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 Paris Review has opened “a call for applications to our paid prose reader program. In 2024, we will begin accepting unsolicited submissions of prose via Submittable and physical mail three times a year, in February, June, and October. We are currently seeking readers to join us for our February reading cycle on Submittable, which will run from approximately February 12 to May 13, with the possibility of staying on for additional cycles. The Paris Review’s readers are expected to read and evaluate at least twenty submissions a week, and are paid $875 at the end of each reading cycle. This is a remote position, and we will consider candidates in any location. Candidates who live in New York City will also be considered for the opportunity to read hard-copy submissions that are mailed to our Chelsea office.” Apply by December 15.
• Narratively has announced “an exciting and incredibly timely new project: Life in the Age of Extremes. A unique collaboration with the Narrative Storytelling Initiative at Arizona State University, this special series will fund big, ambitious reporting projects that shine a light on where the human race is heading now, and that help us peer into the future.” Rates: “Thanks to funding from the Narrative Storytelling Initiative at Arizona State University, rates for these articles will start at $2,000 per story.” Pitches are due by December 29. (Hat tip: The Writer’s Job Newsletter.)
• The team at 105 Meadowlark Reader seeks “Your true stories about Kansas told in an engaging way. Pull us in, make us feel something. Make us laugh or make us cry. Be creative. Use dialog. Careful word choice and fresh imagery is valued. Write your stories in any of the persons (first, second, third).” NB: “We are looking for true stories about Kansas written by Kansans, therefore you must be a Kansas resident or have lived in Kansas at some point in your life.” Pays: “$10 per story and one contributor copy of the journal.” Deadline: December 31.
• From the team behind the Vermont Writers’ Prize: “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.” NB: The Writers’ Prize is open to all Vermont residents and students, but employees of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine are not eligible.” Deadline: January 1.
• “The Department of English at Colorado State University invites applications for an entry-level, tenure track Assistant Professor of English specializing in Creative Nonfiction Writing.”
• In New Jersey, “The English Department at Seton Hall University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing with a specialization in fiction to begin August 2024.” NB: “Additional interests in drama and/or screenwriting and/or digital writing a plus.”
• In Canada, “the Department of Writing at the University of Victoria invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, with a specialization in fiction, to commence July 1, 2024. In accordance with the University’s Equity Plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be limited to Black Writers. Candidates from this group must self-identify in their cover letter to be considered for this position.”
• “OSU-Cascades in Bend, Oregon invites applications for one or more fixed-term, non-tenure-track full or part-time instructor positions to teach on a term by terms basis for the 2023-2024 academic year. Instructors may be needed to teach on campus and remote graduate courses in the following areas: Fiction Writing (Short & Long), Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry & Poetics.”