Comps and calls for December 2023

Hello everyone,

Comps and Calls is short this month, and the reason is that I’m having a serious health issue. This may or may not impact January’s listings too. I’ll keep you informed.

There are some great opportunities here, though, so do have a good rummage!

Here are some of the other listings websites I recommend. I don’t consider these people as competitors, just as I don’t think of other writers that way. I see them as colleagues and sometimes friends, and I recommend that attitude. Anyway: Erika Dreifus at www.erikadreifus.com is one of my favourites. She’s a lovely person and writer as well as providing great listings. A few more:  http://www.prizemagic.co.uk/html/writing_comps.htm , https://winningwriters.com/ , and https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/ . Most of my posted links come from my paid subscription to Duotrope. If you’re on Facebook, I recommend this group, though all sorts of people and opportunities post there! https://www.facebook.com/groups/35517751475

So – write and submit and enter in December, if you can! It’s the best time of year for it, because everyone is so busy.

Good luck and love to all,

Cathy x


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

14th Dec  ‘Reality Show Madness! We are looking for flash in the vein of these reality shows with a heavy addition of the speculative. We are not looking for fan fiction.’ Theme: Terrace House/Big Brother/The Real World PAYING https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/

15th Dec ‘Send us skillfully written stories that are brief, humorous and engaging, with the emphasis on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. No entry fee. Submissions close December 15, 2023. Word limits: 200-1000. First prize A$50, second prize A$20, third prize A$10, payable via Paypal only.’ https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/monthly-humour-competition-C6KF8

15th Dec Crime novel. PAYING https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/submit-manuscript/

31st Dec Uk poets aged 10-16: poems on the theme of Peace. VOUCHER/OTHER https://poetrywales.co.uk/wales-young-poets-award-2023/

31st Dec Short story, 6-10,000 words. PAYING https://shortstory.substack.com/p/coming-soon

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

4th Dec ‘Middle West Press LLC, an independent micro-publisher of military-themed and -adjacent literary projects, has issued a call for human-generated poems engaging with  “Giant Robot” technology themes.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) http://www.middlewestpress.com/2023/06/editors-seek-war-poems-about-emerging.html

5th Dec ‘The Bad Day Book is a humorous de-motivational motivational book. A compilation of stories detailing different people’s funny bad days. The perfect gift to those you know who are having a bad day, or a pick-me up for your own rough times.’ Poems and stories on the theme of At Work. PAYING https://thebaddaybook.com/submit-your-story/

5th Dec ‘The Bad Day Book is a humorous de-motivational motivational book. A compilation of stories detailing different people’s funny bad days. The perfect gift to those you know who are having a bad day, or a pick-me up for your own rough times.’ Poems and stories on the theme of Sports. PAYING https://thebaddaybook.com/submit-your-story/

9th Dec Theme: The End. Stories must be 2,000 (10% tolerance +/-)  PAYING https://theotherstories.net/submissions/

10th Dec Poetry, fiction and Kidlit. PAYING https://northerngravy.com/submissions/

15th Dec ‘We can’t wait to read all the heartwarming, inspirational, and magical stories that celebrate the dog and the magic that dogs bring to your life or the lives of your family or friends!’ PAYING https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/

15th Dec ‘We can’t wait to read all the heartwarming, inspirational, and magical stories that celebrate the cat and the magic that cats bring to your life or the lives of your family or friends!’ PAYING https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/

27th Dec ‘Moonstruck Books will publish an anthology of dark fiction titled Nightmare Diaries in Spring 2025. We are seeking short stories, fairy tales, flash fiction, and novellas of 500-10,000 words.’ PAYING https://www.moonstruck-books.com/submissions

29th Dec ‘We are especially interested in publishing work from early-career/emerging poets (poets who have yet to publish a full-length collection, or have recently published a full-length collection). We also consider work from mid-career and established poets who have published multiple full-length collections. We want to lead readers to their next favorite poets.’ https://frozensea.org/submit

31st Dec ‘Issue 20 of Workers Write! will be Further Tales from the Cubicle and will contain fiction and poems from the office worker’s point of view – we’re especially interested to see how the home office has taken on a new meaning because of Covid and what it’s been like for those of us who have returned to the annoying commutes and communal bathrooms.’ PAYING http://www.workerswritejournal.com/

31st Dec ‘Would neurodivergent folks find themselves at an advantage in dealing with aliens? Let’s find out. ‘Neurodiversiverse’ will be an anthology of 60,000 – 90,000 words, edited by Anthony Francis & Liza Olmsted, featuring stories with a range of neurodivergent perspectives on encountering aliens. We’re inviting you to put your spin on what that means.’ Poetry, flash, short fiction, and art. PAYING https://www.thinkinginkpress.com/ndv-submissions/

31st Dec ‘The Way of Worlds is an anthology focused on space exploration and colonization. We want aliens, solar systems, spaceships, alternate universes, and to go somewhere beyond imagination. The focus of this anthology is space but it doesn’t have to be hard science fiction. Show us what is happening in the galaxy next door.’ About 3000-12,000 words. PAYING https://theunderdogpress.com/pages/submission-guidelines

31st Dec ‘Ranger Press (RPRESS) is a new micro-press specializing in showcasing the best visual and concrete poetry, as well as all hybrid and uncategorizable genres (text + visual). Generative, glitch, asemic and digital art are all welcome, too.’ https://www.rangermagazine.net/ranger-press_home

31st Dec Theme: Wands. ‘Welcome to our four-book series, dedicated to horror inspired by the Tarot. Does the story have to be about Tarot Cards… NO. Think cups, knives, wands, and pentacles. We are looking for the theme to be the element, not necessarily the card itself, although we would love to read that as well… What we are looking for: Unique, clever, and terrifying stories. Well-written relatable characters with flaws and real dialogue. Take us on a journey and scare the sh*t out of us while doing it.’ PAYING https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/open-submission

31st Dec ‘Auroras & Blossoms will be five in 2024. And we want to celebrate this milestone with a special anthology featuring written and visual art. Our theme is “Auroras and/or blossoms”’. https://abpositiveart.com/the-auroras-blossoms-anthology-5-years-and-counting-submit-to-us/

31st Dec ‘Rattus Futura is an anthology focused on stories about the future which feature rodents. This volume will contain stories, poetry, and visual art.’ PAYING http://www.manawaker.com/submit-to-rattus-futura/

31st Dec The Map of Lost Places. ‘Editors Sheree Renée Thomas and Lesley Conner are looking for stories about places where weird things happen. Places that have strange histories, their own traditions and customs, their own dangers.’ Up to 5000 words. PAYING  https://www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontpage/anthology-submissions-call-the-map-of-lost-places

31st Dec Poetry. PAYING https://arcpoetry.submittable.com/submit (Cathy’s note: there’s a fee for those based in the US, but for poets of every other nation submission is free: ‘As a Canadian literary magazine, and due to the increasing number of submissions from US-based poets, we are requesting that US submitters pay a $2 entry fee per poem.’)

31st Dec ‘We want your best horror stories with some kind of mathematical theme.’ 3000-15,000 words. PAYING https://polymathpress.com/pages/arithmophobia-submission-guidelines

31st Dec ‘We are interested in prose and poetry that experiment with form, narrative, and nontraditional subject matter, as well as more traditional literary work.’ PAYING

http://www.ninthletter.com/journal/submit (Cathy’s note: although submissions are accepted until Feb, there is a fee to submit during most months. December subs are free until they’ve reached their 300 free subs cap. Or you can email them in cases of financial hardship.)

1st Jan ‘Although the essay holds the central role at DPA, we are open to other genres, including experimental, poetry and flash non-fiction, as long as there is a first-person point of view.’ Theme: Panic. https://www.dorothyparkersashes.com/submit

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

(Publishers might not give out their pay rates on their submission pages, so make sure to find them out before signing a contract!)

Poetry, prose, and more. https://www.eucalyptuslit.com/submit (thanks to www.authorspublish.com )

Comps and calls for November 2023

Hello everyone,

It’s drizzly and cold here in the North of England – a good time of year to write in the warmest room you have! As the old rhyme so very nearly says:

   Remember, Remember, to write in November,
   Articles, fiction and pomes.
   And if you Remember, submit in November
   To find your work fabulous homes.

Ha! I bet you can do better than that, anyway!

As always, many thanks to my Patreon People. I really appreciate your support.

Good luck and love to all,

Cathy x


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

5th Nov ‘We are excited to announce the fourth annual Bird in Your Hands Prize: a contest that centers and celebrates BIPOC voices. This is a no-fee contest accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in any form under 500 words.’ PAYING https://thinair.submittable.com/submit (thanks to www.winningwriters.com for this one)

13th Nov ‘Unlike many other prizes, we will not be asking for completed scripts. Instead, playwrights will be invited to submit a pitch form for a new idea alongside a sample of their writing.’ PAYING https://www.bitterpilltheatre.com/submit

14th Nov  ‘Reality Show Madness! We are looking for flash in the vein of these reality shows with a heavy addition of the speculative. We are not looking for fan fiction.’ Theme: Do your worst month (Canada’s Worst Handyman, America’s Ugliest House, Nailed It) PAYING https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/

15th Nov ‘Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK. Each year a question or quote exploring Benjamin Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. The Franklin quote for interpretation in 2023 is:

“Government must depend for its Efficiency either on Force or Opinion.” From ‘The Colonist’s advocate’, VII. (Feb 1, 1770)’ PAYING https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/education/literary-prize/

15th Nov US only (though check eligibility as there are various categories within that): ‘The Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize is given to honor exceptional poems that help make real for readers the gravity of the vulnerable state of our environment at present.’ PAYING https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/treehouse-climate-action-poem-prize

19th Nov ‘Wild Words is an exciting new cross-species poetry project inviting young people aged 18 and under across the UK to connect with nature. We want you to collaborate with an element of your local environment, whether a flower, insect, bird, tree, natural landscape, or even the weather, to craft an original piece of poetry.’ https://www.theatreintherough.com/wildwords/ (Cathy’s note: the only prize is publication, but I’m hoping that publication will be thrilling enough for children.)

30th Nov ‘This is the place for you to enter your absolute best six word stories, memoirs, poems, and jokes, with the chance of winning $100, getting published, and being named the Six Word Wonder!’ PAYING https://www.dougweller.net/contest

30th Nov ‘First novels written by authors under the age of 35 in a traditional or romantic style.’ PAYING (LOTS) https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/betty-trask-prize-awards/ (thanks to http://www.prizemagic.co.uk/html/writing_comps.htm for reminding me of this one.)

30th Nov ‘This competition is focused on finding new voices in crime, thriller, mystery and suspense.’ Send the first 5000 words of your novel. Check eligibility requirements. PAYING https://amheath.com/criminal-lines/

30th Nov ‘To make a long story short: we want your stories! Open to writers never before published in The Hudson Review.10,000 word limit.’ PAYING https://hudsonreview.com/news-events/short-story-contest-opening-in-september-2023/

30th Nov ‘For this award, any genre or theme of short story is accepted. All applicants should submit their original unpublished work of short fiction or nonfiction, 5,000 words or fewer, to be considered.’ PAYING https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award

30th Nov Short story, 6-10,000 words. PAYING https://shortstory.substack.com/p/coming-soon

1st Dec ‘The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry.’ PAYING https://africanpoetrybf.unl.edu/contest-prizes/sillerman-prize-for-african-poetry-winners/

1st Dec ‘The theme this year is Love Letters to London of the Future. What does your London of the future look like – what are your passions, hopes, dreams and aspirations for this most wonderful of cities? Now in its third year, this competition is open to everyone to celebrate our wonderful, fantastic, infuriating city in prose or poetry. Open to all ages, and to all writing styles – fiction, poetry, essays and reportage – whether you live in the capital or not.’ PAYING https://www.londonsociety.org.uk/page/loveletters

1st Dec US only: Experimental, both pulished and unpublished. PAYING http://www.tonyquaglianopoetry.com/poetry-award-competition-2023.html

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

4th Nov ‘Paper Dragon is committed to publishing poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, and artwork that resonates with contemporary readers.’ Theme: Friendship. https://drexelpaperdragon.com/submit/

5th Nov Poetry, fiction and more. https://talonreview.com/submit

5th Nov ‘As always, we’re open to submissions of short stories, flash fiction and even novel extracts (which are self-contained/can stand alone) – so long as they are unpublished and 800-2000 words long.’ READING IN LONDON https://www.liarsleague.com/liars_league/forthcoming-events-themes.html

5th Nov or until filled: Poetry on the theme of For the Ages. https://speckledtroutreview.com/2019/08/04/welcome-to-my-blog/

6th Nov ‘At Fathom we publish articles, personal essays, profiles, interviews, book reviews, Bible exposition, theological and/or historical analysis, poetry, and short stories. The work we prefer often utilizes personal narrative to communicate the deeper aspects of the Christian faith and to draw our readers into the nuance surrounding an idea. Our standard articles fall between 1,000 and 1,600 words. Short stories should be at least 3,000 words. Poems vary in length and style.’ Theme: Patience. https://www.fathommag.com/writing-for-fathom

10th Nov ‘ANTHOLOGY CALL: LoveNotes! – True Stories of First Love, Last Love, & All The Love In Between. Have you ever been in love? Submit your TRUE story, anything from heartbreaking to heartwarming, about romantic love in any of its incarnations. Remember, a LoveNotes! story is the kind of yarn in which Cupid has shot someone in the heart and has lived to tell the tale.’ 1000 words or under. https://www.heatherchristiebooks.com/lovenotes/

10th Nov or when 200 submissions have been received: ‘We will consider only previously unpublished and philosophically informed creative work (though our understanding of “philosophically informed” is capacious). Please submit only one prose manuscript or up to five poems for each issue. We are accepting submissions on the theme of books, reading, and being read.’ PAYING https://www.bookxi.org/submit

10th Nov Canadians only: poetry, reviews, essays and art. https://reviewcanada.ca/submissions/

10th Nov Poetry and prose on the theme of Burning up/Burning Down.  CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) https://www.prairiefire.ca/submissions/call-for-submissions-burning-up-burning-down/

11th Nov Theme: Infestation. Stories must be 2,000 (10% tolerance +/-)  PAYING https://theotherstories.net/submissions/

12th Nov ‘Our main focus is genre fiction, prioritizing on character-focused stories.’ Theme: Home. PAYING https://empyreantree.com/upcoming-issue/

13th Nov ‘Dog Throat Journal is dedicated to the publication and promotion of flash fiction and prose poetry. Flash fiction has various definitions, but for our purposes we define it as a work of fiction up to 1000 words.’ https://dogthroat.com/guidelines

15th Nov Articles or artwork on the theme of Queer Iconography/Icons. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) https://www.rfdmag.org/submissions.php

15th Nov Poetry and art on the theme of Winter Solstice. PAYING http://www.songsoferetz.com/p/guidelines.html

15th Nov Writers aged 25 and under: Poetry and prose on the theme of Lacuna. https://www.asterlit.org/submit

15th Nov Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Art and Music. PAYING https://ev0kepublication.com/contributors/

15th Nov Haiku on the theme of a gift you received or sent this year. https://enchanted-garden-haiku.blogspot.com/p/submissions-calendar.html

15th Nov ‘The Bad Day Book is a humorous de-motivational motivational book. A compilation of stories detailing different people’s funny bad days. The perfect gift to those you know who are having a bad day, or a pick-me up for your own rough times.’ Poems and stories on the theme of On Vacation. PAYING https://thebaddaybook.com/submit-your-story/

15th Nov Poetry, prose and more on the theme of Feel. ‘What do you feel when you dive, submerge, flip beneath the surface? Literally, though, do your palms have a grasp on this elusive fluid or does it slip between your fingers?’ PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS https://swimmeetlitmag.com/submit/ (Cathy’s note: only Australian contributors are paid.)

15th Nov ‘The Lorelei Signal is a quarterly SF/Fantasy electronic magazine – one that will feature strong / complex female characters. This does not mean your female character has to be the main hero or villain in the story. What it does mean is no shrinking violets, or women who serve only to get into trouble so the male hero can rescue them. Each issue I hope to publish: 7 short stories, 1 flash fiction piece and 2 poems.’ PAYING https://www.loreleisignal.com/guidelines

15th Nov Stories that rebel in some way, on the theme of Two for the Show. PAYING https://rebellionlit.com/anthology-two-for-the-show/

15th Nov ‘Artful autobiographical writing’ on the theme of Correspondences. https://www.autofocuslit.com/about

18th Nov Horror short story up to 4000 words, on the theme of Flora and Fungi. PAYING https://www.hornsandrattlespress.com/submit

20th Nov ‘Friends Journal welcomes articles, poetry, art, photographs, and letters from our readers. We are also helped by your comments and questions. We are an independent magazine serving the entire Religious Society of Friends.’ Articles, poetry, and more. No particular theme this month.  https://www.friendsjournal.org/submissions/

20th Nov ‘Laughter is the best medicine. And we love to publish your funny stories—in all our books. Our books filled with nothing but funny stories are always bestsellers, so we’re doing it again.’ PAYING https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/

20th Nov Women over 60: lists of likes and dislikes for their Short Takes section. https://persimmontree.org/submissions/

20th Nov Fiction, poetry and more on the theme of Cozy. https://www.writersworkout.net/waywords

24th Nov ‘All writers must be undergraduates who are enrolled in a college or university, and who have not yet earned an undergraduate degree.’ Poetry, fiction, and more. SOME CONTRIBUTORS GET CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIEShttps://albionreview.com/submit/

25th Nov Flash and short fiction on the theme of Intrepidus – undaunted and overcoming. PAYING https://intrepidusink.com/submissions/

30th Nov ‘Do you identify as a queer mom and a feminist? Are you parenting a son? We want to know your story! We are excited to announce a new collection of essays and interviews featuring writings by queer moms of sons about the intersection of queer parenting and the development of healthy masculinity.’ PAYING https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MZelKCOyGKDY-FikkXVktfoFNLfxlTJ6/edit

30th Nov ‘In honor of Native American Heritage Month, no-fee submissions are open for all Native/Indigenous/First Nations creators, not limited to those from the US.’ Poetry, fiction, and more. PAYING https://typehousemagazine.com/submissions/

30th Nov MS. ‘We publish poetry, short stories, novellas, novels, plays, and creative non-fiction.’  https://golden-antelope-press.com/submissions/

30th Nov Assault Team: ‘Uncommon courage was a common virtue that day. These are a collection of stories about the common soldier rising to the occasion and defending their ship against enemy hordes. Or they can be those same heroes capturing the enemy ship, but regardless of which side of the boarding party they’re on, courage is the underlying theme.’ 5000-10,000 words. PROFIT/REVENUE SHARING MODEL https://threeravenspublishing.com/jr-handley-presents-assault-team/

30th Nov ‘Vital Minutiae Quarterly wants to collect and curate writing and art that is focused on the creative process. We accept submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, reviews, interviews, visual art about the creative process, and images of physical art.’ https://vitalminutiaeq.wixsite.com/magazine/guidelines

30th Nov ‘10 stories of original British gothic fiction between 4000 and 8000 words will be selected for this first volume.’ PAYING https://redcapepublishing.com/submissions/

30th Nov Poetry, fiction and more incorporating the three elements: Waterfall, Blackout, and Roadkill. https://3elementsreview.com/submission-guidelines

30th Nov ‘The Broken City is currently accepting submissions for its winter 2023 edition: Silver and other screens.That’s right, the magazine is running an issue on cinema. We want to hear about movies and filmmaking, from the biggest screen to the smallest—tales of the watched or the watcher. Finally, a venue for your Star Wars poetry! Send your poetry, fiction, essays, illustrations and photography.’ https://www.thebrokencitymag.com/submissions.html

30th Nov Theme: mental states. ‘Whether in the form of a manifesto, poesy, mockumentary, creative nonfiction essay-ing, or collage, we seek writing and art with that something special, not so easily defined, that gives you that aha moment.’https://movingwordsart.wordpress.com/

30th Nov Stories up to 250 words on the theme of Manu/Bird. https://flashfrontier.com/submissions/

30th Nov ‘We publish fiction, poetry, comics, art, images, medical reports, plays, essays, philosophies, sculptures, sounds, mushroom dataset analyses, magic spells, fairy tales, folklore, riddles, jokes, horoscopes, death-predictions, and more. Surprise us!’ Theme: Ghosts. https://deepoverstock.com/submission-guidelines/

30th Nov Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Funeral. https://www.curiouscorvidpublishing.com/submissions

30th Nov ‘The Other Journal welcomes the submission of critical essays, reviews, creative writing, and visual or performance art that encounter life through the lens of theology and culture; we seek pieces that consider the interaction of faith with contemporary life, art, politics, sexuality, technology, economics, and social justice.’ Essays on the theme of Church. https://theotherjournal.com/submissions/

30th Nov Poetry and art on the theme of Animal. https://feralpoetry.net/submissions/

31st Nov (sic!) ‘Theme: Detectives, Sleuths, and Nosy Neighbors – we’re searching for the murder mysteries, detectives noir, cozy, and humorous. This is our Mystery anthology and if you think it comes close to the genre, give us a shot.’ PAYING/ROYALTY OPTION https://inkdpub.com/submissions/

1st Dec ‘There are tons of boy meets girl stories that we see, all the time… But for the rest of us who do not fall easily into the boy/girl combination, there are very few examples of “How do I meet them?” “What do I say?” “How can I tell if they like me, or even if they are like me?” “How do I deal with…?”  …I would like to put together an anthology of those kinds of stories: first time meetings, of people who fall somewhere on the all-inclusive LBGTQ+ spectrum, that lead to healthy relationships.’ ROYALTIES https://knightwritingpress.com/open-and-upcoming-submissions/

Opens 1st Dec until full: horror stories 4000-8000 words on the theme of W is for Witchcraft. PAYING https://redcapepublishing.com/submissions/

1st Dec or until filled: poems on the theme of Wild Abandon. https://www.engineidling.net/submissionguidelines

1st Dec ‘The what if series is just that, what if something happened differently? What if Vikings were inhabiting the East Coast of America when Columbus arrived? What if Kennedy survived the assassination attempt? What If… It’s thought-provoking and starts the mind down random rabbit holes of possibilities.’ Spec fic 5000-10,000 words. ROYALTIEShttps://threeravenspublishing.com/what-if/

1st Dec Family-friendly weird tales and poems on the theme of This Mystical World. 500-5000 words. https://www.intangience.net/

1st Dec ‘Although the essay holds the central role at DPA, we are open to other genres, including experimental, poetry and flash non-fiction, as long as there is a first-person point of view.’ Theme: Secrets. https://www.dorothyparkersashes.com/submit

1st Dec ‘We are are seeking poetry, short stories, essays, experimental art, video, sound art, all forms of visual art as well as asemic writing and textual arts of all kinds.’ Theme: Provocations/Instigations. https://superpresent.org/call/

1st Dec Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Winter/Music (especially hip-hop). https://skinkbeatreview.com/submissions

1st Dec ‘Horror. Fear. Trepidation. Terror and revulsion. Send us your best scary poems and stories inspired by the world’s polytheistic mythologies and spiritual traditions. Send us poems about sailors journeying between Scylla and Charybdis. Send us short stories about the youth of Athens facing the Minotaur. Send us poems about Yūrei and stories about the Headless Mule. PAYING  https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/about/

1st Dec ‘Our submission period for Vol. 04: A Homesick Issue is open now. Fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, art and photography. https://sites.google.com/creationmag.org/creationmag/submit

1st Dec Poetry and more on the theme of Freedom. ‘Parabola is a quarterly journal devoted to the exploration of the quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world’s myths, symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern life.’ https://parabola.org/submissions/

1st Dec ‘Who can submit: Canadian citizens / permanent residents / those residing within lands claimed by Canada / expats. (You do not need to be currently residing in Canada.)’ … ‘The sting of the whooshing north wind. The killing cold. A cry in the dark. It’s another night in the Canadian north. Night and all its torments.’ ‘Looking for horror and horror-adjacent dark weird fiction, ideally set in Canada and incorporating a motif of night / nighttime / dusk/ darkness.’ PAYING https://undertowpublications.com/northern-nights-anthology

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

(Publishers might not give out their pay rates on their submission pages, so make sure to find them out before signing a contract!)

‘Rural Fiction Magazine (RFM) is seeking high-quality short stories and poetry that explores the beauty and drama of rural life. RFM is willing to look at any genre (mainstream, literary, horror, fantasy, noir, mystery, thriller, adventure, etc.) so long as it has a rural setting and addresses topics or themes of interest to people in rural areas or with connections to rural areas.’ https://ruralfictionmagazine.wordpress.com/submissions/

‘Mystic Mind Magazine is currently looking for short stories, artwork, photography, 2-page comics, and serialized role-playing adventure stories.’ https://kirincomicscontact.wixsite.com/my-site/about-1

‘Small Wonders Magazine publishes original and reprint flash fiction and narrative poetry, all tinged with the wonder of other worlds both science fictional and fantastic. Stories and poems arrive three weeks of every month.’ PAYING https://smallwondersmag.com/about/ (Cathy’s note: different categories are open at different times, so check what they’re accepting before submitting.)

‘Killer Nashville Magazine accepts submissions for fiction; flash fiction; poetry; excerpts; professional, how-to, essays, and craft articles; creative nonfiction; interviews; book reviews; and artwork.’ https://killernashville.forms-db.com/view.php?id=244147

‘Our mission is to create a forum where new works of young adult fiction will be celebrated. We will accept any and all types of submissions – the beauty of living in a digital world is that we have unlimited digital space! – and will give each submission equal consideration.’ https://fterotalogia.com/

Poetry MS. ‘Our chief concern is to provide opportunities for underrepresented voices in publishing, we reject all the “isms” and phobias suppressing our voices. No to racism, sexism, ageism, gender identity discrimination, homophobia, Islamophobia, and economic disenfranchisement.’ https://gfbpublishing.org/submission-guidelines

‘Poetry for postcards: poems you wish someone would send you in the mail. Poems need to fit on the front of a postcard, which means about 30 lines or fewer.’ https://www.thinkinginkpress.com/keikos-calls/

Romance MSS for this epublisher. ROYALTIES https://champagnebooks.com/store/content/2-submissions#Submission

‘We are interested in manuscripts where the main characters are lesbians. The story should be engaging, new and fresh. Right now, we are seeking specifically: romance, mystery/intrigue with romantic elements and young adult. Novel manuscript must be a minimum of 50,000 words.’ https://www.sapphirebooks.com/submissions/

‘Although we accept submissions of all genres, we are currently in the market for Middle Grade Romance and Sci-fi, Self-Help, New Age, and Historical Fiction. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR FULL MANUSCRIPT AS A WORD DOC.’https://oprellepublications.submittable.com/submit/217613/book-submission

Poetry. https://www.thrushpoetryjournal.com/submissions.html

‘Send us your strange, grotesque, avant-garde, heavily experimental. Send us your manifestoes, dirge, commentary, roasts and prophecies. Send us chattering, ramblings, your hybrid, your we-don’t-even-know-what-the-fuck-to-call-this, send us your revolution.’  https://blackstoneonawhitestone.wordpress.com/stoned-2/

Poetry, short fiction and photography. https://www.thayer.press/about

‘We are looking for writing and digital art which will cause our readers to smile or think (or preferably both). We’ll take anything that makes the rusty gears in the back of the brain start to sparkle…’ Poetry, fiction, and more. https://hobbyhorse.press/gryllus-submit/

‘Hobby Horse Press accepts original, novella-length submissions of literary writing that can fit in your pocket. We are not persnickety about page count! We consider novella-length to be about 80 – 120 pages, or 20,000 to 30,000 words.’https://hobbyhorse.press/submit/

‘We’re always interested in finding amazing new novels to publish.  At the present time, we’re OPEN for submissions of original novels or novellas.  Though we don’t limit ourselves on the basis of genre and you’re free to pitch us anything you think might be our cup of tea, we’re particularly interested in horror, dark fantasy, crime, thriller, science fiction, and other related genres and subgenres.’ https://polymathpress.com/pages/novel-novella-submissionshttps://polymathpress.com/pages/novel-novella-submissions

Comps and calls for October 2023

Hello Everyone,

It’s Autumn! Do you have a good harvest of poems and stories? I certainly have – due to my wrist operations, I haven’t submitted and entered as much as usual. I’m even missing the rejections! (No, not really!)

Enjoy your writing and have fun with this month’s themes and challenges.

Big thanks to my Patreon People!

Good luck and love to all,

Cathy x


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 Oct ‘Knock, knock. Who’s there? Wanda. Wanda who? Wanda know all about my bad day? Jokes must be about bad days. They don’t have to say the actual words, bad days. But they should be about things that cause bad days, fix bad days, or were bad days. Jokes must not contain any of the Three C Words. No cussing, crass language, or crude references. Also, no sex, drugs, alcohol, of illegal activities. This is a family friendly publication. Let’s keep it clean.’ PAYING https://thebaddaybook.com/bad-day-joke-contest/

2nd Oct Working-class writers in the UK or ROI: ‘Simply submit a sample of your writing, which must be the beginning of an unpublished work-in-progress no more than 2,000 words in length and a one-page synopsis for the full manuscript.’ PAYING https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/competitions/wa-working-class-writers-prize-2023 (thanks to www.prizemagic.co.uk)

4th Oct Spectator Competition No. 3320: Pleasure Principle

‘You are invited to submit a poem extolling Epicureanism over Stoicism or the other way round. Email entries of up to 16 lines to lucy AT spectator.co.uk by midday on 4th October.’ https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/spectator-competition-winners-why-you-should-never-open-a-novel-with-the-weather/ (Cathy’s note: scroll down for the comp!)

8th Oct Age 13-19 only: ‘What is that on the corner? A spirit Halloween? Fall is coming and terror is in the air. The Echo is holding its first annual $200-prize short story contest. Send us your nightmares and storie related to the theme: Do Not Disturb.’ PAYING https://www.echolitmag.com/shortstorycontest/

11th Oct Spectator Competition No. 3321: Setting off ‘You are invited to provide a love scene from a novel set in a location that might not be considered conducive to romance. Please email entries of up to 150 words to lucy AT spectator.co.uk by midday on 11 October.’ PAYING https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/spectator-competition-winners-pen-portraits-of-seamus-heaney/ (Cathy’s note: scroll down for the comp!)

11th Oct ‘This fellowship calls for an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an advanced degree program (such as an MA or MFA) in Creative Writing, English, or Literature, and has no plans to attend one in the 2024 calendar year. We are seeking writers whose work speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference.’ PAYING https://one-story.com/learn/fellowship/

14th Oct ‘Reality Show Madness! We are looking for flash in the vein of these reality shows with a heavy addition of the speculative. We are not looking for fan fiction.’ Theme: Paranormal Investigators/Ghost Hunters PAYING https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/

31st Oct ‘The author must be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The author must have had at least one short story published or accepted for publication.’ Short story. PAYING https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/alcs-tom-gallon-trust-award/ (thanks to www.prizemagic.co.ukfor this one)

31st Oct ‘This year’s LGBTQ writing contest theme, FIRSTS, is an opportunity to share your own queer travel adventurers with an LGBTQ audience. Your essay just might inspire someone to stretch their comfort zone and try a new activity!’ PAYING https://queeradventurers.com/queer-adventurers-lgbtq-writing-contest-2023-firsts/ (thanks to www.winningwriters.com for this one)

31st Oct ‘If you are aged between 11 and 19 and interested in history and writing, the YWSP is ready to take you on an adventure!  We are the UK’s only creative writing prize specifically for budding historical fiction writers. You could win a £500 travel grant, tickets to one of the UK’s best book festivals, and the chance to see your own work in print in a special anthology.’ PAYING https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/young-walter-scott-prize/

31st Oct Under 30: ‘The work submitted may be a published or unpublished volume of poetry, drama-poems or belles-lettres.’ POSSIBLE RESIDENCY https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/eric-gregory-awards/

31st Oct First novel by an author over 40. PAYING https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/mckitterick-prize/

31st Oct ‘In 2023, we are seeking entries about any aspect of nature and offer prizes for winners in three age groups: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-17 years. There is also a prize in each age group for young writers who live in the East Midlands.’ PAYING https://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/young-writers-groups/solstice-writing-prize/

1st Nov ‘The Evaristo Prize for African Poetry is an annual prize of USD $1,500 awarded to ten poems written by an African poet. The Prize is open to African writers. An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African. The prize is open to African poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published at the time of submission.’ PAYING https://africanpoetrybf.unl.edu/contest-prizes/evaristo-prize-for-african-poetry/

1st Nov ‘The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words).’ PAYING https://commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-prize/

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

5th Oct ‘A critical part of the impact of the exhibit is the selected quotations from the general public that accompany each piece of artwork. The quotations give individuals in the larger community a chance to have their voices represented by expressing their thoughts, feelings and ideas.’ Up to 20 words on the theme of “enriching lives through diversity and inclusion.”. PAYING https://www.embracingourdifferences.org/submit-a-quotation/

6th Oct ‘PulpCult by CultureCult invites all fearless writers of the eerie and unsettling to submit their most bone-chilling stories for our upcoming horror fiction anthology, “Memento Mori.” In a world where the darkness often lingers at the periphery of our daily lives, “Memento Mori” serves as a haunting reminder of our mortality.’ Flash and short fiction. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) https://culturecultmagazine.wixsite.com/home/post/submission-call-memento-mori

7th Oct Extended submission window exclusively for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and marginalized writers ‘We want the stories you love the most, that you wrote in a fit of fury, passion, grief, or worry. Anywhere between 1000 and 2000. Too big for flash, too small for a short story. Horror only, though we count dark fantasy and gruesome or heart-wrenching literary in there too.’ PAYING https://www.hungryshadowpress.com/submissions-little-bastards

7th Oct ‘We accept proposals from Australian writers only, for general, literary and commercial non-fiction – including history, current affairs, memoir and biography.’ https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/submissions (Cathy’s note: they’re open for the first week of every month.)

9th Oct ‘At Fathom we publish articles, personal essays, profiles, interviews, book reviews, Bible exposition, theological and/or historical analysis, poetry, and short stories. The work we prefer often utilizes personal narrative to communicate the deeper aspects of the Christian faith and to draw our readers into the nuance surrounding an idea. Our standard articles fall between 1,000 and 1,600 words. Short stories should be at least 3,000 words. Poems vary in length and style.’ Theme: Gentleness. https://www.fathommag.com/writing-for-fathom

10th Oct Poetry. https://feralangels.com/clarion

11th Oct UK/RoI only: ‘Arachne Press has long been a champion of LGBTQ+ writers, but we’ve never before published an anthology of LGBTQ+ poetry. That is all about to change. The title of our forthcoming book is Joy//Us, because we want to publish your joyful poems, ones that celebrate all that is best about our community/ies and lives. This is not an ‘explain it to the straights’ book, this is for us. We want LGBTQ+ readers to be able to open the book at random and find a moment of poetic queer joy for themselves, however big or small.’ Send us your unpublished poems, in English (or Welsh, with a translation*). *The poet must submit their work, not the translator, so if you have not translated your own work, the translator must give permission, and must be credited.’ https://arachnepress.submittable.com/submit

12th Oct  ‘I am only accepting single 5 line poems from individual poets. No sequences, sets or collaborative pieces will be accepted. Send no more than 5 poems.’ Theme: Childhood Memories.  https://take5ive.weebly.com/submissions.html

13th Oct Romantic flash fiction 700-1000 words on the theme of Love in a Small Town. https://sparkflashfiction.com/upcoming-themes/

14th Oct Theme: Crime II. Stories must be 2,000 (10% tolerance +/-)  PAYING https://theotherstories.net/submissions/

15th Oct ‘Family farm * Family tree *Family jewels * Family finances * Family fortune* Family feud * Family plot * Family dinner * Family resemblance * Family vacation * Family reunion * Family  photos * Family traditions * Family heirlooms * Family friends * Family album * Family values * Family ties * Family practice * Family business * Family trip * Family problems * Family picnic * Family atomics * and Family dog. What else? Send us your best  unpublished stories of approximately 50 words, about Family.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) http://www.blink-ink.org/current-submissions/

15th Oct ‘Obsidian cultivates, through publication and critical inquiry, Black imagination, innovation, and excellence—supporting Black, African, and African Diaspora creatives globally. Obsidian celebrates nearly fifty years of continuous publication and is dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art biannually in print and year round online.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) https://obsidianlit.org/how-to-submit/

15th Oct ‘In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, no-fee submissions are open for all Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x creators, not limited to those in the US.’ Poetry, fiction, and more. PAYING https://typehousemagazine.com/submissions/

15th Oct Indigenous people only: ‘For the upcoming Fall 2023 issue of Yellow Medicine Review, we want to see stories, poems, and essays that dwell on these concepts: Defining Moments, Bildungsroman / Coming of Age Experiences, Epiphanies, Pivot Points in Life, Etc.  These can apply to the individual, a family, a tribe, a community, an organization, or entity.’  www.yellowmedicinereview.com/id12.html

15th Oct Authors 40 and over: ‘ISSUE 3 COOOLD TURKEY: In which your work deals with the broad idea of things that go wrong in funny ways in the cold, around winter holidays, etc. We’re always looking for a LAUGH at the end of the year.’ https://instantnoodleslitmag.com/submission-guidelines/

15th Oct ‘‘Embodied Exegesis: Transfeminine Speculative Futures is open to submissions. This anthology, edited by Ann LeBlanc, will feature cyberpunk stories written by transfem authors…What we want to see: Augmented bodies. Uploaded minds. Cybernetics, real cities, and virtual worlds. Putting the trans in transhumanism. We’re looking for stories that push characters’ bodies and minds to their limits.’ PAYING  https://neonhemlock.submittable.com/submit

15th Oct ‘Our Spring 2024 issue will be dedicated to poems written as collaborations. The poems may be any subject, style, or length, but must have been written by two or more co-authors.’ PAYING https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/258604/tribute-to-collaboration

15th Oct Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Prosperity Magic. PAYING https://ev0kepublication.com/contributors/

15th Oct Theme: Forage. ‘We are looking for beautiful works exploring foraging and finding abundance in nature; searching for the familiar, hidden (natural) treasure and the idea of taking or using only what you need are all specific secondary interpretations we’d also like to see.’ https://www.greeninkpoetry.co.uk/submissions/forage-submissions

15th Oct Flash, short fiction, poetry and more. ‘All submissions need to address in some manner the human consequences and realities of war or geopolitical violence.’ https://www.consequenceforum.org/submissions

15th Oct Poetry, fiction, and more. https://fishbarrelreview.wordpress.com/submit/

15th Oct ‘The theme is “dark waters” – whatever that means to the writer. Stories do NOT have to be aquatic-themed in any way. Looking for noir, crime, horror, anything that could be considered “dark fiction” (though less interested in high fantasy/sci-fi)’ https://darkwaterspodcast.com/

15th Oct ‘This issue has a sub-theme of When Hell Freezes Over! We want you to tell us what would happen if Hell were to freeze over and the flames that euphemistically burn below were extinguished. … Think mayhem, think madness; think what if Hell froze over? Beyond this issue’s sub-theme, we’re always looking for well-constructed tales and poetry that deliver solid horror and dark fiction. We’ll be accepting short stories, flash fiction, drabbles, and poetry that fit within the horror/dark fiction genre. We welcome reprints as long as you hold the copyright to the piece.’ http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/ezine.htm

15th Oct ‘For this anthology, we’re looking for short stories about casual encounters of fictional people with REAL LIFE serial killers, that turned creepy or deadly. Stories can be straight crime/thriller stories or ones with a supernatural bent (haunted objects, ghosts, demons, etc.). Characters and victims, aside from the serial killers, must be fictional—real names of victims or family members can not be used.’ PAYING https://hellboundbookspublishing.com/subs-anthologies.html

15th Oct ‘We’re looking for non-fiction and fiction that addresses the theme: Griffith Review 83: Past Perfect: examining our love affair with recycling our history.’ https://www.griffithreview.com/for-writers/

15th Oct ‘Pleiades is accepting submissions for an upcoming special folio centered around neurodivergence and disability, written for and by disabled and neurodivergent writers and poets. This folio aims to educate and celebrate what it means to navigate this neurotypical, able-bodied world, as someone outside of its perceived standards.’ https://pleiadesmag.com/submit/

15th Oct Age 13-19 only: theme: Nightmares. ‘What monsters lurk beneath your bed or claw at the edge of your mind? Is your darkest fear that school project you’ve been procrastinating for weeks or that your brother’s spider will escape in the middle of the night and crawl into your mind, your eyes, your throat? Or maybe it’s finding yourself alone or betrayed by someone close. Whatever it may be. Let us share in your fright and submit to us!’ https://www.echolitmag.com/submit/

15th Oct Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Connection. https://metonymwju.submittable.com/submit

15th Oct Theme: Fresh Hell. ‘The phrase “fresh hell” embodies the intersection of humor and despair in the face of life’s twists and turns. We invite you to respond to this theme by responding to the tumultuous and unpredictable facets of human experience—personal, social, cultural, global, or otherwise.’ Poetry, fiction, CNF, and art. https://arborealmag.com/submissions/

15th Oct ‘In music, a coda serves as the grand finale, bringing together the themes that have danced throughout the composition. Similarly, we seek your fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, music, and digital media submissions that embody the essence of coda. Whether it’s the final chapter of a story, the last lines of a poem, or the visual punctuation in an artwork, we’re eager to experience your interpretation of this powerful theme.’ https://causticfrolic.org/submission-info/

15th Oct ‘What happens when cities are stripped of their purpose? We’re looking for stories of the monsters that lurk in the skeletons of brutalist structures. The strange rituals of those who found ways of surviving. Labyrinths of crumbling stone. Spirits inhabiting a dilapidated ballroom. Plants flourishing in abandoned train stations. Chimaeras stalking the ruins of a long forgotten urban landscape…This call is open to original speculative fiction up to 1,000 words.’ PAYING https://hexagonmagazine.ca/myriad/

16th Oct Poetry and more on the theme of Forgiveness, for this Quaker magazine. https://www.friendsjournal.org/submissions/

21st Oct ‘The theme is cass(ette). We don’t expect you to conform to the familiar definition of the word. Have fun. Note the etymology of cassette.’ https://www.ettereview.com/submit/

22nd Oct Commonwealth citizens: ‘We are inviting submissions of written poetry and, for the first time, video recordings of spoken-word poetry.’ PAYING https://www.addastories.org/call-poetry-spoken-word/

25th Oct Poetry, flash and more on the theme of Lights Out. https://cosmic-daffodil.squarespace.com/submission-guidelines

27th Oct November stories. PAYING https://everydayfiction.com/submit-story/

27th Oct ‘The Parliament Literary Journal is a collection of fiction writing and art that accepts short stories, flash fiction, poetry, art, photography, or creative combinations of these works.’ Theme: Secrets. https://www.parliamentlit.com/contests-submissions

30th Oct Any member of Scottish PEN, and all persons living in Scotland whose first language is not English, Scots and Gaelic: theme: Arrivals. https://scottishpen.org/penning/

31st Oct ‘We welcome submissions by those who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. This is a space for the words, works, and worlds of and by those whose bodyminds defy social expectations and invite new ways of thinking and knowing. We do not need to know the specifics of your identity/diagnosis/experience unless you want us to. We invite closeted and questioning people to share their work, as well as those whose experiences fall outside the confines of the language we used above.’ PAYING https://manyworlds.place/submit/

31st Oct ‘Open Minds Quarterly is a literary journal that features explorations of life in a mad world. We welcome writing and art from people with lived experience of what is variously called mental health challenges, mental illness, madness, and neurodiversity.’ Theme: Identity. PAYING https://openmindsquarterly.submittable.com/submit

31st Oct ‘We are seeking short story submissions (1000-7500 words) for this anthology. The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall-tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest). We are seeking stories in the horror genre.’ PAYING https://warmonkeypublications.com/submissions

31st Oct Horror fiction 3000-6000 words. PAYING https://nightlightpod.com/submissions/

31st Oct Poetry. https://www.wingedpennyreview.com/submit

31st Oct ‘We currently accept Poetry Prose Creative Non-Fiction and Artwork. We are also open to Music and Hybridwork. Surprise us.’ https://www.wheremeadows.com/submit

31st Oct Poetry, fiction, CNF and more. PAYING https://www.thetemzreview.com/submissions.html

31st Oct Speculative poetry, prose and art on the theme of Lies for Children. PAYING https://www.zoeticpress.com/submit

31st Oct ‘For Issue 10, with the theme Healing, Libretto Magazine is pleased to announce its call for submissions. Libretto Magazine seeks unique works with strong sense of empathy, introspection, and courage; works that are evocative and that possess the capacity to redefine perception.’ https://librettong.com/submission-guidelines/

31st Oct Flash fiction on the theme of Bolero at Breakfast. https://pureslush.com/submissions/current-submissions/bolero-at-breakfast-submit-now/

1st Nov ‘Send us your poems, stories, and essays that center around unlawful acts: misdemeanors to felonies, war crimes to white collar crimes, perpetrators in the home or at work.  We’ll be especially happy to receive mss about breaking laws that shouldn’t be laws in the first place.’ https://www.ironhorsereview.com/gates-open (Cathy’s note: submissions are free on this day only.)

1st Nov First-person essay on the theme of Friends. https://www.dorothyparkersashes.com/submit

1st Nov Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews. Theme: Winter. https://halfwaydownthestairs.net/submissions/

1st Nov ‘Love Letters to Poe will be open to submissions for original gothic short stories and poems inspired by The Tell-Tale Heart on October 3, 2023 through November 1, 2023.’ PAYING (SUBJECT TO FUNDRAISER/FUNDING) https://loveletterstopoe.com/submit-a-story/

1st Nov Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of The Missing Piece of the Puzzle. PAYING http://themaliterarysociety.com/submissions.html (Cathy’s note: submitters outside the USA may submit electronically.)

1st Nov Fiction, nonfiction and poetry on the theme of Praise. PAYING http://www.ninthletter.com/web-edition/submit

1st Nov ‘The Santa Fe Literary Review invites previously unpublished submissions of creative nonfiction, dramatic writing/screenplay, fiction, and poetry. Our suggested theme for our 2024 issue is “Lovely, Dark and Deep: Journeys Real and Imagined.”’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES (MAY BE PRINT OR DIGITAL) https://www.sfcc.edu/call-for-submissions/

1st Nov Fiction and more starting with the line: ‘It was the farthest north they had ever been.’ PAYING http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm

1st Nov ‘Are you a fan of authors like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, and Fritz Leiber? Are those the type of stories that you love to write? Then you’re in the right place! We’re looking for tales of Sword and Sorcery / Heroic Fantasy that are influenced by those who established the genre.’  PROFIT/REVENUE SHARING MODEL https://threeravenspublishing.com/heathens-and-heros/

1st Nov ‘The theme is Clones, Drones, and Ready Made Meals. The future is here, be afraid, be very afraid. Take it where you want.’ Poetry, flash, short fiction and more. PAYING https://www.lastgirlsclub.com/submit

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

(Publishers might not give out their pay rates on their submission pages, so make sure to find them out before signing a contract!)

‘This is a site dedicated to skillfully written stories that are brief, humorous and engaging. The emphasis will be on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. Whether your story is designed to raise a smile or a belly laugh, I want stories that are a refuge from the relentless barrage of negativity, angst, war and climate catastrophe that dominates the web.’https://witcraft.org/guidelines-2/

‘We’re accepting submissions on a rolling basis. Please send us up to three (3) pages of writing. Up to ten (10) images of artwork/photography. Send us your strange, grotesque, avant-garde, heavily experimental. Send us your manifestoes, dirge, commentary, roasts and prophecies. Send us chattering, ramblings, your hybrid, your we-don’t-even-know-what-the-fuck-to-call-this, send us your revolution.’ https://blackstoneonawhitestone.wordpress.com/stoned-2/

‘We accept Poetry Modern and Traditional, book promotion and other advertising. A maximum of 4 poems should be sent at any one time.’ https://allyourpoems.com/guidelines-for-submission

‘We’re in search of remarkable talent and captivating stories that inspire. If you have a story that’s waiting to be told, or if you’re excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Storia, we invite you to submit a story for review.’ https://www.storia.io/for-writers

‘We are looking for highly imaginative stories with a healthy dose of the odd.  Odd characters, odd experiences, odd realities. We’re looking for genre / speculative stories and are quite partial to slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal.’ 2000-7500 words. PAYING https://www.bourbonpenn.com/submissions

Various romance novel categories. PAYING or ROYALTIES (Cathy’s note – not sure which – sorry!) https://www.writeforharlequin.com/submission-calls/ (thanks to https://authorspublish.com for this one)

‘We are a small press that publishes between 8- 10 books every year. We welcome submissions from both emerging and established writers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.’  https://greatplainspress.ca/submit/