Books Like Us First Novel Contest
Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)
ENTRY PERIOD: September 29 - October 13, 2023
INFO: Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is pleased to announce the launch of the third annual BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest. The aim of the contest is to facilitate access to the publishing process for writers from underrepresented groups, and to celebrate the diversity of readers across the United States. As the nation strives for progress, Atria Books and Simon & Schuster aim to help catalyze that change by amplifying voices that represent us, by publishing books like us.
The annual Books Like Us First Novel Contest is rotated among Simon & Schuster’s other adult imprints. Previous contests have been administered by the Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster imprints.
A two-week entry period will begin on Friday, September 29, 2023. At that time, writers are invited and encouraged to submit twenty-five pages of an original adult novel using the online form below. The publisher welcomes inclusive, entertaining, and groundbreaking reads with expert pacing, depth as well as heart, and irresistible characters who leap from the page. At the end of the submission period, the editorial, marketing, and publicity team at Atria Books, will review all submissions for originality, relevance to today’s publishing climate, and writing quality.
In March 2024, the author of the selected novel will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Atria Books.
FAQs
Will the winner receive a book deal?
The winner will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Will the winner be paired with a literary agent?
The winner will be provided a list of literary agents who have expressed interest in representation to choose from. The winner is also welcome to search for an agent on their own. Our intention is to allow the winner the option of signing with an agent of their choice.
Can I submit my young adult novel?
We are only accepting adult fiction.
Can I submit my novel in another language, other than English?
The submission must be in English.
If I am a writer who isn’t 18, can I still enter?
Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Are you accepting submissions from international writers?
No, the contest is open only to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
What if I have previously self-published my manuscript?
Self-published manuscripts are not eligible at this time.
If I submitted last year, can I resubmit?
Yes! If you participated in Gallery Books or Simon & Schuster's Books Like Us in 2021 or 2022, you’re welcome to enter this contest provided the manuscript was never published by any third party or self-published, and otherwise complies with the Guidelines and Restrictions in the Official Rules.
Must my 25-page submission be the opening pages from a completed manuscript?
Yes, that’s correct. Semifinalists will be notified on or about January 30, 2024, and will have one week from notification to submit their final manuscript. For that reason, we recommend that entrants fine-tune their completed manuscripts prior to January.
simonandschuster.com/p/atria-first-novel
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OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: ISSUE 5 “MOTHERHOOD”
Spoken Black Girl Magazine
DEADLINE: Extended to October 7, 2023
INFO: The Black Maternal Health Crisis is threatening the lives of Black moms and babies every day all over this country. In response to this injustice, Spoken Black Girl Magazine is dedicating our next issue to Black moms and celebrating Black Motherhood. We welcome stories from midwives, doulas, and birth workers. This issue calls for stories that represent love and joy of the mother connection, mothers that are ancestors, mothers that come disguised as a teacher or a friend, as well as the challenging moments of motherhood. We also welcome poetry, essays, and short stories, book reviews, recipes and other forms are also welcome as well as photography and visual art depicting motherhood. This will be a print only publication.
For the first time, this issue will be open to any Black-identifying writer or creative regardless of gender as long as the submission answers the prompt and serves to uplift Black women and girls.
COMPENSATION: All accepted submissions will receive $50 in compensation.
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The Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship
One Story
DEADLINE: Extended to October 18, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: Each year, together with the Talve-Goodman Family, One Story awards one writer the Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship. Honoring the memory of author and former One Story Managing Editor Adina Talve-Goodman, this educational fellowship offers a year-long mentorship on the craft of fiction writing with One Story magazine. Our hope is to give a writer outside of the fold a significant boost in their career.
AWARD:
The Fellow Receives:
Access to One Story online classes.
Admission to One Story’s Writing Circle.
Stipend ($2,000) and free admission to One Story’s week-long summer writers’ conference, which includes craft lectures, an intensive fiction workshop, and panels with literary agents and publishers.
A full manuscript review and consultation with One Story Executive Editor Hannah Tinti (story collection or novel in progress up to 150 pages/35,000 words).
REQUIREMENTS:
This fellowship calls for an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an advanced degree program (such as an MA or MFA) in Creative Writing, English, or Literature, and has no plans to attend one in the 2024 calendar year. We are seeking writers whose work speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference.
This means writing that centers, celebrates, or reclaims being marginalized through the lens of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, religion, illness, disability, trauma, migration, displacement, dispossession, or imprisonment. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age as of January 1st, 2024. For complete eligibility details, please visit the FAQ at the bottom of this page.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST:
To apply to this Fellowship you will need:
A fiction writing sample (3,000 – 5,000 words)
A personal statement (600 – 1,100 words)
Two professional or personal references who can speak to your commitment to writing (no recommendation letters required but please provide: name, email, phone)
A current resume detailing any work or educational experience. Please also list any writing classes you have taken, along with writing-related awards, fellowships, publications, and residencies (if any).
All applications will be received via Submittable
The winner of the 2024 Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship will be publicly announced in January 2024
FAQ
Is this fellowship open to applicants outside the United States?
Yes.
Does any Master’s Degree disqualify me? Or just a M.A. or M.F.A. in Creative Writing?
If you have advanced degrees in Creative Writing, English, or Literature (in any language) you are ineligible to apply.
I was enrolled in an advanced degree-seeking program in Creative Writing, English, or Literature, but never completed it. Am I still eligible for the fellowship?
No. We are seeking applicants who have never been enrolled in these programs. If you’ve been enrolled, you are ineligible for the fellowship.
I’ve written a textbook. Does that disqualify me from applying to this fellowship?
No. Textbooks will not disqualify you from applying for this fellowship. But any published book of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, or memoir does. This includes books published by large and small presses, books published electronically, and self-published books.
I’ve edited an anthology. Does that disqualify me from applying to this fellowship?
No. Only published books of your own writing will disqualify you from applying.
I have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher. Am I still eligible to apply?
No. If you get an agent or a book contract after you apply, you must immediately withdraw your application.
I have self-published a book. Am I still eligible to apply?
No. Self-published counts as published.
I published a book in another language. Am I still eligible to apply?
No. Books published in other languages count as published books.
I’ve been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Can I apply for this fellowship?
No. The purpose of this fellowship is for One Story to open new doors and make connections with new writers. If you are published by One Story, that connection has already been established.
I’d like to submit a story of mine that’s been published in a literary magazine as my writing sample. Is that allowed?
Yes. Writing samples can be previously published works or unpublished works.
I’ve been employed by One Story, or have volunteered for One Story as a reader. Can I apply for this fellowship?
No. To keep the judgement of this fellowship fair and impartial, we are excluding anyone who has worked or volunteered for One Story in the past or present.
Please contact fellowship@one-story.com for any other questions.
one-story.com/learn/fellowship/
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2024 KWELI FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Kweli Journal
DEADLINE: October 12, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: Building on Kweli's successful history of mentoring emerging authors since 2009, we will provide three or more early-stage writers with 11-month writing fellowships.
Eligible candidates are early career vocational writers living in New York City, who are NOT enrolled in degree-granting programs and self-identify as Black, Indigenous/Native, POC, and/or Arab American.
Writers who have NOT yet contracted to publish a book are invited to apply.
AWARD:
Three fellowships will be awarded, which will include:
ten months of editorial support from Kweli Journal editors to prepare a piece for publication in the magazine;
a $2,000 stipend;
admission-free enrollment in three professionally led writing workshops on literary fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry.
participation in four public readings by workshop participants;
admission-free participation in our International Literary Festival, inclusive of pitch sessions with literary agents and editors;
optionally, admission-free participation in our Color of Children Literature Conference;
publication in Kweli Journal;
all expense paid writing retreat hosted at Akwaaba.
ELIGIBILITY: Only writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work are eligible. Only one submission per person is allowed. Please do not submit a piece you have previously submitted to Kweli Journal, either through the Fellowship category or the General Submissions category. Kweli Journal reserves the right to invite submissions.
TIMELINE: Submittable will be open for Fellowship submissions from Tuesday, September 12 – Thursday, October 12 only. Submissions for the Fellowships close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on October 12, 2023. Successful applicants will be informed no later than December 15, 2023. The fellowship period will be January 3, 2024 – December 3, 2024.
PROCEDURE:
Applications must be submitted through the Fellowship category in Submittable. There is no application fee. Please submit the following:
A cover letter containing a one-paragraph biographical statement; one paragraph that is a favorite of yours from a book you've read recently; and a brief statement telling us why this particular passage is meaningful to you. Please also note in your cover letter which one of New York City's five boroughs you reside in.
A CV or résumé
a brief statement of your career goals and what you expect to accomplish as a Kweli Fellow.
A 10 page writing sample. There is no word-count requirement. Eligible genres are fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and cross-genre writing, whether written for adults, young adults, or children.
Selection will be based on (i) quality, promise, and subject matter of the writing sample; (ii) educational or experiential preparation; and (iii) seriousness of purpose and willingness to push beyond one's comfort zone.
Note that we only accept PDF or Word files (.doc and .docx). The cover letter and manuscript should be submitted as separate files. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned unread.
kwelijournal.org/kweli-fellowship-program
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Little, Brown Spark New Voices Award
Little, Brown Spark
DEADLINE: October 15, 2023 at 11:59pm EST
INFO: Little, Brown Spark, in partnership with Psychotherapy Networker, is pleased to announce a new opportunity aimed at amplifying the work of underrepresented experts in the field of psychology.
We are inviting previously unpublished (with the exception of articles, academic papers, or self-published books) and unagented writers from underrepresented backgrounds to submit a non-fiction book proposal on any topic within any branch of psychology.
The applicant with the most original and compelling proposal will receive an introduction to a literary agent; feedback and guidance from Little, Brown Spark’s editorial team on turning their proposal into a manuscript; the opportunity to enter a publishing contract with Little, Brown Spark with a $50,000 advance; and a ticket to attend the Psychotherapy Networker’s 2024 Symposium from March 21-24, 2024 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C., where they will receive recognition on the main stage during the ceremony, plus a U.S. $500 travel stipend for transportation to and from the Symposium and hotel accommodations.
Identity impacts human psychology and behavior in fundamental ways, from how we perceive ourselves, to how we relate to others, to how we experience the world. The Little, Brown Spark New Voices Award is grounded in Little, Brown Spark’s commitment to publishing authors with a range of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives that reflects the diversity of the human experience.
SUBMISSION CRITERIA: We are accepting submissions for non-fiction proposals pertaining to any topic in the field of psychology. Eligible proposals must be aimed at general readers; monographs and textbooks will not be considered.
Submissions should include:
A brief description and overview of the proposed book (~500 words);
A detailed chapter outline (2-3 paragraphs per chapter);
A full sample chapter (~4000-5000 words); and
An author biography and/or resume.
AWARD: Our judges will select a winner from a shortlist of up to six proposals. Each writer selected for the short list will be invited to attend a 1-hour virtual consultation with a senior-level editor on the Little, Brown Spark team, which will include general feedback on their shortlisted proposal and insight into the publishing process and industry.
In addition to the 1-hour virtual consultation, the winner will receive:
A first-look window with agents. The winner will be provided a list of literary agents who have agreed to participate in this initiative. Introductions will be made at the winner’s request. Please note that Little, Brown Spark strongly recommends that the winner secures representation from an agent before proceeding with negotiations for a publishing contract with Little, Brown Spark.
Additional editorial feedback and guidance in completing and revising the manuscript.
The opportunity to enter a publishing contract with Little, Brown Spark with a $50,000 advance.
A ticket to attend the Psychotherapy Networker’s 2024 Symposium from March 21-24, 2024 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C., where they will receive recognition on the main stage during the ceremony, plus a U.S. $500 travel stipend for transportation to and from the Symposium and hotel accommodations.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any author who:
Identifies as diverse. We align our definition of diversity with the definition provided by We Need Diverse Books, which recognizes all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) identifying as LGBTQIA+, Native, a person of color, gender diverse, having a disability, and an ethnic, cultural, and/or religious minority;
Is an expert in the field of psychology, holding one or more of the following degrees or accreditations: License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW); Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctorate (DSW) or PhD in Social Work; Certification inCognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT); Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP) or Clinical Psychology (LPC or LMFT); Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); or PhD in Psychology;
Has not previously published a book with a publishing company (including any academic press) and is not currently represented by a literary agency; and
Is a legal resident of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who is at least 18 years of age.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of editors and other senior members of the Little, Brown Spark team, based on:
The originality of the thesis or concept;
The logic and credibility of the argument;
The rigor of the research;
The clarity and accessibility of the writing; and
The relevance of the topic to general and/or non-academic readers.
hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/call-for-psychology-submissions/
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2024 OPEN CITY FELLOWSHIP
Asian American Writers’ Workshop
DEADLINE: Extended to October 15, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: The Open City Fellowship is a unique opportunity for four emerging Asian American, Muslim, and Arab writers to publish narrative nonfiction on the vibrant East Asian, South and Southeast Asian, Arab and West Asian, and North and East African communities. The Fellowship is a nine-month stint for emerging writers of color to write about how Asian American and Muslim American lives are being lived in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
The Fellowship offers a $2,500 grant, skill-building workshops, and publishing opportunities to Fellows to write about the Asian American and Muslim American communities of the tristate area.
A total of four Fellows will be selected for next year’s Open City Fellowship; three for the Neighborhoods/ Communities Fellowship and three for the Muslim Communities Fellowship.
The Fellowship term will begin in January 2024 and will end in September 2024.
We are looking for writers eager to hit the ground running covering Asian immigrant neighborhoods and writing about social justice issues—racial, class, and gender equality. Each Fellow must adopt a specific neighborhood or community and a specific theme (i.e., mental health, COVID-19 issues, LGBTQ+ issues, gentrification, etc.) and write stories along these intertwined geographical/cultural and thematic beats. We’re looking for writers to create deft, engaging narratives that bring the face, name, place, and heart of the community to issues like gentrification, immigration, Islamophobia, community policing, and racial and gender discrimination.
Open City is one of the projects of The Margins, the online publication of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. It documents the pulse of metropolitan Asian America and Muslim America as it’s being lived right now.
The Margins features new fiction and poetry, literary and cultural criticism, and interviews with writers and artists. The Margins is the recipient of a Whiting Literary Magazine award, and our stories have been linked to by the Wall Street Journal, the New Inquiry, Literary Hub, and the New York Times. Our contributors include Chang-rae Lee, Jessica Hagedorn, Vijay Iyer, Bhanu Kapil, Katie Kitamura, Hua Hsu, Amitava Kumar, and Yoko Ogawa.
Previous Open City Fellows have gone on to write and report for MSNBC, Granta, Al Jazeera America, the American Prospect, and Slate, among other outlets. Their works during their time as Fellows have been picked up by NPR, the Atlantic Cities, and the New York Times.
Consider applying if:
You are a strong, voice-driven storyteller who cares about social justice movements and wants to transport readers to immigrant neighborhoods and communities;
You are willing to spend time reporting on NYC’s Asian and Muslim neighborhoods in the tristate area, are excited to cultivate trust and sources in your chosen neighborhood, and raring to talk to people about their lives, hopes, and fears;
You understand the urgency in writing stories that depict how it is to be an Asian, a Muslim, and an immigrant in today’s America;
Can demonstrate nonfiction writing experience and a dedication to developing a writing career;
You are submitting work to magazines, journals, or other publications and can demonstrate nonfiction writing experience and a dedication to developing a writing career. While we prefer some publication record, we think the strength of your work is more important than its home. We’re looking for writers who are excited to take their writing to the “next level,” and may be dedicated to writing after the fellowship term is up;
You are looking to grow and have some experience with the editorial process. You should view this as an opportunity to build a network and take advantage of AAWW’s creative initiatives.
The Open City Fellowship is a unique initiative that combines publication opportunities, journalism training, and funding.
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS:
The Open City Fellowship is a nine-month program. The 2024 fellowship term will run from January through September.
STIPEND: $2,500 for the duration of the nine-month grant period, delivered in three installments.
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES: We will publish two stories written over the nine-month period ion our online magazine, The Margins. The first of these pieces will be a short -form story (1,000 words maximum) and the second will be a long- form piece (2,500 words minimum).
OPEN CITY WORKSHOP SERIES: We have created a special workshop series just for Open City Fellows. We’ll launch with a special orientation that will feature professional writers and former fellows. Future sessions in the workshop series may deal with interviewing, the craft of writing, photography, multimedia storytelling, and data research.
GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP: You’ll receive mentorship and editorial guidance from Senior Editor Noel Pangilinan and will have access to potential resources from the CUNY Journalism School.
Open City Fellows will be required to:
Meet with the Open City editor every two weeks.
Attend six writing workshop sessions, which may include feedback from the Open City editor
Attend occasional get-togethers with all fellows
Attend an initial orientation meeting
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
SUBMITTABLE APPLICATION FORM: Here, we will ask you to specify which neighborhoods you are uniquely qualified to cover for Open City.
PROJECT PROPOSAL: Identify two story ideas tied by a common theme in your chosen neighborhood. The project proposal should be 900 words maximum, and should outline the two stories (one short-form story of up to 1,000 words max, and one long form story of at least, 2,500 words) that you will write over the course of your Fellowship.
CV: Upload a 1-3 page resume or CV that also includes publication history;
WRITING SAMPLES: Attach two or three writing samples that best illustrate the kinds of articles you would like to write for Open City. Samples should not be more than three pages each and must be uploaded to the application form as PDFs or MS Word documents. They should be double-spaced, in 12-point font size, and should not include publication information.
REQUIREMENTS:
During the fellowship term, fellows must live in the tristate area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Asian American and Asian diasporic writers are eligible to apply. “Asian American” is defined broadly to include not just, say, Chinese and Indian Americans, but also Asian American adoptee and multiracial writers, Indo-Caribbean writers, and West Asians, such as Iranians and Arab Americans.
SELECTION PROCESS:
The Open City Fellows are chosen based on the following criteria:
Relevance, quality, and cohesiveness of project proposal
Merit of past work, based on submitted work sample
Demonstrated ability to cover the proposed neighborhoods
Career record, as described in the resume
Demonstrated willingness to take the most advantage of the Fellowship: e.g., to attend ALL trainings and workshops, and take advantage of publishing opportunities.
Applicants will be assessed based on a multi-round selection process, in which the applicant pool grows smaller in each round. The assessment process will involve Vandana Pawa, Director of Programs and Partnerships, and Senior Editor Noel Pangilinan, as well as an outside jury comprised of literary and journalism professionals. Finalist applicants will be interviewed in person or online, depending on COVID-19 related safety measures upheld by the Workshop.
HOW TO APPLY:
All applicants must carefully read our FAQ before applying to determine whether they are eligible. The Fellowship is open to writers who are based in the tristate area, or who can claim residency in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, but temporarily relocated due to the pandemic.
To be considered, you must apply by filling out the Submittable application. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at fellowships fellowships@aaww.org.
Current Fellows may apply for a second round of Fellowship funding if they have completed all the requirements of their current Fellowship. Fellows will need to wait a year after their second Fellowship to apply again. Past Open City Fellows prior to 2022 may apply for the 2024 Open City Fellowships.
aaww.org/fellowships/open-city/
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Reading Period for Obsidian Issue 50.1
Obsidian
DEADLINE: October 16, 2023
INFO:
Manuscript Submission Guidelines
Include a short cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted and citing major publications and awards, as well as any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor.
Upload your text submission as a Word (DOC, DOCX), portable document format/PDF (PDF) or rich-text format (RTF) file. No Pages, TXT, or Open Office Documents.
Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
Numbered pages.
Submissions should follow the Chicago Manual of Style for grammar and MLA format for citations and works cited, when applicable.
Margins should be set at no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5”.
Poetry: submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages.
Fiction, Hybrid genre: 12-point font. No more than twenty (20) pages or 5000 words (whichever is achieved first). Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Drama/Performance: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages following Samuel French or the Dramatists Guild suggested formatting. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Translations are welcome if permission has been granted.
https://obsidian.submittable.com/submit
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PERIPLUS Mentorship program
Periplus
DEADLINE: October 27, 2023
FEE: $0
INFO: Periplus is a collective of writers engaged in mentorship and community-building for writers of color. Each year, we select about 50 new Fellows to join our community and be mentored one-on-one by an established writer. Fellows also have access to other resources, including a large and growing community of fellow writers of color and regular events about the craft and business of writing. In assessing applications, we consider the promise we see in applicants' writing samples, while also paying attention to how helpful a Periplus Fellowship could be for their craft and career. Applying and participating is free.
FAQs:
Who are the mentors, and what do they do?
The Periplus mentors are a group of about 50 writers who, having benefited when we’ve belonged to diverse and inclusive writing communities, would like to mentor promising BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) writers in the United States who are earlier in their careers than we are.
We write essays, fiction, longform journalism, poetry, memoir, criticism, and various hybrid or undefined forms, and seek mentees working in those forms. (While several mentors are journalists with varied experience, this collective is geared more toward longform stories—features, investigations, and the like—than shortform reporting; people on the latter track might find more suitable resources through journalists’ organizations such as NAJA, NAHJ, NABJ, AAJA, and SAJA.) We don’t mentor in playwriting or screenwriting. We don’t mentor in writing for children.
The first year of mentorship took place in 2021. This year is our third. Each mentor takes on one mentee, known as a Periplus Fellow. Mentors and fellows will talk for at least 30 minutes every month, about topics that might include, for example, building writing into a daily routine, making money as a writer, considering craft concerns like structuring a book or magazine article, and approaching career-related problems like finding an agent, pitching magazines, or applying to graduate school. Some of us, though not all, can also read and give feedback on fellows’ work—within certain limits, which mentors can specify. In addition, mentors periodically arrange panels and presentations for the collective; in the past, for example, we have hosted panels of writers, literary agents, book editors, magazine and journal editors, and representatives from graduate creative-writing programs.
Because this is a collective, mentors make big decisions as a group and share some work of running it. That said, the depth of individual mentors’ involvement depends on their particular circumstances. The only requirement is the monthly conversations. Anything else mentors do on top of that—including reading fellows’ work or helping to read applications, for example—is up to them.
Who are the Fellows, and what do they do?
Periplus Fellows, past and present, have played a major role in making Periplus a robust, supportive community. As with the mentors, the depth of individual Fellows’ involvement depends on their particular circumstances. The only requirement, for Fellows, is the monthly conversations with mentors.
That said, there are lots of opportunities for broader engagement on the part of Fellows: planning panels, talks, meet-ups, readings or other events; attending those events; sharing support and resources with the community; and doing whatever else they think would be useful and interesting.
Is any of the work paid? Is there a financial cost for anyone involved?
No one’s work is paid, and there is no financial cost. We’re a collective of writers who want to, and are able to, participate in this community. We like the idea of a low-key, informal, mutual-aid-style project that exists outside of institutions. Though some of us are affiliated with institutions such as universities or magazines, we don’t have outside funding or other institutional support for this project. It’s just us.
docs.google.com/document/d/1-0SRWxJqx4oNbWVmbq4j9JE5INhisz76--U63UbtncM/edit
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Forough Farrokhzad Folio
Kenyon Review
DEADLINE: October 31, 2023
READING FEE: $0
INFO: Poet, translator, and filmmaker Forough (or Forugh) Farrokhzad, often referred to as Forough, is a household Iranian name. Her inimitable work, known and loved intimately all over the world, has brought about many translations and transmutations. In celebration of her ninetieth birthday in December 2024, this winter issue folio will newly gather translations by multiple translators of her original Farsi poems (whose rights are in the public domain), alongside writing across genres about, for, and after Forough: essays, stories, poems, and hybrid writing engaging with her through various modes. The folio seeks to complicate rather than complete, to share unusual permutations and under-acknowledged histories. From criticism to personal history, imagined interactions to visual bursts, the prompt is as open as the poet’s distinctive force.
Guest edited by Kenyon Review Fellow Cindy Juyoung Ok.
GUIDELINES:
We consider previously unpublished:
poetry (up to 6 poems; please format and submit as a single document)
short fiction and essays (up to 7,500 words)
flash fiction and essays (up to 3 pieces, up to 1,000 words each; please format and submit as a single document)
plays (up to 30 pages double-spaced)
excerpts (up to 30 pages double-spaced) from larger works
Please submit translated work to its corresponding genre (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama). By submitting, you affirm that you hold first-serial English-language publication rights to the work or else that it falls in the public domain.
You may submit to more than one genre. However, please submit no more than one submission in a given genre (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama); multiple submissions in the same genre (including multiple submissions with different themes) will be disregarded.
We are not currently considering the following:
unsolicited interviews
unsolicited book reviews
unsolicited artwork
emailed submissions (please use Submittable)
previously published material
We consider submissions on Submittable and do not consider paper submissions, except from writers (such as those who are incarcerated) who do not have ready access to the internet. Paper submissions for the current submissions period must be postmarked by the current submission period’s deadline and must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Send hard copies to: SUBMISSIONS, The Kenyon Review, 102 W. Wiggin St., Gambier, OH 43022
We do not accept revisions to submissions once the submission period is closed. Do not send new drafts unless requested to do so by an editor.
We allow simultaneous submissions, but please notify us immediately if the work has been accepted elsewhere.
For prose and drama submissions, please withdraw your piece via Submittable.
For poetry and flash fiction/nonfiction submissions, please use your Submittable account to add a note to your submission listing the titles of works no longer available for consideration.
We cannot consider additional work in the place of withdrawn work.
We read every submission, and because we receive so many submissions per year, response times will vary according to the volume of submissions. We aim to respond to all submissions within six months of receipt. Feel free to query us at kenyonreview@kenyon.edu for an update if after six months of submitting work you do not hear from us. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Authors will receive a contract upon acceptance and payment upon publication. Authors retain copyright to their work published in The Kenyon Review.
Submitting work to The Kenyon Review adds you to our mailing lists. You may unsubscribe from these lists at any time.
Please be sure to add kenyonreview@kenyon.edu to contacts so that you can receive correspondence from us about your submission.
If you are unable to submit because you have not verified your email address with Submittable and have not received a verification notification, we recommend adding notifications@email.submittable.com to your safe-sender or contact list and attempting email verification again. The Submittable forms require email verification for security purposes. If you continue to experience issues, we recommend you submit a Submittable support request; the support team usually respond quite quickly and can send you your individual verification link directly.
COMPENSATION: We pay $0.08 per published word of prose (minimum $80, maximum $450) and $0.16 per published word of poetry (minimum $40, maximum $200).
We generally follow the Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s latest New Collegiate Dictionary.
kenyonreview.org/submit/special-calls-for-submissions/
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CALL FOR FICTION SUBMISSIONS
The Offing
DEADLINE: October 31, 2023
SUBMISSION FEE: $0
INFO: The Offing is open for fiction submissions. In your cover letter, we encourage you to include information that you would like us to know, such as whether, if we choose to publish it, this submission will be your first publication.
Just a few additional things:
Upon publication, contributors will be paid a $25–$100 fee, depending on department and number/length of works published.
All pieces should be original, and previously unpublished in any format in English.
We acquire first serial rights worldwide in English and non-exclusive anthology rights.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please be sure to withdraw your piece promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere.
Please don't send more than one submission per department; wait until your work is accepted or declined before submitting again.
Please direct all inquiries and comments to info@theoffingmag.com.
Our Fiction department is happy to consider excerpts from novels and short story collections, especially from small presses. If you have something you would like considered, email excerpts as a Word .doc to mary@theoffingmag.com. Please note that we currently don't have a budget to pay for excerpts, but we do want to help bring readers to books that might otherwise get overlooked.
We'll do our utmost to respond within six months, but due to the volume of submissions we receive, and the careful & collaborative nature of our review process, that may not always be possible. Thank you for your patience.
theoffingmag.submittable.com/submit
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African Writing: A Partial Cartography of Provocations
Michigan Quarterly Review
DEADLINE: October 31, 2023
INFO: This special issue focuses on the creative outputs by Africans from as many parts of the continent and direct diaspora as we can curate. Every few years, an anthology of African writing appears and attempts a representation that always collapses under the sheer expanse of that continent and then disappears. Our aim with this special issue is not to collect around a specific theme or historical moment, but to curate a series of engagements and provocations from all over the continent and its direct diaspora. We want to keep the door of engagement open for the creatives who end up in this issue such that opportunities for continued interactions and engagement arise.
We seek all points of view—reclamation, disruption, speculation, criticism, experimental and more traditional approaches, creative scholarship, queer, immigrant, multi-lingual pieces; in other words: no limits. We impose no ideologies or fixed approaches but would like work from less visible literatures—Hausa literatures, for example. If you receive this call and email and/or internet access is a problem, we can offer you other methods of submitting.
This issue will be published in April of 2024.
GUIDELINES: Maximum length for articles, essays and works of fiction is 7,000 words. Poetry submissions must not exceed 10 pages (or comparable length for other genres). All work should be formatted such that it can be printed on 6” x 9” pages. Incorporation of graphics is permitted; however, we cannot guarantee that any work will be printed in color.
GUEST EDITOR: Chris Abani
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Call for Submissions: Black Appalachia: Past, Present, and Future
Callaloo
DEADLINE: October 31, 2023
INFO: Callaloo: A Journal of African Diaspora Arts invites submissions for a special issue on being Black and Appalachian, guest edited by Crystal Wilkinson (University of Kentucky). This issue invites essays, critical articles, fiction, poetry, interviews, drama, and visual art. We seek work that speaks to all facets of the Black Appalachian/Black Rural experience—present, historical, and future. This call for submissions does not seek to define Appalachia simply in terms of geography but hopes to include a variety of writers in a variety of genres and disciplines who expand the notion and reality of what it means to be Black and Appalachian. Potential topics and approaches include but are not limited to:
Aesthetics and form in Black literature of Appalachia
Black artists and writers in Appalachia
Historical perspectives of Black Appalachia
Black music in Appalachia
Teaching Black literature and culture in Appalachia
Digital and/or archival work on Black culture and literature in Appalachia
Living in Appalachia as Black people
Black children’s literature in Appalachia
Black Art, photography, and other visual studies in Appalachia
Black futures in Appalachia
The rural landscape and Black Appalachians
Black Appalachian foodways
The Affrilachian Poets
Black farmers in Appalachia
In addition, work might address one of the following: What does it mean to be Black and living in Appalachia now? In the past? What is Affrilachia? The visibility of Black people in Appalachia; Politics and the Black Appalachian experience; etc.
Submissions must be sent via our submission management system here. Please indicate that your submission is for the Black Appalachia special issue in your cover letter.
callalooliteraryjournal.com/submission-guidelines
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2024 COMMONWEALTH SHORT STORY PRIZE
Commonwealth Foundation
DEADLINE: November 1, 2023
INFO: The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words).
Submissions should be made via the online entry form listed on this page. The eligibility and entry guidelines can be found here.
An international judging panel of writers will select a shortlist of around twenty stories, from which five regional winners are chosen. One of the regional winners is then selected as the overall winner, who receives £5,000. All winning and shortlisted stories will be published online.
FAQs:
Who is eligible to submit?
The prize is open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and over – please see the full list of Commonwealth countries here.
What do the winning writers receive?
The regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives a total of £5,000. The winning stories are published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink. The shortlisted stories are published in adda, the online literary magazine of the Commonwealth Foundation.
What is the word limit?
The story must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Is there any required theme or genre?
The prize is only open to short fiction, but it can be in any fiction genre–science fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction, crime, romance, literary fiction–and you may write about any subject you wish.
In what languages do you accept entries?
Submissions are accepted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, English, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish. Stories that have been translated into English from any language are also accepted and the translator of any winning story receives additional prize money.
Can the story be published?
Your submission must be unpublished in any print or online publication, with the exception of personal websites.
How is the prize judged?
Entries are initially assessed by a team of readers and a longlist of 200 entries is put before the international judging panel, comprising a chair and five judges, one from each of the Commonwealth regions – Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. All judges read entries from all regions.
Entries in other languages are assessed by relevant language readers and the best submissions are selected for translation into English to be considered for inclusion on the longlist.
The judging panel select a shortlist of around twenty stories, from which five regional winners are chosen, one of which is chosen as the overall winner.
For any inquiries regarding the prize, please email: creatives@commonwealthfoundation.com
commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-prize/
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Developmental Editing Fellowship for Emerging Writers
The Kenyon Review
DEADLINE: November 1, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $18 (if this fee poses a hardship, please contact us at kenyonreview@kenyon.edu)
INFO: The Kenyon Review Developmental Editing Fellowship for Emerging Writers is designed to nurture and develop new voices in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The fellowship will provide support for emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent, promise, and commitment to their chosen craft. Participation in the program involves one-on-one mentorship by an experienced editor on the KR team over a period of four months. Fellows can expect to have monthly hour-long conversations with a Developmental Editor, who will provide feedback and suggestions on a book draft.
ELIBILITY:
Applicants must be twenty-one years of age or older.
This fellowship opportunity is open to any writer who is not currently enrolled in a degree-granting creative writing program.
Applicants should not have published a full-length literary book with a major publisher, university press, or other established press, or be under contract for a book. Published work in literary magazines or journals is acceptable.
Writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing industry are especially encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION:
Submissions must include:
a project description (max 500 words). Please note any challenges or particular areas of concern within the work.
a poetry or prose writing sample of the project. The writing sample should be 10–15 pages (double spaced for fiction and nonfiction).
a recent copy of your CV.
All fee-paying applicants are invited to claim a complimentary half-year Print plus Digital subscription toThe Kenyon Review (for domestic addresses) or a half-year digital subscription (for international addresses) through November 15, 2023.
SELECTION PROCESS: Our Developmental Editors (members of the KR editorial team) will review the applications and select the Fellows they will work with. They will reach out to the Fellow and arrange for an initial conversation by phone or Zoom. Fellows and Developmental Editors will collaborate on a work plan, establish goals, and determine deadlines and a schedule for monthly hour-long conversations. Over the course of four months, they will meet by phone or Zoom to discuss the progress of the writing project. Winners will be announced in early 2024.
FAQ:
What is a developmental editing fellowship?
Writers may use these months to work with editors to expand and revise their work. Our Developmental Editors will review and select the writers they will work with. They will reach out to the writer and arrange for an initial conversation by phone or Zoom. Writers and Developmental Editors will collaborate on a work plan, establish goals and determine deadlines and a schedule for monthly hour-long conversations. Over the course of four months they will meet by phone or Zoom to discuss the progress of the writing project.
So the fellowship is to learn developmental editing?
No, the fellowship is meant to support emerging writers with developmental editing as they expand and revise a current writing project.
How often will writers communicate with the editor?
Fellows can expect to have monthly hour-long conversations by phone or Zoom with an Editor who will provide feedback and suggestions on the draft.
How long does the fellowship last?
Four months.
When will the developmental internship run?
February to April.
kenyonreview.org/fellowship/developmental-editing-fellowship/
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LITERATURE GRANT
Café Royal Cultural Foundation
DEADLINE: November 6, 2023 at 9:00 am ET (or when they reach their limit of 40 applications, which ever comes first).
INFO: Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC will award a writing grant to authors of fiction / creative nonfiction, poetry and playwriting.
AWARD: Up to $10,000.00
ELIGIBILITY:
Authors in fiction / creative non-fiction, poetry and playwriting.
The applicant must be the originator of the written material.
Grants will not be made for the purpose of research only.
Grants will not be made for equipment.
Writers applying must be a current resident of New York City and have lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.
Grants awarded in this category may fund costs associated with continuing the composition of work submitted. Such as:
Course Reduction (if you're a Teacher/Professor)
Salary Replacement
Living Expenses
Research Expenses
Travel Research Expenses
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Up to and no more than a 15 page PDF of the work, for the Café Royal Cultural Foundation Selection and Executive Committee to download and read. Please make sure your links are correct and not password protected. If they are not correct or have password protection your application will be declined and not reviewed by the Selection Committee.
A short description of the project.
A short author biography of the person(s) involved.
Budget must not exceed the amount of $10,000.00.
List of costs of how you plan to use the grant funds.
(Please review our lists of Approved and Ineligible Budget Items for Literature Grant Funds, located below)
Travel and Research costs within the United States must demonstrate a direct correlation to the project for which you are applying.
You may not apply for International Travel and Research Costs.
If you are hiring fact checkers / editors / research assistants please be aware that we prefer that individuals providing these services are located in the NYC area.
Writers applying must be a current resident of New York City and have lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.
We ask that the completion of your manuscript is no sooner than 90 days after this application's due date and no later than 12 months after your grant’s award date.
Applicants can only apply with the same project twice.
You may apply in a different cycle with a different project.