Comps and calls for August 2019

Hello Everyone!

We’re moving house this month, so I’m even more disorganised than usual! I’ll be making sure to submit, though—August is the second-best month to submit and enter (after December). It’s the school holidays, and people are too busy with children to write; or they’re on holiday themselves, and doing non-writerly things. Take advantage! Send your work out there!

I hope that you’re all well and enjoying your writing. There are some wonderfully odd themes this month, so even if you’re not confident, have a go for a giggle. And then submit the result… Good luck!

Best wishes,

Cathy x

Paypal/Patreon


Here are some writing competitions and calls for submission, all with free, electronic entry.

As usual I’m passing these on in good faith but mistakes may be made, so do check all the submission guidelines carefully. Any info in quotes comes from the website itself and any dates at the start are deadlines. Also, I don’t know the sources personally, so do check them out for yourselves.

There are three headings (click/tap to jump straight to them):

If you aren’t a submitter (why not? Nothing to lose! Rejection is something we all share!) then the themes can make great writing prompts/exercises.

Although I mention only fiction or poetry, many publications accept non-fiction, art or other forms, so do check if interested. Good luck and do let me know of successes! The links are in the comments, and any dates at the start are deadlines.

Where possible, I have marked the relevant entries with ‘paying’, ‘contributor copy’ etc. However, you are best off checking the info for yourselves as I am not infallible and the info isn’t always available or clear. Please be aware that a contributor copy may be in print or digital format. Also, some publications offer several things, eg payment as well as a contributor copy. Where this is the case, I have assumed that payment is enough of an incentive, so I haven’t listed everything. It’s a rough guide and should be treated as such.

COMPETITIONS

2nd Aug US only: Fiction up to 5000 words on the theme of Black Gold. PAYING https://www.bethuneandson.com/texasshortstorycontest.html (thanks to www.erikadreifus.com for this one)

5th Aug Review of an art exhibition by someone who has not previously had published more than three pieces of writing on art. PAYING https://frieze.com/article/frieze-writers-prize-2019

7th Aug Spectator competition No. 3111: spanish ayesWilliam McGonagall wrote a poem entitled ‘Beautiful Torquay’. You are invited to submit his poetic response to Magaluf. Please email (wherever possible) entries of up to 16 lines to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 7 August. PAYING

15th Aug Speculative flash fiction. ‘This is a call for Native and Indigenous writers. The flash must pass or discuss The Native Bechdel Test, which requires 1) Two (named) Native Characters, 2) Who talk to each other, 3) about something other than white people.’ PAYING https://www.apparitionlit.com/submission-guidelines/#1538347466119-241fd8cf-66ed

15th Aug Writing up to 350 words on the theme of ‘Color’. PAYING https://www.headwaylit.org/contest

15th Aug Poem on the theme of Identity. Winner will be published in a broadside. NON-CASH PRIZE http://jacarpress.com/submissions/

15th Aug Flash fiction on the theme of Elves and/or Fairies. PAYING https://www.lvwonline.org/flash-fiction

21st Aug Poetry, prose and more on the theme of Environment. CHAPBOOK PUBLICATION AND CONTRIBUTOR COPIES https://www.selcouthstation.com/chapbook-submissions-now-open

29th Aug Environmental writing in various categories. ‘All genres must relate to environmental issues such as climate change, environment, conservation, and animal rights.’ PAYING https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/peaceful-dumpling-environmental-writing-prize

30th Aug Fiction on the theme of Tradition, 1000-5000 words. PAYING https://onthepremises.submittable.com/Submit

31st Aug ‘We are looking for stories (in a variety of formats: play, film, radio, book, tv) that in some way touch upon ideas around building a sustainable society. We will consider all genres – rom-com, literary fiction, science fiction, mystery, crime etc. – but stories must engage with the idea of environmentally sustainable practices and/or sustainable societies.’ Full-length novel PAYING http://www.greenstories.org.uk/about-the-competition/

31st Aug Fiction 1000-7500 words. PAYING https://www.mura.ink/contest

31st Aug Poetry. PAYING https://www.culturalweekly.com/2019-jack-grapes-poetry-prize-submissions-now-open/ (thanks to https://fundsforwriters.com/ for this one)

1st Sep Flash fiction up to 300 words on the theme of Feed Us. PAYING https://brilliantflashfiction.com/2019/06/01/feed-us-writing-contest/#more-3344

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

Until filled: poetry on the theme of Crone. ‘If that puts images in your head of an old witch stirring stuff in a cauldron, let us gently move that idea out of the way. Here’s what we are thinking: Women poets over the age of 50 are underrepresented in poetry publications. But they shouldn’t be; women over 50 have a breadth and depth of experience, knowledge, and wisdom to celebrate. So we want to hear from poets who identify as women and are over 50.’ https://www.gyroscopereview.com/home/guidelines/ (Cathy’s note: the deadline is 7th Sep or until filled – you’ve got the best chance of being in time if you get in early!)

3rd Aug Stories and poetry suitable for children, on the theme of Super Hero. PAYING http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/submissions.html

3rd Aug Speculative fiction 1500-3000 words on the theme of Longevity. PAYING https://www.thirdflatiron.com/liveSite/pages/submissions

9th Aug Spec flash on the theme of Stories that Sing: the 80s. PAYING https://gohavok.com/submission-guidelines/

10th Aug Poetry, flash, short fiction and more. One contributor will get £20. PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS https://www.amandasteelwriter.com/440793822

10th Aug ‘This ‘Vintage Faeries’ issue of FAE will look back at faeries of the past, and bring some of them into the future! We welcome your creative ideas on this vintage faerie theme for possible publication in the autumn 2019 edition of FAE. We are happy to accept and review photo-sets (no nudity), short poems and articles.’ https://www.faemagazine.com/submissions/

10th Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of “Addiction /You can never get enough of that which doesn’t satisfy”. http://moonmagazine.org/submission-guidelines/

10th Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Social Justice, 100,000 Poets (and Friends) for Change. https://thebezine.com/submission-guidelines/

11th Aug Poetry on the theme of Peach. Only Australian contributors are paid. PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS http://cordite.org.au/guncotton/mfk-fisher-will-poach-you-one/

11th Aug Fiction, flash and nonfiction on the theme of Reality. https://www.litro.co.uk/submit/

12th Aug Submissions should address the intersection of women’s sexuality with the issue’s theme: Menstruation. https://cliteraturejournal.com/submit

12th Aug ‘One of the most important historic Quaker testimonies stood against gambling, yet it’s a topic we rarely seem to talk about anymore. Do we participate in raffles or games of chance? Does it matter? How about investments in the stock market? Does gambling foster materialism? Is it an addiction we need to work against?’ Poetry, articles and more. https://www.friendsjournal.org/submissions/

15th Aug Fiction up to 5000 words. PAYING https://psychopompmag.com/submit/

15th Aug Poetry, flash, short fiction and more on the theme of Pithy Politics. https://antilang.ca/submission-guidelines/

15th Aug ‘Lonely Cryptid Media is now accepting submissions for our new anthology: Fireweed: Stories from the Revolution. We are seeking submissions of poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and visual art.’ PAYING https://lonelycryptidmedia.com/2019/07/14/call-for-submissions-fireweed-stories-from-the-revolution/

15th Aug Poetry, prose and art on the theme of Self-love. https://www.thewinnowmagazine.com/submit.html

18th Aug Fiction 2000-4000 words on the theme of either Detective Thrillers or A Dying Planet. PAYING http://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/short-story-submissions-detective-thrillers-a-dying-planet

18th Aug ‘Our Fall theme, New Spirit, Wise Action,explores the relationship between spirituality and activism. We invite you to submit an essay up to 1000 words, a poem, or other artwork.’ https://www.kosmosjournal.org/contribute-to-kosmos-quarterly/

18th Aug Poetry and prose on the theme of Masks. https://thewriterscafemagazine.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/the-writers-cafe-magazine-issue-17-maskscallout/

19th Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Industry. PAYING http://www.speculativecity.com/submissions/

19th Aug Underwater New Yorkis now open for submissions for our fall issue. While we remain interested in submissions that follow the general constraints of our mission—creative work inspired by our list of underwater objects or by New York City’s diverse waterways and waterfronts—for this issue, we are particularlyinterested in the theme of LABOR and WORK.’ PAYING http://underwaternewyork.com/submit-1

30th Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Privacy. https://oreadjournal.co.uk/submissions/

31st Aug Poetry, flash and more on the theme of Astrology. https://astrosciencewriter.com/submissions/

31st Aug Poetry, prose, and more. Marginalized writers highly encouraged to submit. https://anatoliosmagazine.wordpress.com/guidelines/

31st Aug ‘ZED Press is looking for unique and interesting chapbook submissions from across the world for its third series. We’re looking for writing that is experimental in form and/or content, and we have a particular interest in cross-genre work that bends or breaks traditional genre “rules.” Show us something we’ve never seen before, whether it’s poetry, prose, or a combination of the two.’ https://zedpresswindsor.wordpress.com/submission-guidelines/

31st Aug Poetry. PAYING https://www.foundryjournal.com/submit.html

31st Aug ‘What happens when we make monsters? What happens when we confront the monsters inside ourselves? These are the grotesque things that should never have been. These are the beasts that stalk our twisted pasts. These are the ghosts of our own making that haunt our regrets. They’re the blood on our hands. They’re the obsessions in our heads. They’re the vengeance in our hearts. These are Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors.’2000-5000 words PAYING https://blog.nettirw.com/2019/07/03/miscreations-open-call-for-submissions/

31st Aug Poetry and prose. https://quiddity.submittable.com/submit

31st Aug Poem or story including these three words: Effigy, Sleepwalk, Wane. http://3elementsreview.com/submission-guidelines

31st Aug Speculative fiction and poetry on the theme of Euphoria. PAYING https://www.apparitionlit.com/submission-guidelines/

31st Aug ‘Editors Harley Easton and CM Peters want lovers of a bookish nature. Give us your best librarian, book dealer, first-edition collector, or bookstore owner.’ 3000-10,000 words. ROYALTIES https://sincyrpublishing.com/open-calls/

31st Aug Nonfiction poetry on the theme of Lineages. http://rabbitpoetry.com/?page_id=35

31st Aug Poetry, fiction and more. Free subs run out quickly, so don’t delay! PAYING http://grubstreetgrackle.com/submit/

31st Aug ‘A collection of stories set in and around the town of Quonsettville, Vermont, set off by a particular event.’ (Cathy’s note: as always, read the guidelines carefully!) https://pureslush.com/submissions/current-submissions/the-shitlist/

31st Aug ‘In this anthology, Temptation Pressis looking for short stories that explore the naughty side of an affair with your boss. Any gender combination is welcome.’ 4500-20,000 words. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://www.temptationpress.com/anthology-calls-for-submissions/

31st Aug ‘For the #76 Magma Issue, ‘Resistencia’, we are seeking poems about disobedience, solidarity, human rights, bilingualism, exile, migration, that are related or linked to Latin America, or to the Latinx experience here in the UK or elsewhere.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://magmapoetry.submittable.com/submit/143464/magma-76-resistencia

31st Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Power, by Asian writers. PAYING http://looseleafmagazine.ca/submissions/

1st Sep Poetry written while on a commercial airliner. PAYING https://poetryonplanes.com/

1st Sep ‘TOIL & TROUBLE:Witches, warlocks, wizards, wyverns, wights, wraiths and will-o-the-wisps (and other horror-themed things not beginning with W) haunt our Hallowe’en hallucinations this October: send in your most troubling and terrifying fiction.’ Story 800-2000 words. https://www.liarsleague.com/liars_league/forthcoming-events-themes.html

1st Sep Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Phenomenal Woman. https://www.stillpointartgallery.com/calls.html

1st Sep Poetry on the theme of Hallowe’en and Horror. PAYINGhttp://www.songsoferetz.com/p/guidelines.html

1st Sep ‘Poetic License Press is seeking poems about the experience of feeling seen or unseen, understood or misunderstood, ignored or scrutinized. Poems should reflect actual firsthand experience, not the perspective of a second party observer.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://www.poeticlicenseinc.net/call-for-submissions

1st Sep ‘Give us your take on the intersection of elder gods, old monsters and new technology.’ 2000-8000 words. There are various plots to pick from. PAYING https://nphzone.com/anthologies-and-contests/darkness-wired-anthology-2019/

1st Sep Poetry and stories on the theme of Family Functions (or Dysfunctions). PAYING https://sites.google.com/site/bethlehemwritersroundtable/submissions

1st Sep Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Herbal Alchemy. PAYING https://nilvx.com/pages/guidelines

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

Short Stories. PAYING http://hermineannual.com/submit.htm (thanks to www.erikadreifus.com for this one)

Fiction, poetry and more. https://theelixirmag2018.wordpress.com/submission-guidelines/

‘If there’s something you’re passionate about, try it out on us. Write an essay. A critique. A poem. A fanciful vision of whatever far off world it is that you daydream about. The plan is simply that the best and most inquiring of the pieces submitted to the quarterly magazine will be offered the opportunity to be worked on to eventually form books that will be published by EAP.’ http://exterminatingangel.com/ea-press/becoming-part-of-the-eap-community/

Fiction and more. PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS https://www.guernicamag.com/about/submissions/ (Cathy’s note: they pay for most stuff, but not short-form pieces. Thanks to www.erikadreifus.com for this one)

Fiction by womxn. PAYING http://hotflashfiction.com/submissions/

Poetry. http://one.jacarpress.com/submissions/

‘History Through Fiction is interested in publishing high quality fiction that is based on historical research. We are looking for stories about real people and real events. Though fictionalized, our books include nonfiction elements such footnotes, endnotes, and/or a bibliography.’ ROYALTIES http://www.historythroughfiction.com/submission-guidelines/

‘Please keep in mind as well that we publish primarily literary fiction, rarely poetry or non-fiction, and that we place a heavy emphasis upon fiction that belongs to the experimental tradition of Sterne, Joyce, Rabelais, Flann O’Brien, Beckett, Gertrude Stein, and Djuna Barnes.’ http://www.dalkeyarchive.com/submission-guidelines/

‘We are currently seeking poetry submissions that align with our mission. We are especially interested in poetry from immigrant writers exploring any theme and first generation writers exploring themes of heritage and identity. Please submit 3-5 poems and include either a brief artist statement or essay on the themes of your selected work.’ PAYING https://immigrantreport.submittable.com/submit/144822/immigrant-report-poetry (thanks to www.erikadreifus.com for this one)

Short fiction and serial fiction. PAYING https://www.myweekly.co.uk/contact/

cathy

1 Comment

  1. Hi Cathy, just for everyone’s info, My Weekly will only accept short stories from those writers on their list of writers permitted to submit. Anyone can submit a ‘Pocket Novel’, though and if yours is accepted then you will go on their list for shorts. All the best and thanks for another great list of opportunities. So glad you’re back! Enjoy the rest of your summer

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