This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities. Some have limited definitions and are only interested in work by Black authors. Some are open to submissions from all authors for a fee, but allow free submissions from limited demographics.
We try to make it as clear as possible who the publisher is seeking work from. Sometimes the focus of the press is limited, even though there are no limitations on who can submit. A few of the opportunities are also limited by geography, again, we try to make this clear. There are always additional submission details at the site we link to, but we try to cover the basics as best we can as part of this list.
If you belong to a limited demographic that is not listed here, this list might be helpful to you.
As long as a press/opportunity/journal is open to submissions we will continue to list it, so some of the content on the list is new, some overlaps with previous issues. This article is an ongoing collaborative effort by Emily Harstone and S. Kalekar. Please send us an email at support@authorspublish.com if you have any feedback or an opportunity/journal/publisher, to recommend.
Literary Journals/Magazines
Usawa Literary Review: Refuse
This India-based literary journal wants submissions on the ‘Refuse’ theme for the Summer 2026 issue. “SUBMISSIONS ARE STILL OPEN FOR REFUSE. Send us the work that was called “too angry,” “too political,” “too much,” or “too difficult.” Sometimes that’s where the real writing begins.” They pay INR1,000/$12, and the submission deadline is 31st May 2026. Submission is via a form. See the social media post here and the detailed guidelines on this theme are here.
Augur
They are open for submission of speculative fiction and poetry from underrepresented Canadian writers; “From May 5th to 31st 2026, Augur Magazine’s priority call is open for submissions from BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or disabled creators who are living within the settler-defined border of the land colonially known as Canada; or creators who hold dual citizenship; or Canadian ex-pats.” They pay CAD112 for flash fiction up to 800 words, CAD0.14/word for short fiction of 800+ to 5,000 words and CAD100 per poem, send up to 5 poems; the deadline is 31st May for this call. (Augur will open for general submissions from all creators from 1st to 15th July 2026.)
Tasavvur
Tasavvur is a magazine of South Asian speculative fiction and nonfiction. Regarding who can submit, “Writers of South Asian origin or association (broadly defined — including diaspora, mixed heritage, or meaningful cultural affiliation)
Non–South Asian writers whose speculative fiction stories are deeply rooted in South Asian themes or settings”. They accept fiction submissions, pitches for non-fiction, and queries for artwork. Send up to 5,000 words for fiction. They pay $0.05/word for fiction, and $100 for commissioned non-fiction. The deadline is 31 May 2026.
Details here, here and here.
Proximity: An AGNI Portfolio of Writing and Art by Women of Color
AGNI, a literary magazine, charges for online submissions (via Subfolio) of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid forms, but postal submissions are free. And online submissions of conversation/interviews, reviews, art, and submissions for Proximity: An AGNI Portfolio of Writing and Art by Women of Color: “This portfolio gathers women writers and artists of color from around the world who are committed to using their voices, through written or visual art, to excavate and interrogate our connections within the systems of power that affect us all, both globally and at home.
Proximity might be defined as geographic, political, linguistic, historical, embodied, environmental, generational, intimate. What do we risk and what do we yearn for when we engage with oppression and injustice through our art? How do we support—and challenge—each other toward liberation?
The editors seek fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art that is fearless and unapologetic and inspires us to center a radical new canon. We welcome works in translation, with a preference for translators who also identify as women of color.” They pay $30/page for prose, $50/page for poetry, up to $300, and the deadline is 31 May 2026; details here and here.
Boudin
Boudin is looking for looking for fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art that celebrates Pride. Send us your best pieces that explore what it means to have hope and pride in the LGBTQIA+ community. Authors may submit up to three poems/microfictions (under 500 words). The deadline is May 30th.
The Rome Review
They are open to submissions from all writers and state that “Writers from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit”. They are open to submissions of creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and hybrid work till July 1st.
Abundance
They are open to submissions till June 20th, on the theme “Ekphrastic Creation”. They are open to submissions from everyone but particularly encourage underrepresented authors to submit.
Midnight & Indigo
They publish work by Black women writers only. They are open for character-driven literary fiction, creative non-fiction, and speculative fiction. Length guidelines are 1,500-7,000 words for literary fiction, minimum 1,200 words for nonfiction, and 2,000-7,000 words for speculative fiction. Pay is $0.07/word for fiction, $150 for nonfiction. The deadline is 30 June 2026. Details here and here.
Fourteen Hills
Their general submission period is currently open and will remain open until June 15th. They have fee free submissions for BIPoC, LGBTQ+ and disabled writers. They accept poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, and experimental and hybrid work. You can learn more here.
beestung
“beestung considers poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrids, and art by creators who fall under the non-binary umbrella, genderqueer umbrella, and two-spirit umbrella. Multilingual work and work in translation is welcome. Historically underrepresented writers are encouraged to send work.” They pay $20. They are closed for general submissions till December 2026 but are open for a special Pleasure-themed issue. The call is open till 13th June and there is an extended submission window for BIPOC writers till 30th June, details here.
The Belladonna
They publish only work from women, non-binary, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming authors. They publish satire and other humour focused pieces, but they are not interested in satirical news stories.
East Jasmine Review
East Jasmine Review is an electronic literary magazine that publishes quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, articles and reviews. They don’t have strict rules around who can submit but they state “Our first goal is to publish diverse voices that may not have mainstream access or traditional access to publishing. This includes but is not limited to LGBTQIA, ethnic minorities, women, lower socio-economic status, those who are older or younger, religious minorities, and non-American persons”.
Bipolar Poetry
This not-for-profit online publication publishes original poetry by people who have been diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder.
The B’K Magazine
This art and literature magazine prioritizes and pays traditionally marginalized creators, but they are open to submissions from all. They have very in-depth and detailed submission guidelines that everyone should read carefully before submitting.
In the Veins
Their website says they are “dedicated to publishing bold stories that push boundaries in Splatterpunk, horror, satire, and LGBTQ+ themes. We champion voices that explore the shadows of speculative fiction, fostering a community where dark imagination thrives and diverse narratives flourish. … We’re especially interested in the works of underrepresented groups: members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, but we welcome all voices within the dark hard edged horror and satire communities.” They accept fiction (flash and short), poetry, articles, and art related to their genre.
CVNT
A new journal that declares they exist “for the solicitation, exhibition, advancement, & support of transfeminine writers”. Submissions are restricted to transfeminine people, binary trans women, & genderqueer folks. They accept submissions of poetry, fiction, & creative nonfiction on a rolling basis.
Gasp Magazine
I’m not linking to this publication in the title, because their website is not safe for work as they are a publisher of adult work. Please do not click on this link unless you are 18+/ They focus on sharing a multifaceted discussions on sexuality, eroticism, and queerness. They are interested in essays, interviews, research articles, creative writing, poetry, artistic illustrations, and photography (with additional rules) that reflect upon sex or the absence thereof in one way or another.
The Saartjie Journal
This new journal is only open to writing and visual art by Black women artists and writers. They accept submissions of previously unpublished original poems, short stories, and visual art.
Mande
This is a journal of bipolar talent. “Mande is always open to submissions from bipolar creatives on any topic. While I appreciate the long shadows bipolar throws, I’m particularly interested at the moment in its high points, in any joy or positive elements you find in bipolar. We also publish work by people familiar with bipolar, as long as it’s directly related to manic depression.” They pay for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. They pay $50-250.
Cripple Punk Mag
This Substack publishes “essays, criticism, news and reviews, literary nonfiction, fiction, rants and raves, comics, and hybrid works on the subject of disability and live music, especially within the context of punk, alternative, and DIY music.” They also have an annual print anthology. Payment starts at $10 and is dependent on length and sliding scale based on need. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Previously published work is allowed, and work should be between 300 and 1,000 words in length.
The West Trestle Review
This respected journal is only open to submissions poetry and art by creators around the globe who self-identify as women or as non-binary. They are always open to free submissions by BIPOC writers who self-identify as women or as non-binary, and you can see those guidelines here.
Decolonial Passage
According to their website they “publish writing from writers of all backgrounds regardless of race, origin, or gender while simultaneously centering African, African American, and Black Diaspora writing.” Their mission statement goes into more details about this. They are open on a rolling basis to essays, creative nonfiction, short stories, and flash fiction. They are open to poetry only during the months of February, June, and October; and for prose, only during April, May, August, and December.
AC|DC
They publish short stories and creative nonfiction by LGBTQIA+ authors. They are currently open to submissions.
Magnets and Ladders
They publish the work of disabled writers in two issues a year.
DisLit Youth Magazine
They only publish work by writers 14-22, and they primarily publish disabled writers.
AURORE
This publications tagline is “a curated collection of erotic stories written by and for women and LGBTQ+ based on their own experiences”. Because it is a NSFW site, the link to get to it is here, instead of the title, please only click on it if you are 18+ They publish nonfiction erotica and their website is NSFW, please do not visit it if you are under 18.
Heaven Magazine
They are interested in publishing fiction, creative non fiction, flash, and poetry by all underrepresented creators.
Sinister Wisdom
A multicultural lesbian literary & art journal. Founded in 1976, this literary journal is always open to submissions.
Saffron City Press
Saffron City Press is an online literary journal dedicated to amplifying the voices of Middle Eastern and Middle Eastern-American writers.
Plentitude
They want submissions from LGBTQ2S+ writers only; their Submittable has separate submission slots for Canadian and international writers. The Gender Bender section is only open to Canadian writers. Every genre has a monthly submission cap. Pay is CAD60 per poem, CAD125 per prose contribution (fiction and creative nonfiction), CAD100 for book reviews and Genre Bender (hybrid) submissions. The submission deadline for Canadian writers is end-May 2026. Details here and here.
The Kalahari Review
A weekly African literary magazine interested in material exploring modern Africa and Africans in unique and avant-garde ways. They publish their work on Medium.
Transition
Born in Africa and bred in the diaspora, Transition is a publication of the Hutchins Center at Harvard University, published three times annually. Transition publishes writing by and about Africa and the African diaspora, with an eye towards a global perspective. They accept submissions year-round on a rolling basis, and generally respond to submissions within four months.
Lavender Review
An international, biannual e-zine published in June and December, they are open to submissions of poetry and art by, about, and for lesbians. Submissions are open year round.
Ricepaper
This publication offers Asian Canadian context to ongoing arts and cultural issues, new perspectives on emerging and established Asian Canadian artists, and challenges mainstream media perspectives, little-known facts of interest, or critical stories that haven’t been told elsewhere. They are open to submissions from Asian writers around the globe as long as the editors can see a link between the content and some aspect of the Asian Canadian experience.
Raising Mothers
Raising Mothers celebrates and centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Brown parents. Some sections have reading periods; columns are open year-round. Guidelines are here. See their call for 2026 here.
African Writer
They are open to all genres of literature from Africa and the African Diaspora. They do not allow simultaneous submissions.
Afritondo
According to their website, “Afritondo is a media and publishing platform that aims to connect with and tell the stories of Africans and black minority populations across the globe.” They accept a wide range of work, including manuscript-length work.
Brittle Paper
Brittle Paper is an online literary magazine for readers of African Literature. They accept the following: “fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, book reviews, essays, literary commentaries, fun listicles, and any writing with a literary bent”.
Torch Literary Arts
Torch Literary Arts is a nonprofit organization. They publish and promote creative writing by Black women only; you can read more about them here. They publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers. “We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what Black women’s contemporary writing should be.” General submissions are accepted for Friday Features only, in which they publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama (including that accompanied by video or dramatic audio). Send up to 3,500 for prose works, up to 10 pages for drama, or up to 5 poems. Pay is $150. Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis; you can submit here.
Bi Women Quarterly
BWQ features the voices of women “with bi+ sexualities (i.e., bi, pan, fluid, and other non-binary sexualities)” and they see “woman” as a broad category and welcome contributions those who identify as trans, non-binary, cis, etc. They publish articles, creative writing, musings, and more.
KOENING ZINE
They publish art, fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction submissions primarily by Asians, but they are open to submissions from non-Asians. Their uniting theme is Asian Folklore. Submitters must be over 18.
POETRY SANGO-OTA
We only usually include journals currently open to submissions, but this list is always published on the third Thursday of a given month, and this journal is only open to submissions through the 1st to the 10th of each month, so we are listing it and encouraging you to set a calendar alert for when it reopens on the 1st of the next month. “We are interested in poems with a keen connection to a sense of place, nature, or otherworldly geographies.” They only publish African poets, and pay N2,500 per poem.
The Gay & Lesbian Review
The Gay & Lesbian Review is a bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics targeting an educated readership of LGBT people, and their allies that publishes themed features (2,000-4,000 words), reviews, interviews, and departments. They have announced a couple of themed calls, and they also invite suggestions for future themes.
- Inside a Frame: Coded messages in art through the ages
- Sex in Public: From bathhouses to “cottaging”
- Going South: LGBT lives below the Mason-Dixon Line
Writers can send proposals or complete pieces. They pay for features ($250) and full-length book reviews ($100).
The Acentos Review
The Acentos Review publishes writing, art, music and multigenre work by Latinx writers. They are open to submissions all year long. Details here.
Craft
This respected literary journal is open to creative work from authors of all backgrounds, but they offer free submissions + fast response times to BIPOC and other mis- and underrepresented writers, here. Craft pays $100 for flash and $200 for short fiction and creative nonfiction.
The Lighthouse / Black Girl Times
The tagline of The Lighthouse is, “Cultivating spaces of solidarity and safety for southern Black girls to shine through focused programming and research.” They have an extensive guide for pitching articles, including “We … are always looking for thought-provoking stories and other content from marginalized communities, Black girls, (in particular, but not exclusively) and gender non-conforming people. In addition to story and long-form story pitches and op-eds, they accept photography and original artwork for their online blogging platform, The Black Girl Times, and their monthly newsletter, The Black Girl Times Redux. Also, “Each month, we have an editorial theme board (kind of like the mood boards interior designers use) we post on our social media accounts (@luvblkgrls). The theme board is intended to be an inspiration and provocation of thoughts, ideas and feelings. Your response(s) can be literal or abstract and loose. And again, it might not have anything to do with anything we’ve seen.” Pay is $0.25-$1/word. Pay for art (graphic design, cartoons and photo essays) is $150-1,000.
Screen Door Review
They only publish work by individuals who are Southern and queer. You can learn more about how they define Southern here. They publish flash fiction and poetry.
Emergent Literary
An exciting new literary journal that accepts a wide range of submissions from Black and Brown authors.
Presses/Anthologies
Hear of Her:
The new Press Hear of Her is collecting an
An erotic collection exploring female desire through the lens of darkness, in all its forms.
Cat Eye Press: Don’t Go for the Vault – A Bank Robbery Horror Anthology
This is a fiction anthology. They want “horror stories involving bank robberies. While the title for the anthology is “Don’t Go for the Vault,” we want characters who do exactly that. We want to see what you have hidden behind that giant metal door. Give us a reason to heed this legendary piece of bank robbery advice.
Stories can take place in any time period and do not need to occur exclusively within the confines of a bank. The three main requirements for stories are:
- Story must involve a bank robbery;
- Story must mention or include a bank vault door being opened; AND
- Story must have horror elements (either inside or outside the vault).
While these requirements may seem simple, we encourage you to think outside the box.” They also accept reprints. They close on 20th May for general submissions from all writers, and have an extended submission window for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, Disabled, Neurodiverse, and other underrepresented voices till 31st May. Pay is $0.05/word for original stories of 1,500-4,500 words.
The Truth We Carry: An Anthology of Survivor Voices
“The anthology is focused on publishing creative work from survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. While survivorship and/or lived experience with abuse or exploitation is a prerequisite to being published with The Truth We Carry, and we do expect submissions to deal with some aspect of being a survivor, your submission does not have to be autobiographical, and it can be fiction. The consistent element we look for an “aha!” moment about the survivor experience.” And, “Please note: We aim for ~75% of published work to be from Maine survivors.” They pay $100 and will accept submissions till 30th June 2026, or until they meet their submission cap, whichever is earlier. Details here and here.
Scylla: The Monstrous & The Divine Sapphic Anthology
Authors must be female identifying or non-binary; and the main character/s must be sapphic/wlw. They want short and flash fiction as well as poetry for this anthology. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Submissions should focus on Sapphic goddesses and monsters as you’ve not seen them before. Bring them down from the heavens and out of the caves. While goddesses and monsters aren’t like us, they do still crave the company of ones who love, fear and worship them. Not necessarily in that order.” And, “Sapphic urban fantasy, political fantasy, magical realism, sci-fi of ALL kinds, contemporary fantasy, weird fiction, and/or gender-bent takes are all welcome. Just make it speculative! Special consideration will be given to mythologies outside Greek and Roman (though interesting takes on these are still welcome).
We are interested in goddesses and mythic monsters hailing from all cultures and backgrounds.” Length guidelines are up to 1,000 words for flash fiction and poetry, and 2,500-5,000 words for short fiction. They pay AUD0.10/word up to AUD400 for original fiction and reprints are capped at AUD100. The deadline is 31 July 2026 (5 PM AEDT). Submission is via a form.
Thyme Travelers 2: An anthology of speculative fiction by Palestinian writers
Their website says, “Roseway, an imprint of Fernwood Publishing, will be publishing a sequel to the award-winning and acclaimed anthology Thyme Travellers featuring 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.
DILIM Press: DILIM Anthology of Dark Fiction from the Philippine Diaspora – Galleon Dreaming
They want stories with a connection to the Philippines or Filipino diaspora. “Volume I: Galleon Dreaming explores the trade era and how the legacies of colonization continue to shape our island chain.
Aswang, ghostly sailors, and ocean creatures navigate their own journeys between displacement and a sense of belonging.
We are seeking short stories and poems that explore your ideas and thoughts about how to bridge the abyss between our past and future, how we carry our belongings and our dreams to distant shores, and how we know what’s inside of our own unique box of treasures-literal and metaphorical-what do we most value now and always?” They want short stories in the following genres: historical fiction, magical realism, fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, mystery, or up to 5 poems. Send fiction up to 7,000 words, or poetry up to 5,000 words. They pay $0.07/word for originals and also accept reprints (see guidelines). And, “We send North America and Philippines-based writers two print copies of the final work.” The deadline is 30 May 2026, or when filled – they will close submissions early if they meet their quota. Galleon Dreaming is their inaugural anthology. They have other anthologies listed too, with later deadlines. Details here, here, and here.
Heyday Books: Berkeley Roundhouse program
Heyday is an established independent and nonprofit publisher that focuses on California and the American West. They publish nonfiction books that explore history, celebrate Native cultural renewal, fight injustice, and honor nature. They are open to submissions from Native voices in particular for their Roundhouse imprint, which you can learn more about here.
Palimpsest Press
They only publish Canadian authors. They are open to submissions from authors who identify as BIPOC, Deaf, or Disabled, all year round. They accept submissions from authors who do not identify as BIPOC, Deaf or Disabled from March 1st through March 31st. They publish poetry and other literary genres.
Adarna House
This established press based in the Philippines is committed to promoting culture and languages is support of Filipino artistry and talent. They are open to submissions from Filipinos 18 years or older, based anywhere in the world. There is no limit to the number of pitches one may submit. Submissions may be in Filipino or English or come with a Filipino or English translation.
Lantana
They are an award-winning children’s book publisher based in England, United Kingdom. They are looking for manuscripts and book dummies by authors and illustrators from under-represented groups. They almost exclusively publish stories with child protagonists (including poetry, graphic novels and non-fiction) and are not looking for stories only featuring animal characters.
The University Of Arkansas Press
The University of Arkansas Press accepts unsolicited proposals for scholarly and trade books on topics related the African American history and culture. You can visit their website here to see the titles they’ve previously published.
aunt lute
A multicultural women’s press. Their priority is to publish work by women, both transgender and cisgender, particularly women of color. We have reviewed them here.
Little Puss Press
A feminist press run by trans women. They are open to general submissions of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. They are also open to reprint proposals of literary/historical works of significance by transgender authors. They have good distribution, excellent press, and have already published work that has won a major award.
Arte Público Press
They focus on publishing literary work by “Hispanic writers”, and they publish work in both English and Spanish, but primarily focus on English work. They also have bilingual children’s and YA book imprint, Piñata Books.
Phoenix
Phoenix is a new speculative imprint launched by Nigerian publisher Ouida Books in collaboration with Nnedi Okorafor and Lọlá Shónẹ́yìn. Phoenix is dedicated to publishing African speculative fiction and fantasy (Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism). You can learn more about it here.
The Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series
This opportunity, from Black Lawrence Press, is for immigrants living in the US – for manuscripts of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid writing. “Poets and authors, at any stage of their careers, who identify as immigrants are welcome to submit a book manuscript of poetry or prose or a hybrid text for consideration. Submissions are accepted year-round. However, selections are made in June and November for a total of two books per year. In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors.”
North Dakota State University Press: Contemporary Voices of Indigenous Peoples Series
The goal of this series to feature the authentic stories, poetry, and scholarly works of Native Americans, First Nations, Maori, Aborigines, Indians, and more to give voice to contemporary Indigenous peoples. NDSU Press considers book-length manuscripts of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for publication in this series.
Random House Canada
The Canadian arm of Random House changed their submission policy have opened their policy exclusively to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC writers, as well as those from other traditionally underrepresented communities. They are particularly looking for “High quality commercial fiction in the following genres: literary, romance, speculative fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. Please note that we do not currently accept screenplays, stage plays, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, or picture book queries. All non-fiction submissions must be submitted via a literary agent.” They are open to submissions internationally, but prioritize Canadian writers. They had a previous issue where the submission page was up, but they had an auto-responder on that indicated they were closed to submissions. This seems to be resolved based on reader feedback.
Tundra Books, Puffin Canada, Penguin Teen Canada
These children and teen focused Canadian imprints are open to direct submissions by underrepresented authors and illustrators only. Authors need not be Canadian.
Monsoon Books
This respected press accepts unsolicited manuscripts with Asian, particularly Southeast Asian, themes.
Arsenal Pulp Press
A Canadian independent press that publishes a wide variety of work, prioritizes work by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors. We have reviewed them here.
Lily
A small poetry press that publishes work of varying length. Submitting shorter work is free for everyone, but submitting poetry manuscripts is free only for poets who identify as Black. They are always open to these submissions.
Angry Robot
A great science fiction publisher that only accepts direct submissions from Black authors.
Heartdrum
Heartdrum is an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, which is edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, and is in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Native and First Nations writers and writer-illustrators are welcome to query her directly via a form on her website. Native and First Nations illustrators are also invited to reach out.
Magabala Books
They are an Indigenous publishing house that just publishes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and illustrators.
Opportunities/Support/Contests
The Irene Adler Prize
The Irene Adler Prize winner will receive a $1,000 US scholarship. The competition is open to women from any country, commencing or continuing to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in 2026-27. One of the application requirements is a 500-word essay on one of these five prompts on the website:
— Illustrate what you have learned and gained from meeting a person (or people) from another culture.
— What development in recent history makes you most optimistic about the future of women?
— Describe the most unforgettable dream – asleep or awake – you have ever had.
— Write a fictional short story with a female protagonist and a dramatic twist ending.
— Show what the rise of women’s sports worldwide means through non-fiction storytelling.
The prize is intended to be applied to educational expenses such as tuition fees – please see the rules. The prize is $1,000; and there are up to two prizes of $250 each. The deadline is 30 May 2026. Details here (download 2026 submission guidelines and rules).
Speculative Literature Foundation: Older Writers Grant
They offer grants for writers of speculative literature, spread out across the year; during May, they’ll be open for The Older Writers Grant for writers who are at least 50 years old at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. The writing application sample could be of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction, of speculative literature. A writing sample (see guidelines) is part of the application. They are scheduled to open soon for submissions.
The grant is $1,000 and the deadline is 31 May 2026. Details here and here.
The PEN/Bare Life Review Grants
“The PEN/Bare Life Review Grants support literary works in progress by immigrant and refugee writers, recognizing that the literature of migration is of inherent and manifest value. PEN America will confer two PEN/Bare Life Review Grants of $5,000 each.” The deadline is 15th June 2026. Details here, here, and here.
(PEN America is also open for other grants till June 15th, see their Submittable for details.)
Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing: 2026 Asian Voices in Children’s Literature
This will be their first annual Asian Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest, open for writers of Asian heritage in the US. It is for children’s books “for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–1,000 words)”. The books “Must feature authentic, realistic characters of Asian heritage
- Must focus on one or more of the following topics: resilience, character development, self-esteem, identity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development
- Must be connected in writers of Asian heritage in the US some way to the writer’s personal experience”
The contest is run by Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing. Free Spirit Publishing is an imprint of Teacher Created Materials (TCM); they also run the Black Voices in Children’s Literature and Latino Voices in Children’s Literature contests, both of which are yet to announce their 2026 submission dates. Apart from a cash prize, winner receives other opportunities as well, including a meeting with the publishers. Winner will be considered for publication but this is not guaranteed. A slot will open on their Submittable page for this category during their submission period (there are other opportunities listed there, too); or you can submit to the contest by other means (see guidelines). Please send your entries only during the submission period. The grants are $1,000, $500, $300, and the deadline is 31st May 2026.
Abode Press: QTBIPOC Fiction Book Award
Abode Press is open to submissions for this prize from writers of color who identify as queer and/or trans that reside in the USA and are 21. Authors must submit a fiction manuscript for a novel that is at least 60k in length or a short story collection that is over 40k. Submissions close June 1st.
Hudson Valley Writer’s Center: Scholarships
They are open to applications for their scholarship program from May 15th-May 30th. Anyone who cannot afford their classes can apply, but they especially encourage Writers of Color, Women and Non-Binary Writers, and LGBTQIA+ writers to apply. All scholarship applicants must live in the USA and be over 18.
Princeton University Press: Global Equity Grants
These grants are for authors of underrepresented groups to support the preparation of works that is already under contract, in production, or published within the last 12 months. Grants range from $500 to $1,000. The grants can be used to cover a wide range of supports including parental/family care, and translation. More details at the source. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
BIPOC scholarship for Emily Harstone’s classes at The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish
Each time Emily Harstone offers The Novel Writing Workshop (for manuscripts in progress), Submit, Publish, Repeat (for poems, short stories, and CNF publication in literary journals), and Manuscript Publishing for Novelists (for completed novel and memoir manuscripts) through the Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish, there is now an opportunity for two writers who identify as BIPOC to take it for free. If you registered last year, please note that the form re-set in January, and you are encouraged to fill it out again.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2025 Guide to Manuscript Publishers. She regularly teaches three acclaimed courses on writing and publishing at The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish. You can follow her on Facebook here.
