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.
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
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.
Literary Cleaveland: Transitions
Literary Cleaveland, which publishes Gordon Square Review, is accepting works for a project called Transitions, which “is about truth, memory, and honoring Black trans women and femmes the way they deserve: whole, real, and in their own words. Too often, their stories get rewritten after they’re gone. This project pushes back, inviting community members to write “corrected obituaries,” share memories, and create “day-in-the-life” narratives. … Through a series of meet-ups and workshops, project manager Zuggie Tate will compile writings, stories, and testimonies that capture the full, complex lives of Black trans women and femmes—those lost and those still living. … submit your story for the exhibition. Written content such as poems, essays, short stories, memoir, journal, texts, plays, scripts, and FB posts as well as audio or video are welcome. The deadline for submitting work for Transitions is 21 April 2025.
(And, Gordon Square Review also accepts general submissions from all writers – fiction, nonfiction, and poetry – they also offer editorial mentorships. The deadline for Gordon Square Review submissions is 31 March 2025; details here and here.)
Haven Speculative
They publish speculative fiction and poetry, have resumed their alternate reading periods – one month for submissions from all writers, the next month from underrepresented writers only, and so on. “Our submission cycle is … split into two categories, where every other month is explicitly reserved for submissions by authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. The interposing six months remain open to everyone.” They are also reading submissions for their climate crisis focused Dry (usually published March, might be published in May this year; looking for content that focuses on the dry aspects of climate change—desertification and falling reservoirs, rising temperatures and endless droughts—we’ll center stories by authors directly affected by the climate crisis”) and Wet (published September; “we focus on stories of water—monsoons and the rising tides, hurricanes and the disappearing coast—we’ll center stories by authors directly affected by the climate crisis”) issues. Scroll down on the guidelines page for the themes. They accept up to 6,000 words for fiction, up to 5 poems, and pay $0.08/word for fiction, $20/poem. Through March, they are reading submissions from underrepresented writers only. Details here and here.
khōréō
This is a quarterly magazine of speculative fiction and migration, and they only publish fiction by immigrant and diaspora authors. They also accept speculative fiction translations with migration themes. They pay $0.10/word for up to 5,000 words for fiction, up to 3,500 words for translations. The deadline is 31 March 2025. Details here, here, and here.
The Skull & Laurel
They are looking for at least one Weird Folk Horror story from a BIPOC writer for Issue 4. “Weird Folk Horror/Folk SF/Folk Fantasy, broad interpretation, all kinds of folklore and lore welcome.” They also accept translations and reprints. They accept works of 100-4,999 words, pay $0.03/word, and the deadline is 1 April 2025.
New Orleans Review
They charge a submission fee from all writers, but have certain fee-free periods for different demographics at various times. For instance, “In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, there are no submission fees for writers living with both visible and invisible disabilities for the month of March.” There is no fee for Palestinian writers, for Songs of the Sunbirds column; there is a submission cap. There is no fee for writers who are refugees living anywhere in the world, either. They pay $300 for fiction and creative nonfiction up to 5,000 words, and $100 for poetry. Submit here (there are several slots on their Submittable, please be sure to submit in the correct category.)
The Stinging Fly: Climate Crisis
This respected Irish journal is accepting creative non-fiction pitches only for the Climate Crisis theme. Please note, this is a call for creative nonfiction pitches only – do not send complete submissions, or work in any other genre. “The Winter 2025-26 issue of The Stinging Fly, due to publish in November 2025, will have a special focus on the climate crisis, where we will showcase visionary, provocative, and original new work about the climate and the endangered future of our planet.
We now invite pitches for pieces of creative non-fiction engaging with this topic. Your pitch, which should be submitted through this form, should clearly outline what you wish to write about, how you intend to develop it, and what will make your essay effective, unique or compelling.” And, “This is a global crisis, and so we are interested in reading work from international writers, especially those able to bring into focus details, effects or potential solutions particular to their communities. Of course, as an Irish literary magazine, we also intend this issue to include specific engagement with climate through an Irish lens.” They pay €45 per magazine page of nonfiction, with a minimum/maximum payment of €325/€1,200; and for shorter essays (1 – 2 pages), they pay €150. The deadline is 31 March 2025 for CNF pitches. They will be open for fiction and poetry submissions during the first two weeks of May. Details here, here, and here.
Midnight & Indigo
They publish works by Black women writers only – essays, as well as speculative and literary fiction. They pay $150 for essays, and $0.07/word for fiction. The deadline is 30 March 2025.
Boudin
This monthly online journal is affiliated with the McNeese State University, and calls itself ‘The Spicy Online Cousin of The McNeese Review’. “In all genres, we are particularly interested in seeing work from women, people of color, LGBTQ writers, non-binary writers, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.” They’re open for fee-free submissions on two themes; Blooms in the Dusk (deadline 1 April) and Immigration and Displacement (deadline 25 April 2025). For the latter, they say, “Whether it is from your childhood or one you built yourself, there is truly no place like home. But home is often a bittersweet memory for those who have been forced to leave. For our May issue, Boudin is looking for poetry, CNF, fiction, and visual artwork about displacement with a focus on immigration. We’re particularly interested in the visceral emotions that come with the rediscovery, recollection, or loss of home.” Send works of up to 5,000 words. They’re also open for a fee-based flash fiction chapbook contest. Details here and here.
PodCastle: Special Call for Disability Pride & Magic
This established fantasy publication is only currently open to submissions for their upcoming event for Disability Pride Month, Disability Pride & Magic. They are seeking stories that “show the dynamic nature of disability, that grapple with ableism (internal and external), and that, ultimately, see us as fully human”. The call is technically open to everyone, but they add: “we believe disabled stories are best told by disabled voices, no one should have to disclose their status if they aren’t comfortable doing so. That said, this is an event centred around pride, visibility, and acceptance, on dismantling ableist notions of shame that silence and alienate disabled people. In that spirit, we strongly encourage authors to speak up about their disabilities, especially if their lived experience informs their story.” All stories must have a fantasy element but it can be subtle. They are not interested in traditional horror but are open to dark fantasy. They pay 8 cents per word for original work and $100 for reprints. They accept work that is between 2,000-6,000 words, for original work and for reprints they allow submissions up to 7,000 words in length. Upper word count limits are strict. They close to submissions for this call on the 31st of March. They will also open for unthemed fantasy stories from 1st to 31st March 2025, see their schedule.
The Missing Slate
They are open to submissions from everyone but especially seeking submissions from authors from underrepresented backgrounds. They are open to submissions for their summer issue on the theme of Labyrinth, till April 20th.
Midwest Weird
This is an audio literary magazine, seeking submissions of weird fiction or nonfiction from Midwestern authors, with a particular interest in underrepresented communities.
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 1000 words in length.
The Southeast Review
This journal established in 1979 as Sundog, is a national literary magazine housed in the English department at Florida State University, edited and managed by graduate students. They charge for most submissions but are open to submissions from BIPOC Writers of Creative Nonfiction, and Young Adult Fiction. Both these submissions have caps on them. If either of the calls reaches the upper limit of free submissions for the cap they will temporarily close to submissions, but should reopen at the start of the month.
The West Trestle Review
This respected journal is only open to submissions previously unpublished 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.
Woodsqueer
This new literary journal describes their focus by stating “At Woodsqueer, we view nature as inherently “queer.” It’s queer to care about the fate of our natural world, to possess this liminal space, and to make a dwelling of your own there. While we are especially interested in the voices of underrepresented artists, we are looking for any writer who thinks their work to be queer within our natural world.” They accept poetry, fiction, and essays as well as art and photography. They are open to previously published work as long as the author is upfront about the work being a reprint.
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 January, March, May, July, September or November.
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”. They publish nonfiction erotica and their website is NSFW, please do not visit it if you are under 18.
ALOCASIA
A journal of queer plant-based writing. They accept submissions on a rolling basis.
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. 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. Details here and here.
Arcanum Magazine
Arcanum Magazine is a digital and print magazine for creative writing, visual art, cultural criticism, and journalism by and for the Black diaspora. They are a paying market that is open on a rolling basis to creative writing, cultural criticism, news, and journalism, as well as visual art.
Bookish Brews
They describe themselves as a “book blog and a celebration of diverse books and authors (with a side of your favorite brew)”. They prioritize BIPOC writers but are open to submissions from other historically underrepresented groups also. They publish nonfiction, craft, and lifestyle essays as well as book reviews.
Mayday: Black
For Mayday: Black submissions, they want nonfiction pitches and drafts from Black writers – their website says, they are “committed to delivering a new experience for Black writers, including those seeking first-time publication. We welcome nonfiction work in opinions and analyses; personal, braided, and reported essays in contemporary and historical contexts. Bring your authentic, curious, courageous, well-rounded stories on life, living, love, loss, representation, race, racism, death, dying, Black plight and civil rights, neighborhood blight, gentrification, white flight, and more. (In no way is this an exhaustive list!)” They pay $50 for Mayday: Black essays of 800-3,000 words. Details here and here. (This magazine also occasionally accepts fiction, nonfiction, culture pieces, poetry, reviews, interviews, and translations from all writers, and pays $10-20 for these.)
Zindabad Zine
This print and electronic publication is based in the UK. They are open to submissions on a rolling basis. Currently they are closed to submissions for the print issue but open to electronic ones. They only accept work from people “in a diaspora”. They publish personal essays, articles, poetry, fiction, visual art and photography.
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 (including whatever LGBTQ might appeal to a lesbian readership). 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.
Prismatica Magazine
An LGBTQ fantasy and science fiction magazine that publishes short stories, poetry, reviews, interviews, and articles. They have very specific submission guidelines so please read those carefully.
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, hybrid works, poetry, and drama (including that accompanied by video or dramatic audio). Send up to 2,500 for fiction/hybrid 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.
Tagg Magazine
Tagg is a US-based queer women’s publication. Their website has several themes they accept articles on, including personal essays, listicles, dating advice and fashion-related content. Articles are 350-1,000 words long and pay $75-175. They welcome pitches for article ideas. See the pitch guide for contributors 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 few themed calls, and they also invite suggestions for future themes.
- Origins: When did the LGBT movement really begin?
- Anthropologies: Sexual variants in non-Western cultures
- The State of LGBT Rights: What’s next for the movement?
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.
Aloka
They want work by non-native English speakers only – poetry, translations, fiction, and hybrid work. Send up to 5 poems, or up to 2 prose pieces, up to 2,500 words each.
The Lighthouse / Black Girl Projects
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.
Breath & Shadow
Breath & Shadow only publishes work from people with disabilities. This is how they define disability: “We use the term “disability” broadly to encompass anyone with a physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, or sensory impairment that significantly affects one or more major life functions.” They accept writing on any topic in terms of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and drama. Pieces do not have to be about disability. The academic or article type nonfiction, including profiles, interviews, and opinion pieces, do have to relate to disability in some way. They pay $25 per poem (max 2) and $40 for prose.
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.
LatinX Lit Audio Mag
LatinX Lit Mag is a safe space for literary work written by authors who identify as Latinx or Hispanic.
Presses/Anthologies
Flame Tree Publishing: Afrofuturism Short Stories
For this call, they say, “The National Museum of African American History and Culture characterises Afrofuturism as expressing “notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life.” This is Africa, based in Kenya, defines Africanfuturism as located in “the African point of view, experience, culture, themes, and history with technology based in Africa, not the diaspora”. …. Authors must be writing from an authentic perspective of the Black experience, whether based in the diaspora or in Africa.” They also accept reprints. Send stories of 2,000-4,000 words (see guidelines). They pay $0.08/word. The deadline is 28 March 2025.
Palimpsest Press
A small press specializing in poetry and other literary works, they only publish Canadian authors. They are open to submissions from authors who identify as BIPOC, Deaf, or Disabled, all year round. Learn more here.
NeuroQueer: Annual Spoon Knife anthology
NeuroQueer is an imprint of Autonomous Press, and they publish an annual genre bending anthology called Spoon Knife which is now accepting submissions of short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. They are a paying market. Autonomous Press does not accept unagented submissions, but this is one of the ways they find authors. The theme of this anthology is Polarites, and they include details and image along the theme lines on their site. They pay $30, plus 1 cent per word. All contributors also receive a copy of the anthology their work appears in. The deadline for submissions is July 31st.
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, this is not limited to Canadians.
Somos en escrito Literary Foundation Press
They publish a literary magazine as well as books, they are “dedicated to publishing raza authors to express the narratives and needs of our communities, which typically get overlooked by the mainstream presses. We intend to be the institution nobody else will build for us.”
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.
Blind Eye Books
Blind Eye Books publishes science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance novels featuring LGBTQ protagonists. They are a print publisher and their book covers are beautifully designed and really stand out. The books they have published have won and been nominated for a number of awards, including the Lambda. 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.
Sourcebooks
We’ve reviewed Sourcebooks here, and their adult nonfiction imprint and their romance and horror imprints are always open to all submissions, but they also deserve to be on this list because their fiction imprint, their mystery imprint, their young adult imprint, and three of their children’s book imprints, all say “Our submissions are currently CLOSED to unagented projects, with the exception of works that directly promote diversity, equality and inclusion. For more information please email InclusiveFiction@Sourcebooks.com.” So if you have work that matches that description in those genres, please reach out to them.
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.
Opportunities/Support/Contests
Terrain.org Editor’s Prize
They welcome submissions on place, climate, and justice – fiction (short story, flash fiction series, novel excerpt, radio play, or other fiction piece), non-fiction, and poetry. They also accept translations, and art. Payment for general submissions is $50. And, “All accepted submissions by writers of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, and/or other marginalized communities whose contributions explore place particularly in the context of social, environmental, or climate justice are considered for our annual Editor’s Prize of $500 per genre.” There is no separate submission process or entry fee for this contest; they have other, fee-based contests too. Certain sections, like Letter to America and ArTerrain, are open year-round, and other sections have submission periods, or are open periodically.
The deadline is 31st March poetry, 30 April 2025 for fiction and nonfiction.
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. The grant is $2,000; the winner can choose from a range of activities, and the deadline is 31 March 2025.
Red Hen Press Ann Petry Award
This is for a work of previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages, by a Black writer. The prize is $3,000 and publication, and the deadline is 31 March 2025. Details here (scroll down) and here.
(See all of the Red Hen Press awards here.)
Maya Angelou Book Award
This award, for U.S. writers, is for a work has demonstrated a commitment to social justice. It is for books published in 2024, or scheduled to be published until November 2025. The award alternates between poetry and fiction, and for this cycle, books of poetry 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. See the social media announcement here. The award is $10,000, and the deadline is 1 April 2025. Details here, here, and here.
The Amerind Museum Artist in Residence
This is a call for early-career Native American writers. “The Amerind Museum, Dragoon, AZ, seeks Artist in Residence applications from emerging Native American artists. The selected artists must be in residence at the Amerind Museum for 1 month at a time to be determined between the selected artists and Amerind’s staff. The selected artist(s) will receive housing, workspace, and a $3,000/month stipend. The artist will be asked to give a public talk about their work and/or hold some open studio hours. … We welcome visual artists, performing artists, and literary artists. We are seeking Indigenous artists who are at the beginning of their artistic careers. Artists must be enrolled members of a state or federally recognized Native American Tribe. …The artist must have reliable transportation.” There is no deadline listed. Details here (scroll down to Call For Artist In Residence Applications).
Airlie Prize: Airlie Press
Airlie Press is a nonprofit poetry collective based in the Pacific Northwest. The winner of their annual Airlie Prize receives book publication and a $1,000 prize upon publication of the winning book. Any poet writing in English is eligible to enter, regardless of place of residence, but only BIPOC writers can submit for free. They close to submissions on March 31st.
Penguin Random House Canada: Mclelland & Stewart
A respected imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, McClelland & Stewart focuses on publishing fiction, non fiction, and poetry. During the month of march they are open to submissions from Black, Indigenous, and racialized writers, as well as those of other traditionally underrepresented communities. During the month of March, unsolicited and unagented work can be sent directly to editors within the M&S division.
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 $2,000. 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.
Curtis Brown Creatives: Scholarship Opportunities
Curtis Brown Creatives regularly offers scholarships for their courses. Some are London-based and some are online. Right now they have have two scholarships with approaching deadlines: The HW Fisher Novel-Writing Scholarship for Writers with Low Income, and the UTA Scholarship for TV Screenwriters with Low Income. Additional eligibility details are on the website.
The Writing Barn Scholarship
The Writing Barn has a small but budding scholarship program available for our programming. Scholarships are awarded on the following criteria: seriousness of purpose, talent and financial need. They also offer specific Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity scholarships for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Neurodiverse writers, and writers with disabilities.
Creative Capital, Skoll Foundation, Mellon Foundation: Forward Funds
The crowdsourcing platform for creatives, Kickstarter, now has Forward Funds. Their website says, “Forward Funders are foundations, nonprofits, and organizations that back Kickstarter campaigns related to their visions and missions around a more creative and equitable world. Each Forward Funder makes a public commitment and then backs projects just like anyone else—through single pledges that bring the works one step closer to reality.” One such fund is the $700,000 fund from Creative Capital, Skoll Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. “Creative Capital in collaboration with Skoll Foundation and Mellon Foundation have partnered in this $700,000 fund to support innovative and impactful projects across all categories by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators in the United States (US citizens, permanent residents, and O-1 visa holders).” Projects launched on Kickstarter following their rules are eligible, and creators can nominate themselves for specific Forward Funds. This is for both, creators and organizations.
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.
