2021 CRAFT SHORT FICTION PRIZE
CRAFT
DEADLINE: May 2, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $20
INFO: The 2021 CRAFT Short Fiction Prize is now open to unpublished short fiction up to 5,000 words.
Guest judge Kirstin Valdez Quade will select three winning pieces for publication.
GUIDELINES:
CRAFT Short Fiction Prize submissions are open to all fiction writers
International submissions are welcome
Short fiction only
Please submit work in English only
5,000 word count maximum
We review literary fiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft
Previously unpublished work only—we do NOT review reprints for contests (previously published includes blogs, personal websites, social media, etc.)
We allow simultaneous submissions—writers, please notify us and withdraw your piece if your work is picked up elsewhere
We allow multiple submissions—please submit each piece as a separate submission accompanied by an entry fee
All entries will also be considered for publication in CRAFT
Please, please, double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12 pt font
Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable)
We do not require anonymous submissions
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason
Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication: work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review (you will be refunded, less fees)
AWARDS:
Winner: $2,000 award and a subscription to Journal of the Month
Runners-up: $500 award and $300 award respectively for the second and third place finalists
Publication of the top three stories in CRAFT, each with an introduction by the guest judge
Publication of an author's note (craft essay) to accompany the story by each of the writers of the top three entries
All entrants will receive an exclusive digital compilation next fall/winter that includes: the winning pieces with the guest judge's introductions and the winners' craft essays; excerpts from the finalist pieces; excerpts from craft essays; and more
https://craft.submittable.com/submit/185317/craft-short-fiction-prize-judge-kirstin-valdez-quade
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THE LEAPFROG GLOBAL FICTION PRIZE CONTEST
Leapfrog Press
DEADLINE: May 3, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $35
INFO: This year we have expanded to two awards for Adult novels, novellas, and short story collections, and Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) novels. Minimum word count: 22,000. Individual stories in a collection may have been published in journals. Books that have been self-published will be considered "unpublished" if fewer than about 200 copies were printed.
We look for literary fiction and mainstream fiction, including science fiction. Generally we are less interested in strict genre fiction, but if a manuscript is good and grabs our attention, we don't care what the genre is.
The contest is open to all writers from around the globe.
JUDGING: All manuscripts will be reviewed by at least two Leapfrog and/or Can of Worms editors, and those that go to the second round of judging may be read by editors at other small presses as well.
Manuscripts are reviewed "blind": the judges do not know the authors' names or any other information about them. This is important to our judging process and the integrity of the contest.
GUIDELINES:
Upload your complete manuscript. If you have a synopsis available, we would like to see that as well, but this is optional.
Use the title as it appears on the manuscript as the file name (or as much as possible, if the title is very long). If submitting a synopsis, use the manuscript file name and add synopsis to the end, or incorporate the synopsis at the beginning of the manuscript.
Please be sure there is no identifying information anywhere in the file (author name or address), including on the title page and in page headers.
Minimum length 22,000 words. This category is for adult novels, novellas, and short story collections.
http://leapfrogpress.com/contest.htm
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MVICW POET & AUTHOR FELLOWSHIPS
Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Virtual Summer Writers' Conference
DEADLINE: May 3, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $25
INFO: MVICW is able to provide a number of need and merit-based fellowships (25-40% of registration cost) to attend our Virtual Summer Writers' Conference. Consideration is given to applicants demonstrating economic need. To apply for financial assistance to attend our MVICW Summer Writers' Conference, send a sample of your writing (3 poems or 10 pages of fiction/CNF) and a letter of interest.
Letter of Interest (approx. 750 words): Please tell us about who you are as a person and an artist. We'd like to hear about your life, your artistic career, and your creative work. If you have specific needs (financial or creative) which would be met by this award please outline them in your letter.
https://mvicw.submittable.com/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: FICTION / NONFICTION
Stellium Literary Magazine
DEADLINE: May 3, 2021
INFO: Stellium is a literary magazine centering Black queer and trans prose writers. We still accept work from other Black and QTPOC writers. We are a bimonthly (every two months) magazine seeking to create our first two digital issues.
The literary scene is flush with racist, homophobic, transphobic, and elitist platforms that often discriminate against QTPOC writing, let alone that of Black queer and trans creators. We've noticed how we're a trend to be recognized after shootings or attacks on our communities. Rarely are we considered "legitimate" unless our creative work can generate donations for publications and institutions that stick to the status quo during the rest of the year.
At Stellium, we're setting our intentions to not just make a statement in the world of prose but to redefine the space entirely. The magazine will publish five pieces each of prose poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art within each issue. We seek work from emerging and established writers (with an emphasis on emerging). In due time, we hope to include a number of interviews, translations, reviews, and other works relevant to the QTPOC writing scene on our website, and (eventually) in print!
We are currently curating pieces for our third and fourth issues. Here are the themes.
Issue Three - Home - Where (or who) is home? What does it mean now that you're older? What did you picture when you were young? Are you there now or arriving? How do you protect it, fill it, or renew it? Do you click your heels three times or do you simply open the door? Take us there.
Issue Four - Skepticism - What are you a skeptic of? Who deserves the most review and re-review? How have you been critiqued yourself? Why this issue in particular? Has it always been this way or did something change within? Ruin the façade.
What are we looking for?
Fiction - We welcome long- or short-form fiction. If you submit flash fiction (up to 2k words), you can submit up to three pieces of similar length. The sweet spot is around 3k to 6k words. This section is not theme-specific but you're encouraged to focus on it.
Nonfiction - We're seeking creative nonfiction submissions. Please note this description before submitting. We welcome memoir, social commentary, and new-journalism pieces among other works. Not academic papers. The sweet spot is around 2k to 4k words but we're not opposed to shorter works. This section is not theme-specific but you're encouraged to focus on it.
https://stelliumlit.submittable.com/submit
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Anaphora Writing Residency
DEADLINES:
Priority: May 10, 2021
Final: May 15, 2021
INFO: Anaphora Writing Residency is a ten-day program designed exclusively for writers of color. The residency offers workshops, readings, craft talks, and discussions with professionals from the literary and publishing industry. The goal of the program is to nurture emerging and established writers of color, to create opportunities for publication, and establish a wide network of support for writers of different backgrounds.
DATES AND FEES: The upcoming residency will run on August 12 - 21, 2021, and will be held virtually. The program costs $2,400, and several partial fellowships are available every year, depending on funding availability. Applications must be submitted by the priority deadline to be eligible for fellowships. Our Founding Fellows and returning alumnx, will have the opportunity to attend the program at a discounted rate.
Applications are reviewed by an anonymous admission board of peers, which rotates every year. Notifications will be sent out by May 31st. A non-refundable security deposit of $150 is required within two weeks of notification; program fees must be paid entirely prior to the beginning of the residency.
WHAT TO EXPECT: The program will provide workshops in poetry and prose, craft talks, daily readings (by guests and program participants), masterclasses, generative sessions, and discussions with professionals from the industry, including literary agents, editors, and publishers.
VISITING WRITERS - 2021
Eduardo C. Corral earned degrees from Arizona State University and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His debut collection of poetry, Slow Lightning (2012), won the Yale Younger Poets Prize, making him the first Latino recipient of the award. His second collection is Guillotine (2020). Praised for his seamless blending of English and Spanish, tender treatment of history, and careful exploration of sexuality, Corral has received numerous honors and awards, including the Discovery/The Nation Award, the J. Howard and Barbara M.J. Wood Prize, a Whiting Writers’ Award, and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. A CantoMundo Fellow, he has held the Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship in Creative Writing at Colgate University and was the Philip Roth Resident in Creative Writing at Bucknell University. In 2016 he won the Holmes National Poetry Prize from Princeton University. Corral teaches in the MFA program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh and is currently a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University.
Kwame Dawes has authored 36 books of poetry, fiction, criticism, and essays, including, most recently, Nebraska (UNP, 2019), Bivouac (Akashic Books, 2019), and City of Bones: A Testament (Northwestern, 2017). Speak from Here to There (Peepal Tree Press), co-written with Australian poet John Kinsella, appeared in 2016. He is Glenna Luschei Editor of Prairie Schooner and Chancellor’s Professor of English at the University of Nebraska. He is also a faculty member in the Pacific MFA Program. He is Director of the African Poetry Book Fund and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. Dawes is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.
Natashia Deón is a 2017 NAACP Image Award Nominee and author of the critically-acclaimed novel, Grace (Counterpoint Press), which was named a best book of 2016 by The New York Times, The Root, Kirkus Review, Book Riot, and Entropy Magazine, and has been featured in People Magazine, TIME Magazine, and Red Book. Grace won the 2017 American Library Association, Black Caucus Award for Best Debut Fiction. A practicing attorney, mother, and law professor, Deón is the recipient of a PEN Center USA Emerging Voices Fellowship and served as a 2017 U.S. Delegate to Armenia in partnership with the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program, for a reconciliation project involving Armenian and Turkish writers.
Born in Manila and raised in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Sasha Pimentel is the author of For Want of Water, selected by Gregory Pardlo as winner of the National Poetry Series and longlisted for the PEN/Open Book Award, and Insides She Swallowed, winner of the American Book Award. She has published poems and essays in The New York Times Magazine, PBS NewsHour, ESPN, The American Poetry Review, New England Review, and Literary Hub, and other literary publications. She has been a Picador Guest Professor for Literature at Universität Leipzig in Germany, an NEA fellow, and March 2021's guest editor for Poem-A-Day for the Academy of American Poets. She teaches poetry and creative nonfiction in the bilingual (Español-English) Department of Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso, on the border of Ciudad Juárez, México.
Matthew Shenoda is a writer, professor, university administrator, and author and editor of several books. His poems and essays have appeared in a variety of newspapers, journals, radio programs and anthologies. His debut collection of poems, Somewhere Else (Coffee House Press), was named one of 2005's debut books of the year by Poets & Writers Magazine and was winner of a 2006 American Book Award. He is also the author of Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of Bone (BOA Editions Ltd.), editor of Duppy Conqueror: New & Selected Poems by Kwame Dawes, and most recently author of Tahrir Suite: Poems (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press), winner of the 2015 Arab American Book Award and with Kwame Dawes editor of Bearden’s Odyssey: Poets Respond to the Art of Romare Bearden (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press, 2017).
Anni Liu is a poet, essayist, translator and editor. Her poetry collection Border Vista (Persea, 2022) won the 2021 Lexi Rudnitsky First Book Prize. She was born and raised in 西安, 陕西, then later in Bowling Green, Ohio. She earned her MFA from Indiana University, where she served as poetry editor of Indiana Review. Her work is featured in Ploughshares, Ecotone, the Georgia Review, Two Lines, Hyphen, Pleiades, Quarterly West, and elsewhere, and her honors include an Undocupoets Fellowship, a Katherine Bakeless Nason Scholarship to Bread Loaf Environmental Conference, and the National Society for Arts and Letters’ Literature Award. She’s also been supported by the Mae Fellowship and awarded a residency at the Anderson Center at Tower View in Red Wing, MN. She is Associate Editor at Graywolf Press, and lives in Minneapolis with her partner and plants.
Before joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Annie Hwang began her career at Folio Literary Management where she had the pleasure of working with debut and seasoned authors alike. As a former journalist, Annie possesses a keen editorial eye which she brings to her approach to agenting, taking an active role in the careers of her clients. Annie represents voice-driven literary fiction and select nonfiction. In particular, she gravitates toward subversive and irreverent literary fiction and impactful mission-driven narrative nonfiction that grapples with the complexities of our world. A fierce champion of underrepresented voices, Annie is always on the hunt for gifted storytelling that stretches its genre to new heights.
https://www.anaphoraarts.com/anaphora-writing-residency-2021
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The Kurt Brown Prizes
AWP
DEADLINE: May 14, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $10
INFO: Each year, AWP offers three annual scholarships to emerging writers who wish to attend a writers’ conference, center, festival, retreat, or residency. The scholarships are applied to the event or workshop fees of the winners’ chosen program. Winners and six finalists also receive a one-year individual membership in AWP. Visit our website for more information and a list of past winners.
ELIGIBILITY:
Previous recipients of Kurt Brown Prizes (formerly known as WC&C scholarships), and former or current students of the judge are not eligible to submit.
Our judges this year are Erika T. Wurth for fiction, Joshunda Sanders for creative nonfiction, and Richard Terrill for poetry.
GUIDELINES:
Your name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript or it will be disqualified.
For fiction, one short story (or novel excerpt) up to 25 pages will be considered. Fiction must be double-spaced and presented in manuscript form with 12-pt font.
For poetry, up to 10 pages will be considered. Each new poem must start on a new page.
For creative nonfiction, up to 25 pages will be considered.
You may enter in more than one genre, and you may also enter multiple manuscripts in one genre, provided that each submission is accompanied by its own entry fee.
Please send us your best, unpublished work.
A $10 reading fee must accompany each submission and is not refundable.
PRIZE: All winners will be notified by email by June 11 and announced on AWP’s website and in the AWP Annual Conference & Bookfair program. Three winners will each receive a $500 scholarship to attend a WC&C member program. Winners have one year to use their prize, and funds are paid directly to the selected program. Member conferences reserve the right to determine participants in their programs; winning does not guarantee admittance to any program.
https://awp.submittable.com/submit/24932/the-kurt-brown-prizes
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ART WRITING INCUBATOR
Burnaway
DEADLINE: May 14, 2021
INFO: Held each summer, Art Writing Incubator (AWrI) is Burnaway’s signature annual writing intensive, which cultivates the next generation of critics through a series of day-long workshops with leading culture writers from around the country and one-on-one tutorials with Burnaway’s editors. The Art Writing Incubator aspires to foster new voices in the field of arts criticism, by emphasizing the discipline’s capacity to galvanize a more equitable, nimble and dynamic cultural landscape.
Where does art criticism belong in a world in crisis? The last year has upended the art world, dissolved cultural norms, and revealed fractures in our sociopolitical systems. Burnaway’s 2021 Art Writing Incubator (June 26 – August 3) will use the hundreds of cultural writers, activists and arts workers who refuse to ignore or return to pre-pandemic structures of inequalities as a model for training writers to rigorously confront present realities through their work.
For the last six years, under the guidance of leading writers, critics and artists, Burnaway’s Arts Writing Incubator program has equipped participants with tools for pitching, writing good artist statements and producing considered criticism. The five-week program begins with a session hosted by Burnaway’s editorial masthead and subsequent weeks led by guest mentors. In addition, Burnaway has invited a renowned cultural figure to give a keynote public talk addressing the yearly theme. Over the course of the program, students will formally propose, develop, and complete a long-form writing project with one-on-one feedback from Burnaway’s editors. Following the completion of the program, these works will be compiled into a small chapbook circulated on Burnaway’s platform.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Paul Chan is an artist, writer, and publisher who lives in New York. Chan is the winner of the Hugo Boss Prize in 2014, a biennial award honoring artists who have made a visionary contribution to contemporary art. His work has been exhibited widely in many international shows including: Plato in LA, Getty Villa in Los Angeles in 2018; Documenta 13 in Kassel, Germany in 2012, the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009; and the Whitney Biennial, in New York in 2006. Solo exhibitions have been mounted at The Cycladic Museum of Art in Athens, The Renaissance Society in Chicago, The Serpentine Gallery in London, and the New Museum in New York. A mid-career survey entitled Selected Works was mounted at Schaulager in Basel, Switzerland in 2014.
VISITING MENTORS:
Amber Esseiva is the Associate Curator at The Institute for Contemporary Art and Virginia Commonwealth University (ICA VCU).
Sukhdev Sandhu is the Associate Professor of English and Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University.
DeForrest Brown Jr is a writer, DJ, cultural theorist and the author of Assembling a Black Counter Culture, a general history of techno and adjacent electronic music with a focus on Black experiences in industrialized labor systems, and explores the development of on-the-ground culture in relation to a unique American art form.
Kristin Dombek is an essayist and cultural journalist, and the author of The Selfishness of Others: An Essay on the Fear of Narcissism. She has taught writing at Queens College, Queens University of Charlotte, Princeton University, and New York University.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all AWrI events in 2021 will be held virtually. Tuition for the 2021 cycle is $250, but thanks to generous funding from Critical Minded all BIPOC applicants will be accepted at a reduced fee. Additional needs-based support will be considered by Burnaway for non-BIPOC applicants.
https://burnaway.org/programs/#incubator
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EMERGING WRITER’S CONTEST
Ploughshares
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
INFO: The Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We consider you “emerging” if you haven’t published a book. Current subscribers through our Winter 2021-2022 issue submit for free; other subscribers receive a one-year subscription to Ploughshares with their submission.
This year’s judges are Kiley Reid in fiction, Paul Lisicky in nonfiction, and Paige Lewis in poetry.
PRIZE: One winner in each genre will receive $2,000, publication in Ploughshares, and a conversation with literary agency Aevitas Creative Management.
https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines
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LATINX IN Publishing Fellowship Program
The Latinx in Publishing
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
INFO: Have you ever wanted to work with writers to help tell their stories? Do you love reading or have you worked in a library or bookstore? Have you written or edited for blogs, magazines, or journals? Are you interested in supporting the growth of Latinx representation in the publishing industry?
The Publishing Fellowship Program will allow aspiring Latinx publishing mentees (living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico) to remotely shadow the process of a publishing professional. LxP will facilitate the mentee selection process, provide networking opportunities for the selected mentee with their network of members including publishing professionals, agents, editors, and writers, as well as conduct regular check-ins with an LxP program officer. The inaugural 2021 Fellow will be in editorial.
Supported by Macmillan, an aspiring Latinx editor (living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico) will have the opportunity to remotely shadow the editorial process of an editor or senior editor, from acquisition to publication for 10-month period. LxP will facilitate the mentee selection process, provide networking opportunities for the selected mentee with their network of members including agents, editors, and writers. Mentee and mentor will meet (virtually) at minimum once a month and there will be regular check-ins with an LxP program officer.
STIPEND: Mentee will receive a stipend of $2,500.
TERM: 10 months (Starting June 2021).
ELIGIBILITY: The Publishing Fellow must be Latinx, at least 18 years old, and reside in the United States (including Puerto Rico), though they are not required to be citizens or “legal” residents. Latinx in Publishing defines “Latinx” as persons originating from, descendant from, or citizens of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Macmillan Publishers is a global trade book publishing company with prominent imprints around the world. Macmillan publishes a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.
https://latinxinpublishing.com/publishing-fellowship
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RESIDENCIES
Ragdale
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
INFO: Ragdale is a nonprofit artists’ community located on the former country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw.
Nearly 200 residencies and fellowships are offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country. Ragdale residents represent a cross-section of ages, cultures, experiences, and mediums, for a diverse and vibrant community.
In each session, 13 artists-in-residence enjoy uninterrupted time for work, a supportive environment, dynamic artist exchanges, 50 acres of idyllic prairie, and a family-style dinner each evening.
Ragdale is now accepting applications for a limited number of fellowships taking place in 2021-2022.
Ragdale is proud to offer fellowships to teaching artists, artists with spinal cord injury (SCI), artists with disabilities, dancers, Latinx artists, composers/musicians, and more. We do not limit fellowships to these categories, and as we seek diverse voices and representations to enrich our artists' experiences, we encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
A fellowship at Ragdale includes an 18- or 25-day residency, free of charge, and a $500 stipend. Fellows are featured in a program (of up to 1/2 day) within 18- months of the residency coordinated by Director of Education, Regin Igloria.
Capacity for new fellowships is limited for 2022 because of the backlog of artists waiting to fulfill their residencies due to the pandemic. Due to the limited number of fellowships we can offer, the application will be exceedingly competitive. If we are unable to offer a fellowship this time, we highly encourage you to apply again for residencies and fellowships in future years.
https://www.ragdale.org/residencies
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Kimbilio National Fiction Prize
Kimbilio
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
READLING FEE: $15
INFO: Published by Four Way Books, The Kimbilio National Fiction Prize is a celebration and affirmation of the best in contemporary fiction.
2021 judge Carolyn Ferrell will make the final selection of an outstanding novel or collection of short stories, which will be published in the spring of 2023. The competition is open to writers of the African Diaspora.
The selected manuscript will be promoted through Kimbilio and Four Way Books social media. The author will read as part of events for both organization, including a visit to Kimbilio’s home city, Saint Louis.
Four Way Books is dedicated to producing and promoting excellent literary publications and to creating opportunities for writers of merit. We believe that the work of writers brings good to the world—understanding, empathy, curiosity, wisdom—and that if we can be the conduit for connecting writers and readers, for making a writer’s life more meaningful by bringing validation to the artist and fine work to public attention, we are spending our days nobly.
JUDGE: The 2021 Judge is novelist and short story writer Carolyn Ferrell:
Carolyn Ferrell is the author of the short-story collection Don’t Erase Me, which was awarded the 1997 Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, the John C. Zacharis First Book Award given by Ploughshares, and the Quality Paperback Book Prize for First Fiction. Her stories and essays have been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories 2018, edited by Roxane Gay; The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike; Children of the Night: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1967 to the Present, edited by Gloria Naylor; Apple, Tree: Writers on Their Parents, edited by Lise Funderburg; and other places. Her story “Something Street” will be reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2020, edited by Curtis Sittenfeld. She is the recipient of grants and awards from the Fulbright Association, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Bronx Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Sarah Lawrence College. Since 1996, she has been a faculty member in both the undergraduate and MFA programs at Sarah Lawrence College.
http://kimbiliofiction.com/the-kimbilio-national-fiction-prize/
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SHORT STORIES & FLASH FICTION
Digging Press LLC
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
FEE: $3.50
INFO: Digging Press LLC is an independent publisher. We publish the literary and arts journal, Digging Through The Fat, and a chapbook series. We also produce a podcast and host a reading series. As an organization for cultural omnivores, we aim to nurture experimentation in the arts and encourage broad-mindedness and cultural inclusion.
We shall do our best to respond to submitters within three-four months, but in some cases, this period may be longer. If you have not received a response from us within 120 days, please send an email inquiry to editor@diggingpress.com. Please do not contact our editors or staff readers directly about the status of your submission.
PAYMENT: Contributors receive $10 per flash fiction; $15 per short stories.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as they are indicated as such and the submission is withdrawn from Submittable immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
Upon acceptance, creators are asked to complete a publication agreement prior to publication. The use of the Work by Digging Through The Fat (Digging Press, LLC) entails the assignment of First North American Serial Rights, for publication in the English language anywhere in North America. It is understood and agreed that the Publisher may use this Work only in the above-mentioned magazine. Publisher may also reprint the Work one additional time as part of a collection or anthology with the Creator’s consent.
For the journal, the length of time between acceptance and publication can be one to three months. For chapbooks, the length of time between acceptance and publication can be one year.
We welcome submissions from ALL. We especially want to encourage more submissions from women and non-binary writers, writers of color, and the LGBTQIA community. Help Digging Through The Fat’s community grow in diversity and beauty!
https://diggingpress.com/submissions/
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RESIDENCIES AT MT. SAN ANGELO
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
DEADLINE: May 15, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $50
INFO: The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) provides time and space for national and international writers, visual artists, and composers of talent and promise to bring forth their finest works, because the arts are vital, diversity is a strength, and creativity is essential.
Selected artists come to VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo in Amherst, Virginia or the Moulin à Nef in Auvillar, France for intense periods of creative work, free from the distractions of day-to-day life. During residencies lasting anywhere from two weeks to two months, VCCA Fellows enjoy private studios, private bedrooms, and meals. Whether sequestered in the rolling foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains or on the banks of the Garonne River in Southwest France, VCCA Fellows can work in concentrated solitude, then re-energize in the company of other artists.
VCCA Fellows are selected by peer review on the basis of professional achievement or promise of achievement in their respective fields. Panelists for each discipline and genre undergo periodic review and rotate regularly to ensure that selection to VCCA is being made by high caliber artists who represent a diversity of styles and tastes.
https://www.vcca.com/apply/residencies-at-vcca/
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2021 Book-Pitch Contest
Voyage Journal
DEADLINE: May 16, 2021
INFO: It’s safe to assume that you are on the journey toward finishing that great YA novel. Whether you’re still meeting the characters in your head or adjusting that one comma on the final page, you can get something great out of this opportunity—send us your best book ideas!
This contest will give one writer publication, a significant cash prize, and an amazing mentorship opportunity to have their novel coached into the best version of itself.
We’re proud to announce that Voyage will partner with YA author, Kylie Schachte to provide one writer with the opportunity to receive 25 hours of direct, one-on-one book coaching (a $2500 value)! The 25 hours will be a combination of sessions and allotted time for Kylie to read pages. Kylie will work with authors to best determine how those hours will be divided.
In addition to the coaching, the winner will also receive publication of a chapter/excerpt of their choice and $2000 in payment.
No matter where you are on the book journey, this mentoring program will move your work forward. If you’ve had the idea in your head for years, but never knew how to start; if you finished the book years ago but have not known how to move it forward to selling and publication; if you’re adding the finishing touches on the epilogue—we’ll pair you with author, coach, and mentor Kylie Schachte, to help you find the best version of your story. The mentorship will be guided by your own commitment and sense of urgency. Do not let this opportunity to take your book to the next level pass!
Send us your best book pitch. We know a lot of you are bursting with stories, so you can include up to two separate pitches for each submission.
Your submission should include:
A query letter (max 1 page)
A one-page sample of the project
Info about where you are on the project
Our team will read through all the pitches and select the winner. Our judging criteria is based on what we feel is the most compelling idea and most thrilling pitch.
GUIDELINES:
Voyage submissions are open to all writers working in English
International submissions are allowed
Submissions (query, 1 sample page of the project) must be for a young adult novel (full novel does not need to be completed), and from the point-of-view of a young adult, meaning through the lens of a teen protagonist
Up to two book pitches (query, 1st page) per submission. If pitching two projects, please put both projects in the same document.
We’re open to any genre or style you can throw at us—just send us the best you’ve got
Previously unpublished work only, please
$20 reading fee per entry
Multiple submissions are okay—please submit each as a separate submission
Please: 1) double space; 2) use Times New Roman 12 pt font; 3) have 1-inch margins, and 4) put your last name and the page number in the top right-hand corner
Tell us in a brief cover letter your publication history (if applicable, no worries if not)
Bonus: Every entrant will receive access to a pre-recorded mini workshop TBA!
Note: To ensure the protection of our volunteer readers, and to keep Voyage a safe space, please let us know in your cover letter if your work can be triggering in any way. This will have no bearing on your submission or a decision—we just want to ensure the best possible environment for our readers. Thank you for your understanding.
FAQ:
Q: Will my query be published or shared publicly in any way?
A: No, your query/synopsis will never be published. We will only be using it to evaluate the entries. After the winner is chosen and has received their mentorship, we will publish an excerpt of their choice from their novel-in-progress.
Q: How will entries be judged?
A: The Voyage team will evaluate submissions. We’re looking for projects that offer intrigue, potential, and excite us overall. The editorial team recommends doing enough research on how to write a good query and synopsis.
https://thevoyagejournal.com/contests/
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Parent Artist Residency
Abrons Arts Center
DEADLINE: May 16, 2021 at 11:59pm ET
INFO: With support from Sustainable Arts Foundation, Abrons is pleased to announce the re-launch of its Parent Artist AIRspace Residency, which provides support for 1 parent artist working in the visual arts, music, curatorial practice, and/or literary arts. This residency will provide studio space, free tuition to Abrons Arts Camp for 1 child, a stipend, and opportunities for intergenerational engagement for 1 parent artist during summer of 2021
Program Components:
$1,000 unrestricted stipend
A semi-private studio and/or office space, accessible 6 days a week from July 1-August 10, 2021
Free tuition to Abrons Arts Camp. The child must be between ages 6-8 as of July 5, 2021.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must be New York City based and living within 5 boroughs at the time of application submission and during the residency period. Housing is not offered for this residency.
Applicants must identify as working in visual arts, music, curatorial practice and/or literary arts.
Collaborative groups are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must identify as a parent of a child between the ages of 6 and 8.
A program of the historic Henry Street Settlement, Abrons Arts Center is committed to the belief that artistic practice is key to a socio-politically engaged and healthy society. Applicants should closely review the Abrons Arts Center Mission Statement and Declaration of Inclusion before applying for the Residency.
Important Dates:
June 7, 2021: Applicants notified of status
July 1-August 10, 2021: Residency Dates
July 5-29, 2021: Dates of Abrons Arts Camp
August 2-5, 2021: Abrons Arts Camp “Make Up” Week
https://www.abronsartscenter.org/artist-residencies/
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Vox Media Writers Workshop
DEADLINE: May 16, 2021
INFO: The Vox Media Writers Workshop is a no-cost, hands-on training and mentorship program that pairs Vox Media editors and writers with talented people curious about a career in journalism. The workshop is specifically designed for people historically underrepresented in media and is focused on reaching people entering the industry — including rising college seniors, recent graduates, and people transitioning into the industry and looking to jump start their careers.
We are looking for 30 talented people who are interested in exploring a career in journalism. We are looking for a wide variety of coverage area interests from entertainment and politics to fashion, technology, and sports, and from a diverse set of backgrounds. The ideal candidates have a passion for storytelling and enthusiasm for developing their reporting and writing skills. They are also collaborative and open to getting feedback to improve their work.
The application is designed to get a sense of why you are interested in the program in addition to a short (150 word) writing exercise. We anticipate the application taking between one and two hours; applicants will be selected based on their responses to these questions so please be thoughtful in your answers.
Those enrolled will develop or hone their storytelling skills while also learning about what it means to be a reporter today. They will also build relationships with expert voices across Vox Media’s many newsrooms including The Cut, Eater, New York Magazine, Polygon, SB Nation, The Verge, and Vox.
The workshop will be held remotely over the course of the summer on select dates between June and August and will pair 30 people with 15 Vox Media mentors.
This is not a full time commitment, but applicants must be able to attend all three remote workshops:
First workshop: Tuesday, June 8, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET
Second workshop: Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET
Closing ceremony: Tuesday, August 10, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET
Along with attending these sessions, you and your mentor will set up one-on-one sessions dedicated to refining your story idea, building your outline, and reviewing notes.
Through a combination of three remote workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions, you will learn how to:
Find and vet story ideas
Focus your story idea
Conduct an interview with any type of source (including experts)
Write an impactful story
Pitch a freelance story to any publication
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Artist Residencies
The Studios of Key West
DEADLINE: May 17, 2021
INFO: We are currently accepting applications for the 2021/22 season, which runs from October 2021-June 2022.
The Studios of Key West, the premiere arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the United States, offers a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers from around the world. We provide residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, musicians, media artists, performers, and interdisciplinary artists.
The program grants nearly 35 artists each year the time and space to imagine new artistic work, engage in valuable dialogue and explore island connections.
The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.
Key West’s official motto, “One Human Family” reflects our commitment to living together as caring, sharing neighbors dedicated to making our home as close to paradise as we can. To that end, we encourage artists of all races, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities to apply.
Residencies are almost a full month, and run from the 16th of the month through the 14th of the next.
https://tskw.org/residency-about/
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Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant
Creative Capital
DEADLINE: May 19, 2021
INFO: The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. We also support art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. As long as a writer meets the eligibility and publishing requirements, they can apply.
Writers are invited to apply in one of the following categories:
Articles
Books
Short-Form Writing
https://www.artswriters.org/?mc_cid=512ca08875&mc_eid=45394a798e
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Editorial Internship Open Call
Sundress Publications
DEADLINE: May 20, 2021
INFO: Sundress Publications is an entirely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit publishing collective founded in 2000 that hosts a variety of online journals and publishes chapbooks, full-length collections, and literary anthologies in both print and digital formats. Sundress also publishes the annual Best of the Net Anthology, celebrating the best work published online, runs Poets in Pajamas, an online reading series, and the Gone Dark Archives, preserving online journals that have reached the end of their run.
This editorial internship position will run from July 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. The editorial intern's responsibilities can include writing press releases, composing blog posts and promotional emails, proofreading manuscripts, assembling press kits, collating editorial data, research, managing spreadsheets, and more. The intern may also be responsible for writing copy, conducting interviews with Sundress authors, reviewing newly released books, and promoting our catalog of titles.
Preferred qualifications include:
A keen eye for proofreading
Strong written communication skills
Familiarity with WordPress, Microsoft Word, and Google Suite
Ability to work under a deadline and multitask
Knowledge of and interest in contemporary literature a plus
This is a REMOTE internship with the team communicating primarily via email and text messages and is therefore not restricted to applicants living in any particular geographic area. Interns are asked to devote 10 hours per week to their assignments.
While this is an unpaid internship, all interns will gain real-world experience of the ins and outs of independent publishing with a nationally recognized press while creating a portfolio of work for future employment opportunities. Interns will also be able to attend all workshops at the Sundress Academy for the Arts at cost.
We welcome, encourage, and are enthusiastic to see a diverse array of applicants in all areas, including race, ethnicity, disability, gender, class, religion, education, immigration status, and more.
To apply, please send a resume and a brief cover letter detailing your interest in the position to Staff Director Kanika Lawton at sundressstaffdirector@gmail.com.
A detailed application and interview guide can be found at: http://www.sundresspublications.com/internguide.pdf
http://www.sundresspublications.com
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Abrams Reporting Fellows
ProPublica
DEADLINE: May 23, 2021
INFO: ProPublica is excited to announce a new opportunity for early- to mid-career journalists who want to develop their investigative reporting skills.
We are looking for three two-year Abrams Reporting Fellows to join one of America’s most innovative (and fun) investigative newsrooms. We’re not interested in having you cover daily news. Your job will be to do enterprising, hard-hitting stories. Our newsroom zigs where others zag, taking on topics that are overlooked or telling stories in new and exciting ways.
Over the course of their two years, we expect that fellows will take on a mix of short-, medium- and longer-term stories. That includes reporting and writing stories of your own (examples include this and this) and collaborating on some of ProPublica’s biggest and most complex projects, like this one about the dangers of certain booster seats that prompted a congressional investigation.
This fellowship is different from others we’ve offered at ProPublica because it runs for two years. It pays $75,000 per year and includes full benefits. We hope fellows take on increasingly complex stories during their time on our staff, working independently and with colleagues.
Fellows will start on July 1, 2021. One fellow will write national stories based out of our headquarters in New York, one will cover the Midwest from our office in Chicago and one will cover the Southwest from our office in Phoenix. The locations for these positions are not negotiable.
We’re looking for someone who:
Has some professional journalism experience.
Has produced original, revelatory, in-depth or investigative stories. If that experience is in the region you are hoping to cover, all the better, but we are very open to applicants with strong bodies of work from other places. You don’t have to be an “investigative reporter,” but you do have to have shown a dedication to digging for the truth, holding people and institutions accountable, and pointing to possible solutions.
Aches to report stories that are both important and powerfully told, and has a vision for how they’d approach their coverage based on where they would be located.
Is truly excited about all the possible ways we can do journalism nowadays, including digging deep into data, working with readers, and marrying narrative and investigative forms.
Brings perspectives and life experiences that point to unique stories and untapped potential for holding the powerful accountable.
Really likes working with others.
We know there are great candidates who may not exactly fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. (Here is a breakdown of our staff.) We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. And we are taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.
If all of this sounds exciting to you, you can apply using this form. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
https://www.propublica.org/fellowships/propublica-is-hiring-three-two-year-abrams-reporting-fellows
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Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers
GrubStreet
DEADLINE: May 25, 2021
INFO: GrubStreet’s Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers provides financial and professional development support to two self-identified Black writers interested in teaching classes, participating in events, and working with our instructors and staff to deepen our curriculum. The fellowship includes compensation of $20,000, artistic mentorship, and access to the GrubStreet community and the Muse and the Marketplace conference. In time, the program aims to offer sustainable support to Black Writers and create a cohort of fellows who have direct access to GrubStreet resources, classes, and events. We also hope the fellows can influence GrubStreet’s pedagogy and cultural vision based on their experience and feedback.
DETAILS:
The Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers will provide the following compensation:
$20,000 per fellow for the year.
Access to mentorship from GrubStreet’s Education Director, Artistic Director, and other instructors.
Free access to the Muse and the Marketplace during the fellowship year and the option to lead a paid session at the conference.
Access to additional GrubStreet events.
A space at GrubStreet’s new home to work on personal writing projects.
60 hours (or roughly 20 weeks) of free GrubStreet classes, which can be taken during or after the fellowship.
A two-year GrubStreet membership.
The teaching load and responsibilities for the fellowship year include:
Teaching two ten-week classes (one must be an advanced-level class toward the end of the fellowship).
Teaching one six-week class.
Teaching one week-long teen camp.
Teaching one three-hour seminar (plus, the option to teach more for additional payment).
Serve as a reader and panel juror for our Emerging Writer Fellowship.
Moderate or participate in a Boston Writers of Color’s event.
Meet with program heads at GrubStreet monthly (or as needed by fellow) to track progress and discuss curriculum ideas.
Meet with new fellows at the end of your own fellowship year.
The fellowship begins September 7th, 2021 and runs through the end of August 2022.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
This fellowship is open to writers who self-identify as Black, are 18 or older, are able to work with both adult and teen audiences, and have a passion for expansive pedagogy, curriculum development, and professional growth. Ideal candidates will have some publication and teaching experience. Preference will be given to those working on their first book or a larger project. MFAs, a long publishing record, or extensive teaching experience are not requirements to apply, though feel free to tell us if you have any of these things.
Covid-19 Update: Although all of our programming is currently taking place virtually, we hope that fellows will be able to join us in-person later in 2021 and in 2022. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston when it's safe to do so.
HOW TO APPLY:
The Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers Application Form will require the following:
A personal statement (500 words max), which should include:
Your background as a writer and teacher.
Your personal philosophy or approach to creative writing workshops.
How this particular fellowship fits your interests and goals as a writer and educator.
Your CV or resume.
A writing sample (20 pages limit for prose; 12 pages for poetry; 25 pages for scripts; and 20 pages for other or fused genres) that best exemplifies your current trajectory as a writer.
Two personal references (name, email, and phone number) who can speak to your experience and dedication to writing and teaching.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Final decisions announced the week of June 28th, 2021.
Program kicks off on September 7th, 2021 and runs through end of August, 2022
https://grubstreet.org/programs/teaching-fellowship-for-black-writers/
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Emerging Writer Fellowship
The Center for Fiction
DEADLINE: May 30, 2021 at 11:59pm EST
APPLICATION FEE: $10
INFO: The Center for Fiction NYC Emerging Writer Fellowship offers grants, editorial mentorship, and other opportunities to early-career New York City-based practitioners who are at a critical moment in their development as fiction writers.
During the one-year fellowship period (beginning October 21, 2021), grantees will receive:
A grant of $5,000
The opportunity to have their manuscript revised and critiqued by an experienced editor
Access to write in our Writers Studio
The opportunity to meet with editors, authors, and agents who represent new writers at monthly dinners
Two public readings as part of our annual program of events
A professional headshot for personal publicity use
Inclusion in an anthology distributed to industry professionals
Tickets to our First Novel Fete and/or Benefit & Awards Dinner
Complimentary admission to all Center events
25% discount on writing workshops at the Center
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be current residents of one of the five boroughs, and must remain in New York City for the entire year of the fellowship. Students in degree-granting programs are not eligible to apply. This program supports emerging writers whose work shows promise of excellence. Applicants can be of any age, but must be in the early stages of their careers as fiction writers and will not have had the support needed to achieve major recognition for their work. We define “emerging writer” as someone who has not yet had a novel or short story collection published by either a major or independent publisher, and who is also not currently under contract to a publisher for a work of fiction. Eligible applicants may have had stories or novel excerpts published in magazines, literary journals or online, but this is not a requirement. If at any point during the judging process an applicant signs a contract for publication or accepts an offer to study in a degree-granting program, he or she must alert us immediately to have the application pulled from consideration.
https://centerforfiction.org/grants-awards/nyc-emerging-writers-fellowship/
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LitUp WRITER’S FELLOWSHIP
Reese's Book Club
DEADLINE: May 30, 2021 at 11:59pm PT
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: Powered by The Readership, LitUp will provide five emerging writers with an all-expenses-paid retreat, a three-month mentorship with a published author, and marketing support from Reese’s Book Club. LitUp is a journey and we’re with you every step of the way.
LitUp by Reese’s Book Club is a writers fellowship for unpublished, underrepresented women. We’re set to discover, mentor, and champion first-time authors, so more diverse stories are seen, heard, and read by all.
ELIGIBILITY: Unagented, unpublished women writers who identify as diverse. Full eligibility details can be found here.
APPLICATION MATERIALS: One completed fiction manuscript with a woman at the center of its story; a 750-word synopsis of your manuscript, and series of short essays
THE ROADMAP:
Hone Your Craft at Our Writer's Retreat: Selected fellows will participate in an all-expenses-paid writer's retreat to develop their manuscript and learn about the business side of publishing.
Get Mentored and Build a Support Network: Post retreat, fellows are matched with a published author for a three-month mentorship to get their book ready for market.
Join the Reese’s Book Club Family: Through it all, we stand by you every step of the way, including a first-look window with top agents and a book launch marketing commitment from us and our partners.
What do I need to apply? What type of manuscripts are you accepting? Is there an application fee?
Each applicant must submit:
An original adult or young adult fiction manuscript featuring a woman at the center of the story that is completed and written in English. We accept genre fiction but are currently not accepting non-fiction, picture books, middle grade, or co-written manuscripts. We will not accept plagiarism or copyright infringement.
All manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Please number your pages.
Your name should not appear anywhere within the manuscript or file name.
A brief, 750-words or less synopsis of your work
Responses to a series of short essay questions within the application
There is no application fee. We neither require nor accept letters of recommendation.
Candidates may only submit one application and one manuscript. Once submitted, applications cannot be updated. Late applications will not be accepted.
https://reesesbookclub.com/litup
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The Fire Inside Volume 2
Zora’s Den
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
INFO: Zora’s Den is an online community of Black women writers started in January 2017. Our mission is to uplift their stories, thus acknowledging free agency over their experiences and voices, in their own words. Hence submissions are open for those identifying as Black women.
Submissions are open for The Fire Inside, Volume II. Following the success of Zora’s Den’s first anthology, we want your kick-ass fiction, your soulful non-fiction, and your bold poetry. Zora Neale Hurston was known for her spunk. Let’s honor that spirit with our words, in voices distinctly our own. Send us the fire inside you!
GUIDELINES:
Poetry: up to 3 poems.
Fiction: limited to 1 story, no more than 3,000 words.
Flash Fiction: limited to 2 stories, up to 1,200 words each.
Creative Nonfiction: limited to 1 essay, no more than 1,500 words.
SUBMISSIONS:
Fiction, Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction must be double-spaced and formatted in a 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman). Poetry should be single-spaced and please send multiple poems in one submission entry. Please number the pages, provide the word count and title only. Please do not add additional spaces between sentences. Accepted files for prose and poetry submissions include .doc or .pdf—use minimal document styling and do not include author identifying information on any pages of submitted document.
Submitted material must be unpublished. We will consider simultaneous submissions, but please inform us immediately if the work has been accepted by another publication. Please edit your work with care.
By sending your submission you agree to the following statements:
You are a writer or artist who identifies as a Black woman.
You have completely read and submitted within the guidelines.
https://zorasden.submittable.com/submit/190865/the-fire-inside-volume-2
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2021 Moondancer Fellowship
The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
APPLICATION FEE: $35
INFO: The Moondancer fellowship is awarded to an author who expresses their love of nature and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship is open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, essayists, columnists, memoirists, and screenwriters. Prior publication is not a requirement. The submitted work sample should demonstrate literary merit and the promise of publication, or in the case of theater and film, production.
The fellowship winner will receive a two-week residency to allow the recipient to focus completely on their work. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch.
Only one writing project may be proposed per application. The winner will be announced no later than June 18, 2021. Residency must be completed by July 31, 2022. Exceptions will be made for COVID-19 concerns.
https://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: “COOKOUT” ISSUE
Lucky Jefferson
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
INFO: Grab your sunglasses, sandals, and favorite dish—you’re invited to our cookout.
Send us unpublished poetry (there is no line limit but we adore shorter poems), flash fiction, and food-inspired art that describes what you would bring to our cookout.
Topics may include:
food
games / entertainment
libations
decorations
cutlery
GUIDELINES:
Send no more than 3 poems in a submission. Separate poems by page break.
No more than 1000 words for flash fiction.
Include a short and sweet cover page highlighting: your name, email address, mailing address, and bio (third-person, 50 words max).
No translations or work that has been previously published in print or online.
Please absolutely no sexually explicit poems or works highlighting extreme violence, racism, antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, insta poems or love poems. We're hopeless romantics, but we're not interested in printing romance unless it's a unique perspective.
https://luckyjefferson.submittable.com/submit/191426/issue-7-cookout-early-bird-submission
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: AWAKE
Lucky Jefferson
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
Lucky Jefferson's digital zine Awake seeks to amplify the experiences and perspectives of Black writers in American society.
The third issue of our digital zine will explore Black Resiliency. While the undercurrents of trauma will remain embedded in the fabric of our history, and stories, trauma is not our only defining trait.
Send poems, essays, flash fiction, and art that embrace and magnify the persistence, strength, and power of our people through text, form, and structure.
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website and publicized on social media. Accepted authors will receive $15 for each accepted work.
GUIDELINES:
Send no more than three poems in a submission. Separate poems by titles or page breaks.
Essays should be no more than 1500 words.
Flash Fiction should be no more than 1000 words.
Send no more than three pieces of art. Artwork that offers social commentary on Black resiliency is highly preferred (We love comics and collage pieces!).
Include a cover page highlighting your name, email address, current address, and bio (third-person, 50 words max).
We do not accept translations or work that has been previously published in print or online.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Liminal Review
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
INFO: We’re open to fiction, short prose, reviews, poetry, creative nonfiction, marginalia, and illustrations.
The Liminal Review was founded in December 2020 by Alix Berber and Shauna Smullen. Two queer artists looking to carve out a new space for marginalised voices in Ireland and beyond. The project emerged from a curiosity for the concept of liminal spaces, transition and temporality. Liminality is familiar to everyone, even if the word might not be. Liminality is the experience of transition, metamorphosis, of crossing the small and momentous thresholds of life and death.
Please only submit to one category (Poetry or Fiction or Nonfiction) per submission period to liminalreview [at] gmail. com
The Liminal Review is currently run without any outside funding and we are as of now unable to pay contributors. It is our explicit goal to be able to offer contributors payment in the future. Featured writers will receive a contributor copy.
Please read the following submission guidelines carefully. Submissions that fail to adhere to the guidelines will not be considered for publication. If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out via the contact form, email or our social media channels.
The Liminal Review’s stated goal is to give special consideration to emerging authors/artists regardless of their previous publishing history. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists and writers, as well as those living with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to submit.
https://www.liminalreview.com/home/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ‘Promises for You’ COLUMN
Raising Mothers
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
INFO: Raising Mothers celebrates and centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Brown parents. We’re currently accepting submissions for our column, Promises for You. We want to give voice and space to those who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, and child loss at any age.
Each essay should include a promise to offer other parents living similar experiences. Photo essays are also considered for the column.
Honorarium is $20.
https://www.raisingmothers.com/submissions/
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The 2021 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
Wasafiri
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
ENTRY FEE: £10 for a single entry / £16 for a double entry.
INFO: Representing more of the globe than any other prize of its kind, the Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize is opening its doors for 2021 and welcoming work in fiction, poetry, and life writing from unpublished writers around the world. The prize will remain open from 1 February to 31 May 2021.
Winners of the prize will be announced on 14 October and will receive £1,000 each to support their work. All fifteen shortlisted writers will be offered mentoring and career guidance from partners The Literary Consultancy and The Good Literary Agency. All winners of the prize, running since 2009, remain part of the Wasafiri community, and are supported by the magazine as their careers grow. Past winners and shortlistees have gone on to score deals with major international publishing houses such as Verso, Peepal Tree Press, and HarperCollins India and to be shortlisted for and win prizes including the TS Eliot Prize, Ambit Short Fiction, and Bocas Poetry Prize, among very many others.
This year’s multiply-award-winning international judging panel comprises Tishani Doshi (Poetry), Hirsh Sawhney (Fiction), and Christie Watson (Life Writing). It will be chaired by renowned novelist and Professor of Creative Writing Andrew Cowan, who says of this role, ‘I’m thrilled to be chairing the judging for this year’s Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize. I’m looking forward to working with Tishani, Hirsh, and Christie, who are such wonderful writers. It’ll be a real pleasure, and a genuine honour.’
JUDGES:
Andrew Cowan is a novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and has taught creative writing all over the world. His first novel Pig was published in 1994 and received multiple national awards. Including a Betty Trask Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. It was followed by much-celebrated novels Common Ground (1996), Crustaceans (2000), What I Know (2005), and Worthless Men (2013), and Your Fault (2019). He has also written a creative writing guidebook, The Art of Writing Fiction, and he is currently completing the monograph Against Creative Writing.
Tishani Doshi is Welsh-Gujarati poet, novelist, and dancer. Her most recent books are Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods, shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Poetry Award, and a novel, Small Days and Nights, shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize and a New York Times Bestsellers Editor’s Choice. A God at the Door (Bloodaxe Books), her fourth collection of poems, is forthcoming in spring 2021. She lives in Tamil Nadu, India.
Hirsh Sawhney’s writing has appeared in international anthologies and periodicals including the Times Literary Supplement, The New York Times Book Review, The Guardian, the Indian Express, the Financial Times, Outlook, and many more. His novel South Haven was nominated for the 2017 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, and he is the editor of the fiction anthology Delhi Noir. He currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut and teaches at Wesleyan University.
Christie Watson is an award-winning and bestselling writer of fiction and non-fiction. She has been a nurse for over twenty years and is currently Professor of Medical and Health Humanities at UEA. Her work has been translated into twenty-three languages.
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PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists
PEN America
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021, at 11:59pm EST
INFO: The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists is offered annually to an author of children’s or young adult fiction for a novel-in-progress. Previously called the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship, the award was developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber and assist a writer at a crucial moment in their career to complete their novel. The author of the winning manuscript, selected blindly by judges unaware of nominees’ names, will receive an award of $5,000.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
The candidate is a writer of children's or young adult fiction.
Candidates must have published one or more novels for children or young adults that have been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated significant sales.
The writer’s previously published book(s) must be published by a U.S. trade publisher. Self-published works are ineligible.
The submitted work must be a novel-in-progress that will not be published prior to April 1, 2022.
Please note: At this time, graphic novels and picture books are not eligible for the fellowship.
HOW TO APPLY OR NOMINATE:
Writers may apply themselves or nominate a fellow writer. Please submit the following materials:
Cover letter: A 1-2 page letter including a brief (1-3 sentence) summary of the project, a description of how the candidate meets the criteria for the grant, and a list of the candidate's published novel(s) for children and/or young adults.
Professional review: Copies of or links to 1-3 reviews of the candidate's novel(s) from professional publications.
Letter of recommendation: A 1-2 page letter of support from an editor or fellow writer.
Project outline: A brief (2-4 page) outline of the novel-in-progress being submitted. The candidate's name should not appear anywhere on the outline to ensure anonymity, as only the outline, letter of utility, and manuscript will be given to the judges for consideration.
Letter of Utility: A brief description (1-2 pages) of how the funds will be used to complete the project. What will the candidate be able to accomplish with this funding that they could not do otherwise? Book sales, earnings, or other relevant information may be included here. The candidate’s name should notappear anywhere on the letter of utility to ensure anonymity, as only the outline, letter of utility, and manuscript will be given to the judges for consideration.
Manuscript sample: 50–75 pages of the text. The candidate's name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript sample, in order to ensure anonymity for the judging process. Only the outline, letter of utility, and manuscript sample will be given to the judges for consideration.
Please upload the Project Outline, Letter of Utility, and Manuscript sample as one anonymous PDF file. Please upload the Cover Letter, Professional Review(s), and Letter of Recommendation as a separate PDF file.
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
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The Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive
We Need Diverse Books
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021
INFO: The Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive will offer an opportunity for reflection, conversation, celebration, and manuscript and career development to Native/First Nations writers.
We’ll be sharing information, resources, and contacts related to children’s and YA writing, Native books, and the surrounding publishing world.
We’re committed to community building, nurturing new voices, supporting working literary artists, and serving kids and teens while centering the needs of Native youth.
Up to 20 participants will be invited to participate in the program, including group discussions of manuscripts in progress.
Scholarship priority will be given to early acceptances. As part of your application, please be sure to indicate whether financial assistance would be critical to your participation.
FORMAT: The Native Children’s and YA Writing will take place virtually in 2021
DATE(S): Thursday, August 5, 2021, to Sunday, August 8, 2021
COST: $100. Proceeds from the program will support future Native Writing Intensives.
Registration scholarships are available. Most participants will receive scholarship support.
APPLICATIONS: Please submit your applications via this link.
https://diversebooks.org/programs/native-writing-intensive/
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PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History
PEN America
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021, at 11:59pm EST
INFO: The PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History recognize literary works of nonfiction that use oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement. For the 2022 grant cycle, we will confer two PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History with cash prizes of $15,000 each.
ELIGIBILITY:
The submitted project must be the work of a single individual, written in English.
The project must be an unpublished work-in-progress that will not be published prior to April 1, 2022, as the grants are intended to support the completion of a final book.
The project must be a work of literary nonfiction (scholarly/academic writing is not eligible).
Oral history must be a significant component of the project and its research.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please note that the application will require the following, submitted as one PDF file, in the below order,using a standard 12-point font and 1 inch margins:
A 1-2 page, single-spaced description of the work, answering: Why is this project important, and why did this author chose to undertake this project?
A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement answering: Why and how is oral history used in the project?
A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement answering: How will this grant aid in the completion of the project? (This space can additionally be used to discuss any permissions, rights, publishing contracts, publication timelines, or other aspects of your project, should they be applicable.)
A CV for the author of the project, which should include information on previous and forthcoming publications.
An outline that includes the work completed thus far and the work remaining. The outline should include the names of participants.
Unedited transcripts of the project interviews (6-10 double-spaced pages) relating to the writing sample.
A writing sample from the project (20-40 double-spaced pages) which utilizes the submitted project interviews.
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: horror anthology for TEENAGE writers
Cemetery Gates / Death’s Head Press / Night Worms
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021
INFO: Cemetery Gates, Death’s Head Press, and Night Worms are putting together Generation Dread, a YA horror anthology with stories written by teenage writers to shine a light on the next generation of horror writers. The anthology will be edited by Gabino Iglesias.
GUIDELINES:
Word Count 1500 to 3000 words
Only topics featured in YA books, no racial slurs.
All writers between 15-19 years of age are encouraged to submit.
A parent or guardian will have to co-sign the acceptance contract if the writer is under 18.
No poetry, art, or nonfiction.
We strongly encourage LGBTQ+, disabled, and young writers of color to submit.
PAYMENT: $100 scholarship
Stories and questions can be sent to iglesiasworkshops@gmail.com
https://cemeterygatesmedia.com/2021/03/09/generation-dread-submissions/
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PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants
PEN America
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021, at 11:59pm EST
INFO: The PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants were established in the summer of 2003 by a gift from Priscilla and Michael Henry Heim in response to the low number of literary translations currently appearing in English. Its purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.
ELIGIBILITY:
The PEN/Heim Translation Fund provides grants to support the translation of book-length works of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation.
Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion.
There are no restrictions on the nationality or citizenship of the translator, but the works must be translated into English.
The Fund seeks to encourage translators to undertake projects they might not otherwise have had the means to attempt.
Anthologies with multiple translators, works of literary criticism, and scholarly or technical texts do not qualify.
Translators who have previously been awarded grants by the Fund are ineligible to reapply for three years after the year in which they receive a grant.
Please note that projects that have been previously submitted and have not received a grant are unlikely to be reconsidered in a subsequent year.
Projects may have up to two translators.
Translators may only submit one project per year.
HOW TO APPLY:
Translators must complete the applications form by 11:59 PM (EST) June 1, 2021. The application will require the following materials. Please use a standard 12pt font with 1 inch margins.
1. The application form, with all items completed:
A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement outlining the work and describing its importance.
A biography and bibliography of the original author, including information on translations of their work into other languages.
A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.
If the book is not in the public domain and the project is not yet under contract, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original (the copyright notice is a line including the character ©, a date, and the name of the copyright holder, which appears as part of the front matter in every book), and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. A letter or copy of an email from the copyright holder is sufficient.
If the translation is currently under contract with a publisher, please submit a copy of the contract.
2. An 8–10 page, single-spaced sample of the translation. For prose, this should be within the range of 3,000-5,000 words. For poetry, please include 1-2 poems per page, within the 8–10 page range.
3. The same passage in the original language (and, if the work has been previously translated, the same passage in the earlier version).
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
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-1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest
Midway Journal
DEADLINE: June 1, 2021
FEE: $10 per entry (unlimited entries)
INFO: Enter Midway Journal’s -1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest for a chance to win the $500 grand prize! See contest guidelines below.
You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission. You may also submit to each genre. However, there is only one grand prize winner, one second prize winner and one third prize winner and not a winner in each genre.
Paste the title of your submission and your contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address) in the cover letter box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.
Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.
Poetry: up to 2 poems per entry, up to 40 words per poem. No more than one poem per page.
Prose (Fiction and Nonfiction): 1 piece per entry, up to 1,000 words per piece.
All submissions will be considered for publication.
PRIZES:
First Prize: $500 + publication in Midway Journal
Second Prize: $250 + publication in Midway Journal
Third Prize: $50 + publication in Midway Journal
JUDGE: Tiana Clark is the author of the poetry collection, I Can’t Talk About the Trees Without the Blood (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018), winner of the 2017 Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize, and Equilibrium (Bull City Press, 2016), selected by Afaa Michael Weaver for the 2016 Frost Place Chapbook Competition. Clark is a winner for the 2020 Kate Tufts Discovery Award (Claremont Graduate University), a 2019 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellow, a recipient of a 2019 Pushcart Prize, a winner of the 2017 Furious Flower’s Gwendolyn Brooks Centennial Poetry Prize, and the 2015 Rattle Poetry Prize. She was the 2017-2018 Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow at the Wisconsin Institute of Creative Writing. Clark is the recipient of scholarships and fellowships to the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University (M.F.A) and Tennessee State University (B.A.) where she studied Africana and Women’s studies. Her writing has appeared in or is forthcoming from The New Yorker, Poetry Magazine, The Washington Post, VQR, Tin House Online, Kenyon Review, BuzzFeed News, American Poetry Review, New England Review, Oxford American, Best New Poets 2015, and elsewhere. She teaches creative writing at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
JUDGING PROCESS:
The staff of Midway Journal will select a group of finalists from all the contest entries. Finalists will be chosen for strong work regardless of genre and sent to the judge by September. The finalists will be sent to judge blindly. A winner will be announced in October.
http://midwayjournal.com/contest/
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2021 SLP Nonfiction/Hybrid Chapbook Contest
Split/Lip Press
DEADLINE: June 2, 2021
ENTRY FEE: $10
INFO: Split/Lip Press's annual Chapbook Contest is on! We're looking for nonfiction/hybrid chapbook manuscripts that are considered complete projects only in their collected state—your pieces should require one another to be fully realized. We're interested in chapbooks that are a collection of stones, Indiana-Jones-and-the-Temple-of-Doom-style, which gain power through proximity—however, if you have a single, sustained, long NF/hybrid piece, we'd love to see it as well! We've always got our eyes out for work that questions boundaries (physical, emotional, metaphysical, meta-emotional—you get the gist). Dazzle us with your version(s) of truth!
Our definition of "chapbook" is 40-60pg, but we've got a little flex in both directions, so don't let those guidelines exclude your work if you're pretty close to that page count.
Our nonfiction/hybrid judge for the 2021 Chapbook Contest is Jenny Boully. Jenny is a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow in General Nonfiction, and the author of Betwixt-and-Between: Essays on the Writing Life. Her previous books include not merely because of the unknown that was stalking toward them, The Book of Beginnings and Endings: Essays, [one love affair]*, of the mismatched teacups, of the single-serving spoon: a book of failures, and The Body: An Essay. A ลูกครึ่ง (half-child), she was born in Thailand and grew up on the southwest side of San Antonio, Texas. She attended Hollins University, where she double majored in English and Philosophy and then went on to earn an MA in English Criticism and Writing. Her other degrees include an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in English from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She currently teaches at Columbia College Chicago and the Bennington Writing Seminars.
Chapbooks will be read continuously throughout the reading period by all members of our nonfiction/hybrid chapbook reading team, who will select their individual top five faves. Our NF/hybrid editor, Lauren Westerfield, will collate the overall top five chapbooks, which will then be read by Jenny Boully, and she will select our winner (+ a runner-up, for good measure)!
The NF/hybrid winner of the 2021 Chapbook Contest will receive a $250 honorarium, 20 free copies of their published chapbook, and the following additional benefits of publication with Split/Lip Press:
25% royalties, distributed quarterly, which you begin earning with the very first book sale
PDF copies available to send to reviewers
additional copies (beyond the first free 20 copies) available to the author for purchase at a discounted rate of print cost + 25%
a personalized book design process
an online Zoom reading event on publication day, hosted by Split/Lip Press
during non-pandemic times, the opportunity to read at an AWP off-site event hosted by Split/Lip Press
all the social media support you can handle
To get an idea of what we love, please check out the past nonfiction/hybrid winners of the SLP Chapbook Contests: I Once Met You But You Were Deadby SJ Sindu, The Space Poet by Samantha Edmonds, and last year's winner, Flee by Calvin Walds. We'd love it if you'd add a copy to your submission, and we'll happily throw in free shipping as a thanks!
Under-represented perspectives are WELCOME and ENCOURAGED and HIGHLY SOUGHT—we want to help bring your voice to the world!
https://splitlippress.submittable.com/submit/161792/2021-slp-nonfiction-hybrid-chapbook-contest
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CALL FOR PITCHES
Rebel Women Lit
DEADLINE: Ongoing
INFO: Rebel Women Lit (RWL) publishes discussions on contemporary literary culture, interviews with writers, reviews of publications (creative and scholarly) related to the Caribbean, the African diaspora, and Black Feminism, as well as short fiction and poetry by emerging and established Caribbean writers.
We invite submissions of:
discussion essays on contemporary literary culture (700-1,500 words)
discussion essays on contemporary Caribbean social justice issues (700-1,500 words)
critical reviews of scholarly or creative literary works (1,000-1,200 words)
interviews with Caribbean & African authors and/or literary scholars (2,000-2,500 words)
poems and short fiction (maximum 4,000 words) from emerging and established Caribbean and African writers
We publish one post per week and accept submissions on a rolling basis. We kindly ask that you do not write a piece before pitching it to our editors, unless you are submitting a short story or poem for consideration in our Arts section. . Please review the style requirements below and adhere to the word limits for all submissions.
GENERAL REQUIREMENT: Permissions: Contributors are responsible for obtaining written permission to reprint and reproduce any material. Similarly, it is the responsibility of contributors to supply the source of all previously published material. Accepted writers will be compensated a small stipend of 20USD - 30USD for each piece.
REVIEWS:
Reviews should be preceded by information about the text in the following format:
Full name of author, Title. City: press, year of publication
INTERVIEWS: Interviews must begin with a short paragraph that includes information about the interviewee, the date and general purpose of the interview. The first question must be preceded by the full name of the interviewer and a colon, in bold. The first response should be preceded by the full name of the interviewee and a colon, in bold. Subsequent questions and responses should be preceded by initials and colons, in bold.
PITCHES: Pitches should be summarized in four to eight sentences. All pitches must include: the subject of your writing or review, the main topics and/or themes to be critically explored, and the relevance to the RWL community.
https://www.rebelwomenlit.com/pitch
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APPALACHIAN FUTURES: BLACK, NATIVE, AND QUEER VOICES
University Press of Kentucky
DEADLINE: N/A
INFO: This book series gives voice to Black, Native, Latinx, Asian, Queer, and other nonwhite or ignored identities within the Appalachian region. It does not seek to define the region. Reading from Appalachia rather than about Appalachia, it will observe the process of becoming by amplifying the experiences that a multiplicity of writers, activists, organizers, and everyday people find within its boundaries and in their absence from this place. This series will advance a creative ecosystem unrivaled within traditional cultural hubs, creating a space for the voices and stories of Appalachia’s future.
EDITORS:
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is the author of Even As We Breathe. Her work has appeared in Yes! Magazine, Lit Hub, Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, South Writ Large, and The Atlantic. Clapsaddle teaches at Swain County High School and serves on the board of trustees for the North Carolina Writers Network.Davis Shoulders
Davis Shoulders is a director and worker-owner of Atlas Books, an independent and cooperatively-owned bookstore in Johnson City, TN (forthcoming 2021). They have served as the Events Organizer for Union Ave Books in Knoxville, TN since 2018.Crystal Wilkinson
Crystal Wilkinson is the author of Perfect Black, The Birds of Opulence, Blackberries, Blackberries, and Water Street. She was named a 2020 USA Fellow by United States Artists and teaches at the University of Kentucky, where she is Associate Professor of English in the MFA in Creative Writing Program.
FORTHCOMING BOOKS:
Chocolate City Way Up South in Appalachia: Black Knoxville at the Intersection of Race, Place, and Region, Enkeshi Thom El-Amin of Black in Appalachia podcast
A collection of essays by queer & trans organizers & artists across Appalachia, edited by Rae Garringer of Country Queers podcast
Tar Hollow Trans: Reflections on Culture and Identity in Appalachia, Stacy Jane Grover
A collection of Black voices of Appalachia, edited by Crystal Wilkinson
A collection of Native voices of Appalachia, edited by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
A collection of Queer Appalachian writers on religion, edited by Davis Shoulders
https://www.kentuckypress.com/appalachian-futures-black-native-and-queer-voices/