This September, many writing opportunities are available, including contests for flash fiction, poetry, and short stories. Some of these opportunities might have specific requirements, but the ones listed here are open to all writers and free to enter. Check each call and its guidelines carefully, and please keep this page bookmarked for updates throughout the month.

 

Submissions With Deadlines

Yale Drama Series: David Charles Horn Prize

This international contest is for a full-length play in English, of at least 65 pages, and is meant for emerging playwrights. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.

Prizes: $10,000.

Deadline: September 8, 2024.

 

 

Mavis Batey Essay Prize

Submit a scholarly nonfiction essay on gardening history. Open to current students or recent graduates from any recognized university or institute. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: £250, free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year, and consideration for publication.

Deadline: September 8, 2024.

 

 

The Garden Party Collective: Mental Health Poetry Contest

In tribute to Christa Vander Wyst, submit poetry on the theme of mental health during National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8th-14th). Three winners will be selected in partnership with Christa’s family. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: $100 (for each of the 3 winners).

Deadline: September 14, 2024.

 

 

The Forge Competition

The Forge literary magazine is hosting a flash fiction and non-fiction contest. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: $1,000

Deadline: September 14, 2024, or until filled

 

 

Fractured Lit 2024 Elsewhere Prize

Submit flash or microfiction that explores the emotional depth of being human. Judged by Tara Campbell. There is a free-entry for marginalized groups. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $3,500.

Deadline: September 16, 2024.

 

 

Three-Lobed Burning Eye (3LBE)

This speculative fiction magazine is seeking horror, fantasy, and science fiction stories, including those that blur genre boundaries like magical realism and slipstream. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: $30 for flash fiction | $100 for short stories

Deadline: September 15, 2024.

 

 

Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship

This scholarship is for published African fiction and non-fiction writers. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: £18,000 for fiction writers, with possible additional funds for non-fiction writers, and mentorship.

Deadline: September 20, 2024.

 

 

Speculative Literature Foundation’s Working Class Writers Grant

This international grant supports working-class writers of speculative literature. Writers can also apply anonymously or pseudonymously. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $1,000

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

The Writers College’s Short Story Competition for Emerging Writers

This international fiction contest is open to beginner writers aged 16 and over. Stories should be based on the theme, “It didn’t have to be this way.” Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: 1st: NZ$1,000 | 2nd: NZ$500 | 3rd: NZ$250.

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

International Human Rights Arts Festival: Rhonda Gail Williford Award for Poetry

Submit one poem that incorporates themes of justice, dignity, and resistance. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: 1st: $150 | 2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

International Human Rights Arts Festival: Art of Unity Creative Award

Submit essays, short stories (under 2,500 words), or poetry on the theme of “Never again: Remembering to heal and overcome.” Submissions should highlight human unity and positive cross-pollination between groups. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: 1st: $150 | 2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50.

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

Last Stanza Poetry Journal

Submit one poem (up to 64 lines, preferably non-rhyming) on the theme “Oops!” for consideration. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $100

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

The Cincinnati Review

This literary magazine accepts fiction, non-fiction, fiction translations, and poetry for their print magazine, published three times a year (September, December, and May). They also publish works, including hybrids, for their online feature, miCRo, throughout the year. Submissions for the print magazine open on the 1st of the aforementioned months and close once a submission cap is reached. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $25/page for prose and $30/page for poetry in the print journal | $25 for miCRo posts or special features

Current Deadline: September 30, 2024, or until filled, for print.

 

Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest

This contest is open to new and amateur sci-fi and fantasy writers. Submit original prose up to 17,000 words. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: 1st: $1,000 | 2nd: $750 | 3rd: $500 per quarter | $5,000 additional annual prize for 1st place.

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award

Annual prizes for emerging short fiction writers. Submit a collection of stories for consideration. Manuscripts are juried through the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press.

Deadline: September 30, 2024.

 

 

Rolling Submissions

These are open calls with recurring deadlines or without specified deadlines; be sure to check if they haven’t reached their submission caps or closed, before submitting.

 

Pressfuls

They want fiction in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and crime/mystery stories with minimal or no dialogue, as well as non-fiction. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: $0.04/word

Deadline: Open now

 

 

Reckoning

This magazine is looking for creative writing and art on environmental justice. They seek work from Indigenous, racialized, queer, trans, and/or disabled writers and artists. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: SFWA-qualifying “professional” rates

Deadline: Rolling submissions for Reckoning 9.

 

 

D’LitReview

D’LitReview website is open for submissions. Send your poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essays, hybrid work, you name it! Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<< 

 

 

Transition Magazine

Transition magazine, established in Uganda in 1961 and now part of the Hutchins Center at Harvard University, invites submissions year-round, of engaging and insightful prose on Africa and the African diaspora, written in a jargon-free style suitable for both the intelligentsia and the educated lay public. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: One print copy of the issue featuring your work.  

 

 

Efiko Magazine

Efiko Magazine is an online literary publication focused on Africa, seeking high-quality poetry, short stories, and essays from writers of African origin or those writing about Africa. Submissions are open for the first major edition of 2024 and on a rolling basis for subsequent editions. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: N30,000 naira for 2 or more poems/prose over 2,500 words. Below this, N20,000 naira. Non-Nigerian contributors receive a book up to $40.

 

 

Scraps 

They’re seeking your abandoned creative work—the stories, poems, or art projects that have received multiple rejections. They’ll pair your work with a collaborative response crafted from your rejection letters. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Payment: $50 per entry.

 

 

Africa in Dialogue 

They seek unpublished interviews between African interviewers and African storytellers (writers, filmmakers, artists, etc.) exploring African realities, narratives, and philosophies. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Afrihill Press 

They welcome submissions in all genres, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playlets, essays, and book reviews, exploring human society, non-human spaces, and other dynamics in the world. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: 5,000 Naira per accepted work.

 

 

Blue Earth Review 

They welcome ambitious, focused works of short fiction (under 4,000 words), creative nonfiction (under 3,000 words), poetry (up to 5 poems), and visual art that enrich our understanding of the human experience. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Payment: 2 contributor’s copies.

 

 

After Dinner Conversation 

They accept short story submissions (1,500-7,000 words) that spur ethical and philosophical discussions, regardless of genre. Think “The Trolley Problem” in short story form. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $75 for accepted stories.

 

 

Pressfuls 

They’re seeking short fiction (1,000-1,500 words) in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and crime/mystery with minimal or no dialogue, as well as nonfiction pieces. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $0.04 per word.

 

 

Bourbon Penn 

They want fiction submissions with a healthy dose of the odd. Think slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $0.04/word.

 

 

New Welsh Review 

They are accepting fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and feature pitches. Work is selected in June, September, and March for publication in the corresponding months. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: £100 for fiction | £170 for nonfiction | £28 per poem.

 

 

Red Ogre Review

Red Ogre Review seeks poetry, prose poetry, book reviews, critical essays, visual art, and music. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Shelfy Editorial 

Shelfy Editorial wants engaging pieces that analyze and celebrate culture with a focus on long-term impact. They pay writers a starting rate of $0.50 per word.  Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Men’s Journal 

Men’s Journal, a lifestyle publication for men, is looking for big, impactful feature stories. Think inspiring adventures, deep dives into luxury items,  in-depth health reporting, or other compelling narratives that appeal to their audience. They pay $250 for pieces between 600-800 words.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Shark Tank Enthusiasts Wanted

Do you love Shark Tank? A writing/editing position is available for someone passionate about the show.  Expect to work 40-50 hours per month at a rate of $15 per hour. 

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

The International Policy Journal 

The International Policy Journal wants your ideas on improving foreign policy. They welcome articles (750-1,000 words, $400 payment) and in-depth features (3,000 words, $1,500 payment). 

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Fansplaining 

Fansplaining, a podcast-turned-written publication about fandom, is accepting pitches for well-researched and analytical pieces (2,000 – 4,000 words).  They’re not interested in quick takes. Payment is $250 per piece.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Trampset Journal

Trampset Journal seeks short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from diverse voices. They welcome simultaneous submissions but do not accept multiple submissions at once.  Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $25 per accepted piece.

 

 

The 20Something Pub

Submit your 20s-themed stories to this mag, focusing on personal experiences, challenges, triumphs, and life lessons. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

The Kalahari Review 

This vibrant African literary magazine is seeking fresh, unconventional perspectives on modern Africa. They accept various genres, including fiction, essays, poetry, and visual art.  Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Farafina Books Blog

Submit your short stories, poems, and reviews (minimum 500 words) to info@kachifo.com. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Palimpset Press

As part of their commitment to breaking down barriers for BIPOC, Deaf, and Disabled authors, they are now accepting submissions year-round from authors who identify as above. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

The University of Wisconsin Press

They have introduced a new series called Women and Gender in Africa, inviting manuscripts from African-born authors. The series, edited by UW–Madison professors Jacqueline-Bethel Mougoué and Aili Mari Tripp, focuses on publishing original research in history, politics, and cultural studies. It seeks innovative works addressing topics such as women and religion, LGBTQI+ concerns, human rights, migration, and more. Manuscripts should engage in broad theoretical debates, demonstrate comparative insights, and incorporate discussions on literature and popular culture. Submissions will be evaluated based on significance, quality of scholarship, clarity, and marketability. Authors can inquire about their projects by contacting the series editors or submitting a brief email query. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Naija Theatre

They are currently open for reviews, aiming to publish 1-2 reviews monthly. To submit, individuals are required to watch a Nigerian stage play, write a review, and share their name, email address, and the review itself. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: NGN50,000 for each accepted and published review.

Deadline: 25th of each month.

 

 

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, it’s a good idea to check their website to get a sense of the kind of work 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. 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. 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 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 submissions in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $50.

 

 

Palette Poetry 

They exclusively accept submissions in the Poetry genre. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prizes: $50 per poem, up to $150.

 

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