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.

• “Has a competition win, course or retreat made a big difference to your writing life? Set you on the path to success? Made you feel validated as a writer? Opened industry doors to you? If so, we’d like to hear from you. For the 2025 Writers’ Handbook we’re inviting submissions of up to 150 words and will pay £10 for those selected for publication.” Deadline: December 1.
• Folding Rock is “always on the hunt for the best new creative fiction and non-fiction in, from and connected to Wales. We accept work by writers at any stage and age, and we pay for every piece we publish – the same rate for seasoned authors and first-time sharers alike.” (The rate is £360.) For their inaugural issue, they’re seeking fiction and nonfiction on the theme of “Roots,” until December 1.
• And now that we’re just past the month’s mid-point, be sure that you haven’t missed any of the fee-free and paying/funded calls and competitions featured in the November newsletter and weekly supplementary posts.
• In Brooklyn, Cave Canem, “a nonprofit organization, committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of Black poets,” is advertising for a Programs Manager. This full-time job includes a “hybrid/in-office and remote schedule, minimum of two business days in person.” Compensation: “$85,000 per year + Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off & 401K.” Deadline: “Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Though we will not be able to contact all applicants, we hope to invite a first round of interviews in November 2024.”
• In London, “the Poetry Society is seeking an enthusiastic and well-organised person to cover maternity leave for the role of Publications Administrator.” This is a part-time position, 1 day p/w (7 hours – usual office hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), £26,775 pro rata. Apply by the morning of November 25.
• In New York, “the Department of English at Skidmore College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of English in Fiction Writing….The capacity to also teach poetry or nonfiction writing is highly desired.” Deadline: February 1.