Erika Dreifus

*For many years—since long before Substack arrived on the scene—I’ve been curating “Monday Markets and Jobs” posts on the Practicing Writing blog, where everyone can still find them (albeit slightly later in the day). But I’ve begun sharing this #MondayMotivation via Substack, too, as a benefit for paid subscribers.

Quick reminders:

1) Have you had a chance to catch up with the latest issue of The Practicing Writer 2.0, which went out last Wednesday (and features dozens of fee-free and paying/funded opportunities)? If not, here it is once again.

2. Unlike the monthly newsletter, which filters out listings that may be limited to writers in single city/state/province, these weekly posts do include such localized opportunities. In all cases, calls and competitions must not charge submission/application fees, and they must offer payment for winning/published work (or, in the case of residencies, they must not charge fees for attendance/participation).

• In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has launched a “nationwide contest that invites participants to engage with the powerful legacy of Jewish Americans through four inspiring categories. Whether you’re a storyteller, an artist, a changemaker, or someone passionate about history and unity, this contest offers a platform to learn, reflect, and create. A total of $50,000 in prizes will be awarded, with $12,500 allocated to each category. Winning entries will be honored at a special JAHM Congressional Reception in Washington, DC.” Deadline: May 12.
• May 15 is the entry deadline for The Governor General’s Literary Awards, which “recognize Canada’s most notable English- and French-language books in each of the following seven categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Young People’s Literature – Text, Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books and Translation (from French to English and vice versa).” Note that this deadline applies “for books published between 1 February 2025 and 15 May 2025” and that publishers must submit the entries. Prize/grant amounts: “$25,000 prize – to the eligible creator(s) of each winning book; $3,000 grant – to the publishing house of each winning title for the promotion of the winning book; $1,000 prize – to each of the non-winning finalists.”
• The Leeway Transformation Award (LTA) “provides unrestricted annual awards of $15,000 to women, trans, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia who create art for social change and have done so for the past five years or more, demonstrating a long-term commitment to social change work.” Deadline: May 15.
• “Native Art Fellowships are unrestricted $5,000 awards of merit, based on the artist’s portfolio, honoring the work of contemporary Native American artists at any stage of their career who live in Wyoming. This fellowship supports diverse creative disciplines and artists working in any medium including, but not limited to, visual, performing, literature, multidisciplinary, film and video, or folk and traditional, may apply. Applications are juried by noted Native artists from outside the state. Two fellowships will be given this year and jurors may also select honorable mentions.” Deadline: May 15.
• From the University of Edinburgh: “Applications are invited for a part-time (0.4 FTE) post of Writer in Residence based in the department of English & Scottish Literature….The appointee will be a published writer of poetry or prose fiction with demonstrable ability to engage with a varied cohort of talented and demanding students. They will also have demonstrable organisational skills, as well as established connections in the professional literary world in Edinburgh, central Scotland or beyond. The appointment is fixed term for 24 months, starting in September 2025 and is not renewable.” Salary: “£34,132 – £39,355 pro rata per annum.” Deadline: May 23. NB: Authorization to work in the United Kingdom required. (Hat tip: Sian Meades-Williams.)
• The Center for Fiction / Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellowship program “offers grants, editorial mentorship, and other opportunities to early-career New York City-based practitioners who are at a critical moment in their development as fiction writers.” Deadline: May 31.
• As posted by Contarian Publishing, “an assisted self-publishing company,” on Bluesky: “In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, as well as our first year in business, Contrarian Publishing is putting out a call for submissions from AAPI authors for our first ever traditional publishing opportunity. This means no upfront payment and our full publication support. No agent required! Please submit a pitch for your complete, unpublished novel in any age category by May 31, 2025. You must identify as AAPI to be considered. Stories centering an AAPI character are preferred. We are currently aiming only to acquire ONE title in this capacity.”
• Celestial Echo Press is open until June 1 for an short-story anthology, titled Behind the Revolving Door: An Anthology of Choices. “Each of us makes a multitude of choices daily, some minor and some with major consequences. Do you or don’t you wear your lucky shirt to the sports event? What do you think the consequences would be if you didn’t wear your lucky shirt? This anthology will be a collection of stories that take the reader on a journey with the author’s protagonist as they go through a trial and are forced to take an action, to make a choice….There are many, many ways this theme can be interpreted.” Payment: “1 cent per word for original stories or a flat $10 for reprints….Authors also will receive one electronic copy of the anthology.”
• Also open until June 1: “The Made in Michigan Writers Series is a literary book series from Wayne State University Press, a distinctive publisher of exceptional books and journals based in and shaped by the city of Detroit. This series is devoted to highlighting Michigan’s diverse voices, with the aim of encouraging recognition of the state’s artistic and cultural heritage throughout the world. We accept book-length works of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, either originally in English or in translation. Graphic narrative and multilingual (in English and one or more other languages) work is also welcome. Authors in the series must currently reside in or have spent formative years in the state of Michigan—but the work does not have to take place in or be about the state.”
• From Notre Dame of Maryland University: “The English Department in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business seeks to hire a faculty Fellow [Eichner Fellow of Writing] for a one-year appointment, beginning August 2025, to teach courses in writing and poetry and to direct the Sr. Maura Eichner Writer Series. The Fellow will also oversee the publication of the department’s award-winning, student-run literary magazine. Candidates should have successful, robust teaching experience with traditional and non-traditional learners and must have completed an M.F.A. by date of employment.” Salary: $35,000. No deadline indicated.
• Publishers Weekly “is seeking a Nonfiction Reviews Editor with impeccable editing and writing skills. Under the direction of the Adult Reviews Director, this individual will primarily be responsible for assigning and editing pre-publication reviews of nonfiction books, assigning and editing author interviews, and contributing to our twice-yearly preview issues and other features as needed. The Nonfiction Reviews Editor will be required to work in PW’s New York City office a minimum of one day per week and can work remotely the rest of the time.” Salary: “$50,000.00 – $55,000.00.” No deadline indicated.
• In Louisville, Ky., “the English Department and the Humanities Division at Bellarmine University invites applications for a part-time instructor position for two courses in Creative Writing for Fall 2025 (8/21/2025-12/3/2025). One course is Creative Writing: Poetry, Tue/Thu 12:15-1:30pm; the other course is Creative Writing: Non-Fiction, Tue/Thu 3:05-4:20pm.” No deadline indicated.