These are themed calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for 39 outlets; some outlets are open more than one call. Some of the themed calls are: burning up/burning down; blight; home; overcoming; Carpe Noctem; freedom; brides of Dracula; uncharted waters; AI, Robot; and gifts.
Deathcap & Hemlock: Winter Holidays
They want writing with speculative elements, fashioned in the style of a recipe. They want winter holiday stories. Their general submission guidelines are, “Send us your darkest goulash, your most violent sachertorte, your transformative aperitif. Pass down your great-aunt’s potluck dish for a party that ended … poorly. We are a cookbook for a dreadful feast, in the style of a recipe blog.” And “Recipes that hint at a deeper narrative without violating the recipe structure will catch our eye. We are looking for short pieces, formatted like actual recipes (ingredients list, steps, measurements (metric, imperial; weight or volume—you decide!)).” Also, “We are not looking for stories about food or prose descriptions of how to make something. We are also not looking for anything that threatens actual people or real recipes for a poison that could be followed by readers. This is not a how-to site: we want speculative elements, we want recipes that ignite imagination (not felonies).” For the winter holidays theme, they say, ““Winter holiday” means any holiday celebrated in winter. Solstice, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, Three King’s Day, Diwali, St. Lucia— give us snow-bitten feasts and frosty treats (or hot Christmas lights on the beach: if you feel good about calling it a winter holiday, send it on over). Have a look at the Cookbook to see what we featured last year. We’re unlikely to repeat similar ideas.”
Deadline: 7 November 2023
Length: Up to 1,000 words (prefer 200-400 words)
Pay: $10
Details here.
Prairie Fire: Burning Up / Burning Down
This Canadian literary magazine wants submissions on the ‘Burning Up / Burning Down’ theme, from writers all over the world. “This past summer, especially in Canada, we saw A LOT of fire. So much so that this year’s fire season saw the largest area burned in Canada’s history. Globally, the planet continues to heat up, and we saw a record number of heat related deaths, mostly in Europe. And, as temperatures rise, we’re seeing an increase in violence, war, crime and hate speech. In one way or another, we were all affected by fires. Some of us lived through evacuations, devastating losses, or knew and worried for those who had/have. There’s almost no one that wasn’t in some way affected by the smoke and air pollution. Our bodies, like the planet, can’t exist with too much heat, or too much cold. The underbelly of fire, is positive. …Fire brings, and holds us together. Fire helps us to cook and digest food, kills viruses and infection, forges metals, and heats our homes. …Yet, this year, seeing the fire element so out of balance, is disconcerting, frightening, and we wanted to do something in response. So, we are asking you to share your stories of fire, whether literal fires, metaphorical ones (lighting a fire under you, fanning the flames, acting in the heat of the moment), and spiritual ones (trial by fire, hearts aflame).”
Deadline: 10 November 2023
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, up to 3 poems for the themed call
Pay: CAD0.10/word up to CAD250 for print prose, and CAD40/poem Details here, here, and here.
Book XI: A Journal of Literary Philosophy – Books, reading, and being read
Book XI publishes personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. They want submissions on the ‘Books, reading, and being read’ theme. They want prose of 2,000 and 7,000 words, but will also consider shorter and longer works (see guidelines). They are affiliated with Hamilton College’s Arthur Levitt Center for Public Affairs.
Deadline: 10 November 2023, or until filled
Length: See above
Pay: $200 for prose and $50 for poems
Details here and here.
Flame Tree: Elemental Forces Anthology
Flame Tree is accepting submissions for an unthemed horror anthology titled Elemental Forces. They want all sorts of horror content. They want only original stories, not reprints, for this anthology, which will be published in hardcover and paperback.
Deadline: 14 November 2023
Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
Two for the Show Anthology
This is a fiction anthology; they want submissions from writers with a US mailing address only. For Two for the Show theme, they say, “Two times the trouble. Two times the love. Two locations. Dual POVs. Dual time lines. We’re expecting things to get a little complicated this year, but we still want stories that excite us. Our goal is to introduce our readers to stories that could be mind bending, but also clear and easy to read.
A short, sweet and simple story is good too!”
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Length: Up to 10,000 words
Pay: 1.5 cents/word
Details here.
Apparition Lit: Blight
Apparition Lit is a quarterly speculative fiction and poetry magazine. “Speculative fiction is weird, almost unclassifiable. It’s fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and literary.” They run themed issues. They usually have a two-week open submission period for all writers every quarter, which extends by a week for BIPOC writers; also see the note about their equity initiative in the guidelines here (scroll down) – “Our submission window will remain open for an additional week each quarter for writers who identify as BIPOC and self-identify in their cover letter.
We will also accept simultaneous submissions from writers who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQIA+. Please just note how you identify in your cover letter, that it is a simultaneous submission.” They will accept submissions on the ‘Blight’ theme during the second half of November.
Reading period: 15-30 November 2023
Length: 1,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to 5 poems
Pay: $0.05/word for fiction, and $50/poem
Details here and here.
(They also publish flash fiction online on monthly prompts, during the first fortnight of every month.)
Empyrean Tree Literary Magazine: Home
Their website says, “Our main focus is genre fiction, prioritizing on character-focused stories. From high, regal (or gross depending on how wealthy you were) fantasy to seeing bits of magic spark in a familiar, urban light, to weird machinations of science and technology that stretches to the unknown limit of humanity, we hope to build a refuge and haven for these kind of stories. … The main key difference that will separate us from other genre fiction stories, is that we’re looking for stories that bring comfort.” They want submissions on the ‘Home’ theme for their first issue. “What does it mean to be at home? Does home exist within people? Within a place? Is it a location that is familiar? If so, how is it possible one can find immediate connection to an unfamiliar world that speaks and calls to them? Is home a place of joy that strikes our hearts with glee? Or is it simply reminders of where we came from, and the chains we used to carry. Our very first issue will focus on the meaning that comes from home.”
Deadline: 12 November 2023
Length: 1,000-15,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here and here.
Decapitate!
This magazine, from Third Estate Art, was formerly called Quaranzine. “Third Estate Art is an arts collective that seeks to create and promote connections between art and social justice. Everything we publish in Decapitate must be related to a social justice theme in some way. Think climate change, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA+ rights, feminism (intersectional or GTFO), disability rights, our descent into fascism, abolishing ICE, and so on. The possibilities are—unfortunately—endless.” And, “We’ll take submissions of stories, essays, Bandcamp links, visual art, artist talks, performances, instructional videos, comics, poems, and anything else that we can reasonably put into this format.” They’ll publish weekly.
Deadline: 14 November 2023
Length: One story; up to three poems
Pay: $25
Details here.
Cloaked Press: Spring into SciFi – Volume 6
This is an annual science fiction anthology. ““Spring Into SciFi” will contain stories of Space Exploration, Advanced Technology, AI, Cloning, Robotics and of course, Aliens.”
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Length: 2,500-9,000 words
Pay: $15
Details here.
Intrepidus Ink: Two themes
This is a fiction magazine. “We explore intrepid culture: our stories feature danger elements, struggle, emotion, and OVERCOMING. Our stories are intrepid first and not subordinated to other themes.
We accept many genres and writing styles, including literary, speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy), literary speculative fiction, action and adventure, romance, magic realism, historical fiction, and others. We love odd, quirky, experimental stories and humor.” They want submissions on Intrepidus–undaunted and Overcoming themes.
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Length: 300-1,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word for stories of 300-1,000 words, and $30 for stories of 1,500-2,500 words
Details here.
Horns and Rattles Press: Flora & Fungi
This is a horror fiction anthology, and the theme is Flora & Fungi. Apart from cash payment, contributors also get a copy – they will cover shipping costs up to $20. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 18 November 2023
Length: Up to 4,000 words
Pay: $20
Details here and here.
Rough Cut Press: Withhold
They publish short prose from the LGBTQIA community, and have monthly themed submission calls. Send short prose on the ‘Withhold’ theme.
Deadline: 27 November 2023
Length: Up to 650 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Dismantle Magazine
They publish essays, prose, poetry, art, and also say, “Have an idea or a submission that doesn’t fit within our categories? (i.e. Essays, Prose, Poetry, Art) Try us. We’re in the business of bending the rules.” Writers can send pitches or complete submissions. “Fashion and pop culture are important parts of everyday life and politics, but we don’t often have opportunities to dig deep into how these things connect us to larger communities and power structures. Dismantle Magazine is all about how understanding fashion, pop culture and social issues can help us dismantle systems of oppression. We feature the work of writers, scholars, activists, and artists in a supportive, collaborative environment.”
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Length: Unspecified
Pay: $100 for articles over 1,000 words
Details here and here.
Tyche Books: Carpe Noctem Anthology
This is a fiction and poetry anthology. “Night is practically another world. Owls and bats steal the sky from songbirds, nocturnal creatures thrive under the moonlight, and night-blooming plants flourish away from most human eyes. As the saying goes: people aren’t truly afraid of the dark – they fear what could be in the darkness with them. And the list of legends and stories about the things that go bump in the night is extensive indeed.
Carpe Noctem will be an anthology of stories and poems about darkness, night, and the multitude of things that thrive (or hide) in those elements. We are seeking stories beyond those simply set during the night or in a dark place, and that delve into tales of the nocturnal and – as the title would imply – really seize the night as a critical element of their stories, perhaps even as a character itself.
We are seeking submissions with a focus on characters, narrative, originality, and ‘own voices’.”
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Length: Up to 5,500 words
Pay: CAD50 for fiction, CAD20 for poetry
Details here.
Blue Planet Press: Space is the Place
This is a young adult (YA) science fiction anthology. “Stories should take place OFF Earth. Other planets, starships, space stations, the moon, all ok.”
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Length: 6,000-10,000 words
Pay: Half a cent per word, up to $50
Details here.
Parabola: Freedom
Parabola is a quarterly journal that explores the quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world’s myths, symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern life. “We look for lively, penetrating material unencumbered by jargon or academic argument. We prefer well-researched, objective, and unsentimental pieces that are grounded in one or more religious or cultural tradition; articles that focus on dreams, visions, or other very personal experiences are unlikely to be accepted.” They publish book reviews (500 words), articles and translations (1,000-3,000 words), retellings of traditional stories (500-1,500 words), forum contributions (up to 500 words), and poetry (up to 5 poems). The theme for their next issue, Spring 2024, is ‘Freedom’. They pay.
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Length: See above
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Eternal Haunted Summer: Horror
Eternal Haunted Summer is a publication about the gods and goddesses and heroes of the world’s many pagan traditions. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and reviews. They are reading work on the ‘Horror’ theme. “Fear. Trepidation. Terror and revulsion. Send us your best scary poems and stories inspired by the world’s polytheistic mythologies and spiritual traditions. Send us poems about sailors journeying between Scylla and Charybdis. Send us short stories about the youth of Athens facing the Minotaur. Send us poems about Yūrei and stories about the Headless Mule. Send us essays about the literary evolution of redcaps, the transformation of indigenous spirits into demons, the use of Western spirituality in Eastern horror movies. Violence and gore must be appropriate to the story. We want horror, not splatterpunk. [Please note: we are not averse to pieces featuring vampires and werewolves. However, any such submissions must be firmly grounded in an ancient or extant polytheistic/Pagan tradition.]”
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Length: Any length (see guidelines)
Pay: $5
Details here.
Death in the Mouth Anthology
This is a “horror anthology series showcasing BIPOC and other ethnically marginalized writers and artists from around the world! It will feature twenty prose stories spanning from the terrifying mythic past to the unnerving far future, real and fictive worlds, and explore unique and unsettling manifestations of horror.” The are accepting fiction submissions, and art portfolios. They want work from “Authors who identify as BIPOC or, outside of US-American context, anyone who is from a marginalized ethnicity (eg. Roma, Sámi, Nenets would also fall under this umbrella etc)”.
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Length: 1,000-6,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here and here
Big Wing Review
This is a new magazine, and they are reading for their inaugural print + online issue. They want poetry, prose, spoken word, and visual art works. For this issue, they want “work that explores nature and our relationship with it.”
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Length: Up to 1,000 words for prose, up to 6 poems
Pay: $25
Details here.
DBS Press: Dracula Beyond Stoker – The Brides of Dracula
Dracula Beyond Stoker publishes fiction issues (with some poetry) featuring characters and more from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. You can read about them here. For their upcoming submission period, they want work on ‘The Brides of Dracula’. “We like stories that feel like they could be canon, but we also enjoy fun alternate takes and pastiche. Prequels, sequels, updates, divergent timelines – unleash your creative powers of darkness and show us something exciting.” Pay is $0.05/word for stories of 1,500-5,000 words.
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Length: 1,500-5,000 words
Pay: $0.05/word
Details here.
JayHenge Publishing: Four themes
They want submissions for some speculative fiction anthologies.
— Sunshine Superhighway: Solar Sailings: “A new anthology in the spirit of looking forward with a positive outlook. Solarpunk, cyberpunk, other planets, alternate worlds that might be nearly lost through our own hubris; futuristic fantasy and speculative-fiction stories of all kinds that are hopeful and leave us with the idea that despite the doom and gloom in the universe, things can possibly work out if we use TECHNOLOGY to strive to make life better, even if in a small way.” Deadline 31 December 2023.
— The Kafka Protocol & the Burden of Compliance: “Do you have a story to tell about the struggles of navigating an endless sea of paperwork, the tedium and surrealism of bureaucratic procedures, the tyranny of faceless institutions, or some other aspect of the absurdity of Kafka-esque politics? We are excited to read your speculative fiction (SFF+) submissions and to bring together a collection of stories that will transport readers to a world that is both bizarre and thought-provoking.” Deadline: Until filled
— The Pelagic Zone: Uncharted Waters: “This planet (and surely others like it) are mostly covered in water, and while we know a bit about life there, what mysteries might still lie far down within its depths? From gripping narratives that explore the ocean, the discovery of lost civilizations, or the dangers of creating underwater colonies, we are seeking stories that examine those worlds, and transport readers to a place that is both familiar and fantastical. Send us your speculative fiction (SFF+) tales of the underwater!” Deadline: Until filled
— AI, Robot: Imaginative writers, your speculative tales of AI and robotics are needed for our “AI, Robot” anthology. Delve into a future of sentient devices, smart homes, and moral machines. Dazzle us with your stories that ask big questions about consciousness, morality, and the nature of intelligence. Send us narratives that excite, provoke, and inspire. Let your storytelling intertwine with the possibilities and pitfalls of advanced technology. Send us your stories!“ Deadline: Until filled
Deadlines (for all JayHenge anthologies): See above
Length: Up to 15,000 words (can publish longer – see guidelines)
Pay: $5 per 1,000 words
Details here and here.
Workers Write!
Their website says, “Issue 20 of Workers Write! will be Further Tales from the Cubicle and will contain fiction and poems from the office worker’s point of view – we’re especially interested to see how the home office has taken on a new meaning because of Covid and what it’s been like for those of us who have returned to the annoying commutes and communal bathrooms.”
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Length: 500-5,000 words
Pay: $5-50
Details here.
Also see their Overtime! Series of chapbooks for longer workplace-related fiction; writers can send submissions or queries for works of 5,000-10,000 words, pay is $40-60, details here.
Full Bleed: Home
Full Bleed is an annual print journal devoted to the intersection of the visual and literary arts. For this issue, they only want submissions from writers who identify as parents or grandparents (though submissions need not address parenting or related topics), on the ‘Home’ theme. They publish portfolios of visual art, belle-lettres, art criticism, fiction, poetry, and graphic essays. “We are always happy to feature innovative projects combining word, image, and design; collaborations between writers and artists; ekphrastic creations; and groundbreaking critical essays.” On the Home theme, they say, “we are especially, though not exclusively, interested in work that explores the meaning of home (or habitat), for human and non-human life, at a time of rapid ecological change, and in an era of acute, ongoing refugee and humanitarian crises. We’d also welcome work that considers the aesthetics of home, the discovery or creation of new homes, homesickness, working from home, chosen families, home-in-exile, housing insecurity, and any other angles on the theme that attract your curiosity.”
Deadline: 10 January 2024
Length: Up to 7,000 words for prose, up to 5 poems
Pay: $100 for prose / art, $50 for poetry
Details here.
Talk Vomit: Gifts
Their website says, “Talk Vomit is a women-owned and run online literary art zine based out of Massachusetts that harbors a willful longing for when the internet was still fun. We publish essays, short stories, visual art and genre-bending ruminations.” They want work on the Gifts theme for the Winter 2023 issue. They publish quarterly. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: Unspecified
Length: Up to 4,000 words for nonfiction, up to 2,000 words for fiction, up to 2 poems
Pay: $5-15
Details here.
The Christian Science Monitor: The Home Forum
This news organization accepts pitches from freelancers and writers, and complete submissions for The Home Forum, where they want “upbeat personal essays of from 600 to 1,000 words. We recently began accepting short poetry submissions, as well. … For time-sensitive material (seasonal, news-related, holiday- or event-themed), you must submit at least SIX WEEKS in advance.” Also, “These are first-person, nonfiction explorations of how you responded to a place, a person, a situation, an event, or happenings in everyday life. Tell a story with a point; share a funny true tale. Describe a self-discovery. The humor should be gentle.
We accept essays on a wide variety of subjects and encourage timely, newsy topics. However, we don’t deal with the topics of death, aging, medicine, or disease. We do not publish work that presents people in helpless or hopeless states.” Please read some of the essays to see if your work is a good fit.
Deadline: Ongoing
Length: 600-1,000 words for essays
Pay: $400 for essays, $200-250 for poetry
Details here.
THEMED CONTESTS
Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest
This is an annual contest, they want flash fiction or narrative poetry about weird Christmas. There are three prompts the writers can choose to write on: stocking stuffer (any weird Christmas story), weird Christmas specials (take a well known Christmas show … and mess it up), and weird cards (use a weird Christmas card the editor has posted, as a prompt) – see guidelines for details. Writers can send multiple entries. Stories have to be up to 350 words.
Value: $75 first prize for the best overall story, $50 prize for a winner in each prompt, and $5 for every honorable mention (10-12)
Deadline: 6 November 2023
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Patrick Henry Fellowship
This fellowship is from the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. It is for those working on American history and/or legacy. The residential fellowship supports work on the subject by both scholars and non-academics in many genres. Applicants should have a significant project currently in progress — a book, film, oral history archive, podcast series, museum exhibition, or similar work. The project should address the history and/or legacy – broadly defined – of the U.S. founding era and/or the nation’s founding ideas.
Value: $45,000, health benefits, book allowance, faculty privileges, residency
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival: Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize
This prize will be awarded to a Brooklyn- focused non-fiction essay which is set in Brooklyn and is about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. “We are seeking compelling Brooklyn stories from writers with a broad range of backgrounds and ages (minimum age 18 years old) who can render Brooklyn’s rich soul and intangible qualities through the writer’s actual experiences in Brooklyn.” Essays have to be 4-10 pages (up to 2,500 words).
Value: $500
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
Academy of American Poets: Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize
This prize is given to honor exceptional poems that help make real for readers the gravity of the vulnerable state of our environment at present; poets may submit one poem. It is for US writers (see guidelines). In addition to the prize money, all three poems will be published in the popular Poem-a-day series.
Value: $1,000, $750, $500
Deadline: 15 November 2023
Open for: US poets (see guidelines)
Details here and here (Submittable)
The One Teen Short Story Contest
This contest is open for short fiction by writers around the world ages 13-19. There are three categories, ages 14-15, 16-17, and 18-19. About the kind of stories they want, they say, “We are interested in great short stories of any genre about the teen experience—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, horror, etc. What’s in a great short story? Interesting teen characters, strong writing, and a beginning, middle, and end.” Also, they want “Some examples of stories we look out for are ones that deal with issues of identity, friendship, family, and coming-of-age. Gratuitous profanity, sex, and drug use are best avoided. We’re open to all genres of well-written young adult fiction between 2,000 and 4,500 words. Because of our format, we can only accept stories that are strong enough to stand alone (as opposed to excerpts from novels-in-progress).” They also accept translations (see guidelines). A parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form for writers under 18. Apart from cash prizes, winners get 25 copies of the magazine featuring their work. The contest winners will also have the opportunity to work with a One Teen Story editor prior to publication.
Value: $500
Deadline: 27 November 2022
Open for: All teen writers
Details here and here.
Speculative Literature Foundation’s Gulliver Travel Grant
This grant is to help writers of speculative literature (in fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction) in their non-academic research. It is to be used to cover airfare, lodging, and/or other travel expenses. Writing samples (speculative literature) are part of the application requirement (see guidelines). This grant is awarded on the basis of interest and merit. Applicants need not have prior publishing credits to apply. The application portal for this grant will open during the submission period. They also have other grant submission periods coming up.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: All writers
Details here (Gulliver Travel Grant) and here (schedule for all grants).
Dappled Things: The J. F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction
Dappled Things is a space for emerging writers to engage the literary world from a Catholic perspective. For this contest, they want stories of up to 8,000 words “with vivid characters who encounter grace in everyday settings—we want to see who, in the age we live in, might have one foot in this world and one in the next.”
Value: $500, $250
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Society of Authors: The Betty Trask Prize
This is for UK, Ireland, or Commonwealth based writers under 35, for a debut novel. Writers can enter a published or self-published book or an unpublished manuscript which must be in a traditional or romantic, and not experimental, style.
Value: £10,000 for the winner, and a fund of £16,200 will be divided equally between shortlisted authors
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: UK, North Ireland, Commonwealth writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition
This is an international contest for novel manuscripts in the malice domestic genre, for writers who have never been the author of any published mystery novel. “Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Whatever violence is necessarily involved should be neither excessive nor gratuitously detailed, nor is there to be explicit sex. The suspects and the victims should know each other. There are a limited number of suspects, each of whom has a credible motive and reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime. The person who solves the crime is the central character. The “detective” is an amateur, or, if a professional (private investigator, police officer) is not hardboiled and is as fully developed as the other characters. The detective may find him or herself in serious peril, but he or she does not get beaten up to any serious extent. All of the cast represent themselves as individuals, rather than large impersonal institutions like a national government, the mafia, the CIA, etc.” The work must be at least 65,000 words. Minotaur is an imprint of Macmillan.
Value: $10,000 advance against royalties
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: All writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize
This prize is for young UK-based writers. They want fiction or non-fiction of 1,000-1,500 words on the relevance of Benjamin Franklin’s relevance in our time. The quote for this year’s competition is “Government must depend for its Efficiency either on Force or Opinion.” From ‘The Colonist’s advocate’, VII. (Feb 1, 1770). Writers are asked to interpret this quote for its significance today.
Value: £750, £500
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: UK writers aged 18-35
Details here.
U.S. Naval Institute – Information Warfare Essay Contest
This prize is for an essay of up to 2,500 words, presumably for US writers. “The Nation’s adversaries and competitors are proving to be formidable in the digital battlespace—using online platforms, social media, malicious code, disinformation, and cyberattacks to undermine elections, steal intellectual property, spy on governments, sow discord, and weaken alliances. Essayists can choose to answer any of the following questions (see guidelines) or write on another information warfare topic that interests them.” See guidelines for the theme details/topics. The contest is open to “all contributors – active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians”.
Value: $5,000, $2,500, $1,500
Deadline: 30 November 2023
Open for: “All contributors – active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians”
Details here.
The London Society: Love Letters to London
This is an international, themed contest, about London. “Tell us why you love this city. Write a Love Letter to London of up to 500 words. Entries are to be around the theme of “Love Letters to London of the Future” and can be about any aspect of London’s past, present or future. It can be reportage, an historical essay, a ‘think piece’, a spot of futurology, a work of fiction, a poem.” There are 4 categories: Aged 11 and under; 12-18 year olds; Open – all other entrants; and Poetry. Entries can have been published elsewhere but must fit the brief and have been written in 2023.
Value: £500, £250, and £100 each for Open and Poetry categories; £500, and 4 runners up prizes of £150 each for 11 and under, and 12-18 categories
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The African Poetry Book Fund: Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
It is for poets born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African, and who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published (this includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers’ work remain eligible). Manuscripts have to be at least 50 pages long. Only poems written in English can be considered, but they accept poems in translation too. In the case that the winning work is translated, a percentage of the prize money would be awarded to the translator. Apart from a cash prize, the winner also gets publication from the University of Nebraska Press.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for: African writers (see guidelines)
Details here (guidelines) and here (Submittable).
(See all the African Poetry Book Fund contests here.)
Ohio University: E.W. Scripps School of Journalism – 2024 Kiplinger Fellowship
This is an international journalism fellowship, and will open in October for applications. “The Kiplinger Fellowship will be held April 14-20 at Ohio University and the Scripps School of Journalism. This upcoming fellowship will focus on the critical reporting topic of Immigration and Migration. If you are a working journalist with at least five years of experience covering this issue, please consider applying. The fellowship is made up of a combination of international and U.S. journalists. Kiplinger will pay all of your lodging and training for the week. We will cover most of your meals and a large percentage of your travel.”
Value: Unspecified; covers training, lodging, meals and some social events + travel stipend
Open for: Journalists in all media
Deadline: 2 December 2023
Details here.
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.
