97 Calls for Submissions in February 2024 - Paying markets

This February there are more than eight dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

Happy submitting!

(Image: PxHere)

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Contested Landing Anthology. Genre: Military Science Fiction. Payment: "a percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors." Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Flash Frog. Genre: Flash fiction ghost stories. Length: 1000 words max. Payment: $25. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2024.

Riddlebird. Genre: Literary fiction, personal essays. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2024. (Closes when they reach their quota)

Lightspeed. Genre: Science fiction flash fiction, up to 1500 words. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

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

Bigfoot Country. Genre: Stories about Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti. The genre is open. Payment: $100 CAD. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Plumwood Mountain: An Australian and International Journal of Ecopoetry and Ecopoetics. Genre: Poetry. Theme: ‘Queering Ecopoet(h)ics’ Payment: $80. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Bad Day Book. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for themes. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: February 2, 2024.

Cordite. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Payment is available for Australian contributors only. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

Flame Tree: Myths, Gods & Immortals: Odin. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a classic mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales." Theme: Odin. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: February 4, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Flame Tree: Myths, Gods & Immortals: Anansi. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a classic mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales." Theme: Anansi. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: February 4, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Flame Tree: Myths, Gods & Immortals: Medusa. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a classic mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales." Theme: Medusa. Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Deadline: February 4, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Xanax Hamster. Genre: Horror flash fiction that has been rejected by other publications. Payment: 5 cens/word. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

Roses and Wildflowers. Genre: Mythopoeic fiction, poetry & art. Payment: $5. Opens February 5, 2024.

Mukoli. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and multimedia art creations that engage with peacebuilding. Payment: $75. Deadline: February 5, 2024.

Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.04/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: February 6, 2024.

Speculation Publications Utter Speculation Novella Series. Genre: Novella. "The Collection of Utter Speculation series speculates about what is behind real mysteries and legends. The stories must start with the known facts. They can be rooted in real world explanations or supernatural causes, but they need to answer the question, what causes this?" Novellas should be 20,000 - 35,000 words. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: February 7, 2024.

Big Wing Review. Genre: Essays, prose, flash fiction, poetry, spoken word, and visual art works for work that explores relationships – one-to-one, groups, families, romances, friendships; challenges, highs, lows, patterns, and parallels. Payment: $5 for poetry, $10 for prose. Deadline: February 7, 2024.

Headland. Restrictions: Open to Māori writers. Genre: Poetry, short fiction and nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 7, 2024.

This Magazine. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: News, arts and ideas stories, and features.  Payment: $60 - $300. Deadline: February 7, 2024. Pitches only.

Puncher &Wattmann. Genre: Full-length, fiction, memoir, poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 10, 2024.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD150-275 for prose; AUD125-275 for poetry; comics and art AUD100-300. Deadline: February 11, 2024. No submission fee for Australian residents.

Falling Star Magazine. Genre: Short stories between 2,000 – 5,000 words on the theme of having to move forward to, heading toward and eventually finding a new home, and poetry. Payment: Poetry $10. Fiction pays $20. Deadline: February 11, 2024.

Escape Artists: CatsCast. Genre: Speculative fiction stories about cats. (Podcast) Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: February 11, 2024. Reprints accepted.

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

Augur Magazine. Restrictions: Open to creators who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Disabled, and/or Trans, who are also Canadian citizens/permanent residents and/or who are living within the settler-defined borders of the land colonially known as Canada. Genre: Speculative fiction short stories and poetry. Translations accepted. Payment: $0.11 cents (CAD) per word for short fiction (1000+ words), and a flat fee of $110.00 per flash fiction piece (1000 words and under). Deadline: February 14, 2024.

Tales and Feathers. Restrictions: Open to creators who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Disabled, and/or Trans, who are also Canadian citizens/permanent residents and/or who are living within the settler-defined borders of the land colonially known as Canada. Genre: Cozy SFF fiction up to 2500 words. Payment: 11 cents CAD/word. Deadline: February 14, 2024.

Crimson Quill. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 14, 2024.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: February 15, 2024. Accepts reprints.

Lucent Dreaming. Restrictions: Open to submissions from d/Deaf and Disabled writers aged 16+ who are Welsh and / or Wales based. Genre: Poetry, prose and creative non-fiction. Payment: £50. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Apex Magazine. Genre: Speculative microfiction in the form of tourist brochures, travel blogs, and travel guides to the strangest, darkest places you can imagine. Word count: Up to 250 words. Payment: $10 and a digital copy. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

khōréō. Restrictions: Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. "This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, transnational/transracial adoptees, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work." Genre: Stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Payment: 0,10/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and $40-300 for art. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

STREET MAGIC II. Genre: Speculative fiction. "Magic. Hiding right under our unsuspecting noses, or swirling around all around us. When we’re talking about Street Magic, it’s probably closer than you think." Length: 6000 – 9000 words. Payment: Royalty sharing. Deadline: February 15, 2024. Reprints accepted.

Omenana Magazine. Restrictions: Open to writers from Africa and the African Diaspora. Genre: speculative fiction. Payment: $20. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Prairie Fire. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women writers fifty and over 50. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: Prose: $0.10 per word; Poetry: $40 per poem. Deadline: February 15, 2024. CLOSED

Fallen Tree Press. Restrictions: Open to writers from the U.S. and Canada only. "We are looking for poets that are BIPOC and/or age 50 and over." Genre: Poetry chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Dudes Rock! Genre: Speculative fiction (however vague) that highlights “queer masculinity.” Payment: $15. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Carte Blanche (Canada). Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations. comics, photography. Payment: $75. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: February 15, 2024. Some reprints accepted.

Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 15, 2024. See themes. Queries only.

The Spectacle. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $50. Deadline: February 16, 2024

Faces. Genre: Nonfiction, activities for children 9 - 14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 19, 2024. Queries only. See themes.

The Deadlands. Genre: Poetry. "The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere. We are looking for fiction that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve." Payment: $50 per poem. Deadline: February 20, 2024.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative flash fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: February 21, 2024.

Corvid Queen Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and pieces that are in-between up to 5,000 words. "Feminist tales, feminist retellings of traditional tales, and personal essays related to traditional tales." Payment: $5. Deadline: February 22, 2024.

Heduan Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, prose poems, personal essays, reviews, art. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: February 25, 2024.

Off Topic Publishing: Poetry Box. Genre: Poetry. Payment $30 CAD. Deadline: February 25, 2024. This is a monthly call.

Fission is the British Science Fiction Association's annual anthology of SFF fiction. You don’t need to be a BSFA member to submit. Genre: Science fiction. Length: Up to 5,000 words. Payment: 2 pence per word. Deadline: February 26, 2024.

Uncanny Magazine. Genre: Speculative flash fiction (750-1500 words). Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: February 26, 2024. 

Jewish Futures II. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy stories that will speculate on the past, present, and future of the Jewish people. What will Jews be up to many years from now? How do Jews deal with magic, sorcery, and demons? Payment: five cents a word (for a maximum total payment of $250). Deadline: February 26, 2024.

Rough Cut Press. Restrictions: Open to the LGBTQIA community. Genre: Experimental fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. "We seek personal, lyrical, critical, and experimental work in under 650 words." Theme: Withhold. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 27, 2024.

New Myths. Genre: Speculative fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: 3 cents/word with a minimum payment of $50 for all submissions, fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry; $50 for book reviews; $80 for art. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Game Over Books. Genre: Full-length fiction and poetry manuscripts. "We like manuscripts that tell a story and have an overall arc to them." Payment: 30% royalties and 25 author copies. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Inked in Gray: Affection. Genre:  Short stories by women of color that talk about the affection and show us a fresh, unique view on the topic. Payment: $45. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Alternative Milk. Genre: Short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays and other text based submissions. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry on theme. See theme. Payment: $30. Deadline: February 28, 2024. Opens February 15. Submission periods are extended by a week for BIPOC creators only.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Fanatical. Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Payment: £20. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Fahmidan Publishing is a publisher for all POC & Women ardent in battle against subjugation. Genre: Poetry or fiction chapbook. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Typehouse. Restrictions: In honor of Black History Month, no-fee submissions are open for all Black creators, not limited to those in the US. Genre: Prose, poetry, art. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, messages from heaven, angels. Genre: True stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! Payment: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The power of thinking positive. Genre: True stories and poems. "How did you “think positive” and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of positive thinking!" Payment: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $275 for a short story or nonfiction entry, and $50 per poem or postscript story. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

 

Little Ghost Books. Restrictions: "We are looking for transgressive horror fiction, queer fiction, and Canadian writers. LGBTQA+ folks, POC writers, and first time submitters are encouraged!" Genre: HORROR NOVELLAS between 17,500- 50, 000 words. Payment: Royalties? Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Subterrain. Genre: Creative nonfiction, commentary, fiction and poetry. Payment: Poetry: $50 per poem; Prose: $.10 per word (to a maximum of $500). Deadline: February 29, 2024. No fee if submitted by mail. Journal is located in Canada.

LYRA. Genre: "L=Y=R=A is a quarterly literary magazine publishing experiments and language." (Make of that what you will.) Payment: "Honorarium." Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Timber Ghost. Genre: Flash fiction and poetry. Payment: $5. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Conium Press. Genre: Magical realist, surrealist, and experimental fiction: Chapbooks. Payment: 

Ten copies and a small honorarium. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Anvil Magazine. Genre: Fantasty, scifi, western, and many other sub-genres. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

JOURN-E The Journal of Imaginative Literature. Genre: Adventure, Detection & Mystery, Fantasy, Horror & the Supernatural, and Science Fiction. Payment: One (1) cent per word for prose fiction and non-fiction, BUT with the following maximums: Up to $50.00 maximum for short stories; up to $35 maximum for scholarly articles; up to $15 maximum for reviews. Poetry from 3-13 lines--$7.50. Poetry from 14-50 lines--$15.00. Poetry over 50 lines--$15.00 plus 25 cents per line over 50 lines up to a maximum of $35.00. Interior Illustrations--$25-$50.00 (half-page to full-page). Cover Art in Full RGB Color--$100 [will be commissioned, or the illustrator should contact the editor with a concept before finished work and submission]. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Note: closes once 100 submissions have been received.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: February 29, 2024. In celebration of Black History Month, there are no submission fees for Black writers for the month of February.

Yellow Arrow Journal. Genre: Creative nonfiction, poetry, cover art by authors who identify as women. Theme: Elevate. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Adi: Disobedience. Genre: Fiction. “We’re looking for short fiction about the past, present, and future of disobedience to orthodoxies of all kinds – from political doctrines to religious creeds to artistic or intellectual frameworks. We want stories of the rebellions, heresies, theoretical revolutions, and moments of civil disobedience that catalyze this world and alternative worlds." Payment: $200 for flash fiction up to 1,000 words; $500 for longer stories, up to 5,000 words. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Shotgun Honey. Genre: Horror/crime mashup between 1000 and 5000 words. Payment: $25, Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Rumpus. Genre: Essays. Payment: $400 divided among all contributors. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Rumpus: Enough. Genre: Personal essays, critical essays, poetry, comics, and hybrid work by women and non-binary people who engage with rape culture, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Payment: $400 divided among all contributors. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Crimeucopia. Genre: Crime Fiction. Payment: Reprints - To a Maximum of - £7.00 at present - but negotiable. New Material - 1,000 - 5,000 - up to £10 .00 at present. New Material - 6.000 - 10,000 - up to £20.00 at present. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Corvid Queen Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and pieces that are in-between up to 5,000 words. "Feminist tales, feminist retellings of traditional tales, and personal essays related to traditional tales." Payment: $5. Deadline: February 29, 2024. BIPOC writers only.

Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Triangulation—Hospitium. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry. See theme. Payment: 3 cents per word for short stories, 25 cents per line for poetry. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Mariscat Press. Genre: Poetry pamphlets. 20-24 poems (maximum 24 pages) Payment: Royalties? Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Alien Magazine. Genre: All types of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art. Payment: $20. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Gwyllion. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: £10 per accepted story or poem. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Malahat Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: CAD $70/page. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration all year.

Southword. Genre: Poetry. Payment: €50 per poem. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Dragon Soul Press: Rogue Waves. Genre: "All mermaids (and their kin), kraken (sea monsters), underwater civilizations, etc. stories are welcome. All genres are accepted." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Epic Echoes Magazine. Genre: Action/Adventure, SFF, Horror, Mystery. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 29, 2024. 

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words) Payment: 5 cents per word. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Slay and Slay Again! An Anthology of Queer Horror. Restrictions: Preference will be given to submissions from LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC authors. Genre: Horror short fiction and poetry. Payment: $30. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Cricket Media: ASK Magazine. Genre: Science articles for children 7–10 years old. Theme: Make It Yourself. Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Queries only.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Adaptive Press. Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy short stories centered around people’s pets. Word counts from 500 to 1,500 words. They will consider flash series - three or more flash tales built around a common theme. Payment: $25 - $50. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Short Story Substack accepts one short story every month. Genre: All genres. Word count 6,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Reprints accepted.

 

AND A FEW MORE...

A Touch of Aether. Genre: Urban fantasy. Length: 5,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Mukoli. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and multimedia art creations that engage with peacebuilding. Payment: $75. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

My Galvanized Friend. Restrictions: Submissions must be LGBTQIA+ content created by LGBTQIA+ identified submitters. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and essays between 500 and 3,500 words as well as works of poetry and original works of art. Payment: $25 per fiction/nonfiction/essay and $10 per page of poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Teach. Write. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, poetry, CNF. "I prefer writing that is either written by composition teachers and writing students OR about teaching and learning." Payment: $15. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: $400. Deadline: March 1, 2024. See themes.

Midstory Magazine. Genre: Personal essays written by women about life, love, loss, and friendship at midlife. Payment: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Eerie River. Genre: Horror and dark fantasy novels. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Block Party Press. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

The Woodward Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art, and digital media from anyone, anywhere. Payment: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Gully. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and visual art. Payment: US$15 for poems and Gullets (flash fiction and non-fiction of less than 1,000 words) and US$30 for features and longer fiction (1,000 words and over). Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Iron Horse. Genre: Poems, stories, and essays. Payment: $100 per essay or story, and $50 per poem or flash piece. Deadline: March 1, 2024. Note: Open one day only for free submissions.

Bad Day Book. Genre: Poetry and prose. See site for themes. Payment: $40 - $75, depending on length. Deadline: March 1, 2024.

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

95 Writing Contests in February 2024 - No entry fees

Despite being nasty, brutish, and short, February always hosts reams of writing contests. This February there are more than seven dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes this month range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

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

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

Good luck! 

(Image: Mt Blanc: Pickpik)

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The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award. Genre: Short story of no more than 8,000 words that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. Prize: Publication as the featured story on the Baen Books main website paid at the normal paying rates for professional story submissions. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

$1000 for 1000 Words Creative Writing Contest is sponsored by the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation. Restrictions: Students enrolled in grades 6-12. Genre: Short fiction of exactly 1000 words. Prize: Two $1,000 scholarship prizes will be awarded, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Seven $100 cash prizes will also be awarded for winning entries, one per grade level. Deadline:  February 1, 2024. 

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. Genre: Most outstanding book for young people published in previous year. There is a $1000 award in each category: Pre-K - Grade 3;  Grades 4 - 6;  Grades 7 - 12. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition. Restrictions: Writers must be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university, and be born in 1993 or later. Genre: Essay on on the best or worst legacy from previous generations. Length: 2,100 words. Prize: CHF20,000, split between three winners; they’ll also cover travel, accommodation, and admission to the symposium in Switzerland. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Paterson Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry book published in 2021. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Gannon University Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Entrants must be a US high school student or a home-schooled student in grades nine through twelve. Genre: Poetry. Each student may enter 1 or 2 poems; each poem may be no longer than 50 lines. Prize: First Place: $100.00 Second Place: $75.00 Third Place: $50.00. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Narrative Magazine High School Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students aged 15-18. Genre: Poetry on theme. Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Wednesday Club Junior Poetry Prize. Restrictions: High School Students in Grades 9 through 12 in the St. Louis Area. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $200,  $150,  $100, $80, $50, and up to five $25 honorable mentions TEACHER AWARDS: $200, $150, $100. (Applies to teachers of first three student winners.) Deadline: February 1, 2024.

Wednesday Club Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $500, $300, $150. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

The Write Track. Genre: Full-length historical romance. Prize: $1,000 and a publishing contract with Dragonblade Publishing. Deadline: February 1, 2024.  

United States/Japan Creative Artists Residencies. This is a 3-5 month residency in Japan. Grant: $24,000. Deadline: February 1, 2024.

North Carolina Student Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to student poets from 3rd grade to university undergraduates attending schools in North Carolina. Genres: Unpublished poems (submit one poem). Prizes: 1st Place winners will receive a $60 check, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong. 2nd Place winners receive $40, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong. 3rd Place winners receive $25, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong. Deadline: February 2, 2024. 

The University of Chester Flash (Youth). Restrictions: Open to Scottish students aged 16-19 who are studying in the UK. Genre: flash fiction of up to 360 words. Prize: Up to £100. Deadline: February 2, 2024.

Bath Flash Fiction Award. Genre: Flash fiction, 300 words max. Prize: £1000 prize for the winner, £300 second and £100 third. Two commendations £30 each. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

The Golden Triangle Golden Haiku poetry contest. Genre: Haiku on theme “Transforming Paths.” Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

Max Afford Playwrights' Award. Restrictions: Open to Australian playwrights aged 18-40. Genre: Full-length plays. Prize: A$15,000. Deadline: February 4, 2024.

Furious Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction. "On the first Friday of every month, a new set of story prompts will be revealed. You will have 55 hours to submit your best 500-word (or fewer) story." Prize: $500AUD. Deadline: February 4, 2024. Opens February 2.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 6 - 12. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $20,000 scholarship. Deadline: Grade 6-10: February 8, 2024.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 10, 2024.

Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition. Genre: Flash fiction (100 words max) on theme: Wave. Prize: Publication on their website and social media, a copy of Pulitzer Prize-winning Stay True by Hua Hsu plus a copy of the latest issue of Aniko Magazine. Deadline: February 11, 2024.

Writers' & Artists' Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story. All entries must be original unpublished prose of 2,000 words or fewer. Prize: A place on one of Arvon's residential writing courses and publication. Deadline: February 12, 2024.

The Tomorrow Prize & The Green Feather Award. Restrictions: Open to Los Angeles County high school students. Genre: Science fiction, and environmentally focused sci-fi story. Prize: Tomorrow Prize: $250, $150, and $100 USD. Green Feather Award: $250.00 & online publication by the Nature Nexus Institute. Deadline: February 13, 2024.

Charles Crupi Memorial Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students in Michigan.  Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st place - $250 and publication in The Albion Review, 2nd place - $150 and publication in The Albion Review; 3rd place - $100 and publication in The Albion Review. Deadline: February 14, 2024.

Evolution Revolution: It’s January 1, 2050. Genre: Essay. "Write as if it’s 2050 and Earth is a cooperative place. How did that come to pass? The only requirement is to start with what you did. Re wordcount, be as concise as you can so as not to lose readers, while giving details that demonstrate the workability of your ideas." Prize: $4,000 for 1st place and $2000 each to 4 more. Deadline: February 14, 2024.

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

Tree2mydoor Valentines Day Poetry competition. Restrictions: Open to UK citizens. Genre: Witty or soppy, romantic or silly Valentines Day poems. Prize: £100 worth of Tree2mydoor gift vouchers. Deadline: February 14, 2024.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets. Restrictions: The prize is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 6 - 12. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $20,000 scholarship. Deadline: February 15, 2024. Grades 11-12:

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award. Genre: Poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the previous calendar year. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

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: February 15, 2024.

Ambroggio Prize. Restrictions: Poet must be a U.S. Citizen; Resident of the United States for the ten-year period prior to the submission deadline, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Legal Permanent Status (LPS), or any subsequent categories designated by the U.S. authorities as conferring similar enhanced status upon non-citizens living in the United States. Genre: Book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Hub City Press. Restrictions: Open to writers of all levels who have lived in South Carolina for at least one year prior to submission of their manuscript. Genre: Novel. Prize: $1,500 and book publication, including marketing and tour support from Hub City Press and the series partners, as well as placement in all South Carolina state libraries and readings/events with presenting sponsors. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Hodson Trust–John Carter Brown Library Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction (includes creative nonfiction). A book-in-process relating to the literature, history, culture, or art of the Americas before 1830. Award: $20,000. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

CAAPP Book Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers of African descent. Genre: First or second book by a writer of African descent and is open to the full range of writers embodying African and African diasporic experience. The book can be of any genre that is, or intersects with, poetry, including poetry, hybrid work, speculative prose, and/or translation. Prize: $3000 and publication. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Haiku Society of America Merit Book Awards for Excellence in Published Haiku, Translation, and Criticism. Genre: Published book. Books must have been published in 2022 and must clearly contain a printed 2022 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). Prize: $500. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Vermont Studio Center – Full Fellowship Awards. The Vermont Studio Center offers 54 fellowships; open to anyone in the world. Deadline: February 15, 2024. (There is now a $25 application fee)

Paul-Victor Winters Memorial Creative Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to NJ high school students in private or public schools, grades 9-12. Genre: Flash Fiction and Poetry. Prize: $500 top prize. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award in Poetry (Kansas Book Award). Restrictions: Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim. Genre: Novel or collection of short stories. The nominee's book must have a publication date of 2021, 2022, or 2023. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: 53-word story. Prize: Publication in Prime Number Magazine and  a free book from Press 53. Deadline: February 15, 2024.

Andres Montoya Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Latino authors who are residents of the US. Genre: First book of poetry published by a Latino author. Prize: $1,000 and publication by the University of Notre Dame Press. Deadline: February 16, 2024. Biennial prize.

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: February 16, 2024.

Randall Albers Young Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to  all Chicago-area students currently enrolled in grades 9–12. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Prize: $250 top prize, Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Villanelle Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Villanelle. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Sonnet Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Sonnet. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

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: February 16, 2024.

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: $1000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to a writer committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history. The winner of the prize will have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking and challenging work. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence. Restrictions: The award will go to an editor whose commitment to the publication of LGBTQ+  writers and literature contributes significantly to the advancement of the LGBTQ+  community. Candidates can work in any genre, be at any publication, and be at any stage of their career. For 35 years as an editor at Macmillan, St. Martin’s Press, and Crown Publishing, Michael Denneny championed LGBTQ writers and stories as one of the first openly gay editors working at major publishing houses. The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence is the only editorial award that not only recognizes the support provided by editors to the literary community, but also the importance of editors in the advancement of a social movement. Prize: The winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500. Deadline: February 16, 2024. [On a personal note, Michael Denneny was my editor at St. Martin's, I'm sad to hear he has passed away.]

The Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing. Restrictions: The award will go an LGBTQ arts critic or literary reviewer committed to examining queer works of art and culture, as Holt ground-breakingly did for 16 years. This award is made possible by Lesbians for Good, a fund of the Horizons Foundation. Prize: $4,000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Dr. Jim Duggins Outstanding LGBTQ Mid-Career Novelist Prize. Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ mid-career novelists who have published at least three novels. or two novels and substantial additional literary work (including poems, stories, or essays). Genre: Published book. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction. Restrictions: Open to a Black LGBTQ writer whose fiction explores themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking work. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers. Restrictions: The nominee must self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. The nominee must have written and published at least one but no more than two books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Andres Montoya Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Latino authors who are residents of the US. Genre: First book of poetry published by a Latino author. Prize: $1,000 and publication by the University of Notre Dame Press. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between October 1, 2023, and February 28, 2024 to be eligible for the 2023 Prize. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Genre: Adventure writing novel. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

Luminarts Creative Writing Fellowship. The Creative Writing Fellowship awards two $7,500 grant Fellowships for excellence in creative writing in the categories of prose and poetry, in fiction and nonfiction. Applicants submit a two-page written piece (either a stand-alone piece or an excerpt of a larger piece such as a novel or short story). Open to writers between the ages of 18 and 30 years old at the time of application; be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a degree program; and live within 150 miles of the Union League Club of Chicago. Genre: Poetry or prose, fiction and nonfiction.  Prize: $7,500. Deadline: February 16, 2024.

J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50. Restrictions: Open to unpublished LGBTQ writers over 50 working in any genre. Genre: All genres. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 16, 2043.

Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $1,500 top prize. Deadline: Deadline: February 17, 2024.

Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students (grades 9-12) from across the Washington Metropolitan Area (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC). Genre: Poetry. Prize: First, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates.  Deadline: February 22, 2024.

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award supports the work of a promising early-career nonfiction writer on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition. Genres: Nonfiction journalism works in progress with “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scene writing and lyrical description.” Restrictions: The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. Prize: $6,000 upon announcement of the winning proposal; $3,000 upon evidence of substantial progress (usually a first draft); and $3,500 upon completion and acceptance by the Award committee.. Deadline: February 22, 2024.

Wiley-Silver Prize in Civil War History. Genre: First book or monograph in Civil War history published in the previous year. Books or monographs published by scholarly or popular presses are eligible. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: February 23, 2024.

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK students between 16-18 years of age. Genre: Poetry, one poem, maximum 48 lines. Theme is 'Mirror.' Prize: £5,000. Deadline: February 23, 2024.

Young Authors Sacred Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to US students aged 13-18. Genre: Essay discussing the power of love to strengthen communities and transform lives. Explore themes such as compassion, mutual aid, tenderness, justice, reconciliation, and healing. Prize: $100 and publication. Deadline: February 23, 2024.

Harper’s Bazaar short-story competition. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over. Genre: Original, unpublished short story, written in English on the subject of ‘The experiment’ up to 2,000 words. Prize: Two-night stay at Chewton Glen in Hampshire (UK). Deadline: February 25, 2024.

Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to authors who either are citizens or permanent residents of Western Australia. Genre: Book published during the preceding calendar year in a variety of genres. Prize: Up to A$60,000. Deadline: February 26, 2024. 

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2023 and February 28, 2024. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 27, 2024.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between October 1, 2023 and February 26, 2024. Deadline: February 27, 2024.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book  published between October 1, 2023 and February 26, 2024. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 27, 2024.

Victor Howes Prize in Poetry. Restrictions: Undergraduate English majors currently enrolled at a New England college (2-year or 4-year). Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

The American Buffalo Books Fiction Prize. Genre: Novels — from 40,000 to 80,000 words — that are set in or explore the Midwest, the Great Plains, and/or the alleged flyover portions of the West. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: February 28, 2024. Closes when they reach their cap so submit early. 

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multi-Lingual Texts. Genre: Literary translations and multi-lingual texts. Prize: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Beatrice Medicine Award for Scholarship in American Indian Studies. Genre: Essay or monograph about Native American studies published in previous calendar year. Prize: $250. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Electa Quinney Award for Published American Indian Stories. Genre: Story. "This award seeks to highlight the work of story creators who continue the tradition of teaching through narratives often crossing the boundaries of genres, formats and disciplines. To celebrate the dissemination of stories into spaces where they can be shared all published stories qualify including small press and fine arts printing." Prize: $250. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

Toronto Star Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Ontario residents 16 years of age or older. Genre: Short story. Prize: 1st prize - $5000; 2nd prize - $2000, 3rd prize - $1000. Deadline: February 28, 2024.

The Orwell Society Dystopian Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to current students (both BA and MA) at British universities. Genre: Dystopian narratives of 3,000 words. Prize: £750. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Lilliput at 40 Anthology. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not published a book-length work. Genre: Christmas Party stories and essays. Prize: €500. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Self-Published E-Book Literary Award. Restrictions: Open to African-Americans. Genre: Self-Published E-Book in fiction and poetry written by African-Americans that depict the "cultural, historical, or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora." Prize: $2,500. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Kelpies Prize (Scotland). Restrictions: Open to Scottish authors. Genre: Children’s fiction and nonfiction, picture books. Prize: £1,000, a publishing contract, a writing retreat, and a year of mentoring by an editorial team. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

2024 Sijo Competition. Genre: A Sijo poem. Prize: Adult division: First ($1,000), Second ($750), Third ($500); Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300) Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Sejong Cultural Society Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers ages 19-30. Also see youth and children's divisions. Genre: Essay responding to Topic: "I'm Waiting for You" by Kim Bo-young. Prizes: $1000, $750, $500, $50 for honorable mention, plus possible publication. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Honest Holiday Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. "In the spirit of Scrooge, Santa, and everything in between, we invite you to write your most honest holiday haiku. Use this space to vent about the itchy socks your great aunt insists on gifting you each year or wax poetic about a Valentine's Day mishap." Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Sejong Cultural Society Sijo Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers ages 19-30. Also see youth division. Genre: Sijo. Prizes: Adult: $1000, $750, $500, $50 for honorable mention, plus possible publication. Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300) Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations. Genre: Poetry and fiction: See prompts. Prize: £300 top prize. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Momentum Grant for Early-Career Translators. "The grant is intended to facilitate the completion of a substantial sample of a book-length work of prose translation suitable for submission to English-language publishers, and will be awarded to an individual translator who has not yet received a book-length contract for translation work. We particularly welcome submissions from translators from historically underrepresented cultures and backgrounds." Grant: $3,000. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to US writers only. Genre: Full-length manuscript of creative nonfiction by a writer not yet established in the genre. Prize: $12,000 and publication. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Opens February 1.

Notable Works Poetry Contest. Genre: Poems that celebrate the environment. Theme: "Connections Nurtured Through Nature's Harmonies." Prize: $150. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: February 29, 2024. This is a monthly contest.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: February 29, 2024. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction. Genre: Most forms of nonfiction including: Reviews (especially book reviews), memoir, journalism, interviews, essay (including personal essay), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel, nature, opinion, and many other permutations. Prize: The top three winning entries of the Prize for Nonfiction are declared the Winners, and share equally in the Prize pool of $1000 USD. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Witcraft Monthly Humour Competition. Genre: Humor with the emphasis on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. Prize: First prize A$50, second prize A$20, third prize A$10, payable via Paypal only. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Words Without Borders Momentum Grant for Early-Career Translators. Genre: The grant is intended to facilitate the completion of a substantial sample of a book-length work of prose translation suitable for submission to English-language publishers, and will be awarded to an individual translator who has not yet received a book-length contract for translation work into English. We particularly welcome submissions from translators from historically underrepresented cultures and backgrounds. Prize: $3000. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Student Prizes in Short Fiction and Poetry. Restrictions: Applicants must be 18-25 years old at the time of submission, legal residents of South Carolina, and enrolled full time at a private or public South Carolina institution of higher education. Genre; Short fiction, poetry. "There is no restriction on content, but submissions may not exceed 15 pages double-spaced and must be either one original, unpublished short story or one excerpt from a longer, unpublished work. Submit up to 5 unpublished poems (totaling no more than 10 pages)." Prize: $250 and an invitation to be honored at the SCAA Induction Ceremony. Deadline: February 29, 2024.

15 Fabulous Writing Conferences and Workshops in February 2024

This February there are more than a dozen writing conferences. Many conferences and workshops will be held online, but some will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

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

(Image: St. Augustine, Florida: Wikimedia)

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Jaipur Literature Festival. February 1 - 5, 2024. Presentations, panels, readings, and music performances. In an uplifting celebration of the mind and heart, authors from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe will take part in provocative conversations about life and society, economics and the arts, equity, freedom, and the care of our planet. In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community.

Tinker Mountain Winter Recharge. February 2 - 4, 2024: Online. The weekend begins with a social session on Friday evening and continues with workshops Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m.  Just the right amount of time to affirm your writing and to reset for the balance of winter and spring. Manuscript workshops, limited to 8 participants, give you an opportunity to receive feedback on your work from peers and your faculty mentor and learn what other writers are working on. Write now workshops, limited to 10 participants, allow you to immerse yourself in the craft of writing and generate new work without the pressure of preparing or reading manuscripts.

On Memory and Metaphor: Bringing the Past to Life. February 3, 2024: Online. "How do we translate a vague memory in our thoughts into a vivid memory in an essay or memoir? Sensory knowledge, written descriptively, assists in memory, in recalling past events. From here, we metaphorically string memories together. By reflecting on our lives, we see truths not initially observed in the past. Memories are dynamic, not static. They change as we change. When we write our sensory memories, they present us with fresh perspectives. This second life doesn't just recapture past actions, it gives them depth and meaning." This presentation includes a writing prompt, space to read your work, as well as time for discussion and questions-and-answers.

Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. February 7 - 10, 2024: Seattle, WA. "The AWP Conference & Bookfair is an essential annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Each year more than 12,000 attendees join our community for four days of insightful dialogue, networking, and unrivaled access to the organizations and opinion-makers that matter most in contemporary literature. AWP’s is now the largest literary conference in North America." 

The 2024 Boston Writing Workshop. February 9-10, 2024. Online. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

SCBWI In-Person Winter Conference 2024. February 9-11, 2024: NY, NY. Come and be inspired by renowned authors and illustrators, learn about the state of the children's book publishing industry from panels of agents, editors and art directors, dive deep into your craft with TWO three-hour Creative Labs, and get your work in front of industry professionals!

San Francisco Writers Conference. February 15 - 18, 2024: San Francisco, CA. Attendees will join with 100+ presenters and fellow writers from across the country and around the world at this year’s event. The SFWC events are consistently rated among the top writer’s conferences anywhere. "Our goal is to help writers become published authors as we help them become better at the craft and business of writing. The SFWC is also one of the friendliest conferences. Presenters this year will include bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers from major publishing houses. There will be experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, and author websites. The San Francisco Writers Conference has one of the largest faculties of any writer’s conference to ensure the best networking with the people who can help you get published." 

Strategic Submission: An Online Workshop. February 15 – March 14, 2024, Each Thursday, 5:00-7:00pm EST/EDT: Online. "In this five-week online workshop, writers of all genres are invited to set excuses aside and learn proper submission etiquette and protocol. In a supportive environment, you’ll write cover letters and an author bio, create a submission strategy and research markets for publication, funding and conferences to identify which options best fit your work. You’ll have the opportunity to submit your writing to several markets as your workshop mates cheer you on. Bring a completed short story, a group of 3 to 5 poems, a novel excerpt, an essay or creative nonfiction piece that’s polished and ready to submit."

Southern California Writers’ Conference (and Retreat). February 16 - 18, 2024: San Diego, CA. Faculty: 60+ working, professional authors of fiction, nonfiction & screen, editors & agents. "Founded and run by professional writers the SCWC provides veteran and emerging talent with authoritative guidance to help distinguish those manuscripts that are ready for market consideration." Limited to 150 conferees.

The Art of Short Fiction: An Online Workshop. February 16 - March 15, 2024. Each Friday, 3:00-5:00pm EST/EDT: Online. "In this workshop, we will discuss the foundations of short fiction and what makes it so uniquely different from novel writing. We will examine a diversity of voices and styles from contemporary short story writers and consider key aspects of the genre—voice, plot, characterization and more. Through generative writing exercises, we will practice techniques to help you hone your skills using these craft elements. You are welcome to bring a piece you’re currently working on or to start something entirely new. After we spend time writing, we will share and discuss our work in a supportive and productive environment. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome."

Come Play(wright) with Me! A Playwriting Class for ALL Writers. February 17, 2024: Lincoln, Nebraska. "Class for all writers, whether writing for stage and screen or not. Participants will explore techniques for building an excellent playground (i.e. structuring a story) and inviting interesting people (i.e. complicated characters) to connect with audiences there. Topics and activities include tips for utilizing non-traditional story structures, infusing character backstory seamlessly into action, and writing compelling dialogue."

The Engine of Narratives: Openings, Metaphors, and Characters. February 21. 2024. Online. Join author Tommy Dean for a 2 hour generative writing session focused on The Engine of Narratives: Openings, Metaphors, and Characters. Make dreading the blank page a thing of the past!   There are many ways to write a story, but these three elements can make the writing easier and more dynamic.  We'll look at model texts and get inspired by the writing prompts! Past students have published stories inspired by my prompts in today's best literary magazines.

Wild Seeds Writers Retreat. February 22 - 25, 2024. The Wild Seeds Writers Retreat (formerly the North Country Institute & Retreat for Writers of Color), a collaboration with the Center for Black Literature, the English Department at SUNY, Plattsburgh, and the Paden Institute and Retreat for Writers, provides a writing community where established and newly discovered writers of color can focus on the craft of writing and create cross-cultural conversations around the literature created by writers of the African diaspora. Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2023.

St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop. February 23 - 26, 2024: St. Augustine, Florida. "The St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop creates an intimate and professional environment that combines private meetings with small-group workshops, thus enabling aspiring authors to wisely approach the writing and publication of their novel. At the St. Augustine event, aspiring authors will:
1) Work one-on-one with top authors and savvy market professionals.
2) Apply advanced story and narrative technique to their novel-in-progress.
3) Hone and improve their writer voice and style.
4) Learn the necessary inside mechanics of the publishing business.
5) Leave the workshop with a detailed plan to work towards publication of their novel.
Group workshop sessions will be interspersed with agent and author consultations, workshop assignments, as well as consults with workshop leaders."

The 2024 Indiana Writing Workshop. February 24, 2024: Indianapolis, IN. This is a full-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing conference. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total). 

12 New Agents Seeking Genre Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, YA, LGBT, Children's Books and more

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

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

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

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

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

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Ms. Hillary Fazzari of Bradford Literary Agency

Currently closed to queries!

Hillary Fazzari (she/her) joined the Bradford Literary Agency as the agency’s assistant in 2022 before moving into agenting in 2023. Prior to that, she had interned at Writers House and served as a long-term reader and editor for another literary agency. She is a highly editorial agent and is looking for high concept, high stakes stories with deep character development and gorgeous, commercial prose. 

What she is seeking: Overall, she acquires primarily Middle Grade and YA, and is open to any genre in those areas, including graphic novels. In New Adult and Adult, she acquires more selectively and is open to:

• Rom-coms;
• Romantasy;
• SFF with strong romantic elements; important female, queer, and/or nonbinary characters; and emotive plotlines; and
• Very select narrative nonfiction that focuses on history.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Sobi-Dee Burbano of LCS Literary Services

Currently closed to queries!

Sobi-Dee Burbano earned her Associate’s Degree in Arts, but her true passion has always been reading. She discovered a love for books as a child and that has carried on through adulthood. When she is not caring for her young children, as a mother of two, the kindle is her best friend. She loves reading romance of all genres including fantasy and paranormal.  Sobi is excited to work with aspiring authors and is now actively building her list. She is looking for unputdownable stories with bold, courageous characters who take you down an emotional journey of perseverance. She enjoys getting lost in a great drama-filled fantasy and also hopes to escape into a romance that makes her fall in love with love again.

What she is seeking: 

• Adult Fiction: Contemporary, Commercial, Fantasy, General, Historical, Horror, Humor, Literary, Mystery, New Adult, Paranormal, Psychological Thriller, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Women’s Fiction
• Young Adult Fiction: Adventure, Contemporary, Dystopian, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
• Middle Grade: Adventure, Contemporary, Dystopian, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Paranormal, Sci-Fi

How to submit: Use the agency's querymanager HERE.

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Michelle Jackson of Jackson Literary Agency

Michelle began her agenting career as an intern and then a Literary Associate with Olswanger Literary.  She is also a published author and has earned educational degrees from New York University, SUNY at StonyBrook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University. Michelle looks forward to bringing adult fiction and select young adult and non-fiction works of new authors to the masses, especially BIPOC and underrepresented authors. She is also a content editor and loves developing and working with new authors to help them hone their craft

What she is seeking:  Michelle is on the hunt for writers with a strong voice and masterful descriptive writing, stories with memorable characters, a great premise, a twist on an old tale and original concepts.
Adult Fiction: Commercial, Historical, Humor, New Adult, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Literary, Contemporary Romance, Inspirational, Multicultural, Psychological Thrillers, Romantic Comedy, Speculative, Light fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary, Historical, Christian, Romance, Speculative, Light Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal
Select Middle Grade: Commercial, Contemporary
Picture books: Whimsical, Non-fiction, select Biographies, Fiction, Illustrators, particularly author-illustrators
Select Non-fiction: Relationships, Lifestyle, Cookbooks, Travel, True Crime, Wellness, Self-help

How to submit: Use the agency's querymanager HERE.

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Jynastie Wilson of LCS Literary Services

Currently closed to queries!

During a childhood that was spent devouring the pages of both fantasy and contemporary novels alike, Jynastie Wilson discovered that there was magic within these pages, one that was much more complex than the fact that they happened to offer a place of escape and distraction. Instead, she found that these novels had the magic to make people feel a little less alone — specifically those that came from various marginalized communities, such as she did. 

What she is seeking: Jynastie is looking for a variety of projects in both Adult and Children’s genres.

• Adult: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, and stories written by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized authors.
• Young Adult: Contemporary, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Horror, and stories written by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized authors.
• Middle Grade: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Horror, and stories written by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized authors.
• Childrens: Picture Books, Chapter Books, and stories written by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized authors.

How to submit: Use the agency's querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Shabnam Banerjee-McFarland of Odom Media Management

Currently closed to queries!

Shabnam Banerjee-McFarland (she/her) is an Associate Agent at Odom Media Management. Throughout her career, she has worked in independent media aimed at providing tools, resources, and frameworks that support movement-building. As an editor, she has worked with New York Times bestselling authors, speakers, and activists on books and digital training products on topics of intersectionality, racial and gender justice, decolonization, identity, and community organizing. She received her B.A. from University of California, Berkeley and M.A. from Columbia University in American Studies focusing her research on gender, race, and media. 

What she is seeking: Right now, she is most focused on non-fiction books about racial capitalism and closing the racial wealth gap, decolonization, and an intersectional, gender-inclusive approach to equity and equality.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Kate Rogers of KO Media Management

Kate Rogers is a University of Washington graduate with a double major in English and Cinema Media Studies. She has worked in customer service at Vroman's Bookstore in her hometown of Pasadena, California, and as the Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing for Stevens Court Community Council in Seattle.

What she is seeking: Kate loves stories with graphic/illustrated elements or multimodal components. All ages (Children’s, MG, YA, and Adult) welcome, as long as there is a visual component! Genres include humor, horror/thriller (bonus if it’s entry level for a younger audience!), romance, light sci-fi, light fantasy (not currently open to high-fantasy of any kind), contemporary realistic fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She is interested in diverse, character-driven narratives that subvert familiar tropes or conventions. Bonus points if your story includes non-conventional, interactive formats.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Mara Hollander of Azantian Literary

Mara Hollander started her publishing career at FinePrint Literary Management and joined Azantian Literary Agency in 2025. Prior to working in publishing, Mara earned a bachelor's degree at Georgetown University and a PhD and Pitt Public Health, and was a professor researching US health care policy. Mara believes stories make us who we are and that everyone deserves a chance to write their own. She is actively seeking to represent authors from communities traditionally underrepresented in publishing, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and disabled and/or chronically ill writers. In her free time, she writes fantasy novels, watches a shocking amount of figure skating, roots for the Washington Nationals and Georgetown Hoyas, and daydreams about petting dogs.

What she is seeking: Mara is actively seeking to represent authors from communities traditionally underrepresented in publishing, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA, people  who are disabled, and people who are chronically ill. In fiction, she is seeking accessibly-written novels for Adult and YA audiences that rip your heart out and make you forget the world around you. She is open to most fiction manuscripts and nonfiction proposals and loves to be surprised!

FICTION

• Fantasy (including political and romantasy)
• Romance
• Thrillers/mysteries (including political)
• Horror
• Women’s fiction
• Upmarket + book club/commercial fiction

NONFICTION

• Mental health care, substance use disorder treatment (this interest is specific to nonfiction) (please no pure memoirs)
• The American health care system (please no pure memoirs)
• Academic research for a commercial audience
• Academic research for an academic audience
• Making business better
• Sports (literally anything in sports)
• Gender + sexuality, focused on queer identities
• The role of women in _________
• Race + ethnicity
• Psychology, neuroscience, and the human brain
• Parasocial relationships
• Multilevel marketing
• Cults, schemes, and Fyre Festival-style scams
• Politics, policy, and the future of government
• Climate change
• Science in modern life

How to submit: Mara is open the first seven days of the month. Use her querytracker HERE.

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Julie Gourinchas of Bell Lomax Moreton Agency (UK)

Julie Gourinchas (she/they) works across the agents’ various lists and provides editorial and administrative support where needed. Prior to her time at BLM, she was managing editor for a transcontinental literary consultancy, and later transferred into freelance editorial work where she worked closely with a number of agents and their clients. 

What they are seeking: Julie is drawn to uncommon voices and striking, intelligent writing—whether it be vibrant and floral or tense, quick, and sparse—as well as texture in both tone and setting, and she loves anything spiky, toothy, and dark. While the literary-speculative is her sweet spot, she considers herself genre agnostic within literary fiction, and remains open to compelling and well-executed genre overlap. These include:

• historical fiction, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries (also including and indeed encouraging alternate history);
• gothic fiction (specifically regional gothic with a strong sense of place);
• dynamic-led (e.g. friendships, family, etc) dramas with high emotional stakes;
• searing contemporary fiction centred on themes of identity and belonging;
• speculative science fiction addressing the relationship between humanity and technology;
• dark westerns;
• magical realism;
• female-led horror, especially featuring mangled nature or cosmic, Lovecraftian vibes;
• dark academia;
• speculative “fantasy” with only drips of magic, preferably set in the real/human world.

She is keenly interested in hearing from authors traditionally underrepresented in the industry, including but not restricted to writers of colour; queer, trans, and nonbinary writers; working class writers; disabled writers; etc. 

Folkloric, literary, and mythological retellings are a special favourite, particularly when approached from a fresh, imaginative perspective; she’d also love to see a sharp, literary story exploring humanity’s relationship to technology in the vein of Black Mirror. Likewise, a New Weird story exploring the effects of climate change on humanity and society, in the vein of Jeff VanderMeer or China Miéville, would not go remiss. On rare occasion, a moody psychological suspense story, where a heady sense of atmosphere reigns, is welcome. Also, more terrible women please.

In non-fiction, Julie is keen to read in the narrative and “big ideas” spaces, particularly in the realms of politics, history, and the social sciences.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.

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Miriam Cortinovis of Ki Agency 

Born and raised in Italy, Miriam (they/she) moved to Chicago as a teenager and has since earned a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Writing & Publishing from DePaul University. After an excellent internship at Aevitas Creative Management, for which she also freelance read, she landed at ArtHouse Literary as an intern. They became Associate Agent through intense months of professional growth and supported learning. When not reading or writing SFF fiction of their own, Miriam enjoys playing videogames with their partner and scheming on Dungeons & Dragons with her friends. Their MSWL is inspired by all these speculative passions on top of their non-binary, bisexual, and chronically ill identity.

What she is seeking: Miriam defines themself an omnivore in regard to Science Fiction and Fantasy, never turning down an original unique piece with a strong voice—so never say never! That being said, a speculative element is required, even if abstract/literary. Miriam also enjoys representing most age targets, from Middle Grade and up to Young Adult (for which they also accept contemporary works without a speculative element) and Adult. To browse a visual MSWL you can visit this Instagram post, while for a more detailed one you can follow this link.

Miriam is not a fit for literary fiction, adult contemporary, non-fiction of any kind, historical fiction without a significant speculative lens, picture books and chapter books.

How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Carleen Geisler of Britt Siess Creative Management (CANADA)

Carleen Geisler joined BSCM in early 2026 after starting her agenting career at ArtHouse Literary and P.S. Literary. She lives outside of Vancouver, BC on a small regenerative produce farm.

What she is seeking: She currently represents adult nonfiction and adult fiction across genres, with a focus on contemporary stories. In fiction, she tends to gravitate toward a more upmarket or literary voice, though she will also look at commercial works. Her tastes span widely from very quiet, everyday stories to odd or unsettling atmospheres, and everything between. In nonfiction, her aim is to find niche topics that appeal to a wide audience. Authors with clear knowledge of their subject and a talent for making an emotional connection with readers are who she tends to gravitate toward in nonfiction.

How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Esty Loveing-Downes of  Howland Literary

Currently closed to queries!

Esty holds a BFA in creative writing from Ringling College of Art + Design and is currently an MFA candidate in fiction at Queens University of Charlotte. Aside from serving as a daily editor for the Southern Review of Books, she joined the teams at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency and Tobias Literary Agency before joining the ArtHouse Literary Agency team and becoming an Associate Literary Agent. 

What she is seeking: Esty is looking for romance, upmarket fiction, YA, genre-blending sci-fi, picture books, and select nonfiction and literary fiction. She’s also looking for genre-blending sci-fi or speculative fiction like THE NIGHT CIRCUS, magical realism like Carmen Maria Machado’s HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES, or nonlinear, poetic work like THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR. She’d also love to see “romantasy” with strong leads like A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES and CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, fae stories with romance tropes like THE CRUEL PRINCE, character-driven journeys like THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, or the fairy tale vibes of SPINNING SILVER.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Ms. Rebecca Love of The Booker Albert Literary Agency

After graduating with a B.A. in Professional Writing, Rebecca completed internships with Christian Indie Publishing Association and ArtHouse Literary Agency before moving to Booker Albert Literary Agency. 

​From a young age, she has been fascinated with epic worlds like LOTR and The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Books with romantic elements like Ella Enchanted, The Goose Girl, and The Cruel Prince all have places in her top ten. She also adores historical fiction like The Wednesday Wars and iconic masterpieces like Monica Hesse's They Went Left, but her all-time favorite novel has to be the grounded fantasy The Scorpio Races. Her favorite troupes are houses-with-personality (think House of Leaves or The Haunting of Hill House), zombie apocalypses like in the book World War Z, and underwater worlds.

What she is seeking: Regardless of genre, Rebecca is looking for stories that have good pacing, grounded worlds, and believable characters. She is interested in fantasy of all kinds and anything that has a good hook. She would love to see more scary YA and MG historical fiction. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

2024 New Year's Writing Resolution: Revise Your Darlings

William Faulkner is purported to have coined the phrase: "Kill all your darlings." (Although that maxim is attributed to Faulkner, Arthur Quiller-Couch had advised writers to "murder your darlings" decades earlier in 1914.) As a piece of writing advice, "kill your darlings" is simply a warning not to become too enamored with your lovingly created turns of phrase. Like Pygmalion, falling in love with own's own creation doesn't necessarily turn out well for the creator.

This year, in keeping with my tradition of making a New Year's writing resolution, I have resolved, not to kill my darlings, but to rephrase them. I have come to the realization that my work needs some rather drastic pruning. So, I am going to revise.

Writers tend to focus on composition. The act of creation is not only enjoyable, it provides an invigorating boost to the ego. Composition relies on talent, the innate ability to observe, and put those observations into words (or music, or any art form) in a way that is memorable. But while composition begins with talent, which I maintain can't be taught, it ends with revision, which is a skill that has to be learned. 

Revising your own work requires distance. You have to read it as if you didn't write it. That is not easy. Once you have expressed something with language, those words become imprinted in your mind. Not only are they hard to forget, it is very difficult to change those words in any major way. And, of course, there is the dilemma of not knowing if they even need changing.

The best way to revise is to put your work down for a long time, not just a few days, or even weeks, but months. Write something else. Populate your mind with other words, other observations, other stories. Then, once you are thoroughly distanced, go back to your previous work and read it, not as its creator, but as a reader does, with fresh eyes.

Then ask yourself a simple question: "Am I bored?"

Good writing is not boring. It engages the senses, and stimulates thought. Most of all, it produces an emotional response. If your writing doesn't make you feel as if you are there, it needs to be revised. Descriptions need to be more vivid, insights fully expressed, feelings generated. As a writer, your writing needs to make you, its creator, laugh, cry, shrink back in horror (but in a good way).

So, dear writers, come with me on my 2024 quest to take a hacksaw to my writing and transform it into something more perfect, more genuine, more ... just more.  

(Image: Lightspring)