Another Installment of New Contests and Places to Explore
All these contests and more are listed at https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com
Uncanny Magazine. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: September 7, 2026.
Sunlight Press. Genre: Poetry, CNF. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens September 8, 2026.
Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: September 11, 2026.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings. Genre: Nonfiction. One of the most important keys to contentment and happiness is the ability to count your blessings. Even during the toughest times, if we can find gratitude and count our blessings we feel better. Each day holds something to be thankful for and it could be just as simple as having the sun shine or having food on the table. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2026 extended deadline.
Slashed Budgets: An Anthology of Corporate Horror. Genre: Horror. See theme. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2026.
Reject. Genre: Poetry, short stories (8,000-word limit), essays, lyrics, and articles. “We accept writing that wasn’t accepted by a publication, institution, contest, etc. Hell, even your school newspaper and family Christmas newsletter counts!” Payment: $50. Deadline: September 19, 2026.
The Ex-Puritan. Genre: Poetry, fiction, reviews, interviews, essays, and experimental work. “The Ex-Puritan now seeks to publish the best in all forms of writing.” Payment: $100 – $200 (CAD). Deadline: September 25, 2026.
Red Wolf Editions. Genre: Poems on theme: “The Delights of Love.” Payment: Royalties? Deadline: September 29, 2026.
Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $75 for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews web issues. Deadline: September 30, 2026. Closes when they reach capacity, so submit early.
Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words. For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: September 30, 2026.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Positive Thinking. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for stories of optimism, faith and strength to encourage our readers to use positive thinking. What was the situation that inspired you to use positive rather than negative thinking? How did you change your attitude — from negative to positive? How did that turn your life around? These inspirational stories will remind readers to use positive thinking, focus on hope and show them that each day holds something to be grateful for. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30, 2026.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness. Genre: Nonfiction. We are looking for true stories about random acts of kindness that have happened to you or stories about a kindness that you performed for someone else. Stories can be serious or funny but they should definitely inspire our readers to look for ways in which they can perform kind acts. Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30, 2026.
The Haiku Shack Anthology. Genre: Haiku. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2026.
The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2026.
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A random assortment of opportunities taken from Facebook announcements at https://www.facebook.com/groups/215582485899899/ and from my e-mail. You’re free to join the group. Check out whatever appeals. If you don’t see anything that’s right for you, please tell us what you’re looking for. Thanks!
First though, I’d be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to look at Writer Advice’s Flash Prose Contest.
NOTE: Some of the links towards the bottom of the page may be offering different contests at the same website. Feel free to check.
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Do you run a writing contest? Would you like us to share it with those who read this page?
Of course, you know about Writer Advice’s Latest Contest, which is for Flash Prose, Here are a few more.
Little Fruits Magazine https://www.littlefruitsmagazine.com
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Cross Genre Hybrid, Essays, Feminist, Flash Fiction, Horror Thriller Suspense, Humor, Sci Fi Fantasy Speculative
The Marbled Sigh, https://themarbledsigh.com/submission-guidelines/
Please submit 3-5 poems that show range as a PDF or in the body of the email at themarbledsigh@gmail.com
We want to publish poets, not poems.
WayWords Journal, http://www.writersworkout.net/waywords
Editors’ advice: From the perfect cup of coffee to that big promotion to welcoming a new life, joy is all around us.
Send fiction (up to 5,000 words) or poetry (up to 15 lines, limit two per writer)
Sasee Magazine, https://sasee.com/submissions/
Sasee is a women’s lifestyle magazine. They are interested in 500-1,000 word non-fiction submissions for and about women: essays, humor, satire and first-person experiences. Details here
Woman’s World, https://www.womansworld.com/contact-us
This women’s magazine pays for various kinds of personal stories, with rates ranging from $25 to $250. They also publish food, humor and inspiration features, though the pay is not listed.
Wingman Magazine: An online lifestyle destination for men covering tech, gaming, entertainment, and gear. They accept rolling photography and writing pitches from models, photographers, and writers. Check guidelines at Wingman Magazine Submissions.
BULL (BULL Literate / Submittable): A literary magazine and online site that publishes gritty, engaging fiction and nonfiction pieces relevant to men and contemporary life. They accept single story submissions periodically through BULL Submission Manager.
Inspired Quill, https://www.inspired-quill.com/anthology-submissions/ seeks short stories, essays, and poetry exploring global authoritarianism, hope, and resistance (Deadline: September 31, 2026).
Seventh Wave, https://theseventhwave.org, is accepting pieces for their 2026 Community Anthologies under specific prompts like On Friendship, On Desire, On Disappearance, and On Trash.
Driftwood Press, Open year-round on a rolling basis for their annual multi-genre anthology releases.
And finally, something I’ve never seen before, though it’s giving me an idea for a new Writer Advice Contest, https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest/
Gen X-traordinaire: The Questionnaire, https://manager.submittable.com/opportunities/discover/335649
- Who Can Submit💄 If you were born between ’65-’80 and remember the total awesomeness of Caboodles filled with Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers, you’re invited to submit! Gen X cuspers welcome too—if you know what “Mikey likes it!” means, come on in! Must be 18+ (sorry, gotta be all adult about some things!). English submissions only, please! 🌸
- How to Submit📼💗 Fill out the questionnaire (takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 100 hours—like, however long you need!) and submit through Submittable—it’s easier than programming your VCR!
More coming soon.
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SheWrites Press runs an Equity In Publishing Contest. They publish novels, memoirs, and much more.
Annual poetry contest open! Winners will be published in both the magazine and in our beautiful print Anthology. Submit here https://streetlightmag.com/2023-poetry-contest/
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Synkroniciti’s current call is “Dignity,” closing July 15th. There are contests in poetry, short play, and visual art. The submission fee is $3.
https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/submissions/
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Not long now till the deadline for The Ajuda Foundation Creative Writing Competition
Take the theme Mental Health & Wellbeing, and twist it, turn it, transform it and make it yours: Story, poem, or memoir… go for it in your own way.
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If you have not yet submitted, head over to Hollowpointpress(dot)ca/submissions.
CONCEIT MAGAZINE SHORT STORY CONTEST, https://sites.google.com/site/conceitmagazine/ and
CONCEIT MAGAZINE ANTHOLOGY V1#1
DEADLINE: December 01, 2026
Any theme, Any Subject
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And from Winning Writers the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
- All styles and themes
- Submission period: April 15-October 1
- Total prizes: $12,000
- Accepts published and unpublished work
- Special award for verse that rhymes or has a traditional style
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
- All styles and themes, fiction and nonfiction
- Submission period: October 15-May 1
- Total prizes: $12,000
- Accepts published and unpublished work
- For self-published and hybrid-published books
- Categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Creative Nonfiction & Memoir, Inspirational/Self-Help, Poetry, Children’s Picture Book, Middle Grade, Graphic Novel & Memoir, Art Book
- Submission period: February 15-July 1
- Total prizes: $23,500
- Top winners receive expert marketing services
- Feedback available for everyone who enters online
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee)
- Seeks humor poems
- Submission period: August 15-April 1
- Total prizes: $3,750
- No fee!
- Accepts published and unpublished work
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From C. Hope Clark:
Memoir Showcase Season Has Officially Begun!
This year’s theme: Home.
Submissions Close: August 1
To Submit Go To: https://sdmwa.org/showcase-2025/
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Great list from The Forever Workshop, by Chill Subs, which is on Substack
What other contests should we be sharing? Please send us the name of the contest, the website, the closing date, and a 1-2 sentence description. Thanks!
BIOPAGE
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2026. A social networking place for writers. Pick your best story and picture to participate in our storytelling writing contest. Biopage is hosting a writing contest to remind people of the benefits of writing. Each story (or chapter of your stories) is limited to 5,000 characters or roughly 1,000 words. You can win $300, and five runners-up can win $100 each. The winners will be determined by the quality of the writing, and the votes by other users’ likes and comments. The contest is open to anyone from everywhere, every country, every corner of the world.
FANTASY NOVEL WRITING CONTEST
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2026. Open to unagented US authors 18+ who have never had a book traditionally published (published by a publisher). Self-published authors are ok, too. Submit unpublished books in the fantasy genre, quality writing with unique or off-the-wall premises, dynamic characters, and gripping prose. Word count: 40,000 to 100,000. Books must not be written with AI. First place receives publication by Journey’s End Publishing and $500 cash.
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