Erica Verrillo's Blog

Picryl This June there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

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ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction. Sponsored by the American Bar Association. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Genre: Original works of short fiction that illuminate the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society. 5000 words max. Prize: $3,000 and publication in ABA Journal. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

The Novel Prize. Genre: Book-length work of literary fiction written in English. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: June 1, 2026. Biennial award.

Peggy Willis Lyles Haiku Awards. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First Place - $200, and a miniature crystal turtle; Second Place - $100; Third Place - $50. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Bicoastal Review. Genre: Nonfiction. "Submit nonfiction – critical, creative, experimental, or cross-genre – that fits our journal (we often favor writing about literature, art, culture, politics, ecology, love, the body, feminism, and/or queer identity). We welcome braided essays, reviews, art writing, cultural critique, lyric essays, and more. We are NOT looking for short stories, overly academic writing, rants, comedy, purely family-oriented memoirs, anything using AI, or anything too self-absorbed." Prize: $250. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Dan Veach Prize for Younger Poets. Restrictions: Open to poets aged 18-23. Genre: Poetry. Prize:  $100 and publication in the Atlanta Review. Deadline: June 1, 2026.  

International Wizard of Oz Club Annual Contests. Genre: Short Fiction, Art & Academic Nonfiction Research Papers. All work must be related to the world of Oz. Prize: $100 in each genre. 2nd Prize $50 in each genre. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Cromwell Article Prize. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Genre: Articles published in the field of American legal history. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Bard Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to a writer who is an American citizen aged 39 years or younger at the time of application. Genre: Published fiction book. Prize: $30,000 and a one-semester appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Mouthful of Salt: Archive Alive. Genre: Poem. See theme. Prize: $200 and publication. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative Grant. Genre: Investigative journalism addressing hate and prejudice. Prize: $2000 - $5,000 grant. Deadline: June 1, 2026. Note: There are two dates listed on the website, June 1 and August 20, 2026.

Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest. Restrictions: Canadian high school, college, and graduate students. Genre: Short essay on "What would our Essential Scholars say about Canadian economic prosperity today?" Prize: CAD$1,500 in each age category. Deadline: June 5, 2026.

Alan Andres Picture Book Writer Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to to U.S. citizens or green card holders living in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont). Genre: Picture book. Prize: $25,000 stipend, paid in monthly installments over one year. Deadline: June 5, 2026.


Ocean Awareness Youth Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in grades 6 - 12. Genre: Art, poetry, prose, film. "Use humor, positivity, irony, or other unconventional approaches that are not typically used in environmental communication to address the climate crisis. Think outside the tackle-box, beyond clichés, to create something that makes the topic of climate change and our oceans more approachable and accessible." Prizes: $100 - $1,500. Deadline: June 8, 2026.

Dream Foundry Emerging Writers Contest. Restrictions: You have published a total of less than 4,000 words of paid or income-earning speculative fiction in English. You have earned a total of less than USD 320 from those words. You have never been nominated for any award listed here as a major award in speculative fiction. Genre: Short speculative fiction, up to 10,000 words. Prize: $200 - $1,000. Deadline: June 8, 2026.

Solid Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students. Genre: Essay (See site for topics.) Minimum number of words is 600 and maximum is 800. Prize: Scholarship of $1000. Deadline: June 9, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for one story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: June 12, 2026.

The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

PEN/Bare Life Review Grants. Restrictions: Open to immigrant and refugee writers in the US and abroad. Genre: Unpublished work-in-progress that will not be published prior to April 15, 2027. The project must be a work of a literary nature: fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists. Restrictions: Candidates must have published one or more novels for children or young adults that have been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated sufficient income to support the author. Genre: Book-length children's or young-adult fiction. Prize: $5000. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

The PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Literary Oral History. Genre: Literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement. Prize: $15,000 each. (Two prizes) Deadline: June 15, 2026.

The PEN/Heim Translation Fund. Genre: Book-length works of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama in translation. Note: Translations from Italian will automatically be considered for the PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature. Prize: $3000 - $4000. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

The PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature. Genre: Translation. Work-in-progress of a book-length translation of an Italian work of literary fiction or nonfiction into English. Prize: $5,000 grant. Deadline: June 15, 2026. 

Blessing the Boats. Restrictions: Open to all women poets of color in the U.S., including poets who identify as cis, trans, and non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers on women’s experiences, regardless of citizenship and publication history. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscript. Prize: $2,500 honorarium and book publication by BOA Editions, Ltd. Deadline: June 15, 2026.


Anne Brown Essay Prize. Restrictions: Entrants must be aged over 16 and resident in Scotland, born in Scotland or have a longstanding association with Scotland. Genre: Literary essay, published or unpublished. Prize: £1,500. Deadline: June 15, 2026. 

Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award. Genre: High-quality picture books that resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds and experience. Diversity includes literal or metaphorical inclusion of characters of underrepresented ethnicity, religious background, gender identity, class, mental or physical disability, or any other nondominant populations. Prize: American Express® gift cards totaling $1,500, round trip travel to New York City, and the honor of a one-day mentorship with a Little, Brown Books for Young Readers’ professional children’s book design and editorial team. Submission will be reviewed for publication. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Norton Writer's Prize. Sponsored by W.W. Norton & Company. "The Norton Writer’s Prize will be awarded annually for an outstanding essay written by an undergraduate. Literacy narratives, literary and other textual analyses, reports, profiles, evaluations, arguments, memoirs, proposals, mixed-genre pieces, and more: any excellent writing done for an undergraduate writing class will be considered." Genres: Creative Nonfiction, Scholarly Essay. Prize: Three cash prizes of $1,000 apiece will be awarded in 2025 for coursework submitted during the academic year. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Pineberry Literary Contest. Restrictions: Open to students currently enrolled in a high school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $30. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative. Restrictions: Applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. Prize: Grant, amount not specified. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Towson University Prize for Literature. Restrictions: Open to Maryland writers. Genre: Book-length manuscript of fiction, poetry, drama or imaginative non-fiction. The work must have been published within the three years prior to the year of nomination or must be scheduled for publication within the year in which nominated. Self-published works will not be considered. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: June 15, 2026. See nomination form HERE.

Eden Mills Teen Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to Canadian teens. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Two $50 prizes, two $25 prizes. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Baltimore Science Fiction Society Amateur Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Maryland residents or students at a MD 2- or 4-year college, and not a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America or published in a professional science fiction/fantasy magazine Genre: Science fiction short stories. Prize: 1st place is $250; 2nd place is $100; 3rd place is $50. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Australian Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to Australian writers. Genre: adult fiction between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Prize: A publishing contract with HarperCollins to publish your work including an advance against royalties of AUD$15,000. Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Icelandic Festival of Manitoba Poetry & Short Stories Contest. Genre: Poetry and short stories. Length; 1200 words max. Prize: $50 - $125. "You do not need to be of Icelandic descent to submit an entry however material reflecting Icelandic culture and interests will be given preference." Deadline: June 19, 2026.

Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English between  May 1, 2026, and June 30, 2026. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: June 19, 2026.

Griffin Poetry Prize. Restrictions: One prize goes to a living Canadian poet or translator, the other to a living poet or translator from any country, which may include Canada. Genre: Poetry. Books must have been published in English during the calendar year preceding the year of the award. Prize: The winner receives C$130,000 and the other shortlisted poets each receive C$10,000. Deadline: June 19, 2026, for works published between January 1 and June 30, 2026.

International EJCA Spring Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. Prize: $20 - $30. Deadline: June 20, 2026.

A Midsummer Tale Narrative Writing Contest. Genre: Non-genre fiction and creative nonfiction. Theme: Summer Festival. Length: 1,000 words minimum; 5,000 words maximum. Prize: $35 - $50 Amazon gift card. Deadline: June 21, 2026.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book published between April 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026. Prize: $12,000. Deadline: June 24, 2026.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between April 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026. Genre: Literary nonfiction including, among other forms, works of personal or journalistic essays, memoirs, commentary, criticism both social and political, history, and biography. Prize: Winner: $75,000; Finalists: $5,000. Deadline: June 24, 2026.

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Genre: Novel or short story collection. Prize: $70,000 will be awarded to the novel or short story collection published between  April 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. Deadline: June 24, 2026.

Tales from the Moolit Path. Genre: Dark fiction on theme: Something in the Water. Prize: $50. Deadline: June 25, 2026.

Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers from Northern England who would like to work in television. Genre: TV writing. Prize: Mentoring support and a bursary worth £3000. Deadline: June 26, 2026.

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards for Social Justice Writing. Restrictions: Open to “continuing residents of Canada” who at the date of application have “lived in Canada for the last twelve months” and who are “working a minimum of seventy per cent of their work time as a self-employed freelance writer.” Genre: Nonfiction books and articles. Prize: $5000 for books, $2000 for articles. Deadline: June 26, 2026.

Wingate Literary Prize. Genre: Published book that explores Jewish themes. Book must be published between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026, must be published, distributed or easily available in the UK and Ireland, and must be published in English, whether originally or in translation. Prize: £4,000. Deadline: June 26, 2026.

Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for a young science journalist. Restrictions: Open to  applicants whose 31st birthday is July 1, 2025 or later. Genre: Science journalism. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Suspect Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. "We are looking for poems that use BOTH words “minor” AND “destructions” or their variants. Prize: USD300, 200, and 100 will go to the top three winners. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Sargeson Prize for Secondary Schools. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school and aged between 16 and 18 years. Genre: Short story, Length: 5,000 words max. Prize: First Prize: $2000; Second Prize: $1000; Third Prize: $500. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Sargeson Prize. Restrictions: Open to New Zealanders. Genre: Short stories. Length: 5,000 words max. Prize: First Prize: $15,000; Second Prize: $1000; Third Prize: $500. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Digital Privacy Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about digital privacy. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Restrictions: 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. Professional publication is deemed to be payment and at least 5,000 copies (or 5,000 hits for online publication). Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi or Horror. 17,000 words max. Prize: $1,000 1st Prize awarded each quarter; one of those winners also receives the $5,000 annual "Golden Pen Award" grand prize. 2nd Prize $750, 3rd Prize $500. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. Book must be author's first full-length book of poetry, published between between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 20256. Self-published books are accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Mountain Book Competition. Genre: Mountain literature. Prize: Over $29,000 in cash is awarded annually with 8 awards selected by an international jury of writers, adventurers and editors. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Storyhouse: Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $250 in any single year. First prize winners of previous contests, while ineligible for prizes in regular contests, can compete in this one.  Genre: Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200; Runners-up will receive $100. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

The Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem in English on the theme of ‘Journey’ Prize: £200. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

2026 BCSA Writing Competition. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. See theme. Entries must deal with either (1) the links between Britain and the Czech and/or Slovak Republics, at any time in their history, or (2) society in those Republics since 1989. Entries should be in English and not more than 2,000 words long. Prize: First prize £400, second prize £150. Deadline: June 30, 2026.

Washington State Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to Washington State writers. Genre: Published book, fiction, nonfiction, poetry: adults or children. Prize: Recognition (?) Deadline: June 30, 2026 (for books published Jan. 1-May 31, 2026).

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: June 30, 2025. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Boothbay Harbor, Maine: Flickr This June there are nearly four dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, how to market your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

I have included conferences with deadlines that have already passed on this list to give you advance notice. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences.

Be sure to check out Boyds Mills list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year.

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Odyssey Writing Workshop. June 1, 2026 (6 weeks): Online. Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Will be held online. Application deadline April 10.

Naropa Summer Writing Program. June 1 - 27, 2026: Boulder, CO. Summer Writing Program of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. (See site for individual classes)

Educational Publishing 101: Navigating New Paths for Your Writing. June 2, 2026: Online. Bridge the gap between your creative craft and the classroom with an insider’s roadmap to the thriving educational market.

All About Picture Books: A Retreat for Storytellers. June 3 - 6, 2026: Boyds Mills, PA. If you're writing (or want to write) a picture book, this is the retreat for you. You'll have time to write/revise, a 1:1 consultation with picture book faculty, presentations, and small group feedback sessions.

Nebula Conference. June 3 - 7, 2026: Chicago, Illinois. SFWA members and other individuals who are interested in the field of science fiction and fantasy are welcome to attend SFWA’s Nebula Conference. Attendees may participate in workshops, programming and special events throughout the weekend. You do not need to be a member of SFWA to attend. 

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing (Spring). June 3 - August 5, 2026: Online. Join lead faculty Harold Underdown and special guests for a Crash Course in Children’s Publishing. At the end of the course, you will understand how the children’s book publishing industry works, including submitting, publishing, marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults, and beginning ideas about craft and critique.

Wyoming Writers Conference. June 5 - 7, 2026: Casper, WY. The conference features workshops in craft, marketing, and productivity for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers, as well as publisher pitch sessions, roundtable critiques, and open mics. Past writers have included fiction writer Nina McConigley, and Poet Matt Mason. 

The Creativity Workshop in New York. June 5 - 8, 2026: New York, New York. "The Creativity Workshops take away the fear of writing and open the way to new ideas. They are especially helpful for writers in fiction, poetry, memoir, theatre and film to get over writing blocks. In our Creativity Workshop Retreats you will generate both new work and ideas for the work you are in the midst of creating. We use many different techniques to help you find your way through the novel, essay, poem, memoir, or script you are writing or hope to write. In The Creativity Workshop you will be doing free writing, writing from guided visualizations, collaborative writing, journaling and memoir work and even some rudimentary drawing, collage and photography."

Northeast Texas Writers Organization. June 6, 2026: Mt Pleasant, TX. Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Horror Writing Conference.

Colgate Writers’ Conference. June 7 - 13, 2026: Hamilton, New York. Morning craft talks & workshops. Individual consultation with workshop instructor in the afternoon. Late afternoon participant readings and talks on publishing, storytelling. Evening readings by instructors & guests. Late night social events. "Bring a story, a book in progress, some poems, or a novel, and work with us on developing narrative strategies, verse techniques, and methods of research. Members of the publishing profession will also be here to discuss marketplace tactics." 

Picture Book Middles: Bridging Beginning and End. June 8, 2026: Online. The middle of a picture book isn’t filler. It’s the emotional bridge that carries readers from promise to payoff. Discover practical ways to strengthen that bridge and avoid a muddy, unfocused middle.

Look / Mira: Latinx/e Ways of Looking in Poetry & Prose. June 10, 2026: Online. This 90-minute generative workshop invites participants to explore the act of looking at both cultural inheritance and creative practice. Drawing on Latinx/e writers who reframe the gaze, we’ll examine how looking and being looked at are shaped by language, place, power, and memory. We’ll read short excerpts from poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid works that reimagine observation as resistance, remembrance, and recognition.

The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA”. June 10 - 16, 2026: Boothbay Harbor, Maine. "The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA” is a unique, hybrid, comprehensive writing program. Our programming includes our TWH two-editor pre-conference Team Reading and our conference, to be held in person, June 4-10, 2025. We have even built in a free day so that attendees can enjoy the surrounds. Space is extremely limited. From our virtual pre-reading process through to conference, TWH takes writers and their writing to the next level. It's an extraordinary opportunity." Deadline to apply to TWH is April 6, 2026.

Squam Writes Retreat. June 11 - 14, 2026: Squam Lake, New Hampshire. The Squam Writes Retreat is a small group retreat for experienced fiction writers. We focus on craft with an eye toward publication. We offer opportunities for feedback and plenty of time to write, make new friends, and recharge creative batteries in a beautiful New Hampshire lakeside setting. Every participant receives a one-on-one critique with an agent or editor. 

The 2026 California Writing Workshop. June 12 -13, 2026: Online. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total).  

West Virginia Writers Conference. June 12 - 14, 2026: Cedar Lakes, West Virginia. Author readings, contests and sharing your love of writing with others.

Tinker Mountain Writers’ Workshop. June 14 - 19, 2026: Roanoke, Virginia. "In our manuscript workshops, capped at 10, you will distribute manuscripts in advance, prepare comments for your colleague’s submissions, and gather each morning to share insights and gain inspiration on the best path to advance your writing. You’ll receive critical feedback from peers and your faculty mentor and learn what other writers are working on as well. Our write-now workshops, capped at 12, allow you to immerse yourself in the craft of writing without the pressure of preparing or reading manuscripts. Through daily reading, writing exercises, and prompts, you’ll write both in class and during the afternoon to generate new work over the course of each day, dedicating as much time as possible to your own new writing. In our tutorial (a new offering this year!), you will submit work in advance to your faculty mentor, and then meet one-on-one three times during the week in 30-minute sessions. You will get an individualized reading list and extensive writing prompts to help you continue your work throughout the week."

Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop. June 14 - 19, 2026: The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. This program is for writers who want to learn how to write an Orion essay, short story, or poem; for writers who seek to become better advocates for the environment through their writing; for poets who are drawn to writing about nature and culture; for teachers and scholars who wish to write for a more general readership; and for environmental professionals who want to bring better writing skills to bear on their work. The program will feature small writing workshops dedicated to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as faculty readings and lectures, student readings, and presentations on publishing. Application deadline May 1, 2026.

Kenyon Review Writers Workshops. June 14 - 19, 2026: Gambier, Ohio. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction led by an accomplished faculty. Genre workshops (Fiction, Literary Nonfiction, and Poetry) are held for three hours each morning. Online. Applications open in March.

Lit Camp. June 14 - 19, 2026: Boonville, California. The conference features workshops, panels, and craft talks for fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers. Part writing retreat, part MFA-style intensive, our spring conference focuses on the craft of writing. Over the course of the five days, you will have plenty of uninterrupted time to write...because one of the best ways to get better at writing is to sit down and write. There will also be prompted free writing sessions to motivate and inspire you, as well as daily afternoon master classes taught by some of the most accomplished writers and instructors in publishing. Registration is limited to 23 participants. Application Deadline: January 31, 2026.

Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference. June 14 - 20, 2026: Ripton, VT. The Bread Loaf Orion Environmental Writers' Conference is a week-long writers’ conference designed to hone the skills of people interested in producing literary writing about the environment and the natural world. The conference is co-sponsored by the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Orion magazine, and Middlebury College’s Environmental Studies Program. Application deadline March 15.

Bread Loaf Translators' Conference. June 14 - 20, 2026: Ripton, VT. The Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference includes workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures, craft classes, meetings with editors and agents, and readings by faculty and guests. Application deadline March 15.

Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers. June 15 - 19, 2026: Draper, Utah. A week-long conference filled with hands-on workshops where the faculty work WITH you on your manuscript. As a participant of a five-day workshop, you get free feedback from an agent or editor on your writing, opportunities to network with like-minded writers, and five days of afternoon breakout sessions filled with dozens of craft-specific topics designed especially for kidlit authors.

Kundiman Retreat. June 15 - 20, 2026: Brooklyn, NY. "In order to mentor and build community among Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) writers, Kundiman sponsors an annual creative writing Retreat. During each Retreat, six nationally renowned poets and fiction writers conduct craft classes and mentorship meetings. Readings, writing circles, and informal social gatherings are also scheduled. Through this Retreat, Kundiman hopes to provide a safe and instructive environment that identifies and addresses the unique challenges faced by emerging AAPI writers."

Western Writers of America Convention. June 17 - 20, 2026: St. Louis, Misouri. Children's, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Publishing, Young Adult. History presentations at the convention include Cats in the Old West, Border Wars/Law and Order, Mark Twain Literary Contributions, and more. Other sessions will take place related to the craft of writing, book marketing, and research sources and techniques.

The 2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago. June 20, 2026: Chicago, IL. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

Sundress Academy: Summer Poetry Writing Retreat. June 20 - 21, 2026: Via Zoom. All SAFTA retreats focus on generative writing, and this year’s retreat will also include the following craft talk sessions: “When the Only Way Out Is Through: On Discomfort, Breaking, and Adaptation” as well as “Getting the Picture,” a workshop the seeks to hone the visual imagery of our writing by exploring the effect of this spectrum on both readers and writers, and by embodying visual images through personal somatic activities, social and scenic research, ekphrastic prompts, and more. Application deadline April 15, 2026.

Aspen Summer Words. June 21 - 26, 2026: Snowmass Village, Colorado. Workshops, panels, and readings in fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as opportunities to meet with agents and editors. "Aspen Summer Words is the Rocky Mountain gateway to the literary world. Recognized as one of the country’s pre-eminent literary conferences, Summer Words welcomes visitors and locals alike to celebrate writing and writers in Aspen for a week each June. The exceptional faculty and awe-inspiring mountain scenery combine to make this a writing retreat like no other." Juried workshops close on February 26. All other workshops are on a first come first serrved basis.

The Santa Barbara Writers Conference. June 21 – 26, 2026: Santa Barbara, Calif. "Every summer, writers in many genres from around the world gather to participate in a magical week of intensive work focused on story, voice, craft, marketing, and networking with fellow writers and publishing professionals."  

Juniper Summer Writing Institute. June 21- 27, 2026: Amherst, MA. Daily workshops in poetry, fiction, & nonfiction; interactive craft sessions that include discussions & writing exercises; evening readings by faculty & writers-in-residence. Workshops and craft sessions are led by MFA candidates from the renowned University of Massachusetts MFA Program for Poets and Writers who design curricula especially for the Institute setting. The scholarship application deadline is January 5, 2026. The self-pay application deadline is February 15, 2026.

Chesapeake Writers' Conference at St. Mary's College of Maryland. June 21 - 27, 2026: St. Mary's City, Maryland. "Join us on Maryland’s Western Shore-for the Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference for a week of craft talks, lectures, panel discussions, and readings, as well as daily workshops in fiction, poetry, screenwriting, translation, songwriting, or creative nonfiction.

Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Speculative Fiction Writing Retreat. June 21- 27, 2026: Racine, Wisconsin. The Bookcamp offers morning instruction, an afternoon editing clinic, group critique sessions, discussions on the current publishing industry, one-on-one consultations with our staff, pitch sessions with literary agents and acquisition editors, and presentations on writing or publishing topics. Separate tracks for speculative fiction, and all genres.

New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College. June 21 - July 18, 2026: Saratoga Springs, NY. Since 1987, the Institute has been offering students the opportunity to learn from an extraordinary faculty of distinguished writers led by director Robert Boyers. The program is an offshoot of the New York State Writers Institute created by Albany native and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy. The curriculum is designed for college-aged students and adults, and the new virtual format will retain many of the Institute’s hallmark features:Creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction and non-fictionSmall classes that offer individualized attention and workshop student writingsPublic readings and afternoon Q & A sessions with world-renowned guest writersPrivate tutorial sessions for student fiction manuscripts, book-length poetry, or non-fiction (available for an additional fee)Option to enroll for one-week, two-week, or four-week sessionsOptional undergraduate credit for eligible students enrolled in one genre for four weeksMerit Scholarships for tuition
The deadline for Scholarship Applications is March 7.

Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops. June 21 – July 4, 2026 and July 12–25, 2026: Gambier, Ohio. At Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops, talented high school students from around the world join a dynamic and supportive literary community to stretch their talents, discover new strengths, and challenge themselves in the company of peers who are also passionate about writing. Application deadline: March 1.

Christopher McKitterick Speculative Fiction Writing Workshop. June 21 - July 4, 2026: Lawrence, Kansas. Learn how to write SF that sells. Using the short-story form, we help you master the elements that create great stories. Since 1985. This annual two-week residential writing workshop helps established writers grow their skills while helping those who have just begun to publish or who need the final bit of insight or skill to master the elements that create great stories readers love and editors want to buy. Become part of a writing community: Award-winning author, SF scholar, long-time director of James Gunn's original SF research center, and Ad Astra SF Institute Director Christopher McKitterick has led this workshop since 2010, and served as guest author in James Gunn's SF Writers Workshop starting in 1995. 

Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, visual art, and creative nonfiction). June 21 - August 21, 2026: Provincetown, Massachusetts. "This year, we have lined up 65 extraordinary workshops in visual arts and creative writing over the course of nine weeks. We’ve brought together an outstanding group of instructors that includes many esteemed faculty members, along with many faces who are new to FAWC. We are confident that this dynamic combination of new and familiar faces will help create an inspiring atmosphere at FAWC that will invite students to take creative leaps." Housing is available at nearby guesthouses and inns; limited campus housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. See individual workshops for dates.

Clarion West Summer Writers Workshop. June 21 - August 1, 2026: Seattle, Washington. "The six-week workshop can give you time away from everyday distractions and encourage you to experiment and take artistic risks. The critique sessions are the heart of the workshop: you learn not only by receiving critiques, but by reading others’ work and constructing your own critiques. Instructors work directly with attendees to present group critiques of newly written stories, participate in discussions about writing techniques or professional concerns, and hold individual or small-group conferences. Throughout the entire experience, the Clarion West Workshop staff is present to help guide participants and facilitate an inclusive environment." Application deadline February 13.

Stonecoast Writers’ Conference. June 22 - 27, 2026: Portland, ME. "Your conference experience centers around the workshop. In these classes, your work (and the work of your peers) serves as the primary text. Faculty focus on providing constructive criticism that can help you unlock your writing. Class discussions provide opportunities to discuss theories and practical application of writing craft. Each instructor adapts their class to reflect the interest and abilities of the students. Generative writing exercises ensure that you’ll have threads of new work to follow after the conference ends. This summer we are offering three distinct workshop classes: Creative Writing, CNF and Memoir. Each workshop is limited to ten students.

Community of Writers at Squaw Valley: Poetry Workshop. June 22 - 28, 2026: Olympic Valley, California. "We work together to create an atmosphere in which everyone might feel free to try anything. In the mornings we meet in workshops to read to each other the work of the previous twenty-four hours; each participant also has an opportunity to work with each staff poet. In the late afternoons we gather for a conversation about some aspect of craft. On several afternoons staff poets hold brief individual conferences." Registration deadline: March 10.

Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference. June 23 - 26, 2026: Bemidji, Minnesota. Our faculty so far includes four members of the MNWC25 faculty: Jennifer Foerster (poetry), Toni Jensen (creative nonfiction), Douglas Kearney (poetry), and Joni Tevis (creative nonfiction). The award-winning novelist Debra Magpie Earling (fiction) and the acclaimed poet Layli Long Soldier will be joining the faculty this year. Please check our website periodically for updates. We will open registration in March.We hope to see you this coming June!

Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers. June 23 - 28, 2026: Wallowa Lake, Oregon. Join us this June at Wallowa Lake where you’re sure to get some writing done! Spend a week in community with fellow writers, learning from some of the best teaching artists in the West. Each weeklong workshop is limited to no more than 13 students, creating a brave space for you to explore your craft in new and creative ways. Registration includes your five-day workshop, plus craft talks, featured author readings, panel discussions, open mics, discussions, and much more. Workshops offered include fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry.

Chuckanut Writers Conference. June 25 - 27, 2026: Bellingham, Washington. Writers conference that includes speakers, panels, breakout sessions, authors' readings, reception with authors, pitch sessions with literary agents, book signings, open mic for attendees. Autobiography/Memoir, Children's, Fiction, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing. 

David R Collins Conference Faculty & Workshops. June 25 - 27, 2026: Rock Island, IL. Daily workshops, critiques, pitches, evening events, keynote. 

In Your Write Mind Workshop. June 25 - 28, 2026: Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This is an annual, alumni-run writers workshop. It features writing-related classes, agent pitch sessions, a book signing, and other special events. Open to the public.

New York Pitch Conference. June 25 - 28, 2026: NY, NY. The New York Pitch Conference and writers workshop is held four times a year and features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.

Writing for the Educational Market. June 25 - July 30, 2026: Online. Learn the ins and outs of writing for the educational market in this 6-week course. Hosted by experienced industry professionals, this workshop will get you up to speed quickly and prepare you for submitting your work to publishers. 30 participants max.

Writers' League of Texas. June 26-28, 2026: Austin, Texas. "The WLT’s Agents & Editors Conference is one of the nation’s premier conferences for writers. Every year, we bring together nationally-known literary agents and book editors and other industry professionals with writers at all stages of the writing process for a weekend of conversation and community around the craft of writing and the practical steps toward publication. For writers with finished manuscripts, the conference’s one-on-one consultations with agents and editors offer a unique opportunity to pitch their work directly to publishing professionals. For writers working toward a completed manuscript, the conference’s genre meet-ups, panels, presentations, and general sessions offer an abundance of useful information and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere for informal chats with agents, published authors, and fellow writers from all genres and backgrounds." 

Needpix This May there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

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Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 1, 2026. Closes when they reach their cap.

IHRAM Press. Genre: Poetry, fiction, esssays, art. Theme:As global warming accelerates and climate change deepens, we are witnessing more frequent and devastating environmental disasters, often unrecognized or unaddressed by governments, leaving countless people homeless, vulnerable, and disadvantaged. Payment: $50 for writing, $25 for art. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

The Cincinnati Review. Genre: Literary nonfiction (up to 20 pages), fiction (up to 40 pages), poetry, poetry translations, drama, and art. Payment: $25/page for prose in the journal, $30/page for poetry, $25 for miCRo posts or special features. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2026. Note: Opens on the first day of the month and closes once they hit the submissions cap.

The Bombay Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, translated fiction/poetry and graphic fiction. Payment: Indian rupees 5,000 (approx. $61) per contribution. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2026. Closes when they reach their cap.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's. Genre: True stories and poems. "Please submit your true stories and poems about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities too." Payment: $200. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Prose. They prefer stories under 3,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens May 1, 2026. Closes when they reach their cap. 

Iron Fang Press: Wish You Were Here Anthology. Genre: Horrifying/spooky/unsettling short stories with the theme of vacations. Payment: CAD30. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Emberwick Press. Genre: Full-length Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction manuscripts in the Contemporary (YA/MG), Fantasy (YA/MG), Romance (Adult/YA), Romantasy (Adult/YA), Mystery (all ages), and Horror / Thriller (all ages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 1, 2026.


Podcastle. Genre: Fantasy podcast. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word for original; $100 for reprints, $20 for flash fiction reprints. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

The First Line Journal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry using the line provided. (See theme) Payment: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: May 2, 2026. Opens May 1.

Liars’ League. Genre: Short stories. Length: 800-2,000 words. See theme. Payment: £20, reading of your story by a professional actor, as well as podcast, video and online publication of your work. Deadline: May 3, 2026.

Lucky Jefferson: Paradox. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, hybrid work, and poetry on the Paradox theme. Payment: $25 - $35. Deadline: May 3, 2026.

Flame Tree: Climbing High: Speculative Stories of Female Ambition. Genre: Speculative fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: May 3, 2026.

Prairie Fire. Genre: Creative nonfiction submissions on the theme, ‘Lost and Found: Things Forgotten, Things Remembered.’ Payment: CAD0.10/word up to CAD250 for prose. Deadline: May 4, 2026.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: Affirm Press accepts all literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have an author or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month and twice yearly on their children’s & teen list. Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: May 4, 2026.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: May 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

Space and Time. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We welcome poetry, art and fiction that bend rules, transcend genre and break stereotypes." Submissions accepted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or Italian. See theme. Payment: 1 cent/word for prose, $5 for poetry. Deadline: May 7, 2026. Open the first seven days of every month.

University of Queensland Press Genre: Adult non-fiction submissions that address environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. We are looking for potential new books that engage with current science, with themes of hope, resilience and innovation. Full or partial manuscripts (minimum 15,000 words) will be accepted. They do not publish books in the following categories: Genre fiction (including romance, science fiction, fantasy, and erotica), travel guides, cookbooks, self-help books, plays/scripts/music scores, textbooks, unrevised theses or conference proceedings. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 7, 2026. Open the first seven days of every month.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: May 8, 2026.

Lucky Jefferson: En Recuerdo De. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, hybrid work, and poetry on the Recuerdo theme. Payment: $25 - $35. Deadline: May 10, 2026.

Blood Clot! Revolution. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers only. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $5-25; they also offer a $50 prize for the best story. Deadline: May 12, 2026. Accepts reprints.
 
Georgia Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction. Payment: $50 per printed page for prose and $4 per line for poetry. Essay-reviews and standard reviews earn honoraria of $50/printed page. Deadline: May 14, 2026. Fee to submit online; no fee for postal submissions.

Goblins & Galaxies Magazine. Genre: Sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and science fiction stories under 6,000 words. Payment: 3 cents (USD) per word for original fiction. Deadline: May 14, 2026. Opens May 7.

filling station. Genre: Stories, poems, CNF, nonfiction, and art. See theme. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 14, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

In a Flash. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. "We want to represent all that's thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round. To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself." Payment: £30 for each poem published. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: May 15, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: May 15, 2026. 

Tableware. Genre: Art, poetry, fiction, essays, photography, reviews. Most anything you can print on paper. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Poetry Magazine. Restrictions: Open to poets born and/or raised in the city and writers who have lived in Chicago for around seven years at some point in their lives. Genre: Poetry. Theme: Chicago. Payment: $500 per text and visual poem, $600 per video poem. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Orion's Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, messages from heaven, angels. Genre: True stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! Payment: $200. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Way Downstream. Restrictions: Open to queer, trans, and gender variant authors. Genre: Prose between 4,000–10,000 words. Payment: $5. Deadline: May 15, 2026. Reprints accepted.

Tableware. Genre: Art, poetry, fiction, essays, photography, reviews. Most anything you can print on paper. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Inkd Publishing: Beyond 2026. Genre: Science Fiction. See theme. Payment: Minimum $10. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Raconteur Press: Pet Monsters. Genre: Short stories. Pet Monsters plays on the classic "Mom, can I keep it?" question. Some strange creature – an under-the-bed monster, critters hiding in the garage, or secret basement friends – end up discovered by our wide-eyed protagonist, but that new pet may not be housebroken. Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Overheard. Genre: Full-length manuscript submissions of fiction, short story & essay collections, poetry collections, creative nonfiction, and hybrid works. Payment: $1000 advance plus royalties and 25 free copies. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Three-Lobed Burning Eye. Genre: Horror, fantasy, science fiction. Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: May 16, 2026.

Missed Fits. Genre: Speculative short stories (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.) about someone or something that doesn’t fit, that is missing, that is out of place. Payment: 8 cents U.S. per word. Deadline: May 16, 2026.

Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: May 17, 2026.

(s)crawl magazine. Restrictions: Open to work by LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, BIPOC, disabled, women, and gender-diverse writers. Genre: Horror fiction and poetry. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Griffith Review. Genre: Non-fiction and fiction that responds to the theme "Out of Office." Payment: AUD$0.75 per word. Deadline: May 17, 2026.

The Stinging Fly is an Irish magazine that accepts submissions from around the world. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Fiction and nonfiction: €30 per magazine page; Poetry: €50 per poem; Featured Poet: €250. Deadline: May 20, 2026.

Don’t Go for the Vault: A Bank Robbery Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror. Theme: Bank Robbery. Payment: 5 cents USD per word for original fiction works and 1 cent per word for reprints. Deadline: May 20, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Raconteur Press: Wyrd Warfare 3. Genre: Short stories. More Combat! More arcane action! More war and wizardry! Still wyrd! Join warfighters from across all time and space for one more journey into the strange and unknown. Psychic soldiers and angelic apparitions. Will an alien invasion unite East and West? Nations beg for the aid of supernatural allies, but at what price? Rebels and mercenaries aren't the only threats in post-colonial Africa. Lost submarines "still on patrol." Nice fleet you have there, be a shame if some old sea god got mad about it… Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 29, 2026.

Kweli Journal. "Kweli is the first online journal of its kind to celebrate community and cultural kinships. In this shared space, you will hear the lived experience of people of color. Our many stories. Our shared histories. Our creative play with language. Here our memories are wrapped inside the music of the Muscogee, the blues songs of the South, the clipped patois of the Caribbean." Genre: Self-contained novel excerpt, short story, or creative non-fiction piece, poetry. Length: No more than 7,000 words. Payment: "Upon publication." Deadline: May 30, 2026.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2026. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, there are no submission fees for all API writers for the month of May, not limited to those living in/born in the US.

Dragon Soul Drabbles. Genre: Horor Drabbles. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

100 Word Project. Genre: Drabbles of exactly 100 words. See theme. Payment: $1. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

The Offing. Genre: Translation poetry and CNF. Payment: $25 - $100. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: Short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Qwerty. Genre: Art, Poetry, Prose. Theme: Stories, poems, and otherwise artistic interpretations on the theme of dark architecture and pseudoarchaeology. Payment: $15. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Anibon Press. Genre: Poetry and prose chapbooks questioning animal and spiritual encounters, cryptozoological and pseudoscientific treatises, and other hybrid texts interested in more than human ideas and stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Shacklebound Books: Witches & Warlocks. Genre: Drabbles (exactly 100 words) on theme. See site. Payment: Flat fee of $5. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Don’t Go for the Vault: A Bank Robbery Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror. Theme: Bank Robbery. Payment: 5 cents USD per word for original fiction works and 1 cent per word for reprints. Deadline: Extended submission window exclusively for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, Disabled, Neurodiverse, and other underrepresented voices: May 21– May 31, 2026. Accepts reprints

Baltimore Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, videos (including poetry), and cross-genre work. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: Slayer. Genre: All monster hunter stories. From dragons and dinosaurs, to Cthulhu and sirens, to the usual vampires and werewolves. Gore, horror, and originality are appreciated. All genres accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: FAERIE CONTRACT. Genre: All fairy stories across all genres. Fae, selkies, brownies, etc. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

AGNI. Genre: Poetry and prose. Payment: $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for accepted prose, and $20 per page for accepted poetry, up to a maximum of $150. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Fee to submit online. No fee to submit by USPS.

Black Fox Literary Magazine. Genre: Fiction, CNF, poetry, art. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ stories, 12,000 words minimum. See themes. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

The London Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: Up to 3,000 words for prose; up to 3 pages for poetry. See theme. Payment: $0.01/word for prose, $10 for poetry. $25 flat fee for visual art, or $50 for pieces chosen as cover art. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Litmag. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. "What We Look For: Work that moves and amazes us.We are drawn to big minds, large hearts, sharp pens." Length: Print: 15,000 words; Online: 4,000 words. Payment: Print: $300 for full-length fiction or nonfiction (5,000+ words); $150 for fiction or nonfiction (2,500-4,999 words); $100 for a short short (flash); $100 for a poem or group of short poems. LitMag Online: Upon acceptance, $100. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. Payment: $35 - $150. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Free submissions for Canadians only.

Escape Pod. Genre: Science fiction (Audio and written format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Reprints accepted.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: May 31, 2026. 

Indie Bites. Genre: Fantasy. See theme. Payment: £5. Deadline: May 31, 2026. 

Roxanne Gay. Genre: Unagented books. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026. 

Plenitude. Restrictions: Canadian citizens living in Canada or abroad; those who identify as Indigenous; and/or residents of Canada (temporary residents or refugees). LGBTQ2S+ writers only. Genre: Poetry, Fiction. Payment: $60 per poem, $125 for fiction and CNF. Deadline: May 31, 2026. 

Folded Space. Genre: Speculative fiction. Length: 3,000 words up to 7,000 words. Podcast. Payment: $0.02 USD per word for original work that has never been published and $0.01 USD per word for reprints. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Kirby Fantasy Fiction Magazine. Genre: Fantasy. See theme. Payment: £0.05 per word. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Zombies Need Brains: Were-2 Anthology. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or urban fantasy stories where the story revolves around were creatures. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Reader Beware. Genre: Horror. Payment: $0.01/word for fiction, $0.05/line for poetry, $5/page for comics. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $75 for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews web issues. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.

Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets. Genre: Full-length poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Read full guidelines HERE. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Broken Sleep Books. Genre: Poetry collections (40+ pages). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

University Press of Kentucky. Genre: Books of poetry or fiction (novels, short story collections, etc.). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Closes when submission cap is reached, so submit early.


Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series. Restrictions: Open to any individual living in the U.S. who identifies as an immigrant and who either (i) was born in another country, (ii) has at least one parent who was born in another country (iii) is a refugee, or (iv) lives in the United States under Asylum or a Protection Program, such as TPS or DACA. Genre: Books of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), and hybrid texts of poetry and prose. Payment: In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors. Deadline: May 31, 2026.
 


AND A FEW MORE...

Eternal Haunted Summer. Genre: Poetry, short fiction. See themes. Payment: $5. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Green Writers Press is an independent, Vermont-based publishing company dedicated to spreading environmental awareness and social justice by publishing authors who promulgate messages of hope and renewal through place-based writing and environmental activism. Genre: Adult/juvenile fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cat Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: June 1, 2026.

The Paris Review. Genres: Prose. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens June 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Roses & Wildflowers: Anarchy and Harmony. Genre: Mythopoeic fiction, poetry, and art. See theme. Payment: $20 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: June 1, 2026. May close early if cap is reached.

Pexels This May there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $50,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

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Confluence Poetry Prize. Genre: Japanese short form poem on the theme of death and dying. Prize: $500 in total prize money. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

World Historian Student Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Genre: Essay that addresses one of the following topics and discuss how it relates to you personally and to World History:  Your view of a family story related to a historical event or your personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history/knowledge, such as "My ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832." Prize: $500. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors Contest. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, essay, and photography, plus publication in annual anthology from Northwest Missouri State University's GreenTower Press. Prize: $250 in each category. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Teen Nib Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students attending high school (Grades 9-12) in the state of Virginia. Genre: Short story, poetry, nonfiction. Prize: $100 top prize. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Rabbi Sacks Book Prize. Genre: Published nonfiction book that contributes significantly to the arena of modern Jewish thought. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Molly Keane Creative Writing Award. Restrictions: Open to Irish residents. Genre: Unpublished short story, maximum 2,000 words. Prize: €250 plus a course at the Molly Keane Writers Retreat. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

CINTAS Creative Writing Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to any Cuban author (including those of direct Cuban lineage; need not reside in Cuba). Genre: Novel excerpts, short stories, plays, or poems of up to 25 pages. Prize: $25,000 fellowship. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

The Waterston Desert Writing Prize. Genre: Literary nonfiction, desert theme. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

The Governor General’s Literary Awards. Restrictions: Books must have been written, translated or illustrated by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Genre: Best English-language and the best French-language book will be chosen in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Children’s Literature (text), Children’s Literature (illustrated books) and Translation (from French to English). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: May 1, 2026.

Casa Africa Essay Prize. Genre: Essay on the theme, 'Disinformation in Africa: local, regional and geopolitical impacts and the role of Artificial Intelligence.’ 15,000-20,000 words. Prize: €2,000. Deadline: May 2, 2026.

The Future Bookshelf: Mo Siewcharran Prize. Restrictions: The contest is open to BAME writers in the UK. Genre: Picture book. Prize: £2,500, £1,500 and possible publication. Deadline: May 2, 2026.

Creative Future Writers’ Award. Restrictions: Open to underrepresented writers in the UK only, who are over 18 years old. Genre: Poetry, fiction. This year’s theme is ‘Material.’  Prize: Publication, GBP £75.  Deadline: May 5, 2026.

Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant. Genre: Articles, books, and short-form writing about contemporary art—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The program also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. Grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Deadline: May 6, 2026.

RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award. "The RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is an annual award that aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. The shortlisted submissions are judged by a distinguished jury of Canadian writers." Prize: The winning entry will receive a $3,000 CAD cash prize and mentorship from a distinguished Canadian author. Deadline: May 7, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for one story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: May 8, 2026.

Boroondara Literary Awards. Restrictions: Open to Australians. Genre: Prose and poetry. Prize: More than $5,000 in prize money across various age groups in the Young Writers’ category; more than $3,500 in prize money in the Open Short Story category. Deadline: May 8, 2026.

BSME Young Writers Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK residents aged 18-25. Genre: Nonfiction. Short piece of original writing based on the subject of ‘something you love’. Length 800 - 1000 words. Prize: £12,000 cash prize. Deadline: May 8, 2026.

Pulitzer Center's "Fighting Words—Poetry in Response to Current Events" Contest. Restrictions: Current K-12 students anywhere in the world may enter. Students may write in any language, and are welcome to submit multilingual poems. Judges will have reading fluency in English and Spanish. Genre: Poetry. Theme: How can poetry be an effective response to current events and the issues impacting our communities? How can creative expression help us process our personal responses to issues we encounter in the news? Students and young adults are invited to explore these questions and make their voices heard in their entries to the Fighting Words Poetry Contest. Prize: $300 top prize. Deadline: May 10, 2026.

WWPH Writes Pride Contest. Restrictions: Open to LGBT writers living in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Genre: Poetry, prose, hybrid. See theme. Prize: $100. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Brown's Mart Theatre Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: Script. There is no word limit. Scripts must have a performance time of more than 30 minutes. Script treatments are ineligible. Prize: The winner of the Brown’s Mart Theatre Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to select shows in Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Flash Fiction Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A blog post, fan fiction, short story, fictional diary entry or fictional letter. Word limit: 500 words. Entries limited to three entries per person. Prize: The winner of the Flash Fiction Award will receive a $600 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Kath Manzie Youth Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A piece of creative writing, either poetry or short story, by a person aged 12 to 18 years as of 1 January 2023. Limit of three poetry entries with a 300-line limit OR a short story with a 3,000-word limit per person. Prize: The winner of the Kath Manzie Youth Award will receive a $600 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

NT Writers' Centre Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A single poem up to 300 lines. Entries limited to three separate poetry entries per person. Prize: The winner of the NT Writers’ Centre Poetry Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award 2024. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A factually accurate work, written with attention to literary style and technique. Can take the form of a biography, autobiography, memoir, diary entry, travel writing, food writing, literary journalism, or criticism. Word limit: 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award will receive a $500 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Charles Darwin University Essay Award 2024.  Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: A referenced academic essay on a topic relating to the Northern Territory. Word limit: 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Charles Darwin University Essay Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

Zip Print Short Story Award 2024. Restrictions: Open to all writers from across the Northern Territory, Australia. Genre: An original work of short fiction. Word limit: up to 3,000 words. Prize: The winner of the Zip Print Short Story Award will receive a $1,000 prize, an NT Writers’ Centre membership and a double pass to Brown's Mart’s performance program. Deadline: May 11, 2026.

The Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award. Genre: Works of fiction or nonfiction. Prize: $25,000. The award-winner will participate in a 2-3 day residency at Interlochen Center for the Arts in April 2027. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Leeway Foundation: Transformation Award. Restrictions: Women and transgender poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers in the Philadelphia area who have been creating art for social change for five or more years. Writers who have lived for at least two years in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties, who are at least 18 years of age, and who are not full-time students in a degree-granting arts program are eligible. Award: $15,000. Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Dear Aliens Contest. Genre: A written document from humanity to aliens. Prize: $2,000 USD to the best submission. Second and third place get $250 each. Deadline: May 15, 2026.


RTÉ Radio Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to Irish writers and residents of Ireland. Genre: Short story. Prize: Up to 5,000 euros. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Page One Media 2027 Grant. Genre: A book being published by a US based publisher and published in the US sometime between January and December 2026. Adult books only. Prize: The 2026 grant will provide one full book publicity campaign spanning eight months for a book publishing in 2026. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

IHRAM SADC Writing Climate Resilience 2026. Restrictions: Open to Southern African writers. Genre: Narratives, essays, poetry and short stories on theme. Prize: $100. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

Quay Words Young Writers’ Flash Fiction Competition. Restrictions: Open writers aged 10 to 18-years. Genre: Flash fiction on theme ‘Between the Lines.' Prize: £200 top prize. Deadline: May 18, 2026. (Conflicting information on website.)

The Kentucky State Poetry Society Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to public, private, and homeschool students in grades 3-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st prize - $75, 2nd prize - $50, 3rd prize - $25. Winners are invited to read their poems at the annual meeting. Deadline: May 18, 2026. (Conflicting information on website.)

Changing Light Prize for a Novel-in-Verse. Genre: Novel-in-Verse. Prize: $500 and publication for a novel-in-verse, 90-160 pages. Deadline: May 25, 2026.

Great Lakes Colleges (GLCA) New Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to Americans and Canadians.  Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. In each category, the submitted work must be an author’s first published volume. Prize: $500. Deadline: May 25, 2026.

A Voice for Animals Teen Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 14-18. Genre: Essays on an animal rights topic. In the 16-18 year olds category, essays must be 800-1,000 words long and be accompanied by a photograph; in the 14-15 year olds category, essays should be between 1,400-1,500 words. Prize: $200 - $500. Deadline: May 25, 2026.

Irene Adler Prize for Women Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada. Deadline: May 30, 2026.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Scholarly essay on naval history.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: May 30, 2026.


The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans. This creative writing contest for U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel is hosted by The Iowa Review and made possible by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. The contest is open to veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre and about any subject matter. Prizes: First place: $1,000 plus publication in The Iowa Review. Second place: $750. Three runners-up: $500 each. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Furphy Literary Award: Junior and Youth Competition. Restrictions: Open to  juniors & youth age writers who live in the Goulburn Valley, Australia. Genre: Short stories and poetry. Prize: First prize of $300. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

African Human Rights Prison Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to currently incarcerated persons and also to formerly incarcerated individuals in Africa. Genre: Essays or articles. Prize: $50 - $100. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Kellman Prize for Immigrant Literature. Restrictions: Open to first-generation residents of the United States. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated to the U.S., or to American-born residents whose parents were born elsewhere. Genre: Unpublished nonfiction books. Prize: $10,000 and publication. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards. Restrictions: Open to aboriginal youth, 18 years or younger, residing in Ontario, Canada. Genre: Creative writing. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Indie Author Project. Genre: Indie-published fiction. (See site for list of genres.) Prize: $2,500 to the 1st place winner and $500 each to two runner-ups in each genre.  Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Writers' College Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. Genre: Short story. See theme. Prize: First prize NZ $1000 and publication; second prize NZ $500 and publication. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Reedsy Prompts. Genre: Short story (2,000 to 5,000 words) in response to one prompt. Prize: $1500. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Vancouver Writers Fest's Youth Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in British Columbia. Genre: Short stories and personal essays: 1,000 word limit (for elementary school student submissions) and 1,500 (for high-school student submissions). Prize: $100 top prize. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $150 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2026.

The Gwen Ifill Award. Genre: Journalism. "The award is open to journalists working in the United States. Candidates for the award will be evaluated on criteria including their record of outstanding achievement in journalism, and the extent to which they represent the values Ifill embodied, including in the areas of mentorship, leadership and commitment to a diversity of perspectives in journalism." Prize: Each Gwen Ifill awardee will receive a cash prize. Deadline: May 31, 2026.


Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: May 31, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Kenai Fjords, Alaska: Wikimedia This May there are more than three dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format.

These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, how to market your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

I have included conferences with deadlines that have already passed on this list to give you advance notice. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences.

Be sure to check out Boyds Mills list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year. 

______________


The 2026 Arizona Writing Workshop. May 1, 2026: Phoenix, AZ. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total). 

Washington Writers Conference. May 1 - 2, 2026: Bethesda, MD. "Expert sessions with authors and publishing pros on the many paths to publishing — from writing killer query letters and landing an agent to going your own way and utilizing a self/hybrid model — and publicizing your book once it exists!" 

Lakefly Writers Conference. May 1 - 3, 2026: Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Writers Conference will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, May 1 and conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. Events include a keynote speaker, workshops, panel discussions and one-on-one consultations with industry experts. Registration will open in February 2026. The Book Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2. This event will be free/open to the public. 

First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Terese Svoboda. May 1, 2026: Online. Native of Ogallala, Terese Svoboda published her second memoir and 24th book, Hitler and My Mother-in-Law in December of 2025. Threaded with dark humor and sharp observation, this intriguing memoir interweaves the lives of two women: the author, a renowned writer, and her husband‘s mother, the only female journalist to cover WWII in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

The 2026 Writing Conference of Los Angeles. May 2, 2026: Los Angeles, CA. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Michigan Writers Workshop. May 2, 2026: Detroit, MI. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Colrain Cold Read. May 3, 2026: Online. An intimate, 5–6 poet one-day intensive built around an enactment of a real-time submission moment: a press editor reads your manuscript cold, in front of the small group, and thinks aloud—exactly as they would at their office desk. You’ll hear the real editorial questions (title/TOC, opening 5-10 pages, through-line, writing skill, structure, cohesiveness, style, etc), followed by concrete responses for all 5-6 manuscripts in the group as the editor responds to each, one by one. After the editor’s departure, a Colrain faculty member anchors interpretations and expectations so you leave with a realistic understanding of work to be done.

In This Poem Something Grows: A poetry workshop with Asa Drake. May 5 - June 9, 2026: Online. This workshop title is, of course, aspirational. More likely, something grows, and then it fails. Or something thrives for a given set of conditions. In this generative workshop we’ll hone our observation skills while also risking accountability for our role as an observer in the human and natural world.  Application deadline: March 31, 2026.

ThrillerFest XXI. May 5 - 9, 2026: New York City. This is the annual conference of the International Thriller Writers. The ThrillerFest conference has four main components: Master CraftFest, CraftFest, PitchFest, and ThrillerFest. Master CraftFest was designed as an educational tool for aspiring writers as well as debut and midlist authors to gain advanced training from the masters of the craft in an intimate, day-long training session. CraftFest was designed for all writers to learn from bestselling authors and subject experts who kindly offer their advice and assistance to advance attendees’ writing techniques and further their careers. PitchFest was designed to match writers with agents, editors, publishers, and producers. ThrillerFest, the final two days of the conference, is intended to offer readers a chance to meet the best authors in the industry and be introduced to debut and midlist authors. Expect innovative panels, spotlight interviews, and workshops to educate and inspire. 

Finding Joy in the Ordinary: A multi-genre writing workshop with Natalya Sukhonos. May 5 - June 23, 2026: Online. In our world of constant distraction and the 24-hour news cycle, how can we pay attention to the small details that shape our world, that give us a firm sense of place and allow us to come one step closer to the many hidden worlds of our natural environment? In this multi-genre writing class, we will think about the role of sensory details in helping shape the world of the page.  Application deadline: March 31, 2026.

Nonfiction Writers Conference. May 6 - 8, 2026. ONLINE EVENT. The Nonfiction Writers Conference (NFWC) is a multi-day event featuring live presentations by top speakers and industry experts, Q&A with speakers, and plenty of downloadable materials. You can attend the live webcast by computer, mobile device or phone.

Picture Book Plotting from A to Z: A 5-Week Online Course for Writers. May 6 - June 10, 2026: Online. This online course with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen features pre-recorded and/or written lectures, along with assignments for each letter of the “Picture Book Alphabet,” plus weekly LIVE Zoom sessions for all of your course related questions and discussion with Sudipta. In addition, Sudipta will offer consultations in small groups during the last two live sessions.

Community Retreat with Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence: Celebrating Asian and Asian American Stories. May 7 - May 10, 2026: Boyds Mills, PA. Work alongside community members and spend time creating, dreaming, and discovering the many beautiful contributions made by Asian and Asian American voices in the children’s book field.

2026 Portland Writing Workshop. May 8, 2026: Portland, OR. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (175 total).

Seattle Writers Workshop. May 9, 2026: Seattle, WA. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Longleaf Writers Conference. May 9 - 16, 2026: Seaside, Florida. "Formerly the Seaside Writers Conference, Longleaf Writers Conference is an annual gathering of creative writers from all over the nation, featuring award-winning writers in poetry and fiction and screenwriting who will offer a full week of intensive writing workshops, one day seminars, school outreach programs, and social events. This event occurs every year in May, and offers the opportunity for beginning, intermediate and advanced writers to celebrate writing, to network with other writers, and to hone their craft. There will also be seminars hosted by professional editors and literary agents who will offer one-on-one consultations. All participants who pay the full conference tuition fee will be able to take part in all daily activities, while those paying a la carte pricing will have the pick of which classes and workshops they would like to attend. The Longleaf Writers Conference is one of the only conferences in the nation to take place on one of the most beautiful beaches in the US, and every year will feature notable guest writers, literary agents, and professional editors."

Character Design Basics: An Online Course for Illustrators. May 12, 2026: Online. Attention illustrators: Learn the building blocks of character design that make young readers lean in.

The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. May 12 - 16, 2026: Monterey, CA. Participants in the Monterey Writer Retreat will work both in a group and one-on-one with the best literary "closers" and mentors in the business: Paula Munier, Michael Neff, and Katharine Sands (see bios below), who together combine more than 75 years of working with aspiring authors and ushering them to publication. Before you meet with them, you inform us ahead of time via the Monterey Writer Retreat Application about the retreat goals you wish to focus on and we'll make it happen.

Writing Without Words: On Gesture. May 13, 2026: Online. As writers, our medium is words: written or spoken; mumbled or sung. We share language with other genres—like music and theatre—but what other tools do these media have in conjunction with words, and how can we learn from them? In this generative workshop, we will expand our understanding of our art form and craft our own poetry or short prose pieces that are driven by more-than-words. Drawing inspiration from instrumental songs, mime acts, and experimental poetry, we will devote the majority of our session to studying gesture: a vital tool for every art form. We will consider artistic examples ranging from the band Daikaiju to the painter Kay Sage as we engage in conversation and participate in low-stakes, wordless activities designed to spark our imaginations, before quietly writing with the guidance of a prompt, with an opportunity to share.

Finding Your Form When Writing About Food: A writing workshop with Kate Lebo. May 13 - June 17, 2026: Online. When we’re struggling to begin a work of food-focused nonfiction, how do we find the right form? How can forms associated with food, like the recipe or the menu, be used as invitations to experiment? How might formal constraints guide us toward the fullest expression of our art? In this workshop, we’ll take a close look at three forms: the recipe, the flash essay, and the braided essay. Application deadline:April 20, 2026

IBPA Publishing University. May 14 - 16, 2026: Portland, Oregon. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and more! 

Storymakers Conference. May 14 - 16, 2026: Provo, Utah. The Storymakers conference features over a hundred classes geared toward aspiring and established writers alike, taught by some of the best presenters in the publishing industry. Some past keynote speakers have included such names as Brandon Sanderson, Lois Lowry, Jennifer A. Nielsen, Shannon Hale, Ally Condie, and more!

Getting to Know Your Character with Sarah Aronson. May 15, 2026: Online. Characters aren't just part of your story; they are the story. From picture books to novels, your characters drive every plot twist and emotional beat. Join Sarah Aronson to explore character-driven writing techniques and to discover your story's characters. 

Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. Application deadline May 15, 2026: Forest Grove, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing. Dates: June-18-28, 2026.

Bookstock Literary Festival. May 15 - 17, 2026: Woodstock, Vermont. Expect 50+ speakers, author signings, live music, workshops, exhibits, special events and a huge tent sale of 10,000-12,000 used & rare books. All events and workshops are free and open to the public.

The 2026 Cincinnati Writing Workshop. May 16, 2026: Cincinnati, OH. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Courtyard Cincinnati North at Union Centre (West Chester). In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference. May 16 - 19, 2026: Homer, Alaska. We are looking forward to welcoming you at the beautiful Kachemak Bay Campus in downtown Homer, Alaska. There will there be four-days of craft classes, agent and editor meetings, panel discussions, readings by the participants and the faculty, and more chances for folks to interact with each other and form the community of writers that sustains us when we return to our desks.

Writeaway in New Mexico. May 17 - 24, 2026: Casa Bellisima, New Mexico. $3,500 for private room; $3,100 each for friends or couple sharing a room Includes writing consultations and daily writing workshops, all meals, wine and cocktails, plus a cooking class and excursion. Full

Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers. May 18 - 22, 2026: Houston, Texas. Daily workshops, readings, craft talks, social events and professionalism panels in an intimate and supportive environment designed specifically with the needs of emerging writers in mind.

Writing Nonfiction: Hooking Your Reader & Finding Success. May 19, 2026: Online. In the crowded nonfiction market, a compelling hook makes all the difference! Learn how to draw readers and editors in, reveal your unique angle, and keep pages turning in this online workshop.

Bear River Writers’ Conference. May 19 - 23, 2026: Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake, near Petoskey, Michigan. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, discussions, nature walks, and time to write.

Balticon. May 22 - 25, 2026: Baltimore, MD. Balticon is sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award, the Robert A. Heinlein Award, and the winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest annually at this event. Multiple tracks of Programming over the four day weekend, featuring authors, artists, scientists, musicians, podcasters, publishers, editors, costumers and other creative SF luminaries. 

Martha’s Vineyard Summer Writers’ Conference. May 24 - 30, 2026, and June 14 - 20, 2026: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. "The Martha’s Vineyard Summer Writers’ Conference brings together writers from around the world with the central belief that we can all learn from one another.  Our program offers week-long classes on the craft of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, evening readings, panel discussions, and individualized manuscript sessions. Attendees study with award-winning Visiting Authors & Poets and celebrate writing on the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. For those interested in individualized feedback, we offer Manuscript Sessions with our Visiting Authors and Poets. These one-on-one sessions allow attendees to get individualized feedback on their works-in-progress as well as advice on how to seek publication." 

North Words Writers Symposium. May 26 - 29, 2026: Skagway, Alaska. "Exploring the Frontiers of Language," the North Words Writers Symposium welcomes all to an intimate setting with just 40 participants engaging with authors in a spectacular Alaska setting. Join this year's faculty of Alaska-NW authors for four days of panel discussions, writing workshops, readings, and adventure in Skagway, Alaska. Symposium events include activities such as hiking and writing workshops, a barbecue with live music at Alderworks Writers & Artists Retreat in Dyea; and a keynote banquet in a show garden.  REGISTER by May 18.

Biographers International Organization Conference. May 28 - 29, 2026: Washington, DC. Of all the programs and services provided to BIO members, the Biographers International Organization is proudest of its annual conference. Each year, BIO brings together some of the finest practitioners of the craft of biography to help guide, mentor, encourage, and advise attendees on a wide variety of topics relating to the writing, researching, and selling of biography. The conference also offers a unique opportunity to hear some of biography’s best—and best-known—writers share their stories. The afternoon features a keynote lecture by the recipient of the BIO Award. Past recipients include Robert Caro, Ron Chernow, Arnold Rampersad, Jean Strouse, and Claire Tomalin. Panel sessions throughout the day provide tips for novice biographers, examination of the craft of biography, and exploration of issues aimed at seasoned biographers. A highlight of the conference is the presentation of the Plutarch Award for the year’s best biography.

Mountain Heritage Literary Festival. May 29 - 30, 2026: Cumberland Gap, TN. "Every year writers gather at the ancient and beloved Cumberland Gap to celebrate writing, music, and Appalachian heritage. Events include workshops, panels, readings, concerts, lectures, open mic, and more." 

The Bay Area Book Festival. May 30 - 31, 2026: Berkeley, California. The free Bay Area Book Festival celebrates books and literature with a heavy focus on readings and author talks. But you’ll also find panel discussions and writing workshops for youth and adults. There’s one large adult program stage, a robust children’s area with activities and readings, and more than 100 exhibitors and food vendors. 

Community Retreat with Meg Medina: Celebrating Latinx Stories in Kidlit. May 31 - June 3, 2026: Boyds Mills, PA. Join Meg Medina and guests for a retreat celebrating the rich tapestry of Latina, Latino, Latine, and Latinx voices in children’s literature, a space to rest, create, and honor the stories that shape us.


Interlochen Writer’s Retreat. May 31 - June 5, 2026: Interlochen, Michigan. Nestled deep in the woods between two lakes, Interlochen College of Creative Arts' five-day Writers Retreat is a true writer's dream. Spend your days writing new material, attending presentations by award-winning faculty, and enjoying lakeside lunches and evening readings while making friends and connections in the literary world. Select your concentration from four unique courses, each grounded in different craft concepts  with an emphasis on generating new work—appealing to both advanced and beginning writers alike.

EVENTS WITH DEADLINES IN MAY 2026

Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop. June 14 - 19, 2026: The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. This program is for writers who want to learn how to write an Orion essay, short story, or poem; for writers who seek to become better advocates for the environment through their writing; for poets who are drawn to writing about nature and culture; for teachers and scholars who wish to write for a more general readership; and for environmental professionals who want to bring better writing skills to bear on their work. The program will feature small writing workshops dedicated to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as faculty readings and lectures, student readings, and presentations on publishing. Application deadline May 1, 2026.

Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Residency Writers Conference. Application deadline May 15, 2026: Forest Grove, Oregon. Writers seeking to deepen their craft and expand their professional community are invited to attend the Residency Writers Conference together with MFA students, faculty and guest speakers. Join us for 10 full days of craft talks, workshops, panels, classes, readings and more featuring some of the best minds of the literary world. This residency is a rare opportunity to engage in sustained and meaningful conversation with others who share your passion for the art of writing. Dates: June-18-28, 2026.

Wikimedia This April there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

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West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 1, 2026.


Rat Bag Lit. Genre: Short story. Payment:  1 cent/word. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: April 2, 2026. Opens April 1.


The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.


Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: April 1, 2026.


The Cafe Irreal. Genre: Magical realism, Length: Up to 2000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
Crimson Quill. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: $35. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026.

Ninth Letter Web Edition. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $25 per poem and $75 for prose. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Ex-Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Raconteur Press: For Want of a Nail…. Genre: Short stories.An alternate history anthology for all you rivet counters out there! Divergence from history, but with hard clear lines to keep it from being confusing. Counterfactual stories of those pivotal moments in history. Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 3, 2026.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: April 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

Daikaijuzine. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $10.00 for each short story, and $5.00 for each poem and flash fiction piece. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

Varnish. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 - $250. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: Speculative YA stories, Holidays theme. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: April 5, 2026.

Mslexia. Genre: Stories, poems and script on themes. Length: Stories up to 2,200 words, poems up to 40 lines, and short scripts up to 1,000 words (including character names and stage instructions).  Payment: £25. Deadline: April 6, 2026.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: Affirm Press accepts all literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have an author or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month and twice yearly on their children’s & teen list. Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: April 6, 2026.


Black Inc. Restrictions: Accepts proposals from Australian writers only. Genre: General non-fiction, including history, current affairs, biography and memoir, and for fiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2026.

University of Queensland Press Genre: Adult non-fiction submissions that address environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. We are looking for potential new books that engage with current science, with themes of hope, resilience and innovation. Full or partial manuscripts (minimum 15,000 words) will be accepted. They do not publish books in the following categories: Genre fiction (including romance, science fiction, fantasy, and erotica), travel guides, cookbooks, self-help books, plays/scripts/music scores, textbooks, unrevised theses or conference proceedings. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2026. Open the first seven days of every month.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See theme. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: April 10, 2026.


Variant Lit. Genre: Poetry, fiction, flash fiction, art. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

The Threepenny Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

Solarpunk Magazine. Genre: Solarpunk. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay, $100 for reprint cover art, $200 for original unpublished cover art, $50 for reprint interior art, $100 for original unpublished interior art.  Deadline: April 14, 2026.


OTHERSIDE. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Payment: $0.08/word for prose. $50 per poem. $100 for nonfiction and reprints. Deadline: April 14, 2026.

Last Girls Club. Genre: Feminist horror: short stories and poems - see themes. Payment: Fiction, 1.5 cents/word. Poetry, $10. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

fifth wheel press: motherboard. Genre: Poetry, prose poetry, short prose (<1500 words), and other experimental writing by queer, trans, and gender variant writers. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Cutleaf. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, and literary nonfiction. Payment: $100 to $300 for published prose and from $50 to $100 per published poem. Deadline: April 15, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Pig’s Back. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Payment: €300. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Quest Magazine: Power. Genre: Speculative fiction. See theme. Payment: $250 for prose (or per story instalment), $100 for poetry. Deadline: April 15, 2026.
Cahava. Genre: Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and prose poetry. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: April 15, 2026.


Whisper House Press: Doom Scroll Anthology. Genre: Social media horror fiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: April 15, 2026. Extended deadline for writers from diaspora communities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or Autistic writers.

Consequence Magazine: The Culture of War. Genre: Short fiction, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and visual art mainly focused on the culture of war. Payment: $20 - $50 for prose and poetry, $150 for art. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Electric Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $20 per piece. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Horror Tree: Trembling With Fear. Genre: Horror short stories. Payment: $5. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Rattle: A Tribute to the Future. Genre: Poetry. "Our Fall 2026 issue will be dedicated to poems about the future—what it might look like, feel like, or become. Whether speculative, surreal, hopeful, or dire, we’re looking for poems that imagine what lies ahead, for the world or the self. The future can be political, ecological, technological, spiritual, or deeply personal. However you interpret the idea, we want to see how poetry can be a vehicle for foresight, fantasy, or reflection on what comes next." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Foglifter. Genre: Foglifter is a biannual compendium of queer and trans writing. It’s a space where LGBTQ+ writers celebrate, mourn, rage, and embrace. "Foglifter welcomes daring and thoughtful work by queer and trans writers in all forms, and we are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. We want the pieces that challenged you as a writer, what you poured yourself into and risked the most to make. But we also want your tenderest, gentlest work, what you hold closest to your heart. Whatever you're working on now that's keeping you alive and writing, Foglifter wants to read it." Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

In a Flash. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Neon Hemlock: What Elegant Stars: Queer Tales of Impossible Style. Genre: Space opera stories involving style, fashion and society. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. See theme. Payment: $0.05/word, up to $25. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Raconteur Press: The Muse Within Us. Genre: Short stories. Stories where the act of creation itself becomes unearthly. Tales in which a painting, sculpture, song, manuscript, poem, or any creative impulse is touched—or possessed—by supernatural forces. Tell us about people whose inspiration springs from uncanny sources: muse spirits, cursed artifacts, spectral patrons, cosmic whispers, haunted landscapes, or otherworldly entities. Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 17, 2026.

Seaside Gothic. Genre: Seaside gothic fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or a collection of photographs or illustrations. Payment: £0.01 per word. Deadline: April 19, 2026.

Astrolabe. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography & art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 20, 2026.

OTHERSIDE. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Payment: $0.08/word for prose. $50 per poem. $100 for nonfiction and reprints. Deadline: April 21, 2026. Extended deadline only for BIPOC, trans, and/or disabled authors.

Kaleidotrope. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry—science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but also compelling work that blurs the lines between these and falls outside of neat genre categories. Payment: For fiction, $0.01/word (1 cent a word) USD. For poetry, a flat rate of $5 USD per accepted piece. For artwork, a flat rat of $60 for cover art. Deadline: April 25, 2026.

American Poets Continuum Series. Genre: Poetry collection. "Poets who have previously published a full-length book of poetry with a traditional publisher are eligible to submit to the American Poets Continuum Series." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Massachusetts Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, hybrid, translations. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Fee for online submissions. No fee for USPS.


Heartlines Spec. Restrictions: "Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Our goal for each issue is to publish at least 50% Canadian content." Genre: Short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. "We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules." Payment: $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction and $80 CAD flat for poetry. Deadline: Early submission period for equity-deserving groups April 23-30, 2026.

Harbor Review. Genre: Poetry, art. See theme. Payment: $10. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dragon Soul Poetry Anthology. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mythaxis. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 0.01 per word, with a $20 minimum. Deadline: April 30, 2026.


Strange Aeon. Genre: Cosmic Horror Fiction. Payment: $20 - $35. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

After Happy Hour. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, comics. Payment: $2.50 per printed page, with a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $50, on publication ($25 for the cover artist). Deadline: April 30, 2026. Free submissions are capped at 300, so submit early.

Long Con. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Writing and art. "“art about art” means artworks created in direct response to other objects, artifacts, or performances that can be considered “art”—including all forms of writing; gallery & theatre arts; pop culture (fashion, sports, comics); infrastructure (monuments, architecture, tools); ephemera (ads, memes, user manuals); propaganda (parades, political speeches); and non-human creations (elephant paintings, bird nests, insect dances)." Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mud Season Review. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, Art. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Margins. Genre: Creative nonfiction by emerging and established Asian American and diasporic writers. Payment: $60 – $450 depending on length. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Texas Review Press. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry, both full-length collections and chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Temz Review. Genre: Prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) up to 10,000 words long. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Brick. Genre: Literary nonfiction. Payment: $65–$720, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: April 30, 2026.  Closes when cap is reached so submit early.

Terrain.org. Genre: Nonfiction, fiction on place, climate, and justice. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dragon Soul Survival Anthology. Genre: All apocalyptic stories are welcome. All genres are accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Zero Street Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Full-length literary fiction. "Zero Street will be committed to LGBTQ+ literary fiction with commercial potential, providing marginalized authors opportunities for a wide readership in the trade fiction market. The series editors are Timothy Schaffert, bestselling author of The Perfume Thief, and SJ Sindu, author of Blue-Skinned Gods. The series seeks LGBTQ+ literary fiction of all kinds, from stories of modern life to innovations on traditions of genre and are particularly interested in BIPOC authors, trans authors, and queer authors over 50." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.


The New Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to Canadian writers. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Payment: $400. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Xnital Books. Genre: Poetry Collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to submissions by authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Bracken. Genre: Poetry and art. "Bracken is a literary magazine born of the love of the woods and its shadows." Payment: $30. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Engen Books. Genre: Full-length nonfiction manuscripts. "Engen Non-fiction is committed to sharing diverse narratives as well as shining a light on unique and unexplored stories from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Plentitude. Restrictions:. LGBTQ2S+ writers only. Genre: Poetry, Fiction. Payment: $60 per poem, $125 for fiction and CNF. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Rabbit Hole Anthology. Genre: "Weird" poems and short stories. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

the other side of hope: journeys in refugee and immigrant literature. Restrictions: Open to refugee, asylum seeker, and immigrant poets worldwide. Genre: Poetry in any language other than English. Payment: £50 per published poet, and £25 for the English translation. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Dread House Publishing: Poisoned Folk Tales Anthology. Genre: Folk horror. Payment: $20. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Cookout. Restrictions: Open to to authors from Africa and the African diaspora. Genre: Speculative and mainstream stories on theme. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Mad Creek Books: 21st Century Essays. Genre: Essays. Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Shacklebound Books: Wired Hearts. Genre: Reprint stories of 500-2,000 words to the science fiction theme of “Robots and AI” for a digital and print anthology, titled Wired Hearts. Stories must be exactly 500-2,000 words. Payment: Flat fee of $5 for stories 500-1,000 words. Flat fee of $10 for stories 1,000-2,000 words. Deadline: April 30, 2026 (or until full). Reprints only.

Negative Space This April there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

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The Great American Think-Off. Genre: Essay on the theme: “Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?” Entrants should take a strong stand agreeing or disagreeing with this topic, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction. Essay should be no more than 750 words. Prize: One of four $500 cash prizes. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers. Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards fellowships for writers to spend time in McCullers' childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to dedicate to their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. Award: Stipend of $5000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients will be required to introduce or advance their work through reading or workshop/forum presentations. The Fellow will work with the McCullers Center Director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Maya Angelou Book Award was founded in 2020 to honor the legacy of Missouri-born author Maya Angelou by celebrating contemporary authors whose work has demonstrated a commitment to social justice in America and/or the world. Restrictions: Entrants must be U.S. Citizens and reside within the United States. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Descant. Each year, descant offers four awards:
the $500 Frank O’Connor Award for fiction (for the best short story in a issue)the $250 Gary Wilson Award (for an outstanding story in an issue)the $500 Betsy Colquitt Award for poetry (for the best poem or series of poems by a single author in an issue)the $250 Baskerville Publishers Award (for an outstanding poem or poems by a single author in an issueThere is no application process or reading fee. All published submissions are eligible for prize consideration. Simply submit your work. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. This contest seeks today's best humor poems, published and unpublished. Please enter one poem only, 250 lines max. Prize: $3,750 in prizes, including a top prize of $2,000, and publication on Winning Writers. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Creative Capital Award. Restrictions: Entrants must be US citizens or permanent residents, aged 25+, with 5+ years' professional writing experience, and not be full-time students. Genre: Visual arts, performing arts, literature, technology, and film. Grant: Up to $50,000. Deadline: April 2, 2026.

On The Premises. Genre: For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story about some kind of family dispute or disagreement… TWICE. Give us a longer version of the story (75-100 words long) and then rewrite that same story into a traditional mini-contest length (25-50 words long). Prize: $45 for first place, $35 for second, $25 for third. Deadline: April 3, 2026.

The Solitary Daisy Haiku Contest. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First place $25, second place $15, third place $10. Deadline: April 4, 2026.

Northern Territory History Book Award. Restrictions: You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to enter. Genre: The Chief Minister's Northern Territory History Book Award recognises the most significant historical book about the Northern Territory published in the previous 12 months. To apply, your book must be a work on Northern Territory history, written in English or one of the First Nations languages of the Northern Territory, available for general sale, and published between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Prize: Recognition. Deadline: April 6, 2026. 

The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG). Genre: Environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists in the United States and U.S. Territories. Prize: A total of $470,000 in funding—up to $20,000 per project. Deadline: April 7, 2026. 

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: April 10, 2026.

Soho Theatre: The Verity Bargate Award. Restrictions: Open to UK and Ireland based playwrights. Genre: One-hour play written for stage. Prize: £12,000 and full production.  Deadline: April 13, 2026. Bienniel award.

Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be Canadian, and an entry must be the writer's first or second published book of any type or genre and must have a Canadian locale and/or significance. Genre: Print books and ebooks of creative non-fiction published in the previous calendar year. Prize: C$10,000.00. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words. See prompt. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book for books published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Prize: $12,000. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Natan Notable Books Award. Genre: Nonfic­­tion book on Jew­ish themes pub­lished for the first time between Novem­ber 1, 2025 and Novem­ber 1, 2026. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $75,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $70,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between February 11, 2026 and April 14, 2026. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Mike Resnick Memorial Award: Best Unpublished Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author. Restrictions: Open to an author who has not had any work published (including short stories, novelettes, novellas, and novels in paper, digital or audio form) that has been paid a per-word rate of 6 cents a word or more or received a payment for any single work of fiction totaling more than $50. Genre: Science fiction short story, up to 7,499 words. Prize: $250 and publication. Deadline: April 15, 2026.

Casa Africa: Purorrelato. Genre: Micro-stories related to Africa. Length: 1500 characters max. The micro-stories can be submitted in Spanish, English, French or Portuguese. Prize: First award: 750 euros, Second award: 375 euros, Third award: 225 euros. Deadline: April 16, 2026.

Collaborature. Restrictions: Submissions must be written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry). Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Prize: $20. Deadline: April 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: Books published between March 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026 must be received on or before April 17, 2026.

The Ponderosa Prize for Poetry. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC poets. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscript. Prize: $500 plus royalties. Deadline: April 17, 2026.


Author of Tomorrow. Restrictions: Open to children and youth up to age 21. Genre: Adventure writing. Prize: 11 and Under | 500 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 12-15 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school; 16-21 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: April 19, 2026.

Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize: Think. Topic: Essay on themes. Prize: Publication. Deadline: April 20, 2026.


Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing. Genre: Editorial writing. The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship was established to enable a mid-career editorial writer or columnist to have time away from daily responsibilities for study and research. Freelancers may also apply. Fellowship: Up to $100,000.  Deadline: April 20, 2026.

Screen Door Press. Restrictions: Open to diverse views from throughout the Black diaspora. Genre: Novel/novellas, Short Story Collections, poetry, and “other." Payment: $5000 and a publishing contract. Deadline: April 20, 2026.

Harper-Wood Creative Writing & Travel Award for English Poetry and Literature. Restrictions: Open to any student who has graduated from any university in the UK, Ireland, the Commonwealth or the USA. Genre: The Award Holder is expected to engage in a course of study or research, and produce a piece of original fiction, drama or poetry. Prize: £20,700 is provided to cover accommodation and living expenses during the course of the year. Deadline: April 22, 2026.

The Sophie Coe Prize. Genre: Informative article or essay on any aspect of food history relating to any period, place, people or culture  Prize: £1,500 top prize. Deadline: April 24, 2026. 

Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors. Restrictions: Open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently residing in Australia. Genre: Junior/YA full-length fiction manuscript intended for readers aged 8-18. Length: 40,000 and 100,000 words. Prize: A$15,000 and possible publication. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

The Black Lawrence Fellowship for New Immigrant Authors. Restrictions: Immigrant authors with no more than one published book. Genre: All genres. Prize: Free 12-month subscription to Sapling worth $50, a gift card in the amount of $150 to purchase books from Black Lawrence Press, a full manuscript consultation for a full-length project worth between $425 and $795, and $150 in cash. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Baen Fantasy Adventure Award. Genre: Adventure fantasy, 8K words max. Prize: Winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at industry-standard rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive a handsome engraved award and a prize package containing $500 of free Baen Books. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Erbacce-prize for Poetry (UK) Genre: Poetry collection. Prize: Winner will be given a publishing contract with erbacce press who will publish a perfect-bound collection of the winner's book. "We will pay all costs including the legal registering of the book and supplying copies to the major libraries. The book will be sold through our sales/shop pages and the poet will be paid 20% royalties." Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Kyoto Writing Competition. Genre: Short poems, character studies, essays, travel tips, whimsy, haiku sequence, haibun, wordplays, dialogue, experimental verse, etc. In short, anything that helps show the spirit of place in a fresh light. A clear connection to Kyoto is essential. Length: 300 words max. Prize: ~¥20,000 top prize. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or residents attending junior high or high school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: C$400 in each of two age categories: Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12). Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Furphy Literary Award. Genre: Short stories up to 5000 words, Theme: Australian Life in all its diversity. Prize: First prize of $15,000 in the open category (2nd prize - $ 3,000,  3rd prize - $2,000.  A junior & youth category with a prize pool of $1800 will seek entries for short stories and poetry. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Toronto Book Awards. Genres: All genres accepted. Restrictions: Submission "must evoke the city itself, that is, contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.). Authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto. Ebooks, textbooks and self-published works are not eligible. Prize: $28,000 in prize money; finalists receive $2,000 and the winning author is awarded $20,000. Deadline: April 30, 2026. (For books published between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026) 

African Human Rights Refugee Voices Essay Writing Challenge. Restrictions: Open to Africans of all ages, including refugees and displaced persons. Genre: Essays that spotlight the multifaceted realities of forced migration and displacement on the African continent. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest. Genre: Scholarly essay on naval history.  Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Al Blanchard Short Crime Story Award. Genre: Crime short story. 5,000 words maximum, with a New England setting (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) or by a New England writer. Mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror genres all welcome. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. "EWF supports developing writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise by providing them with time, space, and an intellectually and culturally rich artistic community. The program’s goal is to actively support these writers – who are working to complete a book-length project within a year – and help them launch their literary careers. Emerging Writer fellows are granted professional experience in arts administration, teaching creative writing, and other opportunities; a $50,000 stipend; and strong literary community support to allow for 12 glorious months of uninterrupted time to craft their works." Deadline: April 30, 2026. 

Fieldstone Review. Genre: Creative nonfiction/literature & book reviews, fiction, poetry, and reviews on theme: Wild Spaces. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge. Genre: Poem inspired by artwork. (See site for image.) Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

Rattlecast Prompt Poem of the Month. Genre: Poetry based on prompts. (See website) Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Preservation Foundation Essay Contest for Unpublished Writers. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $250 in any single year. Genre: Animal Nonfiction. “Stories should be factual and true accounts of an encounter or encounters by the author with a wild animal or animals. These include, but are not limited to, birds, fish, butterflies, snails, lions, bears, turtles, wombats, etc., as long as it is not a pet.” Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

EACWP Flash Fiction Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to any participant living in Europe (including countries culturally linked to Europe such as Russia, Turkey, and Israel). Eleven different European languages will be leading this year’s competition: Arabic, Catalan, Czech, Dutch, English,, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. Genre: Flash fiction. Length: 100 words. Prize: €600 top prize. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

E-waste Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2026.

Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Black writers of African descent who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press. Authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply. Genre: Unpublished, original collections of poems written in English. Prize: $10,000, publication by Graywolf Press in fall 2025, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Biennial prize.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

#GWstorieseverywhere. Genre: Micro fiction. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. See themes. Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: April 30, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Colorado Springs: Jasen Miller: Flickr This April there are more than two dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format.These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, how to market your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.

I have included conferences with deadlines that have already passed on this list to give you advance notice. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!

For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences.

Be sure to check out Boyds Mills list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year. 

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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted. 

Norwescon. April 2 - 5, 2026: Sea Tac, WA. Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions in the United States.

The Creativity Workshop in New York. April 3 - 6, 2026: New York, New York. "The Creativity Workshops take away the fear of writing and open the way to new ideas. They are especially helpful for writers in fiction, poetry, memoir, theatre and film to get over writing blocks. In our Creativity Workshop Retreats you will generate both new work and ideas for the work you are in the midst of creating. We use many different techniques to help you find your way through the novel, essay, poem, memoir, or script you are writing or hope to write. In The Creativity Workshop you will be doing free writing, writing from guided visualizations, collaborative writing, journaling and memoir work and even some rudimentary drawing, collage and photography." 

Writing the Speculative Diaspora. April 8, 2026: Online. Every story is a diaspora story, and every diaspora story is speculative in nature. In this craft talk and workshop, open to all genres, students will gain an appreciation for diaspora stories and be able to spot and understand the presence of the speculative within them. We’ll discuss perspectives on diaspora narratives from authors such as Ocean Vuong, Viet Thanh Nguyen, R.F. Kuang, and Ling Ma; diaspora stories’ role in challenging western storytelling conventions; and how diaspora pushes against genre, concepts of truth and authenticity, and the confines of individuality and representation. We’ll then discover the speculative diaspora form and its potential, and explore the speculative diaspora through writing prompts such as truth/lie (“speculative truth”)/dream activities and a collective storytelling exercise.

The 2026 Sacramento Writing Workshop. April 10, 2026: Sacramento, CA. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more."

Buffalo Writing Workshop. April 10, 2026: Buffalo, NY. This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Buffalo. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Ohio Writing Workshop. April 10 - 11, 2026: Online. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). Will be held virtually.

The 2026 Minnesota Writing Workshop. April 11, 2026: St. Paul, MN. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference. April 11, 2026: Hamilton, NJ. "In addition to our wonderful and diverse keynote speakers, we have a number of editors and agents who will be attending to take pitches as well as some awesome writer and reader workshops!"

The 2026 Minnesota Writing Workshop. April 11, 2026: St. Paul, MN. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."

Rally of Writers Conference. April 11, 2026: Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more. 

San Antonio Book Festival. April 11, 2026: San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages. 

The 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco. April 11, 2026: San Francisco, CA. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more."

Writing a Picture Book 101: Get to the Heart of Your Story. April 14 - 16, 2026: Online. Start your picture book writing journey here and explore formats and structures for turning your spark of an idea into a wonderful story!

Novels in Verse: Creating an Image System. April 15 - May 6, 2026: Online. Learn how to use an image system to give your verse novel clarity, cohesion, and emotional resonance through purposeful, recurring imagery.

Chicago-North RWA's Spring Fling. April 16 - 18, 2026: Oak Brook, IL. Three day Biennial writer's conference geared towards both aspiring and established writers of any genre but focused on romantic fiction. Bookseller/Blogger/Librarian event, Masterclass in Craft and Marketing, Closing Gala. Biennial conference. 

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 16 - 19, 2026: Bellingham, Wash. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more. 

Embrace Your Inner Intuitive Writer to Fuel Your Writing. April 16 - 23: Online. Whether you outline carefully, or write by feel, this workshop invites you to explore ways to embrace and cultivate your writing intuition.


Florida Writing Workshop. April 17 (Orlando) and 18 (Tampa), 2026. Two separate full-day “How to Get Published” writing events in Florida. These writing events are a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the events."

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference. April 17 - 19, 2026: Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The three-day conference is full of topical, in-depth workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, opportunities for one-on-one time with agents and editors, the chance to read your work aloud for constructive critique, plus time to socialize with fellow writers. Will be held in person.

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 17 - 19, 2026: Round Top, Texas. Poetry at Round Top is an annual festival presenting the nation’s most exciting and prominent poets over three days of readings,  workshops, and conversations on craft. Located on the gorgeous Festival Hill campus between Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Poetry at Round Top is an immersive experience like no other poetry gathering.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 18, 2026: Asheville, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence Program supports writers from all over the world for residencies of two to four weeks. The cottage, all meals, and the entire residency experience at Hedgebrook is free to selected writers. Travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for. Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in their own handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.  Writers must be women, which is inclusive of transgender women and female-identified individuals. Because gender inequity still occurs in all spaces including literary ones, it is part of our explicit mission to support and promote women’s voices. Deadline: Applications open February 17 - April 17 for 2027 Residency.

Poetic Flow Studio: Generative Writing Sessions for Poets. April 20, 2026: Online. Dive into exercises and prompts that will help you develop creative flow and explore the power of poetry to connect with your roots, ignite new ideas, and transform your writing.

ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) Writers Conference. April 20 -  22, 2026: Online. The ASJA Virtual conference will have three tracks: Journalism, Books and Content writing with 12 50-minute sessions per track. There will be, three keynotes (one per day) as well as networking and social experiences. Sessions will run from 11:00 am to 6 or 7 pm EST. Attendees who cannot attend live will be able to watch recordings for a limited time. Our signature event, Client Connections will be held April 23 and 24.ASJA will once again offer scholarships to cover conference registration.​​​​​​​"

Las Vegas Writer’s Conference April 23 – 25, 2026: Las Vegas, Nevada. Join writing professionals, agents publishers and marketing experts for a weekend of workshops and enlightening discussions about the publishing industry. A chance to pitch your manuscript and ideas to agents. 

Nebraska Writers Guild Annual Conference and Writing Retreat. April 23 - 25, 2026: Omaha, NE. Workshops, pitch sessions with an agent and writing sessions followed by evening keynote speakers.

Kentucky Writing Workshop, April 24, 2026: Louisville, KY. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

Malice Domestic. April 24 - 26, 2026: Bethesda, MD. Malice Domestic™ is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan DC area that celebrates the traditional mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely identified as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore, or violence. 

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry and Writers Retreat. April 24 - 26, 2026. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

Tennessee Writing Workshop. April 25, 2026: Nashville, TN. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. 

Philadelphia Writing Workshop. April 25, 2026: Philadelphia, PA.  This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

Annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. April 29 - May 2, 2026 at various locations in New York City and Los Angeles. With more than 80 writers from 30 countries, the 2026 festival will celebrate great writing and the power of storytelling against the current headwinds of attacks by those who seek to censor and silence. This gathering of writers from every part of the globe is a potent reminder—in fact, an antidote in an era of censorship—that books drive culture and identity, while empowering and transforming our lives. The PEN World Voices Festival was founded by Salman Rushdie, Michael Roberts, and Esther Allen.

Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers. April 30 - June 25, 2026: Online. A transformative opportunity to have your entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program is for any writer of a middle grade or young adult novel. 

EVENTS WITH APPLICATION DEADLINES IN APRIL

Odyssey Writing Workshop. August 10, 2026 (12 weeks): Online. Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Will be held online. Application deadline April 10.

The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA”. June 10 - 16, 2026: Boothbay Harbor, Maine. "The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA” is a unique, hybrid, comprehensive writing program. Our programming includes our TWH two-editor pre-conference Team Reading and our conference, to be held in person, June 4-10, 2025. We have even built in a free day so that attendees can enjoy the surrounds. Space is extremely limited. From our virtual pre-reading process through to conference, TWH takes writers and their writing to the next level. It's an extraordinary opportunity." Deadline to apply to TWH is April 6, 2026.

Olivia Emerick Here six new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
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You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Olivia Emerick of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

A Boston College graduate with a background in English and Classics, Olivia Emerick has always had her nose in a book. With her experience in the literary and theatrical spaces, she values collaboration, communication, and human stories. She is passionate about advancing authors' careers while respecting their artistic visions. Outside work, she enjoys writing poetry and attending local theatre productions.

What she is seeking: Under the umbrella of commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences, she is looking for manuscripts in the romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, and thriller genres.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Kelsey Evans of Rosecliff Literary

Kelsey Evans is a publishing professional with a background in communications, marketing, and editing.

After a decade helming marketing strategy and content development for agencies with major clients like AAA, Dannon, and Target, she transitioned into publishing.

She began as an editor, helping writers shape their work through developmental feedback, query critiques, and revision guidance.

Later, she moved into agenting, interning with Triada US and Creative Media Agency (CMA), where she gained hands-on experience in manuscript evaluation, submissions, and client development.


What she is seeking: YA and Adult fiction, all genres and nonfiction.

Fiction: Action/Adventure, BIPOC Literature, Crime, Fantasy, Folklore, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Mystery, Neo-Western, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romcom, Science Fiction, Speculative, Thriller, Upmarket Speculative, Young Adult

Non-Fiction: Cookbooks, Cultural criticism, Current Events, Feminism and women's issues, History, Journalism, Science, Sports 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Arizona Bell of Rosecliff Literary

Arizona Bell is an author, bestselling ghostwriter, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, popular podcaster, sought-after conference speaker.

What she is seeking: She’s seeking daring nonfiction that pushes boundaries and changes conversations.

Arizona’s list centers on voice-driven narrative and creative nonfiction, big-idea books, high-stakes journalism with receipts, fresh slants on culture and creativity, and meaningful explorations of spirituality, religion, or philosophy. And yes—she’s also a sucker for anything astrology!

At the core, she’s hunting for writing that tackles resilience, belief, and the human spirit under pressure, and does so with literary pizazz.

Whether it’s a survival memoir that doubles as cultural critique, a narrative that blows open an underground world hiding in plain sight, or a political exposé that keeps you turning pages like a thriller—she wants true stories that refuse to look away.  

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Mr. René Kooiker of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

René J. Kooiker joined DG&B as Digital Coordinator and Junior Literary Agent in 2026, following stints in book-to-screen scouting, magazine editing, and academia. He consulted on new fiction for major book-to-screen clients in Hollywood and was Assistant Editor at The Yale Review. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University and a B.A. in French and English from Amherst College. Having grown up in the Netherlands, he also lived and studied abroad in Avignon and Paris, France.

What he is seeking: René is actively building his list, balancing fiction with non-fiction. In fiction, he’s drawn to high-concept or speculative upmarket fiction, literary debuts, friend groups and family sagas, grounded love stories and romcoms, psychological thrillers, crime or noir, and elevated horror. Generally, he loves reading fiction that has potential to be adapted for the screen. For non-fiction, he will consider previously untold or marginalized histories, research-driven narrative, incisive or funny essay collections, and smart cultural criticism for a broad audience. 

How to submit: Use his querymanager form HERE.
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Ms. Marrissa Childs of Ladderbird Literary Agency

An Arkansas Native, Marrissa has come a long way in her journey into publishing. She doubled majored in professional writing and creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Since she has obtained her MFA in Creative writing at Chapman University in California, she has dedicated herself, wholeheartedly, to publishing through leading her literary innovation team, JourneyWriter, in their path to healing the literacy crisis. She is also a member of the New York non-profit, Inkluded Inc.- assisting them with introducing young BiPOCs publishing professionals to the industry. She has also had the opportunity to work with Publisher’s Weekly as a writer and Booklife extern. She is now entering her path to agenting with Ladderbird with a clean slate, but experienced mind.

What she is seeking: I am currently interested in accepting Adult, New Adult fiction, and Craft/Homemaking. I do not accept Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, legal, mystery/spy thrillers, paranormal, religious, hyper-sexual, or dark romance. I am looking for works that depict BIPOC voices in our full spectrum- from the most mundane to the most spectacular lifestyles, from the bittersweet to the joyous.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.
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Shania Soler of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Shania has been an avid book lover from the moment she picked up Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy. Ever since then, her TBR pile has steadily grown. Currently working on an MA at the University of Leeds, she has received her Bachelor’s of Arts in English from the University of Maine and plans to pursue a PhD in Japan, where she spent 7 months during her undergrad studying the language and culture. When not reading, she can be found lounging with her cat, Marlow, or studying for her degree.

What she is seeking: Looking for novels in the fantasy genre or romance (YA and NA).

For fantasy, I'm interested in more than just the romance that two characters have. Give me intricate political and/or magic systems and complex character backstories.For contemporary romance, I'm looking for things that take me off the beaten path. Think Butcher & Blackbird or Haunting Adeline.Horror (Young Adult, New Adult)Mythology (Young Adult, New Adult)Magical Realism (Young Adult, New Adult)​ How to submit: Use her form HERE.

Wikimedia This March there are nearly eight dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

​I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.
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Toronto Journal. Genre: Short stories from anywhere in the world. No word limit. "We will also consider non-fiction pieces that are either set locally or explore some local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding)." Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. Genre: Sword and sorcery fantasy. Payment: $25 - $100 for stories, depending on length, and $12.50 - $25 for poems, upon publication. Deadline: Opens in March.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Prose. They prefer stories under 3,000 words but will consider up to 5,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens March 1, 2026. Free submissions open on the 1st of each month and close when cap is reached.

Liars’ League. Genre: Short stories. Length: 800-2,000 words. See theme. Payment: £20, reading of your story by a professional actor, as well as podcast, video and online publication of your work. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Teach. Write. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, poetry, CNF. "I prefer writing that is either written by composition teachers and writing students OR about teaching and learning." Payment: $15. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Singapore Unbound: Suspect. Restrictions: Open to authors who identify as Asian. Genre: Fiction and essays (maximum 6,500 words) or poetry (maximum 10 pages). See theme. Payment: $100. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Altar. Genre: Poetry, prose, CNF, reviews, recipes, rituals. Payment: $5. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Orion's Belt. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: Opens March 1, 2026.


Transcendent Fiction Publishing: Verify You’re Not Human Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction. "The main character of the story must be therian (or similar forms of identity, such as otherkin) – this can be a “coming out” story as the character recognises themselves as therian, or can be an established identity." Payment: AUD 1c/word. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens March 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Thema. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: While the Snowstorm Was Raging. Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cat Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Book XI. Genre: Personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. See theme. Payment: $200 for prose; $50 for poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached so submit early.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dog Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Affirm Press Restrictions: They only accept Australians. Genre: Affirm Press accepts all literary and genre fiction. For non-fiction, they are interested in most subjects that have an author or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published. They only accept submissions on the first Monday of each month and twice yearly on their children’s & teen list. Read their submission guidelines here. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Mascara Literary Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: $200. Poems $100. First Nations & CaLD critics $500. Only pays Canadians. Deadline: March 2, 2026.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: March 2, 2026. Opens March 1.

Island Magazine. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $600. Deadline: March 2, 2026.


Short Fiction. Restrictions: Submissions are restricted to people who are not from the USA. Genre: Short fiction. Payment: 2p (£0.02) per word. Deadline: March 3, 2026 or until cap is reached.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: March 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

MIDLVLMAG. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, CNF. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: March 7, 2026.

Cosmic Horror Monthly. Genre: Weird and cosmic fiction under 5,000 words. See theme. Payment: 3 cents (USD) per word. Deadline: March 7, 2026.

University of Queensland Press Genre: Adult non-fiction submissions that address environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. We are looking for potential new books that engage with current science, with themes of hope, resilience and innovation. Full or partial manuscripts (minimum 15,000 words) will be accepted. They do not publish books in the following categories: Genre fiction (including romance, science fiction, fantasy, and erotica), travel guides, cookbooks, self-help books, plays/scripts/music scores, textbooks, unrevised theses or conference proceedings. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 7, 2026. Open the first seven days of every month.

Black Inc. Restrictions: Accepts proposals from Australian writers only. Genre: General non-fiction, including history, current affairs, biography and memoir, and for fiction. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 7, 2026.


Pill Bottle Press. Genre: Poetry, prose, art, and photography. Payment: $1. Deadline: March 7, 2026.


Bennington Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, film writing, and cross-genre work. Payment: $120 for prose of six pages and under, $250 for prose of over six pages, and $25 per poem, in addition to two copies of the issue the piece is published in. Deadline: March 9, 2026.

Mslexia. Genre: Fiction, poetry. See theme. Length: Stories up to 2,200 words.  Payment: £25. Deadline: March 9, 2026.

+Horror Library+ Volume 10. Genre: Horror. Payment: Two (2) cents per word. Deadline: March 9, 2026.
 
pride microchapbook series. Restrictions: Open to queer authors. Genre: Any genre, any style, any subject. The only restriction is a hard page count cap of 10 pages of content. Payment: "Tips" Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Samjoko Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, play, screenplay. Payment: $20. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Raconteur Press: Crash Landings. Genre: Short stories."Crashed Landings" is an homage to that mysterious meteor strike in the small-town woods. Our teenage adventurers see the flash of light in the sky, immediately get on their walkie talkies to check if their friends have seen it, and decide to escape out of bedroom windows to investigate... Length: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 13, 2026.

The Feminist Press is an educational nonprofit organization founded to advance women's rights and amplify feminist perspectives. FP publishes classic and new writing from around the world, creates cutting-edge programs, and elevates silenced and marginalized voices in order to support personal transformation and social justice for all people. Genre: All printable media, including academic articles, memoir, manifesto, literary fiction or other prose, poetry, and visual art. See theme. Deadline: March 13, 2026.
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Agita. Genre: Horror or dark science fiction flash stories. See theme. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: March 14, 2026.

Metatron Press. Genre: Digital literature, including e-chapbooks, long poems, and long-form auto/non/-fiction, mixed/anti-genre, translation, and other experimental works. Length: 10-40 pages of work. Payment: $150 CAD. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Profiles. Restrictions: Does not accept submissions of original writing from residents of the US or Canada (with the exception of Irish citizens). However, translators living in these countries are welcome to submit. Genre: Character-driven fiction and non-fiction — both original works and works in translation — between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Payment: €200. The cover artist will receive a flat fee of €500. Deadline: March 15, 2026.


Philly Poetry Chapbook Review. Genre: Poetry and reviews of chapbooks coming soon or published in the past three years. Payment: $10. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Plott Hound. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry starring animals. Payment: 8 cents/word for original fiction. $20 - $100 for reprints. $50 for poetry. $300 for art. Deadline: March 15, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Quarter Press: Quarter(ly). Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. See themes. Payment: $5. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Meadowlark Books. Genre: Full-length memoir, poetry, short stories, novels. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 15, 2026.


University of Wisconsin Press. Genre: Novels, short story collections, and works in translation. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Beaches and Trails: A Psychological Thriller Anthology. Restrictions: International, but priority given to Canadians. Genre: Psychological thriller stories that explore unreliable narrators, emotional unravelling, and mental tension. Payment: 0.01$ CAD per word. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Penumbric. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art, animation, and music. Payment: $10. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Our Lake in Winter Anthology. Genre: Creative non-fiction writing about visiting Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline in winter. Payment: "Modest." Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Restrictions: March 15 - 21 is reserved for writers of color. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Caribbean Poetry Book Series: Calabash. Restrictions: Open to Caribbean poets. Genre: Full-length poetry collection. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Pathways to Imagination - Whispers Made Flesh. Genre: Dark Fantasy, Folk Horror, Cosmic Unease, the Surreal, Gothic, Magical Realism, or Mythic Fiction short stories. 7000 words max. See theme. Payment: $25 - $45, depending on length. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

(s)crawl magazine. Genre: Horror fiction and poetry. Payment: $20 CAD. Deadline: March 15, 2026.


Barrelhouse. Genre: Fiction (up to 5000 words), poetry, essays on theme: The Aftermath. Payment: $50. Deadline: March 16, 2026. or until filled.

Island Magazine. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents only. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $175. Deadline: March 16, 2026.


Agita. Genre: Horror or dark science fiction flash stories. See theme. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: March 21, 2026. Extended period for LGBTQIA+, disabled, or BIPOC authors.

Virginia Woolf Anthology. Genre: Literary criticism and autotheory. "We are interested both in writing that engages playfully and seriously with Woolf’s fiction and nonfiction." Length: 7000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: March 29, 2026.

Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: $50.00 USD for featured authors, or $20.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $10.00 USD for poems. Deadline: March 30, 2026. Closes when full.


foofaraw anthology. Genre: Speculative and literary fiction. See theme. Payment: Fiction: $0.01 per word. Poetry: $5.00. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Best New England Crime Stories. Restrictions: Open to all writers who currently live in the six New England states. Genre: Crime stories, mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, historical, and horror. Payment: $25. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $75 for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews web issues. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.


Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Submit early to avoid submission fee.


Palimpsest Press. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Quantum Quill Anthology. Genre: Sci-fi. "All sci-fi subgenres: hard SF, cyberpunk, space opera, biopunk, alien contact, time travel, dystopian, post-human." Length: Up to 10,000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Adroit Journal. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art. Payment: $50 - $100. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Critical Blast Publishing: Fantastic Voyages Anthology. Genre: Portal stories, with characters taken unexpectedly and unexplainedly from the world they know into a world they don't. Length: 2,500 to 10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Rage, Well Spoken. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Creative non-fiction by women that confront, interrogate, or give voice to their rage. Payment: 4 cents/word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

DreamPunk Press: TEETH Anthology. Genre: Eerie, or creepy, or Gothic fiction. See theme. Payment: $200. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Hearth Stories. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We publish fiction and poetry that explore connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world. The stories often fall into a fantasy, science-fiction, or magical realism sort of “slice of life.” Payment: 1¢ per word for accepted stories (with a minimum of $20 regardless of length. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Black Hare Press. Genre: Dark stories, in any genre. Length: 5,000 - 50,000 words. Payment: $20 - $50, depending on length. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Engen Books. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Short fiction that fits under the suburban gothic genre. Length: 7,500 words max. Payment: $0.01 CAD per word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Air and Nothingness Press. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We are seeking HARD SF stories for an anthology to be titled Tea or Coffee, Stars, and Gravity which will collect stories with these 3 title elements key to the narrative." Payment: $0.08/word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.
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McClelland & Stewart is a division of Penguin Random House. Restrictions: Open to Black, Indigenous, and racialized writers, as well as those of other traditionally underrepresented communities. Genre: Full-length literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Payment: Advance and royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

SAPP. Restrictions: Prioritizes work by Canadians. Genre: Art, photography, and writing on themes. See theme. Payment: Cover art: $100, $30 per accepted piece (poem, art, photography, short form, or hybrid). Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The Marrow. Genre: Poetry written in, or translated into, English, from Australian and international poets. Payment: AU$40. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Married/couples stories. Genre: Nonfiction. Married? In a long-term relationship? We know you have stories! Share the ups and downs, the funniest moments, the most romantic moments, and all your tips and advice for other couples. We want to know how you got together and how you stay together! Payment: $200. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Midnight and Indigo. Genre: Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, and Personal Essays written by Black women writers. See theme. Payment:  $0.07 per word for Short Stories and $150 for personal essays. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings. Genre: Nonfiction. One of the most important keys to contentment and happiness is the ability to count your blessings. Even during the toughest times, if we can find gratitude and count our blessings we feel better. Each day holds something to be thankful for and it could be just as simple as having the sun shine or having food on the table. Payment: $200. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for true stories about random acts of kindness that have happened to you or stories about a kindness that you performed for someone else. Stories can be serious or funny but they should definitely inspire our readers to look for ways in which they can perform kind acts. Payment: $200. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Positive Thinking. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for stories of optimism, faith and strength to encourage our readers to use positive thinking. What was the situation that inspired you to use positive rather than negative thinking? How did you change your attitude -- from negative to positive? How did that turn your life around? These inspirational stories will remind readers to use positive thinking, focus on hope and show them that each day holds something to be grateful for. Payment: $200. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The London Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.


Aurealis. Restrictions: Australian and New Zealand writers. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy or horror short stories between 2000 and 8000 words. Payment: A$20 and A$60 per 1000 words. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The Hudson Review. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: Pirate Cove. Genre: Stories featuring pirates. All genres accepted.  Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

MetaStellar. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy or horror. 1000 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Cursed Morsels Zine. Genre: Surveillance horror/Weird fiction that's at least a little bit about ICE/fascist occupation. "Given that we’re a Minneapolis-based press, it would be wild NOT to include at least one story in this vein." Payment: 10 cents/words. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ stories, 12,000 words minimum. See themes. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Whisper House Press: Doom Scroll Anthology. Genre: Social media horror fiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

parABnormal. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry on the paranormal. "For us, this includes ghosts, spectres, haunts, various whisperers, and so forth. It also includes shapeshifters and creatures from various folklores." Payment: $25.00 for original stories, $7.00 for reprints. $10.00 for each poem. $20.00 for original articles, $6.00 for reprints. $7.00 for reviews and interviews. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: March 31, 2026. In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, there are no submission fees for writers living with both visible and invisible disabilities for the month of March.

Flash Point Science Fiction. Genre: Science Fiction 100 to 1,000 words in length. Payment: $0.02 per word. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Inkd Publishing: Behind the Shadows IV. Genre: Horror. Payment: Minimum $10. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Witches Save the World: Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right. Genre: Stories of witches as marginalized folk who rise up and burn it all down. Maximum Word Count: 8000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

SpecPoVerse. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: $5. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Harbor Editions: Marginalia series. Restrictions: Open to traditionally marginalized writers—those who belong to communities that have been historically excluded from mainstream society due to systemic oppression or unequal power dynamics. Genre: Chapbooks. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Short Story Substack accepts one short story every month. Genre: All genres. Word count 6,000 - 10,000 words. Payment: Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Reprints accepted.

Poetry Substack accepts one poem every month. Genre: Poem. Must have a rhyme scheme or a rhythm scheme. No blank verse or free verse. Payment: Base Pay of $10 for the chosen poem + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Reprints accepted.

AND A FEW MORE...

West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 8 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: April 2, 2026. Opens April 1.


The Paris Review. Genres: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.


Utopia Science Fiction. Genre: Utopian science fiction. See theme. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $30 for nonfiction, $25 for poetry. Deadline: April 1, 2026.


The Cafe Irreal. Genre: Magical realism, Length: Up to 2000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
Crimson Quill. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: $35. Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026.

Ninth Letter Web Edition. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. See theme. Payment: $25 per poem and $75 for prose. Deadline: April 1, 2026.

The Ex-Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2026.