Erica Verrillo's Blog

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.

Wikimedia This March there are more than six 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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Lewis Galantiere Award. Restrictions: Open to US citizens or permanent residents. Genre: Translation of book-length literary work from any language, except German, into English. Entries must have been published in the US in the past two years. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Republic of Letters. Genre: Short story. Prize: $500. Deadline: March 1, 2026.


Mississippi Artists Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to permanent residents of Mississippi. Genre: Fiction and poetry. (Plus many art forms) Prize: $5,000. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Flare. Genre: Flash fiction, micro fiction, poetry, short story, CNF, experimental. Theme: Disability as a Strength. Prize: 1st Place Winner: $125 + online publication. 2nd Place Winner: $75 + online publication. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

The Kelpies Prize (Scotland). Restrictions: Open to Scottish authors. Genre: Children’s fiction and nonfiction, picture books. Prize: £1,000, a publishing contract, a writing retreat, and a year of mentoring by an editorial team. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Future Worlds Prize. Restrictions: Open to unpublished SFF writers of color. Genre: Speculative fiction. Submit a 5,000-10,000 word extract of either a short story or the opening chapters of a novel. Prize: £4,500 top prize. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Indigenous Writers. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Steve Miller BSFS Annual Poetry Contest. Sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Genre: Speculative poetry. Prize: 1st prize: $100; 2nd prize: $75; 3rd prize: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

"It's All Write!" Teen Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Grades 6-12. Michigan residents only. Genre: Short story, and flash fiction, unpublished. Prize: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Voice.club. Genre: Flash fiction, 350 words max. Prize: $25 Amazon gift card. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Note: You have to join in order to enter. See themes.

Grant MacEwan Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate creative writing program of study or mentorship. (Max age 25) Alberta residents only. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Drama, or Graphic Novel. Prize: $7000 (CAN). Deadline: March 2, 2026.

Alabama Arts Council Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to any author who has lived in Alabama for at least 2 years. Genre: Fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction of 10-20 pages. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: March 2, 2026.

North Carolina State Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to North Carolina residents (including out-of-state and international students who are enrolled in North Carolina universities) with no published books. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: March 2, 2026.

Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. Restrictions: Open to authors who either are citizens or permanent residents of Western Australia. Genre: Book published during the preceding calendar year in a variety of genres. Prize: Up to A$60,000. Deadline: March 6, 2026. 

David Nobbs Memorial Trust New Comedy Writing Competition. Restrictions: Entrants must have at least one credited broadcast comedy writing credit and live in the UK. Genre: Comedy scripts for radio or TV. Prize: £1,000 top prize. Deadline: March 6, 2026. 

On The Premises. Hyphenated Words: Words that are normally hyphenated, but generally considered one word, are considered one word for this contest. (Examples: “Twenty-three”, “Jack-o-lantern”, and “Father-in-law” are each one word.) However, stringing a bunch of words together with hyphens for artistic effect will result in each connected word being counted separately. (Example: “It was a get-out-of-my-way day.” That hyphenated phrase counts as five words.) Length: The story needs to be 25 to 50 words long. Prize: $35 for first place, $25 for second, $15 for third. Deadline: March 6, 2026.

Tempest Prize. Restrictions: Open to  LGBTQ+ writers based in the North of England. Genre: Poetry, fiction and narrative non-fiction. Prize: £1000, access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network and mentoring from Andrew McMillan. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Northern Promise TLC Awards. Restrictions: Open to people who may have faced barriers to seeing their work progress for financial reasons or issues connected to disability, ethnicity and/or sexuality. living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Full-length work of fiction, poetry, narrative non-fiction, or children's book in progress. Prize: In-depth editorial report on their work in progress. In addition to the Free Read, writers will receive £500 and access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

The Finchale Award for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to writers based in the North of England. Genre: Short story of up to 1500 words. Prize: £1000 and access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Sid Chaplin Award. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England who identify as originating from a working-class background. Genre: Memoir, novel, young-adult novel, short-story collection or work of literary essays in progress. Prize: £2000; a manuscript appraisal from The Literary Consultancy; advisory sessions from the writer Michael Chaplin; an introduction to the North Agency; and access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award. Restrictions: Open to students and graduates from any discipline who are: final-year undergraduates; current postgraduate students; or alumni who have graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Northumbria University within the last ten years. Genre: Poetry, fiction and narrative non-fiction. Prize: £2000. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Arvon Award. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Full-length work of fiction, poetry or narrative non-fiction work in progress. Prize: Arvon course. Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each one selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: March 13, 2026.

The Waterman Fund Essay Contest. Restrictions: Writers who have not published a book-length work of fiction or narrative nonfiction on topics of wilderness, wildness, or the ethics and ecology of environmental issues are eligible. Genre: Personal, scientific, adventure, or memoir essays between 2000 and 3000 words. "The  Waterman Fund seeks new voices on the role and place of wilderness in today’s world." Prizes: The winning essayist will be awarded $3000 and publication in Appalachia Journal. The Honorable Mention essay will receive $1000. Deadline: March 15, 2026. 

City of Literature Paul Engle Prize. Genre: This prize does not recognize one work, nor is it solely limited to reflecting literary achievement. Rather, the award seeks to recognize a writer, like Engle, who makes an impact on his or her community and the world at large through efforts beyond the page. It also seeks to raise awareness about Engle and his works. Prize: $20,000. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to Kentucky poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Genre: Literary arts. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: March 15, 2026. 

Lynn DeCaro Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to Connecticut Student Poets in Grades 9-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words based on monthly theme. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: March 15, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

Jacklyn Potter Young Poets Competition. Restrictions: Open to high school students. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Two high school students will be selected and scheduled to read their original work for Café Muse with established poet, Michelle Garcia King, Prince William Poet Laureate, emerita, on Monday, June 1, 2026. They will receive an honorarium. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

NFSPS Annual Poetry Contests. Genre: Poetry. The National Federation of State Poetry Societies sponsors 50 contests for adults, 34 of which are free and open to the public. There are also 3 free poetry contests for children. Prize: Monetary awards vary. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Forward Prizes. Genre: Collections and single poems published in the UK and Ireland are eligible for the Prizes. Must be submitted by publisher. Prize: £1,000 to £10,000. Deadline: March 15, 2026.

Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award. Restrictions: This competition is open to African American poets only. Genre: Book-length poetry. Prize: $500 in cash and publication of the manuscript by Broadside Lotus Press. Deadline: March 15, 2026. (Note: Website deadline is 2025, but their Facebook announcement states that it is 2026)

The Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize. Genre: Book-length translations into English of either a) poetry or b) source texts from Zen Buddhism (which must not consist solely of commentaries). Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: March 16, 2026.

BBC National Short Story Award. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over, who have a history of publication in creative writing. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: £15,000 to the winner, £3,000 for the runner-up and £500 for three further shortlisted writers. Deadline: March 16, 2026.

The Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers resident in the UK and Ireland who have yet to secure a publishing deal. Genre: Proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words). Prize: £4,000 advance against publication with Fitzcarraldo Editions. Deadline: March 16, 2026.

American Literary Translators Association Italian Prose in Translation Award. Genre: Translation of a recent work of Italian prose (fiction or literary non-fiction). Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: March 16, 2026. 

ALTA First Translation Prize. Genre: Debut literary translation from any other language into English published in the previous calendar year. Prize: 3,000, with $2,000 bestowed to the translator and $1,000 to the editor. Deadline: March 16, 2026. 

Papatango New Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to anyone resident in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Genre: Script of roughly 25 – 50 pages. Prize: £8000. Their scripts will be produced as audio plays and tour the UK in free listening stations. The scripts will also be published digitally by Nick Hern Books. Deadline: March 16, 2026.

POPP Award: Poetry of the Plains and Prairies. Genre: Poetry of any style for their annual Poetry of the Plains and Prairies chapbook publication. "While the author(s) may call any place home, their submissions must deftly capture the feeling of, as well as the reality of, living on the plains and prairies. Authors may submit any number of poems equaling thirty to thirty-five pages in length, with no more than one poem per page. (Single poems may extend more than one page.) The selected poetry collection will be published as a limited edition chapbook, hand-printed with antique letterpress equipment." Prize: $200 and publication. Deadline: March 17, 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: March 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

DAG Prize. Restrictions: Open to US residents working on a second book. Genre: Second book of prose in the U.S., written in English. Prize: $20,000. Deadline: March 18, 2026.

Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition for High School Students. Restrictions: Open to students in Grades 7-12. Genre: Haiku. Prize: $50. Deadline: March 20, 2026.

Garden Party Chapbook Contest. Genre: Prose, poetry, and hybrid between 20 and 30 pages. Prize: Publication. Deadline: March 21, 2026.

Cymera-Scotland’s Futures Forum-Shoreline of Infinity Prize for Speculative Short Fiction.  Restrictions: Anyone living in Scotland or who identifies as Scottish by birth or inclination, aged 14 years or over. Genre: Speculative short stories. Prize: £150. Deadline: March 22, 2026.

Savage Mystery Writing Contest. Genre: Mystery short story. Prize: Winning stories are published in Toasted Cheese. If 50 or fewer eligible entries are received, first place receives a $35 Amazon gift card & second a $10 Amazon gift card. If 51 or more eligible entries are received, first place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second a $15 Amazon gift card & third a $10 Amazon gift card. Deadline: March 22, 2026. Opens March 20.

BBC Young Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to UK residents, including residents of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, aged 14 to 18 years old, Genre: Short fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: Publication and free workshop. Deadline: March 23, 2026.

Write the World Competitions. Restrictions: Young writers ages 13-19. Genre: Essay. See theme. Prize: Best Entry: $100; Runner up: $50. Deadline: March 23, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

White River Environmental Law Writing Competition is sponsored by the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law and Vermont Law School. Restrictions: Open to all students currently pursuing a degree (J.D. or LL.M) at an accredited law school in the United States. Submissions written as a class component, as a journal requirement, or otherwise for academic credit are acceptable. Genre: Original essays addressing any relevant topic in the fields of environmental law, natural resource law, energy law, environmental justice, land use law, animal law, and agricultural law. Prize: $1000 cash prize and an offer of publication with the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. Deadline: March 27, 2026.

Broadway Arts Festival: Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize. Genre: Short Story, 2,000 words max. Prize: Ages 14-18yrs: £100, Age 13 and under: £50. Deadline: March 27, 2026. Note: No fee for writers under 16 years of age. Biennial prize.

BlackInk Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to writers from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. Genre: Short story, maximum of 2,000 words. See theme. Prize: £500 top prize. Deadline: March 28, 2026..

Booker Prize. Genre: Long-form fiction written in English published in the UK or Ireland. Must be submitted by publisher. Prize: £50,000. Deadline: For books published between 1 May 2026 and 30 September 2026, all submission forms, physical copies, PDFs and additional assets must be submitted by Monday, March 30, 2026.

Victor Howes Prize in Poetry. Restrictions: Undergraduate English majors currently enrolled at a New England college (2-year or 4-year). Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

African Human Rights Sustainability Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to poets of African descent resident within the continent. Genre: Poetry. "We encourage works that reflect, but are not limited to: environmental justice, reciprocality with nature, sustainable living, climate action, personal connection with the environment, etc." Prize: $100. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Redbud Writing Project Coppice Prize. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers who identify as belonging to marginalized or under-represented groups (e.g. cultural identity, income level of your family, racial identity, gender identity, disability, or something else).Genre: Short story. Maximum length is 4000 words. Prize: $600 top prize. Deadline: March 31, 2026. 

Claire Harris Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who are writers from Black, Indigenous, or other racialized communities and who have not previously published a book-length collection of poetry. Genre: Poetry collection. Prize: $1,000, a contract for the publication of the collection under the icehouse poetry imprint in the following year (2025), and public readings in at least three Canadian cities. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Biennial prize.

Foley Poetry Contest. Genre: One unpublished poem on any topic. The poem should be 45 lines or fewer and not under consideration elsewhere. Prize: $1000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Parsec Ink. Genre: Speculative short story up to 3,500 words. See theme. Prize: First-place receives $200 and publication in the Confluence program book. Second-place receives $100 Third-place receives $50. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Sarah Mook Poetry Prize for Students. Restrictions: Students in grades K-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Ilse Schwepcke Prize for Women’s Travel Writing. Genre: Women’s travel writing in English. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Jack London Fiction Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to U.S. students in grades 6-8. Genre: Unpublished stories. Length: 2,000 words maximum. "You and your group of friends go camping in the wilderness for a weekend adventure when an unexpected disaster strikes and leaves you stranded. Then one morning you all awaken to a set of mysterious footprints surrounding your campsite. Who or what has left them? Are they friend or foe? How will your group work together to make it out of the wilderness alive.” Prize: $250, $150, and $100. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Jack L. Chalker Young Writers' Contests. Restrictions: Open to writers between 14 and 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year who reside in, or attend school in Maryland. Genre: Science fiction or fantasy, 2,500 words max. Prizes: $150, $100 and $75. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Restrictions: 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. Genres: Science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy up to 17,000 words. Prizes: Three cash prizes in each quarter: a First Prize of $1,000, a Second Prize of $750, and a Third Prize of $500, in US dollars. In addition, at the end of the year the winners will have their entries rejudged, and a Grand Prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. Genre: Poetry or literary prose. Translation of modern Arabic literature into English. Books must have been published and be available for purchase in the UK via a distributor or online. The source text must have been published in the original Arabic in or after 1967. Must be submitted by publisher. Prize: £3,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness. Restrictions: Open to a journalist for sustained reportage and/or commentary working in any medium. Genre: Reportage and/or commentary on homelessness. Entries will be encouraged from people who are experiencing or have experienced all forms of homelessness as well as journalists and others writing about or reporting on homelessness. Prize: £3,000 for the best political writing first published in the UK or Ireland between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Orwell Prize for Journalism. Restrictions: Open to a journalist for sustained reportage and/or commentary working in any medium. Genre: Published journalism. Prize: £3,000 for the best political writing first published in the UK or Ireland between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils. Restrictions: Entries must be able to demonstrate a link to the UK and/or Ireland by meeting one or more of the following criteria: a) The articles submitted were first published in the UK and/or Ireland; b) one or more of the authors was based in the UK and/or in Ireland at the time of publication; c) one or more of the authors is a UK or Irish citizen. Entries where only one author is a UK/Irish citizen or resident are eligible. Genre: Journalism. The winning entry should consist of a story that has enhanced the public understanding of social problems and public policy in the UK, and should strive to meet Orwell’s own ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’. Prize: £5,000 to the winner, and £2,500 each to two runners-up.  Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Eye Contact Award in Genre Flash Fiction. Genre: Fantasy flash fiction, 1000 words max. See theme. Prize: $250. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The F. Sean Hodge Prize for Poetry in Medicine. Restrictions: Open to current medical students, residents, or fellows or physicians who have completed post-graduate training. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $250. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Ann Petry Award. Restrictions: Open to Black authors. Genre: Previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages. Prize: $3000 and publication. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Archibald Lamp­man Award. Restrictions: Open to residents of Canada's National Capital region (Ottawa). Genre: Book of any genre published by a recognized publisher. Prize: $1500. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. Sponsored by Sisters in Crime. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Silvers Grants for Work in Progress. Restrictions: Open to Anglophone writers of any nationality. Genre: Long-form essays in the fields of literary criticism, arts writing, political analysis, and/or social reportage. Prize: Up to $10,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book. Prize: $1000 and six months of editorial support from A Public Space editors to prepare a piece of prose for publication in the magazine. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. Genre: A book-length work of imaginative fiction written by a single author published in the U.S. in English or in translation to English. Prize: $25,000. Deadline: March 31, 2026.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: March 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: March 31, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 

Moniker Partners This March 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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Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. March 4 - 7, 2026: Baltimore, Maryland. "The AWP Conference & Bookfair is an essential annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Each year more than 12,000 attendees join our community for four days of insightful dialogue, networking, and unrivaled access to the organizations and opinion-makers that matter most in contemporary literature. AWP’s is now the largest literary conference in North America." 

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Spring). March 4 - April 29, 2026: Online. This supportive program takes all creatives (nonfiction or fiction, picture books, novels, essays, and more) from goal-stating to finished drafts. Together, we’ll move through live sessions, writing prompts, studio dates, daily inspirations, check-ins, feedback, and more. 

First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Katherine Wela Bogen. March 6, 2026: Online. Katherine Wela Bogen is “first, a storyteller; second, a scholar-activist; and third, a joyful little freak.” Her debut novel, Queering Him, chronicles the scalding-hot story of millennial enemies turned lovers Avra and Kieran. Described by BookLife Reveiws as "equal parts erotic, tender, and devastating, Bogen’s bold and biting debut explores bisexuality and first love in all its messy, nuanced glory."

The Texas Writing Workshop. March 6 - 7, 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). 

The Indiana Writing Workshop. March 7, 2026: Indianapolis, IN. This is a full-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing conference. 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). 

The South Carolina Writing Workshop. March 7, 2026: Charleston, SC. This in-person 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 (125 total).

9th Annual Women In Publishing Summit. March 8-11, 2026: Online. The biggest online conference for women, and those who identify as women, in publishing. Our community and conference help aspiring and published authors and publishing professionals grow their businesses and expand their networks and skills. Both groups find the people they need to be—better together!

Get Away to Write - Florida. March 9 - 14, 2026: New Smyrna Beach, Florida. "Our retreats revolve around the belief that when writers leave behind the distractions of their busy lives to gather in an encouraging community, they are able to make important breakthroughs in their writing. Each workshop will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, feedback, motivation and inspiration. By spending the entire week in one workshop, you will venture deeper into your writing, making more progress than you thought possible. You may choose to spend the week working on your poetry or prose."

Futurescapes. March 12 - 15, 2026: Online. Workshop the first 3,500 words of your Novel; 7:1 Student-Faculty Ratio; Work with Top Agents & Authors in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror; Our Faculty have won Hugo, Nebula, Newbery & World Fantasy Awards; Apply Early - Seating is Capped and Competitive.

2026 Carolina Writing Workshops. March 13 (Charlotte) and March 14 (Raleigh), 2026. "The workshops are both 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."

Ossabaw Writer’s Retreat. March 13 - 18,  2026: Ossabaw Island, GA. Work with one of our critically acclaimed writers in a workshop limited to five qualified participants. Each day, participants will bring manuscripts of their work-in-progress to their assigned workshop group where they will read, discuss and receive feedback about their projects from fellow participants and the assigned group leader. Workshop manuscripts should be limited to 12 pages poetry/16-20 pages fiction or non-fiction. Application deadline: February 15.

Kansas City Writing Workshop. March 14, 2026: Kansas City. This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Plaza. 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. 

Bay to Ocean Writers Conference. March 14, 2026: Wye Mills, Maryland. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association. BTO features six tracks with thirty-one sessions to help writers of all levels develop their craft, edit, publish, and market their writing. The sessions, all 50-minutes in length, are carefully designed to help attendees generate solid writing, hone their craft, and ask pointed questions of published and award-winning presenters about the process.

Colrain Cold Read. March 15, 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.

Beall Poetry Festival. March 18 - 20, 2026: Waco, TX. Baylor University’s Beall Poetry Festival is a three-day celebration of contemporary poetry, with poetry readings, a panel discussion, and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry. The festival is supported by the John A. and DeLouise McClelland Beall Endowed Fund, established in 1994 by Mrs. Virginia B. Ball to honor her parents and to encourage the writing and appreciation of poetry.​

Algonkian Novel Retreat. March 18 - 27, 2026: Algonkian Park, Virginia. "In keeping with the spirit of this place and the goals of this retreat, you can be as goal-oriented or as hesitant in approach as you wish. You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, clear your head, have your work read by our writer mentors, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer. You discuss with us ahead of time via the Algonkian Writer Retreat Application the goals you wish to accomplish, and we'll work with you to make it happen. Do you desire a review of your short stories or flash fiction? A line edit? Do you wish to discuss the reality of the current fiction market, your novel project, plot and characters, or perhaps get feedback on the opening hook or a few sample chapters? Or would you simply like a relaxed and productive dialogue about your goals as a writer?" Registration is first come, first served.

Embodied Lines: A Poetry Workshop. March 18 - April 15, 2026: Online. Writing poetry is not about perfection. It’s about presence—learning to see again, listen again, to taste and feel, and trust the instincts that shape your inner voice. This inspiring workshop is designed to bring you back to your senses. Each week, you’ll slow down, tune in and awaken one sense at a time. Through guided exercises, generative prompts and thoughtful sharing, you’ll learn to write from the body, the breath and the moment in front of you. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome. Limited to 12 participants.

Virginia Festival of the Book. March 20 - 22, 2026: Charlottesville, VA. "The Festival is the largest community-based book event in the Mid-Atlantic region and has attracted audiences of more than 20,000 for each of the past thirteen years. We have presented a captivating list of authors, ranging from international bestsellers to topical specialists to debut authors." Book exhibits, talks by authors, readings, workshops on book promotion, finding an agent, poetry, publishing, agents roundtable - you name it, this conference has it. 

The 2026 Colorado Writing Workshop. March 21, 2026: Denver, CO. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Courtyard Denver Airport at Gateway Park. 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."

Precision and Power: Writing Flash Fiction. March 19 - April 16, 2026: Online. Flash fiction proves that the smallest stories can hold the greatest weight. In this generative workshop, we’ll explore how compression, image and rhythm can give short prose extraordinary depth and resonance. Each week, we’ll read and discuss short works by contemporary writers to examine how voice, structure and omission shape meaning. Through guided prompts and in-class exercises, we’ll experiment with form and tone, generating new drafts that surprise us. We’ll also discuss strategies for revising short work and preparing it for publication. Open to writers of all levels who want to sharpen their prose and discover how to make a few hundred words feel infinite. Limited to 12 participants.

Chesapeake Writing Day Workshop. March 21, 2026: Washington, DC. 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."

University of North Dakota Writers Conference. March 25 - 27, 2026: Grand Forks, North Dakota. Founded in 1970 and held every year since, the UND Writers Conference is a three day event featuring six to eight authors annually. Authors ranging from Gwendolyn Brooks and August Wilson to Tommy Orange and Colson Whitehead, the UND Writers Conference is committed to community outreach, engagement, and finding ways to increase audience access to literature. The conference is free, but workshop space is limited to twenty participants; registration is first come, first served. 

Annual National Undergraduate Literature Conference. March 26 - 28, 2026: Weber State University, Ogden, UT. "Each year, nearly 200 undergraduate writers and poets throughout North America, and sometimes beyond, come to Weber State University to present their work and learn from some of the most important writers in contemporary literature."

Tennessee Mountain Writers Annual Conference. March 26 - 28, 2026: Oak Ridge, TN. Writing Contests, Workshops, Networking, Manuscript Evaluations, Publishers, Book Signings, Bookstore, Vendors, And more!

WTP. March 26 - 29, 2026: NY. NY. "The goal of this conference, and all its companion editorial and development programs, is to set you on a realistic path not only to publication, but to becoming a career author. The Write to Pitch utilizes a time-tested methodology that works to get writers published. Pitching TV/Film pros, literary agents, and publishing house acquisition editors is a vital component (see the Schedule), of course, but when asked what specific elements make the event unique and better than other writer conferences, our response lists a number of game-changing factors, both major and minor." Limited to 65 participants, so apply early.

Some Trees: A Generative Multi-Genre Writing Workshop with Rob Schlegel. March 26 - May 14, 2026: Online. In this generative writing course you will write prose and poetry that emerges out of field observations, classroom discussion, and close readings of texts that explore ecology and the imagination, plants and consciousness, poetry and justice, gender and ash trees. The workshop is designed to help you become more aware of the choices you make as a writer.  Application window: February 1-15.

Alabama Writing Workshop. March 27, 2026: Birmingham, Alabama. "A one-day writing workshop full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We will also have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well."

The 2026 Connecticut Writing Workshop. March 27, 2026: New Haven, CT. This in-person 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 (125 total).

Power of Narrative. March 27- 28, 2026: Boston, MA. Over 30 journalists, directors, producers and editors lead three days of lively discussions geared to advance the knowledge of narrative storytellers. Approximately 500 persons attend. Early registration is encouraged. 

Moravian Story Summit. March 27 - 28, 2026: Bethlehem, PA. Everyone’s invited to this year’s FREE conference, including local community members and faculty and students from all fields of study! Theme: Crafting Stories in an Uncertain World. Across two days of readings, workshops, and conversations, the Story Summit invites writers and creatives of all kinds to explore how storytelling helps us make meaning, navigate change, and stay connected in challenging times.

WonderCon. March 27 - 29, 2026: Anaheim, CA. HUGE comic book convention.

Atlanta Writing Workshop. March 28, 2026: Atlanta, GA. "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." 

Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. March 28, 2026: Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference (ASPC) is dedicated to serving self-published authors and the independent publishing market. No matter whether you're curious about the self-publishing market or you want to learn how to grow your independent author business, our conference will help you launch your career forward.

The 2026 Boston Writing Workshop. March 28, 2026: Boston, MA. "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). This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s two days 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."


EVENTS WITH APPLICATION DEADLINES IN MARCH

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.

Sewanee Writers’ Conference. July 14 -  26, 2026: Sewanee, TN. Faculty will give readings and provide instruction and criticism through workshops and craft lectures, as well as meet individually with participants to discuss their manuscripts. The Conference will offer five fiction workshops, four poetry workshops, and a playwriting workshop supported by two professional actors. In addition, a substantial number of literary agents will attend. Application deadline March 1.

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.

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.

Sharmaine Lovegrove Here are eight new literary agents and a new agency actively seeking clients. New agents and agencies 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.")
​
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Sharmaine Lovegrove of International Creative Agency (UK)

Sharmaine Lovegrove is a literary agent and cultural activist based in Berlin, with two decades of experience across publishing, bookselling, strategic cultural consultancy, and media. She was formerly the Managing Director of Dialogue, a division of Hachette UK, where she championed underrepresented voices and published acclaimed and bestselling authors including Brit Bennett, Liv Little, Lisa Ko, Tina Knowles, Clint Smith, Irenosen Okojie, Zaina Arafat, Theresia Enzensberger, Okechukwu Nzelu, and Jeffrey Boakye.

What she is seeking: At ICA, Sharmaine is actively building a list of fiction and non-fiction with international ambition, seeking distinctive voices, emotional resonance, and stories that broaden how we see the world. She is looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction — novels and short story collections that are character-driven, emotionally rich, and often international in perspective. She is drawn to novels of love and relationships, whether familial, platonic, or romantic, that balance commercial reach with literary ambition. She is also seeking fiction that reimagines or disrupts dominant narratives, recasting history, myth, and perspective through fresh voices. In non-fiction, Sharmaine is interested in expert-led works on culture, politics, and society with narrative drive, as well as bold memoirs that move beyond the personal to spark wider cultural conversations.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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V Ruiz of D4EO Literary Agency

V. Ruiz is a Lesbian, Mexican-American agent, editor, and author, who aspires to make publishing more equitable by working as an advocate for their authors. With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, they consider themselves an editorial and career agent. V. wants to work with authors who are eager to work on multiple projects and who are open to editorial guidance and feedback. Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. While at RH, they also oversaw production, project schedules, contributed to design, and marketing. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process which in turn, helps their authors feel prepared with what to expect. V. is always eager to hear from voices who have been systemically underrepresented in publishing.

They have worked on over 25 titles as an editor. Aside from editing, they have previously ghostwritten nonfiction and fiction titles (over 15) in topics ranging from finance to small town romance. They also hold an MFA and BA in English and Creative Writing.

When V. isn’t writing or reading, they are studying astrology, playing video games, or trekking across the world to scream their heart out at a concert.

What they are seeking: I am primarily interested in fiction for adults and teens. I am also open to seeing nonfiction if it’s spiritual or esoteric in nature, a cookbook proposal, and/or very select memoir projects. I’m especially focused on fantasy, horror and thrillers, women’s fiction, and romance. I love championing BIPOC, Disabled, and LGBTQ+ voices.  
 
How to submit: Use their querytracker form HERE.

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Jillian Schelzi of HG Literary

Jillian graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a BS in Mathematics. After working for years in Finance at a consulting firm in Boston, Jillian realized her passion did not lie within excel sheets, and she set off to pursue a new dream. She moved to New York City to attend NYU and obtained her MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media. Her first role in publishing was as an intern for HG Literary in 2023. She also provided contract work for Gina Protano of GGP Publishing (whom she met by chance in Barnes & Noble). Upon graduating NYU, she returned full time to HG Literary as an assistant to Josh Getzler. 

She is thrilled to now be open to queries herself!

What she is seeking: Jillian loves a novel that is going to make her feel deeply, whether that is devastating sorrow or profound joy. She is primarily looking for adult fiction and is specifically interested in thrillers, particularly anything psychological (or anything with a shocking twist!) with page turning suspense. She is also drawn to rich historical fiction set against the backdrop of war. She also loves any book that includes representation of mental illness and is not afraid of novels that include darker, more challenging themes. She is open to novels that skew literary and upmarket, as well as anything Book Club.

For YA, Jillian is only considering YA romance at this time.

Jillian is not looking for middle grade, picture books, religious books, fantasy/romantasy, or horror at this time. 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Ms. Corissa Hollenbeck of Janklow and Nesbit Ltd (UK)

Corissa Hollenbeck grew up in Massachusetts and attended Phillips Academy Andover, King’s College London, the University of Freiburg, and the Columbia Publishing Course. She has worked at VICE, Marie Claire, and The Guardian. Corissa has worked with a broad range of prize-winning and bestselling authors whilst assisting literary agent and Managing Director Will Francis.

What she is seeking: Corissa is actively building her list and is looking to hear from researchers, journalists, historians, academics, nature and culture writers. She is interested in writers who can help readers see the world differently, or experts who are keen to find a mainstream audience for their ideas and writing.

How to submit: Follow agency guidelines HERE.

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Justina Ireland of Handspun Literary Agency


Justina joined Handspun in 2026 as a junior agent. She is also an award winning and New York Times bestselling author of numerous books as well as a writer of both comics and television. She is a United States Army Veteran and holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern (previously Armstrong Atlantic State University) and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

What she is seeking:She loves meticulous worldbuilding and complicated characters and is currently looking for well executed speculative fiction in most categories. She is drawn to Middle Grade and Young Adult that asks complicated questions without talking down to a reader and adult books that skew a little offbeat–Bitter Karella’s Moon Flow and Sarah Gailey’s Spread Me are recent examples.

Justina does not accept non-fiction, picture books, romantasy, contemporary, or previously self-published works.

Writers from historically marginalized backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.


How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE. (Scroll down)

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Ms. Claudia Cramer of Olswanger Literary

Claudia Cramer is a literary associate at Olswanger Literary. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English, she started her career in publishing by writing and editing for Coffee House Writers. She recently joined Olswanger Literary as a Literary Associate. 

What she is seeking: Claudia is actively seeking fiction and nonfiction projects with cross-genre appeal and strong audience potential. In fiction, she is interested in romance, historical fiction, family sagas, mystery, low fantasy, and book club reads. For nonfiction, she welcomes cookbooks, science, nature, history, and popular culture. She's especially enthusiastic about stories centered on Latino characters by Latino authors.

How to submit: Please submit your queries to my email at claudia@olswangerliterary.com

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Ms. Lindsay Watson of Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Lindsay Watson joined the agency in 2024. She manages the subsidiary rights department, and is currently building her list in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction. For Young Adult and Middle Grade, she is looking for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. In Adult Fiction, Lindsay is interested in paranormal romance and romantasy (including LGBTQ+), and psychological thrillers.

What she is seeking: Lindsay enjoys immersive world-building, good banter, spooky vibes, and shocking plot twists. As her focus is subsidiary rights, she frequently works with indie authors who are expanding their subrights and translation portfolio, and pursuing a hybrid publishing career.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.

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Madelyn Knecht of Storm Literary Agency

Madelyn is an editor, writer, and passionate reader from Texas whose hair changes color on a weekly basis. After falling in love with reading books that made her laugh and cry in equal measure, she started writing her first book at nine and never looked back. She serves as a RevPit board member, where she created the BIPOC Editor Mentorship, and a member of the EFA. When not reading or writing, you can find her playing cozy games like Rune Factory and Stardew Valley, crocheting, picking up a new hobby, or spending time with her two criminal Australian Shepherds and her lovable cat, Lucas.

What she is seeking: Age Groups: Adult, Young Adult, select Middle Grade. Genres: Fantasy (all subgenres), scifi, speculative, horror, mystery

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.


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Keystone Literary Agency

With 20 years of industry experience, as both an editor and an agent, Lindsay Guzzardo brings a hands-on, career-focused approach to representation. In 2025, she founded Keystone Literary Agency in the Keystone State. The word “keystone” is also a nod to the role an agent serves, fortifying the bridge between author and publisher, leading to our motto: “Keystone Literary Agency: Connecting Great Books with the World.”

Lindsay is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises well told and will consider adult fiction and narrative nonfiction with a clear, marketable, compelling hook, and strong voice. Her personal tastes align with the following:

Fiction:Retellings of classic stories (either modern retellings or classic stories told from a different character’s perspective)Beach readsFiction exploring family dynamics and relationships (particularly mothers/daughters and sisters)Amish romance/fictionWholesome, clean fiction and romanceCozy, charming, small-town romance/fictionRich, evocative historical fictionFiction featuring historical figuresEuropean-set fiction, any era and toneDark psychological and domestic suspenseFamily dramas that interweave past and present
Nonfiction proposals welcome from journalists and field experts in:HistoryBiographyScienceSportsNarrative nonfictionMemoirs (must have a strong platform)
Note: Lindsay accepts submissions the first week of the month. Please submit via Query Manager.

Pexels This February there are more than seven 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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Luminarts Creative Writing Fellowship. The Creative Writing Fellowship awards two $10,000 grant Fellowships for excellence in creative writing in the categories of prose and poetry, in fiction and nonfiction. Applicants submit a two-page written piece (either a stand-alone piece or an excerpt of a larger piece such as a novel or short story). Open to writers between the ages of 18 and 30 years old at the time of application; be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a degree program; and live within 150 miles of the Union League Club of Chicago. Genre: Poetry or prose, fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Frances “Frank” Rollin Fellowship. Genre: The fellowship is open to all biographers anywhere in the world who are writing in English, who are working on a biography of an African American figure (or figures), and who are at any stage in the writing of a book-length biography. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

World History Association Bentley Book Prize. Genre: World history book published in the immediately preceding calendar year. Prize: $500. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

$1000 for 1000 Words Creative Writing Contest is sponsored by the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation. Restrictions: Students enrolled in grades 6-12. Genre: Short fiction of exactly 1000 words. Prize: Two $1,000 scholarship prizes will be awarded, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Seven $100 cash prizes will also be awarded for winning entries, one per grade level. Deadline:  February 1, 2026. 

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. Genre: Most outstanding book for young people published in previous year. There is a $1000 award in each category: Pre-K - Grade 3; Grades 4 - 6; Grades 7 - 12. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Paterson Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry book published in the previous year. Prize: $2000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition. Restrictions: Writers must be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university, and be born in 1993 or later. Genre: Essay on "Disruption in Tech + Politics + Demography: What happens when they collide?" Length: 2,100 words. Prize: CHF20,000, split between three winners; they’ll also cover travel, accommodation, and admission to the symposium in Switzerland. Deadline: February 1, 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: Feburary 1, 2026.

Wednesday Club Junior Poetry Prize. Restrictions: High School Students in Grades 9 through 12 in the St. Louis Area. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $200,  $150,  $100, $80, $50, and up to five $25 honorable mentions TEACHER AWARDS: $200, $150, $100. (Applies to teachers of first three student winners.) Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Wednesday Club Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $500, $300, $150. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

New Media Writing Prize. Genre: Fiction or non-fiction written specifically for delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, the web, or a hand-held device such as an iPad or mobile phone. It could be a short story, novel, poem, narrative game, documentary, or transmedia work using words, images, film or animation with audience interaction. Interactivity is a key element of new-media storytelling. Prize: Up to £1000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Gannon University Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Entrants must be a US high school student or a home-schooled student in grades nine through twelve. Genre: Poetry. Each student may enter 1 or 2 poems; each poem may be no longer than 50 lines. Prize: First Place: $100.00 Second Place: $75.00 Third Place: $50.00. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Hodson Trust–John Carter Brown Library Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction (includes creative nonfiction). A book-in-process relating to the literature, history, culture, or art of the Americas before 1830. Award: $20,000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Young Romantics Prizes. Restrictions: Open to anyone aged 16-18 years old. Genre: Essay or poem on theme. (See website for themes). Essays must be no shorter than 750 words and no longer than 1000, including quotations. Poems should be: no more than 30 lines in length and must fit onto a single A4 page. Prize: £700. Deadline: February 2, 2026.

Keats-Shelley Essay Prize. Genre: Essay on any aspect of the writing and/or lives of the Romantics and their circles. Length: 3,000 words including quotations. Prize: £1000. Deadline: February 2, 2026.

Narrative Magazine High School Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students aged 15-18. Genre: Poetry on theme. Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: February 4, 2026.

Young Northern Writers’ Awards. Restrictions: Open to young writers aged 11-18 in the North of England. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Up to £150. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Great Northern Read Award. Restrictions:  Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months.Over the age of 18. A debut writer who is yet to have published or self-published a full-length work. A writer of fiction across all genres. Currently unagented. Genre: Novel-in-progress. Prize: £2500. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Matthew Hale Award. Restrictions: Open to young people aged 11-18 based in the North of England. Entrants must be 18 years or under on 6 February 2025 when the awards close. The Matthew Hale Award is open to young writers who show promise but have had limited opportunities to pursue their talent. This could be due to a number of factors, including physical or mental ill-health, family circumstances, financial circumstances, lack of access to cultural opportunities or other reasons. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Package of support created by New Writing North to the value of £500. The package will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the winner, but could include anything from one-on-one mentoring with a professional writer, enrolment on a course, books, theatre tickets or a pass to a literature festival. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The Eva Ibbotson Award. Restrictions: Open to young writers aged 11-15 in the North of England who are writing in English as an additional language. Writers must be aged 11-15 when the awards close on 6 February 2025. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Package of support created by New Writing North to the value of £500. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Full-length novel, work of narrative non-fiction or a short-story collection work in progress. Prize: Winners will receive awards of between £2000 and £5000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. They will also be given access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction and Young Adult. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months, and who are yet to publish a full-length novel or collection of short stories. Genre: Fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult fiction. Prize: £2000, mentoring and access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The Northern Writers’ Awards for Poetry and Debut Poetry. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Poetry collection. Open to both established and debut poets. Prize: Winners will receive awards of between £2000 and £5000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. They will also be given access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The University of Chester Flash (Youth). Restrictions: Open to Scottish students aged 16-19 who are studying in the UK. Genre: flash fiction of up to 360 words. Prize: Up to £100. Deadline: February 6, 2026.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Genre: Adventure writing novel. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: February 6, 2026.

Highlights Foundation Scholarships. Prize: 25 full tuition scholarships and 20 partial tuition scholarships for workshops that take place at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center. 30 full tuition scholarships for online courses through the Highlights Foundation. 15 scholarships for personal retreats at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center. Deadline: February 9, 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: $60,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between Oct 1, 2025 and Feb 10, 2026. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 11, 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 Oct 1, 2025 and Feb 10, 2026. Deadline: February 11, 2026.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book  published between October 1, 2025 and February 10, 2026. Prize: $12,000. Deadline: February 11, 2026.

The Tomorrow Prize & The Green Feather Award. Restrictions: Open to Los Angeles County high school students. Genre: Science fiction, and environmentally focused sci-fi story. Prize: Tomorrow Prize: $250, $150, and $100 USD. Green Feather Award: $250.00 & online publication by the Nature Nexus Institute. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize. Restrictions: Anyone from a refugee or migrant background is eligible to submit an entry for the prize if they are resident in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, whether they have previously been published or not. You do not need to have finished writing your book in order to enter. Genre: Narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Prize: £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

There Is No Planet B STAFFORD GREEN ARTS FESTIVAL. Genre: Art. Prize: Public display. Deadline: February 13, 2026. Open to ages 8 and up.

Writers' & Artists' Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story. All entries must be original unpublished prose of 2,000 words or fewer. See theme. Prize: A place on one of Arvon's residential writing courses and publication. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for one story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Tree2mydoor Valentines Day Poetry competition. Restrictions: Open to UK citizens. Genre: Witty or soppy, romantic or silly Valentines Day poems. Prize: £100 worth of Tree2mydoor gift vouchers. Deadline: February 14, 2026.

Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026 to be eligible for the 2026 Prize. 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: February 14, 2026.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets. Restrictions: The prize is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize. Genre: Full-length poetry collection. Prize: Winner receives translation to another European language; publication of the collection (bilingual edition); 50 copies; and royalties. Finalists receive publication of the collection (Spanish edition), 10 copies of the book, and royalties on Publisher’s edition and subsidiary rights. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction.  Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $1,500 top prize. Deadline: Deadline: February 15, 2026. Note: There are two different deadlines on the submittable page, one for February 15, and another for March 2. I've chosen the earlier date. There is no entry fee noted on the Submittable page.

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award. Genre: Poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the previous calendar year. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Raiziss/de Palchi Translation Award. Genre: Poetry - translation into English of a significant work of modern Italian poetry. Prize: $25,000. The Raiziss/de Palchi Fellowship will be given in 2026 to enable an American translator to travel, study, or otherwise advance a significant work-in-progress. The Academy invites applications from American translators currently engaged in the translation of twentieth-century Italian poetry. The winning translator will receive an award of $25,000 and a five-week residency at the American Academy in Rome. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Moving Words Poetry Competition for Adults. Genre: Poems of 10 lines or less that will be displayed inside Arlington Transit buses. Prize: $250. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Hub City Press. Restrictions: Open to writers of all levels who have lived in South Carolina for at least one year prior to submission of their manuscript. Genre: Novel. Prize: $1,500 and book publication, including marketing and tour support from Hub City Press and the series partners, as well as placement in all South Carolina state libraries and readings/events with presenting sponsors. Deadline: February 15, 2026. Biennial award.

Bar Sagi Prize. Restrictions: Open to Israelis aged 12 to 18 when the poem was written. Genre: Poem. Prize: 400 NIS first prize, 250 NIS second prize, 100 NIS third prize. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Charles Crupi Memorial Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students in Michigan.  Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st place - $250 and publication in The Albion Review, 2nd place - $150 and publication in The Albion Review; 3rd place - $100 and publication in The Albion Review. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Charles S. Longcope Jr. Writers and Artists Grant. Genre: Emerging scholars, writers, or artists whose proposed project makes a contribution to LGBTQ+ scholarship or the arts are eligible to apply. Prize: Up to three gifts of up to $5,000 each. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Haiku Society of America Merit Book Awards for Excellence in Published Haiku, Translation, and Criticism. Genre: Published book. Books must have been published in 2023 and must clearly contain a printed 2023 copyright. A member, author, or publisher may submit or nominate more than one title. At least 50 percent of the book must be haiku, senryu, or haibun, or prose about these subjects (books mostly of tanka, for example, are not eligible). Prize: $500. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words based on monthly theme. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: February 15, 2026. This is a monthly contest.
 
Iron Horse 2025 Chapbook Competition. Genre: Prose chapbook, between 40 and 56 pages (10,000 - 20,000 words) Prize: $1,000 honorarium and 15 copies. Deadline: Note: They will accept 25 free submissions on February 15, 2026 for those who cannot afford to pay the entry fee.

Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award in Poetry (Kansas Book Award). Restrictions: Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim. Genre: Novel or collection of short stories. The nominee's book must have a publication date of 2023, 2024, or 2025. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 17, 2026.

Randall Albers Young Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to  all Chicago-area students currently enrolled in grades 9–12. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Prize: $250 top prize, Deadline: February 17, 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: February 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK students between 16-18 years of age. Genre: Poetry, one poem, maximum 48 lines. See theme. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: February 19, 2026. 

Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Poetry composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme and received forms. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Wiley-Silver Prize in Civil War History. Genre: First book or monograph in Civil War history published in the previous year. Books or monographs published by scholarly or popular presses are eligible. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Sonnet Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Sonnet. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Villanelle Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Villanelle. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Myong Cha Son Haiku Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students (grades 9-12) from across the Washington Metropolitan Area (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC). Genre: Poetry. See topic. Prize: First, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Rhina P. Espaillat Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Original poems written in Spanish and translations of English poems to Spanish. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 20, 2024.

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award supports the work of a promising early-career nonfiction writer on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition. Genres: Nonfiction journalism works in progress with “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scene writing and lyrical description.” Restrictions: The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. Prize: $6,000 upon announcement of the winning proposal; $3,000 upon evidence of substantial progress (usually a first draft); and $3,500 upon completion and acceptance by the Award committee. Deadline: February 22, 2026.

Harper’s Bazaar short-story competition. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over. Genre: Original, unpublished short story, written in English on the subject of ‘The open road’ up to 2,000 words. Prize: Two-night stay at Chewton Glen in Hampshire (UK). Deadline: February 22, 2026.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 23, 2026.

The Lakefly Writers Conference. Restrictions: Open to residents of Wisconsin. Genres: Short story fiction: 3000 words or less. Any genre. Poetry: All poems, free verse to formal and everything in between—75 lines max. Personal Essay: 2500 words max. Prize: First place winners will receive a cash prize of $100; second place winners will receive $75; and third place winners will receive $50. Winners must be able to attend an awards ceremony. Deadline: February 23, 2026.

Toronto Star Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Ontario residents 16 years of age or older. Genre: Short story. Prize: 1st prize - $5000; 2nd prize - $2000, 3rd prize - $1000. Deadline: February 25, 2026.

My List: A Different Kind of Review Contest. Restrictions: Open to middle school and high school students ages 13 -19. Genre: A review of architecture, art, books, comedy, dance, fashion, movies, music, podcasts, restaurants, technology, theater, TV shows or video games. Length: 600 words max. Prize: Publication. Deadline: February 25, 2026.

Children's Books North Network Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. Unpublished as an illustrator. For this prize, unpublished means you have never had any illustrations previously published by a publisher in any format (and are not under contract to have your work published). You can have been published as a writer, but not as an illustrator. Genre: Illustration. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: February 26, 2026.

Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers living and working in the North of England and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. A writer of fiction, poetry and/or creative non-fiction who has published at least one full-length work (such as a novel, poetry collection or memoir); or a poet who has published at least one pamphlet and has published at least four individual poems in magazines, online or in anthologies; or a fiction writer who has published a novella or at least four short stories in magazines and anthologies; or an author of essays or similar non-fiction pieces that have been widely published online and in print. An emerging early career writer. Working towards a new full-length work and have an outline of this writing project. This work does not have to be in the same genre or form as your previous publications. You will be required to submit a writing extract from your work-in-progress. Genre: Fiction WIP, Poetry, Narrative Nonfiction. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: February 26, 2026.

Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism. Genre: This prize seeks to honor the best book-length works of criticism published in the US in the prior calendar year, including biographies, essay collections, and critical editions that consider the subject of poetry or poets. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 27, 2026 for first time nominations only. All others, March 2.

Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships. Restrictions: Applicants must reside in the U.S. or be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 31 years in 2026. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $27,000.  Deadline: February 27, 2026. Please submit an initial registration form.

How Can We Prevent Future Wars? Restrictions: Open to young people ages 9 - 18. Genre: Poetry, art, speech, song. Prize: Unspecified. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Action! Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents in the UK, Ireland or US and over 18 at time of submission. Genre: YOUNG FICTION for 6-8 years (such as Dave Pigeon), GRAPHIC NOVELS for 6-14 years (such as Peng & Spanners) and ACTION ADVENTURE for 9-12 years (such as Alex Rider and the Gone series). Prize: FIRST PRIZE – A worldwide publishing offer from Faber (subject to contract). SECOND PRIZE – Editorial feedback from the Judges.) Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) Self-Publishing Literary Awards. Genre: Self-published ebook by an African American author in the U.S. in both fiction and poetry genres. BCALA awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. The purpose is to encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and scholarly research including biographical, historical, and social history treatments by African Americans. Prize: $2,500.00, formal recognition at the NCAAL conference, and a BCALA Literary Award Seal to use in their marketing. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Sejong Cultural Society Sijo Competition. Genre: Sijo. Prizes: Adult: $1000, $750, $500, $50 for honorable mention, plus possible publication. Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300) Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Orwell Society Dystopian Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to current students (both BA and MA) at British universities. Genre: Dystopian narratives of 3,000 words. See theme. Prize: £750. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multi-Lingual Texts. Genre: Literary translations and multi-lingual texts. Prize: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

A Long Winter's Night Contest. Genre: "Tell us the story of a long winter’s night, true or made up, but make it short: fifty words or less." Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Voices of Mixed Heritage. Genre: Submit essays, fiction, or poetry exploring themes of multicultural or third-culture identity, love, belonging, home life, and pain. We seek heartfelt reflections on living between worlds. Prize: $500. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations. Genre: Poetry and fiction: See prompts. Prize: £300 top prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Atlanta Haiku Festival Poetry Competition. Genre: Haiku on Theme: Growing Gold. Prize: $100 Grand Prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Words Without Borders Momentum Grant for Early-Career Translators. Genre: The grant is intended to facilitate the completion of a substantial sample of a book-length work of prose translation suitable for submission to English-language publishers, and will be awarded to an individual translator who has not yet received a book-length contract for translation work into English. We particularly welcome submissions from translators from historically underrepresented cultures and backgrounds. Prize: $3000. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: February 28, 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: February 28, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

St. Augustine, FL: Public Domain Pictures This February there are more than a 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 Highlights list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year. 

_________________ 


The Stowe Vermont Winter Writing Adventure. February 1 - 6, 2026: Stowe, VT. The Stowe Vermont Winter Writing Adventure is a week-long workshop with Pam Houston and Leigh Newman where writers will work with both faculty members to generate new work while snowshoeing, XC skiing, and exploring the beauty of New England in the wintertime. The workshop is limited to 20 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and explore all the outdoor wonders Stowe has to offer.

Savannah Book Festival. February 5 - 8, 2026: Savannah, Georgia. Our four-day Festival takes place in Savannah’s Historic District against a backdrop of stunning historic buildings, cascading Spanish moss, and blooming Azaleas. Each year, over 9,000 people join us for three ticketed Headliner Address events and for our free Festival Saturday. Festival Saturday presentations take place in museums, churches, and theaters in and around the historic Telfair and Chippewa Squares in the heart of Downtown Savannah. Our lineup of nationally-recognized authors from wide-ranging genres give 30-minute solo presentations on their creative process, followed by a Q&A and book signing.

Online San Diego Writing Workshop. February 6 - 7, 2026: Online. "This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” online writing workshop. In other words, it’s two days 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. And even though this is the Online “San Diego” Writing Workshop, make no mistake — writers from everywhere are welcome to attend virtually. Our WDW writers conferences have helped dozens of writers find literary agent representation."

. February 7, 2026: Philadelphia, PA. Meet over a dozen African-American children's book writers.

Love Hurts: Writing the Break-up Poem. February 11, 2026: Online. The Sundress Academy for the Arts is excited to present “Love Hurts: Writing the Break-up Poem,” a workshop led by Amie Whittemore on Wednesday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 PM EST. This event will be held over Zoom. Participants can access the event at tiny.utk.edu/sundress (password: sundress). While poetry has a reputation for expressing adoration, it’s also wonderful for expelling the bad energy broken love leaves behind. In this generative class, we’ll look at examples of breakup poems that demonstrate that breakups are as multifaceted as relationships: the sad breakup poem, the angry breakup poem, the regretful breakup poem. Through these poems, we can come to better understand our roles in these relationships that have ended and begin to find peace. After looking at some example poems, there will be time for writers to generate their own breakup poem(s), with individual lines shared in the chat, as time allows. While there is no fee to participate in this workshop, those who are able and appreciative may make donations directly to Amie Whittemore Venmo: @Amie-Whittemore.

San Francisco Writers Conference. February 12 - 15, 2026: San Francisco, CA. Attendees will join with 100+ presenters and fellow writers from across the country and around the world at this year’s event. The SFWC events are consistently rated among the top writer’s conferences anywhere. "Our goal is to help writers become published authors as we help them become better at the craft and business of writing. The SFWC is also one of the friendliest conferences. Presenters this year will include bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers from major publishing houses. There will be experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, and author websites. The San Francisco Writers Conference has one of the largest faculties of any writer’s conference to ensure the best networking with the people who can help you get published." 

The Colrain Crucible. February 15, 2026: Online.  A one-day, high-intensity manuscript-shaping session focused on selection, sequencing, and structural clarity. In this rigorous, generative environment, 4-6 poets with an in-progress manuscript (full-length or chapbook) bring pre-conference exercises into the crucible of close editorial scrutiny and real-time evaluation. Under the pressure of focused attention on these exercises, manuscripts reveal their strengths, weaknesses, and true organizing principles. You will leave with a newly clarified sense of your book’s core, what belongs, what doesn’t, and how your poems work — or fail to work — in sequence.

Nonfiction Picture Books: Exploring Forms and Creative Approaches. February 17 - 19, 2026: Online. Explore the exciting world of nonfiction picture books! This course guides you through formats, styles, and strategies for bringing real-world topics to life for young readers.

Reflection and Refraction in Personal Narratives. February 17 – March 17, 2026: Online. How do our individual experiences reflect the systems within which we exist? In this generative workshop, we will learn the art of imitation, refraction and distortion in memoir and personal essays. Using Foucault’s Las Meninas as a foundation, we will read work from writers like Elizabeth Gilbert, Seo-Young Chu, Hilton Als and Paisley Rekdal, exploring topics from private investigation, to travel, trauma and the love of animals. The methods these writers use for sharing insights about our world will inspire us to write personal narratives from fresh perspectives. Writers of all levels are welcome. Come empty-handed or bring works-in-progress to revise. Limited to 12 participants.

What's Form Got to Do With It?: A Poetry Workshop. February 18 - March 18, 2026: Online. Even those who avoid it must admit: form gives our poems structure, tension, counterpoint and deeper meaning. In this supportive workshop, we will explore five traditional and contemporary forms, focusing on how a poem’s content is enhanced, challenged or complicated by its structure. Each week, we will explore poems by writers like Terrance Hayes, William Carlos Williams and Terisa Siagatonu, paying close attention to form and content. Generative prompts will provide the option to write a new poem in that week’s form or revise a previously-written poem into that form. Writers will leave this workshop with a deeper appreciation for formal potential, and with polished work any publisher would be excited to read. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome. Limited to 12 participants.


Wild Seeds Writers Retreat. February 19 - 22, 2026: Brooklyn, NY. The Wild Seeds Writers Retreat (formerly the North Country Institute & Retreat for Writers of Color), a collaboration with the Center for Black Literature, the English Department at SUNY, Plattsburgh, and the Paden Institute and Retreat for Writers, provides a writing community where established and newly discovered writers of color can focus on the craft of writing and create cross-cultural conversations around the literature created by writers of the African diaspora.  Deadline: January 9, 2026.

Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop. February 20-22, 2026: Monterey, CA. The Andrea Brown Literary Agency runs the Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop every winter with occasional offshoot conference locations. "Since 1997, we have brought in outstanding editors from the top publishing houses, both large and small, and successful authors to make up our experienced and giving faculty. We pride ourselves on an excellent faculty-to-attendee ratio and a weekend with ample opportunities for faculty/attendee interactions, both formal and informal. This workshop has been the source of many successful author/agent relationships and many publishing deals, including one for more than half a million dollars."

Tinker Mountain Winter Recharge. February 20 - 22, 2026: Online. The weekend begins with a social session on Friday evening and continues with workshops Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m.  Just the right amount of time to affirm your writing and to reset for the balance of winter and spring. Manuscript workshops, limited to 8 participants, give you an opportunity to receive feedback on your work from peers and your faculty mentor and learn what other writers are working on. Write now workshops, limited to 10 participants, allow you to immerse yourself in the craft of writing and generate new work without the pressure of preparing or reading manuscripts.

SCBWI: NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S NONFICTION! February 21, 2026: Online. Today's nonfiction is bold, engaging, and innovative! Attendees will take an in-depth look at what books are (and aren't) being published. We will explore how books cover the "What?" "So What?" and/or the "Now What?" of a topic. For the sake of time, the exemplars will be picture books, but the principles explored apply to all informational books.  Registration closes February 18th .

SCBWI San Diego: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Writing Children's Books with Irene Vázquez, Associate Editor. February 21, 2026: Online. As an Editor at Levine Querido - whose publishing house has long been a champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Children's books - Irene Vázquez will speak on how to maintain authenticity in writing and illustrating books with diverse characters and themes for Children and young adults. In addition, they will give a window into what gains have been made in the publishing industry and where the publishing world is headed in this area, as well as best steps to capture the attention of an Editor or Agent for your book and/or illustrations for Children. The 2026 San Diego Region DEI Grant recipients will be announced.

St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop. February 24 - 27, 2026: St. Augustine, Florida. "The St. Augustine Author-Mentor Novel Workshop creates an intimate and professional environment that combines private meetings with small-group workshops, thus enabling aspiring authors to wisely approach the writing and publication of their novel. At the St. Augustine event, aspiring authors will:
1) Work one-on-one with top authors and savvy market professionals.
2) Apply advanced story and narrative technique to their novel-in-progress.
3) Hone and improve their writer voice and style.
4) Learn the necessary inside mechanics of the publishing business.
5) Leave the workshop with a detailed plan to work towards publication of their novel.
Group workshop sessions will be interspersed with agent and author consultations, workshop assignments, as well as consults with workshop leaders."

Amelia Island Book Festival. February 28, 2026: Fernandina Beach, FL. During the Festival, Authors have opportunities to engage with over 1300 Readers in an up-close and personal way to showcase and sell their books. Readers will be able to engage with more than 100 exhibiting authors in a personal way about their work and what inspires them.  There are numerous Author breakout presentations, including several led by New York Times best-selling authors, book signing session, food trucks, and a variety of activities designed to keep both Authors and Readers engaged, educated, and entertained through activities throughout the day.  

SCBWI San Diego: Craft a Compelling First Chapter and Insightful Synopsis. February 28, 2026: Online. Agent Hillary Fazzari will be sharing hands-on editing strategies to polish First Chapters that hook agents, editors and readers, using examples of projects she personally represented and First Page submissions from attendees. You will also get an agents overview of the parameters and importance of a well-written synopsis when submitting novels – which more agent and editor submission guidelines are now requesting.

EVENTS WITH APPLICATION DEADLINES IN FEBRUARY

Ossabaw Writer’s Retreat. March 13 - 18,  2026: Ossabaw Island, GA. Work with one of our critically acclaimed writers in a workshop limited to five qualified participants. Each day, participants will bring manuscripts of their work-in-progress to their assigned workshop group where they will read, discuss and receive feedback about their projects from fellow participants and the assigned group leader. Workshop manuscripts should be limited to 12 pages poetry/16-20 pages fiction or non-fiction. Application deadline: February 15.

Some Trees: A Generative Multi-Genre Writing Workshop with Rob Schlegel. March 26 - May 14, 2026: Online. In this generative writing course you will write prose and poetry that emerges out of field observations, classroom discussion, and close readings of texts that explore ecology and the imagination, plants and consciousness, poetry and justice, gender and ash trees. The workshop is designed to help you become more aware of the choices you make as a writer.  Application window: February 1-15.

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: February 15, 2026.

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. Applications open February 17 - April 17 for 2027 Residency.

Rose Conway Here are five 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.")

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Rose Conway of Confluence Literary Agency

Rose Conway joins Confluence Literary Agency as an expansion of her dedicated work to inform and empower authors in the dynamic industry landscape. 

Her publishing career began with a fortuitous internship at Simon & Schuster U.K. There, she first learned about the role of a "Literary Agent” and directed her career to being the ultimate cheerleader, critic, confidante, and champion for creative writers. In 2021, she diverted to explore hybrid publishing as the editorial manager for a leading professional publisher, ensuring that creative writers could earn a living and have the flexibility to pursue their own projects. Two years later, witnessing authors navigate mounting obstacles in the publishing landscape with increasingly contradictory and inconsistent advice, Rose founded Foreword Literary Consulting, LLC as a trusted resource for strategic guidance. Rose holds a Masters in Publishing from London College of Communication and a double Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication Studies from Villanova University. She lives in Columbia, Maryland with her husband.

What she is seeking: Rose is seeking commercial fiction. Her list focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction: work that leads with artistry and allows deeper themes to emerge naturally. She seeks upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, and distinctive voices. Think braided narratives, unexpected POVs, and prose that takes creative risks. In building her list, Rose is interested in career-oriented writers and her goal is to help authors lay the foundation for sustainable career growth. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager form HERE.
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Jess Taylor of Martin Literary Management

Jess discovered her passion for publishing when she crafted her first book pitch for a high school research project. After falling in love with persuading others to read the stories she adored, she earned her BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she also completed the publishing certificate program. She spent six years acquiring children's books, YA, nonfiction, and fiction for a Virginia-based publisher before opening an online bookstore dedicated to her first love: young adult literature.

What she is seeking: Young adult, new adult, select romance.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Charlie Serabian of Martin Literary Management

As a graduate of SCAD’s film and television department, Charlie spent his earlier years script doctoring and working on commercial, television, and documentary sets. His focus swiftly shifted to the book world in 2017 after starting at Global Lion Intellectual Property Management under the tutelage of literary maverick Peter Miller, where he became an agent after four years. He has also ghost written several books, written/co-written two WGA-approved screenplays, and edited numerous works of fiction and non-fiction.

What he is seeking: Primarily, I'm looking to build my list in genre fiction of all kinds. I have a special place in my heart for sci-fi and fantasy with a strong sense of style, prose, and characterization. I love writing with an appreciation for the macabre, a deathly sense of humor, or gothic sensibilities. I am also open to YA horror, adult horror, adult thrillers and crime fiction. In nonfiction I'd love to see the following:Anything that deals with hard hitting truths or the darker aspects of humanity.New technology.Political intrigue.Restaurant-focused works, whether cookbooks, or about the general world of restauranting. I am the son of two restaurateurs, so it's a subject close to me.Intriguing studies of lesser known people or situations.Having represented Sir Ken Robinson for many years, I am deeply invested in the subject of education. If you are a teacher or educator, I'd love to hear from you.I've worked with many wonderful true crime authors over the years, including Matthew Phelps and Aphrodite Jones. I also managed the estate of Vincent Bugliosi, author of Helter Skelter. True crime is always something I will give a chance to.How to submit: Use his querymanager HERE.
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Bowen Gillings of Savvy Literary

Bowen Gillings is an active member of the American Association of Literary Agents who joined Savvy Literary in 2025. He has nearly a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. Currently building his list, Bowen seeks to partner with writers possessing a solid grasp of why and how they write coupled with professionalism and a sense of humor. He loves engaging, entertaining books with a strong narrative voice.

Bowen has several published works of fiction including The Chronicles of Rom & Drood, First Family, The Wedding Guest, A Night to Remember, Exceptionals, and Overstuffed Lunchbox: A Bunch of Bite-Sized Bits. He recently co-wrote Year-by-Year: A Chronology of Garden of the Gods Park, a detailed history resource text for the City of Colorado Springs Office of Cultural Services.

What he is seeking: Currently seeking in fiction: Fantasy (High/Low/Epic/Grimdark/Noblebright, et al.), Thrillers & Suspense, Action/Adventure, Historical Fiction, Light Sci-Fi, Military Sci-Fi, and witty, humorous voices writing any of the above.

Currently seeking in non-fiction: narrative non-fiction, Pre-Revolution North America, American Indian voices (modern and historic), ancient history/lost civilizations, fitness/wellness/mental health, outdoors, cookbooks, and travel.

How to submit: Please send your query letter, one-two page synopsis, first three chapters, author bio with website link(s), social media link(s), and marketing plan (all documents must be in PDF format) to bowen@savvyliterary.com or use the submissions form HERE. Bowen is open to submissions the first week of every month.
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Ms. Natalie Sun of HG Literary

Natalie grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia reading as many fantastical adventures she could get her hands on. After graduating from New York University with a major in English and a minor in psychology, she joined HG Literary to assist Carrie Hannigan. 

What she is seeking: Natalie is primarily interested in YA and adult fantasy of all kinds, but will read any genre of fiction. She loves found family, original magic systems, complex dynamics, retellings, and romance. She has a soft spot for anything with horses. Natalie is not looking for religious books, nonfiction, horror, or graphic novels, but will otherwise read whatever is put in her hands, including science fiction, thriller, and middle grade.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.