Erika Dreifus

Each week in this space, Practicing Writing shares no-fee, paying markets for writers of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction: competitions, contests, and calls for submissions. These weekly posts complement monthly issues of The Practicing Writer newsletter, where you’ll always find more listings, none of them limiting eligibility to residents of a single municipality, state, or province. (But this blog does share those more localized opportunities, including jobs.)

As always, if you’d like to share a specific opportunity listed here, please credit the blog for the find. Thanks for respecting the time and effort that I put into researching, curating, and posting this information! I do notice, and I appreciate the courtesy.

• The Fiddlehead has re-opened for online submissions of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Pays: “$60 CAD per published page, plus two complimentary copies of the issue with your work. Contributors may purchase additional copies of an issue at a discount.”
• “The Portage Press team is excited to announce that our 2020 submission period will be open from now until February 25th. Our team is looking for an outstanding book of poetry that disrupts the Midwestern stereotypes, encouraging readers to consider the urban or rural Midwest in a new light.” Payment: “The author’s payment will be 10 copies of the book plus 50% of the royalties Portage Press receives from Amazon. The author will also have the opportunity to purchase additional copies of the book at a rate of 50% of the list price.”
• Meantime, the Texas Review Press (TRP) Southern Poetry Breakthrough Series “seeks to highlight a first full-length collection by an emerging poet from each state in the southern U.S.” They’re currently open to submissions from any poet “born in Florida, or currently residing in Florida, who has not yet published a full-length collection of poetry. The author may have published chapbooks or books in other genres.” Deadline: February 29. “Winner will receive a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.”
• Submissions close February 28 for an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul volume themed “Listen to Your Dreams.” Check this page (scroll down) for details on the topic. True stories and poems are welcome. Pays: $200 plus 10 copies of the book.
• March 1 is the application deadline for summer-session residencies at the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency program, “located in historic Vicksburg, Michigan, near Kalamazoo. The residency provides access to the 420,000 square foot former Lee Paper Company paper mill and its adjacent 80 acres of property to use as inspiration. Artists are also encouraged to utilize our close ties to members of the village community and the area’s creative community. We’re looking for individuals who are highly independent, engaged and curious. We do not limit our residency to any specific medium but, rather, are looking for people who can creatively interact with the space we have to offer and the community of historic Vicksburg. We provide housing and studio space for one resident at a time, three times a year. We’re offering a stipend of $2,000 for 4 – 7 weeks, a $500 travel grant, and use of a car. We ask that the artist propose some sort of community ‘give back’ like a workshop, final show or open studio days and that they donate a piece of work to our collection.”
• Speaking of fee-free residencies—I’ve recently updated this list.
• In Alaska, there’s a position open for the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference Director.
• In Canada, the Department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto, St George campus, invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream appointment in the field of Creative Writing (both poetry and prose). The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor and will begin on July 1, 2020 or shortly thereafter. Applicants must have earned a PhD in English and an established national reputation as a creative writer. The successful candidate must display evidence of excellence both as a highly successful poet and novelist and as a teacher of creative writing. We seek candidates whose teaching and writing interests complement and strengthen our creative writing programs’ existing strengths, and are particularly interested in African-American Literature.”
• In Michigan, “Albion College invites applications for a one-year (non-renewable) visiting faculty member with a specialization in writing fiction to teach college writing, literature, and creative writing. We are especially interested in candidates who will engage our inclusive learning community and contribute to a campus climate that supports equity and diversity.  M.F.A. or Ph.D preferred, but A.B.D. will be considered. 3/3 teaching load. Primary responsibilities include teaching college writing, introductory creative writing (multi-genre: poetry and fiction), and introductory literature. Additional responsibilities may include directing honors theses in fiction writing and assisting with the Albion College Reading Series.  Several semesters’ teaching experience at the college level and a record of publication are expected.”
• “Houston Baptist University seeks Adjunct Professors to join the Department of Cinema, Media Arts, and Writing with expertise in Fiction and/or Poetry.”