Special Issue

20 Respected Literary Journals and Magazines that Publish Creative Writing

The literary journals and magazines on this list reject the vast majority of what is submitted to them. Sometimes authors’ works are rejected for years, decades even, before they receive an acceptance. But these literary journals are respected and trusted. Most have a large readership and good distribution in libraries and bookstores. Many of these…

10 Major Book Publishers Always Open to Submissions

Some publishers open and close their doors to submissions on a routine basis. It can be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions, and when you should submit. The following ten publishers, however, are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. They are all respected publishers…

21 Magazines Currently Seeking Creative Non-Fiction

Several prestigious literary magazines have opened their reading periods for submissions. This list has a mix of well-known and little-known or new magazines that welcome creative non-fiction: memoir, personal essays, lyrical essays and more. There are some themed calls: about community, mental health, candy, Canadian women and the vote and Indigenous writers, writing related to…

How to Start Getting Your Work Published in Literary Journals

‘The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.’ Stephen King When I first started submitting my work to literary journals, each submission I made was a frustrating, time-consuming ordeal. I kept asking myself if each publication was the right fit for my poems. I kept wondering what…

15 Calls for Themed Submissions (Fiction, Essays, and Poetry)

Contributed By S. Kalekar The calls are for fiction, non-fiction and poetry on various themes. They are as varied as mythological beasts, hiding in plain sight, power, OCD and BDD, stories using imagery of Greek and Roman mythology, blood and squalor, working mothers, power, lost (and rediscovered) objects, athletes and social justice, challenges of parenting,…

19 Science Fiction Manuscript Publishers that Accept Submissions (No Agent Required)

Last Updated April 2019 Most of these publishers are interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Some publish just one of these genres.  Others publish many genres and types of books, science fiction and fantasy just being one genre among many. Some are small companies, others are imprints of major publishing houses. They are not listed…

35 Writers’ “Rules for Writing”

Most writers have their own special “rules for writing,” even if they don’t talk about them. I always have coffee before I write. I find other writers’ rules fascinating, even when I don’t agree with them. A lot can be learned by reading about other authors’ approaches to writing. The New York Times and The…

17 Themed Calls for Submissions (Short Stories, Poetry, Essays)

There is a variety of topics and genres for writers to submit in – and the themes include mental illness, villains, both real and imaginary, sea terrors, gender and artificial intelligence, facets of Chinese cities, stories set in cellars and around mysterious stairs in the woods, writing by older women, about queer families and about…

Retreats, Conferences, and Week-Long Workshops: Which One is Right for You?

For a long time I wrote in the solitude of my room, alone and without a community. Slowly over time I started to branch out. I attended classes, workshops, and then retreats and conferences. I also earned a Masters of Fine Arts.  I think it is fair to say I have experienced a lot of…

24 Open Calls for Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror Submissions

Besides the very popular SF and Fantasy markets like Asimov’s and  Clarkesworld magazines, there are several other markets that are currently open to science fiction, fantasy and horror submissions. Many are themed calls – for spaceships and superheroes, fantasy beasts, food, monsters, autumn, and queer-inclusive young adults. Most of them pay writers. Cricket Media: Spider…

19 Calls for Themed Submissions (Fiction, Poetry, and Essays)

These are themed calls for submissions from literary journals and anthologies, for various genres, sub-genres and themes – pirates, Sherlock Holmes and H. G. Wells mashup, odd creatures, beginnings, shelter from a storm, re-writings of Hans Christian Anderson’s stories and about parenting and mental illness, and about miracles, redemption and death. Many of them pay…

25 Publishers Seeking Young Adult Manuscripts

Updated April 20, 2018 Young adult is one of my favorite genres to read, even though when I was a young adult struggled finding good YA books. These days the young adult genre is profitable, diverse, and covers a wide variety of genres, from science fiction to romance and everything in between. A lot of…

30 Writing Competitions and Submission Calls for Poets

This list is divided into two: submission calls and competitions for poets, including fellowships and one essay contest; prizes range from $250 to AU$10,000. They are listed according to deadline. The calls are for various topics, styles, as well as geographical and age demographics of poets. Special submission calls include those confronting shaming, LGBTQ themes,…

Seven Publishers That Accept Memoir Submissions (No Agent Required)

Updated November 2018 to remove publishers now closed to direct submissions. Memoir publishers that don’t require an agent to submit are few and far between. However, there are still options out there.  Some are old and respected, others are new and still figuring things out. Not all the publishers on this list are currently open…

22 Calls for Themed Submissions (Short Stories, Poetry, and Essays)

This is a list of themed submission calls for a variety of topics, genres and audiences – fiction, poetry, non-fiction, interviews and reviews. Topics include compassion for the natural world, romance, colonizing other worlds, reconciliation and decolonization, stories about ruins and chefs, post-apocalyptic horror, themed stories for children, work by and about underrepresented communities, and…

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