News

ANMLY: Caribbean Yard Poetics Folio

2026-07-27T19:08:00+00:00

Call for submissions: received by August 14

Deadline August 14 (must be received by this date). Online literary journal ANMLY seeks unpublished poetry, creative nonfiction, and artwork "exploring the yard as the site in which we understand modern Caribbean geography and social life." This submission call is limited to Caribbean writers born or residing in the region. See description of the theme and goals of this issue on the website.

ANMLY: The Fetish Folio

2026-07-27T19:03:00+00:00

Call for submissions: received by August 28

Deadline August 28 (must be received by this date). Online literary journal ANMLY is currently open to unpublished submissions by queer and trans writers for a new folio exploring "desire and devotion that revels in excess". Send 1-3 poems or one piece of multimedia poetry, audio, or video. Editors say, "Commonly associated with transgressive forms of sexuality, a fetish can also refer to an irrational fixation or protective talisman. Who or what informs our obsessions and rituals? How are certain desires marginalized?...Submit campy, ear-splitting, maximalist, surreal poems that challenge the border of the page, the limits of language, or assumptions about normative urges." See complete description of the theme on their website.

Epistle Literary Magazine

2026-07-23T21:06:00+00:00

Call for submissions: received by September 15

Deadline September 15 (must be received by this date). Epistle Literary Magazine publishes writing that honors and appreciates the impact of mentors and educators. They are currently open to submissions of unpublished poetry, short fiction, essays, and letters. Writers should respond in some way to the theme: "How has an educator or mentor shaped you?" Send 1-3 poems, maximum 5 pages total; stories up to 3,000 words; or essays and letters up to 2,000 words. US contributors will receive a print copy, others a digital copy.

CavanKerry Press: Open Submission Period

2026-07-23T18:26:00+00:00

Call for submissions: received by July 31

Deadline July 31 (must be received by this date). Literary publisher CavanKerry Press is open to submissions of poetry collections, nonfiction essay collections, and memoirs by US authors. Editors say, "CavanKerry Press publishes works that explore the emotional and psychological landscapes of everyday life." They are interested in diverse perspectives and LGBTQ and BIPOC authors. Their LaurelBooks imprint supports work by authors with physical and/or mental illness and disability. The sliding-scale submission fee is $12-$25. See website for length limits in each genre. Authors in their catalog include January Gill O'Neil, Gray Jacobik, and Frannie Lindsay. This open reading period is offered in July of even-numbered years only.

PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

2026-07-22T15:10:00+00:00

$2,000 prize, deadline change: received by September 1

Deadline September 1 (must be received by this date), formerly November 25. Highly recommended free contest from PEN America gives 12 prizes of $2,000 and anthology publication for an author's first published short story, 12,000 words maximum. Entries must be submitted online by editor. Eligible publications may be digital or print literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites. Stories must have been published in or be forthcoming in the current calendar year. Each eligible publication may submit up to 4 stories by different authors.

Derricotte/Eady Chapbook Prize

2026-07-21T19:04:00+00:00

$1,000 prize, deadline change: received by August 7

Deadline August 7 (must be received by this date), formerly November 3. Highly recommended free contest awards $1,000 and publication for a poetry chapbook manuscript by an author aged 21+ who identifies as a member of the African Diaspora. One manuscript per poet. Read detailed guidelines on the sponsor's page and on Submittable. Enter online. For the 2026 submission cycle, entries for the 2027 and 2028 Prizes are accepted concurrently and share the same deadline. Sponsored by Cave Canem, a nonprofit that supports and publishes Black poets, in partnership with O, Miami and in collaboration with The Writer's Room at The Betsy Hotel-South Beach.

Solstice Nature Prize for Young Writers

2026-07-21T17:38:00+00:00

100 pounds prize, deadline change: received by October 10

Deadline October 10 (must be received by this date), formerly October 31. Neutral free contest from Writing East Midlands gives prizes of 100 pounds in each age category (7-11, 12-14, 15-17, and 18-25 years) for unpublished nature-themed poems, stories, or blog posts by young writers residing in the UK. Send one poem, maximum 40 lines, or one prose piece, maximum 500 words, by mail or online. No simultaneous submissions. For 2026, sponsor seeks entries about any aspect of nature.

Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship

2026-07-21T16:00:00+00:00

$2,000 prize, deadline change: received by October 13

Deadline October 13 (must be received by this date; don't enter before September 8), formerly October 8. Recommended free contest from One Story literary magazine awards year-long fiction writing mentorship opportunity for an early-career fiction writer aged 21+ who has not yet published a book and has never been enrolled in an MFA program. Fellowship includes free tuition for all of sponsor's online classes and programming, a travel stipend of $2,000 and tuition to attend week-long summer writers' conference, and a full manuscript review/consultation of a story collection or novel in progress with an executive editor. To qualify, writer must not have a book under contract with an agent and/or publisher at time of application, and writer cannot have been published by One Story (or have a forthcoming publication with One Story). Submit a fiction writing sample, 3,000-5,000 words, that "speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference" via sponsor's online submissions portal. Also upload personal statement (600-1,100 words), 1-page resume, and contact details of two professional references. Be sure to read sponsor's complete guidelines before entering.

Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing

2026-07-21T15:56:00+00:00

C$40,000 prize, deadline change: received by September 9, November 11, January 7

Deadlines September 9, November 11, January 7 (must be received by these dates), formerly September 10, November 5, January 7. Recommended free contest awards C$40,000 for literary nonfiction books about Canadian politics by Canadian citizens or permanent residents and first published in Canada during the deadline year. Deadline varies depending on when the book was published: Books published between January 1, 2026 and September 8, 2026 must be received by September 9; those published between September 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 must be received by November 11, 2026; and books published between November 11, 2026 and December 31, 2026 must be received by January 7, 2027. Publishers should complete online entry form and upload author and book cover images as well as a PDF copy of each submitted title. Send 5 copies of the book. Sponsored by the Writers' Trust of Canada and named after Shaughnessy Cohen, an outspoken and popular Member of Parliament from Ontario.

Gyroscope Review: “Crone Power” Issue

2026-07-20T18:39:00+00:00

Call for submissions: received by September 1

Deadline September 1 (must be received by this date). Quarterly poetry journal Gyroscope Review is open to submissions by women writers aged 50+ for their annual "Crone Power" issue. Send 1-4 unpublished poems of any length. See formatting guidelines on website. Submissions will close early if they reach their Submittable cap. "We do not send contributors' print copies, but free PDFs are available from our website."