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 not too long ago, 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. The June issue, packed with 55+ opportunities, went out to all subscribers at the end of May. If you haven’t had a chance to peruse it yet, you’ll find it here.

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 or participation fees).

And now—the latest gleanings.

• At Phylum Press, which “embraces the natural world around us and the community within it,” the quarterly journal “accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and visual art of any subject. While we love to receive works that relate to each ISSUE’s theme, we do not preference those submissions over others.” Next issue’s theme: “magnoliophyta,” which “includes all forms (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of broad-leaved trees, shrubs and vines, and most aquatic plants.” Pays: $10. Deadline: June 30. (Hat tip: Jeanne Lyet Gassman.)
• “Since 1958, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) has operated the Utah Original Writing Competition (UOWC), awarding Utah writers for works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in a variety of forms. The UOWC’s mission is to aid Utah writers on their path to publication and broader recognition.” Of the seven categories, four are “for book-length manuscripts and cover fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and books for children and young adults. The other three categories are for a short poetry collection, a short story, or an essay.” Cash prize amounts are detailed within guidelines. Deadline: July 1.
• The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize, which “seeks to find the best unpublished short story of the year,” is now “recruiting First Readers to help assess submissions for the 2027 Prize. This is a paid opportunity (£2.50 per story). First Readers will read around 200 entries, check each for eligibility, and provide brief feedback for the writers (1–2 lines per story). They will also nominate a number of stories to progress to the next stage, where they will be considered by the judging panel.” NB: “Applicants must be aged 18 or over and ordinarily resident in the UK. Anyone who has submitted a story to this year’s Prize (2027) is not eligible to apply as a First Reader.” Deadline: July 2.
• Oregon-based Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture (PMRCAA) “offers two-week and four-week residencies from March to mid-November. A residency cohort consists of two to four residents who share a large, historic home on the ranch property while each resident is assigned their own private studio.” NB: “This program is open to regional and national artists, cultural workers, scientists, scholars and researchers in any discipline. PMRCAA supports individuals as well as collaborations.” Applications for 2027 (theme: “Process and Material”) are open until July 6.
• From AARP Travel Services, Inc.: “We’re building a new travel destination with content tailored for the 50+ audience. To fuel this new experience, we’re looking for skilled freelance writers with destination and subject-matter experience. We’ll be accepting pitches as well as assigning based on a pre-determined content plan.” No deadlines indicated. Pay rates begin at $350. (Hat tip: Freelance Opportunities!)
• “The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Texas A&M University-Victoria is accepting applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in English” (preference: creative writing-fiction specialist). Salary: “$5,083.33 per month.” Deadline: “Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.”

If this week’s compilation seems more sparse to you than usual, you’re correct, and I’m sorry. Part of the diminution may perhaps be attributed to a reduced set of available opportunities that meet my curatorial criteria; another part is surely linked to the diversion of my attention, as this latest published piece will explain. Thank you for your understanding.