If you’re a writer looking to showcase your work and potentially win some recognition, this month offers several promising writing opportunities. Various magazines are currently accepting submissions in different genres, including essays, short stories, poetry, and flash fiction.
Most of these contests have no entry fee, making them accessible to writers at all levels. However, it’s important to carefully review each contest’s specific guidelines and submission requirements before sending your work.
We’ll be updating this list throughout the month, to add new opportunities to it, so be sure to bookmark this page and check in occasionally.
Ready to turn your words into opportunity?
Submissions With Deadlines
PRISM international Submissions
PRISM international accepts prose and poetry submissions; an Inclusive Access category for marginalized and low-income writers. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $40 per printed page for prose and $45 per printed page for poetry. | Additional $500 prize for an outstanding poetry contributor.
Deadline: December 10, 2024.
International Booker Prize 2025
The International Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best eligible work of long-form fiction or a collection of short stories, translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator.
Deadline: December 13, 2024 (For works published between 31 December 2024 and 30 April 2025).
Inspire the Mind
For World Cancer Day in February 2025, Inspire the Mind is looking for article pitches from a mental health lived experience perspective for their digital magazine. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: £200 for pieces of 1,000-1,200 words
Deadline: December 15, 2024.
Eggtooth Editions Chapbook Contest
Eggtooth Editions is hosting a chapbook contest for unpublished manuscripts. Submissions are open for creative prose and poetry chapbooks. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: Winner: $250, publication, and 20 author copies of the chapbook
Deadline: December 15, 2024
The Sine Qua Non Creative Writing Competitions
For their inaugural issue, The Sine Qua Non is sponsoring two creative writing competitions: creative prose and poetry. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes:
Winner (each category): $500
Two runners-up (each category): $250
Non-prize winners selected for publication: $50 honorarium
Deadline: December 15, 2024 (early submission recommended due to limited capacity).
St. Martin’s Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition
The St. Martin’s Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America competition is for new crime writers with an original, unpublished manuscript. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: Winner: Publishing contract with Minotaur Books, $10,000 advance, and recognition at the Edgar Awards Banquet
Deadline: December 15, 2024.
Matter Press Compressed
The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts is seeking “compressed creative arts” in the form of fiction and creative nonfiction. Submissions must reflect compression in some way, and the work will be published weekly without labels. The focus is on what “compression” means to each artist, not the genre or form. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $50 per accepted piece.
Deadline: December 15, 2024.
Love Letters to London Writing Competition
The Love Letters to London competition celebrates the city in prose or poetry. This year’s theme is “Dreams for London,” marking the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s sermon at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: Winner (all categories): £500 | Runners-up: £150 | The winners’ schools will receive £250 of books. | Total prize pool: £4,000
Deadline: December 20, 2024.
Afritondo Short Story Prize 2025
This prize is open to African writers or those of African descent globally. The theme for 2025 is “Masks.” Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: Grand Prize: $1000 | Four Shortlisted Entries: $100 each | Longlisted Entries: Published in an anthology, and writers will receive a free copy.
Deadline: December 23, 2024.
The Ex-Puritan
This magazine accepts submissions year-round for fiction, essays, poetry, interviews, reviews, and experimental/hybrid work. All submissions must be previously unpublished. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: From $20 – $200, depending on genre.
Deadline: December 25, 2024.
VCU Cabell First Novelist Award 2025
The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award honors the best debut novel published in 2024. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prize: $5,000.
Deadline: December 30, 2024.
Porter House Review 2024 – 2025 Editor’s Prize
The Porter House Review is hosting the 2024 – 2025 Editor’s Prizes in Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction. The contest will be judged by Rebecca Makkai, Romeo Oriogun, and Maurice Chammah. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: Winner (per category): $750 and publication in the journal | Finalists will also be considered for publication.
Deadline: December 31, 2024.
The Caribbean Writer Volume 39 Call for Submissions
The Caribbean Writer is accepting submissions for Volume 39, under the theme “Possibilities: Beyond Tradition, Inside of Courage”. Writers are invited to submit fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and one-act plays that explore the themes resonating within the Caribbean and its diaspora. Submissions should reflect a Caribbean heritage, experience, or perspective. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $300-600.
Deadline: December 31, 2024.
Lilith Magazine Annual Fiction Contest
Lilith Magazine is seeking short stories (up to 3,000 words) that are vibrant, original, and carry a feminist and Jewish nuance. The contest is open to writers of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on submissions from writers of color and emerging voices. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: First Prize: $300 and publication in the magazine.
Deadline: December 31, 2024.
Channel Magazine Submission Call for Issue 12
Channel Magazine is seeking submissions for its 12th issue, with a focus on creative works that explore the relationship between humans and the natural world, with a special emphasis on environmental themes. The magazine is open to poetry, fiction, and essays/non-fiction. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: Payment for print works is €35 per printed page (up to €250 for a piece), and for online works, it’s €35 per 400 words (up to €250). Visual artists for cover art receive €250. All contributors receive a copy of the issue featuring their work.
Deadline: December 31, 2024.
FIYAH
A quarterly magazine featuring speculative fiction by and about Black people of the African Diaspora, open to diverse genres like sci-fi, horror, and fantasy. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $0.08 per word for fiction (2,000–7,000 words), $0.08 per word for novelettes (up to 15,000 words), $50 for poetry.
Deadline: December 31, 2024 (for prose and poetry submissions).
Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contest
This contest invites new and amateur sci-fi and fantasy writers to submit their original stories for a chance to win cash prizes. Entries must be short stories or novelettes up to 17,000 words. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $1,000 (1st place), $750 (2nd place), $500 (3rd place), with an additional $5,000 for the grand prize winner.
Deadline: December 31, 2024.
EastOver Press
EastOver Press is open to book-length nonfiction manuscripts, particularly collections of literary essays, mixed-genre works, and essay-based memoirs. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $100-$300.
Deadline: December 31, 2024 (limited to the first 100 submissions).
Defenestrationism.net Lengthy Poem Contest
In memory of Christine Gawne Wick, Defenestrationism.net is hosting the Lengthy Poem Contest. The contest invites poems that are at least 120 lines, excluding titles, stanza breaks, or paratext elements. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $300 for the winner, publication for three finalists.
Deadline: January 1, 2025.
Planet Black Joy
An anthology of speculative fiction celebrating Black joy and pleasure. The collection will feature 20 to 25 short stories by women and non-binary individuals of Black, African, or Afro-descendent heritage. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $0.08 per word for original stories (3,000 to 7,000 words) and $0.02 per word for reprints.
Deadline: January 1, 2025.
The Fifty & Up Writer Awards
This contest is fee-free and open to writers aged 50 and up. There will be one winner in each category: Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $50 for each winner, plus a dollar for each year over fifty.
Deadline: January 1, 2025.
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.
Africa in Dialogue
Africa in Dialogue invites unsolicited individual and book interviews that explore African narratives. Submit original and unpublished interviews no longer than 10,000 words between African interviewers and storytellers. The submission window is open year-round, and there is no fee to submit. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Note: While there is currently no honorarium for contributors, accepted interviews grant exclusive rights to Africa in Dialogue for 90 days.
Africa in Words (AiW) Guest Authors
This platform welcomes submissions for blog posts from new authors discussing African cultural production, including literature, music, visual arts, and more. Posts should be 500-2000 words, well-researched, and suitable for a general audience. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Note: AiW is run by volunteers and cannot offer payment for posts.
African Writer Magazine
This magazine welcomes submissions from all genres of literature by writers from Africa and the African Diaspora. You can submit prose fiction, creative non-fiction, folktales, poetry, essays, and dramatic pieces. 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.
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.
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
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.
Bourbon Penn
This magazine is seeking highly imaginative stories with odd characters, experiences, or realities. They are particularly interested in genre/speculative stories, including slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and surreal works. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $0.04/word for stories of 2,000 – 7,500 words.
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.
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<<
Down River Road (DRR)
This platform accepts original, unpublished work from emerging and established writers all year round. Writers can submit up to five poems, short stories (2000-5000 words), creative nonfiction (2000-5000 words), flash fiction (500-1500 words), photography, digital art, book reviews, and interviews. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Payment: $30/piece for accepted work in print and epub | Complimentary subscription for web-only contributions.
Eboquills
Eboquills is seeking original, unpublished poetry, short stories (fiction and non-fiction), and book reviews to promote contemporary African literature. Submit up to three poems (at least thirty lines each), short stories between 500-1500 words, or book reviews of 500-750 words, focusing on works by Nigerian/African authors. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Remuneration: A small gift for the most engaging content each month.
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.
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.
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<<
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<<
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.
i-D
Douglas Greenwood from i-D is looking for thoughtful, unique, and offbeat takes on films, both new and old, that would resonate with the i-D audience. He encourages pitches that offer fresh reflections or deep analyses of past cinema, but cautions against profile pieces unless they bring something genuinely enlightening to the table. Submissions should align with i-D’s youthful and edgy tone. Writers should take their time, as quick pieces aren’t the focus. He offers 50p per word for the articles.
Read the details and guidelines for submission >>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<<
Ka’edi Africa
This online creative nonfiction magazine is accepting submissions year-round in five categories: Art, Reviews, Photography, Food, and Culture/People. Writers from Africa are encouraged to submit original, unpublished work focused on Africa. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Kweli Journal
Kweli Journal publishes four issues a year and seeks original, unpublished work from emerging and established writers of color. Submissions are open from September 1 through May 30. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but authors must notify the editors if their work is accepted elsewhere. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Menagerie
They accept submissions in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $50.
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<<
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<<
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.
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.
Olongo Africa
This platform is seeking original creative works from or about Africa, including poetry, essays, literary criticism, journalism, and travelogues. They also welcome literary translations between English and African languages. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Payment: based on submission length and quality.
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.
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<<
Phano
This magazine is seeking short stories and essays that provoke wonder, explore philosophical themes, and speculate about the future. They are especially interested in narrative or reflective essays and science fiction. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<.
Prizes: $0.02/word for short stories and essays.
Deadline: Submissions open October 1, 2024, close when their cap is full.
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.
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.
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<<
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.
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<<
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<<
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<<
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 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 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 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 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<<
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<<
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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<<
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.
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.
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.
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.
Will This Be A Problem?
This platform seeks speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, or horror stories with strong elements from these genres, preferably character-driven narratives rich in African influences. Only submissions from African writers aged 18 and above will be considered. The preferred length is between 2,500 and 5,000 words, but stronger stories may vary in length. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Payment: KES 1 per word, up to KES 5,000 (or equivalent for non-Kenyan citizens).
ZamaShort Call for Submissions
StoryTime Publishing is seeking original, unpublished short stories in any genre, including literary fiction, science fiction, romance, and more. Only verifiable African writers are eligible. Read the full details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
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