Erika Dreifus

For many years—since long before Substack arrived on the scene—I’ve been curating weekly “Monday Markets and Jobs” posts on the Practicing Writing blog, where everyone can still find them (albeit later in the day than in the past). But a little over a year ago1, I began sharing this information early every Monday morning via Substack, too, as a benefit for paid subscribers.

Reminder: These weekly posts are supplements to the free monthly newsletter, allowing me to amplify opportunities that I may not have caught in time for each month’s edition. (Believe it or not, the May newsletter will be going out to you late next week! In the meantime, please be sure that you haven’t missed any of the multiple opportunities that are still open for submissions as shared within the April edition, or within the weekly supplements posted since then: April 6 and April 13.)

Another note about these Monday posts: Unlike the monthly newsletter, which filters out listings that may be limited to writers in a single city/state/province, these posts do carry such localized opportunities (jobs included).

But in all cases, calls and competitions must not charge submission or application fees, and they must offer (specified) payment for winning/published work (or, in the case of residencies, they must not charge application orparticipation fees).

And now—the latest gleanings:

• The Break-Down, which “explores how politics, economics and culture both shape, and are being reshaped by, the climate and ecological crises,” is open for pitches until April 27. “For Issue #4 of our print journal, we are looking for pitches that examine the complexity of China’s role in climate and ecological crisis….We are interested in argumentative essays, works of geopolitical or political economic analysis, reportage and memoir, photojournalism or dispatches from around the world that troubles the received wisdom and that can tell us something new and unexpected about China’s position in global climate politics. We especially welcome pitches from new writers and writers based outside the centres of the Global North, particularly those with personal experience of or insights into Chinese politics.” Pays: “Pieces are paid at £650 for around 3,000 words, although in certain circumstances we can offer more for on-the-ground reporting where costs are higher.”
• “Submissions to Zine Machine’s Summer ‘26 Edit are now open….Zines accepted through open submissions will be published online and made available via vending machine. Zine artists whose work is accepted receive a $20 honorarium and retain all rights to their work.” Deadline: April 30. (Hat tip: Sub Club.)
• “The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination–to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line.” The next deadline is May 1, for stories that begin with this line: “The summer between [his/her/their] junior and senior years, Alex worked as a server at Wharf Mountain.” Pays: “We pay on publication: $25.00 – $50.00 for fiction.” NB: “Note to our international writers: Postage cost for sending author copies overseas is a little high, so we are reducing international author payment by the amount it would cost to send one author copy overseas. However, if you would like to receive an electronic version of the issue (PDF) instead of a hard copy, author payment will not change.” And check the guidelines for info on poetry and nonfiction submissions.
• Ohio Arts Council Artist Opportunities Grants “support Ohio artists who have opportunities that will significantly impact their professional growth or have projects that will contribute to the vitality of their community. This grant is open to artists of all disciplines, at any stage of their career, and include all types of artistic practice. Grants are awarded to individual artists at both the emerging artist level ($500) and professional artist level (up to $2,500) with no cash match required. Individuals may submit one application per year. Artist Opportunities grantees can anticipate receiving their full request.” The current deadline is May 1, “for up to eight months of activities taking place November 1—next June 30.” Note that the same organization has also posted a May 1 deadline for The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP), which “provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities the resources they need to further their artistic development.”
• “Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC will award a writing grant to authors of fiction / creative nonfiction and poetry.” Grant amounts: “up to $10,000.” Of note: “Writers applying applying must be a current citizen or resident of the United States and must currently reside in New York City and have lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.” Deadline: May 4. NB: “We ask that the completion of your manuscript is no sooner than 90 days after this application’s due date (no sooner than August 2, 2026) and no later than 12 months after your grant’s award date (no later than June 23, 2027).”
• Newly announced: “Thanks to the generosity of anonymous donors, the NC Writers’ Network will sponsor an annual fellowship to fund a week’s residency at the Weymouth Center for a writer who has never enjoyed a Weymouth residency before, and who would not be able to attend without this fellowship. The NCWN Weymouth Fellowship awards $500 each year to cover travel, groceries, and other supplies for the residency, while the Weymouth Center provides the residency space.” NB: “Applicants must be North Carolina residents and/or members of the NC Writers’ Network.” Deadline: June 1.
• “The Natan Fund, in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York, is launching the Arts in Community Initiative to support local artists and creatives share the joy, depth, and rich culture of Jewish and/or Israeli heritage throughout neighborhood community spaces. This is an invitation to artists, museums, conveners, culture makers, and more to connect, create, and share Jewish art and stories where they often aren’t included. Funding can be used to develop new and/or embed existing Jewish content within existing local cultural events or opportunities like neighborhood festivals, art fairs, local galleries, museum exhibits, murals, and public programs. As these microgrants recognize local creatives as experts in their own communal landscape, funding is open to cultural and religious institutions, as well as individual artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. Grantees will be invited to join a cohort of artists and mentors to access training, support, and networking.” Note that “events must take place in New York City, Long Island, or Westchester.” Grant amounts: “$300-$5,000.” Deadline: “Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis” for 2026 programming.
• “Zibby Media is hiring a Publicity & Events Associate/Manager: a full-time position, working primarily in the NYC office, reporting to Zibby Media’s VP of Marketing and the Director of Events.” Salary: “$60-75k.” No deadline indicated.