Calls for Submissions – January 2017

On the first Wednesday of each month, Literary Mama shares a list of current calls for submissions. Good luck sending your work out into the world!

LITERARY MAMA OPPORTUNITIES

Special Issues

We seek submissions for two special issues from people other than self-defined moms (as well as self-defined moms) on topics intimately related to mothering. We need to receive submissions for the special issues at least three months before the month in which that special issue will be published. These special issues are listed below:

May: Mother’s Day Month

Focuses on writing about mothers from the child’s perspective, or from fathers, partners or other family members about the mothers they love.

June: Father’s Day Month

Features writing about fathers from the child’s perspective; the relationships between fathers and mothers and husbands and wives; husbands as fathers; and writing by self-defined fathers about fathering and mothering (including lesbian or transexual parents who identify as fathers).

Please keep these upcoming special issues in mind when submitting. See our Submissions page for guidelines.

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Literary Mama seeks photography submissions to pair with the posts on our site. We are looking for photos that offer unique perspectives on motherhood, and we like photos that are artful, versus those that appear staged, and that encourage us to reflect.

If you would like to feature your evocative, creative photography on Literary Mama, you can review complete submission guidelines here and send .jpg images to: LMphotos (at) literarymama (dot) com. We always give photo credits and provide a link back to the photographer’s website.

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CONTESTS

Creative Nonfiction‘s Adaptation contest is now open. We’re looking for original essays illuminating the ways in which the need to keep up with a rapidly-changing world drives the work of scientists, designers, thinkers, innovators, farmers, soldiers, medical professionals, teachers, and others and affects the lives of prisoners, patients, refugees, students, travelers, and other citizens. All pieces considered for Summer 2017 Creative Nonfiction magazine issue. Click here for contest guidelines.

Deadline: February 6, 2017

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Women’s National Book Association 5th Annual Writing Contest is open for submission. We are accepting work in three categories: Fiction, Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction/Memoir. 1st place winners receive $250 in cash prize. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention published in a special edition of WNBA’s national newsletter, “The Bookwoman.” Submissions via Submittable. Guidelines here.

Deadline: January 15, 2017

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The NC Writers’ Network honors internationally celebrated North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe. The prize is administered by the Great Smokies Writing Program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The winner receives $1,000 and possible publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review. Click here to submit online.

Deadline: January 30, 2017

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Autumn House Press is hosting its Rising Writer Contest for a first full-length book of poetry by an author 33 years old or younger. Autumn House believes in supporting the work of younger, less-established writers who will become the voices of an emerging generation. Contest guidelines here.

Deadline: January 31, 2017

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Ginosko Literary Journal announces their flash fiction contest for unpublished works. Submit up to 2 pieces, 800 words maximum each piece. Awarded work will be published on Ginosko Literary Journal website and in forthcoming issues. Click here for details and to submit.

Deadline: March 1, 2017

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Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $1,000 and publication in the literary journal.  We consider writers “emerging” if they have not published or self-published a book. Guidelines here.

Opens March 1, 2017 at noon EST and closes May 15, 2017 at noon EST 

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Able Muse Press announces their 2017 contest for the Able Muse Write Prize for poetry and flash fiction. Winners will receive $500 and publication in Able Muse Journal. Finalists in each category will also be considered for publication. Find contest details here.

Deadline: March 15, 2017

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Creative Nonfiction‘s Dangerous Creations: Real life Frankenstein stories contest is now open. We’re looking for true stories that explore humans’ efforts to control and redirect nature, the evolving relationships between humanity and science/technology, and contemporary interpretations of monstrosity. All essays will be considered for publication in the winter 2018 issue of Creative Nonfiction Magazine issue. Guidelines available here.

Deadline: March 20, 2017

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Able Muse Press seeks entries for their 2017 contest for the Able Muse Book Award for Poetry. Winners receive $1,000 plus publication of the winning manuscript. Finalists will also be considered for publication. Find details and guidelines here.

Deadline: March 31, 2017

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ANTHOLOGIES

Lost Horse Press seeks poems from women who proudly celebrate their own nastiness and that of other women who have served as nasty role models. We want poems by and about women defying limitations and lady-like expectations; women refusing to be “nice girls;” women embracing their inner bitch when the situation demands it; women being formidable and funny; women speaking to power and singing for the good of their souls; women being strong, sexy, strident, super-smart and stupendous; women who want to encourage little girls to keep dreaming. If you are a woman who refuses to submit, we want to read your submission. For anthology details, please see the submissions page.

Deadline: January 20, 2017

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Austin International Poetry Festival seeks submissions for an upcoming poetry anthology published every April to coincide with the festival.  The title of the anthology is di-vêrsé-city. Click here for submission guidelines and to submit work.

Deadline: February 14, 2017

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MacKenzie Publishing is accepting fiction submissions for its second anthology, stories for 18+, titled TWO EYES OPEN (horror, suspense, thriller, mystery, etc.). Details and submission guidelines available here.

Deadline: March 31, 2017 or when anthology is full

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Baobab Press and the University of Nevada, Reno MFA Program in Creative Writing are partnering to publish This Side of the Divide, an anthology of short fiction exploring the United States West. This exciting project speaks to the West’s newness, vastness, sense of territoriality and transience, spanning from untouched wilderness to hyper-urban settings. Visit the submission page for more details.

Deadline: March 31, 2017

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JANUARY DEADLINES

KiCam Projects is accepting nonfiction book proposals and manuscripts focused on stories of survival and recovery. We’re seeking memoirs-both adult and young adult-as well as journalistic-style narratives. Our goal is to change the world one great story at a time, so we also offer our authors the opportunity to designate a portion of the proceeds of their work to a nonprofit organization of their choosing. Submission details here.

Deadline: January 9, 2017

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Ploughshares is a journal of new writing, and two out of three issues per year are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with each year’s Winter issue staff-edited. 50% each issue is directly solicited by the guest editor, and the remaining 50% is selected from unsolicited manuscripts. Ploughshares Solos, a series launched in 2012, digitally publishes long stories and novella length work as standalone singles. The series is staff edited. See submission guidelines for details.

Deadline: January 15, 2017

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FLARE: The Flagler Review is looking for evocative, compelling fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and artwork for its Spring 2017 edition. Want to be part of it? Submissions are now being accepted. FLARE is the award-winning literary journal at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. We seek new, up-and-coming, and established writers and artists. Submit here.

Deadline: January 15, 2017

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Versal seeks submissions addressing “migration” in the upcoming June issue. We are looking for works that cross borders and terrains, works that shift cultural tectonics in literal and metaphorical ways. We especially encourage works from outside of the US, works that blend genre, works in translation, works from writers and artists of color, works from writers and artists with disabilities, and works from writers and artists of marginalized orientations, backgrounds, and gender identities. Please see submission guidelines for details.

Deadline: January 15, 2017

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3Elements Review is now accepting submissions for Issue 14! The elements are Echo, Husk, and Quell. All three words must be used in any poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction submissions. Art and photography submissions must represent at least one of those elemetns. We have published new and well-known writers and artists from all over the world. Submission guidelines here.

Deadline: January 31, 2017

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FEBRUARY DEADLINES

Border Crossing is interested in writing that crosses boundaries in genre or geography, and voices that aren’t often heard in mainstream publications. We only accept unpublished work for which writers can grant us first North American serial rights. To submit, please visit our online submissions form for guidelines.

Deadline: February 1, 2017

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Sixteen Rivers Press invites Northern California authors to submit book-length poetry manuscripts to our non-profit, poetry collective. One or two manuscripts will be selected for publication. For further guidelines, visit our website.

Deadline: February 1, 2017

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Razor Literary Magazine seeks submissions for its Spring 2017 issue. Razor is a new-ish online multimedia literary magazine publishing literature and art, and exploring the creative process. We publish fiction, poetry, essays, memoirs, slam poetry, comix, artwork, photography, you name it. In our unique Before the Razor series, we ask all published contributors to reveal the creative process of their work. Submit here.

Deadline: February 15, 2017

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The Matador Review is accepting submissions for our Spring 2017 publication. We publish poetry, fiction, flash fiction, and creative non-fiction as well as many forms of visual art. We call ourselves an “alternative” magazine; that is to say: our purpose is to promote work that is thought-provoking and unconventional. We want the controversial and the radical, the unhinged and the bizarre; we want the obsessive, the compulsive, the pervasive, the combative, and the seductive. Click here for submission guidelines.

Deadline: February 28, 2017

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ROLLING SUBMISSIONS

Akashic Books (of Go the F*ck to Sleep fame) seeks submissions for their Terrible Twosdays series. “Are you a parent going through the Terrible Twos? Did you live through them and survive? Terrible Twosdays is a place to commiserate over the unending shenanigans of your Darling Children (as the online parenting communities say).” Stories must not exceed 750 words. E-mail your submission to info@akashicbooks.com. More details here.

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Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine seeks essays, stories, and poems that capture the essence and immediacy of the beast. Animal is a subject-specific litmag, however loosely we define “animal.” In some form, we want a literal beast as a central character or motif. Render on the page what is both alien and familiar about an animal, animals, or being “animal.” Our submission guidelines are available here.

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Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies is open to submissions in all disciplines. Assay “publishes the best peer-reviewed critical scholarship of creative nonfiction to provide a space for work that elevates the genre in an academic setting.” For more information on what they are looking for and how to submit, please click here.

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Break the Parenting Mold seeks submissions of syndicated or original posts. This is an online community dedicated to strength in community, lifting up parents of children with special needs and offering support by sharing individual stories. Lists (at least 400 words) or essays (at least 600 words) welcome. Submission guidelines available here.

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Compose: A Journal of Simply Good Writing is reading for its Spring issue. They publish work by both emerging and established writers and accept fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, articles on the craft of writing—both practical and inspirational, interviews with established writers, literary agents, editors, etc., excerpts from traditionally published works, photography and artwork. Detailed submission guidelines can be found here.

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The Cossack Review is open for submissions of creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and works in translation. We seek thoughtful, surprising writing, and have published meaningful work from both well-known and emerging writers since 2012. As always, we especially seek submissions from women, people of color, and new and diverse writers. Submission guidelines available here.

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The Establishment “is looking to unearth overlooked stories, produce original reporting, and provide a platform for voices that have been marginalized by the mainstream media. And yes, we want your humor, wit, and good old-fashioned satire, too. We publish originally reported features, interviews, long-form journalism, personal essays, and multimedia of all shapes, sizes, and creeds.” All contributors paid. Details on how to pitch can be found here.

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The Fem, a literary journal that publishes feminist, diverse, and inclusive creative works, is now open to feminist poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions. For detailed submission guidelines, please click here.

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FunnyInFiveHundred dares you to fit as many laughs into 500 words as possible. We are seeking funny stories in under 500 words (are you a closet Mark Twain?), and humorous monologues in under 500 words (like a stand-up routine). Submissions are accepted year-round. Visit the submissions page to submit your work.

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Glass Poetry Press is interested in poetry submissions that enact the artistic and creative precision of glass. “We are not bound by any specific aesthetic; our only mission is to publish collections of high quality writing. All styles, forms and schools of poetry are welcome, though easy rhymes and ‘light’ verse are less likely to inspire us. We like poems that show a careful understanding of language, music, passion and creativity.” To submit, click here.

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Gazing Grain Press is an inclusive feminist press, and we are currently seeking submissions of reviews or micro-reviews of new chapbooks (poetry, prose, or hybrid) for publication on our blog. More details can be found here.

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HerStories Project is looking for the kind of wring that moves us, amazes us, and makes us wish that we had written it ourselves. As always, we to highlight the best of women’s voices and show the uniqueness and commonalities of women’s experiences, We are continuing with our monthly themes – October’s is fear and November’s is gratitude. Please visit our site for submissions guidelines.

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Ink In Thirds wants your poetry (up to 3 poems, no longer than 30 lines each), prose (300 words max), and photography (sent directly to submissions@inkinthirds.com). Submission details here.

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KERNPUNKT Press is currently reading manuscripts of literary fiction, art & architecture, science fiction, historical fiction, and children’s books. For more information and the link to submit, please click here.

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Lady Literary Magazine seeks fiction, creative nonfiction, essays on writing, and poetry from female writers of all ages. Fiction and creative nonfiction: up to 5,000 words; essays: up to 3,000 words; no word limit for poetry. As a literary magazine, they are seeking complex, multi-layered work. No genre fiction or simultaneous submissions. More information here.

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Mamalode magazine pays for publications. Submissions are ongoing, including topical pieces not related to the theme. You can submit here.

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Maximum Middle Age, a new online pop culture magazine for women of a certain age, is open for submissions in various categories (“Hardcore Feminist,” “The Domestic Arts,” “Back in the Day,” “Beauty Industrial Complex,” “Family Ties,” and Dr. Feelgood”). For more information on each category and submission details, click here.

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Minola accepts poetry, fiction, essays, reviews, and visual art exclusively from those who identify as women. They are “interested in the fearless and unsympathetic, featuring only work that goes where others are uncomfortable or afraid to go, collecting raw yet well-crafted work to create a space that is honest about the otherwise under-represented female experience.” Specific submission guidelines can be found here.

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Mothers Always Write, an online literary magazine for mothers by mother writers, is seeking submissions of poetry (up to 3 poems) and essays (up to 2,000 words) about the parenting experience. Tell us your beautiful story about motherhood. Please see their writer’s guidelines for specific requirements and suggested monthly themes at the site.

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Motherwell is a publication that tells all sides of the parenting story. It is open to submissions of personal essays (up to 1,200 words), opinion pieces (1,200 words), dialogues (1,000 words), and dilemmas (800 words). Original submissions only. Paying market. Co-founders: Randi Olin and Lauren Apfel. For genre-specific submission guidelines, please visit their Submittable page.

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MUTHA Magazine, exploring real-life motherhood from every angle, at every stage, seeks personal essays (~1,500 words), comics / graphic narratives / photo essays, and select interview pitches. MUTHA is a labor-of-love for all involved and does not pay at this time; ongoing open submissions; no reading fees; may take 3-4 weeks to respond to submissions (sometimes faster!). Editor: Meg Lemke c/o muthamagazine@gmail.com. Submission guidelines available here.

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Mystery Weekly, a short story mystery magazine, seeks short mysteries (1,000-10,000 words). Mystery Weekly Magazine presents crime and mystery short stories by some of the world’s best established and emerging mystery writers that run the gamut from cozy to hardboiled fiction. Click here to read guidelines and submit.

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One for One Thousand is a virtual literary journal that pairs photography and prose. Prose: Submit 1,000-word stories or narrative essays inspired by a photo. Photography: Submit photographs that inspire an opening into a potential world. Seeking submissions in both categories; they will include hyperlinks to the photographer’s or writer’s chosen site. They also provide a unique workshop and editing process that involves all of their editors with live commentary. More information on how to submit here.

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Outsider Poetry, a literary review for those who create with mental illness, are self-trained, or create art and poetry that challenges cultural and academic norms, is accepting submissions at all times and is open to poets of all experience levels. Submit work via email to either Olivia Suchs at oliviasuchs@gmail.com or Thomas Vaultonburg at vaultonburg@gmail.com. Editors will respond to submissions promptly.

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Peacock Journal a daily online literary & arts magazine highlighting beauty in all its forms, seeks original submissions of Fiction, Art, Photography, Translations, Non-Fiction and Poetry from emerging and established writers and artists. We want to see your most beautiful work, however you define the term. Submissions are read year round. For more details please visit our Guidelines page, and for our aesthetic preferences, please read our About page. Submit work here.

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Pithead Chapel, an online journal of gutsy narratives, seeks essays (personal, memoir, lyric, experimental, etc.) under 4,000 words. For detailed submission guidelines and to submit, please see here.

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A Quiet Courage is an online literary journal that publishes microfiction and poetry 100 words or less (titles not included). “We seek your absolute best writing. No deadlines, submissions rolling. No submission fees. We are a non-paying market. We consider writing in Spanish too, with exact English translations. We have a special affinity for Holocaust-related writing, but we consider writing about all kinds of subjects and topics.” For more information and specific submission guidelines, please click here.

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Raising Mothers seeks well-written, original first-person essays (1,000-2,000 words max) about anything and everything related to motherhood. All are welcome, but an effort is made to highlight the voices of multiracial/multi-cultural families and mothers of color. Essays should have a literary quality: strong, engaging work without it being at all academic. Excerpts of larger works and poetry (up to 3 poems) also accepted. At this time, they are specifically looking for pieces on step-parenting, raising a child with special needs, and adopting children of color. Submission details can be found here.

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SmokeLong’s Global Flash Series is now open to stories 600 words or fewer in French, Spanish, Danish, and German. Submit here.

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Storm Cellar, a national literary arts magazine with a special emphasis on the Midwest, is open to submissions of unpublished, amazing writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, flash) and images. They’d love to see more art, photos, diagrams, graphic narratives. For more detailed information, please visit their Submittable page.

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Tethered by Letters launched Dually Noted, an online group writing project. New and established writers from around the world come together to create one ongoing story through weekly installments. Those interested in adding the next section of the story should submit their 500-word addition before the next Friday night deadline. The editor will publish the best submission at the beginning of each week. For submission specifics and formatting information, please click here, and submit here.

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Under the Gum Tree is a quarterly literary arts magazine that seeks creative nonfiction submissions year-round. Details available here.

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Vela publishes nonfiction written by women. They are particularly interested in narrative nonfiction, essays with a research and/or reporting component, and literary journalism with a unique, compelling voice. For more detailed information, please see their submission guidelines.

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Waxwing is reading submissions of poetry, short fiction, and literary essays until May 1; translations of poetry and literary prose are read year-round. Poets should send one to five poems, and prose writers one story, essay, novella, or novel chapter (or up to three short-short stories or micro-essays). Submission details here.

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Willow Springs is open to nonfiction submissions all year. Contributors paid $100 per published long-form prose piece, $40 for short prose. $3 reading fee for all submissions. More info here.

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The Woven Tale Press welcomes submissions of poetry, fiction, memoir, flash fiction and the experimental. We also consider literary works accompanied by original art images. For more information, our submission guidelines are available here.

If you have information on calls for submissions not listed here that you think Literary Mama readers would appreciate, please e-mail us at lmblogcontact (at) literarymama (dot) com. —