Check out more ideas for where to submit your writing, both long and short, fiction and nonfiction. Plus a creative summer camp for teens.
The Fairfield County Writers Studio runs a lot of classes for writers, and this summer, they’ve added three creativity camps for teens to their lineup. These one-week camps will allow teens to write, perform and record their creative efforts and are designed to appeal to high-school students who want to sleep late and have something to look forward to in the afternoons. Classes take place from 1-4pm in the weeks of June 23, July 21, and August 11. More details and registration here.
The Connecticut-based production company, A Chronicles, announces its open submission call for its second 10-minute play contest. They are looking for work for 2-5 characters that will ignite the stage and illuminate the diversity of experiences surrounding reproductive rights. Submissions will be accepted through July 15. Submit here. The plays selected will be fully staged at MoCA CT’s performance space in early November.
Sequestrum Literary magazine is open for submissions on the theme of optimism. They’re not looking for any sickly-sweet submissions. But they’ll read heartbreak if they get a little redemption, or a mystery with some hope. Humor is fine, too. They want tense, imaginative, literary-quality short stories and poetry that doesn’t end with gout/the sun being a dried-out prune. Full details here. Deadline July 15.
The Novelry is an online writing community that runs The Next Big Story Contest. runs a competition. You’ll need to submit 3 pages – the beginning of a work of fiction, the first 1,500 words of what could become a page-turning book. Eight shortlisted entries, chosen by our judges, will win The Finished Novel Course from The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school. One winner will take home $100,000. $15. Deadline July 31
Member Libby Waterford will be teaching a three-day self-publishing intensive from August 19-21 that will prepare you to publish your book with confidence. This is a hybrid class – in-person and on Zoom. Self-publishing, while it may seem daunting, gives authors a high degree of control over their finished product and can even be fun! Each day of the intensive will combine informative slides and hands-on walkthroughs with plenty of time for individual questions. We will go over how to DIY most aspects of self-publishing as well as discuss when it’s best to outsource a task, who to hire, and how much everything costs. Cost$288. Register here.
The BookLife Prize is an annual writing contest sponsored by BookLife and Publishers Weekly that seeks to support independent authors and discover great books. The BookLife Prize has two Contests: Fiction Contest, open through August 31. Five categories: Romance/Erotica; Mystery/Thriller; Science fiction/Fantasy/Horror; General Fiction; YA/Middle Grade. The Nonfiction Contest Entry period will reopen October 1 . Contests are judged by PW reviewers, editors, acclaimed authors, and publishing veterans.
If you’re interested in marketing a nonfiction book, this online, self-guided course may be for you. “Book Marketing 101 for Nonfiction: How to Build Book Buzz” is designed by Sandra Beckwith, of Build Book Buzz fame. The course promises to build a plan that fits your book, not anyone else’s. You’ll learn how to focus on tactics that actually make sense for your audience and goals. It’s text-based, so you read, rather than watch, the lessons and other material. You’ll also get downloadable PDFs to support your learning and planning. You’ll come away with a personalized marketing plan that you can begin implementing immediately. $97
Two Canadian branches of Penguin Random House are actively looking for submissions by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers – and you don’t need an agent to submit. You don’t need to be Canadian, either. McClelland & Stewart is currently accepting submissions of high-quality literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Email your unsolicited and unagented work directly to editors within the M&S division. You can take a look at the work they publish here. Random House Canada is accepting similar submissions by email. Their editors are looking for high-quality commercial fiction in the following genres: literary, romance, speculative fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. All non-fiction submissions must be submitted via a literary agent.
The Connecticut Book Festival is an opportunity for all types of authors to sell their books, and meet and engage with a community of readers. This annual all-day event takes place this year in the West Hartford Conference Center on November 22. Register for your own table or to share with another author. Table spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Early Bird Registration (before July 31): $30 for CAPA members. $60 for non-CAPA members. Applications will be available to members only until July 1. Apply through the website.
Our friends at Authors Publish came up with a list of 57 Literary Journals that Pay Their Authors. W. H. Auden once said: It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it. So this list of publishers is one way to begin to make some money by submitting your work.
See you next month!
