October 2022 Top Picks: Opportunities for Writers
The October 2022 edition of "Writing Life Essentials" is a monthly hand-curated list of contests, grants, scholarships, submissions calls, and awards. We try to prioritize opportunities that are at least one of the following: local, free to apply, and/or committed to celebrating and supporting writers from historically marginalized communities. We do the research, so you have more time for what matters: the writing. Or, carving your pumpkins. That’s important, too.
Contests & Awards
Steve Kowit Poetry Prize | San Diego Entertainment & Arts Guild
Fee: $15; Award: $1,000; Deadline: October 15th
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annual is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive an invitation to read at an award ceremony in April 2023. Using only the online submission system, submit a poem of any length with a $15 entry fee by October 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Fabulist Fiction Chapbook/Novelette Contest | Omnidawn Publishing
Fee: $18; Award: $1,000; Deadline: October 17th
A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a work of fabulist fiction. Michelle Ruiz Keil will judge. Submit a manuscript of one or more stories or a novelette totaling 7,500 to 17,500 words with an $18 entry fee ($20 to receive a fiction title from the Omnidawn catalogue) by October 17. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
International Poetry Prize | John Pollard Foundation
Fee: $0; Award: $10,732; Deadline: October 18th
A prize of €10,000 (approximately $10,732) is given annually for a debut poetry collection published during the current year. Publishers may submit a book published between October 1, 2021, and October 18, 2022, and a brief author bio by October 18. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Poetry and Short Story Awards | Sixfold
Fee: $5; Award: $1,000; Deadline: October 24th
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sixfold are given quarterly for a group of poems and a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages or up to 20 pages of prose with a $5 entry fee by October 24. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Award for Fiction | PEN/Faulkner Foundation
Fee: $0; Award: $15,000; Deadline: October 31st
A prize of $15,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published during the current year. Four finalists each receive $5,000. The winner and finalists will also be invited to read in Washington, D.C., in May 2023. E-mail a PDF of a short story collection, novella, or novel published in 2022 by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Fee: $0; Award: $10,000; Deadline: October 31st
A prize of $10,000 and publication by Changes Press will be given annually for a first or second poetry collection. The winner will also receive a book launch in spring 2024 in New York City. Louise Glück will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages, a brief bio, and a list of previously published poems by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Poetry Society of the United Kingdom | National Poetry Competition
Fee: $9; Award: $6,108; Deadline: October 31st
A prize of £5,000 (approximately $6,108) and publication on the Poetry Society of the United Kingdom website is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of £2,000 (approximately $2,507) and a third-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,222) are also given. The winners will also be published in Poetry Review. Poems written in English by poets from any country are eligible. Jason Allen-Paisant, Michael Symmons Roberts, and Greta Stoddart will judge. Submit a poem of up to 40 lines with a £7 (approximately $9) entry fee and £5 (approximately $6) for each additional poem by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Bedford Competition | International Short Story & Poetry Awards
Fee: $9; Award: $1,254; Deadline: October 31st
A prize of £1,000 each (approximately $1,254) and publication in the Bedford Competition anthology will be given annually for a poem and a short story. Jessica Mookherjee will judge in poetry and Tim Jarvis will judge in fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a poem of up to 40 lines or a short story of up to 3,000 words with a £7.50 (approximately $9) entry fee, or £15 (approximately $19) for three poems or stories, by October 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Writing Contests | Briar Cliff Review
Fee: $20; Award: $1,000; Deadline: November 1st
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Briar Cliff Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge. Submit three poems of any length or up to 5,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee, which includes a copy of the prize issue, by November 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Short Story Contest | F(r)iction
Fee: $15; Award: $1,000; Deadline: November 1st
A prize of $1,000 is given twice a year for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 1,001 to 7,500 words with a $15 entry fee by November 1. The winning story and all entries are considered for publication in F(r)iction. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Harvard Review Chapbook Prize | Harvard Review
Fee: $20 (fee waivers available); Award: $500 & publication; Deadline: October 13th - November 13th
This October Harvard Review will launch the inaugural Harvard Review Chapbook Prize. This year’s prize will be given in fiction for a work of novella length (15,000 to 30,000 words). In subsequent years, the prize will be awarded in nonfiction (2024) and poetry (2025). The judge for the 2023 prize is Lily King, award-winning author of five novels, including Writers & Lovers (2020) and Euphoria (2014), which won the Kirkus Award and the New England Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. Her most recent book, Five Tuesdays in Winter (2021), is a collection of short stories. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Prose & Poetry Contest | Carve
Fee: $17; Award: $1,000; Deadline: November 15th
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Carve will be given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 2,000 words of poetry or no more than 10,000 words of prose with a $17 entry fee by November 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Perugia Press Prize | Perugia Press
Fee: $15; Award: $1,000; Deadline: November 15th
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Perugia Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a writer who identifies as a woman. Submit a manuscript of 45 to 85 pages with either a $30 entry fee (which includes a Perugia Press title) or a $15 reduced rate fee by November 15. There is no entry fee for BIWOC poets. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Nina Riggs Poetry Award | Nina Riggs Poetry Foundation
Fee: $0; Award: $1,000; Deadline: November 15th
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem that examines relationships, family, or domestic life that was published in a book or magazine in the last three years. Nominate no more than six poems by one author that were published in a book or print magazine in 2020, 2021, or 2022 by November 15. Self-nominations are not accepted. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Fellowships, Grants & More
Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
Fee: $0; Award: $66,500; Deadline: October 15th
An award of approximately $66,500 is given annually to a U.S. poet for a year of travel and study outside of North America. Submit either two copies of up to 40 pages of poetry or two copies of a published book with two copies of up to 20 pages of additional poetry by October 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Alumni Award Scholarships | Iceland Writers Retreat
Fee: $0; Award: See below; Deadline: October 31st
Held for the first time in April 2014, the Iceland Writers Retreat is an event comprised of a series of small-group writing workshops and cultural tours designed to introduce participants to Iceland’s rich literary heritage. Faculty in 2023 include Tommy Orange, Helen Oyeyemi, Carol Leonnig, Kiley Reid, and more. Entrants can apply for either full or partial funding. Full funding covers one participant fee, four nights accommodation at the Retreat hotel (Foss Hotel Reykjavik), and round-trip flights to Iceland. Partial funding covers the participant fee only, and neither accommodation nor round trip flights. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals | Mass Cultural Council
Fee: $0; Award: $5,000; Deadline: November 1st
Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals offers unrestricted grants of $5,000 to creatives and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Work Experience
Development Director | Kundiman
New York City
Kundiman is in search of a Development Director who is self-directed, takes initiative, and is able to work collaboratively, as well as independently. The Development Director connects Kundiman to individual, institutional, and corporate supporters, which are vital to the sustainability of Kundiman’s mission. Candidates must be based in the New York City area. This position will be conducted remotely but will require in-person presence at the Gala and at cultivation events. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Finance and Operations Director | Kundiman
New York City, Remote
Kundiman is in search of a Development Director who is self-directed, takes initiative, and is able to work collaboratively, as well as independently. The Development Director connects Kundiman to individual, institutional, and corporate supporters, which are vital to the sustainability of Kundiman’s mission. Candidates must be based in the New York City area. This position will be conducted remotely but will require in-person presence at the Gala and at cultivation events. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Printing and Production Apprentice | Radix Media
New York City
Radix Media is looking for one person for a printing and production position. This is an ownership track position. At the end of your apprenticeship we ask that you either decide to become a co-owner, or leave the collective. Women, people of color, and other marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Digital Editor | North Carolina Literary Review
Hybrid or Remote
The North Carolina Literary Review is seeking a part-time, paid Digital Editor. Responsibilities include developing and managing a digital production calendar; developing a system for regular email communication from NCLR to our readers and writers; managing a new editors’ blog and/or podcasts; maintaining NCLR’s website; creating, in collaboration with the Art Director, a newsletter; and more. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Program Officer, Creative Economy | New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
Boston, Hybrid
NEFA’s Creative Economy program strengthens New England's creative community by supporting its visibility, connection, and knowledge building. The Program Officer, Creative Economy is a steward of programmatic and organizational goals, working closely with users of CreativeGround.org, partners, advisors, cohorts, and other constituents within the New England creative economy. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Boston, MA
GrubStreet is the leading literary arts center in the country. We are a hardworking and creative bunch and pride ourselves on a warm and supportive work environment. The Stage Manager position plays a vital role in helping GrubStreet design and implement our artistic and programmatic vision for the stage in our new Center for Creative Writing. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Boston, MA
We are looking for an experienced bookkeeper or accountant to join our diverse team as the Finance Manager. This role will be responsible for the management of the financial and budgeting functions in our organization, including the day-to-day work of financial operations, monthly financial reporting, budget creation and monitoring, and yearly audit prep. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Boston, MA
Fabulist is a new cafe that will nourish community, creativity and authenticity in the Seaport. Located in GrubStreet's newly opened Center for Creative Writing and next door to Porter Square Books, Fabulist is looking for an entrepreneurial General Manager to join our team as we launch this exciting new establishment. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Development Coordinator for Operations | GrubStreet
Boston, MA
The Development Coordinator for Operations is responsible for critical tasks, including processing donations, coordinating gift acknowledgements, database maintenance, and serving on the GrubStreet website team. This is a full-time permanent position, with occasional evening work required for donor events. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Submissions
Submissions to Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 15th
Obsidian supports—through publication and critical inquiry—the contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art of Africans globally. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 31st
Banshee welcomes submissions from both Irish and international writers of any background, including first-time writers. We welcome work from members of groups or communities typically under-represented within literature, whether or not the work addresses this. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 31st
Belle Ombre was founded in 2017. We are committed to publishing work by emerging writers in fiction and non-fiction, poetry and the arts, alongside well-known and experienced names. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 31st
The Adroit Journal is looking for work that’s bizarre, authentic, subtle, outrageous, indefinable, raw, paradoxical. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 31st
Barzakh is a multi-genre journal with an internationalist stance seeking work that transcends genre. “Barzakh” is a word/concept that names the connecting link, the “between” of something, such as different spheres of existence. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: October 31st
Brick prides itself on publishing the best literary non-fiction in the world, and we are eager to read fresh, impeccable, and compelling non-fiction submissions. We crave pieces with formal integrity that take creative approaches to rich ideas. Underrepresented writers—including but not limited to writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, queer, non-binary, Deaf, and/or disabled—are especially encouraged to submit their literary non-fiction. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Cream City Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: November 1st
We are devoted to publishing memorable and energetic fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. We also feature reviews of contemporary literature and criticism, as well as author interviews, artwork, and comics. CCR seeks to publish not only a broad range of writings, but a broad range of writers with diverse backgrounds as well. Both beginning and well-established writers are welcome. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Beloit Fiction Journal
Fee: $0; Deadline: November 16th
The Beloit Fiction Journal publishes the best in contemporary short fiction. Traditional and experimental narratives find a home in our pages. We publish new writers alongside established writers. As one of the few fiction-only journals in the country, we’re able to feature as many as fifteen new stories per issue. We publish fiction in a variety of lengths, and occasionally accept excerpts. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: November 16th
Bluestem is looking for poems that surprise with their originality of language or perspective. We seek quality writing grounded in place and character and, above all, we want a good story. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Abandon Journal
Fee: $0; Deadline: November 30th
We want to showcase writing and artwork that has been created with abandon. That term is free to be interpreted liberally, but ideally it is the kind of work that takes risks, created in a space wherein the artist doesn’t care what anyone else thinks or what everyone else is doing. This means that we’re open to so-called “genre fiction,” from mystery to sci-fi to romance to fantasy to horror to whatever strikes your fancy. As long as the writing is powerful and abandons the preconceived notions of what is expected, we want to read it. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: November 30th
Blueline seeks poems, stories and essays about the Adirondacks and regions similar in geography and spirit, focusing on nature's shaping influence. We also welcome creative nonfiction that interprets the literature or culture of the region, including northern New York, New England and Eastern Canada. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Appalachian Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: December 1st
Appalachian Review accepts original, unpublished work that is rooted in and/or captures the spirit of Appalachia. Potential authors need not be from the region but should instead exhibit a connection to and/or a deep understanding of Appalachia and its people. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to West Trade Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: December 15th
West Trade Review strives to put forth the best contemporary poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (memoir/personal essays) and publishes a mix of established and up and coming writers. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and want to hear from underrepresented voices of all types. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: December 31st
At Arc, we find the brave new voices. We feature poetry that is woozy, cunning, shearing and wildlike, and prose that offers new perspectives on the verse you thought you knew. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: January 1st
45th Parallel is an online Oregon-based literary magazine produced by graduate students at Oregon State University. We accept original, previously unpublished submissions in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art, and comics. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: January 1st
Apricity Press is an annual online publication of poetry, prose, short fiction, visual art, and dance works. Embodying the obsolete word it was named after, Apricity aims to manifest the feeling of the warmth of the sun in the winter in all that it publishes. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Bennington Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: January 9th
We aim to stake out a distinctive space for innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. In the spirit of poet Dean Young’s dictum that poets should be “making birds, not birdcages,” we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $3; Deadline: January 15th
Ploughshares has published quality literature since 1971. Our award-winning literary journal is published four times a year; our lively literary blog publishes new writing daily. Since 1989, we have been based at Emerson College in downtown Boston. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: May 1st
Founded in 2002, Bayou Magazine is a biannual, international literary magazine published by The University of New Orleans. We publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and the winner of the annual Tennessee Williams One-Act Play Contest. Our mission is to publish exceptional, exciting work by both established and emerging writers. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: May 31st
We look for writing that catches experience before the crusts of habit form—poetry and prose that resist ideas about what a certain kind of writing “should do.” We seek out writers who tell their truths in their own words and convince us as we read that we’ve found something no one else could have written. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: May 31st
Barnstorm publishes only previously unpublished work in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. While we welcome submissions in multiple genres, please wait to hear from us before submitting twice in the same genre. We also accept visual art which accompanies each written piece published. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Bodega releases digital issues on the first Monday of every month, featuring poetry, prose, and occasional interviews by established and emerging writers. We’re here to give you a handful of essential pieces you can digest in one sitting. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to The Decadent Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
The Decadent Review is seeking spectacularly written texts of any length on the subject of Dmitri Shostakovich and his music. They’re looking for: Criticism (cultural, literary), reviews (recordings, books, poetry, art), essays (aesthetics, linguistics, meta, history), musical ekphrasis of compositions (poetic, euphonious, discordant). They value: Erudition, cynicism, sarcasm, classicism, brutality, humor, and existential despair. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to World Wildlife Love Letter
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
World Wildlife Magazine invites submissions of short, uplifting personal essays about nature’s impact on a writer. Length: 100-300 words. Pay: $1.25/word for accepted pieces. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to The Boston Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
The Boston Review welcomes nonfiction and book review submissions on a wide range of subjects, from politics, philosophy, and economics to science, law, gender, sexuality, and race. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
The WebSalh0n for Poetry and Poetry related writing and media. Accepting poetry, essays, reviews, and audio recordings.Send submissions w/short bio to: [email protected]. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Lily Poetry Review
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Lily Poetry Review is currently accepting general submissions of poetry, art and flash fiction for the review, chapbook and full-length poetry books. Please go to the Submittable for full details. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to The Los Angeles Review
Fee: $3; Deadline: Rolling
The Los Angeles Review is open for submissions year-round. All submissions will be considered for LAR Online and for the new best-of print edition to be released yearly in the Spring. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Contributors can submit fiction, non-fiction, poetry or visual artwork that portrays experiences from their lives, or activities and happenings in the world around them. We encourage you to share your work in any form as long as each mode represents a topical theme relatable to life, human nature, human condition, human concerns, human growth and achievements, etc. Whatever your story is, you are welcome to share it with us. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Capsule Stories
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Capsule Stories is a print literary magazine published once every season. Our first issue was published on March 1, 2019, and we accept submissions year-round. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Rollick Magazine
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Rollick’s mandate is to attract cutting-edge, quality content that inspires real engagement. We will consider any pitch that expresses unique and original thought. You can send in short stories, essays, poetry, memoirs, confessionals, experimental fiction, and anything else in between. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
The Puritan seeks submissions all year round, from anywhere in the world. Regular submissions to the magazine are free of charge and should fall under one of four categories: fiction, essays, poetry, and reviews. Unless we are soliciting your work, all submissions must be previously unpublished (this includes self-publishing, publishing on blogs, and in chapbook format). View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to The 365 Collection | Lucky Jefferson
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Lucky Jefferson happily accepts unsolicited submissions of poetry year-round into its 365 Collection, a 100% digital collection of poetry and other literature. Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website and social media account(s). View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Embark Literary Journal
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Embark accepts submissions from all over the world and have no geographical constraints. However, all submissions must be written in English (or translated into English from another language, in which case both the author and the translator must be credited). They do NOT accept submissions of memoirs or other nonfiction works. Only the openings of novels (works of fiction 50,000 words or longer) will be considered. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Award: $200 per accepted story; Deadline: Rolling
Voyage YA simply aims to publish good work and provide a space for new and established voices. To get an idea of what they publish, please read their archives. General submissions are open year-round and there is no fee to submit to their general categories. New work is published weekly. View complete submission guidelines here.
Submissions to So to Speak Blog
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
The So to Speak Blog is unique in that it opens itself up to multiple forms of storytelling. Hybrid works, reviews, interviews, and visual art are welcomed submissions. View complete submission guidelines here.
Fee: $0; Award: $100-$2,000; Deadline: Rolling
The Sun publishes personal essays, fiction, and poetry. Personal stories that touch on political and cultural issues are welcome. They encourage submissions from writers of color. View more submission guidelines here.
Submissions to Boston Accent Lit
Fee: $0; Deadline: Rolling
Submissions to Boston Accent Lit are always open on a rolling basis. They accept works in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art. Issues are published six times per year online. View complete submission guidelines here.
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