Time for the monthly market piece: another set of vetted options for your work, this round is all contests.
I look for possibilities with a whole lot of scrutiny! I appreciate a market that pays something as I’m not a big advocate of writers working for free. There is too much of such thinking. Unless you’ve found a way to barter for groceries (and let me know! I’d be all over that), $$ is still the way to recognize effort and care.
Is this where I put the reminder…? No, that would be tasteless. Okay. Later!
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1. Let’s start with a flash fiction contest with the SmokeLong Quarterly that occurs only every two years, called the “Smokie!”
Here is the link. The deadline falls between Oct. 3 and Nov. 15, and the prizes are good. This is a real contest. You can submit one, two, or four pieces, and fees are $14/18/32. Maximum word count is 1000 or less. Grand winners are automatically nominated for the Pushcart and more. Work can be translated, though must be sub’d in English (in which case, writer and translator are both awarded).
2. FISH publishing, out of Cork, Ireland, sounds so interesting, with—again—meaningful money for prizes, and reasonable entry fees. They have deadline over the next 6 months or so, so note: Short fiction deadline of Nov 30 (5000 word limit); Memoir is due Jan. 31, with 4000 word limit; Flash fiction, Feb. 28 with 300 word max; Poetry, 60 line limit, March 31. Browse the web-site. When I vet for these posts, I’m looking for legit and professional—this looks good. They are open to writers from elsewhere in the world.
3. I’m going to include this one because it’s specifically for those born before 1966, and so often, writing contests are for younger writers. The site reminds me a bit of Chicken Soup, though this one does come with a $25 entry fee. First prize is $500. They’re looking—really—for 15 stories to create an annual “Stories Through the Ages” collection, with the first three being paid. The deadline is June 15, 2023—a ways off. And the word count is between 900-5000. Subject matter is wide open. It’s with Living Springs Publishers, a threesome of adventurous people. Link is here.
4. This one is for experimental fiction writing, in the style of Italo Calvino (but not intended to be derivative). The maxi is 25 pages, either from a novel or short story. First prize is $3000 and publication (and public reading), and second is $500. Read carefully through the rules. It’s run by the University of Louisville. Link here. Deadline is soon—October 15.
5. Bath Childen’s Writing award. This looks so good for those of you who write for young people. It includes submissions for the first 5000 words of a novel (must include a 1 page synopsis as well) OR up to 3 picturebooks (text only) per entry fee. Nov. 30 is the deadline. It is international, and the prize is £3,000. Details are here.
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If you’ve heard of any exciting contests, let us know—
Welcome to all the new subscribers—there has been a number of you of late. Please, if you have any questions about navigating The Unschool, do let me know.
Know that currently we have poetry, picturebook, and short fiction/nonfiction (up to 1200 words) workshops here, sharing and offering feedback. If you want to be involved, email alison@alisonacheson.com.
Just today Alliance for Independent authors came out with a piece on indie-friendly book awards that some of your writers might find interesting. Alli is very good at vetting stuff like this, so should be trustworthy. Also probably the best organization to join if for any of your subscribers who are or wish to be indie authors. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/indie-author-friendly-book-awards/
Every time I read about what is paid for short stories today, I think of Lucy Maude Montgomery being paid $25 each for her short stories. Think of what $25 was worth back then.