SINGAPORE POETRY CONTEST
Singapore Unbound / Gaudy Boy
DEADLINE: May 6, 2024
ENTRY FEE: $0
INFO: In conjunction with Gaudy Boy’s April 2024 publication of Jeddie Sophronius’s Interrogation Records, the winner of the Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize, SUSPECT is holding the 10th Singapore Poetry Contest with a call for submissions inspired by the title of this extraordinary book of poems.
We are looking for poems that use the word “interrogation” in imaginative ways. The poems may be on any theme, but they will be judged for the creative use of the word “interrogation” as much as they will be for overall excellence. The word “interrogation” may be used in any of its forms, such as “interrogate,” “interrogates,” and “interrogated,” but synonyms will not be accepted.
The contest is open to everyone, living anywhere.
Please submit a maximum of three poems. Only unpublished poems will be considered. Posting on weblog, Facebook, and other social media does not constitute publication. No simultaneous submissions, please. Email your submission to Jee at jkoh@singaporeunbound.org. The poem(s) must be pasted into the body of the email, together with a short cover letter giving your name, mailing address, and brief biographical note.
Results will be announced in July, 2024. We ask for non-exclusive rights to publication on the SUSPECT website and subsequent print anthologies, if any.
PRIZE: Awards of USD $300, $200, and $100 will go to the top three winners. The winning poems will be published on SUSPECT; non-winning poems will be considered for publication as well.
JUDGE: This year’s judge is the winner of the 2023 Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize, Jeddie Sophronius. Jeddie Sophronius is the author of the poetry collections Interrogation Records (Gaudy Boy, 2024), Happy Poems & Other Lies (Codhill/SUNY Press, 2024), Love & Sambal (The Word Works, 2024), and the chapbook Blood·Letting (Quarterly West, 2023). A Chinese-Indonesian writer from Jakarta, they received their MFA from the University of Virginia, where they currently serve as a lecturer in English. Their poems have appeared in The Cincinnati Review, The Iowa Review, Prairie Schooner, and elsewhere. Read more of their work at nakedcentaur.com.
singaporeunbound.org/opp/10th-singapore-poetry-contest
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MARBLE HOUSE PROJECT
DEADLINE: May 6, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.
Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old. Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond.
All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. The residency is an opportunity to develop and carry out practices of mutual support, group conversation, and to cultivate adaptive relationships with the environment. This can take the form of discussions with guest multidisciplinary artists, thinkers, and activists and other individual and group activities that benefit our community of residents.
Residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. . Each session culminates with a short video interview and artists are invited to share their work with our community and each other. Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.
Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni and staff. Artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you.
RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2025
March 11th - April 1st
April 6th - April 29th
May 6th - May 27th
June 3rd - June 24th
July 8th - July 22nd. Parent / Artist Residency
Parent artist residency. This residency is only for parent artists who will be attending with their children. Children must be four years old by the start of the residency. Please note that if you only apply for this residency it is very competitive. If you choose other dates you will also be considered for those as well. To find out more about the family friendly residency please visit http://www.marblehouseproject.org/residencyprograms/
October 7th - October 28th
November 3 - November 24th
marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
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93rd Annual Writing Competition
Writer’s Digest
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE: May 6, 2024
INFO: The 93rd Annual Writing Competition is open for submissions. Winners will be announced in our Nov/Dec 2024 issue.
Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up-and-coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for over 90 years. Enter our 93rd Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen.
PRIZES:
One Grand Prize winner will receive:
$5,000 in cash
An interview with them in Writer’s Digest (Nov/Dec 2024 issue) and on WritersDigest.com
A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a special trophy presentation at the keynote
A coveted Pitch Slam slot at the Writer's Digest Conference where the winner will receive one on one attention from editors or agents
Publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com
The First place winner in each category will receive $1,000 in cash and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com.
The Second place winner in each category will receive $500 cash.
The Third place winner in each category will receive $250 in cash.
The Fourth place winner in each category will receive $100 in cash.
The Fifth place winner in each category will receive $50 in cash.
The Sixth through Tenth place winners in each category will receive a $25 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com.
All top winners will also receive:
Their names and the title of their winning piece listed in Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com
A one-year subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine
A one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest Tutorials
20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
A special graphic recognizing their winning status
All Honorable Mentions receive:
Their names and the title of their selected piece listed on WritersDigest.com
20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
A special graphic recognizing their winning status
CATEGORIES:
Inspirational/Spiritual
Memoirs/Personal Essay
Nonfiction Essay or Article
Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
Mainstream/Literary Short Story
Rhyming Poetry
Non-rhyming Poetry
Humor
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction
writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition
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2025 CAVE CANEM PRIZE
Cave Canem
DEADLINE: May 13, 2024
ENTRY FEE: $0
INFO: The Cave Canem Prize is awarded annually to the best debut collection of poems by a Black poet. At some point, all poets face the challenge of communicating their work beyond the first manuscript. To assist Black poets in surmounting that obstacle, Cave Canem established the Prize and created a direct route to: Graywolf Press; University of Pittsburgh Press; and University of Georgia Press.
AWARD: Winner receives $10,000, publication by Graywolf Press in fall 2025, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading.
ELIGIBILITY: All unpublished, original collections of poems written in English by Black poets who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press. Cave Canem defines Black poets as any poet who identifies as a member of the African Diaspora. Authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print-run of 500 may apply. Simultaneous submission to other book awards should be noted: immediate notification upon winning such an award is required. Winner agrees to be present in the continental United States at her or his own expense shortly after the book is published in order to participate in promotional reading(s).
EXCLUSIONS: Current or former students, colleagues, employees, family members and close friends of the judge; current or former employees and members of the Board of Cave Canem Foundation or Graywolf Press; and authors who have published a book or have a book under contract with Graywolf Press are ineligible. If any of the selected authors fall under the above exclusions, they will be disqualified and a replacement will be chosen from among the submissions. As the poetry community is small and the contest is judged without knowledge of the submitter’s identity, acquaintance with the judge or participation in a workshop taught by the judge are not disqualifying criteria.
GUIDELINES:
Manuscripts must be submitted via Submittable. Hard copy submissions will not be considered.
One manuscript per poet.
Upload manuscript as a .docx or .pdf document. Include a title page with the title only and table of contents. Author's name should not appear on any pages within the uploaded document.
Include a cover letter in the Submittable text box—DO NOT include within the .docx or .pdf document of the manuscript. Cover letter should include author’s brief bio (200 words, maximum) and list of acknowledgments of previously published poems.
Manuscript must be paginated and 60 - 75 pages in length, inclusive of title page and table of contents. A poem may be multiple pages, but no more than one poem per page is permitted.
Manuscripts not adhering to submission guidelines will not be considered.
Post-submission revisions or corrections are not permitted.
Questions? Contact us at programs@ccpoets.org.
JUDGE: Natasha Trethewey served two terms as the 19th Poet Laureate of the United States. She is the author of five collections of poetry, including Native Guard—for which she was awarded the 2007 Pulitzer Prize—and Domestic Work, winner of the inaugural Cave Canem Poetry Prize. She’s also the author of a book of non-fiction, Beyond Katrina; a memoir, Memorial Drive, an instant New York Times Bestseller and winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award; and The House of Being, a meditation on writing. A Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets since 2019, Trethewey was awarded the 2020 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt Prize in Poetry for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress, and in 2022 she was the William B. Hart Poet in Residence at the American Academy in Rome. At Northwestern University, she is Board of Trustees Professor of English.
cavecanem.submittable.com/submit
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The Emerging Writer’s Contest
Ploughshares
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024 at noon EST
ENTRY FEE:
Subscribers - $0
Non-subscribers - $30
INFO: The Emerging Writer's Contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Read past winners of the contest here.
We award publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres. Submit to the Emerging Writer's Contest through our submission manager. You must be logged in to access our submission manager.
The 2024 contest judges are Dantiel W. Moniz (Fiction), Porsha Olayiwola (Poetry), and Augusten Burroughs (Nonfiction).
PUBLICATION:
The winning story, essay, and poems from the 2024 contest will be published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.
ELIGIBILITY:
You are eligible if you:
Have yet to publish a book (including eBooks, translations, books in other languages/countries, self-published works, and poetry chapbooks with a print run of more than 300).
Have no book forthcoming before April 15, 2025.
Are not affiliated with Emerson College or with Ploughshares as a volunteer screener, intern, student, staff member, or faculty member.
Will not have a relationship with Emerson College before April 15, 2025 (example: if there is a chance you will attend the Emerson MFA program in the coming year or if your work has been accepted for publication for an upcoming issue).
SUBMITTING:
The contest is now open. We will announce the winners in mid-September of 2024.
Fiction and Nonfiction: Under 6,000 words
Poetry: 3-5 pages
Submit one entry per year via our online submission manager.
Submit one entry per year via our online submission manager.
No entries via email or mail will be considered for the contest.
Submitted work must be original and previously unpublished in any form.
For poetry, we will be reading both for the strongest individual poem and the general level of work, and may choose to publish one, some, or all of the winner's submitted poems.
International submissions are welcome, but we ask that you please be in touch via email for more information about this process.
We cannot accommodate revisions once a manuscript has been submitted.
If submitting work with images, please acquire permission beforehand and, if possible, ensure any images are high resolution (300 dpi).
We strongly encourage typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced), and numbered pages.
Cover letters are not necessary. Please remove all identifying information from your submission as they will be read anonymously.
Simultaneous vs. Multiple Submissions
We only consider one submission per author for the duration of the contest, regardless of genre. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are fine as long as we are notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere via email (pshares@pshares.org) or our online contact form.
FEES:
If you are a current subscriber through our Winter 2024-2025 issue, your contest entry is free of charge. You will still be prompted to "checkout" but you will not be required to enter payment information and will not be charged. If you're not sure when your subscription expires, feel free to email us at pshares@pshares.org.
If you are not a subscriber, or your subscription expires before our Winter 2024-2025 issue, the submission manager will prompt you to pay the $30 fee at checkout. The fee includes a 1-year subscription to Ploughshares (beginning with the Spring 2024 issue and ending with the Winter 2024-2025 issue) and free submissions to the 2024 regular reading period.
If you are an international submitter, please be in touch via email for more information about this process.
pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines
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The Watering Hole Virtual Summer Retreat
The Watering Hole
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
SUBMISSION FEE: $10
INFO: Over a three-day period (July 19-21, 2024), Summer Retreat participants will be able to attend two readings, evening community activities, and daily classes/workshops (3 hours each) in three major genres:
Short Stories (Fiction) with DeLana R.A. Dameron (Redwood Court, How God Ends Us, Weary Kingdom)
Essays (Creative Non-Fiction) with Julian Randall (The Dead Don't Need Reminding, Refuse, Pilar series, Black Boy Joy)
Poetry Manuscript with Crystal Simone Smith (Founder and Editor of Backbone Press, Among These Blues, Ebbing Shore)
Our mission is to build Tribe through genuine relationships and help poets reach their best work.
Writing Facilitators: T.B.A.
APLICATION PROCESS:
A Cover Letter (with aesthetics statement) and
A writing sample of 3 poems
ELIGIBILITY: You must be 21 years of age by July 19th.
ADDITIONAL HELP:
The poems may be written or audio. We accept a variety of file types. The poems must have been written within the last two years). Do not include your name on these materials. Judging will be blind.
The cover letter must be written (not audio). If you need help with the basic cover letter format, check out our blog post of Cover Letter Advice. The type of aesthetics statement that we ask for is a paragraph or two that details...
who influences your writing,
what challenges have you faced on your creative journey,
what you seek to accomplish in your poems,
and what The Watering Hole means to you as a writer of color.
This will contextualize the poems in your submission and help us get to know you as an artist. You may also optionally include how your writing or aesthetic informs what you do, where you work, or any work you do in the arts community or vice versa. Make certain your submission is your final version. Corrections and new versions will not be accepted.
twhpoetry.submittable.com/submit
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RAGDALE ARTIST RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024 by 11:59pm CST
INFO: Ragdale is a non-profit artists’ community located on architect Howard Van Doren Shaw’s country estate in Lake Forest, IL, 30 miles north of Chicago. In 1976, Shaw’s granddaughter, Alice Judson Hayes, transformed her family’s summer home into an artist's retreat to provide time and space for artists to create important new work.
Today, Ragdale annually hosts nearly 140 visual artists, writers, dancemakers, composers, and interdisciplinary artists at all stages of their careers for 18-day residencies, making it one of the largest interdisciplinary artist communities in the country. Ragdale offers a retreat setting where at any given time, up to a dozen creative individuals experience uninterrupted time for dedicated work, a supportive environment, family-style dinners, and dynamic artist exchanges within a backdrop of 50 acres of idyllic prairie.
Residency Awards, up to 140 awarded in 2025:
18-day residency session for individuals. Based on personal financial considerations, artists determine their own residency fee, and may opt to pay according to our suggested income-based sliding scale. No financial aid application is required. Admitted residents are responsible for their own travel.
FELLOWSHIPS: We currently offer 12 fellowships each year. All qualified applicants may apply for fellowships. A fellowship award includes an 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals and a stipend of at least $1000 to participate in the Ragdale Youth Engagement educational outreach program. All applicants who apply for fellowships will be considered. Please note that applicants may be awarded a residency without a fellowship award. Fellowship awards are disclosed upon acceptance.
Late applications cannot be accepted. If you are applying for the Waud Fellowship, the application deadline is 11:59 PM CST June 30.
ELIGIBILITY:
Ragdale encourages applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, and to that end, emerging as well as established artists are invited to apply. While there are no publication, exhibition or performance requirements for application, applicants should be working at the professional level in their fields. Ragdale encourages artists of all backgrounds to apply and does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, disability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
GUIDELINES:
All applicants submit electronic materials through the Submittable application portal. Do not email or mail any application materials. Please note the following requirements to complete your application:
A completed online application form includes:
A one-page artist’s statement and work plan explaining your work and what you plan to do while in residence.
A one or two-page CV or resume that summarizes your professional background.
Work samples that show work from the past 2-3 years. All media is acceptable. Most electronic file types and sizes are accepted.
If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, we require an eligibility statement of 500 words or less for each fellowship you would like to be considered for. An eligibility statement explains how you qualify for the selected fellowship and how a fellowship would support your work at this time.
There is an application fee of $25. This amount covers the cost of application processing. Ragdale does not profit from application fees. If you are not in a position to cover the processing fee, please reach out to the Residency Manager, Deanna Miera at deanna@ragdale.org, to request a fee-waived application.
*PLEASE NOTE: Letters of Recommendation are no longer required or accepted.
EVALUATION:
Applications are reviewed by Ragdale’s Curatorial Board and staff. Evaluations of work are based on the following criteria:
Work samples: Documented works are original, inventive, and exciting.
Work samples indicate relevance in their contemporary field.
Work sample presentation: Work samples are high-quality and technically proficient in execution, and are professionally presented and documented.
Artist’s experience: Artist statement and CV/Resume reflects continued development of ideas, serious inquiry into subject matter, and exceptional aesthetic investigation in the chosen medium.
Work plan: Artist demonstrates they will maximize the benefits of a residency at Ragdale. What is the reason for seeking time and space in this particular residency program and is there a sense of urgency reflected in the goals described?
NOTIFICATION: Applicants are notified of admission status via email in September.
COLLABORATIONS: Artists collaborating on a project must submit individual application forms and appropriate work samples, along with a joint description of the work they intend to do at Ragdale. Clearly specify your work and living space needs i.e. how many private studio and/or sleeping quarters are needed. You may also submit an example of a previous collaborative work (either completed or in progress). Any specific concerns can be directed to Regin Igloria, Artistic Director at regin@ragdale.org, before applying.
TIMELINE:
May 15: Application Deadline
September: Notification of Residency or Fellowship award.
QUESTIONS? All inquiries should be directed to Artistic Director, Regin Igloria (regin@ragdale.org), and Residency Manager Deanna Miera (deanna@ragdale.org). Please do not reach out through Submittable.
ragdale.submittable.com/submit
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VCCA RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $30
INFO: Residencies can be transformative to an artist’s process and the effect on an artist’s career profound. A residency at VCCA gives artists the time and space to explore and go deeper into their work. Away from the constraints of “the real world” and in an accepting environment of talented peers, one can dream and create with the feeling that anything is possible.
VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo location in Amherst, Virginia, typically hosts 360 artists each year in residencies of varying lengths (no minimum; up to six weeks) with flexible scheduling. A residency at Mt. San Angelo includes a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, a private individual studio, three prepared meals a day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, VCCA is surrounded by natural wonders and hiking trails. Many local sites and additional inspiration can be found in short drives to Lynchburg (20 minutes), Charlottesville (1 hour), Roanoke (1.5 hours), or Richmond (2 hours).
VCCA Fellows are selected by peer review on the basis of professional achievement or promise of achievement in their respective fields. Separate review panels are created for each category (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting/screenwriting, children’s literature, performance, film/video, book arts, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, music composition, etc.). Panelists undergo periodic review and rotate regularly to ensure VCCA admission decisions are guided by high caliber artists who represent a diversity of styles and tastes.
All VCCA residency and fellowship applications are accepted online via SlideRoom. The standard application fee is $30. If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, artists should reach out to Artists Services at vcca@vcca.com to request an application fee waiver at least five days before the deadline.
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: A variety of fully-funded fellowship opportunities are available at each application deadline. In addition, significant financial assistance is available throughout the year.
vcca.com/apply/residencies-at-vcca/
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The Studios at Key West
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
INFO: The Studios of Key West, the premier arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the United States, offers a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers from around the world. We provide residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, musicians, media artists, performers, and interdisciplinary artists.
The program grants nearly 40 artists each year the time and space to imagine new artistic work, engage in valuable dialogue and explore island connections.
The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.
Key West’s official motto, “One Human Family” reflects our commitment to living together as caring, sharing neighbors dedicated to making our home as close to paradise as we can. To that end, we encourage artists of all races, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities to apply.
DURATION: Our residencies are one month; they run from the 2nd day of the month to the last day of the month. For example: if you are awarded a residency in June, you would plan to arrive on June 2, and would plan to depart by June 30.
We’re sorry, but we are currently unable to offer residencies of less than one month. If you are accepted to the program, please plan to be in residence for the full month.
COST: There is no fee for the residency once an artist has been accepted into the program. However, artists are responsible for their travel to Key West, as well as living expenses and incidentals.
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MONSON ARTS RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
INFO: Monson Arts’ residency program supports emerging and established artists and writers by providing them time and space to devote to their creative practices. During each of our 2-week and 4-week programs throughout the year, a cohort of 5 artists and 5 writers are invited to immerse themselves in small town life at the edge of Maine’s North Woods and focus intensely on their work within a creative and inspiring environment. They receive a private studio, private bedroom in shared housing, all meals, and $1,000 stipend ($500 for 2-week programs).
Applications for a residency at Monson Arts are open to anyone at any stage of their career, working in visual arts, writing, and related fields (i.e. audio, video, photography, movement, screen and playwrights). Open calls for residency applications currently take place 3 times throughout the year with deadlines on January 15, May 15, and September 15. Each application period corresponds to specific residency offerings 3-6 months out.
Residents’ studios are located in newly renovated Main Street buildings that have been designed specifically for visual artists and writers. All of our studio spaces are outfitted to be as flexible as possible so that we can accommodate a variety of creative practices. Our visual arts studios are spacious and light-filled with large work tables and sinks. Shelving and portable storage carts are available as needed. Access is available to woodshop and metal shop facilities in nearby buildings for any fabrication needs. Our writing studios are comfortably furnished with work tables, office chairs, bookshelves, and reading chairs. For those working in time and sound based media: apply to the Writing category if quiet contemplation would be best for your project or the Visual Arts category if you need room and the opportunity to make and play sounds out loud.
Residents live in newly renovated historic homes throughout town, within walking distance to studios and everything that downtown Monson has to offer. These are mostly 3 bedroom structures that are fully furnished and comfortable all four seasons of the year. Houses all have shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas with laundry machines, telephone, and other amenities as well. Wifi is available in all of our buildings through high speed fiberoptic service.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Up to 5 pages of work samples / 15 pages for playwright or screen writing
A letter of intent for your time at the residency
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names
monsonarts.org/residencies/overview/
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Writer-in-Residence program
The Associates of the Boston Public Library
DEADLINE: May 17, 2024 at 11:59pm
INFO: The Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence program is intended to:
Provide an emerging children’s writer with the financial support, editorial assistance, and office space needed to complete one literary work for children or young adults.
Encourage the imagination of young readers, and in so doing draw attention to the importance of authors and the essential role they perform in nurturing developing minds and furthering our culture.
Promote the awareness of the Boston Public Library and its resources, by establishing a living link between Library and the community.
WHAT DO FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS GET?
$23,000 stipend.
Up to $2,000 of additional funding for coaching / editorial assistance.
Private office space at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
Completed manuscript will be added to the BPL’s Archives.
Opportunity to publicly present your manuscript at a fall reading.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
All genres welcome! Eligible projects include fiction, non-fiction, a graphic novel, script, memoir, or poetry intended for children or young adults.
Since this program is intended for emerging authors, applicants should not have already published any books.
The recipient must work for a minimum of 19 hours per week during the year-long residency.
Applicants must be able to legally work in the US.
TERMS OF RESIDENCY:
You will work a minimum of nineteen (19) hours per week from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
You will participate in a public reception at the BPL on October 1, 2024 to mark the beginning of your residency.
You will complete a submission-ready manuscript by the end of residency, which you will present at a second public reception, on a mutually agreed upon date.
You will include an acknowledgment of the Associates of the Boston Public Library in all work created during the residency, and during any media opportunities stemming from the program, using mutually agreed upon language.
Optionally, you may participate in or create a program for Boston Public Library patrons such as a teen writing workshop or a presentation to Boston-area students, as mutually agreed upon with BPL Youth Services staff. (Participation would be only a small portion of your time and is not required.)
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To apply, please complete the application form (below) and upload a proposal (5 pages max.) and writing sample (15 pages max.) by Friday, May 17, 2024 at 11:59 pm. The documents should be double spaced with one inch margins and at least 11 point font. The attachments should not include any biographical information, since there will be a blind judging process. See questions #13 and 14 below for more details.
Basic questions about the application will be answered via email (via hello@AssociatesBPL.org); no calls please. Questions regarding how to present your work will not be considered. Inquiries concerning applications under review will not be answered.
If using Submittable creates an undue burden for you, you can alternatively mail your submission to: Writer-in-Residence Program, Associates of the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.
Late applications will not be considered. Once submitted, applications cannot be altered by either candidates or Associates staff.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Finalists will be evaluated by a panel of judges, which includes a rotating group of authors, librarians, booksellers, publishers, editors, book designers, teachers, and/or citizens representing different areas of the world of children’s literature. Associates staff do not vote in this process.
The judges do not know the candidates’ names, gender, educational qualifications, or any background information. This blind judging process is focused solely on the quality of the submissions.
Submissions will be judged on the merit of the original writing. Work suspected of being derived from or enhanced by an AI writing program will only increase the chance that it will be eliminated from consideration by the judges.
The candidates selected to be the 2024-25 Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence will be notified by Monday, July 29, 2024.
KEY DATES:
Application Deadline: Friday, May 17, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Notification: Monday, July 29, 2024
Residency Period: October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
associatesbpl.org/events-and-programs/writer-in-residence-program/
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ANNE LABASTILLE MEMORIAL WRITERS RESIDENCY
Adirondack Center for Writing
DEADLINE: May 19, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $30
INFO: The Adirondack Center for Writing offers a free, two-week residency annually in autumn to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers at a lodge on Twitchell Lake in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Six residents will be chosen: three from the Adirondack region (aka “The North Country”… see FAQ below for specifics) and three from anywhere in the world. Quality of written submissions is the primary consideration when accepting applications.
The residency is generously provided by the estate of Anne LaBastille, who wrote books capturing challenges of the region, including Woodswoman and Beyond Black Bear Lake from her cabin on Twitchell Lake. During the residency, writers will paddle to the site of her property and explore the lake with locals.
The Lodge at Twitchell Lake provides an abundance of physical space, and each resident has their own bedroom and bathroom. There are plenty of writing spaces in and around the property. Internet access is available, but limited (email ; Zoom ). Most cell phones will not work (a landline is available).
Covid-19 Requirements: Proof of vaccination is required. Residents who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons will be required to provide proof of negative test upon arrival and can contact ACW with any COVID-19-related questions: info@adirondackcenterforwriting.org.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Residency Dates: September 22 – October 6, 2024
Notification: July, 2024
FEE: There is no cost to attend the residency.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Cover Letter: In the space provided in Submittable (no attachments), include a brief, third-person bio and a work plan detailing your goals for this residency.
Writing Sample: Please send up to 10 pages of your best writing in the genre you will working in at the residency. Prose: 10 pages max. Poetry: 10 poems max. NOTE: Make sure your name does not show up anywhere in your writing sample. Writing samples that include your name will not be considered. Quality of written submissions will be our primary consideration when accepting applications.
adirondackcenterforwriting.org/residency/
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2024 Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize
Singapore Unbound / Gaudy Boy
DEADLINE: May 20, 2024
ENTRY FEE: USD $10
INFO: The Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize is awarded annually to an unpublished manuscript of original Anglophone poetry by an author of Asian heritage residing anywhere in the world. The winner receives book publication and USD1,500.00.
Past winners were The Experiment of The Tropics by Lawrence Lacambra Ypil and Autobiography of Horse by Jenifer Sang Eun Park, selected by Wong May; Play for Time by Paula Mendoza, selected by Vijay Seshadri; Object Permanence by Nica Bengzon, selected by Cyril Wong; Time Regime by Jhani Randhawa, selected by Dorothy Wang; Waking Up to the Pattern Left by a Snail Overnight by Jim Pascual Agustin, selected by Yeow Kai Chai; and Interrogation Records, by Jeddie Sophronius, selected by Divya Victor.
This year we’re honored to have Hamid Roslan to be our judge. Hamid Roslan is the co-editor of The Second Link: An Anthology of Malaysian and Singaporean Writing (Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2023), and author of in all the places I could not find you (self-published, 2022) and parsetreeforestfire (Ethos Books, 2019), a finalist for the Singapore Literature Prize 2020. His poetry has appeared in New Singapore Poetries (Gaudy Boy Press, 2022), the Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s Transpacific Literary Project, minarets, The Volta, Of Zoos, and the Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, among others. He has also contributed essays to Violent Phenomena: 21 Essays in Translation (Tilted Axis Press, 2022) and Practice, Research & Tangential Activities (PR&TA). He graduated with an MFA in Writing from Pratt
Five finalists will be announced in August 2024, and they will be invited to read their work at a finalists’ reading in September 2024, at which the prizewinner will be announced. The winning manuscript will be published in Spring 2025 by Gaudy Boy, an imprint of the NYC-based literary nonprofit Singapore Unbound.
Established in 2017, Gaudy Boy publishes poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction of extraordinary merit by Asian voices. Our name is taken from the poem “Gaudy Turnout” by Singaporean poet Arthur Yap about his time abroad in 1970s Leeds, UK. From the Latin “gaudium,” meaning joy, Gaudy Boy seeks to delight our readers with the various powers of art.
GUIDELINES:
The contest is open to emerging and established poets.
No proof of Asian heritage is required. As writers ourselves, we go by honor between writers.
Submit a 70–120-page unpublished manuscript of original poetry in English. Please number the pages of your manuscript. Include a title page, table of contents, and an acknowledgments page for any previously published poems.
Email Jee Leong Koh at jkoh@singaporeunbound.org with a brief cover letter in the body of your email and the poetry manuscript attached in PDF or MSWord format.
Your name, mailing address, and email address should not appear anywhere in the manuscript. Instead, they should be given in your cover letter in the body of your email.
Submit your entry fee USD10.00 at PayPal to Jee Leong Koh (jkoh@singaporeunbound.org). We cannot consider your manuscript until we receive your entry fee. Your entry fee helps us defray some, but not all, of the editorial costs. We have set the entry fee low so that it will not be too much of a barrier for most people. If the fee is a barrier, please write to Jee at jkoh@singaporeunbound.org for a waiver. Entry fees are nonrefundable.
You may submit more than one manuscript, but a separate entry fee must accompany each manuscript.
You may submit the manuscript elsewhere simultaneously, but you must notify Gaudy Boy immediately if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher.
singaporeunbound.org/opp/2024-gaudy-boy-poetry-book-prize
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climate woke: call for VIDEO artists and CLIMATE storytellers
The Center for Cultural Power / BLD Power
DEADLINE: May 26, 2024 by 11:59pm PST
INFO: The Center for Cultural Power and partner BLD PWR are looking for climate storytellers and artists who are passionate about environmental justice to create compelling digital content for our Climate Woke campaign. Launching on Earth Day 2024 in honor of Earth Month and climate justice, this project aims to uplift climate intersectionality to inspire individuals and communities to feel like they are a part of climate solutions. We are open to all genres and approaches of artistic mediums. The final product will be shared across Cultural Power’s digital platforms, social media, and among our movement partners. We will highlight and uplift the work of two selected artists as part of the Climate Woke campaign and future Climate Woke endeavors.
Climate Woke is The Center for Cultural Power’s ongoing campaign to reorient the climate change narrative to center voices from BIPOC, low-income, and migrant communities. BIPOC climate activists speak the language of those most directly affected by climate disasters and translate complex climate science to real-life outcomes, situations, and moments. Through funding and relationship building, Climate Woke strategically advances the work of these artists, activists, and culture bearers in mainstream film and media. Produced media includes short films, social media content, and special projects centered on the climate wisdom of impacted BIPOC communities.
While climate change is a global concern that impacts everyone, in the United States, historically marginalized, disinvested, and poor communities of color are hit the hardest by environmental catastrophes threatening basic needs like health, food security, and housing. Given their close proximity to the violence of climate change, artists from these marginalized communities are uniquely positioned to ideate and implement solutions. Climate Woke uses cultural strategy to tell a new story of climate resiliency by engaging communities in imagining a new future and activating them to take action toward it.
CREATE WITH US:
We are looking for artists and creators to generate short-form creative video content that explores the intersectionality of climate change and social justice in the United States, specifically on themes of Land Back, Black Liberation x Climate Justice, Environmental Optimism, Climate Migration/Climate Gentrification, and Climate Change’s impact on Reproductive Freedom.
Key Themes
Below are the five key Climate Woke themes that should be centered in proposals. Accompanying each theme is the cultural context to give an idea of the story we want to see reflected in proposals.
Climate Migration/ Climate Gentrification - The ecological disasters created by climate change induced the displacement of vulnerable communities, especially historically marginalized and poor ones. Displacement is a violent process that forces people away from housing and communities.
Environmental Optimism - Environmental Optimism seeks to empower communities to find and inspire creative paths toward an environmentally just future to counter the climate crisis narrative of destruction.
LandBack - LandBack encompasses the restoration and reclamation of regenerative relationships with the land and all relatives, both living and nonliving. It involves the returning of land to the descendants of the dispossessed, especially African Americans and Native Americans.
Climate Change Impact on Reproductive Freedom - Violence from climate change provokes reproductive injustices and impacts reproductive health by making it harder to grow and sustain families. Community-based strategies for Reproductive Freedom are needed to strengthen Reproductive Justice for all.
Black Liberation X Climate Justice - Black communities are among those disproportionately impacted by climate change. In response, a long legacy of strategies and movements has emerged from Black communities grounded in collective care, freedom, and joy.
PRIZES & BUDGET:
The Center for Cultural Power and BLD Power will select two winning artists and offer one (1) award of $10,000 for a 7-11-minute narrative short film and one (1) award of $5,000 for creative video content that is 3-5 minutes long.
This award will cover all associated costs of production and creation. Please consider budget limitations when creating your proposal. Once both proposal awardees are selected, The Center for Cultural Power and selected artists will sign a contract outlining project expectations, feedback, and the payment process. Cultural Power retains the right to void all contract obligations if the final product no longer aligns with areas of focus or proposal in submission.
FINAL VIDEO PROJECT:
Final works must clearly connect to one of the five themes central to the Climate Woke campaign (detailed below). All artistic disciplines are welcome, including digital art, poetry, animation, music, dance, etc.
Please note that all pieces must be in video format.
We are seeking short-form creative video creative work that is designed for digital dissemination.
Technical production elements: Cinematography, sound recording and mixing
Post-production (video): Editing, color-grading, subtitling, closed-captions
Post-production (audio): Sound design, editing and mixing, music mixing
Videos formatted for YouTube and screening:
One full video asset that is at least 1080p HD, 1920x1080, or at most 4k, 3840x2160, uncaptioned, with an accompanying SRT file (in English) for closed captions
One full video asset that is at least 1080p HD, 1920x1080, or at most 4k, 3840x2160 1080, fully captioned
One vertical 1080p HD, 1080x1920 trailer, fully captioned (if necessary), for social media distribution
Video Codec: h.264, AVC
Audio: AAC, 128 kbps
File: .MOV or .MP4
Broadcast: NTSC
INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD CONSIDER APPLYING ARE:
21 years old or older
Artists and storytellers engaged with the intersection of arts, culture, and social justice.
A proven track record of short-form creative video content creation or aspiring talent in climate storytelling and advocacy.
For the 7-11 minute narrative short film: creatives with a background in video/film production
For the 3-5 minute creative video content: creatives with a background in creating social media video content
Artists and storytellers who are values aligned with the mission of The Center for Cultural Power: advocating for equitable distribution of power and harmony with nature.
Artists and storytellers from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQI+, undocumented, and/or disabled individuals.
Applicants committed to collaborating and centering the expertise of communities navigating marginalization, in their work.
APPLICATION SPECIFICS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Before submitting your application using the Typeform link below, please ensure you have all the necessary information. We estimate this application should take between 1-2 hours to complete.
Contact information
Demographic information
Proposal submission describing the project concept in less than 4500 characters (approximately 800-1000 words with spaces).
3-5 minute creative video content ($5,000 award), OR the
7-11 minute narrative short film ($10,000 award)
The Climate Woke proposal description will need to include at least one of the themes of “Climate Woke” (Land Back, Black Liberation x Climate Justice, Environmental Optimism, Climate Migration/Climate Gentrification, OR Climate Change’s impact on Reproductive Freedom)
Include what primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences you would like to think this project will engage. How will your proposed work move audiences? How do you describe your proposed style for this content?
Consider including:
The Visual Aesthetic: Describe the visual style you plan to use in the film (e.g. documentary realism, artistic imagery, stylized animation). How will this style enhance the storytelling?
Tone: Describe the overall tone of the film, such as serious, hopeful, or a mix of both. How will the tone contribute to the film's impact?
[For the 7-11 min.] Narrative Approach: discuss the narrative structure, such as a linear or non-linear storyline, and how it supports the film's themes. What storytelling techniques will you use?
Past Work Samples: Please upload 2 examples of previously completed video projects. The samples must include a logline of your role and can include other project contributors and their roles; be sure to highlight your role as well. Samples should be uploaded as PDF files with embedded video links and saved as FirstName_LastName_Sample1.pdf.
Artist Profile: upload a short bio of no more than 1200 characters (approximately 250 words with spaces) and a JPEG headshot saved as FirstName_LastName_Headshot.jpeg.
culturalpower.org/stories/climate-woke-create-with-us-2024/
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Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers
GrubStreet
DEADLINE: May 30, 2024
INFO: GrubStreet’s Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers provides financial and professional development support to two self-identified Black writers interested in teaching classes, participating in events, and working with our instructors and staff to deepen our curriculum. The fellowship includes compensation of $25,000, artistic mentorship, and access to the GrubStreet community and the Muse and the Marketplace conference. In time, the program aims to offer sustainable support to Black Writers and create a cohort of fellows who have direct access to GrubStreet resources, classes, and events. We also hope the fellows can influence GrubStreet’s pedagogy and cultural vision based on their experience and feedback.
COMPENSATION:
$25,000 per fellow for the year.
Access to mentorship from GrubStreet’s Education Director and fellow instructors.
Free access to the Muse and the Marketplace during the fellowship year and the option to lead a paid session at the conference.
Access to additional GrubStreet events.
A dedicated space at GrubStreet’s new home to work on personal writing projects.
60 hours (or roughly 20 weeks) of free GrubStreet classes, which can be taken during or after the fellowship.
A two-year GrubStreet membership.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Teaching one ten-week class.
Teaching one six-week class.
Teaching one week-long teen camp.
Teaching one three-hour seminar (plus, the option to teach more for additional payment).
Moderate or participate in a Boston Writers of Color’s event.
Meet with the Director of Faculty and Fellowships periodically to track progress.
Meet with new fellows at the end of your own fellowship year.
The fellowship begins September 3rd, 2024 and runs through the end of August 2025.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
This fellowship is open to writers who self-identify as Black, are 18 or older, are able to work with both adult and teen audiences, and have a passion for expansive pedagogy, curriculum development, and professional growth. Ideal candidates will have some publication and teaching experience. Preference will be given to those working on their first book or a larger project. MFAs, a long publishing record, or extensive teaching experience are not requirements to apply, though feel free to tell us if you have any of these things.
Covid-19 Update: GrubStreet’s programming is currently taking place both virtually and in-person. We hope fellows will be able to join us in-person later in 2024 and 2025. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston when it's safe to do so.
HOW TO APPLY:
The Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers Application Form will require the following:
A personal statement (500 words max), which should include:
Your background as a writer and teacher.
Your personal philosophy or approach to creative writing workshops.
How this particular fellowship fits your interests and goals as a writer and educator.
Your CV or resume.
A writing sample (20 pages limit for prose; 12 pages for poetry; 25 pages for scripts; and 20 pages for other or fused genres) that best exemplifies your current trajectory as a writer.
Two personal references (name, email, and phone number) who can speak to your experience and dedication to writing and teaching.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Deadline: Thursday, May 30th, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel composed of GrubStreet’s program staff.
Final decisions will be announced at the end of June.
Program kicks off on September 3rd, 2024 and runs through the end of August 2025.
QUESTIONS?
If you have specific questions about the Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers, email programs@grubstreet.org or call the office anytime at 617.695.0075.
grubstreet.org/write/teaching-fellowship-for-black-writers
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EMERGING WRITER AWARDS
Key West Literary Seminar
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024 by 11:59 pm EST (Letters of recommendation must be received by the following week)
ENTRY FEE: $12
INFO: We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Emerging Writer Awards. These awards recognize and support writers who possess exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for lasting literary careers.
Winners of the the Scotti Merrill Award, Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award, and Marianne Russo Award receive full tuition to our Writers' Workshop Program and the 42st annual Seminar, "Family," as well as round-trip airfare, full lodging support, and a $500 honorarium. Winning submissions will be published in our program book and recipients will have the opportunity to read their work on stage. To participate in both programs, award winners will be in Key West from January 5 - 13, 2025.
Each Emerging Writer Award is tailored to a particular literary form. The Merrill Award recognizes a poet, while fiction writers may apply for either the Johnson Award (short story) or the Russo Award (novel-in-progress). Poets and writers who have not yet published a book with a major publisher are eligible to apply.
GUIDELINES FOR THE SCOTT MERRILL AWARD FOR POETRY:
COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, motivations as a writer, and previous accomplishments.
File name should adhere to the following model: “Lastname_Firstname_cover.doc” and your name should appear at the top-right-hand-corner of the page.WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit 5 - 7 poems within one document. File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_First_Poem.doc” and your name should not appear on the manuscript.
3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: One letter of recommendation is required. In the application form below, you will be asked to provide an email address for your recommender. Once you submit the application, they will receive an email from Submittable with a link to upload the recommendation letter. We strongly suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email as it sometimes ends up in spam. They may also send their recommendation directly to kschumann@kwls.org.
*Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is May 30 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than a week later.
Due to an increased volume of applications and our thorough review process, we are implementing a $12 application fee to cover review costs. Award winners will be notified by November 1.
ELIGIBILITY: Writers of any age who live in the United States and have not yet published a collection with a major publisher are eligible to apply. If you are the author of a book that is self-published, published with an independent press, or had a print run of 500 or fewer copies, you may or may not be eligible. If you think your eligibility may be called into question, please provide relevant details about prior publications as part of your cover letter. We reserve the right to make all final decisions regarding eligibility.
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call for submissions: “Transition” Issue
Callaloo
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024 at 11:59pm
INFO: Callaloo invites submissions on the theme of “Transition”.
Transition: the only constant is change…
n. the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
v. undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition.
We like to believe that things are certain, static, reliable, when in fact everything is constantly in flux. At every moment, our bodies are aging, our children are growing up, our environment and the ground beneath our feet are shifting. We marry, we divorce, we move, we lose jobs or choose new ones, violence enters our lives, we get sick, we lose loved ones, we are failed by our leaders, we are surprised by good fortune. Sometimes the shifts are within us—like a discovery or a loss of faith—other times our world changes around us, leaving us in search of our center. With each shift, we grow and adapt, or we resist.
Callaloo seeks scholarship, personal essays, fiction, poetry, and visual art focused on the question of how we grapple with or choose change, assimilate it, make ourselves anew in the face of it. Submissions might focus on (but should not be limited to):
Political change, upheaval, transfer of power, and war
Shifts in family structure
Immigration, migration, changes in home and language
Identity and allegiance: sociocultural, gender, racial, spiritual
Crossing class/education barriers
The natural environment/landscape/climate
Birth, aging, illness, and death
Sexual awakening, discovery
Moving through developmental stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, senior years)
The impact of technological and scientific discoveries
Theft and loss
Articles should follow the MLA Style Guide (3rd edition).
callaloo.submittable.com/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ISSUE 12 “EMBER”
Lucky Jefferson
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: Share nature-based poetry for our upcoming digital publication, Ember. This issue delves deep into humanity's intricate dance with the natural world.
Themes your work may explore:
Wildfire Symbolism—Interpret the raw power, beauty, and devastation of wildfires as a metaphorical backdrop.
Humanity's Control Over Nature—Explore our attempts to harness and manipulate the natural world, and the consequences thereof. Our
Abuse of Nature—Convey the poignant narratives of nature's exploitation and the toll it takes on our planet.
Our Appreciation and Obsession with Nature and Artifacts—Delve into our enduring fascination with the natural world and our creations, from the sublime to the mundane.
Metaphorical Relation Between Wildfires and Personal Life/Struggles—Draw parallels between the wildfires of nature and more personal challenges, resilience, and transformation.
Examples of what we're looking for: K.yah | Saad: Toward an Open Poetics by Jake Skeets / Writing a Poem Is All I Can Do for You by Wu Sheng
COMPENSATION (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
$15 — Haiku, Short Poems (<14 lines)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website, in print, and will be eligible to be publicized on social media.
luckyjefferson.submittable.com/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FROM BIOPIC AUTISTIC WRITERS + ARTISTS
Lucky Jefferson
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: BIPOC autistic writers and artists are invited to embrace their inner wildflowers by sharing poems, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, art, and more for this digital publication.
We invite you to:
Describe the inner life and beauty of introspection/introvertedness
Share experiences being on the spectrum
Share experiences being a BIPOC artist or writer on the spectrum
Share experiences with sexuality (and beyond) on the spectrum
Examples of what we're looking for: “When does the kosanba rest?” by Leslie McIntosh / bad road by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
COMPENSATION (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
$15 — Haiku, Short Poems (<14 lines), Micro Fiction (under 100-300 words)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
$25 — Prose, Short Story, Flash fiction, Creative-Nonfiction, Hybrid/Experimental (under 1000 words)
SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 1 PIECE PER UPLOAD
$25 — All Artwork (includes comics, paintings, etc.)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website, in print, and will be eligible to be publicized on social media.
luckyjefferson.submittable.com/submit
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: 'Awake' Zine - Issue 6, How We Make Fire
Lucky Jefferson
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: Awake is a digital zine and collection of work by Black authors that explores the power we each hold. For a second time, Awake, [Issue 6], will be in print!
Use the prompt below to complete your submission:
What survival skills are necessary to exist?
Submit poetry, essays, creative nonfiction, and more, about your experiences outdoors and how Black people survive, thrive, navigate oppression and privilege in nature.
*All poetic expressions are welcome (haikus, creative non-fiction, art, poetry, etc.)*
Examples of what we're looking for: The Bison Run with Chango by Frank X Walker / First Fire by Camille T. Dungy
COMPENSATION (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
$15 — Haiku, Short Poems (<14 lines), Micro Fiction (under 100-300 words)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
$25 — Prose, Short Story, Flash fiction, Creative-Nonfiction (under 1000 words)
SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 1 PIECE PER UPLOAD
$50 — Hybrid, Experimental, Essays, Long-form pieces. (under 2000 words)
SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 1 PIECE PER UPLOAD
$50 — All Artwork (includes comics, paintings, etc.)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website, in print, and will be eligible to be publicized on social media.
luckyjefferson.submittable.com/submit
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Calls for submissions: MQR Mixtape—DANGER, or: Speak Anyway
Michigan Quarterly
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024
INFO: In “Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work” Edwidge Danticat writes, “to create dangerously” means “to create fearlessly, boldly embracing the public and private terrors that would silence us, then bravely moving forward even when it feels as though we are chasing or being chased by ghosts.” To contend with the danger of the everyday demands courage and boldness, the doubt notwithstanding.
For this issue, MQR Mixtape seeks original, brave, and inventive work that bears witness to and reckons with human peril. We are particularly interested in work that troubles its genre, language, and the very idea of “danger” or speaking. For this issue, we seek honest work that contends with what impels them to stay silent but demands an unsilencing through art. What is the place of humor in works about imperiled lives? What does a dangerous story look like? What does a dangerous essay look like? What is the literary possibility of danger?
We want to know, so please submit:
Fiction: up to 5,000 words
Nonfiction: up to 4,500 words
Poetry: 1–4 poems, up to 6 pages total
Hybrid work, visual art and/or audiovisual: 250 word abstract and sample
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.
GUEST EDITOR: Kabelo Sandile Motsoeneng has published fiction and literary journalism in Joyland, Lolwe, Prairie Schooner and others. Currently a Zell Fellow at the University of Michigan, Motsoeneng obtained his MFA in Fiction at the Helen Zell Writers’ Program and studied English and Human Rights Studies at Trinity College. Motsoeneng has been awarded the Avery Hopwood Prize in the Novel, the Frederick Busch Prize, among others. He’s currently working on a novel set in Johannesburg, where he grew up.
sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/submit/
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call for submissions: The Futurities Issue
Mizna
DEADLINE: June 6, 2024
INFO: Before speculative writing, we must have speculative thought. Before thinking and feeling into the future, we must acknowledge our past and bear witness to our catastrophic present.
We write this call amid an ongoing genocide in Gaza—a genocide occurring before the world’s eyes, enabled by the world’s powers, a genocide that will yield generations of incommensurable grief and consequences, and, as of today, a genocide with no end in sight, a genocide that intends never to look back on its own crimes. Gaza is not alone in facing catastrophe—in Sudan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Morocco, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere throughout the region and the world, people are facing forced displacement, devastating violence, economic precarities, and uncertain futures. In approaching the subject of SWANA futurities, we face the very real question: In a moment when the present is so urgent, why bother discussing or imagining any future at all? Our short answer is: Because apathy is an intended effect of the forces who want to eradicate our Palestinian kin and exhaust our efforts of resistance and solidarity.
As we embark on this project, it is crucial to name that this genocide emerges from the future-oriented, settler-colonial project of Zionism; a project which exemplifies how notions of utopia and futurity can be instrumentalized to serve fascist and genocidal intentions. Our present moment manifests from long histories of extractive capitalism and colonial ambition that have come to shape the realities of the SWANA region and beyond, and constrain our abilities to imagine futures without these systems in place. To sow fear for the future and helplessness in the present is precisely the point; to colonize time and portray the desired outcomes of empire as inevitabilities is precisely the point. These tactics that work to manage and anticipate the expansion of colonial power have stoked the rise of genocidal futurities spanning Manifest Destiny, the Translatlantic Slave Trade, world-scale European colonialism and fascism, and the various trajectories of diaspora, migration, and forced displacement that converge in our staff, artists, and communities. This includes the stolen Dakota land on which we live and work in Minnesota and the endurance of systemic racism and police brutality in the United States. In this sense we know we are not alone in facing precarity, and that the stakes of this work are high.
The doomsday futurities that circulate throughout the SWANA region are not merely narratives; they alter the very fabric of how we move through time and space. In recent decades, the SWANA region has been dubbed the site of the “forever wars,” a barbaric desert locked in endless conflict, plagued by religious fundamentalism, and unable to “learn.” War itself demands a specific conceptualization of temporality, as urgency interrupts our relations to past and future, stretching the experience of the present into a looping, ruptured infinity. The region is also variegated in its projections and manifestations of futurity: oil-rich Gulf countries exploit migrant workers and decimate local ecosystems to consolidate wealth; governments brand themselves as progressive while curtailing populist movements. Elsewhere, Western military incursions and economic sanctions have likewise coopted SWANA futures and intensified present precarities in the name of “progress.”
We issue this call with faith in our ability to transform and imagine our futures, which are in fact undetermined, unsettled. In recent months, many have pointed to the joy and steadfastness of Palestinians amid incomparable catastrophe. In the words of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, “Part of our resistance to the finality of genocide is for us to talk about tomorrow, plan for tomorrow, work on healing the wounds of our people. The aim of this war is that there would no Palestinian tomorrow. We own tomorrow. Tomorrow is a Palestinian day.”
The stakes of futurity
What dreams and tomorrows can we imagine that grapple with the urgencies of today? What forms of writing can intervene in the projections of unending trauma and destitution seemingly prescribed for the SWANA region and beyond—those narratives that compel us to assume a predetermined future? How can we, by writing imagined alternatives, reject the catastrophes we are condemned to and disrupt the systems of oppression that rely on deliverable forecasts of violence, dispossession, and immiseration?
This issue is inspired by the literary, aesthetic, and chronopolitical movement of Afrofuturism. We resonate deeply with Afrofuturism’s concern, as Kodwo Eshun writes regarding the role of the artist in combating the Global North’s predatory and demoralizing forecasts of African and Afrodiasporic futurities, “with the possibilities for intervention within the dimension of the predictive, the projected, the proleptic, the envisioned, the virtual, the anticipatory and the future conditional . . . a space within which the critical work of manufacturing tools capable of intervention within the current political dispensation may be undertaken.” We are equally engaged with Indigenous futurisms, queer futurities, anti-capitalist Gulf Futurism, ecofuturism, and beyond. Situating ourselves in a constellation of proleptic liberation movements, we welcome any and all contributions from authors engaging with these and related modes of thought. Through speculative writing, we aim to foster conversations that shed the chains of colonial futurities, while also remaining lucid, creative, and rigorously attendant to the action that must take place in the present in order for such futures to be realized.
We seek work that writes with the gravity of the fact that our present moment is the projected and sought future of the status quo. We seek work that takes seriously the need to intervene with agency and take action in the present if we ever wish to see a freer, alterable future.
Who we are and what we seek
Mizna is a SWANA-run and -focused literary journal, and the work you submit should speak to our audience and mission. We welcome all SWANA peoples and those in community with us who seek to contribute interventions, incitements, speculations, and agitations geared to shift currents in collective action, imagination, morale, history, and plausibility through literature.
Writing of all forms: Poetry, prose, short stories, essays, creative nonfiction, visual poetry, comix, songs, spells, manifestos. Work that writes against form or incorporates multiple forms.
Speculative works rooted in our world but not necessarily taking place in the world we know. We are open to science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, magical realism, alternate history, utopia and dystopia, fairy tales, steampunk, cyberpunk, solarpunk, climate fiction, theory fiction, ecopoetics, and others related to this genre.
More Octavia Butler, less Arthur C. Clarke.
Works that look to the past for inspiration and can shift our thinking in the present. For example, reimaginings of SWANA folktales, myths, legends, and stories.
Historical fiction with speculative elements inspired by explorations of settings and conditions for revolutionary movements. For example: the Arab Workers Movement (Mouvement des Travailleurs Arabes) and the Black Panthers’ refuge in Algeria in the early ’70s.
Works that give voice to, and create a platform for, minoritized peoples in Western and SWANA contexts alike. Please be aware of your positionality when submitting this type of work.
Works that challenge the notions of progress and linear time.
We are not looking for:
Indulgences in escapism, uncritical technocapitalist sci-fi, utopian projects collaborating with empire, or the over-intellectualization of liberatory struggles.
Academic writing or term papers. Your work can be complex and theoretical, but it should be clear and legible to a nonacademic audience. Easy on the jargon!
Visual art submissions.
General Submissions Guidelines
Submitters do not need to be SWANA- or Arab-identifying, but work submitted should be mindful of Mizna’s aesthetic and the social realities of our audiences, as well as be a contribution to ongoing conversations in and beyond our communities. We encourage submitters to read back issues of Mizna before submitting work for consideration.
Mizna focuses on debut writing; please submit previously unpublished work. We do not accept visual art submissions. Simultaneous submissions are permissible, though we ask to be notified as soon as possible if the submission is accepted elsewhere. There are no submission fees. Selected contributors receive a $200 honorarium, a one-year subscription to Mizna, and five copies of the issue.
Please include a short cover letter (200 words or less) as the first page of your submission, with a brief overview of the work you are submitting and why you are submitting to Mizna. Include a note disclosing any simultaneously submitted works.
Poets should list the poems they are submitting.
Prose submissions should include a brief, 1–2 sentence overview of the submission (e.g., a synopsis if it is a story or narrative essay, or an overview of the argument for more expository essays). Keep in mind that we are a literary magazine.
Include a brief (50 words or less) author bio.
Add a maximum of one sentence for any additional information you would like the editorial team to know about the work.
Include contact information: email, phone number, and mailing address.
Please submit as .doc or .docx files. Submitting pdfs is allowable only for pieces with complex layouts. We do not accept other file formats (e.g., .pages). Prose submissions should be double spaced and limited to 5000 words. Please do not send us your term papers or thesis manuscripts for consideration. Poetry submissions should be limited to four poems of any length. Verses exceeding our page width will be treated with a run-over indent.
Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be considered.