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.

AGAIN, I’ve made a mistake. Hit “publish” when I thought I’d hit “schedule.” Please forgive!

• A reminder from SmokeLong Quarterly (caught this one on Twitter): “We are (as always) open and looking for stories. Send us your fiction/non-fiction/hybrids under 1000 words! Free to submit; paying $100 on publication. Fast turnaround. Now reading for the March issue.” (Hat tip: @KathyFish.)
• Scheduled to re-open for submissions January 8: Canada-based Agnes and True: “While we accept submissions from outside Canada, we do place an emphasis on works of fiction that exhibit a Canadian sensibility. As our name suggests, Agnes and True celebrates the achievement of women. In addition, we are particularly interested in discovering and publishing the work of emerging older writers.” Pays: “$75.00 (CAD) per story upon publication.” (Hat tip: Pamelyn Casto’s newsletter.)
• Awarding cash prizes and publication, “the Bethesda Urban Partnership & MoCo360 have partnered to honor Essay and Short Story Writers. All Essay and Short Story Contest winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Magazine websites and honored at a special event during Local Writer’s Showcase in March 2024.” Deadline: January 16. NB: The Essay Contest is open to “Residents of Washington, D.C. and the select counties of Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard and Frederick) and Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria) are eligible. High School entries must be residents or attend a school in Montgomery County, MD or Washington, D.C.” For the Short Story Contest, eligibility is limited to “residents of Montgomery County, MD and Upper NW Washington, D.C. (20015 and 20016 ZIP codes).”
• Similarly, “the Bethesda Urban Partnership & The Writer’s Center have partnered on the 2024 Poetry Contest. All Poetry Contest winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website and honored at a special event during the Local Writer’s Showcase in March 2024.” Again, there will be cash prizes as detailed on the contest webpage. Deadline: January 22. Eligibility: “Residents of Washington, D.C. and the select counties of Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard and Frederick) and Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax) are eligible. High School applicants must be residents or attend a school in Montgomery County, MD or Washington, D.C.”
• The Wednesday Club of St. Louis Original Poetry Contest is open to submissions from “adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis.” Note that although there’s no entry fee, submissions must be made by postal mail. Cash prizes ($500, $300, $150). Deadline: February 1. (There is also a contest offering for high-school students.)
• South Carolinians, take note: “The South Carolina Novel Series publishes a novel by a South Carolina writer biennially. Writers selected for publication in this series are awarded $1,500 and book publication, including marketing and tour support from Hub City Press and the series partners, as well as placement in all South Carolina state libraries and readings/events with presenting sponsors. The series is open to writers of all levels who have lived in South Carolina for at least one year prior to submission of their manuscript.” Deadline: February 15.

Didn’t catch many job listings this week. Perhaps the gleanings will be more ample next time!