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. If you haven’t yet had a chance to peruse the September issue, take some time to do so now, as plenty of the opportunities listed there remain open for submissions or applications. Similarly, you’re likely to find some still-open opportunities in the most recent weekly supplements.

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.

• A new call from Narratively: “This fall, we’re looking to test a handful of new columns, series and storytelling formats, and we want YOU, i.e., writers, journalists, videographers, audio storytellers — really, anyone with a creative mind — to help us produce them. Your idea could be a recurring first-person column. A reported series you’d guest-edit, bringing in different contributors for each installment. Short self-recorded videos. Bite-size audio stories. Interviews. Illustrated narratives. A storytelling game or experiment. Or, best of all, something we haven’t thought of yet! We want concepts that make us immediately think: I want to see the next one….We’ll select a small number of ideas to test out (for payment) on Narratively this fall. If one or more connects strongly with readers and feels like something we want to keep building, our hope is to turn it into an ongoing Narratively column or series.” Payment: “will depend on the format, reporting involved and frequency, most likely ranging from $100 to $1,000 per post.” Deadline: September 30.
• “The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University invites creative writers to apply for the May 17-28, 2027 Creative Writing Residency at Pebble Hill in Auburn, Alabama. The residency supports writers working in fiction or creative nonfiction who seek solitude and dedicated time in an inspiring space to explore new ideas or bring a long-term project closer to completion.” Included in the residency package: “complimentary lodging in the Lowrey Guest House at Pebble Hill and a $2,000 stipend paid through Auburn University following completion of the residency.” Note that “the resident will be responsible for: Transportation to and from Auburn, as well as local transportation while in residence; food and other living expenses while in residence; and one public presentation or conversation about their project at the Draughon Center. This opportunity is made possible by the generous support of Auburn University alumna and New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry ’86.” Deadline: September 30.
• Short Reads is now open for original flash essays, for which they’ll pay $100. This call has a deadline of October 31, or once 150 submissions have been received, whichever comes first. NB: You must be a subscriber (free subscriptions permitted) in order to send work for consideration.
• The Arizona State Parks Artist Residency program “is a collaborative initiative between Arizona State Parks and Trails (ASPT) and the Arizona Commission on the Arts (Arts Commission) designed to immerse Arizona-based artists in the state’s natural ecosystems.” Each of the upcoming Spring 2027 residencies will be for two weeks; each will confer a $5,000 Artist Stipend and a $1,000 reimbursable materials budget. Apply by October 1. (Hat tip: Funds for Writers.)
• The John Lewis Writing Grants “are inspired by the late civil rights icon and his more than three decades of service as Georgia’s 5th District representative” and “are awarded annually in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The winning recipients receive $500 each and a free one-year Georgia Writers Association membership. The purpose of these grants is to elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of Black writers in Georgia.” NB: “Applicants must be 18 years of age and emerging writers who are Black or African-American residents of Georgia for at least one year, or full-time students at a Georgia college or university at the time of application and on the date of the award. Applicants are ineligible if they have published more than one traditionally published book.” Deadline: October 1.
• On the Premises has launched a new mini-contest, “The List”: “For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story between 25 and 50 words long that is written in the form of a list. A to-do list, a grocery list, an inventory list… anything. You can write it as a paragraph of items separated by commas or semicolons, or you can make it a bulleted or numbered list. (Though remember that a numbered list implies a specific order.) If you use a numbered list, the numbers won’t count as part of the 25-50 words any more than a bullet point would.” Prizes: “First place pays $35, second pays $25, and third pays $15, all in US dollars. Honorable mentions get published, but make no money.” Deadline: October 2.
• The “Nightmare on Story Street Contest” from Story Street Writers is also open for submissions until October 2. “In the ‘spirit’ of the season, send us your creepy, ghouly, ghostly, and just-plain-off stories. Limit 100 words. Not a word more. The contest is capped at 1000 entries, so it pays to be early.” Prizes: “1st Prize: $100 and publication on the Story Street Review. Runners up (3): $25 and publication.”
• “Day Eight’s mission is to contribute to the healing of the world through the arts. Our programs include a literary magazine, poetry events, exhibitions, performances, book publishing, an arts journalism program, and in school and out of school time education activities.” They are currently advertising for an Education Program Assistant, “a part-time staff position supporting delivery of Day Eight’s education programs 15-20 hours per week and paid at a rate of $20-$24/hr. The individual will function as a core member of the education team supporting Day Eight’s out of school time education programs.” This is a hybrid role in the Washington, DC, area. Deadline: “Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and a hire will be made ASAP and to start by or before October 19.”
• In New York, St. Lawrence University is advertising the following: “Creative writers with significant publications and teaching experience are invited to apply for the position of Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing for the academic years 2027-2028 through 2028-2029. Publications and teaching experience in creative nonfiction and another genre are preferable.” Apply by October 16.
• In New Jersey, “the Program in Journalism at Princeton University welcome proposals from journalists to teach seminars in journalism and creative nonfiction as Visiting Ferris Professors of Journalism. Full-time and part-time positions are available for one-semester terms: Fall 2027 or Spring 2028.” Compensation: “Part-time: $37,500 per semester; Full-time: $75,000 per semester.” Apply by October 30.