Comps and calls for July 2016

Posted on 1st July 20161st July 2016 by cathy in Uncategorised

After December, July and August are the best months to submit. Children are on holiday and their parents are too busy to submit; people (even writers, sometimes) go on holiday and take a break then, and they won’t be submitting and entering either. If you live in a country that sees the sun (*glares at UK sky*) then there’s that to enjoy, too. So if you get the chance, submit and enter everything you can – it’s a wonderful time for it. Also, isn’t it fun just to do someting to take your mind off the maelstrom of horrifying politics?

Cathy x

Here are July 2016’s 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 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. December is the best time by far to submit and enter. There are loads of opportunities, and many people are too busy to take advantage of them. Please try to find the time if you can!

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

4th Jul UK only: poem on the theme of Community. NON-CASH PRIZE https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/general/shore-to-shore-events-listings/poetry-competition-shore-to-shore
6th Jul Spectator Comp No. 2956: frightfest. ‘It’s festival season — in case you hadn’t noticed. You are invited to provide extracts from the unappealing-sounding programme of a festival that is making a misguided attempt to stand out in an overcrowded marketplace. Please email entries of up to 150 words to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 6 July.’ PAYING

8th Jul Children only: ‘We’d like to read poems written in response to: Cat; Sketching a Thatcher. Cat can be found in The Cat and the Cuckoo (Faber & Faber); Sketching a Thatcher in Ted Hughes’s Collected Poems (Faber & Faber).’ PAYING http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/learning/children/competitions/

11th Jul Micropoem on the theme of Science. NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/centrefornewwriting/whatsnew/

11th Jul ‘Write a short story, of 700 words or fewer, that begins with the following line of dialogue: “You don’t have enough points, sir.” ‘ PRIZE UNKNOWN AT TIME OF WRITING http://www.writersdigest.com/your-story-competition/your-story-75-submit-now

13th Jul Spectator Comp no. 2957: Lookist. ‘Keats wrote a sonnet ‘On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer’. You are invited to provide a poem of up to 16 lines entitled ‘On First Looking into [you choose]’. Email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 13 July.’ PAYING

15th Jul USA only: story up to 8000 words on the theme of Cities of Empowerment. PAYING http://www.futurescapescontest.com/

15th Jul Ethnographic poetry. PAYING http://sha.americananthro.org/2016/03/2016-sha-ethnographic-poetry-competition/

15th Jul ‘All submissions must be related directly or indirectly to HIV/AIDS, including but not limited to personal, historical, critical, international, and political perspectives on HIV/AIDS—and in styles ranging from sonnets to science fiction.’ PAYING http://www.aumag.org/2016/05/26/christopher-hewitt-awards-2016-call-for-entries/

15th Jul Story up to 500 words including the words Pizza, Selfie and Corruption. PAYING http://www.mashstories.com/competition/

18th Jul 700 words reviewing a recent contemporary art exhibition. PAYING http://frieze.com/frieze-writers-prize-guidelines (Many thanks to http://www.erikadreifus.com/ for this one.)

20th Jul LGBTQ flash fiction. http://sweaterweatherzine.wix.com/sweaterweatherzine#!contests/eza2k

29th Jul Poem or other short piece of writing. PAYING https://www.greatbritishwriteoff.co.uk/index.php

30th Jul ‘This year the award will focus on prose. Using our Submittable portal, submit a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, or prose poetry of about 7,000-12,000 words. The manuscript may be a collection of mixed pieces–short stories, flash fictions, prose poems, essays, or a stand-along excerpt from a longer work–but should be unified by a common theme.’ PAYING http://www.mapliterary.org/rachel-wetzsteon-chapbook-award.html

31st Jul Poems by children 11-17. NON-CASH PRIZE http://foyleyoungpoets.org/

31st Jul (early bird deadline) Humorous fiction/nonfiction essay 100-500 words. PAYING http://devyaniborade.blogspot.co.uk/p/contest.html

31st Jul Travel writing up to 1200 words. PAYING http://www.imustbeoff.com/2016/03/announcing-fourth-annual-i-must-be-off.html

31st Jul Flash fiction. PAYING http://www.spiritstincture.com/contest.html

31st Jul ‘We’re welcoming poems and short stories on all aspects of caring – the joys, challenges and complex emotions that come with looking after a loved one.’ VOUCHER/OTHER http://www.carersuk.org/how-you-can-help/creative-writing/2016-competition

31st Jul ‘The Louise Meriwether First Book Prize is open to women and nonbinary writers of color (or those who self-identify as other than white) who are residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, and US territories and possessions; 18 years of age or older at time of entry; and who have not had a book published or have a book under contract at the time of submission. First time authors, submit your complete manuscript, either fiction, including novels and short story collections, or narrative memoir, of 50,000 to 80,000 words, and you could receive $5,000 and a publishing contract from the Feminist Press!’ PAYING https://www.feministpress.org/about-fp/louise-meriwether-first-book-prize

31st Jul Story up to 2000 words on the theme of Creation Simulator. VOUCHER/OTHER http://greywolfepublishing.com/2016%20Monthly%20Contests.html

1st Aug ‘All students, regardless of major or academic level, are eligible to participate.’ Essay on one of the provided themes. PAYING http://smart.study/blog/scholarship/

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

3rd Jul Writers of colour only: poetry, fiction and more. PAYING https://thesuburbanreview.submittable.com/submit

3rd Jul Fiction 800-2000 words on the theme of Work and Play. http://www.liarsleague.com/liars_league/writers.html

4th Jul Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Broken. https://eyedrumperiodically.org/index.php/submissions/

4th Jul 1000 or 2000 word stories on the theme of Fear. PAYING http://www.blyantpublishing.com/submissions.html

4th Jul ‘What does it mean to be an international faith of such wide theological diversity? How do we inter-visit and how do we disagree with integrity and compassion? What does it mean to be a peace church today and what core values do we or should we share? How do we boldly declare the values and insights of our respective branches of Quakerism without denying the legitimacy of other Friends?’ Poetry and more. http://www.friendsjournal.org/submissions/

4th Jul Short alternative comedy plays. http://www.secondsonstheatre.co.uk/#!play-time-submissions/w95gl

5th Jul ‘The first issue is based around the colour red. This can be interpreted in many different ways. We are in particular looking for writing that focuses upon: love, lust, passion, sex, anger, meat, blood, communism, capitalism and any other red object you can think of. If you are a creative writer, thinker, poet, or have any interest in writing an article, please get in contact with us.’ http://www.chromamagazine.com/contactsubmissions-1/

7th Jul ‘We are now accepting submissions of contemporary essays, stories, and creative non-fiction, as well as writing that pushes poetic forms into prose. We also welcome submissions of new digital writing genres (tweets, status updates, etc.) that tell compelling stories about black activism and the black experience in the 21^st century.’ http://justicematters.press/news/call-for-submissions/

9th Jul ‘We want to bring narcissistic abuse out of the shadows with stories of experiences, healing, and renewal. Although fiction is a powerful way to connect with readers, this anthology will focus on truth told through essays, poetry, reported pieces, and creative nonfiction.’ PAYING (SUBJECT TO FUNDRAISER) http://nutshellmediagroup.com/nmg/submissions (Thanks to http://www.beyondyourblog.com/ for this one)

15th Jul Positive writing and more on the theme of Sage. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.thephoenixsoul.com/submit/

15th Jul Poems on the theme of Prince (Cathy’s note: the musician, not royalty). http://www.depoetry.com/pages/princepage.html

15th Jul ‘Tell us about your beach and pool memories in a poem (any reasonable length) or prose piece (300 words or fewer — this word limit also applies to prose poems).’ https://silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/call-for-submissions-beach-and-pool-memories-poetry-and-prose-series/

15th Jul Writing of all kinds on the theme of softness. PAYING https://111o.submittable.com/submit

15th Jul Poems about Leicester. https://emmalee1.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/welcome-to-leicester-poetry-anthology/

15th Jul Writing on the theme of Perspective. http://www.inkandletters.com/call/

15th Jul ‘The theme of this issue is on the symbolic nature of paralysis. James Joyce, in his short story collection, Dubliners, wrote of paralyzation on both a personal and societal level. We’re not looking for a literal rendering of the word paralysis, rather, we’re looking for an interpretation based off of the lives of the oppressed around the world.’ Poetry, fiction and more. https://whirlwindmagazine.org/submission-info/

15th Jul ‘In this collection, we are looking for sweet romantic tales about how couples seduce each other, how they tempt their partners, and keep the spark alive. These shorts should be suggestive without being explicit. Allude to the sex, but don’t describe it.’ (Cathy’s note: there’s also a call with the same deadline for stories about menages a trois, with a higher heat rating.) CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.temptationpress.com/submission-guidelines/upcoming-anthology-calls-for-submission/

15th Jul ‘Outlook Springs is a literary journal from another dimension. It is devoted to your PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED fiction, poetry, and non-fiction tinged with the strange.’ PAYING https://outlooksprings.submittable.com/submit (With thanks for this one to www.trishhopkinson.com)

15th Jul Poetry, fiction and more. https://sandjournal.submittable.com/submit

19th Jul ‘The Grey Wolfe Storybook anthology accepts submissions of “G” rated, family-friendly short stories, poems and essays. Contributors wishing to achieve the goal of publication may submit short stories and personal essays of not more than 8,000 words; or poetry of not more than 45 lines, with a central theme or character involving children or family. Proceeds from the sale of this book will aid the American Society of Deaf Children.’ https://greywolfepublishing.submittable.com/submit

20th Jul Poetry, prose and more. PAYING http://feminineinquiry.com/submit/ (Thanks to www.erikadreifus.com for this one)

20th Jul Poetry of Tragedy. https://foragepoetry.com/contact/

20th Jul ‘ We invite your first-hand collaborative experiences, with this premise: what happens when a mentor-mentee pair go rogue, abandon their assigned roles, & make together? We are interested in process as much as product & we want to know how you reformulate an ostensibly hierarchical relationships into something that is mutualized, reciprocal, give & take—or even inside out, backwards, upside down, like Billy, & The Kid.’ http://dusie.org/about.html

22nd Jul ‘Who says October has to be gloomy? Let’s shine a little light on the dark night of All Hallows Eve by showcasing grim humor, graveyard mischief, and good old-fashioned Halloween fun. From fun and silly to creepy and quirky, what embodies the spirit of Halloween for you?’ Speculative flash fiction. PAYING http://splicketypubgroup.com/imprints/havok-magazine/

24th Jul Poetry and fiction on the theme of Hope. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.popshotpopshot.com/submit.html

28th Jul Writing on the theme of Derail. https://thederailsreview.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/not-just-online/

29th Jul ‘We look for true stories of survival and recovery from illness, addiction, tragedy or other challenges that will inspire and empower audiences. In addition to offering traditional compensation models, we invite our collaborators to identify a nonprofit organization that will benefit from a portion of the proceeds of their work. Together, we can make a difference in local communities and in the world at large.’ UNKNOWN COMPENSATION http://kicamprojects.com/submissions/

29th Jul Flash and short fiction on the theme of Movement. http://www.litro.co.uk/submit/

30th Jul Fairytale-inspired poems and stories on the theme of fairy godmothers. PAYING http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/p/blog-page_22.html

30th Jul Intersectionalist/feminist protest poetry on the theme of Guns. https://thankyouforswallowing.wordpress.com/submission-guidelines/

31st Jul Poetry and flash on the theme of Emergence. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.kindofahurricanepress.com/p/anthology-emergence.html

31st Jul ‘We are looking for true, non-fiction stories of no more than 1,200 words from current college students up to age 24. You can be enrolled in two-year, four-year, or technical college—any post high school educational institution.’ Poems too. http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

31st Jul ‘Take us deep into the forest and show us what we’ll find within. Whether it’s leafy branches hiding elfin lords or a steampunk graveyard covered in mechanical vines, we want to know what’s hidden inside the forest and what dragons (or rogue robot monsters) our heroes will have to slay to make their way through. Paint us a vivid world that makes us want to explore the realm you create. Give us new heroes to love and villains we love to hate.’ 2000-8000 words. PAYING http://litselect.weebly.com/submissions.html

31st Jul Ocean-themed horror 5000-12,000 words. PAYING http://strigidaepublishing.com/for-authors-2/anthology-submissions/submission-call-cetos-brine/

31st Jul ‘Sweet Romance with a fall/harvest theme. Autumn is the time for festivals, county fairs and back to school, and one of our favorite times of the year here at Roane Publishing. Bring us your sweet, fall themed romance stories.’ http://www.roanepublishing.com/Articles.asp?ID=253

31st Jul ‘Lovecraftiana is a quarterly publication from Rogue Planet Press, with issues coming out April 30th, July 31st, October 31st, and January 31st, featuring stories, articles, poetry or artwork on Cthulhu Mythos / Lovecraftian themes.’ http://www.schlock.co.uk/pb/wp_ff24f549/wp_ff24f549.html

31st Jul Poetry, fiction and more. https://cleavermagazine.submittable.com/submit

31st Jul SF story. PAYING http://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/

31st Jul ‘For our fourth issue, Deep Black Sea, we want short stories, flash, and poetry hauled from the brine of oceans both real and fantastic.’ http://phobosmagazine.com/submissions/

31st Jul Poetry and nonfiction. https://prongposylitmag.com/submit/

31st Jul Poems on the theme of Bones and Breath. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://magmapoetry.com/contributions/

31st Jul Novellas 18,000-35,000 words. PAYING http://www.thricepublishing.com/submissions.html

31st Jul Poetry, fiction and more (Cathy’s note: those not in the USA may submit via email). https://oasisjournal.org/about/

31st Jul ‘FunDead Publications is currently seeking submissions for an upcoming anthology of chilling Christmas tales. Title TBA. We are looking for stories in the vein of Dickens, or ‘Between the Lights’ by E.F. Benson, or ‘The Kit-Bag’ by Algernon Blackwood. Ghosts and legends are encouraged, historical fiction is preferable for this collection.’ 1000-6000 words. PAYING https://fundeadpublications.com/new-story-submissions/

31st Jul Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Food. PAYING http://roommagazine.com/submit

31st Jul Poetry and creative nonfiction on the theme of Forgiveness. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.snapdragonjournal.com/submit.html

31st Jul UK and Ireland only: Poetry. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.butchersdogmagazine.com/p/how-to-submit.html

31st Jul ‘ Many of the Christmas stories we hold dear in Western culture focus around male figures – Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, the Krampus, Rudolph and Frosty. But if you look to the past, female figures were central to family and hearth celebrations occurring on or around the Winter Solstice. Do some research and tell us your own unique story about the feminine spirit in the Yuletide.’ 3000-10,000 words. PAYING http://otterlibris.com/open-projects/solstice2016/

31st Jul ‘We’re looking for stories inspired by recognizable urban legends, but with a romantic twist. The romance needs to be key to the story so we’re not looking for anything too darkly horrific, and the stories must have a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN) ending—no killing off the love interests.’ 3000-15,000 words. PAYING http://www.penandkinkpub.com/home/about-us/call-for-submissions/

1st Aug Writing and more by girls and women on the theme of What’s Your Future? http://newmoon.com/how-to-get-published-new-moon-girls/

1st Aug Fiction 300-5000 words, starting with the line: Mrs. Morrison was too busy to die. PAYING http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm

1st Aug ‘If your rural or western work is drownin’ in its own sweat, it’d be perfect for the Fall 2016 Issue of Cowboy Jamboree, “With Alacrity!” We want stories, fiction or non, that get at it with a sense of urgency for this issue. Storm comin’? Fence down? Calf dyin’? Gun drawn? Whatever sense of urgency your rural or western story carries, we’d be interested in takin’ a poke at it for our Fall issue. As always, we prefer writing with some rough edges and guts. Swearin’ and killin’ don’t offend us. We nominate for Pushcart and Best of the Net.’ http://www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/style–submit.html

1st Aug ‘Bring us your best prison stories. Any genre. Any point of view. The story can be from the perspective of an inmate. It can be from the POV of a guard. It can be from the viewpoint of a family member visiting a lifer. It can be about redemption, or a spiral down into oblivion. It can be about friendship, or prison gangs and rivalries. It can be about a riot. It can be about an ex-con, who’s gotten out and is struggling to reintegrate into an unforgiving society. As long as it holds true to the main theme of prison, it fits.’ PAYING http://www.emppublishing.com/open-call.html

1st Aug ‘We’re looking for stories that are highly romantic, featuring a Scottish man. Stories may be historical or time travel. Stories should be between 10,000-20,000 and meet the requirements for our sweet, PINK satin romance line.’ ROYALTIES http://www.satinromance.com/subs.html

1st Aug Fiction up to 500 words, poetry and more suitable for Christian children on the theme of Hallowe’en Pumpkins. PAYING http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/submissions.html

1st Aug Writing and more by women. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://aroomofherownfoundation.submittable.com/submit

1st Aug 3-5 poems. https://sheilanagigblog.com/submissions/

1st Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Corporeal. PAYING http://www.slicemagazine.org/submit-your-work/#.V18BmKJc7fZ (Thanks for this one to www.erikadreifus.com)

1st Aug Poetry and prose on the theme of The Kindness of Strangers. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.universaltable.org/wisingup.html

1st Aug ‘We are seeking stories, essays, and poems that speak to our shared humanity through political engagement; works that bear witness, advocate, and foster authentic dialogue around current issues and events.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.isthmusreview.com/submit/

1st Aug ‘Contributors wishing to achieve the goal of publication may submit short stories and anecdotal essays of not more than 8,000 words; or poetry of not more than 45 lines. This is a special edition focusing on the paranormal. Pieces may include characters, scenes and settings introducing readers to a collection of scary, odd, ethereal, transcendent, and unearthly accounts.’ https://greywolfepublishing.submittable.com/submit

1st Aug Flash, short fiction and more on the theme of Fairy Tales, Mythology and Gods & Monsters. PAYING http://www.bodypartsmagazine.com/submissions.html

1st Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Disability, Mental Health and Chronic Illness. http://www.lunalunamagazine.com/special-issue-submissions

1st Aug Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Animals Among Us. http://aboutplacejournal.org/submissions/

1st Aug ‘Burrow Press Review is looking for the four scariest short stories we can find to be published every Tuesday in the month of October, 2016. We are seeking dark fiction that shatters the illusions of safety to which we cling. Send us work that bursts through the comfortable boundary of the page and leaves the reader disarmed, destabilized, and trembling with dread.’ PAYING https://burrowpress.submittable.com/submit

1st Aug Writing on the theme of Science or Music or Both. https://threequarterreview.com/2015/11/01/contact-us/

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

NOTE: Publishers sometimes don’t discuss their royalty rate upfront. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t pay! I just haven’t put them as paying/giving royalties whenever I haven’t found details on the website.

Poetry, including reprints. PAYING https://thechaoticreview.com/submissionguidelines/

Short fiction, poetry and more. https://sunstarlit.com/submit/

Romance MSS of all kinds. ROYALTIES http://ravynheart.com/submissions.html?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email

Open until filled: ‘I am looking for poems that are interesting and creative, that reflect who God is. That isn’t to say that they shouldn’t be in a certain style or follow a form, more that they really express our worship in fresh ways rather than simply saying for instance that God is Holy, or Jesus is Love. I think poetry is best when it delves into these ideas and finds new language to describe something like holiness for example in fresh way rather than relying on clichés.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://worshippoetryanthology.tk/

‘We are currently looking for: things that are dark, sexy, strange, unexpected and beautiful. We love essays and photographs, audio recordings and diary entries. We also like lists, round-ups and reviews right now.’ http://www.lunalunamagazine.com/join-the-coven/

‘Send in the body of an email up to 3 poems of poison and sweetness to editordeadsnakes@gmail.com ‘ http://deadsnakes.blogspot.co.uk/

Poetry, fiction and more. PAYING http://violethourmag.wix.com/vhmagazine

‘The Woven Tale Press is a monthly online literary and fine arts magazine. The Press mission is to grow traffic to noteworthy artists and writers on the Web; we link contributors works directly back to their websites or blogs. The Press welcomes submissions of poetry, fiction, memoir, flash fiction and the experimental. We also consider literary works accompanied by original art images. We pride ourselves on being eclectic. Our only prerequisite is that you must have a blog or website url. For submission guidelines visit http://thewoventalepress.net/how-to-submit/.’ (Cathy’s note: you need a blog or website to submit here.) https://thewoventalepress.submittable.com/submit

Poetry, fiction and more. https://beautifullosersmagazine.wordpress.com/submissions/

Speculative, quiet poetry, flash and short fiction. http://thequietcirclemag.wix.com/home#!submit/cee5

Open until filled (or 31st Aug): speculative fiction and poetry on the theme of Automobilia. PAYING http://www.omicronworld.com/#!spekulative-stories/c1cg0

‘We’re looking for edgy, raw, unconventional, difficult, speculative fiction stories. You can pluck our heartstrings, but make it a tune we’ve never heard before.’ PAYING https://persistentvisionsmag.com/guidelines

Poetry, fiction and more. https://thecossack.submittable.com/submit

Open until filled (or 30th Nov): ‘The theme of Beyond the Hedge Volume 2 is “Chimeras and Phantasms.” What is the difference between dream and delusion, and how does reality differ from either of those? Are our flights of imagination wondrous or sinister? Show us visions of the past that rock the present. Show us visions of the future that reshape our perception of the modern world. Show us that “reality” itself is suspect. Show us your imagination’s strangest chimeras and most mesmerizing phantasms.’ http://www.fuzzyhedgehogpress.com/submissions/

‘Little Tiger Press publishes picture books, Stripes publishes young fiction and Caterpillar Books publishes novelty and activity titles.’ http://www.littletiger.co.uk/submissions

Poetry. PAYING http://www.foundryjournal.com/submit.html

‘At Jazz Cigarette, we don’t have a type, but traditional verse will have to be pretty good to land here. Send us your sestinas, though. There aren’t enough sestinas out there. Prose poems and hybrid work will also be considered. In the month of August, we read for The Electric Zoetrope Poetry Prize, and award a winner on October 1st.’ http://www.jazzcig.com/submit.html

‘Fissure is dedicated to furthering the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in literature and art, specifically the voices of young and queer writers and artists.’ http://fissuremag.weebly.com/submissions.html

Open until filled: ‘We are currently seeking stories for a new anthology. Stories must fall into the category of science fiction (hard or soft), and must feature a transgender male protagonist. Given the nature of speculative fiction, however, we are willing to consider stories that feature non-binary, intersex or genderfluid characters, but for this project, any non-binary character should either identify strongly as male, or the story should deal with themes of what it means to be “masculine” or a “man” in terms of the world setting in which the story takes place.’ PAYING http://www.pinknarc.com/submissions.html

‘As an online journal geared specifically towards exploring the city, we accept poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction related to this subject. Photography and art relating to the city and the city experience is also welcome. You can explore any themes or issues in your work, as long as they are related to a city or cities in some way.’ https://citykey.wordpress.com/submissions/

‘Send us your time travelling tanka, scientific sonnet, robotic rondel, high-tech haiku, alien acrostics and futuristic free verse.’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/submissions-poetry-multiverse/

‘Whether it’s a journey through our priceless existence, a struggle to achieve personal contentment, a heart-wrenching brush with defeat, an intelligent observation on humanity, a deep desire for your voice to be heard, stirring inspiration, or just pure entertainment, we want it and will strive to share it.’ Poetry, flash, short fiction and more. SOME CONTRIBUTORS GET CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.gftpress.com/submissions

Poetry. https://byandby.submittable.com/submit

‘Xoum publishes non-fiction and fiction for both adults and children. Our specialty areas include true crime, travel, history, popular science, health & wellbeing; select literary fiction, crime fiction, fantasy and sf; and young adult and children’s narrative fiction.’ http://www.xoum.com.au/submissions/

‘Alebrijes is open to submissions of fiction, poetry, lyrical essays, and visual art. We incorporate all literary forms, but are particularly drawn to experimental pieces that play with form and structure, that exhibit surreal themes while also engaging in the dense and complex issues that arise in (post)modern society. Send us only your best, give us pieces that carry the weight of a remembered dream.’ http://www.alebrijeslit.org/new-index-2/#submit-1

‘FunDead Publications is currently accepting submissions for a forthcoming poetry anthology, Death Poetic. The theme is, obviously, death! All submissions must be on the subject of death or dying. We are looking for well-written, lyrical pieces. While we welcome all types of poems, we do specifically like rhyming poems for this particular anthology, think The Highwayman or Annabel Lee. We are going for a theme, classical in nature that is more focused in the beauty of the end of life.’ PAYING https://fundeadpublications.com/new-story-submissions/

Family-friendly Hallowe’en poems (Cathy’s note: scroll down, as there are lots of projects on this page). PAYING https://fundeadpublications.com/new-story-submissions/

Flash and short fiction. http://www.catonaleashreview.com/submissions.html

Comps and calls for June 2016

Posted on 1st June 201631st May 2016 by cathy in Uncategorised

Hello all! I hope that everything’s going well for you. Many thanks to those who’ve let me know of successes — it’s great that so many Comps-and-Calls-ers are getting published, some for the first time! I’m having a moderate sort of year professionally, but there should be big developments in a few months… In the meantime, it’s time to submit and enter as much as possible!

Cathy x

Here are June 2016’s writing competitions and calls for submission, all with free, electronic entry.

There are three headings (click 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.

COMPETITIONS

(Cathy’s note: submit ‘by June’ to get in this year’s prize, or, if accepted, your essay might be eligible for next year’s.) ‘In keeping with Maritain’s own broad interests, we are not limiting submissions to a particular theme, other than what would fit within the context of a Catholic cultural and literary journal. In other words, please follow our nonfiction submission guidelines.’ PAYING http://dappledthings.org/the-j-f-powers-prize-for-fiction/

3rd Jun ‘Your challenge: Think of a great twist ending for a story. Then, in no more than 50 words, write the beginning of a short story that starts with that twist, instead of saving it for the end. Unlike most mini-contests, we’re not asking you to tell a complete story–just begin one.’ PAYING https://onthepremises.submittable.com/Submit

3rd Jun ‘Kevin Elyot was a Bristol alumnus (Drama Department) who went on to achieve great success through his ground-breaking plays, adaptations and other work. The Kevin Elyot Award creates a writer in residency post that allows the recipient access to the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, where Kevin Elyot’s own archive is contained.’ PAYING http://tinyurl.com/zs3zbsj

5th Jun Story on the theme of Genius and Madness. http://www.liarsleague.com/liars_league/forthcoming-events-themes.html

6th Jun ‘Project 2036 is a three year programme that will offer a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) playwright, director and producer a £10,000 bursary each year, generously funded by the Leverhulme Trust.’ (Cathy’s note: you will need to attend meetings and events in London if you get this.) PAYING https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/artists/the-leverhulme-2036-project/apply/ (thanks to http://www.londonplaywrightsblog.com for this one)

8th Jun Spectator Competition No. 2952: nonsensical. ‘You are invited to submit nonsense verse of up to 16 lines on the subject of the EU referendum. Please email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 8 June.’ PAYING http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/05/drinking-partner/

9th June The first 690 words of a work-in-progress (unfinished or unpublished novel) or a book self-published by the author within the past year (publication date no earlier than 2/14/2015). All entries must be from novel-length works. VOUCHER/OTHER https://shondabrock.wordpress.com/contest/

12th Jun UK only: finish the Barbie story. NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.netmums.com/activities/barbie-dreamtopia

13th Jun Poem or fiction on the theme of Sea-Change, by disabled and/or marginalised writers in the UK only. PAYING http://www.cfliteraryawards.org.uk/how-to-apply/rules/

13th Jun ‘We run an annual Ocean Awareness Student Contest that challenges middle and high school students to communicate the science of pressing ocean issues through art, poetry, prose, or film. It’s a great opportunity for creatively-minded students who want to make work that makes a difference.’ PAYING http://fromthebowseat.org/contest.php

15th Jun Story 2000-5000 words inspired by the artwork of your choice. PAYING http://www.wordsandbrushes.com/

15th Jun Fiction, nonfiction and art on the theme of The Land of Oz. PAYING http://ozclub.org/oz-club-contests/ (Thanks to https://winningwriters.com/ for this one.)

15th Jun Essay by those up to 25 years old on the theme of Education to Build a Better Future for All. PAYING http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/1601.html

21st Jun United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions only: Submit your manuscript for a book about diversity for ages 8-14 and you could receive a publishing contract from Penguin Random House LLC! Open to people of color (or those who self-identify as other than white) aged 18 and older.’ PAYING http://www.penguin.com/rollofthunderpublishingcontest/?ref=PRHB1ADDA163C

24th Jun 200-word stories on the theme of Canda Day/US Independence Day. PAYING http://ironsoap.com/200-ccs/submissions/

30th Jun ‘Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.’ PAYING http://www.sps.com/poetry/index.html

30th Jun Fiction up to 2000 words on the theme of The Mysterious Call. http://greywolfepublishing.com/2016%20Monthly%20Contests.html

30th Jun Story or novel opening up to 1500 words. ‘Every submission receives three structured pieces of feedback in return for reviewing three others as part of the entry process. An algorithm (affectionately known as Ophelia) has the amazing ability to identify the best submissions and the Top 25% receive a Pen Factor award and are showcased on our Reader Page on the website and across our various social media outlets. The judging panel carefully reads the Top 25% of entries and select an overall winner who is referred to our partners, Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, for a full manuscript review valued at around US$500, thus providing access to the industry.’ NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.penfactor.com/

30th Jun Story up to 2000 words on the theme of Christmas. PAYING http://www.wordsmag.com/compcal16.htm

30th Jun ‘The poem needs to be unambiguously about thanks – no subtle, back-handed compliments in this one, please! The poem needs to fit on a postcard with some room for illustration –maybe 10 long lines for a landscape postcard, or 15 shorter ones for a portrait postcard, or a prose poem. Please send your poem in the body of an email to Julia Bird (programme@poetryschool.com) by 30 June. The copyright of the selected poem will remain with the poet, but the Poetry School will be free to use the poem in print and online.’ NON-CASH PRIZE

30th Jun ‘Our drabble contests will have themes. For each contest, we will simply throw the theme out there. Whatever the theme inspires you to write, that’s what you write. The theme of this contest is: What if the Monitor stares back at you? Basically, we’re looking for stories that are a bit off-beat, quirky, unusual. I mean, face it, what happens when, as a writer, you sit and stare at the monitor as if waiting for inspiration? What must the monitor be thinking? So tell us!’ PAYING http://albanlake.com/drabble-contest-1/

30th Jun ‘Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. The contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium.’ PAYING http://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

30th Jun Fiction up to 1000 words on the theme of Short & Sweet. NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.liarsleaguenyc.com/submissions/

30th Jun Poetry, flash and short fiction on the theme of Science and Technology. https://tigersharkpublishing.wordpress.com/home/guidelines/

30th Jun Fiction up to 10,000 words. PAYING https://bestnewwriting.submittable.com/Submit

1st Jul Comedy plays in Shakespearean language. PERCENTAGE OF BOX OFFICE http://www.londonplaywrightsblog.com/?p=5067

1st Jul ‘We aim to honor new and emerging poets and prose writers who are creating electric work. Submissions will only be accepted from writers who have not yet published a novel or collection of any type.’ PAYING https://wintertangerine.submittable.com/submit/41172 (Thanks to http://www.erikadreifus.com/ for that one)

1st Jul Short poems and flash fiction. PAYING https://bopdeadcity.com/contests/

1st Jul ‘We are looking for picture books, middle grade, teen and YA stories with outstanding plots and great hooks. Get us smiling with delight and/or splitting our sides with laughter. Send us your funniest fiction in all genres.’ NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.greenhouseliterary.com/index.php/site/funny_prize

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

3rd Jun Romantic flash fiction on the theme of Love on Location. http://splicketypubgroup.com/submission-guidelines/upcoming-themes/

4th Jun ‘Solarpunk follows in the tradition of steampunk and cyberpunk as the embodiment of a counterculture ideology: innovating a way of life that is better for the present and ultimately better for the future. Concepts like clean energy and sustainability are integral to solarpunk as they are outlets for societal reform. The fight for positive change is where -punk comes into play.’ Stories 500-7500 words, and poems. PAYING https://sunvaultantho.wordpress.com/submissions/

4th Jun Rocket Ride – M/M SF erotica. PAYING https://inkubuspublishing.submittable.com/submit

5th Jun ‘White Stag wants work from Self-identified women. We want to highlight work by women; poetry, prose, & creative non-fiction that provides a lens into the various dimensions of women in the current world, from the micro to the macro level (whatever that may be for you, as a woman).’ CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.whitestagpublishing.com/submit.html

7th Jun ‘Between Worlds is seeking short stories and flash fiction of an otherworldly nature.’ PAYING http://www.betweenworldszine.com/submissions-guide/

9th Jun Flash fiction inspired by Bristol’s harbourside area. https://shortstops.info/2016/05/14/write-a-bristol-flash/

10th Jun ‘If there’s any subject to rival witches in the theme stakes here at Three Drops Press, it’s water lore. The sea, rivers, streams, ponds. Mermaids, sirens, selkies, kelpies, the Lady of the Lake, ghost ships, Scylla and Charybdis, and dozens of lesser-known tales – our writers and readers love a bit of myth and magic on the waves, currents, or reflected in the stillness of a pool.’ http://threedropspoetry.co.uk/submissions/call-for-submissions-tailfins-and-sealskins/

10th Jun ‘Spiltmilk Dance and artsdepot are offering two professional performing artists/companies an opportunity to create a brand new short piece of performance (8 minutes maximum), to be performed as part of The Love Cabaret at artsdepot.’ PAYING http://spiltmilkdance.co.uk/news/love-cabaret-london-micro-commission-opportunity/ (Thanks to http://www.londonplaywrightsblog.com for this one)

11th Jun Flash and short fiction. http://firewords.co.uk/submit

11th Jun Send your e-chapbooks for possible review. http://cahoodaloodaling.com/submission-calls/

12th Jun Poetry, flash, short fiction and more on the theme of Freedom. http://www.indianavoicejournal.com/p/blog-page_3914.html

13th June ‘Bewilder us, scare us, entertain us. Take us on a journey… into the woods.’ Fiction 3000-7000 words. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.hic-dragones.co.uk/into-the-woods-call-for-submissions/

15th Jun Poetry, fiction and more. PAYING https://outlooksprings.submittable.com/submit

15th Jun Poem on the theme of Vaginas. PAYING https://yellowchairreview.submittable.com/submit

15th Jun Female-identifying writers only: ‘In women’s literature, myth and magic easily co-exists with domestic concerns; indeed it often amplifies the drama of the ordinary. Many contemporary poets take that familiar domestic scene—a kitchen, a laundry room, a vegetable patch—and distort the details to reveal the actual nature of the situation through fabulism.’ http://fioletandwing.wix.com/fioletandwing

15th Jun Stories up to 8000 words on the theme of Enter the Apocalypse. PAYING http://tanstaaflpress.com/enter-the-anthologies-submission-guidelines/

15th Jun ‘Inside The Bell Jar is a quarterly journal accepting poetry, short stories and flash fiction of absolutely any genre. The only real requirement we have is that your piece is related to mental illness in some way; through a character, the general theme, something about the setting – you decide.’ PAYING http://www.insidethebelljar.com/submit/

15th Jun Poetry. CONTRIBUTOR COPY https://borderlands.submittable.com/submit

15th Jun Erotica: ‘We are looking for stories with three chapters to be published serially. The first chapter only has one person, the second chapter has two people, the third chapter has three.’ PAYING https://honeydewtingle.wordpress.com/submissions/

15th Jun Poetry, fiction and more. PAYING https://matter.submittable.com/submit

15th Jun Speculative fiction on the theme of Keystone Chronicles.1500-3000 words. PAYING http://www.thirdflatiron.com/liveSite/

15th Jun Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Film. https://prodigallitmag.submittable.com/submit

15th Jun Writing on the theme of Appetite. http://desiwriterslounge.net/papercuts/submissions/

15th Jun ‘For our next issue, our ongoing exploration of gender and sexuality through the lens of SF poetry addresses the male perspective. This issue—guest-edited by Marge Simon, a woman—will explore the male perspective through SF poems written by men and male-identifying persons, and male-persona poems written by anyone.’ PAYING http://www.eyetothetelescope.com/submit.html

15th Jun Fiction, poetry and more on the theme of After Dark. https://thesuburbanreview.submittable.com/submit

16th Jun Poetry, fiction and satire. PAYING http://gracklerag.com/submission-guidelines/

19th Jun Poetry, fiction and more by neurodivergent writers on the theme of Synchronicity. https://barkingsycamores.wordpress.com/submission-guidelines/current-call-for-submissions/

19th Jun Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Ghosts. http://icameherelookingforafight.bigcartel.com/call-for-submissions

21st Jun Poetry and flash up to 1000 words. https://arachnepress.submittable.com/submit

22nd Jun Unpublished writers only: Writing on the theme of Secrets and Confessions (Cathy’s note: anyone can submit, but only Scottish writers will be published in the print volume). http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing/secrets-and-confessions/submit

30th Jun ‘Tell us your stories about the great teachers who changed your life. And if you’re a teacher, tell us about the kids who changed yours, who motivated you to keep on teaching, who showed you that it was all worth it. We’d love to share your best advice with other teachers as well—what works, what doesn’t, how you stay enthusiastic about your jobs. What advice do you have for your colleagues? Tell us the funny stories too—we know you have lots of those.’ PAYING http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

30th Jun Poetry, fiction and more. PAYING http://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions.html

30th Jun True stories and poems about blended families. PAYING http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

30th Jun Poetry, fiction and more. http://www.milkjournal.net/#!guidelines/urcm6

30th Jun Poetry and fiction. PAYING https://litmag.com/submit/

30th Jun ‘Women come in all shapes and sizes. We’re all beautiful and the key is to be fit and healthy within the body type that we were issued at birth. Our new book is all about body image, self-esteem, and feeling comfortable within our own skins.’ PAYING http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

30th Jun Poetry and more. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://verbalart.in/submission.php

30th Jun Poetry on the theme of Music. http://www.thepoetrybox.com/ThePoemingPigeon.html

30th Jun ‘Too many characters spend their time brooding about the past, whether it’s missed opportunities or mistakes that led to misfortune down the line. For our first anthology, we want your stories with at least one character who has no regrets – either for a specific moment, or in general. Your story must feature a predominantly POC cast to be considered. Sci-fi, Fantasy, or Horror (no poetry, please). For this anthology, we’re looking for original, short fiction up to 10,000 words. ‘ PAYING http://www.sanguine.press/submission-requirements/

30th Jun ‘Picaroon Poetry is a web journal for unthemed, eclectic poetry. I’m looking for rogue poets, if you will (and absolutely anyone can be a rogue poet, if they feel the urge, so yes poet – that means you).’ https://picaroonpoetry.wordpress.com/submissions/

30th Jun Fiction up to 3000 words. Also flash fiction 400 words or less, and somewhere in the work should be the line, “I woke up and found myself …” PAYING https://newzenithmagazine.com/about/

30th Jun Poetry. PAYING (Cathy’s note: other categories require a submission fee, but poetry is free) https://meanjin.submittable.com/submit

30th Jun Horror fiction 2000-8000 words on the theme of potter’s field/unmarked graves. PAYING http://albanlake.com/potters-field-six/

1st Jul Shade Mountain Press is seeking novel manuscripts by African American women. http://www.shademountainpress.com/contact.php

1st Jul Fiction up to 500 words, poetry and more suitable for Christian children on the theme of All About Monkeys. PAYING http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/submissions.html

1st Jul ‘For general submissions we seek work that engages with or repurposes the complex cultural history of America. For our special transportation-themed issue, we are looking work that meets the criteria above but also reflects the special relationship Americans have to their modes of transportation—their trains and their riverboats and their classic cars and their vintage bicycles and their boots made for walking, to name only a few.’ https://themuseumofamericana.net/submissions/

1st Jul Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Second Thoughts. PAYING http://themaliterarysociety.com/submissions.html

1st Jul ‘The retold tale can be from any culture and any time period (though special attention will likely be given to non-western tales, since those will be more rare), the setting can be any interpretation of Science Fiction or Alternate History (not looking for classic (high) fantasy settings), and the retelling can be done as loosely or tightly as desired. We’re not looking for “cracked” fairytales or humor pieces, but we might make an exception if an exceptional one is sent in (certainly there would be room for no more than one of these in the collection).’ Fiction, poetry and art. PAYING http://www.manawaker.com/starward-submissions/

1st Jul Writers with disabilities only: ‘We’re looking for narratives about the experience of disability that complicate or altogether undo the dominant and typically marginalizing rhetoric about disability. We especially want to highlight work that investigates the complexity of the experience across identities. Whether you’re drawing from experiences related to gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, or any other marginalized identity, we want your voice in our journal.’ (Cathy’s note: after this first edition, submission fees will be charged, so submit now if you’re eligible!) PAYING http://www.deafpoetssociety.com/submission-guidelines/

1st Jul ‘In the anticipation of publishing an anthology of poems responding to Moby-Dick, we would like to invite poetry submissions of one-to-five pages (this may include several poems or one long poem), totaling no more than 1400 words. So many media offer viable modes of response to Moby-Dick, but perhaps it is in poetry that we might weave most intricately, dive most deeply in response to his novel.’ (Cathy’s note: scroll down the page to find the call for submissions.) http://www.melvillesociety.org/

1st Jul or when filled: Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, or Anne of Green Gables. PAYING https://nonbinaryreview.submittable.com/submit

1st Jul Poetry on the theme of 90s pop culture. http://www.upthestaircase.org/submit.html

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

Poetry. http://www.undergroundbooks.org/submit.html

Fiction books. PROFIT/REVENUE SHARING MODEL

http://wildwoodpublishing.net/content/31-submissions

Writing by women. https://dyingdahliareview.com/guidelines/

‘Cloud Rodeo is an irregularly published journal of the irregular.

Let’s get weird.’ https://cloudrodeo.org/submit/

‘Kube is an independent publishing house that publishes general interest, academic and children’s books on Islam and the Muslim experience.’ http://www.kubepublishing.com/submissions/

Genre fiction over 50,000 words. PROFIT/REVENUE SHARING MODEL http://www.backhallpress.com/write-for-us

‘The editors of LONTAR are looking for quality literary writing with elements of the fantastic, which is in some way connected with the cultures, traditions, mythologies, folk religions, and/or daily life in Southeast Asia. While we are happy to look at works by writers outside of the region, we want to actively encourage Southeast Asian writers to submit your work.’ PAYING https://lontarjournal.submittable.com/submit

‘The Marie Alexander Series doesn’t just publish prose poetry but is looking for innovative collections of flash fiction, short lyric essays, and other hybrid forms.’ http://www.mariealexanderseries.com/submit.shtml

SF, F and H. https://redsunmagazine.wordpress.com/guidelines/ PAYING

(Thanks to http://fundsforwriters.com/ for this one.)

Writing inspired by the historical photos on the site. http://souvenirensemble.com/souvenir-ensemble-quarterly/

‘Merit Press Books was founded to publish intensely readable, highly suspenseful novels with protagonists who usually are young adults over the age of fourteen. These stories will happen in the real world, featuring young female (and sometimes male) heroes rising to meet the challenges of a complex contemporary time and place. We do accept direct submissions as well as submissions from literary agents.’ http://www.adamsmediastore.com/aboutus

Short and flash stories of various lengths. PAYING http://bingewatchingcure.com/

Novels. http://www.thepatchworkraven.com/#!submissions/dliyq

‘As of 2016, we are launching our new endeavor, Sylph Press, which will publish beautiful chapbooks. We are interested in surreal, bizarre, dark, compelling, unsettling poetry and short fiction. We especially welcome writers who identify as being queer, non-binary, women, and POC.’ http://www.yespoetry.com/sylph/

Australians and New Zealanders only: children’s books. http://www.randomhouse.com.au/about/childrens-manuscripts.aspx

Speculative prose on the theme of Animals. https://lackingtons.com/submissions/

Until filled: unpublished writers only: ‘High school is hell. The bullying, the practical jokes gone horribly wrong, the humiliation at being turned down by the hottest girl/guy in school when you asked them to the dance. At the time we thought there was nothing worse, that our lives would be ruined forever, but we survived. Put that all aside now and think of other horrors that could have been. Is your school haunted? Are the professors aliens (or demons?) preying on the student body? Are they serving up something other than “food” in the cafeteria? And what’s up with the new kid?’ (Cathy’s note: scroll down to ‘Horror High’). PAYING

http://www.grinningskullpress.com/Submissions-Guidelines.html

‘CRANIAL LEAKAGE will be an annual publication from Grinning Skull Press. It is an unthemed horror anthology that will be published in both digital and print formats. Subject matter is open, but please NO sexual content involving children.’ PAYING

http://www.grinningskullpress.com/Submissions-Guidelines.html

Canadians only: MSS of poetry, fiction and more. http://ecwpress.com/pages/submissions

‘Belle Lutte Press’ mission is to bring exceptionalism back to the masses. While today’s media maximizes profits by force-feeding the populace cheap and unoriginal thought, Belle Lutte Press is fighting the good fight—hell-bent on publishing original, high-quality novels.’ http://bellelutte.com/submit/

‘We accept original science fiction stories up to 4,000 words in length. While we delight in escapist fantasies they are not what we are interested in publishing here, what we want most at Big Echo are thought experiments which push the conceptual and aesthetic boundaries of the genre. ‘ http://www.bigecho.org/submissions/

‘HeroesandHeartbreakers.com welcomes submissions of original romance stories in all subgenres (erotica, contemporary, paranormal/urban fantasy, women’s fiction/chick lit, historical, romantic suspense, etc).’ ADVANCE + ROYALTIES http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/page/submissions

‘The Poisoned Pencil publishes young adult mystery in trade paperback and ebook editions.’ ADVANCE http://thepoisonedpencil.com/author-submissions/

‘We publish quiet stories that use the unreal, the surreal, the fantastic, and the speculative as a secret passageway to the profound. In the imagined, the mythical, the magical, the folkloric, and the scientifically plausible is a window, a metaphor, to the truth. We look for the colors of the real world through a warped or blurred mirror, to learn something about the way things are by experiencing the way they are not, or the way they could be. We see the lyrical and the fabulist as siblings.’ Poetry, fiction and more. http://thequietcirclemag.wix.com/home#!submit/cee5

Crime fiction books. http://www.crookedlanebooks.com/contact/

‘A new publication that explores the probable, as well as the possible through speculative fiction, art, and the occasional poem as humankind colonizes the solar system.

Suggested themes: colonizing planets in the solar system, evolution/devolution of humanity on other planets (physical/cultural/etymological/ideological), first contact with other species, etc.’ PAYING https://whitesidereview.com/about/

Flash and short fiction, poetry, drama and more. https://shantihjournal.org/submissions/

Poetry, various lengths of fiction, and more. PAYING https://87bedford.com/submission/

‘Mamá Liberada celebrates creative and inspiring families with essay, poetry, drawing, art, interviews, recipes, herbalism, DIY tutorials, reviews, personal accounts, and more in a zine compilation.’ https://mamaliberada.wordpress.com/

‘Lovecraftiana is a quarterly publication from Rogue Planet Press, with issues coming out April 30th, July 31st, October 31st, and January 31st, featuring stories, articles, poetry or artwork on Cthulhu Mythos / Lovecraftian themes.’ http://www.schlock.co.uk/pb/wp_ff24f549/wp_ff24f549.html

Horror and dark fantasy fiction. PAYING http://ttapress.com/blackstatic/guidelines/

‘The CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly seeks to explore ideas and issues of Judaism and Jewish life, primarily—but not exclusively—from a Reform Jewish perspective.’ Poetry and more. https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbis-speak/ccar-journal-reform-jewish-quarterly/submitting-material/

Poetry MSS (query first). CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://nightballetpress.blogspot.co.uk/p/submissions.html

‘Share your 10 minutes of writing with me! How? Set a timer. Write for ten minutes, by hand without stopping. Type it up. Does it need an edit? Edit for 10 minutes. This is about the process of writing, of remembering, of spilling our guts, of looking within ourselves and our lives.’ http://www.lifein10minutes.com/submit-10/

Comps and calls for May 2016

Posted on 1st May 20161st May 2016 by cathy in Uncategorised

Hello all and Happy May!

Yes, I know that ‘Happy May’ isn’t a traditional greeting, but there are tons of opportunities this month, many paying, and they are wonderfully varied. Also, I have news – Comps and Calls has been selected to be one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers as honored by Writer’s Digest! How great is that?! There’s a link at the right if you want to explore.

Since C&C started I’ve been asked a few times how people can thank me. Well, there’s now a tip jar into which you can drop a dollar/pound/euro, and so on – but only if you really want to!

Don’t forget about the FB group: https://www.facebook.com/compsandcalls/. The odd update makes it there when I can’t find my webbie.

Right – there’s a lot to do, so let’s get writing!

Cathy x

Here are May 2016’s writing competitions and calls for submission, all with free, electronic entry.

There are three headings (click 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.

COMPETITIONS

4th May You are invited to submit a poem singing the praises of old age (16 lines maximum). Please email entries (wherever possible) to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 4 May. PAYING http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/much-ado-about-nothing/

6th May ‘Your challenge: In no more than 75 words, tell, show, or evoke as complete a story as you can in which music of some sort plays an important role.’ PAYING https://onthepremises.submittable.com/Submit

6th May UK only: ‘McCarthy & Stone are searching for the nation’s most Colourful Characters – people aged 60 and over who are living life to the full, redefining retirement and doing anything but acting their age! The overall winner will receive a trip of a lifetime for two from Saga.You can nominate yourself, or enter a friend for their chance to win.’ NON-CASH PRIZE https://www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/colourful-characters/

6th May Script proposal from a BAME writer. PAYING http://www.londonplaywrightsblog.com/?p=5516

11th May ‘Competition No. 2948: Wild thing – In his book Being a Beast Charles Foster tried to get into the skin of a badger, an otter, an urban fox, a red deer and a swift. Let’s have an account (150 words maximum) of living as a member of the species of your choice. Please email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk by 11 May.’ http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/exit-strategy/

14th May ‘In this creative project, we want you to write a POEM or a short duologue ABOUT LONELINESS. You might be inspired to write about a character in Steinbeck’s novel. You may want to reflect on your own life or experience you’ve had, you may find inspiration from a friend or something you’ve seen on the news. We want you to write something honest but playful and from the heart. Although the theme is LONELINESS, we’re encouraging you to think about the many themes that relate to this in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men: friendship, isolation, innocence, freedom, justice, violence, prejudice, age, race, masculinity, femininity and vulnerability, economic hardship and the struggle to survive.’ (Cathy’s note: one of the prizes is based on reader votes, but the main two aren’t.) PAYING http://www.theatrecloud.com/get-involved/creative-projects/the-loneliness-project

15th May Get your ‘writing program director’ to enter your work for this: ‘Brevity is excited to announce a contest for writing students in tandem with our special issue focused on experiences of race, racialization, and racism. We are looking for flash essays (750 words or fewer) that explore the lived experience of race, racialization, and racism, show the reader a new way to look at the familiar, or give voice to under-represented experiences.’ https://brevity.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/brevity-contest-for-graduate-undergraduate-writers/

16th May Write a story in ten words or fewer. NON-CASH PRIZE https://www.writingclasses.com/contest/very-short-story-contest-2016

30th May full-length play. PAYING http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/nickdarkeaward

30th May Short story 4000-8000 words (Cathy’s note: winners will be invited to meet publishers in London – but I don’t know if they pay for travel, so better not to enter unless you can get there). NON-CASH PRIZE http://email.writers-online.co.uk/UhjkrAC8r3F1ECLBwkAYi6ChROjn7RAKd~gqpRqXqVn/WebView.aspx

31st May Sonnet in response to one of Shakespeare’s. NON-CASH PRIZE https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/competitions

31st May Fiction up to 2000 words on the theme of Crazed Fan. VOUCHER/OTHER http://greywolfepublishing.com/2016%20Monthly%20Contests.html

31st May ‘To celebrate the release of our new Slow Travel Shropshire guide by Marie Kreft we are running a special competition to find the most perfect day in the county. To enter, simply write a description of your perfect day in no more than 500 words. Your day might have really happened or be something imagined: it could include soaking up the history at Ironbridge Gorge, hiking on the Long Mynd or tucking into local goodies on the Magnalonga in Ludlow. Whatever shape your perfect day might take, we want to hear what makes Shropshire special to you.’ NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.bradtguides.com/articles/cat/competitions/post/shropshire-competition/#enter

31st May Over 60s only: writing on the theme of Travel/Holidays. NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.writingtimes.co.uk/seniors

31st May Children 5-12 only: writing on the theme of Animals. NON-CASH PRIZE http://www.writingtimes.co.uk/childrens-corner

31st May Essay by high school, college and university students of any age. PAYING https://www.thepensters.com/win-a-scholarship/

31st May ‘Writers are therefore being invited to submit a previously unpublished short story of no more than 3,000 words set in Elgin and the surrounding area during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.’ PAYING http://ccc-heritage.co.uk/castle-to-cathedral-to-cashmere-writing-competition/

31st May UK only: poetry and short fiction by those aged 10-17. PAYING http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/young-writers/solstice-prize/

31st May ‘Only full-length works (dramas, comedies, musicals, screenplays) will be considered. One entry per author, please. Scripts must be original and in English. All must concern lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or genderqueer life and be based on, or directly inspired by, a historical person, culture, work of art, or event.’ PAYING http://aabbfoundation.org/comp-guidelines

31st May Traditional mystery novella. PAYING http://www.nerowolfe.org/pdf/literary_awards/Black_Orchid_Novella/2016_Black_Orchid_Award_flyer.pdf

31st May US only: video description for a short film. PAYING http://videodescriptioncontest.com/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email

1st Jun Under 16s: story up to 1500 words (Cathy’s note: the adult category requires a fee, but it’s free for the under 16s to enter their category). PAYING http://shortstops.info/2016/01/22/university-of-sunderland-short-story-award/

1st Jun ‘To celebrate Poetry Writing Month this April, Singapore Poetry is holding its second annual poetry contest. We are looking for poems that include the word “Singapore” (or its variants) in some creative manner. The poems do not have to be about Singapore; in fact, we prefer it if the poems are not about Singapore. They just have to use the word “Singapore” in a way significant to the poems’ own subject and method. And here’s another wrinkle: the contest is open to everyone who is NOT a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident in Singapore.’ http://singaporepoetry.com/2016/04/01/2nd-singapore-poetry-contest/ (Thanks to http://www.erikadreifus.com/ for this one.)

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

2nd May Poems. PAYING https://wherewithallit.com/submissions/ (thanks to http://www.erikadreifus.com/ for this one)

2nd May Writing on the theme of Allegro. http://www.halfmystic.com/journal-submissions/

2nd May Poetry and more on the theme of Quaker Spaces. http://www.friendsjournal.org/submissions/

3rd May UK only: ‘This paid one-day R&D platform provides a safe space and creative support to Deaf and disabled artists wishing to explore raw ideas and fresh stories for live performance, with artistic guidance and advice from our award-winning team. Play Labs is open to Deaf and disabled writers, performers and theatre makers of all levels and experience, keen to jumpstart their creative processes and committed to seeing through their ideas.’ PAYING http://www.graeae.org/get-involved/training-courses/play-labs-2016/

5th May Age 7-25: four lines of poetry in English or Welsh on the theme of Hands, after the Dylan Thomas poem ‘The Hand That Signed The Paper.’ http://www.developingdylan100.co.uk/dylans-great-poem-2016/

5th May Microfiction on the theme of Siren Songs. http://www.wintertangerine.com/sirensongs-about

5th May Poetry is among the works of art acceptable for this art exhibition in Portugal. http://projectartmap.com/submission/

5th May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Tall. http://pureslush.webs.com/tallish.htm

5th May Poetry and fiction on the theme of Home. http://sunstruckmag.com/submissions/

6th May Script proposal by BAME writers. PAYING http://www.londonplaywrightsblog.com/?p=5516

(source: www.londonplaywrightsblog.com )

7th May Poems as a tribute to Prince. https://yellowchairreview.submittable.com/submit

8th May Script on the theme of Alone Inside the Box. http://www.goblinbaby.com/alone-inside-the-box.html

8th May Poetry on the theme of Future Machines (Cathy’s note: only Australian contributors are paid). PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS http://cordite.org.au/submissions/

8th May Poetry, prose and more on the theme of Asians to Watch Out For (Cathy’s note: only Australian contributors are paid). PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS http://peril.com.au/submissions/

9th May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Kink, for this journal devoted to women’s sexuality. http://www.cliteraturejournal.com/submissionguidelines.html

15th May Poetry, fiction and more. PAYING http://subterrain.ca/about/35/sub-terrain-writer-s-guidelines

15th May Positive writing and more on the theme of Brave CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.thephoenixsoul.com/submit/

15th May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Music. http://www.ridinglight.org/submissions.html

15th May Poetry and flash. http://www.yellowchairreview.com/#!generalsubmissions/c1lzv

15th May Poets with connections to Hong Kong and Greater China: ‘To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and with the sponsorship of the Spanish Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao, Chameleon Press will publish a new collection of poetry in which contemporary poets interpret the themes of Cervantes’s classic Don Quixote for Hong Kong and East Asia, in particular the tension between pragmatism and vision, the “real world” and dreams or, in the words of scholar Ilan Stavans, “between hope and fatalism, … idealism and materialism”, and explore what this says about the nature of humanity and success.’ http://chameleonpress.com/cervantes400/call.php

15th May Fiction 2000-7500 words on the theme of Alien Love. PAYING http://www.scifiromancequarterly.org/write-for-us/

15th May Neon noir stories 2500-5000 words. ROYALTIES https://crimesyndicatemagazine.submittable.com/submit/54335

15th May ‘Humankind has forded the immense stream of space between stars and reached our neighbors. The Milky Way Galaxy lies waiting to be explored. What will we discover on hospitable planets circling new stars? Will we find almost familiar moons, asteroids, planetary rings, and, possibly, never before seen astronomical formations? The sky is no longer the limit for soaring imaginations. Visions V stories take place somewhere…anywhere…in the Milky Way Galaxy.’ 3000-8000 words PAYING http://www.lillicatpublishers.com/?page_id=1074

15th May Fiction, poetry and more on the theme of Rejection. http://www.earthenlampjournal.com/submissions.php

15th May 50-word fiction on the theme of Magic. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.blink-ink.org/submissions/

15th May Short fiction on the theme of Neon Noir. ROYALTIES https://crimesyndicatemagazine.com/current-issue/fast-women-and-neon-lights-anthology/

15th May ‘We accept Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Haiku, Haibun, Essay, and Review. For this issue, we are especially interested in receiving poems using, but not limited to canyons, bridges, caves, and meadows as image or metaphor.’ http://iceflow.com/riverbabble/riverguides29.html

20th May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Agitprop. http://www.kissthewitch.co.uk/seinundwerden/next_issue.html

21st May Submissions to this anthology must contain monsters being monsters, meaning no sparkly vampires or monsters with hearts of gold. Your monsters should be terrorizing and keep us up at night. PAYING http://www.raveninternationalpublishing.com/call-classic-horror-anthology-submissions/

23rd May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Influence. https://avismagazineblog.wordpress.com/call-for-submissions/

25th May ‘This issue will showcase fiction from and about the real Cuba: not Havana-centric but emanating from the entire island – including its rural communities, and its exiles.’ https://litro.submittable.com/submit/53626

28th May Haiku on the theme of Agape and Eros. https://sites.google.com/site/worldhaikureview2/aboutworldhaikureview

29th May Poetry and fiction. PAYING http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/submitguidelines.php

29th May Poetry and flash fiction on the theme of Witches. http://threedropspoetry.co.uk/submissions/call-for-submissions-witches-and-witchcraft-anthology/

30th May Novellas. PAYING + ROYALTIES http://thebooksmugglers.com/book-smugglers-publishing/the-novella-initiative-open-call

30th May Fairytale-inspired poems and stories on the theme of Summer Solstice and Midsummer. PAYING http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/p/blog-page_22.html

31st May ‘This speculative fiction anthology contains original stories to celebrate Asian diversity, featuring an Asian main character, Asian setting and/or some amount of Asian elements, by authors with an Asian heritage.’ PAYING https://laksamedia.submittable.com/submit

31st May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Miracle. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://eabpublishing.com/submissions.html

31st May SF mysteries. PAYING http://www.blueberrylanebooks.com/?page_id=65

31st May Writing on the theme of Escape. http://loveliestmag.com/submit/

31st May ‘Our summer issue will be a bit more specific than usual: We’re seeking six-line poems. Metrical or informal, haiku- or tanka-inspired, dark, light, surreal, narrative, minimalist, absurd — send us your six-line gems, whatever they may be.’ https://linesandstars.submittable.com/submit/56512

31st May ‘Give us that one, two, punch of something sexy in the ring or a burning passion that can’t be left on the court. We’re looking for sports stories that can knock it out of the park when it comes to playing for keeps. We don’t care if it’s baseball, professional poker, or international cup stacking. As long as it’s a sport, it’s in the game. Couples can be established or new, but stories must stand on their own alone. Love Slave is dedicated to providing high quality erotic fiction that is smart and sexy. Our anthologies have a balance between action and eroticism and a focus on storytelling.’ PAYING http://litselect.weebly.com/submissions.html

31st May Poetry and flash on the theme of Tranquility. CONTRIBUTOR COPY http://www.kindofahurricanepress.com/p/anthology-tranquility.html

31st May ‘Circuses are supposed to be places of joy and wonder, but they are also full of clowns and many people find clowns distinctly creepy. Circuses come into town and disappear after a brief stay, leaving behind nothing but a memory of the magic. They are homes for misfits, bearded ladies and contortionists who might be shunned in the outside world. What better environment than a circus for a story of magic and wonder that leaves you wondering if it ever happened. Give us your best wonderful, dark, or fantastic story about the circus.’ 3000-10,000 words. PAYING http://otterlibris.com/open-projects/

31st May Poetry, flash and short fiction, and more. http://www.matadorreview.com/submissions/

31st May Poems. PAYING https://arcpoetry.submittable.com/submit

31st May Story 3000-8000 words. PAYING http://www.one-story.com/index.php?page=submit&pubcode=os

31st May Poetry. http://eretzsongs.blogspot.co.uk/p/e-zine.html

31st May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Naked. http://sunstruckmag.com/submissions/

31st May Poems. PAYING http://baltimorereview.org/index.php/submit

31st May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of In the End. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.mpapublishing.co.za/submission-guidelines/ealain-submission-guidelines/

31st May ‘I’m building a short story anthology with 20 stories where professional authors can write with their favorite characters based in my world and setting of The Super Market. What is The Super Market? The Super Market is where all paranormal peeps can go to have a shopping experience. Whether you chose your paranormal character to be a shop owner, a celebrity chef, a consumer, a food critic, an herbal pharmacist, a health inspector, or anything – it’s your choice. The options are limitless.’ PAYING http://www.draconianpublishing.com/super-market-submissions/

31st May Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Fake. PAYING https://pinknantucket.com.au/materiality-2/

31st May Six-line poems. https://linesandstars.submittable.com/submit

1st Jun ‘Colorful, lit-up stories of crime and depravity, set in the nineteen-eighties. Outsiders, whether by choice or by circumstance, engaging in anti-social or criminal behavior. Stories that capture not only the moment in crime, but the place in time. Stories where setting and “costume” become character. If done well, this will be both in-your-face and subtle, as paradoxical as that sounds.’ ROYALTIES https://crimesyndicatemagazine.submittable.com/submit/54335

1st Jun Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. PAYING https://nonbinaryreview.submittable.com/submit/48102

1st June ‘Within the recent explosion of creative nonfiction, a curious new sub-genre is quietly emerging. Hybrids in the truest sense, “hermit crab” essays borrow their structures from ordinary, extra-literary sources (a recipe, a police report, a pack of cards, an obituary, a questionnaire…) to use as a framework for a lyric meditation on the chosen subject. In the best examples, the borrowed structures are less contrived than inevitable, managing not only to give shape to the work but to illuminate and exemplify its subject. Essays and cross-genre work between 750 and 8,000 words welcome. No listicles, please.’ PAYING https://theshellgameanthology.submittable.com/submit (thanks to Erika Dreifus at www.erikadreifus.com for that one.)

1st Jun Writing and more by girls and women on the theme of All About Emotions. http://newmoon.com/how-to-get-published-new-moon-girls/

1st June ‘Much like the award-winning anthology Steampunk World, Steampunk Universe will be a multicultural anthology of steampunk stories. But this time, the anthology will focus on characters with exceptionalities.* This call for submissions is aimed particularly at marginalized writers, especially those who are identify as members of a minority, LGBTQ, or living with exceptionality. Whether or not you qualify and feel this call for submission is appropriate for your work is at your discretion.’ http://steampunkuniverse.alliterationink.com/

1st June ‘Arc Poetry Magazine is looking for poems of catastrophe and degradation for the end times. Heat death, terror, CO2 depletion, urban decay, radiation sickness, desertification, wars at home and wars abroad, natural disaster. How does poetry respond?’ PAYING https://arcpoetry.submittable.com/submit

1st Jun Poetry and prose. http://www.hapax.ink/submit.html

1st Jun Writing by queer trans men and trans masculine writers. http://www.chelseastationmagazine.com/

1st Jun Fiction up to 500 words, poetry and more suitable for Christian children on the theme of Pets with Disabilities. PAYING http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/submissions.html

1st Jun Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Paths to Healing. PAYING http://parabola.org/submissions/

1st Jun Poetry, fiction and more on the theme of Memory and Place. https://youareheregeography.com/call-for-2016-submissions/

1st Jun ‘We are looking for literary work informed by lived experience with mental illness/mental health challenges. Specifically, work written by people who self-identify as psychiatric survivors, consumer-survivors, mental health patients, mental health advocates/allies, neuroatypical, neurodivergent, the mad, the proud, the ill, the otherly abled. Although this is the Mad Pride issue, Matrix welcomes work from those who do not identity with the label ‘mad’ or feel connected to the movement in any way.’ http://www.matrixmagazine.org/#!madcall/po1tx

1st Jun Poetry and more on the theme of Hestia. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://neosalexandria.org/bibliotheca-alexandrina/calls-for-submissions/first-and-last-a-devotional-for-hestia/

1st Jun ‘The Broken City is currently accepting submissions for its summer 2016 edition: Breakfast Clubbed. No, it’s not another food issue; the magazine is running a school-themed edition. We’re looking for work that involves school at any level, from kindergarten to college, but we’re most interested in submissions about high school.’ Poetry, fiction and more. http://www.thebrokencitymag.com/submissions.html

1st Jun Poetry and more on the theme of Ares and Mars. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES https://neosalexandria.org/bibliotheca-alexandrina/calls-for-submissions/untitled-devotional-for-ares-and-mars/

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

‘We seek to publish writing about personal experience. True stories of personal growth, lessons learned, life-changing events, and milestones. Work that is informal, exploratory, reflective, and insightful. The Chaos is accepting submissions of short personal essays, 250-2500 words, from new, emerging, and established writers.’ http://thechaos.life/

Poetry, flash, short fiction and more on the theme of Music. PAYING http://opossumlit.com/submissions/

Fiction based in northern England. http://tynetales.weebly.com/submit.html

We accept submissions of all forms of visual art, poetry, short fiction, essays, creative non-fiction, music, spoken word, artisan crafts, etc. http://thepapermachine.com/submissions/

Writing by those aged 13-19. http://sugarrascals.wix.com/home#!submission-guidelines/mnn6r

Poetry and prose PAYING https://blotteratureliterarymagazine.submittable.com/submit/55953

Poetry, flash fiction and more. http://eternalremedy.com/submissions/

Seek original and well written, mystery, crime, and horror fiction. Also seek romantic , and erotic short stories. Will purchase poetry with mystery or erotic theme. PAYING https://aegispublishinghousecom.wordpress.com/writers-guidelines/

Poetry and fiction. http://www.poetscountry.com/submit/

Open until filled: Sinister Saints – Aftermath. ‘I’m looking for stories that address the typical themes of YA fiction, but with distinctive dark, edgy or fantastical slants – so dark fairy tales, bizarre fiction, horror, surrealism, fantasy, and dark science-fiction are all cool here. Word count limit 5,000.’ ROYALTIES https://horrifiedpress.wordpress.com/open-for-submissions/

‘The Rising Phoenix Review is a monthly online zine dedicated to publishing poetry focused on the working class and other marginalized groups. We believe in the transformative power of poetry, and our mission is to publish writing that actively engages the social issues of our time.’ https://therisingphoenixreview.wordpress.com/submissions/

Poetry and fiction retelling fairytales and myths. PAYING http://www.manawaker.com/starward-submissions/

Poetry and fiction. http://boomerlitmag.com/

‘Anti-Heroin Chic is not really about cool, it’s about the margin-of-error of cool. As Janis Ian says “If we were inside there, where the light is warm and everybody is laughing and dancing, we wouldn’t be able to see it. We have to be outside in order to see it. That’s what being an artist is.” And that is what Anti-Heroin Chic is about. What we observe through the window.’ Poems, stories and more. http://heroinchic.weebly.com/about.html

Poems. CONTRIBUTOR COPY/COPIES http://www.redflagpoetry.com/submit.html

UK only: poetry. https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/

Poetry, flash and short fiction. http://www.platformforprose.com/#!submissions/c1s0c

SF and F of various lengths. ROYALTIES https://kristellink.submittable.com/submit

Superhero stories. PAYING https://crossedlinespublishing.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/open-call-for-super-hero-stories/

Poetry, fiction and more. http://www.elkejournal.com/submit/

‘Funky gritty, ghastly clunky work (including prose, poetry, micro-fiction, nonfiction essay, photography, print, painting, etc.). If you’d like us to shock you: send submissions with a cover letter requesting edits on your work. we provide creative, grammatical, syntactical, and contextual advice. for free, for you.’ http://catprey.tumblr.com/catpreysubmit

‘Little has been written about the process of writing about animals—from crafting point of view to voice. Writers who hope to raise awareness face many questions and choices in their work, from how to educate without being didactic to how to develop animals as characters for an audience that still views them as ingredients. We hope to address these issues and more with a new collection of essays, by writers and for writers—but most of all, for the animals.’ PAYING http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ec383fc399300519aa5ae5dfd&id=757b5b2fa3&e=ff93e24afe

(with thanks to http://www.erikadreifus.com/ for this one)

Cyberpunk 2000-8000 words. PAYING https://l0wl1f3.wordpress.com/submission-guidelines/

‘Eastern Structures No. 2 is slated for an Autumn 2016 publication, and submissions of dynamically correct ghazals, sijo, haiku, tanka, renga and other Japanese forms are certainly welcome for consideration.’ https://sites.google.com/site/nocturnalirispublications/eastern-structures

‘Bad Apple invites you to pluck the forbidden fruit off its twisted branch and sink your teeth in deep. Give us the core of your heart and reveal the worm eating through the centre of your being. Give us your strange and unwanted, your rebellious and unsettling, your dark and compelling. We seek stories aimed at the upper YA audience (16+) and the recently coined New Adult (NA) audience.’ PAYING http://www.badapplezine.com/submit/

Poetry, short fiction and more. http://www.thecharlescarter.com/how-to-submit/

Flash and short fiction. ROYALTIES http://www.centumpublishing.com/#!submissions/dyg5f

One-liners, limericks, funny character sketches, and more. http://www.decasp.com/submissions.html

SF, F and H fiction of all lengths. ROYALTIES http://www.phase5publishing.com/guidelines

Speculative poetry and fiction. PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS http://mithilareview.com/submission-guidelines/

Children’s fiction and nonfiction relating to the Jewish experience. http://hachai.com/newsite2012/guidlines/

GLBT fiction. ROYALTIES, PAYS SOME CONTRIBUTORS http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/submission-guidelines-fiction/

‘We seek poetry, prose, and art that inhabits the entangled spaces of dark and light, and the tension that manifests in those spaces. We want to promote difficult subject matter. There is beauty and rage in darkness, in decay, mental illness, loss, violence, death. Through the written word we explore the difficulties in life, but we also celebrate its rhythms and vibrance.’ http://www.theamaranthreview.com/submissions/

Poetry, fiction and more. http://www.thetribejournal.com/p/submit.html

‘We’re looking for previously unpublished short stories, comics, and non-fiction. We lean toward the speculative, but some of our favorite writers and artists tell realistic stories grounded in strange, fantastical, or science-fictional sensibilities. We read submissions on a rolling basis, and we strongly encourage work from women, people of color, and LGBTQ authors and artists.’ PAYING http://middle-planet.com/submit/

Mystery, romance, detective, suspense and thriller novels. ROYALTIES http://www.joffebooks.com/submissions/

‘Through our authors and books, we aim to represent the cultural and ethnic diversity and heritage that can be found in London, with a particular interest in works related to Africa, the Caribbean, and the experiences of those peoples in the Diaspora. We also seek provocative, inspirational writing that shines a light on issues affecting ethnic minorities, women, and young people, and tackles contemporary social issues.’ http://www.jacarandabooksartmusic.co.uk/contact/

Original, unpublished novels, possessing unique insights on compelling themes, for young adult, new adult, or adult audiences, in one of the following genres: science fiction, fantasy, literary, historical, mystery, or humor (Cathy’s note: this list was in bullet points, but I have an allergy to bullet points. So It’s my fault, not theirs, if it looks clunky). ROYALTIES http://www.harkenmedia.com/p/submissions.html

‘We want science fiction stories between 3,000 and 10,000 words that look at the effects of global climate change (preferably the extreme effects) on humanity and the other creatures of Earth. We’re not looking for stories about the change, but rather the effects of the change. Although we’d love to have a lot of stories that look at the hard science of climate change, we also want stories that look at the soft sciences. It’s important that the stories focus on the people, rather than the science, but we still want the science to be plausible. We’ve decided that we will be accepting four, and only four, poems for this collection.’ PAYING http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/ecotastropheii.htm

Poetry, fiction and more. http://kairoslit.tumblr.com/submissions-about

‘Disharmony of the Spheres will be a science fiction anthology in which the main character must be battling some type of mental illness. While we will consider stories where the character is dealing with an illness like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, what we really want to see is characters that are battling an illness like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, etc. This is meant to be an uplifting collection of stories, so the characters must overcome their illness to defeat whatever they’re up against. They don’t necessarily have to overcome their illness completely, but they must show that even when suffering from a mental illness, a person can still achieve great things. We want stories that are 2,000 words or longer.’ PAYING http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/disharmony.htm

Crime stories. PAYING http://www.thedarkcitymysterymagazine.com/submissions.html

Poetry, fiction and more. http://chantwoodmagazine.com/submissions/

Flash fiction. https://theairgonautblog.wordpress.com/submissions/

Fantasy poetry and fiction. https://aetherandichor.wordpress.com/submissions/

Poetry and more at the intersection of religion and pop culture. http://nomosjournal.org/submission-guidelines/

COMPETITIONS

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

Tell others about this:

COMPETITIONS

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

Tell others about this:

COMPETITIONS

SUBMISSIONS WITH DEADLINES

SUBMISSIONS WITH NO KNOWN DEADLINES

Tell others about this: