This February, there are many opportunities for writers. You can apply for fellowships or submit your writing to magazines. These opportunities could help you improve your writing journey. Take advantage of them and start the new month by exploring these possibilities. Make sure to read the rules for the submissions you’re interested in. Also, save this page and come back to check for any updates throughout the month.
Golden Haiku Poetry Contest
For this contest, poets worldwide can share up to two haiku for a chance to win. All ages are welcome, and there are prizes for winners in different regions, including DC. The theme for 2024 is ‘Transforming Paths.’ Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $500|$200|$100(adults), $150(high school winner), $75(elementary/middle school winner).
Deadline: 4 February, 2024.
The Emma Press
They’re taking writing submissions for prose pamphlets for adults, specifically interested in proposals for Life Writing/Creative Non-Fiction books and Novellas. If you have translation proposals fitting into these categories, they’d love to see them. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefits: Advances, editing, production, promotion and submission for appropriate prizes.
Deadline: 6 February, 2024.
No Bells
This new print magazine focuses on underground music, and they’re currently welcoming pitches for their inaugural edition, on the theme “ORIGINATORS.” They’re interested in a variety of content, including interviews or profiles, lists, reported pieces, photography or visual art, unconventional essays, and even games like crosswords and word searches. If you have creative ideas related to the originators in the realm of underground music, they’d love to hear from you. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Rates: begin at $100.
Deadline: 7 February, 2024.
Portable Model
Portable Model, a music-focused publication, is open to pitches for their inaugural issue, centered around the theme of music and tangibility. They’re specifically interested in lists, essays, and reviews. They encourage submissions with a feminist, political, or strongly local perspective. If you have ideas that align with these themes and perspectives, they would welcome your contributions. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Rates: up to $200 per piece.
Deadline: 8 February, 2024.
The CAAPP Book Prize
The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for African American Poetry and Poetics, in collaboration with Autumn House Press, has initiated a publishing partnership. This partnership aims to publish and promote the work of a writer of African descent. The annual prize is dedicated to a first or second book by a writer embodying African American, African, or African diasporic experiences. Writers working in various genres, such as poetry, hybrid work, speculative prose, and/or translation, are invited to submit manuscripts ranging from 48 to 168 pages. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $3,000.
Deadline: 15 February, 2024.
Writers Space Africa (WSA) magazine
They’re currently accepting submissions for their 88th edition, themed “Smiles” for the April 2024 issue. They are welcoming creative works in various categories, including Creative Non-Fiction, Children’s Literature with illustrations accepted, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Short Stories. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefits: Publication.
Deadline: 15 February, 2024.
The Orange Blossom Review
They’re currently open for unsolicited general submissions during their first reading period for the year. Writers and artists are encouraged to submit poetry, fiction (short stories, novel excerpts), creative nonfiction, graphic literature, artwork, and photography submissions. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefits: Publication.
Deadline: 15 February, 2024.
Omenana Speculative Fiction Magazine
They’re currently open for submissions, inviting speculative fiction contributions and are particularly interested in art, fiction, and non-fiction from creators in Africa and the African Diaspora.
Submitted fiction and art should fall within the speculative genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, or Magical Realism. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $20 per accepted work.
Deadline: 15 February, 2024.
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center’s Writer-in-Residence Program
The selected writer will have the privilege of working in the same studio where Ernest Hemingway crafted ‘A Farewell to Arms’. As part of the residency, the writer is also expected to act as a mentor during a week-long retreat for fellow writers at the educational centre. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $1,000, and residency.
Deadline: 28 February, 2024.
Diana Woods Award in Creative Nonfiction
They’re inviting submissions for a creative non-fiction piece of up to 3,500 words on any subject. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $250.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Text
They’re inviting translators and authors of multilingual texts to submit their work. The Gabo Prize accepts original, bilingual work. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $200
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction
This nonfiction contest is open to a wide range of nonfiction forms, including but not limited to reviews (especially book reviews), memoirs, journalism, interviews, essays (including personal essays), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel writing, nature writing, opinion pieces, and various other permutations of nonfiction. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: Three winners will equally share a prize pool of $1,000.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
Words Without Borders’ Momentum Grant for Early-Career Translators
This grant is specifically designed for literary fiction and nonfiction aimed at a trade audience. The purpose of the grant is to support the completion of a substantial sample of a book-length prose translation suitable for submission to English-language publishers. It is open to individual translators who have not yet secured a book-length contract for translation work into English. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $3,000.
Deadline: 29 February 2024
Lolwe Magazine
They’re currently open for submissions for Issue 9. They are specifically looking for work that is bold, different, and challenges or transcends boundaries. The call encourages contributors to play with form and language, disregard traditional genre classifications, and submit pieces that explore fears, joys, doubts, faiths, curiosities, and silences. Acceptable submissions include fiction, essays, poetry, and photography, and are open to Black (African, Caribbean, Diaspora) artists. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: Upon publication.
Deadline: 29 February 2024, or until the submission cap is reached.
Doek!
They’re actively seeking nuanced nonfiction writing and compelling visual art that explores new thematic territories. While their fiction and poetry submissions are exclusively open to Namibian writers, they encourage creative nonfiction submissions such as essays, memoirs, or narrative nonfiction, and visual art submissions, including illustrations, graphic design, and photography, from African writers in general. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: Upon publication.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
Wigleaf
They feature stories under 1000 words. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefit: Publication
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
tinywords
They welcome submissions of unpublished work, although occasional republication of poems previously featured elsewhere may be considered. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefit: Publication.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
Bodega Magazine
They’re seeking previously unpublished poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefit: Publication.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
Yellow Arrow Journal
If you have creative nonfiction, poetry, or cover art that you would like to share, submit to this journal. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $10 and a PDF of the journal issue.
Deadline: 29 February, 2024.
Chismosa Literary
This new literary magazine is currently accepting submissions for poetry, prose, fiction, and creative nonfiction in line with their provided guidelines. The debut issue is themed “CHISMOSA,” They are looking for stories filled with gossip or poems that explore the art of eavesdropping. Chismosa Literary welcomes all genres of writing and encourages experimental work. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $100.
Deadline: 1 March, 2024.
The Deep Wild Graduate Student Prose Contest
This contest is open for international submissions from graduate students currently enrolled in graduate studies. It is specifically focused on prose entries (both fiction and non-fiction) that capture the experiences, observations, and insights gained from backcountry journeys. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $300 | $200 | $100
Deadline: 1 March, 2024.
The Alpine Fellowship Prizes
They encompass various categories including Poetry, Writing, Theatre, Music, Philosophy, Refugee Scholar, and Visual Arts. Each category has specific guidelines that entrants are encouraged to read carefully. The overarching theme for this year’s prizes is ‘Language,’ and submitted works must address this theme. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: Cash awards of £3,000, £1,000, £500 for winners in creative writing categories, and £500 travel stipend to attend the symposium.
Deadline: 1 March, 2024.
New Feathers Anthology
This is an online literature and art magazine that is open to a variety of creative expressions, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, visual art, music, and short videos. They impose no restrictions on genre, welcoming diverse forms of artistic and literary work. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefits: All contributors will be eligible for the New Feathers Award at the end of the year and will receive a print copy of the year-end anthology comprised of all works published during the year.
Deadline: 1 March, 2024.
Rolling Submissions
These are open calls without specified deadlines; be sure to check if they haven’t reached their submission caps or closed, before submitting.
Shenandoah Literary
Fiction submissions for short stories and novel excerpts are now open on Shenandoah Literary. Only the first 250 submissions will be accepted.
Check the details and guidelines for submissions >>here<<
Illino Magazine
They’re looking for African fiction; afrofuturism, extended folklore, fantasy, mystic fiction, and young adult fiction by African writers who currently live in an African country.
Prizes: From $20.
Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
The War Cry
The Salvation Army magazine welcomes writings from freelance writers. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: If you create something new, they pay $0.35 for each word, and for articles they’ve published before, it’s $0.15 per word.
Contingent Magazine
A history magazine currently accepting pitches. They’re interested in various formats. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes:
– $250 for shorts, field trips, and reviews.
– $100 for mailbags and mini-essays.
– $50 for postcards.
The Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ)
This nonprofit magazine is on the lookout for pitches. They are specifically seeking pieces for their new column called “We Stood Up,” which features the voices of individuals working towards economic justice in their workplace. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $300.
Post-Mortem
They are currently open for pitches. They feature retrospectives of life experiences in the style of a Big Tech post-mortem, written by funny and witty people. If you have a humorous take on life experiences, they want to hear from you. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $100.
Meridian
This magazine focused on untold stories in tech, is open to pitches at all times. Prize: The pay ranges between $0.80 and $1 per word. If you have an interesting pitch, you can send it to meridian@mercury.com. Before pitching your writing, it’s a good idea to check their website to get a sense of the kind of writing they publish. Check it out >>here<<
Type Investigations
This is a nonprofit investigative newsroom with a focus on pressing issues such as racial and economic justice, climate and environmental health, and civil and human rights. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: They typically offer compensation ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, which includes coverage for travel and reporting expenses.
The Progress Network
This is a movement striving for a brighter future amidst a world often filled with pessimistic voices. They are eager to receive substantive good news, solutions journalism stories, constructive opinions on current affairs, and progress-oriented perspectives on various themes including history, psychology, philosophy, and culture. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: The compensation for contributions ranges between $250 and $650.
The Drift
Positioning itself as a “magazine of culture and politics,” they’re seeking socially engaged cultural criticism, class-sensitive analysis, pieces addressing overlooked or evaded aspects in politics, media, arts, or academia, along with upbeat cynicism, un-self-serious screeds, generous takedowns, entries from the margins, fiction, poetry, and concise book, movie, TV, or art reviews. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $2,000 for essays, $500 to $1,000 for short stories, $150 for poems, and $25 for Mentions.
The New Yorker
They accept fiction, poetry, shouts & murmurs and daily shouts, cartoons, and other type of writings. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefit: Publication.
Flora Fiction
They welcome submissions of artwork and offer a platform for artists to share insights related to creativity, including processes, inspiration, critical thinking, and more. The submission categories include Flash Fiction, Poetry & Prose, Photography, and Drawings & Illustration. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Benefit: Publication.
Apex Magazine
Their submission portal for short fiction is currently open. If you have a speculative fiction piece ready, this is your chance to submit your writing. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $0.08 per word
The House of Gamut
Fiction and poetry submissions are currently open. If you have stories fitting the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, neo-noir, new-weird, transgressive fiction, magical realism, or literary fiction leaning into the genre, this is your chance to submit your writing. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $0.10 per word (fiction). $50 per poem for new work and $25 per poem for reprints. (Poetry)
The Cosmic Background
If you enjoy crafting flash fiction stories that don’t necessarily follow a conventional narrative and love the bizarre and unusual, this is your chance to submit. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $0.08 per word
The O’Shaughnessy Fellowship
This fellowship presents a unique opportunity for innovative creators worldwide. It is a one-year remote program open to individuals above eighteen years old. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: up to $100,000 in funding, along with access to founders, investors, and experts who will provide support in bringing your projects to life.
The RCDIJ Africa Fund
They are actively providing support for small to mid-scale data and/or investigative journalism projects across various crucial topics, including education, health, security, environment, democracy, corruption, economy, migration, technology, culture, and development. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: Successful projects can be awarded funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
Eco Punk Literary Magazine
They offer a continuous writing submission window for writers and artists interested in contributing Eco Poetry and Artwork. If you have environmentally-themed poetry or artwork, this could be an excellent platform for your creative expression. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $10.
Menagerie
They accept writing submissions in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $50.
Palette Poetry
They exclusively accept writing submissions in the Poetry genre. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $50 per poem, up to $150.
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Okechukwu Amarachi Sharon