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.

• Re-opened for submissions: Cincinnati Review‘s “miCRo” feature. This weekly online flash feature considers fiction, nonfiction, hybrid works, poetry, and drama. Pays: $25.
• From Montreal’s Jewish Public Library: “For over half a century, The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards have honoured the exploration of Jewish themes in literature and recognized the contribution of Jewish culture to a richly diverse contemporary Quebec. In 2024, two prizes will be awarded for: 1. Best Quebec book on a Jewish Theme, with a prize of $5,000 2. The Dr. Hirsh and Dvora Rosenfeld Award for Yiddish Literature, with a prize of $1,000.” Deadline: May 15.
• Applications are now open for the Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence program, which offers an emerging children’s writer “the financial support, editorial assistance, and office space needed to complete one literary work for children or young adults.” Deadline: May 17.
• From the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance: “In honor of award-winning mystery writer Darcy Scott and thanks to the generosity of Maine Authors Publishing & Cooperative, her husband Cleave, and many indvidual donors, we are pleased to offer the Darcy Scott Award for Young Mystery Writers. This award provides one young writer with a full scholarship to attend the Maine Crime Wave and a travel stipend to help cover hotel costs in Portland.” Applicants must be under 40 years of age and must live in Maine at least six months each year. Deadline: May 17.
• In New York, the Whiting Foundation “seeks a full-time Program Assistant with an avid interest in contemporary literature and a passion for organization, detail, and project management to support our grantmaking. Working as an integral member of our five-person team, the Program Assistant will gain an insider’s understanding of how foundations and the publishing world operate, hone administrative acumen, and actively contribute to the advancement of literature and the humanities.” NB: “Please note that the position requires being in our Tribeca offices in person 2-3 days a week and availability to join a few evening or weekend events each year.” Compensation: “USD $55,000 – $60,000/year.” Apply by May 20.
• In Massachusetts, “Brandeis University is conducting a targeted search for a distinguished poet with strong teaching experience and a minimum of one well-received poetry collection. The Jacob Ziskind Poet-in-Residence position is a two-year, half-time appointment with a teaching load of five courses, total (that is, two courses one year, three courses the other year).  Candidates should be available to teach at least one course each semester. Additional responsibilities include advising Creative Writing majors and collaborating in the direction of Creative Writing theses and senior honors projects.” Hurry if you’re interested in this one; apparently April 27 was the date for “first consideration.”
• The Ohio University Department of English seeks a Visiting Professor with a deep commitment to student success and to fostering the growth and development of student reading and writing. Field of primary specialization is open, but candidates should have experience teaching at least one and preferably more than one of the following: creative writing (fiction); creative writing (poetry); lower-division literature courses in prose fiction and nonfiction; and/or general education writing and rhetoric. This is a full-time, nine-month, benefitted position, for the term of one year.”
• And in case you missed it, the May issue of The Practicing Writer 2.0 went out to subscribers last Tuesday. Among other choice content, this issue features 50 fee-free opportunities that pay for winning/published work.