals generally offer modest compensation (if any), there are some magazines that pay generous professional rates.

Many of these specialize in niche markets, which means they have a loyal readership. If you happen to have expertise or a background that would appeal to their audiences, these magazines will be happy to read your pitch. Quite a few accept poetry.

Many of these magazines have submission periods and some have themed issues, so read their guidelines carefully. 

For more paying markets see: Paying Markets

Also see:

325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction

These magazines represent everything from speculative fiction, to poetry, to gardening. Payments range from $1.25 to $1,000. You will find a home for your work in this list.

Top 12 Paying Markets for Fiction, Personal Essays and Poetry 

Here are a dozen prestigious literary magazines that accept submissions of poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. None charge submission fees, and all pay writers at professional or semi-professional rates.

Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

If you write science fiction, fantasy, or horror you will want to pore over this list. I have included pay ranges as well as whether they accept simultaneous submissions and/or reprints.

185 Literary Magazines Accepting Reprints

Most magazines do not accept reprints, but some welcome them. I have indicated which markets are currently paying writers.

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Earth Island Journal

"We cover the entire spectrum of environmental issues, including: wildlife and lands conservation; innovations in science and technology; public policy and the politics of environmental protection; climate and energy; animal rights; public health; environmental justice and cultural survival; and environmentally related film, music, and books.

Whenever possible, we seek to tell the stories of individuals and communities who are successfully defending and restoring the Earth. On-the-ground reports from outside North America are especially welcomed. These pieces should be appropriate for an educated, environmentally savvy readership. We do not consider technical or academic reports."

Length and Payment: 25 cents/word for shorter dispatches (1,200-1,500 words) and for longer investigative features (2,500-3,000 words). You can expect to earn about $750-$1000 for an in-depth feature story. For online reports, the fee is $200.

How to submit: Query only.

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VQR

"VQR strives to publish the best writing we can find. While we have a long history of publishing accomplished and award-winning authors, we also seek and support emerging writers. We read unsolicited fiction, poetry, and nonfiction submissions June 15 to July 15, and October 1 to November 1 each year through our Submittable portal. We read nonfiction pitches from June 15 to December 1." Note: No genre fiction.

Payment: $200 per poem, up to 4 poems; for a suite of 5 or more poems, payment is $1,000. For short fiction, $1,000.  For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Online content is generally paid at $100-$200, depending upon genre and length.

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The Sun Magazine

"We publish essays, interviews, fiction, and poetry. We tend to favor personal writing, but we’re also looking for provocative pieces on political and cultural issues."

Payment: Personal Essays $300 to $2,000; Fiction $300 to $2,000; Poetry $100 to $250.

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The Nation

"We are a weekly journal of left/liberal opinion, covering national and international affairs as well as the arts publishing in both print and digitally. On the domestic front, we are particularly interested in civil liberties, civil rights, labor, economics, environmental, privacy and policing and feminist issues and politics. Because we have readers all over the country, it’s important that stories have national significance. In our foreign affairs coverage, we are interested in pieces on international political, economic and social developments. We are strongly committed to investigative reporting."

Payment: $250 for short comments of about 750 words and $500 for articles, 1,500-2,500 words.

Accepts poetry.

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The American Gardener

"The American Gardener is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society. The 64-page, four-color magazine goes out bimonthly to nearly 20,000 members. We stress environmentally responsible gardening practices, including minimizing use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, preventing illegal collection of plants from the wild, and avoiding plants with the potential to escape and damage natural ecosystems."

Payment: Payment for feature articles ranges from $300 to $600 on publication, depending on the article’s length and complexity, and the author’s background and publishing experience. Reimbursement for travel and other expenses can sometimes be negotiated at the time an article is accepted.

How to submit: Send proposal only.

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One Story

One Story is seeking literary short stories. "They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone." Single stories are sent to email subscribers every month.

Length: Between 3,000 and 8,000 words.

Payment: $500 and 25 contributors copies.

Simultaneous submissions okay.

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The American Scholar 

The American Scholar is a quarterly magazine of essays, fiction, poetry, and articles covering public affairs, literature, science, history, and culture. Published since 1932 for the general reader by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the Scholar considers nonfiction by known and unknown writers, but unsolicited fiction, poetry, and book reviews are not accepted.

Payment: Up to $500 for accepted pieces and up to $250 for pieces taken only for their website.

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Herizons

"Herizons' audience is a feminist readership. Articles about applying feminist principles in work, in relationships and organizations, and in social justice are welcome. Our readers are interested in health issues, social and political issues, environmental issues, equality issues, justice issues, spiritual issues; parenting issues and all issues informed by diverse racial and cultural experiences. Articles in which the writer is engaged with the material work best; personal experiences, journalism style articles, interviews, articles which bring in current research and a clear feminist perspective are all things we look for. Please note, we are only accepting submissions from women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit writers based in Canada."

Payment and length: Features - $600 flat fee for 1500-2000 words. Guest column - $250 for 600 words. Also publishes reviews for $125 - $175

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Oregon Humanities

"As a publication of ideas and perspectives, Oregon Humanities magazine offers a forum through which Oregon writers, scholars, and readers can use the humanities to explore timeless and timely ideas and themes. We only accept submissions of nonfiction writing and artwork when we announce each issue’s theme. All personal essays and features focus on a particular issue’s theme."

Payment: $200 to $300 for shorter department pieces and $500 to $1000 for personal essays and features; payment varies depending on the length and complexity of the piece.

Note: Oregon writers only.

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Poets & Writers Magazine

"Poets & Writers Magazine reaches a national audience of 100,000 readers from emerging to established literary writers. The magazine has a strong following among both students and faculty in creative writing programs across the country. In addition, many of its readers pursue creative writing as an avocation, often pairing their literary lives with other careers."

Payment: Up to $500, query first

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The Drift

"The Drift is a magazine of culture and politics. The Drift will introduce new work and new ideas by young writers who haven’t yet been absorbed into the media hivemind and don’t feel hemmed in by the boundaries of the existing discourse. We want socially engaged cultural criticism; class-sensitive analysis; pieces that point out what’s being avoided or talked around in politics, media, arts, or even academia; upbeat cynicism; un-self-serious screeds; generous takedowns; entries from the margins; fiction; poetry; 1-3 sentence book/ movie/ TV/ art reviews."

Payment: $150 for poems,  $500 - $1000 for short stories, $2000 for essays.

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Longreads

Longreads publishes nonfiction. Essays and features are generally between 2,000 and 6,000 words, but can be longer or broken up into a series depending on length and subject matter. For critical essays, reporting, and columns, they accept pitches. 

Payment: $500 for personal essays; critical essays and columns start at $500.

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AFAR Magazine 

AFAR Magazine publishes a range of reported features, personal essays, opinion pieces, photo essays, illustrated features, short fiction, poetry, and shorter middle-of-book pieces. "Instead of more traditional aspirational lifestyle travel stories, we tell the stories of a place and the people who live there." Payment: Their rate starts at $1/word.

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Narrative

Narrative accepts short stories, essays, one-act plays, and other complete short works of nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of fiction and nonfiction, as well as novellas (up to 40,000 words), and audio prose. There is a fee-free submission period during the first two weeks of April.

Payment: $500 for a Story of the Week.

—$200 for a Poem of the Week.

—$250 to $500 for 500 to 2,000 word manuscripts.

—$500 to $1,000 for 2,000 to 15,000 word manuscripts.

—$200 minimum for each accepted poem or audio/video piece. ($100 for poetry reprints.)

—$100 for Readers’ Narratives.

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The Public Domain Review

"The Public Domain Review welcomes submissions for our essay series. While spanning a wide array of disciplines and periods, our essays all share a common focus on oft-overlooked subjects and attention to works now out of copyright due to age. We are seeking writing that, though often considerate of academic themes, engages both the expert and curious newcomer in discovering the stories preserved by the digital commons. We encourage submissions that highlight unorthodox ends of cultural spectra — forgotten theories, under-appreciated artists, and relegated histories in need of a new readership. Should the essay concern a well-known figure, we tend to favour against-the-grain angles and attentive crawls through lesser-known works. In addition to pieces that examine specific texts and images, we also welcome contributions with a broader historical focus, so long as they touch upon interesting public domain material." Payment: Flat rate of $500 / £400.

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Humans and Nature Press

Humans and Nature Press is open to a wide range of types of writing and treatment of issues. "We accept essays, book reviews, poems, and artwork, including comic art. Our readership is interested in discussions that bear, directly or indirectly, on the areas of conservation, evolutionary biology and ecology, environmental ethics, environmental philosophy, law, and policy, and the environmental humanities." Payment: $500. See submission periods.

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Adi Magazine

"There is a gulf between the policies enacted by our political leaders and the people most affected by those decisions. Adi publishes new work each week that strikes back against the rules and structures that divide us. Through essays, reportage, fiction, poetry, and art, Adi rehumanizes policy by creating spaces for conversations marginalized from mainstream debates. We pull from a wide array of international and multicultural voices to foster nuanced analyses and offer intimate reflections on the impact of policies on everyday lives."

• Adi pays $600 USD for essays and $800 USD for graphic essays.
• Adi pays $250 USD for interviews.
• Adi pays $500 USD for short fiction (up to 5,000 words) and $200 USD for flash fiction (under 1,000 words).
• Adi pays $150 USD per poem.

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Kitchen Work

We accept submissions of up to 3,000 words about…
∙ foods and wines themselves
∙ cooking
∙ markets
∙ cookbooks
∙ restaurants
∙ personal gastronomic histories
∙ lunch breaks
∙ picnics
∙ culinary educations
∙ politics of food
∙ food and physiology
∙ personal profiles
∙ hospitality
∙ family traditions
∙ the best meals ever

Submissions to kitchen work are gauged for literary quality, focus and intrigue, and not for gastronomic sophistication. We are eager to print stories about fine dining, and also about your mother’s corned beef, or a 14-year-old’s impressions of her school lunches. Of course, all submissions about the work of the kitchen are especially welcome.

Recipes and bottle notes: in addition to general submissions, kitchen work™ also seeks submissions for recipes and bottle notes—a section of the journal devoted to favorite recipes or bottles of wine. These should include the recipe itself, or the name of the wine, and 500 words or fewer about its significance or some experience with it.

Payment: Authors of accepted submissions are paid $0.20 per word. Illustrators are paid $100 per accepted illustration. Has themes.

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Feeld Magazine

We are always looking to publish new work from contributors of all kinds—whether that’s essays, art, fiction, poetry, photography, or any medium you can think of. We welcome contributors of all experiences, and all mediums. Any content for the magazine can be pitched as a series of graphic designs, illustrations, text, or photography. If you’re interested in other mediums, like video or audio, email edit@feeld.co with more details. Payment:

Fiction: starting flat fee of $800USD.

Poetry: starting flat fee of $500USD.

Essays, features, profiles, interviews: $1/word, with a typical word count of 1500-2000 words.

Photography commissions and essays: $500/day rate. 

24 Calls for Submissions in March 2016 - Paying Markets

Here are two dozen calls for submissions in the month of March.

Genres include speculative fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, horror, erotic horror, personal essays, tech articles, crime fiction, fairy tales. There are also open calls for any genre of stories and poems.

All of these are paying markets. (A couple accept reprints!)

There are some themed anthologies in the mix, so make sure you read all the requirements before you submit.

Happy submitting!

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THEMA: Drop the Zucchini and Run!

The premise (target theme) must be an integral part of the plot, not necessarily the central theme but not merely incidental.

Genres: Any

Length: Fewer than 20 double-spaced pages preferred.

Payment: Short story, $25; short-short piece (up to 1000 words), $10; poem, $10; artwork, $25 for cover, $10 for interior page display.

Deadline: March 1, 2016

Reprints accepted

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“Stiff Things: Erotic Horror”

"We are looking for the most gruesome, twisted, sick, disturbing, dark and extreme stories that push the boundaries of sex and horror and we don't have any content restrictions (except for kiddie porn, of course). Science fiction and dark fantasy will be considered but must be very dark with a strong element of horror."

Genre: Erotic Horror

Length: Up to 9K words per story.

Payment: 3 cents/word, up to a max of $270/story (9K words)

Deadline: March 1, 2016
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Tech Edge Magazine

Genre: Stories about technology in education. Themed issue: Students as creators.

Payment: $50 for up to 500 words, and $125 for articles of 500-1,500 words

Deadline: March 1, 2016

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Skirt! Magazine

Magazine for women.

Genre: Personal essays wanted for the 'Smart' Issue, 800 - 1,100 words

Payment: $200 per piece

Deadline: March 1, 2016

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Upstreet

"upstreet, based in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, is an award-winning annual literary anthology containing the best new fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction available."

Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction

Payment: $50 - $150 for poems, $50 - $250 for short stories or essays

Deadline: March 1, 2016

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Beatdom

"Beatdom is a Beat Generation-themed literary journal. We publish short stories and poetry, but mostly we’re looking for essays about the Beats. These essays should be interesting and take a different slant on the Beat Generation. There are hundreds of books and essays out there that cover these subjects, so we want something new."

Genre: Essay on the theme of Politics

Payment: $50

Deadline: March 1, 2016

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Slice Magazine

Genres: Fiction and Poetry on the theme of "Distraction"

Length: 5,000 words max

Payment: $250 for stories and essays and $75 for poems

Deadline: March 1, 2016

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Briarpatch Magazine

"Briarpatch Magazine publishes writing and artwork on a wide range of topics, including current events, grassroots activism, electoral politics, economic justice, ecology, labour, food security, gender equity, indigenous struggles, international solidarity, and other issues of political importance."

Genre: Nonfiction articles, progressive

Payment:  Up to $150/story

Deadline: March 7, 2016
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Iron Soap

Genre: Flash fiction, any genre, 200 words

Payment: $0.01/word or $2 flat, reprints, $1

Deadline: March 11, 2016

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Eye to the Telescope

Themed issue: Family. "We are seeking poetry that explores the myriad and diverse ways that define family. We want poetry that challenges our own preconceived notions and definitions of what family means. We seek poetry that defines family through emotion. Show us the world, your world, different worlds, through family."

Genre: Speculative poetry

Payment: 3 cents per word

Deadline: March 15, 2016

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Third Flatiron Anthology: "Hyperpowers"

"Plato invented naval superpower Atlantis. Iain M. Banks imagined a future dominant galactic civilization in his Culture series. With all of space and time to choose from, this is your chance to show us your world-building chops. Likable characters optional."
Genre: Speculative fiction, space opera and military fiction

Payment: 3 cents per word

Deadline: March 15, 2016

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Syntax and Salt

Genre: Magical Realism

Payment: $10 USD by PayPal for each story, regardless of length, with the exception of one Editor’s Choice story per issue, which will garner a $25 USD payment via PayPal. Payment is guaranteed within 10 business days of the current issue going live.

Deadline: March 18, 2016

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Crime Syndicate

Genre: Dark, dirty crime fiction short stories

Length: Between 2500 and  5000 words

Payment: $25 per piece

Deadline: March 23, 2016

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The Puritan

Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction

Payment: $100 per interview, $100 per essay, $100 per review, $50 per work of fiction, and $15 per poem (or page, capped at $60 for poems running four pages or more).

Deadline: March 25, 2016

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The Beauty of Death Anthology

"All types of horror are welcome. Sex or violence in a story should be artistically justified; no excessive gore. We welcome all subgenres and forms of speculative fiction."

Genre: Short fiction, horror

Payment: $100, 4500-7500 words.

Deadline: March 30, 2016

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Legendary Stories: What Went Wrong?

"We've all had that day when a spell went south, a glitch ate the code in your doomsday device, and negotiations broke down so  aliens are on the move eat your brains. Okay, maybe we haven't all had that day. We want a story about what went wrong. Tell us about the best laid plans and what turned them on their ear. Make it dark or funny. Make it sci-fi or fantasy. Just make it something we haven't seen before. We're looking for an eclectic mix of stories that are unique and feature strong storytelling."

Genre: Short story; two stories per author max

Length: 2000 - 8000 words (flexible, but the longer the story the stronger it must be)

Payment: $30 per story

Deadline: March 30, 2016

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The Massachusetts Review: Music

"The Massachusetts Review will publish a special issue that has music as its core: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction with music as focus, subject, or essence. We are especially looking for creative work that includes, engages, and explores music in poetry and fiction."

Genres: Short stories, poetry, nonfiction.

Payment: $50 honorarium for work published in a single issue. Authors also receive two complimentary contributor's copies.

Deadline: March 30, 2016

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Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine

Fairytale inspired stories and poems on the theme of Rain.

Genre: Short stories, poems.

Payment: Story: $30. Poem: $10. US dollars only.

Deadline: March 30, 2016

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Fairytales Slashed V.7

Length: Stories should be 10,000 - 20,000 words

Genre: LGBTQIA fairytales

Payment: $200 per piece

Deadline: March 31, 2016

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: 'Dreams and Synchronicities'

"Sometimes magic happens in your life. You have a dream that reveals a truth or a course of action to you. You have a premonition that changes your behavior and saves you or a loved one from disaster. You meet someone at just the right time and you can’t believe the coincidence. We’re collecting stories for a second book on this topic, following our bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams and Premonitions. Share your stories about the amazing things that have happened in your own life."

Genre: Stories, poems

Payment: $200 per piece

Deadline: March 31, 2016

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Pentimento

Genre: Essays and fiction concerning disability by two groups: individuals with a disability and those who are part of the disability community, such as a family member, caregiver, special educator, etc.

Length: Word limit is 6,000

Payment: $25 - $250 per article

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Reprints accepted

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York Literary Review

Genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry

Payment: £50 per contributor

Deadline: March 31, 2016

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rEvolution (No that's not a typo)

"Write a story that deals with change, with all the consequences, intended and unintended, that follow. Juxtapose revolution and evolution. Offer us the ascendant avant-garde, or the resurgent old guard. Entertain us. Enlighten us. Give us that moment of exhilaration that comes from the realization of the fantastic."

Genre: Speculative fiction

Length: 2,000 – 12,000 words (pref. 8,000)

Payment: 1¢/word up to $50

Deadline: March 31, 2016

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Fitting In: Historical Accounts of Paranormal Subcultures

The best speculative fiction often says something about humanity. Urban fantasy provides a wonderful metaphor for stories about immigrants and marginalized cultures.

Genre: Speculative fiction short story. There must be a supernatural entity who feels like an outsider.

Length: 500-8000 words

Payment: Flash fiction, $10 for exclusive first worldwide electronic and print rights and for nonexclusive reprinting rights. For short fiction, $20 for the same rights. For serial fiction, $20 per installment to a maximum of $100 for the same rights as other original fiction. For reprints, half what we would pay for new fiction and ask for nonexclusive reprint rights.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

48 Writing Contests in March 2016 - No entry fees

Jonathan Wolstenholme

There are many free writing contests in March. (Quite a few have deadlines on March 31st.)

While book-length works garner the most substantial prizes, short stories, essays, and poems are also well worth entering into contests. Cash prizes often are accompanied by publication, and it's always nice to include an award on your resume.

Some of these contests have age and regional restrictions, so make sure to read the contest rules carefully.


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Talking Stick. Restrictions: Writers must be from Minnesota or have some connection to this area. Genres: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction. Prize: $250 for first place and $100 for second place in each of the three categories. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Carriage House Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry about trees. Prize: $300 and publication in Tiferet. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Balticon Poetry Contest. Sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Genre: Speculative poetry. Prize: 1st prize: $100; 2nd prize: $75; 3rd prize: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Lewis Galantière Award is bestowed biennially in even-numbered years. Genre: Book-length literary translation translated from any language, except German, into English and published in the United States between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015. Prize: $1,000, a certificate of recognition, and up to $500 toward expenses for attending the ATA 57th Annual Conference in San Francisco, California, November 2-5, 2016. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Madeline P. Plonsker Emerging Writer's Residency Prize. Restrictions: Open to an emerging writer under forty years old—with no major book publication. Genre: Novel in progress. Prize: Stipend of $10,000 with a housing suite and campus meals provided by the College, and three weeks in residence on the Lake Forest College campus during the Spring 2017 term. Possible publication. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award is sponsored by Broadside Lotus Press. Restrictions: This competition is open to African American poets only. If you have already had a book published by Lotus Press, you are ineligible. However, inclusion in a Lotus Press anthology does not disqualify you. Genres: Poetry collections of approximately 60-90 pages. Prize: $500 in cash and publication by Broadside Lotus Press within the first three months of 2017 as well as free copies and discounts. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The John Gardner Fiction Award is sponsored by the Binghamton Center for Writers-State University of New York with support from the Office of the Dean of Binghamton University's Harpur College of the Arts & Sciences. Genre: Novel or collection of fiction published in 2015. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Hart Crane Memorial Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $200 and publication in Icon. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry is an annual regional prize, presented in partnership by Milkweed Editions and the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation. Restrictions: Open to residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $10,000 as well as a contract for publication to the author of the winning manuscript. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award is sponsored by the Binghamton Center for Writers-State University of New York with support from the Office of the Dean of Binghamton University's Harpur College of the Arts & Sciences. Genre: Poetry book in English published in 2015. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

North Carolina Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of North Carolina (including students). Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: March 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Irish Post's Creative Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to residents of UK. Genre: Poetry, fiction on an Irish theme. 1000 words max. Prizes: €500, publication in the Irish Post, and a trip to the Listowel Writers’ Week in Co. Kerry, June 1-5. Deadline: March 3, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Premises: CHANGES. One or more character(s) have to deal with some kind of significant change. It can be any kind of change you like, and on any scale, from a change affecting only one person (or one place, or one thing) to something affecting everyone/everything everywhere, or anything between those extremes. Genre: Short story. Length: Between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Prize: Between US$60 and US$220, and publication. Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern US time, Friday, March 4, 2016.

"It's All Write!" Teen Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Grades 6-12. Genre: Short story, unpublished. Prize: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100. Deadline: March 6, 2016. How to enter: Read guidelines HERE.

The Mogford Prize for Food And Drink Writing. Genre: Short story which specifically includes the subjects of food and/or drink within the plot. 2500 words. Prize:£7,500 to be awarded during the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival in April 2016. Deadline: March 6, 2016. How to enter: Read additional guidelines HERE.

Thresholds International Feature Writing Competition. Genre: Nonfiction feature in one of two categories: Author Profile: exploring the life, writings and influence of a single short story writer. We Recommend: personal recommendations of a collection, anthology, group of short stories or a single short story. Prize: 1st prize of £500, runner-up prize of £100 Deadline: March 6, 2016. How to enter: Read additional guidelines HERE.

AE Micro. Genre: Science fiction, flash fiction. 200 words, max on the subject of "Change." "We will select five entries for publication in the microzine: three Canadian stories and two international." Prize: $.07 CAD per word for each of the five selected stories, with a minimum of $10 for any one story. Deadline: March 7, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. Genre: Short fiction. Restrictions: Candidates must be: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident; Under the age of 35 as of March 7, 2016; Previously published in an independently edited magazine or anthology; Unpublished in book form and without a book contract. Prizes: Winner: $5,000; Finalists: $1,000. Deadline: March 7, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

NEA Literature Fellowships are sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Prize: $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Deadline: March 9, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Jo-Anne Hirshfield Memorial Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Open to all adult and high school age Chicago area poets. There is also an elementary and middle school category open to Evanston elementary and middle school students. Genre: Poetry. Prize: First Place: $100; Second Place: $50; Third Place: $25. Deadline: March 9, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Nantucket Directory Poetry Contest.  Genre: poem about Nantucket Island. Prize: $250 and publication in the print and online editions of the 2016-2017 Nantucket Directory. Deadline: March 10, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize is awarded to the author of the best first novel published in the previous calendar year. Restrictions: Only American authors publishing in English are eligible. Non-eligible books include short story collections, flash fiction, memoirs, biographies and books published solely in electronic format. Prize: $500. Deadline: March 11, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

BBC National Short Story Award 2016. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over, who have a history of publication in creative writing. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: £15,000 to the winner, £3,000 for the runner-up and £500 for three further shortlisted writers. Deadline: March 11, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Critical Junior Poet’s Award. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: March 15, 2016.

Governor General's Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written or translated by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. They do not need to be residing in Canada. Genre: The Governor General’s Literary Awards are given annually to the best English-language and the best French-language book in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Young People’s Literature (Text), Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books) and Translation (from French to English). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: March 15, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Poetry composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme and received forms. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 15, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Myong Cha Son Haiku Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 15, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Rhina P. Espaillat Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Original poems written in Spanish and translations of English poems to Spanish. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: March 15, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Lynn DeCaro Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to Connecticut Student Poets in Grades 9-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st $75, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. Deadline: March 15, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

The Binnacle Ultra-Short Competition. Genre: Prose works of 150 words or fewer as well as poetry of sixteen lines or fewer and 150 words or fewer.  All works should have a narrative element to them. Prize: A minimum of $300 in cash prizes will be awarded, with a minimum prize of $50. At least one of the prizes will go to a UMM student. Deadline: March 15, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Jane Martin Poetry Prize (UK). Restrictions: Open to  UK residents between 18 and 30 years of age. Genre: Poetry. Prize: £700, second prize, £300. Deadline: March 18, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Pandeism Collegiate Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate and graduate collegiate students of philosophy, theology, religious studies, social sciences, arts, literature, applied sciences, or comparable disciplines. Genre: Article presenting original thought in exploring implications of the modern theological theory of Pandeism (pantheistic Deism, belief in a Creator wholly becoming our Universe, proposed to be discernible by application of logic and reason). Papers written for course credit are acceptable. Submissions do not need to take a position in favor of or opposed to Pandeism as a theory, but must present original thought about its relative possibility, relation to other areas of theology, or implications for areas such as epistemology, ethics and morality, or science. Submissions must be a minimum of 3,000 words and a maximum of 6,000 words. Only one (1) article may be submitted by each student. Prize: $250 Amazon gift card and publication. Deadline: March 18, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award seeks to elevate the written arts in Indiana. Restrictions: Any living published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years will be eligible. Authors who have published works of fiction, prose, poetry and/or non-fiction are eligible; reference works, scholarly monographs and books of photography will not be considered. Self-published authors are considered. Prize: National Author: $10,000 cash prize and $2,500 grant for his or her hometown Indiana public library. Regional Author: $7,500 cash prize and $2,500 grant for his or her hometown Indiana public library. Emerging Author: $5,000 cash prize and $2,500 grant for his or her hometown Indiana public library. Deadline: March 18, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition for High School Students. Restrictions: Open to students in Grades 7-12. Genre: Haiku. Prizes: $50. Deadline: March 25, 2016. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Southern Pacific Review Short Story Contest 2016. Located in Chile. Genre: They are not sure what they want, but they'll know it when they see it. Length: 1600 words max. Prizes: $100 USD and publication in Southern Pacific Review. Deadline: March 30, 2016.

Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Competition. Genre: Essay. Length: 1600 words max. Prizes: Military Prize—on a medical topic related to wars and veterans, $1500. General Prize—Physicians of Note, and Famous Hospitals, $1500. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Operation Thriller. Sponsored by Reedsy. Reedsy is a self-publishing startup that offers its users access to skilled freelance book-production professionals. Genre: Book-length thriller. Prize: $750 cash plus free developmental edit by a Reedsy editor and free cover design by a Reedsy designer. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Archibald Lamp­man Award. Restrictions: Open to residents of Canada's National Capital region (Ottawa). Genre: Book of any genre published by a recognized publisher. Prize: $1500. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Foley Poetry Contest. Genre: One unpublished poem on any topic. The poem should be 30 lines or fewer and not under consideration elsewhere. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

The Gover Story Prize. Genre: Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction. Works of short prose must be less than 10,000 words, previously unpublished, or published with a circulation of less than 500. Prize: $250.00. Deadline: March 31, 2016. No reprints or simultaneous submissions.

The Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Genre: Novel published in 2015 (50,000 words minimum). Book has to be set in one of the original eleven states in the Confederacy. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.) Prize: $2,500.00, and an expense paid trip to New York City. (The winner must come to NY to receive the award, attend a luncheon with the contest judges and a reception in his/her honor.) Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Florida Keys Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Flash fiction (500 words max). Prize: Three-week Key West residency at the Studios of Key West between July 5 and July 31, 2016. Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Haiku Society of America Merit Book Awards for Excellence in Published Haiku, Translation, and Criticism. Genre: Published book. Books must have been published in 2015 and must clearly contain a printed 2015 copyright. A member, author, or publisher may submit or nominate more than one title. At least 50 percent of the book must be haiku, senryu, or haibun, or prose about these subjects (books mostly of tanka, for example, are not eligible). Deadline: March 31, 2016.

Speculative Literature Foundation Older Writers Grant. Restrictions: Open to writers who are fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application. Genre: Speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: March 31, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Restrictions: 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. Genres: Science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy up to 17,000 words. Prizes: Three cash prizes in each quarter: a First Prize of $1,000, a Second Prize of $750, and a Third Prize of $500, in US dollars. In addition, at the end of the year the winners will have their entries rejudged, and a Grand Prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. Deadline: March 31, 2016. Read contest rules HERE.

Jack L. Chalker Young Writers' Contests. Restrictions: Open to writers between 14 and 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year who reside in, or attend school in Maryland. Genre: Science fiction or fantasy, 2,500 words max. Prizes: $150, $100 and $75. Deadline: March 31, 2016. Read contest rules HERE.

Gary Fincke Creative Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: March 31, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Spank the Carp - Ekphrasis! Genre: Poetry. Ekphrastic poems draw inspiration from a work of art, and the piece for this contest is by Elizabeth Darrow. Prize: A coffee mug! (And publication). Deadline: March 31, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.