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.

• First things first: ICYMI, March issue of The Practicing Writer went out to subscribers late last week. As per usual, it’s packed with current opportunities that do not charge submissions/entry fees and do pay writers for their work. Plus, there’s a link to an updated page of fee-free residencies. Peruse the issue, subscribe (if you haven’t already), and share it with your networks!
• I’ve already discovered a number of other time-sensitive opportunities since the newsletter went out. Let’s start with this one: Coffee House Press, which publishes “literary novels, full-length short story collections, poetry, creative nonfiction, book-length essays, and essay collections,” opened for prose manuscript submissions on March 1, 2020 at 9 a.m. CST and announced that submissions would be capped at 300 submissions. (So if their submissions seem to be closed, they may have reached the cap.)
• Also: Rivet Journal is open for fiction submissions during March (no date limitations specified for submissions in other genres). “We seek writing that crosses boundaries of form, content, genre, and style — either subtly or radically. If you have something that’s weird and interesting and strangely powerful but don’t know who would publish such a thing, it’s exactly what we want to read.” They ask that you submit “one short story or up to 5 pieces of flash fiction in one document. Length of each piece should be between 15 and 15,000 words, give or take.” Pays: “$25 per author per issue, regardless of genre, length or number of pieces.” 
• “Regular reminder that you can pitch stories for Southwest Airlines’ in-flight magazine to me at alex.macon(at)paceco(dot)com. $1 a word for features and essays. Please read these guidelines before emailing.” (HT @WeisChoice)
• Here’s a chance to win a free spot in Christi Craig’s upcoming course, Flash Nonfiction I, which “offers 4 weeks of online lessons, writing prompts, and writing exercises that build up to a final piece of a more polished essay.” Fill out the giveaway form by Thursday, March 5; results will be communicated quickly, as the course begins March 7.
• If you’re a writer in Washington state, you may want to take note of the March 9 deadline for Artist Trust Fellowship Awards, “merit-based awards of $10,000.”
• Actively working visual artists, writers, instrumentalists, and composers with at least two years of professional experience since graduation may apply” to the Pennsylvania-based Soaring Gardens Artists Retreat. “Residencies are from two to five weeks, however preference is given to applicants requesting residencies of four to five weeks. (If scheduling permits, shorter residencies will be considered.) A limited number of $500 grants are available.” Deadline: March 10.
• Culture Days “is looking for contributors and writers with fresh perspectives and unique stories to share. In 2020, we’re encouraging Canadians to view arts and culture through the lens of Unexpected Intersections—encouraging creative and outside-the-box thinking to reveal new avenues of discovery, learning, and expression.” Payment: “competitive.” Deadline: March 11, 2020 (5pm, Eastern). (HT: @WeisChoice)
• Attention, Wisconsin writers! Contest submissions for the upcoming Lakefly Writers Conference close on March 13. Categories include flash fiction, short story, poetry, and teen short story. Cash prizes: $100/$75/$50. NB: “Winners must be able to attend our awards ceremony,” which is slated for May 9.
• “The Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media recognizes a select group of media professionals, including journalists, writers, and others who create exemplary work that contributes to a deeper understanding of and greater public awareness about mental health issues. The prize carries an award of $3,000 and will be presented at an event where the honoree (or honorees) are invited to speak about their work. Attendance is welcome, but not required. The prize is juried by a committee of Riggs clinicians and Trustees who will consider the work of candidates nominated by their peers as well as unsolicited nominations.” NB: “To be eligible, work must have been created in English, intended for the layperson, created by a living person, and must have been first published/released after April 1, 2019. ” Deadline: March 15.
• In New York, The New Yorker seeks a Music-Writer Editor “to create and edit the Night Life and Classical Music sections of Goings On About Town, and to write about music for newyorker.com. A good candidate is passionate about a wide range of music, and has a strong critical voice, excellent editorial and organizational skills, and an ability to meet deadlines.”
• Also in New York, Library Journal is hiring a Copy Editor.
• In Los Angeles, Netflix is advertising for a Synopsis Writer “who’s passionate about kids and family content to join Netflix’s Product Writing team. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled communicator who has experience, interest and expertise in kids and family entertainment — particularly in content geared toward preschoolers and younger children. In this role, you’ll be expected to research titles and gather information from multiple sources to craft engaging, accurate synopses and other custom copy that guides members toward the best entertainment options for them and their families.”
• “West Virginia Wesleyan College invites applications for an assistant professor of creative writing beginning fall 2020. Tenure track is possible based on the qualifications of the successful candidate and the needs of the institution. West Virginia Wesleyan College seeks candidates with a specialization in fiction and/or non-fiction.”
• In Connecticut, “the English Department at Wesleyan University seeks applicants for the full-time teaching and administrative position of Visiting Assistant Professor in Fiction/Creative Writing for the 2020-2021 academic year. The appointment begins September 1, 2020. Teaching responsibilities include two courses per semester in introductory and intermediate workshops in fiction writing. The successful candidate will also be expected to advise two honors theses.”
• In California, “Scripps College, a women’s liberal arts college with a strong interdisciplinary tradition, invites applications for a distinguished visiting writer for the Mary Routt Endowed Chair of Writing during the spring semester of 2021.”
• “NYU London is currently recruiting for a part-time lecturer to teach an undergraduate creative writing course. Teaching commences in the Autumn Term (7 Sept – 18 Dec 2020).” NB: “The successful candidate should have the right to live and work in the UK prior to appointment.”