MQR MIXTAPE: SWANA INSOMNIA
Michigan Quarterly Review
DEADLINE: November 5, 2025
ENTRY FEE: $3
INFO: In the words of the Sufi mystic and poet Hayyuna, an individual with “a state of closeness [with the Beloved] cannot sleep, and experiences moments of profound sorrow.”
Hayunna lived in the port town of al-Ubulla, in present-day Iraq. There, she taught and influenced the famous Rabia of Basra, who learned to situate sleeplessness on a well-defined spiritual path to divine Love – a far cry from insomnia’s clinicalization in the West. Sleeplessness is deeply rooted in various SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) cultures and cosmogonies: as a sign of spiritual fortitude; in figures like Abdel Halim Hafez’s sawwah, or night wanderer; in late nights spent gossiping over coffee and cigarettes; and in diasporic transcendence of local time to stay in tune with family and beloveds experiencing war and occupation time zones away.
For this issue of MQR Mixtape, I am seeking poems, essays, short fiction, visual, and sound pieces from artists of the SWANA region and its diasporas engaging with insomnia as a site of “holiness, estrangement, and resistance,” as Egyptian choreographer and visual artist Doa Aly puts it. Map the topographies of your sleepless state, its cultural, political, psychological, and somatic dimensions. Send your stories of endurance and exhaustion, your waking dreams, your late-hour longings, griefs, and epiphanies. I am just as interested in works where sleeplessness is an ambient occurrence as those featuring it as the main event.
EDITOR: Noor Al-Samarrai
GUIDELINES:
For this particular issue, please submit:
Poetry (up to three poems)
Prose (up to 4,000 words) Short fiction, Non-fiction essays, Hybrid works
Visual art/photography (up to five works; if sculpture please provide multiple angles)
Video (up to 20 minutes)
Sound/audio works (up to 15 minutes)
Hybrid works (up to three pages) Comics, collages, collaborations, choreographic and performance scores, archival materials, letters, etc.
Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted by another publication. Please send only one submission per window; subsequent submissions will be rejected automatically.
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OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature
Bocas Lit
DEADLINE: November 7, 2025
INFO: The OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature is an annual award for literary books by Caribbean writers, first presented in 2011. Books are judged in three categories: poetry; fiction — both novels and collections of short stories; and literary nonfiction — including books of essays, biography and autobiography, history, current affairs, travel, and other genres, which demonstrate literary qualities and use literary techniques, regardless of subject matter.
There is a panel of three judges for each genre category, who determine category shortlists and winners.
The three category winners are then judged by a panel of four judges — consisting of the chairs of the category panels and the prize chair — who determine the overall winner.
The author of the book judged the overall winner will receive an award of US$10,000. The other category winners will receive US$3,000
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WINTER RESIDENCY 2026
Velvetpark Media (Brooklyn, NY)
DEADLINE: November 9, 2025 by 11:59pm EST
APPLICATION FEE: $25
INFO: Velvetpark Residency is a project based live-work studio, awarded through a selection process by open application. It is open to LGBTQ+ writers and visual artists to complete a proposed project. Applicants from across the United States are welcome to apply, however, must have a primary residence.
The studio will be awarded bi-yearly, and will alternate between writers Winter/Spring, and visual artists Summer/Fall respectively. This schedule will continue to alternate into the ensuing years.
Velvetpark‘s Residency award is open for for an artists, writers, creators age eighteen and above, who are not enrolled in an academic program. The residency is for a 6 month term, as indicated in application form.
The VP Residency is housed within Crown Studios, an artist building on a floor of eleven working arts professionals in the Crown and Prospect Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York.
For almost two decades Velvetpark has recognized queer people in the arts, academia and activism, by featuring stories on, by, or about these individuals in the pages of the print magazine and online. It is in the same spirit that our residency program has been launched and expanded to include imaginative and enterprising LGBT+ creators, who need space to support and cultivate their work.
RESIDENCY DATES:
Please note that we will be awarding TWO 3 month terms for our writer residency this year!
Term 1: January 5th – March 30th 2026*
Term 2: April 3rd – June 28th 2026*
*Dates are subject to change.
CHECKLIST:
100 – 250 word, project proposal
– additional .pdf, docx, .doc, .jpg files and supporting materials accepted (limited to 10 mb in size)
Project Outline:
– Provide a detailed outline of what you expect to complete within your 3 month term.
Writers — Work Samples
– Poets, submit up to 15 – 20 pages of poetry
– Prose, 25 – 30 pages of prose
– screenplay/play script, provide 1 – 2 completed works
– additional works accepted via url, to online portfolio or published works
CV/Resume
– should reflect your artistic/creative accomplishments
2 references
– 1 professional reference, who can speak about your work and
– 1 personal reference, who can speak about you personally, your work ethic, values, and any other pertinent information about you.
– provide names and contact; phone/email of these individuals (letters not required).
– finalists’ references will be contacted by selection committee to speak about you.
velvetparkmedia.com/residency/
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call for submissions
Literary Lit
DEADLINE: November 10, 2025
READING FEE: $2
INFO: We are looking for high-quality fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and essays that will leave a lasting impression on our intelligent readers. We look for work that touches upon the topics of femininity, womanhood, identity, empowerment, and/or pop culture.
These topics are nuanced, and we want to showcase their complexity. Whether your writing is funny, thought-provoking, or serious, please make sure it's the very best you can make it.
We do not accept any submissions generated by artificial intelligence. By submitting, you certify that your work is entirely your own.
HOW TO SUBMIT: You can submit through Duosuma during our regular reading periods. We charge a reading fee of $2.00 for each submission. Please include a bio and/or cover letter.
COMPENSATION: If you’re selected, we pay $25.00 for each fiction and nonfiction piece and $10.00 for each poem. As our magazine grows, our payments will, too.
literallylitmag.com/submissions
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call for pitches + submissions: land
The Land, Food, and Freedom Journal
DEADLINE: November 14, 2025
INFO: Freedom begins with land. Our ability to grow food, build shelter, raise children, gather, grieve, and organize, all of it starts with land. Without access to and a sustainable relationship with land, our visions for liberation remain incomplete.
For generations, Black communities have been pushed off land, denied land, or forced to treat it like a commodity to survive. But that’s never been our full story. Across the diaspora, we’ve also preserved traditions of rematriation, care, and collective stewardship. We’ve fought for land not to own it but to live on it, to live with it, and to protect it for future generations.
The next issue is rooted in the belief that land is not property. It’s relationship. It’s memory. It’s responsibility. The land remembers us. It holds the stories of our people, those who tilled it, defended it, escaped across it, and returned home to it.
Topics that could be explored:
Land rematriation efforts and ancestral returns
Black and Indigenous solidarity efforts around land
Modes of shared or collective land stewardship
Land as a site of political education and resistance
Ritual, memory, and the spiritual dimensions of land
Climate resilience, land defense, and disaster recovery led by Black communities
Cultural and family histories tied to land loss and land return
Alternatives to private ownership
Creative expressions about displacement, place, and homecoming
Land-based organizing as a strategy for Black sovereignty
What land and safety means under the rise of fascist authoritarianism
Debates of land frameworks, ideologies, or language, such as “land as wealth.”
landfoodfreedom.com/contribute
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Call for Submissions: Festive Anthology Vol. IV
Brittle Paper
DEADLINE: November 14, 2025
INFO: Brittle Paper is excited to announce the 2025 submission call for our annual festive anthology!
This year, we are celebrating the stories of those who spend the holidays away from ‘home.’ Whether you’re in a new home, studying abroad, going on vacation, or a diasporic building a new life, any festive season brings up a range of emotions. Sometimes it’s longing and grief, sometimes it’s joy and awe, and sometimes it’s a combination of it all. With this festive anthology, we wish to capture as many of those experiences as possible through poetry, short stories, and essays.
Brittle Paper is a space for Africa’s stories, whether it be on the continent or in the diasporic communities all over the world. This year, we want to celebrate and highlight our diasporic community, as well as those who have experienced the holidays away from home. Whether it’s a religious holiday, a traditional and cultural moment, a wedding, a birthday, or an important milestone, these are all moments that feel different when away from our home, country, family, and continent. And these are the experiences we would love to share with our readers!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Submissions that do not adhere to the guidelines may not be reviewed
Email your submission to submissions@brittlepaper.com.
Email subject heading: “Festive Anthology Submission”
Include an author picture and biography.
Each submission needs to consist of only one piece of original and unpublished work, but simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Submissions need to be in Word format.
Poetry submission word limit: 500 words
Non/Fiction and Essay submission word limit: 3500 words
Selection process will take place after the deadline.
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IN-A-YEAR BOOK PROGRAMS
Storystudio Chicago
DEADLINE: November 14, 2025
INFO: Becoming an advanced writer takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and our “In A Year” programs are designed to help you cross the finish line… and get published.
Rebecca Makkai, StoryStudio Chicago’s Artistic Director, created Novel In A Year in 2012. The goal was to found a yearlong writing program to build community, teach the craft and business of writing, and help writers get their books into the world. Now, more than a decade later, StoryStudio also offers the program for Memoirs, Essay Collections, and Short Story Collections.
Our In A Year (IAY) programs rotate yearly. Check each individual program page for start dates, application windows, and more details.
ADDITIONAL INFO: We didn’t design this program for you to write a full book in just one year. Rather, it’s a chance for you to dedicate a whole year to your book. Whether you have the first 50 pages, a full draft, or just an idea, we welcome you to apply to one of the below programs.
Please click on each instructor’s name below to read more about the specific IAY program you’re interested in.
PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS:
Novel in a Year: Revise and Launch with Abby Geni (online)
Novel in a Year: First Draft with Juan Martinez (online)
Novel in a Year: First Draft with Sheree L. Greer (online)
Short Story Collection in a Year with Cyn Vargas (online)
Novel in a Year: Young Adult & Middle Grade with James Klise (online)
All of our In a Year programs offer the unique opportunity to join a writing cohort, study craft, workshop key scenes, measure your progress, meet deadlines, and give and get support for the long slog from plotting to composition and beyond. Writers come to us with and without advanced degrees or a background in creative writing; we welcome writers of all levels to apply.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Students will meet in the Studio, or virtually, monthly for three-hour sessions to discuss craft, solve drafting challenges, workshop scenes, and share some snacks and beverages. In between class sessions you’ll have plenty of time to write and generate new work while still staying in touch via StoryStudio’s private online class forum.
We’ve structured this program to provide maximum benefit without demanding too much time away from focusing on your own work. In addition to workshopping short scenes in class, participants will meet individually with your instructor for 100-page manuscript reviews. (Revise & Launch is a full-manuscript review).
With the complimentary passes to our Master Classes, writers are encouraged to attend these “booster shot” craft lessons with their classmates as supplemental learning from acclaimed authors.
Finally, with the private online forum, additional work can be exchanged and workshopped outside of the scheduled class meetings. Many writers use the space to arrange coffee meet-ups, plan literary outings at local bookstores, and discuss articles and books.
The In a Year program has been going strong for over 10 years, and you will have the opportunity to benefit socially and professionally from a strong network of alumni, many of whom are experiencing publishing success.
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Call for pitches: 2026 Food Issue
Oxford American
DEADLINE: November 15, 2025
INFO: The Oxford American is now accepting pitches for our Spring 2026 Food Issue. With this issue, we hope to survey the ways in which food holds a legacy, crosses a border, or creates a connection.
We’re looking for original, narrative-driven stories that explore the Southern food landscape in all its complexity—whether through cultural criticism, reported features, or profiles.
More specifically, we’re looking for:
Reported features on food systems, sustainability, or labor
Profiles of food innovators, activists, or unsung culinary heroes
Deep dives into the history or politics of a dish, ingredient, or culinary tradition
Personal essays that use food as a lens to explore identity, culture, family, or place
Thoughtful critiques or trend pieces
Pitches can be sent to submissions@oxfordamerican.org and should include:
A clear and concise explanation of the story
A plan to make your story a great read (is there an interesting figure at the center? A narrative arc to the story?)
A very short argument for why this story is interesting, unique, and needs to exist
A note on why you should be the person to write it
A plan to make it happen
oxfordamerican.org/submissions
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Community Uplift Scholarships
Unicorn Authors Club
DEADLINE: November 15, 2025
INFO: Are you ready to join a BIPOC-centered community of authors and coaches and devote 2026 to writing your book? If so, we’re happy to share that we have three full scholarships available to support four months of membership in the Unicorn Authors Club.
Our three Community Uplift Scholarships are intended to support writers who are in one or more of the following communities:
Those directly affected by recent and ongoing fires and climate change;
Writers impacted by recent government cuts to funding;
Trans writers;
Gazan writers and writers whose work responds directly to events in Gaza.
These scholarships are for writers working on any kind of project that they are dedicated to (from romance, to memoir, to poetry collection, and beyond), as long as it is aligned with Unicorn values.
Unicorn Authors Club is a BIPOC-centered space, and we always prioritise BIPOC writers in these spaces and scholarships.
Scholarships are applicable only for a four-month term beginning in March 2026.
BENEFITS:
As a scholarship recipient, you will have access to all of our Unicorn Authors Club benefits at no cost, including:
Individual coaching from our experienced team on your manuscript and building a writing practice that works for you.
Magical co-writing spaces with like-minded authors.
Craft talks and tools to stimulate your storytelling.
Group coaching to hash out problems.
Custom writing prompts.
A supportive, welcoming space with fellow authors and accomplished mentors.
Our application is not used to judge your writing—it is simply to ensure that our program aligns with your writing needs at this stage. Don’t overthink it! We are excited to hear from you.
Questions? We will be holding a Zoom info session on November 6 at 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern.
unicornauthors.club/scholarships/
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“Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women Writers
Trillium Arts
DEADLINE: November 19, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: The “Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women Writers aims to provide Black women writers a restful environment conducive to reflection and writing. It also offers uninterrupted, independent time to plant the seed of an idea for a new writing project or to develop or complete a project underway.
For 2026 the Fellowship will focus on the genre of Fiction.
The selected writer will receive a ten-day solo residency in July 2026 and can choose whether to stay at Trillium Arts’ rural "Firefly Creek" apartment in Mars Hills, NC or at E. Patrick Johnson and Stephen Lewis’ “Montford Manor” residence near downtown Asheville, NC.
Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend and transportation to and from Asheville, NC. Additional benefits will be custom tailored to the needs of the awardee.
DATES: The preferred dates for a “Miss Sarah” Fellowship in 2026 are July 10-20. However, the panel will consider other dates.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Black women writers at any stage of their careers are invited to apply. For applicants outside of the United States, please note that travel expenses will only be covered within the United States. International airfare and visa will be at the expense of the applicant.
TIMELINE: Applications will be reviewed by a panel and applicants will be notified by April 1, 2026.
ABOUT “MISS SARAH”: Sarah M. Johnson was born on July 10, 1931 in Cleveland County, NC. In 1948, she moved to and settled in Hickory, NC, where she believed there would be greater job opportunities. Like many southern Black women of her generation, Sarah made a living as a domestic and factory worker, cleaning the homes of two prominent white families while simultaneously working as an employee of Hickory Springs Manufacturing.
A single mother of seven, including Trillium Arts Board member E. Patrick Johnson, whom she raised in a one-bedroom apartment in the Ridgeview community, where the majority of Black folks lived in Hickory, Sarah worked tirelessly to provide for each of her children. People throughout Hickory affectionately called her “Miss Sarah” due to her generous spirit and gifts as an extraordinary baker, and her desserts graced the tables of people far and wide. She rarely met a stranger. She was also well-known for her community activism as a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)-Hickory Branch. Sarah was honored as the Hickory Branch of the NAACP “Mother of the Year” in 1986 and was also crowned North Carolina state “Mother of the Year” in the same year.
What better way to honor "Miss Sarah" than to offer a fellowship that embodies her creativity and commitment to social justice? She passed away on July 17, 2019 at the age of 88.
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Call for Submissions: Issue II
UbuntuHarlem Magazine
DEADLINE: November 20, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
INFO: Ubuntu Magazine is a digital magazine highlighting the voices of Harlem’s youth (14–25) through the celebration of our stories and lived experiences, revealing the heartbeat of our community.
Theme for Issue II: Harlem’s ARTivism: Youth in Resistance
As New York City enters a charged political moment with the upcoming mayoral election, Harlem stands once again at the crossroads of art and resistance. This issue explores the power of art as activism = ARTivism, using creativity to confront injustice, spark dialogue, and build community. This issue will be published post-mayoral election results, so Issue II will be focused on how art can be political as a whole in our community and submissions don't need to be solely about the election.
We’re calling for visual and written submissions, including photography, drawings, interviews, poetry, essays, digital art, and more. DM us on Instagram or email ubuntumagazineharlem@gmail.com if you’d like to ask about submitting something outside the box; we love creative risks.
Submit for a chance to be part of the next issue of UbuntuHarlem Magazine.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerhmr-goFQcsKQeTKsTGN4PrsGjHOXxOTXus26jnjrbcAgHg/viewform
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Accent Sisters Work-Study Fellowship Program
Accent Sister (NYC)
DEADLINE: November 26, 2025
INFO: Accent Sisters is excited to offer a fellowship program for individuals passionate about literature, visual arts, and community engagement. The fellowship provides hands-on experience in a bookstore and a hybrid event space, where exhibitions, book launches, film screenings, educational programs, and other forms of public programming take place.
This work-study fellowship is ideal for someone looking to build a career in cultural institutions, independent bookstores, or art galleries. Fellows will work closely with both the bookstore and gallery teams, gaining skills in book curation, exhibit planning, marketing, and community outreach, while developing a personal project that merges these disciplines.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to upcoming senior, upcoming second year graduate students, and recent graduates of undergraduate/graduate programs.
WHAT YOU WILL GET:
Opportunities to work closely with some of the best writers, artists, and creators;
A chance to pitch projects, events, and develop programs for a thriving and diverse community;
Be part of the most exciting happenings in New York’s art and cultural scene;
Free passes to attend all in-person events and classes held at Accent Sisters;
Fellow discounts to purchase products at Accent Sisters;
Towards the end of the fellowship, we will work with you to develop a special showcase of your personal project and/or your work at Accent Sisters.
One-on-one mentorship with Accent team;
A stipend of $600 dollars.
FELLOWSHIP:
Hybrid; Part-time; 3 days/week; on-site work required
Stipend: $600 (paid in two installments)
Location: 89 5th Ave Suite 702, New York, NY 10003
Duration: December 10, 2025 - April 20, 2026
accentaccent.com/FellowshipSpring2026
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Tiny Grant 2026
Tiny Grant
DEADLINE: November 28, 2025
INFO: The Tiny Grant offers a minimum of $2,000 and up to $3,000 to emerging artists based in NYC. The program kicks off at the start of 2026 and runs through the end of June.
WHO WE ARE:
Lily and Lucy have been close friends since the first week of college. Both of us are immigrants with a deep love for art. Here’s a bit more about us:
Lily
I’m a visual artist specializing in drawing and painting. I enjoy exploring museums and galleries, and have painted several murals. Professionally I am a UX Program Manager at a tech company, focused on strategy and operations for designers and researchers.
Lucy
I have a lifelong passion for the performing arts. I am a classically trained pianist and ballerina, having started my journey at the age of three. In recent years, I have expanded into various other dance styles and am now also exploring stand-up comedy. Professionally, I am a general partner at a venture fund, focusing on early stage investments in advanced technical and scientific innovations.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS:
Our shared love for art drives us to support emerging artists. As immigrants, we understand the challenges of navigating a new environment with limited resources and support. That’s why we are passionate about helping up-and-coming artists, providing the support they need to grow in their careers.
We ran the first ever pilot of Tiny Grant from January to June 2025, selecting six artists and learning with them along the way. It was an incredibly inspiring experience for us. We are excited to continue building this program and offer the program again this year. Check out the Tiny Grant Salon we hosted with our inaugural cohort in May 2025 here.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We aim to award grants to 6-8 artists based in New York City who are in the greatest need of support and whose artistic visions resonate with us. We welcome applications from artists in any creative field, including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, design, and others. The specific grant amount will be determined based on the number of artists selected to receive the grant this year.
This opportunity is especially suited for artists looking to pursue a full-time career. We encourage you to apply if you believe this grant could make a meaningful impact on your artistic journey.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
The 2026 program will run for six months (January to June). Grantees will receive the full grant amount at the start of the program, with two check-ins with us every two months. The program will culminate in a gathering and celebration with all grantees and a small group of friends.
APPROXIMATE TIMELINE:
Submission Deadline: November 28, 2025 11:59pm EST
Selection & Review: November 29 – December 7, 2025
Interviews: December 8 – December 14, 2025
Notification of Decisions: December 17, 2025
Acceptance of Grant by Artist: December 21, 2025
Disbursement: January 1, 2026
First Check-in: March 2026
Second Check-in: May 2026
Program Ends: June 30, 2026
Tiny Grant Salon: TBD (May - June 2026)
QUESTIONS: info@tinygrant.org
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2026 KWELI FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Kweli Journal
DEADLINE: November 30, 2025 by 11:59pm 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 10-month writing fellowships.
ELIGIBILITY:
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, Arab, AAPI, and/or Latine.
Writers who have NOT yet contracted to publish a book are invited to apply.
Three (or more) 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 small 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;
VIRTUAL writing retreat.
Only new 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::
Submissions for the Fellowships close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 30, 2025.
Successful applicants will be informed by early January 2026.
The fellowship period will be February 9, 2026 – November 9, 2026.
PROCEDURE: Applications must be submitted through the Fellowship category in Submittable. 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.
kwelijournal.submittable.com/submit
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Quill (Queer) Prose Award
Red Hen Press
DEADLINE: November 30, 2025
ENTRY FEE: $10
INFO: Founded in 2015 by Tobi Harper Petrie of Red Hen Press, Quill seeks to publish quality literature by queer writers. The Quill Prose Award is for a work of previously unpublished (including self-published works) prose with a minimum of 150 pages by a queer (LGBTQIA+) writer.
The awarded manuscript is selected through an annual submission process, which is open to all authors.
JUDGE: The final judge for 2025 is Andrew Lam.
AWARD: $1000 and publication of the awarded manuscript by Red Hen Press.
Title on cover sheet only, with a 150-page minimum.
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
The award is open to all writers with the following exceptions:
Authors who have had a full-length work published by Red Hen Press, or a full-length work currently under consideration by Red Hen Press;
Employees, interns, or contractors of Red Hen Press;
Relatives of employees or members of the executive board of directors;
Relatives or individuals having a personal or professional relationship with any of the final judges where they have taken any part whatsoever in shaping the manuscript, or where, for whatever reason, selecting a particular manuscript might have the appearance of impropriety.
PROCEDURES + ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
To be certain that every manuscript finalist receives the fairest evaluation, all manuscripts shall be submitted to the judges without any identifying material. Bios, acknowledgments, and other identifying material shall be removed from judged manuscripts until the conclusion of the competition.
Please remove all names, bios, acknowledgments, and other identifying material from the submitted manuscript, and include only your name, contact information, and a short biographical statement in the cover letter field of Submittable.
Quill of Red Hen Press is committed to maintaining the utmost integrity of our awards. Judges shall recuse themselves from considering any manuscript where they recognize the work. In the event of recusal, a manuscript score previously assigned by the managing editor of the press will be substituted.
redhenpress.submittable.com/submit/59201/quill-queer-prose-award
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2026 McKnight Fellowships for Writers (Poetry, Spoken Word, Picture Books)
Loft Literary Center
DEADLINE: November 30, 2025 by 11:59pm CT
INFO: The Loft Literary Center is pleased to announce the 2026 McKnight Fellowships for Writers, made possible by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation.
The McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship disciplines include: Printmaking (Highpoint Center), Book Arts (MCBA), Fiber Arts (Textile Center), Choreographers and Dancers (Cowles Center), Media Artists (FilmNorth), Visual Artists (MCAD), Ceramics (Northern Clay Center), Composers (American Composers Forum), Musicians (MacPhail Center), Writers (Loft Literary Center), Playwrights (Playwrights’ Center), Theater Artists (Playwrights’ Center), Culture Bearers (Indigenous Roots), and Community-Engaged Artists (Pillsbury House).
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: The intent of the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearers Fellowships program is to recognize and support artists and culture bearers who are beyond emerging and have sustained experience in their area of practice. Fellows demonstrate achievement, commitment, and high level proficiency in artistic and/or culture bearer practice that contributes to their field and impacts and benefits people in Minnesota.
The McKnight Fellowships for Writers provide Minnesota writers who are beyond emerging with an opportunity to work on their craft for a concentrated period of time.
One $25,000 fellowship is awarded each year in children’s literature, including poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. This year’s award is offered to a writer for children under 8 years of age.
Four $25,000 fellowships are offered in alternating years to writers of creative prose and poetry/spoken word. The 2024 year cycle is in poetry/spoken word.
There will be four awards for poetry/spoken word.
In addition to the award money, fellows are offered a variety of professional development opportunities, including an opportunity to participate in a fully-funded artist residency through a partnership with the Artist Communities Alliance.
These fellowships do not support the work of playwriting, journalism, or nonfiction that is written primarily for educational or technical use.
JUDGING FOR THE MCKNIGHT FELLOWSHIPS FOR WRITERS: Prominent writers and editors living outside of Minnesota serve as the judges. There are no screening judges. All manuscripts are judged anonymously.
Due to the number of entries received, it is not possible for the judges to make individual comments on the manuscripts.
ELIGIBILITY:
General Requirements
Applicants must have been legal residents of Minnesota for the 12 months prior to the application deadline (since November 30, 2025) and must reside in Minnesota for the duration of the fellowship.
Applicants may not be enrolled full-time in any academic program.
Applicants may apply for only one McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship per year. You may not apply for the Award in Poetry/Spoken Word and also apply for any other McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships, including the Award in Children’s Literature.
Recipients of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025 McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships in any discipline are not eligible to apply. Honorable mentions are eligible.
Loft and McKnight Foundation staff and board members are not eligible. Immediate family members of staff or board members of the Loft or McKnight Foundation are also not eligible.
If you have questions about your eligibility for the McKnight Fellowships for Writers, please email Cristeta Boarini, program manager of awards, at awards@loft.org before November 21, 2025. Please allow 3-5 days for a response as the volume of inquiries is high and the application deadline occurs over a federal holiday weekend.
Additional Requirements for the Awards in Poetry/Spoken Word
In addition to the general eligibility requirements, applicants must have either:
Published at least 12 original poems in no fewer than three literary journals or magazines that regularly feature poetry as part of their format. (Work published in an online journal that has an editorial process is eligible.) The same piece printed in a journal and in an anthology may only be counted once; applicants may not use multiple publications of the same work to meet the required number of pieces.
or
Published at least one full-length collection of poetry (page ranges for full-length poetry collections depend on the preferences of the publisher but generally are between 40 and 80 pages of poems).
or
Produced a full-length spoken word audiobook.
or
Produced a one person show with a presenting organization—the show must have been written by the applicant.
or
Written and performed spoken word/performance work, in contracted arrangements, for a minimum of three years, and with a minimum of eight performances with a minimum time slot of 15 minutes per performance. The three years do not have to be consecutive.
Work that is scheduled for publication/production between the contest deadline and April 1, 2026 may be included. In those cases, a letter from the press, editor, producer, community organizer, or curator stating the date of publication, release, or performance is required.
Additional Requirements for the Award in Children’s Literature: Writing for Children Under the Age of Eight
In addition to the general eligibility requirements, applicants must have:
Published a book for children under the age of eight, in any genre other than educational textbook material.
or
Published at least three pieces of original work in one or more publications that regularly feature creative work for children under the age of eight as part of their format. Work published in an online journal that has an editorial process is eligible. Work published in an anthology is eligible. The same piece printed in a journal and in an anthology may only be counted once; applicants may not use multiple publications of the same work to meet the three required pieces.
Work that is pending publication and will be published before April 1, 2026 is eligible. Please provide a letter from the editor or publisher with proof of publication.
Ineligible work in both awards:
Student-only publications and self-published books.
Work published on personal home pages or online sites that do not have an editorial process.
Work in a genre outside the category in which you are applying. (e.g., creative prose may not be used to meet the publication requirements for the Award in Poetry/Spoken Word and children's literature for children eight years of age and older may not be used to meet the publication requirements for the Award in Children's Literature: Writing for Children Under the Age of Eight).
A feature performance at a venue where the lineup is curated by the applicant.
Work that has previously won a McKnight Fellowship for Writers. If you are a previous winner, you must submit a manuscript different from the one for which you received the earlier award.
Translations.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Please prepare your writing/performance sample. Work samples may be published writing. All work samples must be anonymous. If your name appears as part of the manuscript text, omit it, use a pseudonym, or black it out so it is illegible. Do not include your name as part of the writing sample file name. Identifying information should only be included in the Submittable application form, which is concealed to the judge. Identifying information anywhere in the submitted files of your work sample will disqualify your submission.
You must apply through Submittable, and you will need to create a Submittable account if you do not already have one. If you have technical submission questions, please contact Submittable technical support at http://help.submittable.com/.
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Four Palaces Publishing Writing Residency
Four Palaces Publishing (Dallas, TX)
DEADLINE: November 30, 2025 by 11:59pm CST
INFO: The Four Palaces Publishing Writing Residency offers one week of uninterrupted time and space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers working in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry to focus on their craft in Dallas, Texas.
The residency includes a private hotel suite for one writer for seven days and six nights, a $100 per day meal credit for lunch and dinner (covered by Four Palaces Publishing), daily breakfast and two complimentary beer or wine vouchers provided by the hotel partner Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/Market Center, and a $1,000 honorarium inclusive of travel and per diem. Residents may also choose to participate in an optional paid public engagement such as a reading, artist talk, or mini workshop.
This residency is open to emerging and mid-career writers who are at least 18 years old and currently based in the United States. Applicants should identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+. Writers from all genres within fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are encouraged to apply, and we particularly welcome those who have not yet had the opportunity to attend a formal residency.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of writers and editors affiliated with Four Palaces Publishing. Selection will be based on artistic merit and strength of the writing sample, clarity and thoughtfulness of the project proposal, alignment with Four Palaces Publishing’s mission to amplify underrepresented voices, and the potential impact of the residency on the applicant’s creative growth.
Each application must include a short bio (150 words max), a project description (300 words max), a statement on how the applicant’s work aligns with Four Palaces Publishing’s mission (150 words max), and a writing sample of up to ten pages total in PDF or DOCX format. Poetry submissions may include up to five poems (ten pages maximum), and fiction or nonfiction submissions may include one piece or excerpt (ten pages maximum). Applicants should also complete all required form questions.
Selected writers will be notified by January 16, and the residency will take place in Spring 2026 (specific weeks to be confirmed). Four Palaces Publishing is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible residency experience. Applicants are encouraged to note any accessibility or accommodation needs in their submission.
Questions may be directed to frederick@fourpalaces.org. Updates and announcements will also be shared on Instagram at @fourpalaces
fourpalacespublishing.submittable.com/submit/329906/four-palaces-literary-2026-residency
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OPEN READING PERIOD: SHORT STORIES, FLASH FICTION, AND POETRY
Digging Press Journal
DEADLINE: November 30, 2025
SUBMISSION FEE: $0
INFO: Digging Press Journal is a literary and arts journal with a strong commitment to fostering experimentation and cultural inclusion.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
Short Story (751 – 2,500 words)
Poetry (three poems max.)
Flash Fiction (one piece – up to 750 words)
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Submitting to The Digging Press Journal is free. The age requirement is currently 18 and older.
Please submit to the Digging Press Journal only once per submission reading period (regardless of genre).
We only accept submissions through our submission form.
All pieces should be original, and previously unpublished in any format in English.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please be sure to withdraw your piece promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere by emailing editor@diggingpress.com.
Please don’t send more than one submission per genre; wait until your work is accepted or declined before submitting again.
We’ll do our best to respond by February 28, 2026 or sooner.
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Scholars-in-Residence Program Fellowship 2026-27
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Harlem)
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025
INFO: The Scholars-in-Residence Program at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture offers both long-term and short-term fellowships designed to support and encourage top-quality research and writing on the history, politics, literature, and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora, as well as to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary exchange among scholars and writers in residence at the Schomburg Center.
LONG-TERM FELLOSHIPS:
Long-term fellowships provide a $35,000 stipend to support postdoctoral scholars and independent researchers who work in residence at the Center for a continuous period of six months. The Scholars-in-Residence Program provides funding for six fellows each year. Selected fellows can choose to begin their term either in September or in January. Fellows are provided with individual office space and a computer, research assistance, and full access to the unparalleled resources of the Schomburg Center. In addition to pursuing their own research projects, fellows also engage in an ongoing interdisciplinary exchange of ideas, sharing their research with one another in a weekly work-in-progress seminar. While in residence, they are also exposed to the vibrant intellectual life of the Schomburg through its public exhibitions, panels, screenings, and events.
SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIPS:
Short-term fellowships are open to postdoctoral scholars, independent researchers, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets) who work in residence at the Center for a continuous period of one to three months. Short-term fellows receive a stipend of $3000 per month.
Both long-term and short-term fellowships are awarded for continuous periods in residence at the Schomburg Center. Fellows are expected to devote their full time to their research and writing. They are expected to work regularly at the Schomburg Center and to participate in the intellectual life of the Scholars-in-Residence Program. Fellows may not be employed during the period in residence, except on sabbaticals from their home institutions. Those selected as Scholars-in-Residence are encouraged to supplement their stipends with funding support from their home institutions or other non-residential fellowships or grants if the requisite approval is received from the Schomburg Center.
ELIGIBILITY:
The Scholars-in-Residence Program is intended for scholars and writers requiring extensive, on-site research with collections at the Schomburg Center, the pre-eminent repository for documentation on the history and cultures of peoples of African descent around the globe. Fellows are expected to be in full-time residency at the Center during the award period and to participate in scheduled seminars and colloquia. The Program is intended to support research in African diasporic studies undertaken from a humanistic perspective; projects in the social sciences, science and technology, psychology, education, and religion are eligible if they utilize a humanistic approach and contribute to humanistic knowledge.
Candidates who need to work primarily in the New York Public Library's other research libraries – the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, and the Science, Industry and Business Library – are not eligible for this fellowship, nor are people seeking funding for research leading directly to a degree. (Applications are accepted from current doctoral students, as long as they will defend their dissertation and graduate before starting the fellowship tenure.)
The long-term fellowship is only open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who have been resident in the United States for the three years immediately preceding the application deadline. Foreign nationals may apply for the short-term fellowship, but the New York Public Library is unable to sponsor visa applications.
Application Instructions
A complete application must include:
The Schomburg Center Scholars-in-Residence Application.
A 1500-word description of the proposed study.
Curriculum vitae (limit to 3 pages).
Names of references (long-term fellows must submit three recommendation letters; short-term fellows must submit a minimum of two letters). References will receive an e-mail instructing them how to upload their recommendations.
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY:
In no more than 1500 words the applicant should provide a detailed description of the proposed study, including but by no means restricted to the following elements:
A statement of the topic under consideration with specific reference to the major questions, problems, and theses being investigated.
An outline of the plan for carrying out the study or project.
Discussion of the sources in the Schomburg Center and other research units of The New York Public Library that the applicant plans to use for the study and plans for examining them.
Description of research methods.
Applicant's competence in the use of any foreign languages needed to complete the study.
The place of the study in the applicant's overall research and writing program.
The significance of the study for the applicant's field and for the humanities in general.
The final objective and expected outcomes of the project. Plans for publications, lectures, exhibitions, teaching, and other vehicles of dissemination should be detailed. Fellows will be expected to share and discuss their research and writing with other scholars-in-residence in the weekly work-in-progress seminar during their residency.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Applications for the Scholars-in-Residence Program will be reviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of five external reviewers, a rotating panel of accomplished scholars and writers with expertise across the fields of study covered by the fellowship. The Selection Committee is convened and chaired by the Director of the Scholars-in-Residence Program.
Fellows will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
Relationship of the project to the resources of the Schomburg Center.
Qualifications of the applicant.
Quality and feasibility of the project plan.
Importance of the proposed project to the applicant's field and to the humanities.
Relationship of the project to the humanities.
Likelihood that the project will be completed successfully.
The provisions for making the results of the project available to scholars and to the public at large.
Applicants selected for the Program will be notified by the end of March 2026.
nypl.org/about/fellowships-institutes/schomburg-center-scholars-in-residency/application
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The Margins Fellowship 2026
AAWW
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: The Asian American Writers’ Workshop is now accepting applications for the 2026 Margins Fellowship. Four emerging Asian American, Muslim, and Arab writers of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction based in New York City will receive $5,000, residency time at Millay Arts, mentorship, access to the AAWW writing space, and publication opportunities in our online magazine, The Margins.
We see this as a chance to support Asian diasporic writers, including South and Southeast Asian diasporic writers, Arab and West Asian writers, and Muslim writers of color more broadly. If you are a writer of color who identifies with these communities, please discuss this in your application.
The Margins is an award-winning online magazine of arts and ideas featuring new fiction and poetry, literary and cultural criticism, and interviews with writers and artists. We are 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.
We strongly encourage all applicants to read our FAQ before applying to determine whether or not they are eligible. The Margins fellowship is open to emerging Asian American, Muslim, and Arab creative writers who reside in New York City. Fellowship applicants may not be enrolled in any academic, conservatory, college, or degree granting training program during the fellowship term. To be considered you must apply through this Submittable form. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at msaleh@aaww.org.
Emerging writers of ALL AGES are eligible for the Margins Fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:
The Margins Fellowship is a year-long program. The 2024 fellowship year will run from January to December.
STIPEND: $5,000 honoraria, distributed in three parts over the fellowship year. Fellowship payment will require the completion of an IRS W-9 or W-8BEN form;
RESIDENCY: Fellows are awarded residency time at Millay Arts—an innovative seven-acre artists retreat space at the former house and gardens of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay in Austerlitz, NY;
WRITING SPACE: 24/7 access to AAWW’s space. Given that time and space to write are rare in New York, the Margins Fellows will be given keys to the AAWW Reading Room and workspace;
PUBLICATION: Fellows are invited to publish work on our online magazine, The Margins;
MENTORSHIP: In the second half of the fellowship term, fellows are paired with an established writer who will meet with fellows either in-person or virtually at minimum four times during and after the fellowship year. Previous mentors have included Monica Youn, Rick Barot, Alexander Chee, Susan Choi, Carmen Maria Machado, and many more.
CAREER BUILDING: Fellows are offered access to private career meet-ups and meetings with editors, agents, and fellow writers;
GUIDANCE: AAWW Programs Manager and Coordinator will meet with Fellows’ monthly throughout the fellowship year to discuss career goals and how AAWW can help meet them;
FINAL READING: Fellows will take to the stage with their mentors for a final celebratory reading at the culmination of the fellowship year;
aaww.submittable.com/submit/339937/the-margins-fellowship-2026
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2026 Arts Writing Incubator
Black Embodiments Studio
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025 by 11:59pm PST
INFO: How does a publishing practice enacted within the fascist state manifest itself? What conditions are needed for the circulation of (cultural) knowledges that disrupt and/or interrupt dominant bureaucratic narratives? What new tools do we need to cultivate as writers, editors or publishers responding to art as we witness cultural sectors dismantled globally? These questions act as points of departure for this year's iteration of the BES Arts Writing Incubator.
With an awareness of current and intersecting geopolitical catastrophes, the Incubator aims to imagine and enact the futures of arts writing. The Incubator intends to grapple with how (if at all) we tether our relationships to art/culture to other organizing modalities in public and private ways. Workshops are thus varied in form and content, from investigating archival research methods and practicing radical publishing techniques rooted in paper ephemera to examining digital methodologies.
By thinking critically about methods, this program will think about how to articulate the political stakes of our work such that we are able to further constitute the publics we wish to engage with our work.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
Unlike previous iterations of the Incubator, the 2026 run is not intended for people to cultivate their own writing practices per se. Applications are instead open to writers, publishers, and cultural workers who are currently or will soon be stewarding projects that incubate the work of others. We mean “projects” in an expansive sense, to incorporate print publications, platforms, organizations, newsletters, outlets, social media accounts, etc. that produce and circulate arts critical thinking.
We are interested in receiving applications from throughout the U.S. — particularly in regions like the southwest, south, and midwest — and those living and working elsewhere throughout North America or beyond these borders. Six applicants will be selected for participation. The incubator will meet about once a month, virtually, between January 2026 and May 2026. There will be a weekend-long, in-person convening in Seattle in April.
Selected participants will receive a $1,000 honorarium and expenses for in-person convening in Seattle will be covered.
APPLICATION DETAILS:
To apply, please submit a two-page letter of interest describing yourself and your critical practice and introducing your project, and detailing why this Incubator will be useful to you now. If your project is up and running, please embed links or include additional pages to document your work. If project is in the idea stage, please include clear and concrete description of scope and plans for the next year(s). If your project is somewhere in between, show us what you can.
Application materials should be compiled in PDF format and submitted using this hyperlinked Google Form by 11:59 pm PST, December 1.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the Incubator by December 22, 2025. Our organizational capacity unfortunately makes it impossible to respond with individual feedback on applications.
Contact BES Editor-in-Residence Jessica Lynne at jessica@blackembodiments.org for any questions.
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call for full-length nonfiction manuscripts
Split/Lip Press
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025
READING FEE: $15
INFO: We are currently looking for previously unpublished essay collections, memoirs, and nonfiction/hybrid full-length book manuscripts. Individually published pieces within the manuscript are absolutely fine (and expected!) but the book should not have been published as a book before. We won't define "full-length" (our only hard limit is the lower end: minimum of 125pg), but 150-250 pages tends to be the sweet spot.
We love manuscripts that question boundaries (physical, emotional, metaphysical, meta-emotional—you get the gist). Dazzle us with your version(s) of truth! When it comes to genre-based boundary bending for this reading call, we'd love to see imaginative essays, lyric essaying, formal and layout-based experimentation, etc. Please note, however, that this reading team is looking for nonfiction (and mostly-nonfiction) manuscripts. If your project is more genre-inclusive in its hybridity, it may not be the best fit for this submission call and may be a better fit for our Multigenre + Open Prose Chapbook reading period (April to June), which is also where we'd direct any nonfiction book manuscripts under 125pg.
Historically under-represented perspectives are WELCOME and ENCOURAGED and HIGHLY SOUGHT—we want to help bring your voice to the world!
To get an idea of what we love, please check out our current full-length nonfiction books. We'd love it if you'd add a copy of any (/all) of our books to your submission, and we'll happily throw in free shipping as a thanks (US only, apologies to our international community)!
Aubrey Hirsch's graphic collection Graphic Rage
jade vine's essay collection Hold Me
Sean Enfield's essay collection Holy American Burnout!
Sarah Fawn Montgomery's essay collection Halfway from Home
Esteban Rodriguez's essay collection Before the Earth Devours Us
Jeannine Ouellette's memoir-in-essays The Part That Burns
Athena Dixon's essay collection The Incredible Shrinking Woman
Melissa Matthewson's memoir-in-essays Tracing the Desire Line
Melissa Wiley's essay collection Antlers in Space and Other Common Phenomena.
OUR PRESS MISSION:
We publish boundary-breaking fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid books, lifting the transition boards that prevent fluidity and smashing those we cannot pry up. We love work that questions the concept of truth, and work that reinterprets what we think we know. We prize experimentation (physical, emotional, metaphysical, meta-emotional); we welcome the unanswerable. We want to see the dark and the light side of the moon—or we want to see it obliterated. If your book is a wedge in a crack, Split/Lip Press is the hammer helping you split the wall apart.
However, Split/Lip Press does not tolerate manuscripts celebrating racist, homophobic, or misogynistic perspectives, and we will discard such manuscripts unread. We believe in breaking boundaries at Split/Lip, but we will not assist agendas of hate.
Submissions reading fee info
The submission reading fee helps cover our costs as a press, and our nonfiction reading team will be splitting 25% of the submission fees collected during this reading period as compensation for their hard work. But we don't want a fee to keep us from finding the best work out there. If you can't afford the reading fee, please send an email to splitlipthepress@gmail.com before submitting to receive a manuscript fee waiver, no questions asked.
We hope to find the next nonfiction addition to our press catalog during this reading period! That said, our press mission is paramount, and if we are unable to acquire a book from this period that fits, the remainder of the proceeds from this period's reading fees (after paying the readers) will be applied toward submission fee waivers for the next nonfiction reading period.
Basic formatting details
Times New Roman 12 (or similar), double-spaced (unless you are specifically using special formatting—which we'd love to see), and PLEASE remove your name from the manuscript and file name—our readers want to review your manuscripts without names attached. There is a box on the submission form where, if you choose, you may indicate any information about positionality which may be helpful for the readers to know.
Please note that while we love and welcome work which includes images/diagrams/etc, all images may need to appear in black-and-white within a 6" x 9" printed book, so please keep that in mind when submitting.
HUGS + THANKS:
We work closely with our authors on all elements of their book, from design to promotion. We are engaged in the literary community, and as writers ourselves, we know how important it is to have a book that you love that is supported by a press that loves you. We'd love for you to be part of the Split/Lip Press family.
Simultaneous submissions are obviously welcome. Our reading process is a process and we move quickly and efficiently, but we also don't interrupt it prematurely. So if another publisher snags you first, we just ask that you withdraw your submission (and congrats to you!).
We intend to reply to all submissions by March 15, 2026, so please do not query about the status of your manuscript before that date. If you haven't seen anything from us by 3/15/26, check your status in Submittable and double-check your email spam filter because Submittable's messages sometimes get stuck there—we will definitely respond!
Thank you for considering Split/Lip Press as the home for your book!
splitlippress.submittable.com/submit
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Call For Submissions: Mizna 27.1
Mizna
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025 by 11:59pm CT
SUBMISSION FEE: $0
INFO: We open this call as the genocide in Gaza has passed its two year mark and enters another tenuous ceasefire, as hate and deception are nakedly systemized here in the US, as worldwide we see the escalated depravities of colonialism and capitalism result in a normalization of crimes against humanity and planetary abuse. In this moment, Mizna continues to value creative work as a generative and liberatory space in which our communities can come together in grief, rage, hope, and imagination as we redefine and work toward upending the current world order. We are excited to meet you and your work here.
UPCOMING ISSUE: The upcoming issue is not responding to a theme and we will accept writing on any subject. Nonetheless, we also recognize a need to center work that is modulated to the realities of our current moment.
We seek writing which explores the realities and identities related to the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) sphere both in the region and in diaspora. We especially welcome writing in relationship to SWANA people and places which are currently targeted by empire and tyranny, from Armenia, to Palestine, to Sudan, and beyond.
CONTRIBUTORS: Contributors do not need to be SWANA- or Arab-identified and can be based anywhere in the world, but work submitted should be considerate of Mizna’s ethos and the social realities of our audiences, as well as aim to contribute to ongoing conversations in and beyond our communities. While we welcome submissions from former contributors seeking a space for their work in this urgent moment, we also especially encourage submissions from writers who have never been published by us before. We encourage submitters to become familiar with work that has been published in Mizna before submitting work.
FORMS OF WRITING: Mizna has long been a home for literature with innovative, experimental forms and is published with high quality print production practices. We welcome visual poetry submissions or hybrid works that cross the arbitrary boundaries of genre. In general, literary works of poetry, visual poetry, fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, comics, collage, invented forms, and any forms of mixed print or hybrid work will be accepted, with consideration to the physical parameters of our print journal, technical staff, and budget. We do not consider visual art submissions.
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Selected contributors will receive a $200 honorarium, a one-year subscription to Mizna, and five copies of the issue.
Please include a short cover letter (max. 200 words) with the following:
Titles of all submitted pieces
Indication of any simultaneous submissions
For prose over two pages, a 1–2 sentence overview of the piece
Author bio (max. 50 words)
Any additional information you would like the editorial team to know (max. 1 paragraph)
File types must be .doc or .docx or PDF for pieces with more complex layouts. We do not accept other file types (e.g. Pages, Notepad, JPEG).
Prose submissions should be double spaced and limited to 3000 words.
Pitches for essays will not be accepted, please submit only complete and finalized drafts.
Poetry submissions should be limited to four poems of any length (verses exceeding our page width will be treated with a runover indent).
Please only submit once per submission period.
Please do not send visual art submissions.
Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines are subject to being discarded unread. Submissions outside the open call window will likely not be considered or receive response.
Pieces are chosen by Mizna editorial staff and a regularly changing selection committee. Accepted pieces will be contracted to be published in print after an editorial process involving authors. Mizna will hold rights to publish online or in future publications, but authors will hold copyright. Emails will be sent out for rejected pieces but regrettably we do not have capacity to provide feedback or editorial support.
ABOUT MIZNA: For over 25 years, Mizna has promoted experimental approaches to art, literature, and film; work that questions and expands the forms and conceptual frameworks of Arab and SWANA culture. We publish a biannual print literary and art journal, Mizna, and Mizna Online, a digital platform for literary and multidisciplinary work reflecting critically on the current realities of the SWANA region and beyond. We produce the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, the largest and longest-running SWANA-centered film festival in the Midwest. Mizna also offers readings, film series, performances, public art commissions, and community events that have featured 1000+ local and transnational writers, filmmakers, and artists.
mizna.org/mizna-news/call-for-submissions-27-1/
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call for submissions: Nonfiction essays
How I Learned
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025
INFO: HOW I LEARNED stories are personal narratives with an evocative spin on existential ideas.
Sharp, personal narratives with an evocative spin on existential-leaning themes. Stories about the horror and the hilarity of being in the world. The profound and the absurd; the texture, the nuance; a particular way of seeing. How we change, or don’t change; how the world changes, or fails to. How people try. Moments of discovery conflict with the old narrative and challenge a long-held belief. Little things are big. Not everything aligns. Nothing resolves neatly. Make meaning out of chaos, but leave us wondering what happens after it ends.
HOW TO SEND IT:
Nonfiction essay: ~1500 words
Nonfiction micro essay: 500 - 800 words
Send a Word or Google Docs attachment.
Include the word count.
Keep in mind, titles do not need to include “How I Learned…”.
In your email, add (1) a brief summary — just 1 to 3 sentences; and (2) a third-person bio.
Indicate if this is a simultaneous submission and follow up immediately if it gets accepted somewhere else.
If you want to add how you learned about HOW I LEARNED, please do.
Email subject line: “Submission - How I Learned.”
Send to: howilearned@gmail.com
Note: The decision to change names, places, or other identifying characteristics (or not) is the responsibility of the author upon submittal.
RESPONSE TIME:
You’ll usually get a response in 2 to 4 weeks. Please wait at least 4 weeks before following up. Resend the original email and add “Follow Up” to the subject line.
PAYMENT:
The publication is new and it’s 100% supported by readers. As a writer myself, I loathe saying that there’s no pay at this time. The long-term goal is to change that.
howilearnedseries.com/p/submissions
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ‘Quarter 4, Echoes from the Street: Homelessness and the Unhoused’
IHRAM Press
DEADLINE: December 1, 2025
INFO: Centering on homelessness and the unhoused, this issue explores the human stories behind stereotypes, societal failures, and the fight for basic rights like shelter and healthcare. Reflections on homelessness during COVID-19 and personal journeys to stability provide a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for dignity and safety.
We are committed to publishing personal experiences of those who have been unhoused, factual retellings of stories about homelessness in the author’s life, reflections of the author’s personal experiences, and feelings of optimism and faith. We encourage submissions from all over the world, regardless of gender or identity.
MAGAZINE THEMES: Homelessness, societal inequality, human rights, personal and creative reflections in order to break stereotypes, and post-pandemic challenges.
humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-publishes
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Open Call for Pitches: On Air Fest Brooklyn 2026
On Air Fest
DEADLINE: December 5, 2025
INFO: On Air Fest is expanding, and we want your collaboration.
For eight years, On Air Presents has built a home for creative audio and storytelling in all its forms. We spotlight the artists, storytellers, and organizations driving cultural innovation.
At On Air Fest, the stage belongs to those who are breaking form and reimagining what storytelling can be. Previous highlights have included immersive podcast performances, sound-driven art installations, and conversations with creators behind culture-shaping shows. This year, we want to hear from you.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
Pitch us your session, experience, performance, or installation.
On Air Fest 2026 will feature multiple stages, a screening and listening room, an experience hall, and performance spaces for music and sound art. We’re centered on live experience and audience connection, and we welcome curiosity, surprise, and originality.
Consider these formats:
Panels & Presentations: Launch your latest project, host compelling conversations, or experiment with live interactive content pushing the envelope of audience experience. From thought leadership sessions to futurist media theories; brand case studies and ‘how I made this,’ explainers – share your voice on stage.
Workshops & Demos: Share your expertise and inspire others through hands-on experiences, talks and demonstrations. Show us what the forefront looks like.
Performances, Stories & Ideas: Take the stage and tell a story, present a big idea, or captivate us with a performance. Short or long-form welcome, onstage or on the street.
Installations & Experiences: Create immersive, cross-platform storytelling that invites the audience to engage in new ways while in person
Screenings and Deep Listenings: Create moments of reflection, inspiration and community through attentive, collective engagement
Live Podcasts: Capture the energy of the moment with live recordings that also resonate far beyond the room.
Music, poetry, design, art and the indefinable: Surprise us! We are open to big ideas that touch hearts and change minds. Defy our expectations and bring new ways of thinking to the space.
Selected participants will be invited to present live at On Air Brooklyn 2026, February 24–26 in Williamsburg.
onairpresents.com/stories/pitch
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call for general submissions
Joyland Magazine
DEADLINE: Rolling
SUBMISSION FEE: $5
INFO: Joyland Magazine accepts unsolicited submissions of fiction year round. All submissions must be in English. We welcome works in translation. Simultaneous submissions are allowed. We consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words. Our average response time is 12-16 weeks. We ask that you please submit one story at a time. All writers are compensated $200 for stories published with Joyland Magazine.
Any writer who wishes to submit for free may email us at joylandmagazine@joylandmagazine.com with the subject line "Submittable Fee Waiver" to receive a link to our free submission portal.