THE GIGANTIC BOOK OF TINY CRIMES SEEKS FLASH NOIR / CRIME
Catapult
INFO: The Gigantic Book of Tiny Crimes, an anthology of "flash noir" to be published by Catapult's Black Balloon imprint, will feature 50 tales of tiny tightrope robberies, disastrously diminutive double crosses, mournful muggings, and murders both foul and sweet. This anthology of flash noir will explore the genre of crime fiction—from the most hardboiled of noirs to the coziest of mysteries—gathering leading and emerging literary voices who scour the underbelly of modern life to expose the criminal, the illegal, and the depraved.
They’re looking for a diverse collection of stories from writers of different aesthetics and backgrounds. Crime fiction is defined loosely here, with an eye toward weird crime/noir—stories that push against and redefine what a crime is, and who criminals are. Previously unpublished stories only.
Nadxieli Nieto and Lincoln Michel previously co-edited and published Gigantic Worlds, a science flash fiction anthology with new (or previously uncollected) work from Ted Chiang, Jonathan Lethem, Lynne Tillman, Charles Yu, Alissa Nutting, Philip K. Dick, and more.
DEADLINE: December 15, 2016
catapult.submittable.com/submit/68890/the-gigantic-book-of-tiny-crimes-seeks-flash-noir-crime
BCALA LITERARY AWARDS
Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc.
INFO: The Literary Awards Committee of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) is now accepting submissions for the annual BCALA Literary Awards. The Committee will present four prizes of $500.00 each for adult books written by African American authors: a First Novelist Award, a Fiction Award, a Nonfiction Award, and a Poetry Award. The First Novelist Award is given to recognize an outstanding work by a first time African American fiction writer. Honor Book citations are also awarded in fiction and nonfiction without any accompanying monetary remuneration. Additionally, an Outstanding Contribution to Publishing citation is provided to an author and/or publishing company for unique books that offer a positive depiction of African Americans.
First presented at the Second National Conference of African American Librarians in 1994, the BCALA Literary Awards acknowledge outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction for adult audiences by African American authors. Recipients of these awards offer outstanding depictions of the cultural, historical or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora and embody the highest quality of writing style and research methodology, if applicable.
Books from small, large and specialty publishers are welcome for review consideration. Titles forwarded for review must be published between January 2016 and December 2016. Sets or multi-volume works are eligible. New editions of previously published works are eligible only if more than 30% of the total content is new or revised material. Inspirational, self-help, and adult graphic novels are ineligible. Only finished, published books should be submitted; galleys (bound or unbound) and chapbooks are unacceptable.
Please send one copy of each title submitted to each member of the Literary Awards Committee. A Committee roster with their addresses can be found at here.
Supply all available information regarding the submission, including promotional material, author biography and available news articles and reviews.
BCALA Literary Awards Criteria
BCALA presents four (4) $500.00 awards: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction, one for a first novelist and one for poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.
- The Fiction Award recognizes depictions of sensitive and authentic personal experience either within the framework of contemporary literary standards and themes or which explore innovative literary formats.
- The Nonfiction Award honors cultural, historical, political, or social criticism or academic and/or professional research which significantly advances the body of knowledge currently associated with the people and the legacy of the Black Diaspora. (Categories could include the humanities, science and technology, social and behavioral sciences and reference).
- The First Novelist Award acknowledges outstanding achievement in writing and storytelling by a first time fiction writer.
- The Outstanding Contribution to Publishing Citation recognizes the author and/or the publishing company (for their support and publication of) special and unique books that recognize the outstanding achievements and positive depiction of contributions of the people and legacy of the Black Diaspora.
- The Poetry Award strives to recognize and promote emerging and established poets that introduce and foster the joys of poetry writing.
Additionally, honor books may be selected in each category.
Purpose: To encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and scholarly research including biographical, historical and social history treatments by African Americans.
Criteria:
- Must portray some aspect of the African American experience past, present or future.
- All authors, editors and contributors must be African American(s) born in the United States.
- Must be published in the United States in the year preceding presentation of the award.
- Must be an original work.
DEADLINE: December 16, 2016
OPEN CITY MUSLIM COMMUNITIES FELLOWSHIP
Asian American Writers’ Workshop
INFO: Trump's election in November has already meant a dramatic increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the United States, including in New York City. With the frightening reality of what his presidency will continue to mean for Muslims in this country, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop is now accepting applications for the Open City Muslim Communities Fellowship, a unique six-month opportunity for emerging writers of color from communities under attack from Islamophobia to publish narrative nonfiction about Muslim communities in New York City.
They're looking for writers to create deft, engaging narratives that bring the face, name, place, and heart of the community to issues like racial profiling, police surveillance and Islamophobia.
Specifically, they are looking for writers who:
- Are willing to spend time reporting in Muslim neighborhoods and talking to people about their lives, hopes and fears;
- Understand the urgency in writing stories that depict how it is to be a Muslim in today’s America;
- Are committed to social justice, dedicated to helping promote efforts by the community to fight anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments and actions;
- Are strong, voice-driven storytellers who care about social justice movements and transporting readers to places like Jackson Heights and Astoria in Queens; Bay Ridge and Boerum Hill in Brooklyn; and Mott Haven and Parkchester in The Bronx.
AAWW recognizes the heterogeneity of the Muslim community in New York City, and are looking to create a home for writers from Arab American, West Asian, Central Asian, Persian, Afghan, East and North African, Black Muslim, South Asian, and Southeast Asian communities in New York City.
Please note that applicants for the Fellowship need not be Asian American but must be persons of color.
Please note, they are accepting applications for two separate sessions of the fellowship, each of which will last six months. The first session will begin in mid-January 2017 and end in mid-July, while the second batch will start in mid-March 2017 and end in mid-September.
AWARD: $2,500 stipend, skill-building workshops, and publishing opportunities to up to five writers to write on the diverse Muslim communities of New York City.
DEADLINE: December 19, 2016, by 5 pm
aaww.submittable.com/submit/72756/apply-open-city-muslim-communities-fellowship-2017
AMERICAN BOOK AWARDS
Before Columbus Foundation
INFO: The American Book Awards Program respects and honors excellence in American literature without restriction or bias with regard to race, sex, creed, cultural origin, size of press or ad budget, or even genre.
All winners are accorded equal standing. Their publishers are also to be honored for both their commitment to quality and their willingness to take the risks that accompany publishing outstanding books and authors that may not prove “cost-effective” in the short run. There are special Award designations (such as Lifetime Achievement) for contributions to American literature beyond a recently published book.
The American Book Awards Program is not associated with any industry group or trade organization. The American Book Awards offer no cash prize nor do they require any financial commitments from the authors or their publishers. The Award winners are nominated and selected by a panel of writers, editors, and publishers who also represent the diversity of American literary culture.
There are no application forms, fees, or any other restrictions for submissions, nominations, or recommendations to the panel. The book is what matters, not the procedure. The only requirement is that two copies of the book must be mailed to the Before Columbus Foundation for the following year’s Awards. Anyone may make a submission (it does not have to be the publisher). There is no limit on the number of titles that may be submitted. All genres are accepted (including anthologies, children’s books, and multimedia). You may include reviews, publicity, or other informational material with your submission if you wish.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2016
beforecolumbusfoundation.com/american-book-awards/
CALL FOR SUBMISSION: THE AFRICAN LITERARY HUSTLE ISSUE
New Orleans Review
INFO: When African literature is published in the West, it is too often realist, in English, and always in the spirit of Chinua Achebe. But romance, science fiction, fantasy, epic, experimental poetry, satire, political allegory all find expression in Africa, though not necessarily publication. Those who are called to write often have to hustle to get recognition by writing a coming-of-age colonial encounter tale or hustle even harder to have their unique voices heard.
In a special issue of New Orleans Review guest edited by Mukoma wa Ngugi and Laura Murphy, we will celebrate (and publish) popular and not-so popular writing from Africa. We are looking for literature (in all the above named forms and others we can’t predict) and critical essays that expand the dimensions of African literature, contribute defiant visions, provide new translations, or revise narratives of the tradition or the hustle.
Prose submissions should be 7,500 words or fewer; poetry submissions five poems or fewer. Simultaneous submissions are okay.
- Fiction: Submit fiction pieces up to 2,500 words. Flash fiction welcome. No previously published work (online or in print). Simultaneous submissions are okay.
- Nonfiction: Submit nonfiction pieces up to 2,500 words. Flash nonfiction welcome. No previously published work (online or in print). Simultaneous submissions are okay.
- Poetry: Submit up to five pages of poems. No previously published work (online or in print). Simultaneous submissions are okay.
SUBMISSION FEE: $3
DEADLINE: December 31, 2016
neworleansreview.org/submit/
HAZEL ROWLEY PRIZE
Biographers International Organization
INFO: In an increasingly complex publishing world, the prize aims to help a first-time biographer of real promise in four ways: through funding (the $2,000 prize); by securing a careful reading from at least one established agent; a year’s membership in BIO; and publicity through the BIO website, The Biographers Craft newsletter, etc. The prize is a way for BIO, a grassroots organization of working biographers, to advance its mission and extend its reach to talented new practitioners.
The prize will be given for the third time at the next BIO conference, in late spring 2017. Judges for the 2017 prize are distinguished biographers Blake Bailey and Amanda Vaill.
The prize is open to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and Canada, writing in English, working on a biography that has not been commissioned, contracted, or self-published, and who have never published a biography, history, or work of narrative nonfiction. Biography as defined for this prize is a narrative of an individual’s life, although group biographies and innovative ways of treating lives will be considered.
AWARD: $2,000
SUBMISSION FEE: $50
DEADLINE: December 31, 2016
biographersinternational.org/rowley-prize/
STEINBECK FELLOWS PROGRAM
San Jose State University
INFO: The Steinbeck Fellows Program of San José State University (SJSU), which was endowed through the generosity of Martha Heasley Cox, offers emerging writers of any age and background the opportunity to pursue a significant writing project while in residence at SJSU. The emphasis of the program is on helping writers who have had some success, but not published extensively, and whose promising work would be aided by the financial support and sponsorship of the Center and the University's creative writing program.
Currently, SJSU offers one-year fellowships in Steinbeck scholarship and in creative writing, including fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and biography. Applications in poetry will not be accepted. In awarding fellowships, the selection committee considers the quality of the candidate's proposal and any factors that would lead to expectations of future publication and other achievement. Fellows may not be enrolled in a degree program during the fellowship period.
The Steinbeck Fellowship Program is named in honor of author John Steinbeck and is guided by his lifetime of work in literature, the media, and environmental activism. The program offers the opportunity to interact with other writers, faculty and graduate students, and to share their work in progress by giving a public reading once each semester during the fellowship.
AWARD: The fellowships afford a stipend of $10,000. Residency in the San José area is required during the academic year (approximately 1 September - 20 May).
DEADLINE: January 2, 2017
sjsu.edu/steinbeck/fellows/steinbeckfellows_apply/