Call for Submissions: Fourth Genre

Reading Period: Sep. 1-Nov. 30, 2022

We are thirsty for essays that give us something to drink besides mainstream ideologies and forms, that showcase imagination and meaning-making capacities, that embrace a love of a sentence’s shape. We believe good essays center the margin or marginalize the center, or even better, blow up the center-margin borders. We want essays that make the common uncommon—that are not about the things they pretend to be about. You know, the essay about your shoelace that’s not really about your shoelace. 

We want to read more essays that reflect the intersections of race, ethnicity, culture, class, identity, gender, sexuality, diasporas, borderlands; and more essays that are cultural, lyrical, experimental, personal, environmental, self-interrogative, meditative, and reflective, as well as expository, analytical, exploratory, or whimsical. We want to publish the best creative nonfiction essays, understanding that notions of “best,” of taste and genre, are political and cultural.

More information and submission link here.

Call for Submissions to Anthology: Toxic Workplaces

WOMEN’S THEMED CREATIVE NONFICTION anthology series now accepting submissions. 

First theme: “Toxic Workplaces,” due December 12. Submit your 1,000- to 5,000-word essay pasted in body of e-mail to:

 women.write.about@gmail.com 

Compensation: $0.02/word + copy for previously unpublished. Previously published considered but no cash payment. E-mail to be notified of future themes and deadlines.

Call for Submissions on Theme of "Voice": Wayward Literature

Each issue of Wayward Literature focuses on a theme. The theme for the upcoming issue is “voice,” so you’ll want to be sure to keep this in mind when creating and submitting your work for consideration. Keep in mind that, even if you submit your work, it does not guarantee you a place in the issue. We will reach out to all those who are receiving a spot in the magazine. Those who do not will receive a separate email with the possibility of publishing on our blog.

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2022

Wayward Literature magazine accepts a variety of genres and art forms. All submissions must come with an author/creator biography. This should be around a paragraph and written in the third person. Find the technical guidelines here:

Short Stories & Flash Fiction:

– 2,500 words maximum for short stories. 1,000 words maximum for flash fiction.
– These are not hard maximums. If your story is 25-30 words over, we’ll still consider it. Anything 100 words over the maximum will not be considered.
– Must adhere to the theme
– No depictions of excessive violence
– If talking on sensitive topics (rape, abuse, suicide, etc.) please include a warning

Poems:
– 2 pages maximum
– Must adhere to the theme
– No depictions of excessive violence
– If talking on sensitive topics (rape, abuse, suicide, etc.) please include a warning

Art (Photography, drawings, paintings, etc.):
– One image per submission
– Must adhere to the theme
– No depictions of excessive violence
– If focusing on sensitive topics (rape, abuse, suicide, etc.) please include a warning
– Include a brief (2-3 sentence) description of the piece along with the title

More information and submission link here.

Call for Submisions on Theme of "The Undead": Planisphere Quarterly

Planisphere Q Seeks Flash Fiction, Vignettes, Character Sketches, and Poetry

Deadline: September 17, 2022

PQ is seeking undead submissions: vampires, ghosts, zombies, or any other ghoulish undead creature. Poetry, vignettes, character sketches, and flash fiction 500-words or less, firm. Please visit our website for more information.

Call for Submissions: Consequence

Consequence’s Fall Reading Period Now Open

Deadline: October 15, 2022

The reading period for Consequence Volume 15.1 is now open. As always, we are after any and all literary work or visual art that deals with the human consequences and realities of war or geopolitical violence as experienced by combatants, victims, or witnesses. We are especially interested in works of translation and fiction this time around. We also strongly encourage BIPOC and people from other under-represented communities to submit. Please spread the word.

Have questions about what work we’re inclined to publish and/or how much we pay? Visit our FAQ.

To submit, go here.

Writing Competition: Gemini Magazine 14th Annual Flash Fiction Prize

Gemini Magazine 14th annual Flash Fiction Prize

Deadline: August 31, 2022

Win $1,000 for a story of 1,000 words or less in the 14th annual Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction Contest. Second prize: $100. Four honorable mentions: $25 each.

Entry fee: $7. Any subject or style.

Except for the word limit, we have no rules and are open to your most creative work, whether literary, noir, historical, sci-fi or any other category. All six finalists will be published online in the October/November 2022 issue of Gemini.

Read previous winners and finalists online to see the wide variety of flash fiction we publish. 

Writing Competition: The Missouri Review's 32nd Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editor's Prize

The Missouri Review's 32nd Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize

Deadline: October 1, 2022

The Missouri Review invites entries for its 32nd annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize. Winners receive $5000, publication, and promotion. Fiction or nonfiction entries up to 8,500 words, poetry entries up to 10 pages.

Regular entry fee: $25. All-Access entry fee: $30

All entrants receive a 1-year digital subscription to the Missouri Review and a digital copy of Missouri Review Books’ sixth offering, Hello, I Love You, featuring previous contributors. All-Access entrants receive the same plus access to the past decade of digital issues of TMR. All entries considered for publication.

Guidelines and further info here.

Deadline: October 1.