2 Established Literary Agents Seeking Submissions - Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Thrillers, Narrative Nonfiction and more

Updated 2/12/25

Here are two established literary agents seeking clients. Marya Spence (Janklow & Nesbit) is looking for literary novels and collections, upmarket commercial fiction, cultural criticism and voice-driven essays, narrative journalism with a humorous or critical edge, and pop culture. Sarah Hornsley represents adult commercial and book club fiction across all genres.

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

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

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Sarah Hornsley of Peters Fraser & Dunlop (UK)

About Sarah: Sarah first worked at Orion before doing a stint in script development for TV and film. She then moved to become assistant to Juliet Mushens and Diana Beaumont for two years. 

What she is seeking: I’m currently looking for adult commercial and book club fiction across all genres

How to Submit: Please send the first three chapters of your novel or non-fiction project, as well as a full synopsis to shornsley@pfd.co.uk. In the body of the email, please write a covering letter, including brief details about your writing career. 

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Marya Spence of Janklow & Nesbit

About Marya: Raised in California’s Bay Area, Marya studied literature at Harvard, where she was Fiction Editor for the Advocate and specialized in creative writing. She went on to get her MFA at New York University and teach undergraduate creative writing there. She also spent these years in her 20’s working and interning at The New Yorker, PAPER Mag, Travel & Leisure, Vanity Fair, Publishers Weekly, METROPOLIS Magazine, and more—with a brief stint in equity research.

What she is seeking: She represents a diverse range of titles in fiction and narrative nonfiction, including, but not limited to, literary novels, cultural criticism, voice-driven essays with a humorous or critical edge, and pop culture writing. 

How to Submit: If you would like to submit your work to Janklow & Nesbit, please include the following: For fiction submissions, send an informative cover letter, a brief synopsis and the first ten pages. If you are sending an e-mail submission, please include the sample pages in the body of the e-mail below your query. For nonfiction submissions, send an informative cover letter and a full outline to the address below. Please address your submission to an individual agent. Be sure to include your email address or a return envelope with sufficient postage if you would like your material sent back to you. For e-mail submissions, please send your material to submissions [at] janklow.com.

Diary of an Oxygen Thief: How a Self-Published Cult Novel Became a Mainstream Bestseller

Self-publishing success stories serve as lessons for us all. Even if you have taken the traditional route, they teach us what it takes to make a success of your novel.

The case of Diary of an Oxygen Thief is highly reminiscent of The Cruelty, a YA novel by Scott Bergstrom that landed a six-figure advance and movie rights after being self-published. (YA Debut Gets Six-Figure Deal: How did Scott Bergstrom Do It?)

Both authors had a background in advertising and understood marketing. Both positioned themselves as independent publishers. (In Scott's case he formed a LLC.) But in important ways, their stories diverge. Unlike Scott, the author of Diary (Anonymous) peddled his book directly to bookstores. He started small, but eventually got his book into Barnes & Noble. He then focused heavily on advertising.

Living in New York City meant that Anonymous had an advantage when it came to posters and bookstores, but considering the wide reach of the Internet, almost anyone with an understanding of their potential readers could do what Anonymous did.

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How 'Diary Of an Oxygen Thief' Went from Self-Published Obscurity to Bestsellerdom

By Rachel Deahl, Publisher's Weekly

You may not know what Diary of an Oxygen Thief is about, but you might have heard the title. Or maybe you saw a picture of the book on Instagram, or read a discussion of it—positive or negative—on Twitter. And that’s by design: a design carried out by the book’s anonymous author over 10 years.

The slim novel, which details the travails of a broken-hearted, alcoholic, and bitter misogynist (who is also an unreliable narrator), was self-published in 2006. After selling nearly 100,000 copies—predominantly in trade paperback and e-book—the book was acquired by Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint in May, and re-released by the Simon & Schuster imprint on June 14. In its first three weeks on sale, the title has gotten off to a respectable start, selling roughly 14,000 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan. The book’s unlikely rise, from underground hit to Big Five-published novel, is due predominantly to the marketing efforts of its anonymous author. He pulled off a savvy publicity campaign that prioritized, above all else, getting the book’s title shared on social media.

The author, who asked that his name be kept out of print, spoke to PW from his apartment in New York’s East Village about the long, strange trip of publishing —and promoting—Diary.

A Brit who honed his advertising craft at some of the major agencies in London, then New York, the author self-published the novel in Amsterdam in 2006. At that time he was working for an ad agency in the Netherlands and, after having the book rejected by a number of U.S.-based literary agents, a friend of a friend offered to print him 1,000 hardcover copies for free. Although the author hadn’t intended to self-publish, he decided to make use of the copies he suddenly had. After taking one into a bookstore in Amsterdam, he was pleasantly surprised by the fact that he got the title on the shelf. “[The bookseller] held [the book] up and shook it,” the author said. “I think he had this fear, because it was self-published, that it was poorly made and would fall apart. He never looked at the text. He then said he’d take three copies.”

Soon the author was taking requests for bigger orders from the Amsterdam bookshop. He also started getting copies into bookshops in other cities, such as Paris’s Shakespeare & Co.; the stores, he noted, all catered to young hipsters, whom he considered his target market. After moving back to New York City, the author, who was then working freelance advertising gigs, felt emboldened by the success he had selling, and distributing, the book in Europe. He decided to do a 5,000-copy print run of a new trade paperback edition, and to focus almost entirely on selling it. “I was getting just about enough orders that, if I lived a simple life, I could pull it off,” the author said.

Amping up his promotional efforts, the author hit several indie bookstores in N.Y.C., gaining particular traction at Spoonbill & Sugartown in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; the East Village’s former St. Mark’s Bookshop; and Nolita’s McNally Jackson. To get copies into Barnes & Noble, the author posed as an independent publisher and pushed the title through the retailer’s small-press program. (No meetings were required with B&N; everything was done via email. The author, calling himself V Publishing, told the retailer that his house was targeting the “hipster market, the most elusive of all segments” and would rely on guerilla marketing. He also showed the retailer some YouTube clips he’d made promoting the book. B&N placed an initial order of 100 copies.)

Intent on building underground buzz for the book, the author focused on promotional efforts that would make people google the book’s title. From his limited sales in bookshops he felt confident that he could land readers by getting the book’s cover (which features a picture of a snowman whose carrot nose has been repositioned to look like a penis) seen, and its title shared.

Read the rest of this success story HERE.

6 Agents Looking for Science Fiction - NOW

Updated 2/12/22

Here are six literary agents seeking science fiction. All are from established literary agencies.

Make sure to read the agency website before submitting. You'll get a good sense of whether your book will be a good fit by looking at the books the agency has represented. Also, agents can close their lists, or switch agencies.

Note: You can find a comprehensive list of agents seeking clients here: http://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/p/agents.html

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Carlie Webber (Fuse Literary)

NO LONGER AN AGENT

About Carlie: For ten years, she worked as a public librarian serving teens and adults, served on book awards committees, and reviewed books professionally for journals including Kirkus Reviews and VOYA. Wishing to pursue her interest in the business side of books, she then enrolled in the Columbia Publishing Course. Her professional publishing experience includes an internship at Writers House and work with the Publish or Perish Agency/New England Publishing Associates and the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

What she is looking for: “I represent science fiction and fantasy for YA and MG only.”

How to Submit: To submit your work for consideration, please use her form HERE.

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Jennie Goloboy (Donald Maass Literary Agency)

Currently closed to queries

About Jennie: Jennie Goloboy joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2017. Before that, she was an agent at Red Sofa Literary for six years. She has a PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard, and published a book based on her dissertation, Charleston and the Emergence of Middle-Class Culture in the Revolutionary Era, in 2016.

What she is looking for: “I’m especially looking for adult sci-fi and fantasy. Lighthearted and optimistic books are always welcome, and I love diverse protagonists. Have you got an unusual premise and an engaging protagonist? Send it my way!”

How to Submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Peter Rubie (FinePrint Literary Management)

About Peter Rubie: Peter Rubie is a former BBC Radio and Fleet Street journalist and for several years was the director of the publishing section of the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. He was a member of the NYU faculty for 10 years, and taught the only university-level course in the country on how to become a literary agent.

What he is seeking: In fiction he represents literate thrillers, crime fiction, science fiction and fantasy, military fiction and literary fiction.

How to Submit: Use his submission form HERE.

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Amelia Appel (TriadaUS)

Currently closed to queries

What she is looking for: “I’m most interested in novels with elements of SF, not overwhelmingly in-your-face SF (meaning entire space settings, alien-focused stories, inter-planet battles, and that sort of thing, aren’t right for me).”

How to Submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Caitlin McDonald (Donald Maass Literary)

Currently closed to queries

About Caitlin: Caitlin McDonald joined DMLA in 2015, and was previously at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents adult and young adult speculative fiction, primarily science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres, as well as contemporary fiction about geeky characters. She also handles a small amount of nonfiction in geeky areas, with a focus on feminist theory/women’s issues and pop culture. Caitlin grew up overseas and has a BA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

What she is seeking: All science fiction and fantasy fiction (and subgenres) for adult, YA, and MG — especially secondary world fantasy and alternate history.

How to Submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Amanda Rutter (Azantian Literary Agency)

NO LONGER AN AGENT

About Amanda: Amanda is a literary agent at Azantian Literary Agency). She is a book reviewer, and produces work for her own blog, Floor to Ceiling Books, but can also be found reviewing for Tor.com, Hub Magazine, Vector and Fantasy Literature. Before becoming an agent, Amanda was an editor with Angry Robot, helping to sign books and authors for the Strange Chemistry imprint. In her free time, she is a yarn fiend, knitting and crocheting a storm. Find her on Twitter at @ALRutter.

What she is seeking: Adult fantasy and science fiction, as well as young adult fantasy.

How to Submit: Use their form HERE.

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Matt Bialer (Sanford Greenburger)

About Matt: Matt has been in the publishing community since 1985, and worked at two major literary agencies before joining the Greenburger team in 2003. While his list includes many veteran authors, he also enjoys finding unique new voices.

How to Submit: Please send query letter in the body of your email, and then send the following as an attachment: the first three chapters of your book. No snail-mail queries will be accepted. Send queries to mbialer [@] sjga.com.

7 Agents Looking for Historical Romance

Updated 7/21/20

Romance brings to mind misty moors, scowling Scots, and windswept women. Perhaps it's not surprising that Scotland is where most romance readers prefer their stories to be set. (I blame Wuthering Heights.)

But where historical romance is concerned, any period or place will do - Regency, American Revolution, Wild West, French Revolution, Vikings, Ancient Egyptians, Cavemen - just pick a place and time, and make your characters fall in love.

Here are seven agents who would like you to do just that. Be sure to check the agency before querying. Agents can close their lists or change submission requirements.

Note: There is a comprehensive list of agents looking for clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary)

About Scott: Scott draws on his extensive background in education, writing and literature to assist the writers at Greyhaus. He has a BA in English/Literature, a MA in Creative Writing and a MA in Literacy.

What he is looking for: Historical romance

How to Submit: submissions [@] greyhausagency.com. Send only a query letter within the body of the email. Do not send attachments. Do not send partials or full manuscripts or a synopsis embedded in the email.

Note: This is a small agency.

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Jessica Watterson (Sandra Dijkstra Literary)

Currently open to referrals only

About Jessica: She graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in sociocultural anthropology and English. Jessica has made books a serious part of her life for many years. During college, she started an indie review blog that has featured author interviews and has reviewed several self-published books that eventually ended up on the New York Times Best Seller list.

What she is looking for: “I VERY much want American historical romance (particularly Civil War, westward expansion, and California Gold Rush) that would be super.  I am accepting all types of historical, but American historical is definitely my wheelhouse, and I’m anticipating we’ll see a swing towards it in the next two years.”

How to Submit: jessica [@] dijkstraagency.com. Please send a query letter, a one-page synopsis, a brief bio (including any description of your publishing history), and the first 10-15 pages of your manuscript. Please send all items in the body of the email, not as an attachment. Include the word “QUERY” in the subject line.

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Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency)

Currently closed to queries

About Nicole: Nicole has been listed by Publisher's Marketplace as a top dealmaker in the country, and named ACFW's 2012 Agent of the Year. She loves discovering new talent and helping established authors to take their career to the next level.

What she is looking for: “Anything Highlander. Regency with a really distinct hook. Diverse settings and time periods. Would love something in the vein of Johanna Lindsey’s ‘Mallory’ Family Saga or Teresa Medeiros (LADY OF CONQUEST, for example).”

How to Submit: Send all queries to nicole [at] theseymouragency.com. The subject line should be “QUERY: (Title)”. Please past the first five pages in the body of the e-mail.


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Emmanuelle Morgen (Stonesong)

NO LONGER LISTED ON AGENCY WEBSITE

About Emmanuelle: She joined Stonesong as an agent in January 2012. Previously she was an agent at Judith Ehrlich Literary and Wendy Sherman Associates, and an editor at Fodor’s, the travel division of Random House. She enjoys developing long-term relationships with her clients, working closely with them to build their literary careers.

What she is looking for: Historical romance

How to Submit: submissions [at] stonesong.com addressed to Emmanuelle. Include the word ‘query’ in the subject line of your email to ensure we receive it and it isn’t filtered as spam. Include the first chapter or first 10 pages of your work, pasted into the body of your email, so that we may get a sense of your writing. Please note that Emmanuelle is closed to submissions during the months of August and December. We also welcome queries from independent and self-published authors. If you have self-published your book and are interested in working with a publisher for future works, please include descriptions of published and forthcoming works, as well as information about sales and reviews.

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Sarah Younger (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)

Currently closed to queries

About Sarah: Sarah's been with NYLA since 2011.

What she is looking for: Romance

How to Submit: querysarah [@] nyliterary.com. Please send a query letter, along with the initial 25 pages of your material. As sample material is vital for all queries, feel free to send via attachment rather than pasting pages directly into the body of your email.

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Saritza Hernández (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)

About Saritza: Saritza is the leading literary agent in digital publishing deals. An avid coffee-drinker with a Kindle book obsession, she enjoys a steaming cup of strong Cuban coffee every morning while reading an erotic contemporary romance or action-packed science fiction adventure. A strong advocate of the GLBT community, she enjoys fresh voices in Young Adult and New Adult genre fiction.

What she is looking for: “I want Historical Romance, just not Regency era. Would love multicultural historical romance and young adult historical romance with LGBT main characters.”

How to Submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Patricia Nelson (Looking Glass Literary & Media)

About Patricia: Patricia received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008, and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the world of publishing, she spent four years as a university-level instructor of literature and writing.

What she is looking for: I’m looking for book club and upmarket fiction that has a unique point of view and big ideas, as well as the whole spectrum of women’s fiction, everything from lighter beach reads and romcoms to darker stories with a mystery or suspense thread.

How to Submit: Use her form HERE.

2 Established Literary Agents Actively Looking for Clients

Updated 2/10/25

Here are two established literary agents looking for writers. Latoya Smith (LCS)  is seeking: Women’s fiction, book club and upmarket fiction, general commercial fiction, and fast-paced domestic thrillers. Margaret Sutherland Brown (Emma Sweeney Agency) is particularly interested  literary and upmarket commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.

Make sure you read the agency's website before submitting! Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

Note: I keep a comprehensive list of agents looking for clients HERE.

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Latoya Smith of LCS Literary Services

About Latoya: Latoya C. Smith was an editor for over thirteen years working at publishing houses such as Kensington Publishing, Hachette Book Group, and Samhain Publishing. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Latoya started her editorial career as an administrative assistant to New York Times bestselling author, Teri Woods, while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at Temple University. In 2006, Latoya joined Grand Central Publishing, an imprint at Hachette Book Group, where she acquired a variety of titles from Hardcover fiction and non-fiction, to digital romance and erotica. In 2014, Latoya was Executive Editor at Samhain Publishing where she acquired short and long form romance as well as erotic fiction. She was also the winner of the 2012 RWA Golden Apple for Editor of the Year.

What she is seeking: Women’s fiction, book club and upmarket fiction, general commercial fiction, and fast-paced domestic thrillers.

How to Submit: If you are interested in submitting your material to LCS Literary Services for representation, please click the link: https://querytracker.net/query/LCSLiteraryServices

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Margaret Sutherland Brown of Folio Lit

About Margaret: Previously I was an agent at Emma Sweeney Agency, LLC, and transitioned to represent many of ESA's clients at Folio in January 2020. Before becoming an agent, I spent the first seven years of my career in editorial, primarily at Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, where I worked on a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. As an agent, I use my insider knowledge of how a publishing house operates to my clients' advantage, and my editorial background informs how unusually closely and thoroughly I work with clients to develop a project before we ever submit to publishers. I'm proud to work with immensely talented authors. Among many other accolades, my clients have won the American Book Award, been finalists for the National Book Award and the PEN/ Hemingway Award, and been awarded Guggenheim Fellowships. 

What she is seeking: She’s particularly interested  literary and upmarket commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction. 

How to submit: To query me, please send a query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email to *margaret@foliolitmanagement.com*. Please note that any queries not sent to that email address will be deleted unread.

34 Writing Contests in July 2016 - No Entry Fees

Jonathan Wolstenholme

July is a great month for writing contests. There are nearly three dozen contests this month featuring every type of subject and genre imaginable. Prizes range from a box of cookies to a hundred thousand dollars. Some of these contests have age and regional restrictions, so be sure to read the full guidelines before submitting.

Good luck!

Note: I post a list of free upcoming contests the last week of every month. But if you want to get a jump on contests, "Free Contests" is regularly updated. Be sure to check there for future as well as past contests - many are held annually.

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Winter Tangerine Awards. Restrictions: Submissions will only be accepted from writers who have not yet published a chapbook, novel, or collection of any type. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction. Prize: $250 apiece for poetry and prose (fiction and essay compete together), plus trophy, used books, box of cookies, and one-year WTR subscription. Deadline: July 1, 2016. Read guidelines HERE.

Emmy Awards - Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award. Restrictions: Non-US citizens under the age of 30 only. Prize: $2,500, a trip to New York City, and an invitation to the International Emmy® Awards Gala in November. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Bop Dead City. Genres: Flash fiction, poetry. Prize: $20. Deadline: July 1, 2016. More details are HERE.

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. Book must be author's first full-length book of poetry, published between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Self-published books are accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Montgomery County Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Montgomery County residents only. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Prize: $250 and publication in Montgomery Magazine. Runners-up will receive $100 and have their work published on montgomerymag.com. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Richard J. Margolis Award. Genre: Journalism. Prize is awarded annually to a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social justice. Prize: $5,000 and one month of residency at Blue Mountain Center. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. Sponsored by Sisters in Crime. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. Prize: $1,500. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

John Glassco Translation Prize. Sponsored by Literary Translators' Association of Canada. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. Genre: The work submitted must be the translator's first published book-length translation into English or French. The book must have been published between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Prize: $1000. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Texas Book Festival Youth Fiction Writing Contest. Hosted by the Texas Book Festival and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) at the University of Texas at Austin. Restrictions: Junior and high school Texas students. Genre: Original fiction, no more than 2,000 words in length on theme of "Note to Self." Prize: Winners receive a cash prize: $250 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third. In addition, winners are awarded a plaque, have their stories published on the TBF website, and are invited to participate on a panel during the Texas Book Festival weekend. Deadline: July 1, 2016.

Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program. Restrictions: Debuting authors and writers with fewer than three previously published books who have yet to receive a major literary award are eligible for consideration. Exceptions are sometimes made for authors who have published more titles, but have yet to break out to a larger audience. Submissions must be original publications, penned by one author. Self-published works not allowed. Genres: Published or scheduled to be published fiction and literary nonfiction. Prize: $10,000 in each genre and in-store marketing/merchandising from Barnes & Noble. 2nd Place $5,000 in each genre, 3rd Place $2,500 in each genre. Deadline: July 7, 2016.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: July 8, 2016 (poetry), July 22, 2016 (fiction), July 29, 2016 (non-fiction).

Ethnographic Poetry Award. Sponsored by The Society for Humanistic Anthropology. Genre: Poetry associated with any of the five fields of anthropology: Archaeological, Biological, Linguistic, Sociocultural and Applied. Prize $100. Deadline: July 15, 2016.

Peter Blazey Fellowship.  Restrictions: Applicants must either be an Australian citizen or have Australian residency. Genre: Non-fiction in the fields of autobiography, biography or life writing. Prize: $15 000, and a one-month writer-in-residency at The Australia Centre. Deadline: July 15, 2016.

FutureScapes Writing Contest. Genre: Short fiction up to 8,000 words, written in accordance with prompt: Cities of Empowerment. Prize: $2,000 prize for first place, $1,000 prize for second place, and $500 prize to each of the four runners-up. Deadline: July 15, 2016.

The Undergraduate No-Fee Contest. Sponsored by Sandy River Review. Restrictions: Undergraduates enrolled in college or a Spring 2016 graduate. Genres: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: July 15, 2016.

Mash Stories. Genre: Short story based on three prompt words. Prize: $100. Deadline: July 15, 2016.

Norman Mailer Writing Award for Middle and High School Teachers. Restrictions: Middle and High School Teachers. Genre: Creative Non-fiction. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: July 18, 2016.

The New Writers Award. Sponsored by the thirteen members of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. Genre: First published volume of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 25, 2016.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between May 25, 2016 and September 30, 2016.  Genre: Literary nonfiction including, among other forms, works of personal or journalistic essays, memoirs, commentary, criticism both social and political, history, and biography. Prize: Winner: $60,000; Finalists: $5,000. Deadline: July 27, 2016.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: July 27, 2016.

Black Country Museum Poetry Competition. Genre: "Poetry in any style which explores the concepts of earth and air, whatever they may suggest to you. Whether you think of the earth scarred and bespoiled by industry or the ‘Green borderlands’ that Elihu Burritt spoke of; whether the choke of foundry dust and the searing of the lungs by chemicals, or the weekend’s walk in the countryside; whether it is the town or the country; the realm of worms or of the birds; of the highs or the lows; of the freedoms or the internments: earth and air are central to our experience, they are at the very core of us, the place from which we write." Prize: £100 first prize. Deadline: July 29, 2016. Read terms and conditions here. Entry form is here.

Love: A Better Way to Work with People Essay Contest. Genre: Personal essay of up to 750 words that shares a true story about how Love and Compassion helped solve a specific work or business problem. Prize: First Place: $100.00 money order. Second Place: $75.00 money order. Third Place: $50.00 money order. Deadline: July 30, 2016.

Rachel Wetzsteon Chapbook Award. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, or prose poetry of about 7,000-12,000 words. "The manuscript may be a collection of mixed pieces--short stories, flash fictions, prose poems, essays, or a stand-along excerpt from a longer work--but should be unified by a common theme. We seek new, original work, though individual pieces that have been previously published elsewhere may be included." Prize: $250.00 honorarium and 25 copies of the winning chapbook, which will be printed and sold on Amazon.com. Deadline: July 30, 2016.

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to young poets age 11 - 17. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Publication. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

The Linda Bruckheimer Series in Kentucky Literature. Restrictions: Contest is open to any writer of English: who is a native of Kentucky, or who has lived in Kentucky for at least two years, or whose manuscript is set in or about Kentucky. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Publication by Sarabande Press. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students who are FULL TIME, undergraduate students in an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the Spring 2015 semester. Genre: Essay:Topic for 2016  - Immigration is a controversial topic in American history, even more so in 2016.  Citing examples from his writings, speeches, and policies, what was Abraham Lincoln's position on immigration?  Did it evolve?  Is it relevant to our contemporary debate? Prize: 1st Prize $1500 | 2nd Prize $750 | 3rd Prize $500. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

SLF Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants. Restrictions: Open to writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, such as writers of color, women, queer writers, disabled writers, working-class writers, etc. -- those whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing / publishing process. Genres: Book-length works (novels, collections of short stories) of speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

I Must Be Off! Travel Writing Contest. Genre: Travel articles, travel anecdotes and travel reflections. Prize: $200. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Landfall Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to New Zealand writers. Genre: Essay about New Zealand. Prize: The winner will receive $3000 and a year’s subscription to Landfall. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Library Journal 's Self-Published Ebook Awards. Genres: Romance, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy. Open to all English-language self-published ebooks. No restrictions on date of publication. Prize: $1,000.00 USD plus review in Library Journal. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

USNI Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Essay: Identify individual women and their contributions that have made it possible for the United States to build and maintain the world's finest military.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Louise Meriwether First Book Prize. The Feminist Press has partnered with TAYO Literary Magazine to launch a contest seeking the best debut books by women and nonbinary writers of color. Genres: Fiction, including novels and short story collections, or narrative memoir, of 50,000 to 80,000 words. Prize: $5,000 and a publishing contract from the Feminist Press. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Bastiat Prize for Journalism. Established in 2002 by the International Policy Network. Genre: Journalism. Articles must have been published in English for the first time June 30, 2015 and July 31, 2016. Prize: The total prize fund is $16,000, divided between first ($10,000), second ($5,000) and third ($1,000) prize winners. Deadline: July 31, 2016.

30 Great Writing Conferences in July 2016

July brings us some wonderful writing conferences, including some really big events like ThrillerFest and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference.

Writers have a lot to gain from attending a conference - opportunities to talk to authors, pitch sessions with agents, as well as workshops covering every aspect of writing and publishing. In addition, you get to share experiences with other writers. I encourage you to attend one!

Note: For a monthly listing of conferences, as well as how to find upcoming conferences, see Writing Conferences. Many of these are offered annually, so if you missed a conference you'd like to attend, you can always plan to attend next year.

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ThrillerFest X. July 5–9, 2016, New York City. This is the annual conference of the International Thriller Writers. The ThrillerFest conference has four main components: Master CraftFest, CraftFest, PitchFest, and ThrillerFest. Master CraftFest was designed as an educational tool for aspiring writers as well as debut and midlist authors to gain advanced training from the masters of the craft in an intimate, day-long training session. CraftFest was designed for all writers to learn from bestselling authors and subject experts who kindly offer their advice and assistance to advance attendees’ writing techniques and further their careers. PitchFest was designed to match writers with agents, editors, publishers, and producers. ThrillerFest, the final two days of the conference, is intended to offer readers a chance to meet the best authors in the industry and be introduced to debut and midlist authors. Expect innovative panels, spotlight interviews, and workshops to educate and inspire.

Southampton Writers Conference. July 6–17, 2016, Long Island, NY. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and publishing, as well as readings, lectures, and a master class series with Roger Rosenblatt. The faculty includes poet Billy Collins; fiction writers Lauren Groff, Daniel Menaker, and Meg Wolitzer; and nonfiction writers Melissa Bank, Adam Gopnik, and Matthew Klam. The cost of a five-day workshop is $1,300; the cost of a twelve-day workshop is $1,950. Tuition includes access to all conference events and the master class series. Submit up to 10 pages of poetry or 10 to 20 pages of prose and a statement of purpose by April 1; there is no application fee. Scholarships are available; the application deadline is March 1. Participants may also register for the master class series only, for $950; a twelve-day residency at the conference, without a workshop, is available for $950, which includes access to morning and evening events. To apply, submit a statement of purpose by April 1; there is no application fee.

Leviosa. July 7-10, 2016, Henderson, Nevada. Harry Potter, YA Lit and Writer's conference featuring close to 80 hours of programming over six tracks over four days: Academic, YA Literature, Slash/Queer Literature, Writing, Fandom, Creativity.

The Summer Writers Institute. July 8 - 22, 2016, St. Louis, Missouri. An intensive, two-week program featuring workshops with experienced instructors and published authors. Writers also benefit from readings, craft talks, and individual conferences with instructors. Faculty: Eric Lundgren, Fiction; Heather McPherson, Modern Humor; David Schuman, Micro Prose; Kent Shaw, Poetry; Kathleen Finneran, Advanced Personal Narrative; Deborah Taffa, Personal Narrative; Colin Bassett, Lit. Journalism. Cost: $1,950.

Antioch Writers' Workshop. July 9 - 15, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Morning classes and afternoon seminars in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry for all levels of writers--beginning to advanced. The workshop includes opportunities to give readings, receive professional critiques, interact with faculty, and meet with a visiting agent.

Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers. July 9 - 16, Wallowa Lake, Oregon. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panel discussions, readings, and open mics. "Held each July at Wallowa Lake in northeast Oregon, Summer Fishtrap gathers writers for a week of inspired writing workshops and culminates with a weekend of passionate discussion on a key issue facing the West." Faculty: Justin Hocking, Laura Pritchett, Robert Michael Pyle, Erika L. Sanchez, Marjorie Sandor, Barb Tetenbaum, Jane Vandenburgh, Joe Wilkins, Anis Mojgani, Cameron Scott, John Daniel. Cost: $750.

Tin House Summer Workshop. July 10-17, 2016, Portland, Oregon. Workshops with afternoon craft seminars and career panels. Evenings are reserved for author readings and revelry. Tin House editors and guest agents are available to meet individually with students throughout the week. Faculty: Fiction: Steve Almond, Mat Johnson, Rebecca Makkai, Toni Nelson, Chinelo Okparanta, Jess Walter, Joy Williams, Luis Urrea, Alex Chee, Jon Dee, Rachel Kushner, Dana Spiotta. Poetry: Jericho Brown, Sharon Olds, Greg Pardlo. CNF: JoAnn Beard, Michelle Tea, Kiese Laymom. Cost: $40 application fee, $1100 for tuition, $650 for room & board.

Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Summer Seminar. July 10 - 16 and 17 - 23, 2016, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Workshops in poetry and fiction, one-on-one manuscript consultations, panel discussions, and readings.

Young Writers Workshop. July 10 - 30, 2016, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Restrictions: For students completing grades 9, 10, 11. Three 90-minute workshop sessions daily, including imaginative writing activities and discussion of readings. Weekly individual meetings with workshop instructor. Focus is on using various forms of creative writing to develop language and thinking skills.

Oregon Coast Children's Book Writers Workshop. July 11 - 15, 2016, Oceanside, Oregon. An intensive workshop for those who are not only passionate about children's book writing, but who dream of publishing their own children's books. Getting attendees published is the end goal. The instructors are five professional children's book authors, two children's book editors from major publishing houses, and a full-time children's book agent. Students can have at least one major manuscript consult per day, and possibly more.

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program Writers Week. July 11 - 15, 2016, Idyllwild, California. Workshops, craft talks, readings, and one-on-one consultations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. "For decades Idyllwild Arts has been a gathering place for some of the world's finest poets and writers - among them Ray Bradbury, Norman Corwin, Lucille Clifton, Sharon Olds, Maxine Kumin, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Philip Levine, Luis J. Rodriguez, David St. John and Natasha Trethewey. That fine tradition continues with our second annual Writers Week, a gathering of talented writers from Idyllwild Arts and beyond."

Green River Writers Workshops:Turning Memory into Story: Memoir Writing Workshop. July 14 - 17, 2016, Las Vegas, New Mexico. Using memory as a starting point, Green River Writers Workshops focus on the craft of storytelling through memoir, fiction, historical writing, and poetry. Both experienced and beginning writers are welcome.

The Gathering. July 15 - 17, 2016, La Plume, Pennsylvania. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and performances. "Each year The Gathering is structured around a theme that relates everyday experiences to broader issues. The purpose of The Gathering is to promote understanding and empathy to bridge cultural, social, and economic gaps. Lecturers include authors, poets, scientists, philosophers, musicians, performers, and artists who help shape contemporary thought in their field. A reading list gets us thinking ahead of time about the issues we’ll be immersed in at The Gathering. Our presenters have included Salman Rushdie, Gregory Maguire, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Diane Ackerman, Chris Abani, Susan Jacoby, Katherine Paterson, Peter Bohlin, Nancy Willard, Victor Navasky, Sandy Tolan, and many others. Their availability for conversation during meals and breaks and at social gatherings offers important opportunities for participants to gain new insights into the speakers’ work."

All Write Now! Writers' Conference. July 16, 2016, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A one day writers conference with workshops, pitches, in-person critique sessions, Slush Pile, contests, bookstore, lunch and prizes. Cost: $75/early bird/$85 regular registration.

Saskatchewan Festival of Words. July 17 - 24, 2016, Moose Jaw, Canada. Over the 4 days of the festival there are workshops for all ages, reading sessions, concerts, film, panel discussions, interviews, music, theatre, a slam poetry competition as well as workshops and author readings.

Write Time Black Writers Retreat. July 17 - 24, 2016, Palm Springs, California. "Designed for fiction and nonfiction writers and set amidst tranquil mountains surrounding an invigorating desert oasis, this affordable workshop will inspire and enlighten you. Head home with clearer direction and progress on your writing, energized from spending time with a community of dedicated writers, immersed in the literary life." Faculty: Dr. Venise Berry, Dr. Jacqualyn Green, Ms. Jamillah Warner.

Centrum Port Townsend Writers’ Conference. July 17 - 24, 2016, Port Townsend, Washington. workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft lectures, readings, open mics, and time to write. The faculty includes poets Kim Addonizio, Erin Belieu, Gary Copeland Lilley, Jimmy Kimbrell, and Joseph Stroud; fiction writers Claire Davis, Skip Horack, and Pam Houston; and creative nonfiction writers Lisa Norris and Luis Urrea.

Writing the Rockies. July 20 - 24, Gunnison, Colorado. Workshops, readings, panels, seminars and other events in poetry, genre fiction, screenwriting and publishing. One-to-one visits with faculty for critiques & pitches. Sponsored by Graduate Program in Creative Writing, Western State Colorado University.

Midwest Writers Workshop. July 21 - 23, 2016, Muncie, Indiana. Craft and business sessions, agent pitches, manuscript evaluations. MWW includes quality instruction by a faculty of authors, agents, editors, and specialists.

Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. July 22 - 24, 2016, Grapevine, 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.

Tennessee Writers Conference, July 23, 2016, Nashville, TN. This is a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event. This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. Attending agents: Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary); Victoria Lea (Aponte Literary); Eric Smith (PS Literary); Julie Gwinn (Seymour Agency); Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary); Laura Apperson (editor for St. Martins); and Tricia Skinner (Fuse Literary).

Napa Valley Writers’ Conference. July 24 - July 29, 2016, St. Helena, California. Workshops in poetry and fiction, craft lectures, panels, and evening readings with wine receptions at venues around Napa Valley. Faculty in poetry, Camille Dungy, Brenda Hillman, Major Jackson, and Brian Teare; in fiction, Charles Baxter, Ron Carlson, Lan Samantha Chang, and Yiyun Li.

Stonecoast Writers’ Conference. July 24 - 30, 2016, Portland, ME. Workshops in poetry, short fiction, novel, and nonfiction/memoir, and a mixed-genre Creative Writing Bootcamp. The Stonecoast Writers’ Conference is open to students of all experience levels. However, admission is selective. Writing sample and deposit required.

Taos Summer Writers' Conference. July 24 - 31, 2016, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Workshops in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and publishing, as well as master classes for full-length manuscripts, readings, manuscript consultations. "We offer both weeklong and weekend workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction and more. Regular workshops fill on a first-come, first-served basis, while admission to weeklong master classes is determined by an evaluation process. Each year, the Conference invites several agents, editors and publishing professionals to consult with Conference participants. The 2016 Conference will feature a Sunday evening keynote reading by Sandra Cisneros and a Friday evening Pitchapalooza.  Daily round tables and faculty readings will round out the Conference experience."

Business Writers Conference. July 27 - 29, 2016, Young Harris, Georgia. A conference for professionals who want to publish their idea, concept, or expertise. Speakers, boot camp. break-out sessions, workshops. 

PNWA Conference. July 28 - 31, 2016, Seattle, Washington, Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. More than 50 seminars, editor/agent forums & appointments, practice pitching, keynote and featured speakers, reception, awards ceremony. Many agents and editors attending.

Agent, Editor, Authors Critiques & Pitch Workshop. July 28 - 31, 2016, Tacoma, Washington. Critiques with a pro, a pitch session with an agent, panels with everything from geography and world-building, Indie and Hybrid vs. Traditional, the editing process, marketing, and much more. Also a two-hour block of time set aside for a free, open to the public portion. Authors will speak in an open discussion on several aspects of writing and there will be an opportunity for book sales and signings. Workshop Leaders: Beth Meacham (Senior Editor, Tor/Forge Books); Claire Eddy (Senior Editor, Tor/Forge Books); Lucienne Diver (Agent with The Knight Agency).

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. July 29–August 1, 2016, Los Angeles, California. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions.

Colorado Writing Workshop. July 30, 2016, Denver, CO. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. "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. Attending agents: Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates Literary); Alex Barba (Inklings Literary); Lisa Abellera (Kimberley Cameron Literary); Angie Hodapp (Nelson Literary); Greg Johnson (Wordserve Literary); Becky DeJeune (Bond Literary); Jennie Goloboy and Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary); and Samantha Fountain (Corvisiero Literary).

Catamaran Writing Conference. July 31 through August 4th, 2016, Pebble Beach, CA. Workshops, craft lectures, and daily excursions, for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Faculty includes poets Joseph Millar and Zack Rogow; fiction writers Charlie Jane Anders, Molly Gloss, and Elizabeth McKenzie; and creative nonfiction writers Frances Lefkowitz and Elizabeth Rosner. The keynote speaker is fiction writer Jonathan Franzen. Cost, including tuition, most meals, and lodging on the Robert Louis Stevenson School campus, is $1,250. Submit five poems totaling no more than 10 pages, or up to 10 pages of prose by July 15.