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.

• “Poets in Pajamas, a Sundress Publications reading series, is putting together the slate of readers for 2023 and would like to invite you to apply to read. Poets in Pajamas is a live-feed online reading series, hosted by Sundress Publications, which prides itself on producing high-quality poetry readings for an online audience. Readers read from their own work for fifteen minutes and then answer questions from listeners for an additional ten or fifteen.” Note: “We are interested in hearing from ALL writers (we accept both poetry and prose readers) but we also particularly want to welcome writers who identify as being a part of disenfranchised communities such as but not limited to, people of color, immigrant populations, native and indigenous people, LGBTQ+, d/Deaf and Disabled, non-binary people, members of non-dominant religious groups, all women, Dreamers, formerly incarcerated, and more.” Apply by December 18. Payment: “Readers will receive a $250 honorarium courtesy of a grant from the Poetry Foundation.”
• International literary journal Mud Season Review is open for submissions until December 31 (although they “may close the reading period early by genre if volume demands”). They seek “deeply human work that will teach us something about life, but also about the craft of writing or visual art, and work that is original in its approach and that in some way moves us.” Payment: “We pay authors and featured artists $50 for work that appears in our issues. For artists whose images are paired with writing, and for poets whose work appears in The Take: Mud Season Review, we offer payment of $15.”
• Anthology call: “Inspired by a deep longing for writing that embodies the vivacity of Blackness and Black life, BLF Press will produce a multi-genre collection that encompasses a broad spectrum of literary writing on Black joy. Provocation: What might our writing look like if it were imbued with characters and themes centered on joy and delight?” Deadline: December 31. Compensation: “Authors will receive one payment of $75.00 USD upon publication and one print copy of the anthology. Authors may purchase print copies of the anthology at cost.” (Hat tip: Cathy’s Comps and Calls.)
• Attention, Vermont residents and students: The Vermont Writers’ Prize is open until January 1. “We look forward to reading your essay, short story, play or poem. It must be on one central topic – Vermont! Whether it is about its people, its places, its history or its values — the choice is yours! There will be a winner for prose and a winner for poetry, and each will receive a cash prize of $1,250. The winning pieces will be published in Vermont Magazine.”
• Publishers Weekly is advertising for a Reviews Editor. Categories of responsibility include mystery, thriller, and true crime. “The Reviews Editor will be required to work in PW’s New York City office a minimum of one day per week and can work remotely the rest of the time.” Salary: $50,000.00 – $55,000.00.
• From Restless Books: “We are seeking a full-time experienced senior editor to edit and orchestrate the publication of 8-10 books a year in our Amherst office. Competitive salary and full benefits. Requirements include a solid record and commitment to a career in publishing, a distinctive sensibility for quality international books, the ability to take on the varied tasks required to maintain the forward momentum of a small press, and a desire to work closely with others on the Restless team.” Salary: “USD $60,000 – USD $70,000 / year.”
• Baltimore-based CityLit Project “is looking for a part-time contractual Development Assistant who will grow local, regional, and national support for this small, literary nonprofit located in Baltimore, Maryland. This is a chance to join a growing literary organization, expand your literary community, and work within a flexible, remote schedule.” Compensation: “$25 per hour while averaging 20 hours weekly. Or, as negotiated with CLP.” (Hat tip: Zeeva Bukai.)
• “The Creative Writing Program in UNC’s Department of English and Comparative Literature seeks to bring an emerging talent to campus for a one-year teaching appointment as the Kenan Visiting Writer. The Program requests applicants who specialize in Non Fiction. This one-year appointment carries an annual salary of $40,000, benefits are not included. The selected candidate will teach one undergraduate creative writing course per semester, most likely at the introductory level. The selected candidate will also give one major public reading and otherwise participate fully in the life of the Creative Writing Program.”
• “The Literature Program in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at The University of Texas at Dallas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Literature with a specialization in creative writing (nonfiction). A PhD in an appropriate field is required. The successful applicant will have a significant record of original creative publication. A scholarly research agenda, especially one that involves literature originally written in a language other than English, is highly desirable.”
• In Georgia, Clark Atlanta University “seeks poet for a tenure-track, assistant professor position, in the English and Modern Language Department. Candidate must have at least an MFA, (Ph.D. preferred) and impressive publications. Also, the candidate needs to be an active writer and dedicated teacher with demonstrated ability to teach poetry writing, literature and composition, and ability to teach drama writing a plus.”
• From the University of Calgary: “The Department of English in the Faculty of Arts invites applications for a three and a half years, limited term appointment position in Creative Writing at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning July 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026.” 
• At Lehman College of The City University of New York, “the Department of English invites applications for a full-time Lecturer position in Creative Writing beginning Fall 2023. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to teach introductory and general education creative writing courses in a curriculum that stresses engagement with the cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity that Lehman students bring to the study of English. Active publication and/or performance history, involvement with literary communities in the Bronx and New York City, and the ability to teach courses in Latinx literature are preferred. In addition to teaching, responsibilities include advising students and providing service to the department, college, and university.”