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.

• Olit, which welcomes “your weird and wonderful,” is open for submissions until May 31. “While we prefer writers with a connection to Orlando or the greater Central Florida area, Olit will accept quality writing meeting our aesthetic and criteria from writers anywhere around the world.”
• The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans is “a creative writing contest for U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel is hosted by The Iowa Review and made possible by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. The contest is open to veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre and about any subject matter.” Prize: “First place: $1,000 plus publication in an issue of The Iowa Review. Second place: $750. Three runners-up: $500 each.” Submissions are welcome “in any genre (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction) of up to 20 pages.” Deadline: May 31.
• “The Round One application deadline for the 2025 Lanesboro Early Career Artist Residency Program is Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CST.” NB: This is open to “early career artists from Minnesota and the five boroughs of New York City.”
• Also until May 31, “the City of El Segundo Cultural Development Program is seeking applications from poets, writers, and literary artists for the 2024-2026 El Segundo Poet Laureate.” Applicants must be residents of Los Angeles Country. Compensation: “an honorarium of $8,000 total ($4,000 per year of the two-year term) and a total materials budget of $3000 ($1500 per year of the two-year term).”
• By this time next week, the June issue of The Practicing Writer 2.0 will have gone out to subscribers. In the meantime, do make sure you haven’t missed any opportunities listed in the May edition (or in the weekly supplements that have been posted since then).
• “The Department of English at East Carolina University seeks to fill a fixed-term faculty position with the title of Teaching Instructor or Teaching Assistant Professor (depending upon qualifications) to teach 4 undergraduate courses per year and serve as the assistant editor and program director for the ECU’s award-winning North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). The position begins in August 2024. This full-time non-tenure-track position is for fall and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year, with the possibility of subsequent appointments.” Initial screening will begin May 30.
• “Winnipeg Public Library is seeking applications for the 2024-25 edition of its Writer-in-Residence program. From an office at the Millennium Library and online from their home, the Writer-in-Residence will work with emerging Manitoba writers through individual consultations by phone, email, online and in-person meetings. The Writer-in-Residence will also offer group workshops and a writing circle. The program is offered province-wide thanks to the support of the Public Library Services Branch of Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. The residency will begin October 1, 2024 and run for seven months, subject to funding. The Writer-in-Residence will spend at least 15 hours per week on public consultation work and the balance (20 hours per week) on their own writing.” NB: “The successful applicant must have had at least two books published professionally as well as previous experience in teaching, mentoring or as a manuscript evaluator or editor. Preference will be given to Manitoba residents.” The residency confers a salary of $3,570 per month. Apply by June 3.
• “One Story is seeking a paid apprentice to join our team from September 2024 to May 2025. The apprentice will have a chance to learn about all aspects of a literary organization, including the editorial process, grant writing, and online educational programming. This is an entry-level position for those looking for a career in publishing with a focus not just on editorial work, but also on future leadership roles in nonprofit management and online education. We are specifically seeking applicants from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the publishing industry who are recent college graduates or in their final year of college (class of 2024 or 2025) and not enrolled in a graduate program.” NB: “The time commitment for this position is 15 hours a week. An exact schedule will be determined upon hiring, but the apprentice should expect to spend at least one full day a week in the office, with the rest of the work done remotely. They will receive regular performance reviews to help ensure that they are getting the most out of the experience. Applicants must reside within commuting distance of our office in Gowanus, Brooklyn.” Compensation: “a stipend totaling $10,000 for the 9 month period, which will be paid on a biweekly basis for the duration of the apprenticeship.” Apply by June 11.