One Piece

This October there are more than eight dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays. I post calls for submissions on the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page,  Calls for Submissions . You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.) Also see  Paying Markets  for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre. Happy submitting! (Image: Flickr) ________________________ Cicada's Lament .  Restrictions : Open to marginalized creators, particularly work by disabled and/or LGBTQIA+ folx.  Genre : Fiction or poetry with elements of Southern Gothic or horror. Theme: (re) birth. Births, baptisms, beginnings. "Cicada's Lament wants your hanging moss and blue porch ceilings. We want your de...

This October there are more than three dozen contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and short plays. Prizes range from $60,500 to publication. None charge entry fees. Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully. If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to  Free Contests . Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year. Good luck!  (Image: Pxfuel) __________________ Non-Binary Stars .  Genre : Speculative fiction stories containing a character or characters that are representational of oppressed/under-represented groups, whether that be due to issues of gender, orientation, mental/physical health, body size, skin color, etc.  Prize : $100, $50, $25.  Deadline : October 1, 2021. No Tokens: Young Writers' Prize .  Restrictions : Open to writers ages eighteen and under.  Genre : Fiction, nonfiction and hybri...

This October there are three dozen outstanding writing conferences. You can attend workshops, presentations, readings, discussions, lectures, and critiques via Zoom. Some are also offering workshops in person.  Conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry, they make you feel like a  writer . Plan ahead! Conferences often offer scholarships, but these have deadlines and most close early. If one of these conferences interests you, put the deadline date on your calendar for next year. For a full list of conferences, organized by month, see  Writing Conferences . While nearly all of those are in the United States, you can find links on that page that will take you to world-wide conference lists. (Image: Im a Puzzle) _______________________ Bookgardan: A Year's Sustenance for Writers . October 1, 2021 - October 1, 2022: Keene, NY. "Devote a year to writing your book in community with an intimate grou...

I blame my children. Nine years ago, they said, "Mom, you need to start a blog." And I listened to them. Those innocent eyes, those sweet little faces ...  no, wait. They weren't kids anymore. They were adults, and they knew exactly what they were doing.  Now, nearly a decade later, I've caught a tiger by its tail. And if I let go, it will eat me.  My goals were humble when I began Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity . I simply wished to share some of my insights about the publishing process with the world or, more specifically, with writers. But I had to admit that the brave new world of the Internet was beyond me. So, I simply began by shedding light on all the mistakes I was making.  Lord, there were so many of them. Eventually, I realized that humorous as they were (and continue to be), my mistakes were not only limited in scope, they didn't get at what my blog was actually for, which was to impose order on the disorganized mess I affectionately call ...

Here are five new literary agents actively seeking clients. Bethany Fulk wants MG, YA and adult fantasy Historical Fiction/Fantasy, Retellings (myth, folklore, legends, fairytales), Mysteries/Speculative/Suspense. Susan Velazquez is looking for upmarket/book club fiction and women’s fiction, thrillers and horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy, YA, and narrative non-fiction that explores little-known time periods, historical events, or historical figures. Annie Romano is seeking adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. Juliana McBride loves commercial and literary fiction, young adult novels, and fantasy. Helena Sandlyng Jacobsen has a special interest in translated literature. She is particularly loves narratives involving complicated heroines, characters caught between two (or more) cultures, and the occasional blood-curdling, but impeccably constructed thriller. As for nonfiction, memoir and personal essay are her favorite genres, but she loves to explore new ideas in pop...