Sans. Press: AGAIN
This is a fiction anthology. “Doomed by fate or driven by never-ending hope, following destiny or refusing to follow the signs, stories & characters are often shaped by cycles and patterns. Sometimes by being unknowingly framed by them, or by being unable to fully escape the traps laid by fate.
For anthology #12, we want to read stories that deal with time, cycles and patterns, and how characters respond to and are shaped by them. We are looking for broad responses to the theme AGAIN, and what that prompt may mean to different people in different contexts. As always, these patterns may take any shape or form – the generational struggles of magical realism, the self-fulfilling prophecies of fantasy, or the contemporary fight against destructive behaviours – as long as they are a sincere exploration of the theme.… We are looking for stories inspired by our title – AGAIN – and/or the cover artworks below (see guidelines)… Exclusively for this issue, this call will select stories for both issue #12 (Again) and our following issue, #13. All genres of writing are welcome; more than any specific story or style, we want the emotional response the title and artwork evokes in you.” Please note, submissions will close earlier than the deadline if they hit their submission cap. Submission is via a form. Please see their note about contributor copies.
Deadline: 4 August 2026, or until filled
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: €200
Details here.

Murderous Ink Press: Crimeucopia
They will read crime fiction. They’re open for a few calls – please send the work for a particular call only during its reading period:

• Storm Force 13: “we're looking for fast paced, action orientated pieces that will make the readers say "Now that was a hell of a read!"” Deadline: August 4^th
• Waikiki Beach Refugees: “Surf's Up, Dudes & Dudettes! We're looking for crime fiction that has a surfing/sailing/fishing/coastal connection - not necessarily set in or around O'ahu/Honolulu” August 4th to 11^th

Reading periods: See above
Length: 2,000 - 10,000 words (query first for longer)
Pay: £4 per 1,000 words
Details here and here.

Villainess Press: Cozy Fantasy Anthology
“Villainess Press publishes fantasy and speculative fiction centered around women and non-binary characters. We focus on print publications over ebooks or digital content.” You can read about them here. They’ll soon open a submission window for a cozy speculative fiction anthology. “We're looking for short stories for a small anthology of cozy fantasy. We will be selecting between 3 and 5 stories to be featured in a limited run of paperback books.
Cozy fantasy, to us, means gentle and heartwarming stories that still have meaningful stakes. Tea shops and cats are welcome, but it's also okay to forgo those tropes for an original speculative element.
Villainess is an indie publisher that prints sub-genres of fantasy and focuses on gender representation. Please make sure your submission prominently includes characters that are women or nonbinary.
Authors of all identities and backgrounds are welcome to submit their work.” They also accept reprints. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 6^th August 2026
Length: 1500-4500 words
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here.
(Submissions are also open for Thyme Travelers 2: An anthology of speculative fiction by Palestinian writers; “This anthology is open to writers who identify as Palestinian. This includes all Palestinians living anywhere in the world, and of any race. Authors from marginalized groups are encouraged to submit.” Payment is $0.08/word for stories up to 5,000 words. The deadline is 31 August 2026.)

Rat Bag Lit Drabbles: Anger Management for Pet Peeves
This is a call for drabbles – stories of exactly 100 words on the Anger Management for Pet Peeves theme. “Have you ever blown a gasket over someone wearing white after Labor Day? Been sent to your room because you broke all the plates and hid all the silverware to stop the scraping? Are you a cat who scratches the couch because you know your humans intentionally chose red knowing you can't perceive that color? This is about a character reacting to a pet peeve and dealing with the fallout. The weirder the better. Bonus points if you make us laugh.” All their free / open slots have submission quotas and can fill up earlier than the deadline.
Deadline: 6^th August 2026 or when filled for themed micros
Length: Exactly 100 words for drabbles
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here and here.
(Rat Bag Lit is also open for unthemed micro fiction, stories up to 300 words, as well as unthemed short fiction, stories of 1,500-3.500 words; they pay $0.01/word for drabbles; also for short fiction, up to $20. Details here and here.)

Space & Time Magazine: Shadows Mean Light
Space & Time publishes speculative flash fiction and poetry. They have monthly themes, and you can submit during the first week of every month. During the current submission period, the theme is Shadows Mean Light. “We also accept submissions in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian for translation into English.”
Deadline: 7 August 2026
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction, up to 35 lines for poetry
Pay: $0.01/word for fiction, $5 for poetry
Details here and here.

Flame Tree Publishing Anthologies
Flame Tree is open for four themed fiction anthologies; two horror themes with deadlines in August, and two romantic fantasy ones (“We’re looking for richly imagined worlds filled with magic, myth and mystery, where emotional stakes are just as high as the fantastical ones.”) with deadlines in September.

• Cosmic Horror: “Unknowable, ancient, monstrous entities lurk in the vastness of the universe, closer than you think. They exist on other planes and in other dimensions, caring not for the lives and suffering of insignificant humans. Their paths may cross with yours, revealing horrors that your mind will barely comprehend...
  Inextricably linked to weird horror, but on a grander metaphysical scale, cosmic horror stories revel in the eldritch, the unsettling, and the unknown. Writers (think Poe, Machen, Blackwood, Hodgson) have long explored existential dread and primal, ancient forces, but it was H.P. Lovecraft who cemented the genre, whose influence cannot be understated. His pantheon of nebulous god-like beings and its expanded collaborative mythos, including such beings as the Elder Gods, have inspired countless stories that grapple with these fears and the madness to which they can lead. … we now invite you to create brand new tales that give a nod to this influence while presenting new settings, characters, cultures and concepts, pushing the boundaries of the surreal, the impossible, the liminal, the shapeless, and the creeping dread – but always on a vast, incomprehensible, cosmic level.” Deadline: 9 August 2026.
• Zombie World: “Zombies. Possibly the most iconic and popular creatures in horror. Though you might think their characteristics and MO are pretty set in stone, think again: we want your stories to explore the folkloric roots, interpretations and definitions, historical manifestations, symbolism, origin tales, new scenarios, and the many iterations of undead who could all be defined as 'zombies'.
  Originating in Haitian folklore as an enslaved corpse reanimated through magic by a bokor (a Vodou priest or priestess sorcerer), the zombie has developed – via Romero's Night of the Living Dead – into the modern-day apocalypse-surviving flesh-chomping revenant (created by disease, radiation or any number of infectious causes) we all recognise. Along the way, their identity has been influenced by and intertwined with that of vampires, and all manner of other cultural variations on returned dead and corpse-like hungry monsters: the Norse draugr, the Chinese Jiangshi (vampire or zombie?), and even arguably the Arabian ghul. It's up to you to define 'zombie' – is it more about the cannibalistic tendencies, or is it, at its heart, the mindless lack of free will?” Deadline: 9 August 2026.
• Of Love Forbidden: “Supernatural lore forges together lands, courts and families. It is in place to tighten generations and is knitted together by legend and tradition. If mistreated, it threatens to unravel entire realms. Forbidden love is the trickiest of all, and these compelling stories will explore the heart’s desires set against the backdrop of complicated politics and societal expectations. Where alliances are everything, these flawed romances play out before fae, mortals and beasts. When the head and heart battle one another, one must seal their fate: either keeping peace and harmony or severing deep bonds that could threaten to tear apart worlds… all in the name of love.” Deadline: 13^th September 2026.
• Of Fae & Fire (scroll down): “The world of fae is the perfect bewitching setting for matters of the heart. These mysterious beings can be trickster figures, ruthless and immortal, morally dubious or harmoniously good. They can take a range of forms, and we encourage originality and creativity in imagining how their magic unfolds. Drawing on ancient folklore or reflecting the modern world, we welcome stories that explore the politics and power surrounding fae courts, hidden forest realms, or other fantasy lands beyond human laws. Combined with fire, whether that’s through elemental magic, dragons, precious objects forged in flame, slow-burn romance or intense passion, we’re looking for stories turning up the heat with high stakes!” Deadline: 13^th September 2026.

Deadlines: 9^th August for Cosmic Horror and Zombie World anthologies, 13^th September 2026 for Of Love Forbidden and Of Fae & Fire themes
Length: 2,000-4,000 words (see guidelines)
Pay: $0.08/word for originals, $0.06/word for reprints
Details here (please click on the relevant links)

Poetry Wales: The Body
They have reached the submission quota for poetry and are only accepting nonfiction pitches for The Body theme for their Winter issue: they will publish “a small number of features, essays and conversations that engage with ’embodiment’ from literary, cultural and ecological perspectives or through the viewpoints of queer writers, disabled writers or writers of the global majority.
"Send us a short pitch of no longer than 300 words via Submittable to be considered for an article, essay or interview.” They accept unthemed nonfiction pitches on an ongoing basis.
Deadline: 10 August 2026 for The Body theme
Length: Varies
Pay: Reviews £67.50/1,500 words; Articles £150/3,000 words, or in that proportion, depending on number of published words
Details here and here.

Cult Publishing: Manuscrypt Magazine – Aliens & Cryptids
“We are looking for horror stories meant to entice the reader and leave lasting impressions. Submissions can be poetry, short stories, etc., but there must be an element of horror. … Each issue will revolve around a certain binding theme. Though it is not mandatory that entries fit this theme, stories and art that connect to the theme will be favoured for submissions.” They want work on the Aliens & Cryptids theme for their next issue. Submission is via a form. Work has to be submitted in the Docx format. Art submissions have a September deadline (see guidelines).
Deadline: 14 August 2026
Length: Up to 3,500 words
Pay: $50
Details here and here.
(And NonBinary Review from Zoetic Press is scheduled to open for the Metamorphosis theme in August; they pay $0.01/word for fiction and nonfiction up to 3,000 words and $10 for poetry; they hadn’t opened for submissions yet at the time of writing.)

The Fairy Tale Magazine: Food in Fairy Tales
They accept fairy tale stories and poems. They’re reading for their Food in Fairy Tales issue. “Think gingerbread homes. Think rapunzel/rampion. Strawberries in Snow. Think of a flower you eat to become pregnant. Of the goblins mesmerizing songs, “Come buy! Come buy!” Tell us what feast might appease La Llarona. What might a raja eat in his court? Give us stories of the Magic Pot (Japanese) or poisoned food (Indian). Tells us about nuts that can heal, soup that can win the heart of a prince that’s cooked by a girl wearing all kinds of fur. Tells us the tales from the Caribbean—like Tiger’s Breakfast or Rapunzel’s sugar cane. But don’t stop there! We want fairytales from around the globe.
Speak to us of hunger. Desire. Power (or lack of power). Give us your best food in fairy tale style. We want your retellings. Your re-imagined “Blog” by Gretel from the heart of an edible home where you’ve been entrapped by its resident baddie. Write us a recipe perfect for a fairy tale. Tell us of those who have food and those who don’t.” A link to the submission form will open during the submission period. They do not want horror or erotica. Please note, this is not a magazine for children.
Reading period: 15^th to 21^st August 2026
Length: 900-2,000 words for stories, up to 500 words for poems
Pay: $25
Details here.
(And, Eye to the Telescope wants speculative poetry on the Faeries theme; they have detailed guidelines. Send up to 3 poems. They pay $0.07/word up to $30. The deadline is 15^th October 2026; details here.)

Beyond the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
This is a fiction anthology; send a Sherlock Holmes story which is a sequel to one of the stories in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. “Our next Sequels book. This time, the collection will feature sequels to the 12 stories in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes:

• "The Adventure of Silver Blaze"
• "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box"
• "The Adventure of the Yellow Face"
• "The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk"
• "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott"
• "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
• "The Adventure of the Reigate Squire"
• "The Adventure of the Crooked Man"
• "The Adventure of the Resident Patient"
• "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter"
• "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty"
• "The Adventure of the Final Problem"

The book will be set up to include the original adventure by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle followed by the sequel(s) to that adventure.” They also say, “No need to claim a story! We plan on publishing multiple sequels to stories (i.e. the anthology could include three sequels to The Musgrave, two sequels to the Naval Treaty, four sequels to the Greek interpreter, etc…).”
Deadline: 15 August 2026
Length: 5,000-10,000 words (see guidelines)
Pay: $100
Details here (scroll down).
(They have other projects listed as well, with later deadlines.)

Grimalkin Press: Sweet Screams – A Taste of Darkness
This is a fiction anthology, and submissions are only open to women and gender diverse people. “For Sweet Screams, we're looking for horror stories centered around themes of sweetness, baking, cooking, desserts, and the unsettling things that can exist beneath comfort, nostalgia, celebration, or indulgence.
This can include baked goods, bake sales, bakeries, candies, pastries, recipes, cafés, diners, holiday treats, cooking competitions, trad wife aesthetics (when meaningfully tied to cooking or baking), strange ingredients, hospitality, obsession, family traditions, celebrations, or anything else that fits within the thread of sweetness colliding with horror.
We're especially interested in stories that approach these themes in creative, unexpected, emotional, unsettling, atmospheric, or deeply human ways. The horror can be literary, psychological, gothic, folk, surreal, quiet, darkly comedic, or grotesque, but this anthology is not a fit for extreme horror, splatterpunk, or stories that rely heavily on exploitative shock value.” They offer a digital contributor copy to those outside the US, and a physical copy to those with a US address.
Deadline: 15 August 2026
Length: 1,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Griffith Review: Bodies of Work
Griffith Review is an Australian literary magazine and they want fiction and nonfiction submissions for issue 95; the theme is Bodies of Work. “Modern life can be a curiously disembodied experience: we swipe and scroll, crop and click, zoom and control+z; our interactions are often mediated by screens or filters; we no longer look one another in the eye as we once did (or we’re forced to do it on Teams).
Are our flesh-and-blood selves becoming attenuated and atomised by the increasingly digital texture of our days? What’s the fate of the human body in this age of looksmaxxing and biohacking? How do our historic perceptions and misconceptions of bodily states and identities, including disability and gender, inform our present and shape our future?”
They mostly accept work from writers in Australia, and some work from overseas writers. Do not send poetry.
Deadline: 23 August 2026 (11:59 pm AEST)
Length: Up to 4,000 words for prose
Pay: AUD0.75/word for prose
Details here and here

Poetry and polar science
They are seeking poetic responses to scientific papers by scientists working in the Arctic and Antarctic and recording climate change (see website for the list of papers). “PRAx, Spring Creek Project and Terrain.org invite poets to create original poems in response to a selection of polar science papers from Oregon State University researchers. Participants are encouraged to read one or more of the featured papers and allow the research to spark creative inquiry. … We welcome work that is curious, imaginative, surprising and attentive. Poems may engage with the science directly or indirectly. They may be personal, lyrical, narrative, experimental, contemplative, or playful. We are not seeking poems that explain science or summarize findings. Rather, we are interested in the conversations that emerge when scientific inquiry and poetic practice meet. You do not need to understand every detail of a paper to participate. A single image, question, observation, graph, or idea may be enough to inspire a poem. We encourage you to follow what captures your imagination.” Poems must be in conversation with one or more of the featured scientific papers listed on their website, and selected poems will be published in a series in Terrain.org; poets will receive $100 from Spring Creek Project.
They also say, “Selected poets may also be invited to participate in a public reading at PRAx on October 29, 2026. The event will feature readings and conversation between poets and researchers. PRAx will provide lodging on the night of the event, a travel stipend of up to $1,000 and dinner with polar researchers following the event. Participation in the event is optional and not required for eligibility.” “The Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) is a 49,000 square-foot performing and visual arts destination on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis.”
Deadline: 26 August 2026
Length: Up to 3 poems
Pay: $100 for selected poems; potential invitation to read at PRAx, with a travel stipend of $1,000
Details here and here.

Not/Feeling Better Anthology
This anthology is about living with disabilities/chronic illnesses; see here. They want poetry, short fiction, and memoir for the anthology; the theme is Not/Feeling Better. Works can be “any genre, but this book will be distributed to schools and community copies so please be mindful of the audience”. They also say this about their anthologies: “All royalties from the anthology will be donated to charity. For Not/Feeling Better, this is Disability Rights UK. Each anthology will support a different charity.”
Deadline: 29 August 2026
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: £10
Details here.

Altar Literary Magazine: Golden Hour
This is a new literary magazine. “We’re not a typical literary magazine, we’re your guide for the season. Yes you’ll find poems and beautiful stories but there’s also reviews, recipes, and rituals. We want to provide a space for creatives and help you navigate the energy of the season whether it’s through prose or some kitchen magic, we’re here.” They’re reading submissions for their second issue. The theme is Golden Hour. “The leaves stop producing chlorophyll and reveal their true colors. It’s a return to a stripped back version of oneself. The rest of nature dials down with them. The temperature cools, the growth slows. We harvest our apples and blackberries, leaving behind bare branches.
It’s a swan song, a sunset on the wheel of the year. There is a profound display of warm yellow and oranges. From the goldenrods and marigolds to the squash and persimmons. Spiced with the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg. …. The reminder that things are coming to an end gives us a new appreciation of them.
It’s golden, for a moment.” Apart from fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, they also want reviews of movies, albums, etc, that align with the theme, fall recipes, spell or ritual you’ve created that aligns with the energy of this issue, as well as out of the box pieces that don’t fit any of their other categories.
Deadline: 31 August 2026, or until filled
Length: Up to 10 pages of fiction or creative nonfiction, up to 3 pages of poetry
Pay: $5
Details here and here.

Passing Strange: Queer Weird Arthurian Tales
They want speculative fiction, narrative nonfiction, and art for this anthology. “Arthuriana is already brimming with queerness, what with asexual Grail Knights, the best knight of the realm in love with both his king and his queen, the women donning armour to go questing and perhaps yearning for the kind of devoted same-sex partnerships that the men have found.
Arthuriana is also inherently weird, with even the most realistic historical works dealing with belief systems and worldviews that no longer fit neatly in the modern world. And then there’s the magic, the supernatural, the weird beasts, the prophecies… “Arthurian realism”, as it were.
Authors are invited to take all this and run with it! Combine your own elements of queer sexuality and gender with these old tales – or update the tales and bring them to you. Add a dash or more of speculative fiction – whether fantasy, horror, or science fiction – or alternate history. The setting can be any time or place – past, present or future – near or far.” Please note, they will run the Kickstarter for this project in 2027.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Length: 3,000-10,000 words
Pay: $0.05/word up to $500
Details here and here.

Cast of Wonders: Young Author Showcase 2026
This Young Adult speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror) audio and online publisher wants short fiction from young authors only, for this submission window. “A special limited-demographic submission window for Young Authors only (aged <20 on 31st August 2026). Cast of Wonders' standard submissions guidelines otherwise apply: all stories should contain a clear speculative element and be appropriate for a YA audience. Documents should be fully anonymised. We particularly encourage submissions from authors whose backgrounds are under-represented in publishing, and also love #ownvoices submissions.” They also accept translations and reprints. (They’ll open 15^th to 20^th September 2026 for submissions from all writers – see their schedule.) Cast of Wonders is part of the Escape Artists suite of magazines.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Length: Up to 6,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word for originals
Details here and here.
(Their sister magazine, PseudoPod, is open for horror submissions till 11th August 2026, submit here; PodCastle plans to open a special themed submission window in September for fantasy stories, see the schedule here; and EscapePod will open for science fiction submissions starting September, see their schedule.)

Tyche Books: Slapshots in Space and Magical Marathons: A Speculative Sports Anthology
This anthology “invites contributors to re-examine sports through space opera, near- or far-future science fiction, alternative worlds, time travel, magical realism, fantasy, or other lenses that fall under the umbrella of speculative fiction. Steampunk, hopepunk, science gone bad, social commentary, or just plain laugh-out-loud fun—all of these and more are fair game.
Writers can (but are not required to) explore questions such as: Will future athletes be forced to accept invasive technologies in the name of better performance? In a dystopian world, how might sport be a beacon of hope? How might fantasy elements change the way we engage in, and with, sport?
Sports can be recreational or competitive, solo or teams, but for the purposes of this anthology we aren’t looking for stories and poems about board games, video games, etc. Any perspective (fan, athlete, coach, game official, broadcaster, etc.) is welcome.” They also say, “Humour is a bonus. Light or psychological horror will be an easier sell than blood-and-gore or outright violence. We will not accept pieces that promote or support racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of intolerance.” Please note, they may give preference to Canadian authors.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Length: 1,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to 60 lines for poetry (more for prose poems)
Pay: $50/story, $20 per poem
Details here.

The Vigilante Crime & Pulp Anthology: Volume 2 – Psycho Pulp
This is a fiction anthology. “We are looking for stories that honor the specific work and general spirit of trailblazing filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.
What are the hallmarks of Hitchcock’s work? The coupling of the mundane with the outlandish, presented with an element of wicked humor.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to construct a story that in some way touches upon or directly references the themes and devices common to Hitchcock masterpieces. Your inspiration may be anything from the surreal horror of The Birds, to the morbid coziness of The Trouble With Harry, to the fractured psychology of Vertigo, to, of course, the disturbing calamity of Psycho.
Or you may, in Hitchcockian fashion, go in a completely unexpected direction.” Regarding genre, ““Crime, horror, psychological thriller, western, science fiction, or any sub-genre or blend of these. In short, pulp fiction.”
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Length: 2,000-6,000 words
Pay: $20
Details here and here.

Exquisite Undead: An Anthology of Vampires
This is a fiction and poetry anthology. The editor wants “Vampire stories. Lush, gorgeous, chilling, beautiful vampire stories. Tell me a story that will linger at the back of my mind forever. That will make me go feral while I’m reading it, that will have me underlining phrases and marking it up with exclamation points and big, excited YESes. Write me a story that shows me you understood the vampire assignment. Introduce me to your favorite aspects of vampires, make me love and/or loathe your characters, use the concept of vampires to carry a metaphor or message that means something to you. Make it brilliant, queer, swoony, romantic, tragic; make it dark, gruesome, bloody, gritty, even kind of gross—make it whatever you want, and make it exquisite. I especially encourage BIPOC and queer/trans writers to submit.” Regarding genre, “Horror, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, a weird blend of everything—all are welcome”. Stories can be flash length (up to 1,500 words) or longer (up to 7,000 words).
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Length: Up to 7,000 words for fiction
Pay: $30/flash or poetry, $65 for longer stories
Details here and here.

Phi Kappa Phi Forum: Change of Habitat
They want works about some aspect of positive change in 2026. They’re reading poetry submissions for their Winter 2026 issue and the theme is, Change of Habitat. Do not send other genres. They want “submissions of original, previously unpublished poetry that fits the theme … Poems will be selected to appear in the print version of the magazine, though others may appear online.” They want poems up to 40 lines.
Deadline: 2 September 2026
Length: 1-3 poems (see guidelines)
Pay: $4/line of poetry
Details here and here.

Liars’ League: Rag & Bone
They want themed short fiction in any genre – flash fiction, short stories. and novel extracts (so long as they can stand alone). One of their upcoming themes is Rag & Bone: “Spooky season calls: will you answer? Our Halloween special is always a favourite and we can’t wait to see what you dig up this October, from Gen-Z zombies to skeletons in closets, or anything else that creeps the flesh and fits the theme. We accept unpublished short fiction of 800-2000 words in any genre (not just horror!) & will consider flash fiction, short stories & novel extracts so long as they can stand alone.” Apart from cash payment, Liars’ League offers reading of your story by a professional actor, as well as podcast, video and online publication of your work.
Deadline: 6^th September 2026
Length: 800-2,000 words
Pay: £20
Details here and here.
(Liars’ League has another theme listed too, with a later deadline; Grit & Glitter, their Christmas theme, has a 1^st November submission deadline; details here.)

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Three themes
They publish themed nonfiction prose and nonfiction poetry. A couple of upcoming themes are:

• Count your blessings: “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.” Some suggested topics are: How do you count your blessings?; How do you express your gratitude for your blessings?; How does doing good for others become a blessing in your own life?; What made you realize that your life is good and that you are grateful for it?; And more. The submission deadline for Count Your Blessings is 15^th September 2026 (extended)
• Random acts of kindness: “Small gestures can make a big difference in someone's day, even in someone's life. … 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.” Some suggested topics are: How an act of kindness you received changed your life or changed you as a person; Performing an act of kindness for a total stranger; The unexpected benefits of doing something kind for someone; Changing your life by doing one random act of kindness each day; Turning negative into positive; Having someone go above and beyond for you. The deadline for Random Acts of Kindness is 30^th September 2026 (extended).
• Stories About Using Positive Thinking: “So much more is possible if you use positive thinking. Staying upbeat and using positive thinking doesn't mean you ignore the seriousness of a situation. But expecting things to go well rather than expecting the worst does make a difference. Change is possible if you change your thinking from negative to positive.
  We are looking for stories of optimism, faith and strength to encourage our readers to use positive thinking.” Some suggested topics are: The unexpected benefits of challenges; Putting things in perspective; Lighten up and laugh!; What made you realize that your life is good and that you are grateful for it; Silver linings that you have discovered. The deadline for Stories About Positive Thinking is 30^th September 2026 (extended).

There are other themes too, with later deadlines.
Deadlines: See above
Length: Up to 1,200 words
Pay: $250
Details here and here (also see other tabs on this page, including FAQ).

Farlands Fiction: Space Ace
This is a fiction anthology. “The theme of the anthology is Space Ace, focussing on asexual and aromantic representation in science fiction. We are inviting authors to submit your science fiction short stories featuring asexual and aromantic characters.
The rules for submissions are as follows:

• Stories must by science fiction in genre and in some way connected to the theme of space, but you are welcome to interpret that theme as broadly as you wish.
• Stories must feature at least one asexual and/or aromantic character in a prominent role. This is inclusive of related identities within the wider asexual spectrum such as demi-sexual, demi-romantic, grey-ace. While we are primarily looking for human representation, we will consider stories with non-human (e.g. alien, robot, sentient computer, etc.) aromantic or asexual characters if the quality of the story is able to catch our attention.”

Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Length: 1,000-10,000 words
Pay: £0.02/word
Details here.

Independence Literary Review: Healthcare and Healing Folio
This literary magazine is affiliated with Baylor University; they publish online and in print. They accept unthemed nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, and art, and also works for the Healthcare and Healing folio. “Our first themed folio, “Healthcare and Healing,” will feature your creative explorations of healthcare, illness, and healing in their manifold forms. We want work that opens new windows of understanding into the body and the mind and the ways they can rupture, be repaired, be reconfigured, and be re-understood. We want to facilitate a conversation about what it means to care for ourselves and others with compassion, and the ways in which art can be a beacon of light in the process.” Prose can be flash length or longer; and regarding nonfiction, “in addition to personal essays, lyric essays, essays on place, and cultural criticism, we welcome graphic essays and speculative memoir.”
Deadline: 1 October 2026
Length: Up to 5 poems, up to 1,000 words for flash prose, up to 7,500 words for short prose
Pay: $50-200
Details here and here.

Consequence Magazine: The America Feature; the Iran Feature
They publish work “that addresses the human experiences, realities, and consequences of war and geopolitical violence through literature and art.” They accept fiction (including flash and excerpts), nonfiction (interviews, essays, and narrative nonfiction), poetry, translations, and art. All works will be considered for online and print.
They’re also reading submissions for two special features: The America Feature (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art – “for a special feature on America that documents, illustrates, or addresses geopolitical violence in the United States”), and The Iran Feature (translations – “Consequence Forum invites previously unpublished translations from Farsi into English that examine the manifold human, cultural, psychological, or historical consequences of war in Iran”), apart from unthemed work. See their Duosuma for details on these features.
Deadline: 15^th October 2026
Length: Varies
Pay: $30-50 for print prose, $40 for online prose, $20-30 for poetry
Details here and here

Room Magazine: Belonging
This Canadian magazine accepts work by persons of marginalized genders only, including but not limited to women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. “Send us your takes on belonging, not belonging, longing to belong, otherness, belonging on the fringe, belonging to the future, the past, the now. We welcome your imaginings, experiences, dreams, and fears of belonging in all their manifestations and intersections: poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction as always, but we're also eager to read your comics, hybrids, graphic essays, and other forms that resist and defy the boundaries of belonging in the art world.” They have different submission categories for US and Canadian writers; at the time of writing, they were still open for all categories for Canadian writers, and for CNF for non-Canadian writers. Submissions will close by categories when they fill.
Deadline: Until filled
Length: Up to 3,500 words for prose, up to 5 poems
Pay: CAD50-200 for writing
Details here and here.
(They’re also open for a fiction contest, which has a submission fee.)

-- The Derricotte/Eady Prize: For chapbook-length poetry manuscripts by Black poets (see guidelines); awards $1,000, publication, a residency at The Writer’s Room at The Betsy Hotel-South Beach, and a featured reading at the O, Miami Festival in April. Submissions must be 25-30 pages. Submissions for the 2027 and 2028 prizes will run concurrently; deadline: 7 August 2026; details here.

-- Waterford Poetry Prize: For a poem of up to 40 lines, by a poet living in Ireland. Awards €600, €400, €300; deadline: 14 August 2026; details here

-- John McGahern Award: For emerging writers of fiction resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Applicants must have had some fiction or short stories published in a recognised journal or anthology selected by an established publisher or editor. Application includes three samples of recent separate work of up to 500 words each. Awards €2,500; deadline: 16 August 2026; details here.

-- Lunch Ticket: The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Texts: Translators and authors of multilingual texts are encouraged to submit their work for The Gabo Prize. Writers should indicate whether the translation falls under poetry or prose, and include the original work along with your translation. Original, bilingual work qualifies for the Gabo Prize. Prize: $200, deadline 31 August 2026; details here. (They also usually run the Diana Woods Award for Creative Nonfiction, but the submission portal has not opened for that category at the time of writing.)

-- Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen Scholarship: For professionals various disciplines, including literature and art. Collectives can also apply; awards €1,500 per month (less rental and operational cost) for individuals, residency at Schöppingen, Germany; up to €3,000 for collectives; deadline 31 August 2026; details here and here

-- The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award: Offer publication for two short story collections. Manuscripts must be at least 150 pages. They offer a standard publishing contract. Both winning manuscripts get publication under a standard University of Iowa Press contract. The prize is open for writers who have not published a volume of prose fiction. Deadline: 31 August 2026; details here.

-- Amazon: Kindle Storyteller Award: An international award for those who publish their work through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing in English in any genre; the book must be available for sale in both digital and print versions through the KDP Select program between 1^st May and 31^st August 2026, must be at least 24 pages long, and can have a maximum of 2 co-authors; readers play a significant role in winner selection (see Terms & Conditions – which also lists ineligible countries/nationalities – and General Competition Questions / FAQ). Awards £20,000; deadline: 31 August 2026; details here.

-- PEN/Robert J Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers: An award for 12 emerging fiction writers for their debut short story published during a given calendar year in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website. Submitted stories must be published or forthcoming in the current calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 2026). Awards $2,000 each; deadline: 1 September 2026; details here and here.

-- Surel’s Place: An Artist in Residence Program: These are month-long residencies at Boise. “The program is open to professional visual, literary, and performance artists: painters, writers, musicians, architects, filmmakers, and choreographers… any artist who needs a place to focus. … because we ask our residents to interact with the public through one workshop and one final event, we welcome artists who desire to connect with an audience in these ways.” A spouse/partner can accompany the artist (see guidelines), but not children or pets. Please read their terms carefully, including commission on all sales emanating from your residency. Writing samples are part of the literary applicants’ requirements (see guidelines); awards a residency, $100/week + $300 travel stipend; deadline: 1 September 2026 (For residencies that occur during January-May of the following year); details here.

Ligonier Valley Writers’ Flash Fiction Contest
Submissions are open for their 21st annual Flash Fiction Contest, which awards cash prizes and does not charge an entry fee.
“This year's Halloween-themed topic is: What’s Behind the Door?
Send us your spookiest, ookiest, funniest, goriest story.
One prose piece no longer than 1,000 words. (Please, no poetry.)” Please note that apart from the three winners, the shortlisted writers’ stories will also be published on their website. “All six winning stories will be edited by a professional editor. Their authors will also receive a one-year complimentary membership to Ligonier Valley Writers. We’ll hold a Flash Fiction reading event shortly before Halloween.” Submission is via a form.
Value: $50, $25, $15
Deadline: 15 August 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here and here

Faber: The FAB Prize
This is for undiscovered BAME writers and illustrators, for books aimed at children. Entrants must be of black, Asian or minority ethnic background and UK- or Ireland-based. For writers, they want a maximum of 5,000 words of text (no minimum word count). Also, “There is no minimum word count and the maximum 5,000 words can be a sample of a longer work – it does not have to be a short story (though those are welcome too!)
We strongly advise you to complete your work as much as you can, even if you do not enter the whole manuscript: after the ceremony agents will request the full manuscript, so in order to get the most out of the prize, it is best to have the whole manuscript ready to go.
Please send in the complete story if the text is for a picture book. (Picture books should not be longer than 5000 words).” Entries must be text or artwork for children.
Value: £1,500 for the winner, £500 for the second place winner, and other non-cash prizes
Deadline: 21 August 2026
Open for: undiscovered BAME children’s writers in UK/Ireland
Details here.

Ink of Ages Fiction Prize
The contest accepts historical and mythological short stories. For historical fiction: “A story set at least fifty years ago, which takes the social, political, or cultural atmosphere of the past into consideration. Alternative history – events that could have happened – is allowed, but no time travel.
Stories set in prehistory, before written records, are welcome if they plausibly evoke the lived experience, worldview, or oral traditions of that time.”
For mythological fiction: “A story set in the past, at least fifty years ago for this contest, which clearly draws from a myth, mythic figure, or cultural belief e.g., Circe from Greek Mythology, or Ravana from Southeast Asia, yakkas from Sri Lankan folklore.
Stories do not need to be set in the time or place of the original myth.
Fantasy elements are welcome, but stories must remain rooted in specific mythological or folkloric traditions.
Global myths and oral traditions are encouraged; not all cultures had vast pantheons.”
They have two age categories: adults and youth (13-17 years), and “Each author may submit one story strictly between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Youth entries are strictly between 800–1,000 words.” The prize is run by World History Encyclopedia and sponsored by Oxford University Press. Please read the Licensing Terms and Conditions on their submission form carefully.
Value: $500 for the winner in the adults category; second and third prizes are $100 and $50 respectively to spend in the WHE store; youth winner gets custom artwork inspired by their story
Deadline: 22 August 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here, here, and here

Fondation Jan Michalski Residencies for Writers
These are residencies at the foot of the Jura mountains in Montricher, Switzerland, and they are open to all types of writers engaged in literary creation. While they give priority to writers and translators, they are also open to any other discipline as long as writing is at the heart of the project. “A percentage of the residencies are dedicated to nature writing, a form of fiction or creative non-fiction that raises awareness of nature, prepares for a sustainable future, and helps to better understand socio-environmental interconnections and the impact of human actions on nature.” There are no age or nationality restrictions. Writers working on a project with a collaborator can apply in pairs. Applications can be in English or French. Excerpts from your writing, both current and previous, can be in any language.
Value: Round-trip travel, CHF400 per week
Deadline: 31 August 2026 (17:00 CET time)
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

The Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing: Titles
This year, they want stories on the ‘Titles’ theme; they “we invite writers to create unique stories that are shaped by, and reflect, the title they choose.
A title is often the first doorway into a story. It can suggest mood, setting, character, conflict, or mystery. A strong title can stay with a reader long after the final page, and for this competition we want entries that show how powerfully a title can inspire a story of its own.” For this round, they also say, “Story requirement: Entries must be based on the title of one of Val Wood’s books, and the story must clearly reflect the chosen title.” Regarding genre, they say, “Any (except poetry or brutality/graphic/violent content)”. Please see their detailed guidelines. They want works of up to 1,500 words. The competition is open to anyone over 16 years of age.
Value: £100
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here.

Preservation Foundation Contest: Biographical non-fiction
This is an international contest for unpublished writers (those who have never published extensively in any form and have never earned over $250.00 by their writing skills in any single year – see guidelines). Their upcoming deadline is for the biographical non-fiction category: “A biographical entry must be a true story of an individual(s) known to the author personally--not a fictional or historical character. Autobiography, of course, must be a true story about the author's life, the whole or an episode. Biographical stories, especially those from older people, or about them by children and grandchildren, are especially appropriate for our mission--to "preserve the extraordinary stories of 'ordinary' people." ”
Entries should be 1,000-5,000 words. They want all entries, regardless of whether or not they win, to be on their website as long as the Foundation exists (see guidelines).
Value: $200, $100
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Open for: Unpublished writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
(They’re also open for the Travel Nonfiction contest for unpublished writers, deadline end-October.)

Climate Playwriting Prize
This is an award for a full-length play (70 minutes or longer) by a UK-based playwright on the climate crisis. “We are looking for the best plays that engage meaningfully with the climate crisis.
For this prize, ‘climate’ is defined expansively: it includes the natural world and environmental change, but also the social, political, and cultural conditions connected to it. We are open to all approaches to this subject matter: the climate should be an important dramaturgical element of the play, with an impact on character and/or plot, but it doesn’t need to be the only theme. We are particularly interested in plays that go beyond explaining the problem, to explore what responding to the crisis means for us as people.” They also say, “Although the Globe is leading the prize, we encourage playwrights to develop scripts without a specific stage in mind – the prize producers will support the onward journey of the play to the most appropriate home.” And, “The Globe will option the winning play for production, with an aspiration to produce. Alternatively the award producers will support the writer to find a suitable home for the play.” Longlisted writers will receive short written feedback. Shortlisted writers will receive feedback in person.
Value: £15,000
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Open for: UK-based playwrights
Details here.

The Academy for Teachers – Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest
They want honest, unsentimental stories, of 6-499 words, about teachers and schools. The contest is open to all writers, whether or not they are a teacher. The story’s protagonist or narrator must be a K-12 teacher. Sentimentality is discouraged and education jargon is forbidden. The winning story will be published in Epiphany Magazine, and receive a cash prize.
Value: $1,000, and publication
Deadline: 6 September 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here.

-- Academy of American Poets: Ambroggio Prize: This is an opportunity for US poets. They want a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. Poets may translate their own work or collaborate with a translator who may or may not be a poet; the poet and translator must share the prize. The original manuscript in Spanish must be between 48 and 100 pages. Their website also says, established in 2017, the Ambroggio Prize is the only annual award of its kind in the United States that honors American poets whose first language is Spanish. The prize is $1,000 and publication; the deadline is 15 September 2026. Details here and here. The Academy of American Poets has other awards as well, both fee-free and fee-based – see their Submittable for all open calls.

-- The Camargo Fellowship: This is their flagship program; a residency at Cassis, France is for artists (including writers, playwrights and translators) and scholars/thinkers, to think, create and connect. Applicants should have a publication and/or grant track record. Teams of up to 3 people can apply. They also welcome spouses/partners and dependent minor children – see guidelines. Fellowships span 10 weeks. The award is €350 per week (€3,500 for 10 weeks), basic coach class travel booked in advance for the fellow (see guidelines), and the deadline is 1 October 2026 (Webinar for interested participants on 3^rd September – see the notice on their Submittable); details here, here, and here. They also say, “Please note that this year's call will be the last to take place through an open public call. Beginning in July 2027, the Camargo Foundation will implement a new selection process that will no longer be based on a public open call. This change is the result of a long process of collective reflection. If you are considering applying for a residency in Fall 2027 or Spring 2028, we encourage you to do so through the current open call.”
(Camargo has several other programs, divided into various types; Stopovers, Incubators, Horizons, In the Long Run, and Impromptus; click on them to see the various programs they offer under each category. Their open calls are here.)