Rat Bag Lit Drabbles: Strange Dear John
This is a call for drabbles – stories of exactly 100 words on the Strange Dear John theme. “Let's explore epistolary drabbles this month in the form of strange Dear John letters. Whether the note, or the situation the letter presents itself is strange, we want to read it. A break up text from someone you've never met? Someone saying they must leave to save the world from aliens? Something else super weird we haven't imagined yet? Whatever the reason you cannot be together, let's see it. The stranger the better.” All their open slots have submission quotas and can fill up earlier than the deadline.
Deadline: 6^th March 2026 or when filled for Dear John micros
Length: Exactly 100 words for drabbles
Pay: $1 for drabbles
Details here and here.
(Rat Bag Lit will also open for Susurrus themed drabbles on 20^th March. And they will open for unthemed micro fiction, stories up to 300 words, on 1^st April; they pay $0.01/word. Details here and here.)

Hajar Press: The Hajar Book of Waves
They want submissions from writers of colour only, for this water-themed anthology – short stories, poetry, essays and “everything in between showing radical imagination, creative experimentation and sharp political engagement with the world around us.” The anthology is called “The Hajar Book of Waves, the second volume in our elements anthology series.
This Water-themed book will explore the waves that carry, connect, renew and shape us: the ebb and flow of history in a non-linear continuum, a call-and-response between the past and the future; the gushing surges of empathy and feeling that move and enliven us; the fluid psycho-spiritual processes that help us adapt and change; the cycles of action and reflection that keep our organising alive; the mass movement of people in protest and migration; and the irrepressible force of the cosmos guiding the earthly tide. We’re interested in writing that engages with waves as both material and metaphor—flowing and flooding, soothing and overwhelming, refreshing and eroding; the rhythms and repetitions of perpetual back-and-forth motion; the power of water refusing to stagnate.” Deadline: 6^th March 2026 (11.59 GMT)
Length: Up to 6,000 words for prose, up to 3 poems
Pay: £150 for prose, £50 for poetry
Details here.

Cosmic Horror Monthly: C L Moore Tribute Issue
Cosmic Horror Monthly is open for a special issue; they want fiction paying tribute to C L Moore. “CL Moore was a pioneering writer of science fiction and fantasy, most famous for her weird sci-fi tales following recurring protagonist Northwest Smith and her borderline cosmic horror sword and sorcery works following another recurring protagonist, Jirel of Jiory. Her work was unique at the time for focusing as much (if not more) on the inner lives of her characters as their fantastic adventures. Moore is speculative fiction royalty, but her work is not as widely read as that of her male contemporaries and friends.” They have detailed guidelines. And some themes could include “Colonial arrogance and getting hoisted by your own petard, beauty (of any kind) that wraps around to horrifying/the sublime as horror, mistaking the superhuman for the subhuman, weird retellings, a complete lack of moral simplicity.” And, the Moksha link on the detailed tribute call guidelines page was not working at the time of writing, but another link was (see the comment on their FB post for details).   
Deadline: 7 March 2026
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here (theme) and here (submission link).

MIDLVLMAG: Reverse Evaluation
“MIDLVLMAG (short for Mid-Level Management Literary Magazine) is a …digital literary journal dedicated to publishing poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction (CNF) that explores the intersection of the personal and the professional. In a late-stage world where everything is commodity, the spaces we create to confront that reality are essential.
Part absurd and part serious. Part gallows humor and part sweeping epic. MIDLVLMAG is all literary. We want to be a catharsis to the hustle & grind culture, and a decompression when we’re off the clock.” They want submissions on the Reverse Evaluation theme. “Reverse Evaluation is, on its most basic level, when employees have the opportunity to review the performance of their supervisors, managers etc. That only begins to scratch the surface…

Reverse Evaluation is the tide turning, the game played fairly, and lost dignity regained. It is when we take back what is ours, show mercy we were never given, build the vision of ourselves we know to be true.
Reverse Evaluation is justice, equity, in the now and the future. It is vengeance, revenge, the long built hurts washed away. It is the shovel, the spade, burying burdens, and unearthing lost treasures.
Reverse Evaluation is freedom from the cruelty of history, institution, and tradition.
Let them know what’s on your mind.”
Deadline: 7 March 2026
Length: Up to 3 poems; 1,500-4,500 words for prose
Pay: $25
Details here.

Mslexia: Maps
They want submissions from women-identified authors only. “Twice a year we invite leading authors to select from submissions of short fiction and poetry on a particular theme for the Showcase section of Mslexia magazine.” Their upcoming theme is Maps. “We're interested in your take on the topic of cartography: real or imagined lands.” They have other sections that are open to submission and pitches by women writers too, those have different specifics and deadlines; some sections are for subscribers only. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 9 March 2026 (for the Maps theme)
Length: Up to 2,000 words for fiction, up to 4 poems (see guidelines)
Pay: Starts at £30 (see here)
Details here (theme) and here (general guidelines)

Agita Magazine: Bad Science
They will open March 1 to 14 for general submissions from all authors, and there will be an extended submission window,  for LGBTQIA+, disabled, or BIPOC authors during March 15 to 21; they want horror or dark science fiction flash stories on the theme of Bad Science, whatever that means to authors. “There’s a rotten spot in the apple of knowledge where a worm has gotten in, corrupting the promise and hope of rationality. Maybe it comes from bad faith or bad facts, or maybe it’s from something more sinister… forbidden knowledge from the darkest science. Whatever the cause, we live in an age where the night-side of science seems ascendent—denialism and quackery on one hand, avariciousness and oppression on the other. 
We want broad-spectrum explorations of “Bad Science” that vivisect our placid delusions and make us ask who, exactly, is the experimental subject?” Please note, they will accept three stories from this open call.
Deadline: See above
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: $0.05/word
Details here.

Barrelhouse: The Aftermath
Barrelhouse wants submissions on The Aftermath theme for their online issue. “Stories often focus on the climactic events in one’s life, but after these points of intensity, the world goes on. What happens when the adventure is over? How do you live your daily life after being abducted by aliens? What do you fill your days with after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?  What happens in the sequel to a story that doesn’t need one?    This spring, Barrelhouse is calling for short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art that measure moments in and after abnormal times. The ways we can feel elated, apathetic, tortured, or fixated on the events that shape us. What does it look like once the afterglow has faded?” They will close mid-March or when they reach a submission cap, whichever is earlier.
Deadline: 15 March 2026, or when filled
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, 3-5 poems
Pay: $50
Details here and here.

Plott Hound 
They want speculative fiction (including flash) and poetry starring animals, as well as nonfiction. They have detailed guidelines about the kind of work they want and what they do not want. They also accept translations and reprints. Submission is via their Moksha portal.
Deadline: 15 March 2026
Length: 1,000-5,000 words (prefer 3,000-4,000 words) for fiction, up to 5 poems, 1,000-2,500 words for essay
Pay: $0.08/word for stories, $50 for poetry, $100 for essay
Details here and here.

ROF Publishing House: Pathways to Imagination - Whispers Made Flesh Anthology
They want stories “where the unseen insists on being seen. This volume explores what happens when ideas, desires, fears, prayers, rumors, secrets, memories, or grief take on form. These are stories of embodiment and consequence, where what was once intangible leaves a mark on the living world. 
We're drawn to genre-blending work that is eerie, intimate, playful, unsettling or quietly devastating. Stories where the strange is not decoration, but consequence.” And, some genre mashups they like are: Folk Horror entwined with intimacy or inheritance; Cosmic Horror filtered through identity, memory or grief; Dark Fantasy intersecting with desire, obsession, or romance (see the submission form for more).
Deadline: 15 March 2026
Length: 1,000-7,000 words
Pay: $25-45
Details here and here.

Metphrastics: Pandora
This is an online poetry zine inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They publish ekphrastic poetry only, responding to the Met’s permanent collection and select special exhibits; you can read more about them here. For their Spring issue, they want poetry on the Pandora theme, which focuses on a specific painting at the Met: “We’re shaking things up for Spring and will devote an entire issue to a single painting! “Pandora” by Odilon Redon offers myriad ekphrastic opportunities, including demons, the Pandora myth, its relationship to World War I, and of course the rich and provocative imagery. Large and full of vibrant color, it’s best viewed in person, so if you’re able to get to the Met, do go meet her. Submit your Pandora poems by March 15!”
Deadline: 15 March 2026
Length: Up to 3 poems
Pay: $10/poem
Details here.

The Daily Tomorrow: Vegetal
The Daily Tomorrow is a newsletter that serializes science fiction stories in 300-500 word instalments. They are open for their first themed issue – Vegetal. They have detailed guidelines, including, “All life on Earth weighs 550 gigatons. Plants weigh 450 of that, accounting for about 80% of Earth’s biomass. This, even though human impact has led to the decimation of about half of plant biomass in the past 10,000 years.
It's a green world, and there’s no overstating the complex relationship humanity and plants share, as well as the myriad ways each affects the other. Since the days of Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids, greenery has seen a great deal of literary representation. Not nearly enough, we think.
For our sixth issue, The Daily Tomorrow is inviting writers to reimagine plant life in ways dizzying with possibilities. Hypersensitive grains, dystopian forest worlds, carnivorous flowers, superhero lichen; we are looking for compelling plant-based stories rooted in novelty, blossoming with weirdness.” And, “If your story is accepted, we will request an afterword of 300-500 words describing your inspiration, animating ideas, or thoughts about the story -- up to you! This will be available as an exclusive for paid subscribers. We may request minor edits to the story and afterword.” Also see details for preferences as well as the kind of stories they do not want for this theme.
Deadline: 20 March 2026
Length: 2,100 – 3,500 words
Pay: $0.10/word
Details here and here.

Cast of Wonders: CoW turns 15 (Birthday stories)
Cast of Wonders is a Young Adult speculative online and audio magazine from the Escape Artists suite of magazines. They have detailed guidelines, including what constitutes YA, please read them carefully. They will soon open submissions for a special call: Cast of Wonders turns 15. “It’s our 15th birthday this summer, and to help us celebrate it we’re opening the stage doors to birthday-themed stories! … Someone’s birthday is a central feature of the story. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the protagonist’s birthday, nor does it need to be a 15th birthday.
A clear element of fantasy, science fiction, or speculative horror associated with birthdays. Yes to age- or gift-linked magic/science/horror, no to weird stuff that could just as easily occur on any other day of the year.”

They also accept translations and reprints. And, they accept submissions from writers younger than 18 (see guidelines).  
Reading period: 15^th to 21^st March
Length: 1,500-4,000 words (for CoW Turns 15/Birthday call)
Pay: $0.08/word for originals
Details here (general guidelines), here (schedule), here (Moksha portal with details on CoW turns 15/Birthday call)
(Cast of Wonders is also scheduled to open later in March for other themes: Halloween-themed YA stories from 22^nd to 28^th March, and for Solstice/Christmas/New Year YA stories from 29^th March to 5^th April 2026; see their schedule here; details about the calls will likely appear on their Moksha page closer to the reading periods.)

Wizard’s Tower Press: They Are Still Here (Maen Nhw Yma O Hyd)
This is a fiction anthology. “Times are hard. Perhaps not quite hard enough for Arthur to awaken from his long sleep, but other characters from mythology and history may still be here to lend a hand. Are you having trouble with an unscrupulous landlord? Is your village or wildlife reserve being threatened by a multi-national corporation? Is funding being cut for the very services that allow your community to thrive, or function at all?
Throughout history, from the Chartist movement to the formation of the NHS via the Rebecca Riots, Welsh communities have been at their most fierce when they are under threat, and despite the oppression of Welsh language and culture over the centuries, Wales has endured. We are still here, even if now and again we need a little help from the supernatural. That might come from one of Arthur’s knights, or a helpful saint. It could be one of the fair folk, a dark little coblyn from the mines, or even a monstrous giant. They are all still here, and perhaps can be persuaded to help out in our time of need. (When we say ‘help out’, we do mean ‘help’, not swoop in and save the day. Please give your mundane characters meaningful roles to play. We want these stories to be about community, not about supernatural saviours).
They are Still Here (Maen Nhw Yma O Hyd) will be an anthology of fantasy tales of resistance and resilience. The setting should be broadly contemporary; near past and near future will be considered. The threats will be modern, but the resolution will be rooted in the strange and fabulous mythological history of Wales.” They also say, “We do not insist that contributors identify as Welsh or live in Wales, but we do expect the stories to be deeply rooted in actual Welsh settings, not in a Hollywood version of Wales, and to show a thorough understanding of Welsh perspectives. So if you don’t have a strong connection with Wales, please do some research before writing the story.”
Deadline: 21 March 2026
Length: Up to 7,000 words
Pay: £150
Details here and here (see the relevant category).

The Deadlands
They are open for speculative poetry only. “The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere.” They want work “that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve.” For poetry, they say, “The Deadlands is a prism refracting innumerable paths and practices, and we are seeking speculative poetry in all its diverse permutations. We are as interested in the dead as we are in grief, hauntings, and history. The sublime is as much a part of The Deadlands as the uncanny. We welcome both formal and experimental poetry.” They’re open for the first three weeks of March for poetry submissions only; do not send other genres. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: See above
Length: Up to 3 poems
Pay: $50/poem
Details here.

Adi Magazine
Their tagline is, ‘Rehumanizing Policy’. They have a detailed current theme, including, “Adi is thinking about alternative political visions for a world in desperate need of them. We are living through a moment of acute political, social, economic, and environmental retrenchment across the globe, and it’s hard not to succumb to a feeling of powerlessness. But we know that, as Saidiya Hartman has shared, “So much of the work of oppression is policing the imagination.” 

So at Adi we are giving our imaginations free rein to combat political ennui and nihilism. We know that narratives themselves have power: the ability to build alliances and strategies, the capacity to foster hope for change, and the power to remake the ways we understand our world in the past, present, and future. 

We are looking for pieces about practices, ideas, and movements that were/are suppressed by economic, socio-cultural, religious, or (neo)colonial powers. We privilege perspectives from the global majority—people of color, queer people, all marginalized peoples—as they reflect on how politics and policies influence their daily lives. We are always interested in exploring how we might reorient our political universe toward those organic alliances, intertwined liberation theologies, grassroots movements, and revolutionary philosophies.” They are reading fiction through end-March. They are also open for pitches (not submissions) of essays (including graphic non-fiction), translations, and interviews..
Deadline: 31 March 2026 for fiction
Length: Up to 5,000 words for fiction
Pay: $200 for flash, $500 for short fiction
Details here and here.

Whytaker Lyon Press: Richmond Fantastic Anthology
“Calling all writerly Richmonders and River City enthusiasts! From the cobblestones of Monument Avenue to the rapids of Pony Pasture, Richmond’s a fantastic(al) place to be, and we want to read about it. We’re talking werewolf bands at The National, telepathic otters at Maymont, an inescapable time warp in Short Pump… whatever it is that makes RVA (and its surrounding counties) so magical.” And, “Stories must contain a speculative element (Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Slipstream, Magical Realism) and take place in Virginia. Feel free to mash genres and include Mystery, Romance, Western, etc.” No erotica. Stories must take place in the Greater Richmond Area defined as: The City of Richmond and the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan. Writers from anywhere in the world are welcome.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.

Foofaraw Anthology
They want fiction and poetry. “Every piece must align, at least a tiny bit, to one of these two definitions:
a great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant.
an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.” The general areas/genres of interest for fiction are: Magical Realism; Speculative Fiction; Sci-Fi; Fantasy; Literary; LGBTQIA+; Horror; Mystery; Noir; Odd / Surreal/ Absurdist/Experimental. Please note, their first anthology publication has been delayed; see the note here.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 500-5,000 words
Pay: $0.01/word for fiction, $5 for poetry
Details here and here (see the relevant category).
(They’re also open for satire, reviews, and cartoons, as well as for Quotidian Bagatelle, where they accept micro submissions – see the relevant categories here.)

DreamPunk Press: TEETH Anthology
This is a fiction anthology. “We're talking eerie, or creepy, or Gothic. We are NOT interested in overly gory fiction or slasher fiction.  
The theme for this anthology is TEETH.” They do not want reprints.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 3,000-3,500 words
Pay: $200
Details here.

Kilter & Rammel Publishing: Fun in the Dark – Open Water
This is a fiction anthology in their Fun in the Dark series, and the theme is Open Water. “We welcome submissions in a variety of genres – horror, science fiction, fantasy, weird or bizarro fiction, crime/mystery etc. As long as your story clearly fits with both the theme of the individual anthology and within the overall tone of the series – fun yet dark – we want to see it!
When it comes to the specific theme of “open water”, we want stories featuring large bodies of open water: oceans, lakes, reservoirs etc. It can be set on, under or near the water, and can feature things (real or imagined!) that might live in these types of environments! How you interpret the theme is up to you, we just ask that open water of some sort features as a focal point in your submission.”
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: £20
Details here.

Dismantling Press: Rage, Well Spoken
This nonfiction anthology is open to women-identified authors only; see guidelines. “Sexism, discrimination, harassment, misogyny, microaggressions, rape culture, glass ceilings, toxic masculinity, patriarchy. Blood boiling yet?
We are seeking creative non-fiction (by women!) that confront, interrogate, or give voice to their rage.
This call is intentionally activist. We are interested in work that is unapologetic, incisive, and impassioned—essays that treat fury as legitimate, necessary, and political.
Stories may be personal narratives, essays, hybrid, or experimental. We especially encourage work that offers a rebuttal to conventions around anger, gender, and power.”
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 1,000-7,500 words
Pay: $0.04/word
Details here.

Cohesion Press: SNAFU – Level Up
Cohesion Press publishes military and action horror; you can read more about them here. This call is for a fiction anthology in their annual S.N.A.F.U. series. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Give us a litRPG-style story, where characters gain skills and level up their abilities during the combat WITH HORRENDOUS BEASTS (remember, this is still a SNAFU, and if you don’t know what we like, you can sign up for our mailing list and get a free copy of SNAFU: Comms. Or, you know, buy a book).
NOTE: For this SNAFU volume, we encourage both fantasy and tech litRPG, as well as horror. So long as it's violent, we're happy.” Also, “Please ensure the action is central to the story, from start to finish, and don’t forget monsters! It really should be in the style of fantasy and/or horror-based action.” Also see the list of the kind of stories/elements they do not want.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: 2,500-12,000 words
Pay: AUD0.05/word
Details here.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness
They want non-fiction prose and poetry. One of their upcoming themes is, Random Acts of Kindness. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Small gestures can make a big difference in someone's day, even in someone's life. In our fast-paced world many people tend to only pay attention to what is important to them. Many times a person who receives an act of kindness is a total stranger, someone who will not be able to repay your kindness. Has someone performed a random act of kindness for you? Did you pay it forward and do something kind for someone else? How did it feel to receive that kindness? And how did it feel to perform a kindness for someone else? 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.”
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Length: Up to 1,200 words
Pay: $250
Details here and here (also see other tabs on this page, including FAQ).
(Chicken Soup for the Soul is also reading true stories and poetry on other topics, including Stories about using positive thinking; the deadline for that, too, is 31^st March 2026, theme details on this page.)

Whisper House Press: Doom Scroll Anthology
They want social media horror fiction. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Think of the influencer grind forced on (or volunteered into?) creators for video apps, the performative nightmare of business-oriented sites, the curated perfection of photo-sharing sites, the niche obsession of sub-reddits, or the high-stakes world of dating apps.” They are reading general submissions (from all writers) till end March, and have an extended submission window for till mid-April for underrepresented writers. Please see their submission requirements/options before you begin work, to ensure the recipient can see the document history, to ensure the no-AI rule.
Deadline: 31 March 2026 for general submissions; 15 April for writers from diaspora communities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or Autistic writers
Length: 200 to 2,000 words
Pay: $30
Details here.

Inkd Publishing: Two themes
They want submissions for two fiction anthologies. Both stories have to be submitted via different submission forms on their website. US authors also get a contributor copy – see guidelines.
-- Behind the Shadows: Inkd Publishing is open for their fourth anthology in their Behind the Shadows series; they want horror fiction. “Gore is accepted, but good characters we engage with are paramount and a satisfying ending is a must. … There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story. However, we’ll be seriously impressed if you can work within Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but they won’t be the bulk of the accepted submissions.” Deadline: 31 March 2026.
-- Beyond 2026: A science fiction anthology: “Express yourself as the theme moves you. There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story.” Deadline: 15 May 2026.
Deadlines: See above
Length: 2,000-6,000 words for each anthology
Pay: $10 + royalty share
Details here (scroll down for Behind the Shadows)
(And, Necksnap wants literary horror micro, flash, short fiction, and poetry submissions on the Fringe theme. They pay $5 and the deadline is 15^th March 2026; submission is via a form on their website. Details here.)

Ninth Letter: Reaction
The theme for their web edition ‘Reaction’. At the time of writing, they were open for nonfiction only. “We find ourselves in a moment of American Reaction. But what sparks that reaction, and what is born out of it?  Send us your stories, poems and essays that react without or before forethought, or deal with its spurious repercussions. Render reactivity in digital and material and spiritual spaces in all its spectacle and earnestness. Show us poignant moments of unexpected emotion, or sudden bodily reflexes or the mind's recoil. We want characters caught in unforeseeable moments and narrators that drop their guard, or poems that embody one action’s equal and opposed reaction. We welcome writing that spans the spectrum of reactions – chemical, physical, biological, psychological and political – and pieces that capture reaction in all its possibility and detriment.” Please note, they have a submission cap, and will close by genre when full.
Deadline: 1 April 2026, or until filled
Length: Up to 3,500 words for creative nonfiction
Pay: $75 per prose piece
Details here.
(Ninth Letter is also open for literary awards in various genres, for which there is a submission fee.)

Utopia Science Fiction: Cozy utopias
Utopia Science Fiction wants fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for their June issue – “Show us marvellous, cozy utopias!” Submission is via a form on their website.
Deadline: 1 April 2026
Length: 100-4,000 words for fiction (query first for longer), up to 5 short or 1 long poem, up to 6,000 words for nonfiction
Pay: $0.08/word for fiction, $25 for poetry, $30 for nonfiction
Details here.

(Submissions are also open for Hearth Stories – they want slice-of-life stories with a focus on nature, forests, connection, family, romance/relationships, and comfort/kindness, focusing on stories set in a pre-industrial-revolution time period (or a fantasy world resembling such). They have detailed guidelines, including the genres they accept, please read those carefully. They pay $0.01/word for stories of 1,000-10,000 words; deadline: 31 March 2026; details here.)

Quest Magazine: Power
They want submissions for their second issue. The theme is Power. “Quest is an online magazine using science fiction and fantasy to examine the systems shaping the present day.
We’re inviting writers, artists, and collaborators to help shape Issue 02, exploring the theme: Power — arcane, technological, institutional, intimate.” They want science fiction and fantasy, as well as adjacent genres – including magical realism, slipstream, and fabulism. They accept fiction, serialized fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art, as well as music and videos. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 15 April 2026
Length: Minimum 2,000 words for fiction, minimum 1,500 words per instalment for serialized fiction, up to 3 poems, minimum 1,000 words for nonfiction
Pay: $250 for prose (or per story instalment), $100 for poetry
Details here and here.

Rattle: Tribute to the Future
This poetry journal has slots for general submissions, regular online poetry sections, as well as special submission calls. They are open now for poems on Tribute to the Future for their next print issue. “Our Fall 2026 issue will be dedicated to poems about the future—what it might look like, feel like, or become. Whether speculative, surreal, hopeful, or dire, we’re looking for poems that imagine what lies ahead, for the world or the self. The future can be political, ecological, technological, spiritual, or deeply personal. However you interpret the idea, we want to see how poetry can be a vehicle for foresight, fantasy, or reflection on what comes next.
Include a contributor's note about how your poem envisions the future—what inspired your approach, and how you're using poetry to stretch into what’s possible. We don’t publish essays, but always include a contributor notes section, which functions as a series of micro-essays around the theme. You may submit up to four previously uncurated poems (or pages of short poems) at the same time”.
Deadline: 15^th April 2026 for Tribute to the Future poems
Length: Varies (see guidelines)
Pay: $100 for online poetry and $200 for print
Details here and here.

Consequence Magazine
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 non-fiction), poetry, translations, and art. All works will be considered for online and print.
Deadline: 15 April 2026
Length: Varies
Pay: $30-50 for prose, $20/poem for print poetry, $30-50 for online poetry
Details here and here.

Eye to the Telescope: Paying Tribute
They want speculative poetry on the Paying Tribute theme. “The Zeitpyramide in Germany gains a new block every decade to mark the passage of time until the year 3183. Will future humans remember this art installation, or will it cease to have any meaning by the next millennium?
Paying tribute has come a long way from its ancient origins of paying a ruler or group for safety. We now have tribute concerts, tribute poetry readings, cosplay tributes to anime characters, and all sorts of fan memorabilia. When faced with the reality of the human condition and our own mortality, tributes help convey the love, honor, and complicated emotions we feel towards our elders, ancestors, and famous figures. Stories are passed down through legends and oral histories, becoming the named stars that form constellations that guide land, sea, and space voyagers alike. We may soon pay tribute to the Earth itself from many lightyears away.
From the Voyager missions and the Lunar Codex to U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s poem “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa” heading to the icy moon, humans have started leaving records of our artistic and technological achievements well beyond Earth’s orbit. What epics, statues, and memorials await us in the distant past, changing present, and far future? I welcome all types of tributes to humans, posthumans, terrestrial and xenobiological life, and matter large and small, from a single bacterium that could reside on Europa to red giant stars. Geek out about your favorite science fiction and fantasy fandoms, show some love for your favorite scientists and mathematicians, or show how technology and AI might change how history is told. Your tribute might even take issue with the process of memorialization itself, seeking instead to deconstruct and even reject tributes altogether.
Don’t just pay tribute to the greats; write an ode to your favorite cryptid, a song for a forgotten realm, or dedicate a poem to the first exoplanetary explorers. Be bold and play with tribute’s cousins: parody, pastiche, and satire. I’d be delighted to read a tribute that has intentional historical inaccuracies or one written for a favorite Star Trek or Star Wars character. Give me a time capsule of speculative poems (rhyming, free verse, scifaiku, prose, and more) from the year 2026.” They also accept translations.
Deadline: 15 April 2026
Length: Up to 3 poems
Pay: $0.05/word (up to $25)
Details here.

The First Line Journal
They want fiction (any genre) and poetry that begins with pre-set first lines, one for each quarterly issue. For non-fiction, they want critical articles about your favorite first line from a literary work. For fiction and poetry, the first line for the Summer issue is:
‘The summer between [his/her/their] junior and senior years, Alex worked as a server at Wharf Mountain.’
Deadline: 1 May 2026 for the Summer issue
Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction; 500-800 words for nonfiction
Pay: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for non-fiction, $10 for poetry (less postage fee for international contributors – see guidelines)
Details here.

-- David Nobbs Memorial Trust: New Comedy Writing Competition: For any individual or comedy writing partnership resident in the UK; entrants must have at least one credited broadcast comedy writing credit. One of the submission requirements is a writing sample; the first 10 pages of a half-hour radio or television sit-com pilot script, or four three-minute comedy sketches; prize £1,000; £250 for runners-up; deadline: 6 March 2026; details here, here and here.

-- Brilliant Flash Fiction Contest: For an unthemed flash fiction piece of up to 350 words, open worldwide. Prize $200, two prizes $50 each, runner-up prizes $20; deadline 15^th March 2026; details here.

-- Broadside Lotus Press: Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award: For a poetry manuscript by an African American poet, for a manuscript of about 60 to 90 pages. At the time of writing, details of the latest award cycle were posted only on their Facebook page; award $500, deadline: 15 March 2026; details here (website and information on the previous award cycle) and here (latest award cycle information on their social media).

-- ALTA Travel Fellowships: For emerging translators (someone who does not yet have a book-length work of translation published or under contract) to help them pay for hotel and travel expenses to the annual American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) conference. Send up to 10 pages of translated work (poetry or prose – see guidelines). Specially encourage applications from translators of color, translators with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ translators. Prizes: $1,000 each, deadline: 16 March 2026, details here (scroll down).

-- BBC Radio 4: BBC National Short Story Award: For UK writers, for a short story of up to 8,000 words. Writers must have a prior record of publication in the UK; prize £15,000, four awards of £600 each; deadline: 16 March 2026; details here, here, and here. They also have the Young Writers’ Award,  a short fiction contest for UK-based writers ages 14-18, deadline 23^rd March 2026.

-- The Papatango New Writing Prize: For residents of the UK and Ireland. There are two prizes; a winner, and a Discovery prize. For an original play script, should have a running time of at least 60 minutes, or be at least 9,000 words, or be at least 40 pages. Submission is via a portal. Also, “Don't worry about the difference between the Winner and the Discovery. You enter the Prize just the same, and we'll decide which script feels the best fit for which opportunity.” See FAQ for more details; prize £8,000 commission, royalties, production, publication for the winner; £8,000 commission and a more open-ended development and production pathway for the Discovery winner; deadline: 18 March 2026; details here, here, and here.

-- Red Hen Press Ann Petry Award: For a Black writer, for a novel or a collection of short stories/novellas, minimum 150 pages; prize $3,000 and publication, deadline: 31 March 2026, details here and here.
 
-- America Media: The Foley Poetry Contest: Send an unpublished poem of 45 lines or fewer to this Catholic magazine for the contest; they’re also open for general submissions; prize $1,000, deadline: 31 March 2026, details here.

-- Columbus State University: The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers: Three-month fellowships to afford writers time to focus on their work at an apartment in Carson McCuller’s childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. A spouse or companion is welcome. Application includes a writing sample of up to 20 pages. Prize: $5,000, residency; deadline 1 April 2026; details here.

-- Creative Capital Awards: For individual artists in the US, grants of 15,000 to $50,000 to create new work. They invite professional artists to propose experimental, original, bold new works in Literature (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays – playwrights please submit under Performing Arts/Theater), Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Film from March 2–April 2, 2026. Multidisciplinary, technology, and/or socially engaged projects are welcome in all disciplinary categories. Also see the State of the Art Prize which aims to recognize one artist from each U.S. state and territory, with an artist grant of $10,000; application period: 2 March to 2 April 2026; see guidelines for other key dates; details here. )

On the Premises Mini Contest: Circles
Their guidelines say, “For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story between 25 and 50 words long in which circles, one circle, or the idea of circling is important.” Also, “ If international currency exchange fees are necessary to pay an author, that fee comes out of the mini-contest prize money.”
Value: $35, $25, $15 (see here)
Deadline: 6 March 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here, here, and here.

The Waterman Fund Essay Contest for Emerging Writers
This essay contest, for emerging writers in the US or Canada, is run by Appalachia, the mountaineering and conservation journal published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and The Waterman Fund. The contest is for emerging writers – those who have not published in a major national magazine or journal or written a book of fiction or narrative nonfiction on topics of wilderness, wildness, or the ethics and ecology of environmental issues are eligible. Essays should be 2,000 to 3,000 words. “For 2026, we invite essays that address any or all topics related to: our relationship to the natural living world, land and place, preservation/conservation, alpine ecosystems, wild(er)ness and the deep woods.” They welcome personal, scientific, adventure, or memoir essays. The contest is run by the Waterman Fund – their tagline is, “Fostering the Spirit of Wildness and Conserving the Alpine Areas of Northeastern North America”. 
Value: $3,000; $1,000
Deadline: 15 March 2026
Open for: Emerging writers (see guidelines) in the US or Canada (see eligibility here)
Details here.

Fitzcarraldo Editions/Mahler & Lewitt Studios Essay Prize
This is a prize for unpublished writers in Great Britain and Ireland. They want “essays that explore and expand the possibilities of the essay form, with no restrictions on theme or subject matter. … the prize awards £4,000 to the best proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words) by a writer resident in the UK & Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal. In addition … the winner will have the opportunity to spend up to six weeks in residency at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios in Spoleto, Italy, to work on their book. The book will then be published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.” The proposal itself should be no longer than 5,000 words. Entrants may also submit a separate writing sample of up to 5,000 words. 
Value: £4,000, residency
Deadline: 16 March 2026
Open for: Unpublished UK/Ireland writers (see guidelines)
Details here

The DAG Prize for Literature
“The goal of the DAG Prize is to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of American prose literature. To that end, we aim to support writing that offers significant innovation—for example, at the level of form, content, or genre. What more can prose literature be? What more can it do? The recipient will be a writer who has already published one book of prose for adult readers demonstrating commitment to such investigations but whose work has not yet received prominent literary recognition. The DAG Prize is meant to support a second prose project already substantially underway.” Applicants must be living in the US and have published one book of prose for an adult readership with a nationally distributed U.S. press; and aim to publish a second book of prose in the U.S., written in English. This second project must be substantially underway. Application is via a form on their website.
Value: $20,000
Deadline: 18 March 2026
Open for: US writers working on a second prose book (see guidelines)
Details here and here.

Cymera-Shoreline of Infinity Prize for Speculative Short Fiction
This is a speculative fiction contest for writers who are Scottish by birth or inclination (see guidelines), ages 14+ years. Send a story of up to 2,500 words.
Value: £150
Deadline: 22 March 2026
Open for: Scottish writers (see guidelines)
Details here. 

A Public Space Writing Fellowship
“Writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book are invited to apply to the … Writing Fellowships. Submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are welcome. Three fellowships will be awarded.” The fellowship aims to “seek out and support writers who embrace risk in their work and their own singular vision.” One of the submission requirements is a writing sample; one unpublished piece (for prose, a limit of 6,000 words; for poetry, up to 15 pages). If selected, the submitted manuscript is the piece that will be published in the magazine. Their Submittable will be open for this category during the reading period.
Value: $1,000, mentorship, other non-cash prizes
Deadline: 31^st March 2026
Open for: Writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book with a US publisher (see guidelines)
Details here
(And, A Public Space is currently open for Editorial Fellowships; Fellows have to be residents of New York for the duration of this fellowship. It pays $6,000 and the deadline is end-February; details here and here.)

Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award
This international grant is for supporting the recipient in crime fiction writing and career development activities. She or he may choose activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats, online courses, and research activities required for completion of the work. This is for an emerging writer (see guidelines). The application process includes a writing sample – an unpublished piece of crime fiction, written with an adult audience in mind. This may be a short story or first chapter(s) of a manuscript in-progress, 2,500 to 5,000 words. Their website says, you do not have to be a member of Sisters in Crime to apply for this grant. See their recent Instagram post for information on the latest award cycle.
Value: $2,000; the winner can choose from a range of activities
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Open for: Writers of color
Details here and here.

Parsec Ink Short Story Competition – Metamorphosis
Parsec Ink also publishes the annual Triangulation anthology series. They are open now for a short speculative fiction contest by non-professional writers, who have not met the eligibility requirements for SFWA Full Membership. The theme is Metamorphosis. The theme must be integral to the story in some way. Send stories of up to 3,500 words. The youth story category is for ages up to 19 years, if you are still enrolled in and attending high school at the time of submission.
Value: $200, $100, and $50 for the general category, and $50 for the best youth story
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here and here (see both categories on Submittable).

Robert B. Silvers Foundation: Silvers Grants for Works in Progress
English-language writers of any nationality may apply for their grants to support long-form essays (essay-length or book-length) in the fields of literary criticism, arts writing, political analysis, and/or social reportage. Grants may not be used to fund translation or fiction. Applicants should have an editorial agreement with a publication or publishing house for the work under consideration. Some of the submission requirements are a writing sample, project description, and a full responses to the financial questionnaire. 
Value: Up to $10,000
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

Eye Contact Prize in Genre Fiction
Eye Contact is literary journal affiliated with Seton Hill University. To be eligible for the prize, submit fantasy flash fiction (up to 1,000 words) on the Symphony theme for their next issue. The best story submitted for the magazine will win a prize. There is no separate submission process. In the past they had an issue with clarity around deadlines, but they appear to have resolved it.
Value: $250 (see guidelines)
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

The Susan Kamil Emerging Writers Prize
This is for “Any unpublished writer over the age of 18 working on a full-length manuscript, graphic novel, or book-length comic who is also currently employed at (or owns) a physical book or comic store in the U.S. or its territories (as defined by Binc) with a minimum of three months of continuous book or comic store employment.” And, “You will need to provide 6 pages from your current draft as part of the application process and share more about your project and timeline.” Also, “One-third of the prize will be awarded upon selection; the remainder will be awarded in two payments throughout the year with proof of continued employment at a bookstore or comic shop.” There are 5 awards of $10,000 each for this cycle. Applications will be accepted in March 2026; the exact dates had not been announced at the time of writing.
Value: $10,000 each
Opens in: March 2026
Open for: US Book or comic store employee/owner working on a book
Details here.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
This prize is for humor poetry. Submit a poem of up to 250 lines. 
Value: $2,000 and a two-year subscription to Duotrope; $500; $250; 10 prizes of $100 each
Deadline: 1 April 2026
Open for: All poets
Details here.

 Maya Angelou Book Award
This award is for a work has demonstrated a commitment to social justice. It is for books published in 2025, or scheduled to be published until November 2026. The award alternates between poetry and fiction, and for this cycle, books of fiction are eligible. Entrants must be available for a two-week reading tour at partnering educational institutions in Missouri (see guidelines). Entries have to be made by publishers only, not writers.
Value: $10,000
Deadline: 1 April 2026
Open for: US writers
Details here and here.

The Great American Think-Off
This is an essay contest for US-based writers. The 2026 question is, Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy? Their website says, “The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. ... People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to submit an essay of no more than 750 words for a chance to win one of four $500 cash prizes and participate in the live debate to ultimately answer the question, determined by audience vote. ...  The debate is held each year on the second Saturday in June.
Writers are encouraged to ground their essays in personal experience rather than philosophical abstraction. Each year, four writers will be selected as finalists and invited to debate the question on the second Saturday in June in New York Mills, MN. Costs for winners’ travel, food, and lodging will be covered by the Cultural Center.” 
Value: $500 for four writers, and other prizes – see above
Deadline: 1 April 2026
Open for: US writers
Details here, here and here.

-- Baen Fantasy Adventure Award: “Write and submit a short story of no more than 8,000 words. It must be a work of fantasy, though all fantasy genres are open, e.g. epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, sword and sorcery, contemporary fantasy, etc.” Also see the kind of stories they want to see: “Adventure fantasy with heroes you want to root for. Warriors either modern or medieval, who solve problems with their wits or with their weapons—and we have nothing against dragons, elves, dwarves, castles under siege, urban fantasy, damsels in distress, or damsels who inflict distress.” They offer “industry-standard rates” as well as non-cash prizes, and the deadline is 30^th April 2026; details here – click on contest rules. Also, “The winners will be officially announced during the Baen Traveling Roadshow at Dragon Con, in Atlanta, Georgia. (We would prefer the winners attend the convention, but it is not required.)”

-- The Black Orchid Novella Award: This is an international contest for novellas (15,000-20,000 words) that confirm to the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series (see guidelines). They should focus on the deductive skills of the sleuth. They are not looking for derivatives of the Nero Wolfe series, or the milieu. The prize is $1,000 and publication, and the deadline is 31 May 2026 – see FAQ. Submission is via a form. Details here (also download the flyer from here.