Markets and Jobs for Writers

Background of a keyboard, mug of coffee, and wallet on a tabletop; text label indicating "Markets and Jobs for Writers: No fees to submit work/apply. Paying gigs only."

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.

  • From The Maine Review: “Not published yet? Good news! We’re currently seeking writers who are looking for their very first literary home.  Generally, we open our free submission windows to all writers, but this time we’re kindly requesting that only previously UNPUBLISHED writers, with no pending contracts, make use of this free window. We will open a couple of free submission windows for all writers soon.” Looks as though this window will be open until August 31. Pays: “Fiction and Nonfiction writers will receive a $25 honorarium per published flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more. Poets will receive a $25 honorarium per published poem.” 
  • Fieldnotes, “a quarterly print journal publishing new writing and artworks with a focus on practices that work between disciplines and against type,” is open for submissions for its third issue until September 1. Payment: “between £100-£200.”
  • The Fiddlehead is receiving submissions for an upcoming “BIPOC Solidarities Special Issue” until September 1. For this issue, the journal seeks submissions only from “racialized writers residing in the area known as Canada (citizenship not required). We will politely decline international submissions received during this reading period.” 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.”
  • Reminder: “Green Bean Books and Jewish Book Week are pleased to announce the launch of two exciting new prizes for children’s authors and illustrators living in Europe, the UK and Israel. The awards have been established to discover inspiring and relevant stories for young children based on Jewish history, values and traditions. One author and one illustrator will each receive a £1000 prize and their work will be considered for publication by specialist Jewish children’s book publisher Green Bean Books.” Deadline: “12pm BST on 1 September 2021.”
  • Gasher Press’s First-Book Scholarship competition is open until September 1. Scholarships of $250 are awarded to emerging writers currently submitting a first-book manuscript, “in order to assist in the covering of submission costs for contests and open reading periods.” This year they’re offering two scholarships, one for prose and one for poetry, for people residing in the U.S. only. 
  • Two Ucross Fellowships for Native American Writers will awarded each year. Those selected for the fellowship are offered a four-week residency, a stipend of $2,000, and an opportunity to present work publicly. For upcoming Spring 2022 Fellowship, the deadline is September 1, 2021, for a residency taking place between late February and early June 2022. For the Fall 2022 Fellowship, the deadline is March 1, 2022, for a residency taking place between August and early December 2022. There will be no application fee to apply. While only one Fellowship winner will be selected for each session, all applicants will have the option of being considered for a regular Ucross residency.
  • The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is currently seeking a detail-oriented person with excellent communication, hospitality, and interpersonal skills to assist the Program Director in implementing all aspects of our established artist residency program….This position is part-time, Monday – Friday, up to 30 hours per week, with a fair amount of flexibility weekly, but may require occasional evening and weekend availability. Candidates must live in or near Nebraska City, NE. Benefits include paid holidays, vacation days, and simple IRA. Starting compensation is $12-$15/hour depending on qualifications and experience.”
  • From Wasafiri: “We’re seeking to recruit a dynamic new Digital Editor to take over responsibility for our online profile, managing our social media platforms, and commissioning and editing material for Wasafiri.org.” NB: “Only candidates with permission to work in the UK are eligible.” Apply by Friday (August 27).
  • Bard College seeks a Managing Editor for the literary journal, Conjunctions. The managing editorship is a full-time, year-round, exempt position. The position is office-based on the campus of Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.”
  • In Tennessee, “the Department of English at Vanderbilt University seeks to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Fiction Writing to begin Fall 2022.”
  • In Utah, “the Department of English at Brigham Young University announces a continuing faculty status (tenure) track position. While we are looking for strong candidates in all fields, we are especially seeking candidates in Creative Writing (fiction) and English Teaching (technology and/or reading specialist).
on a tabletop: a keyboard, a mug of coffee, and a wallet with cash, plus a text label announcing Markets and Jobs for Writers