Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- May 20, 2013

Song of the Day: Alright by Shiloh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_UZjLm2S4M

   Hello all! I have fantastic news today. I received an email yesterday from a literary magazine wanting to publish another one of my short stories. I am beyond ecstatic since this story was rejected eight to ten times (hate to admit it, but it’s the truth). I would have to go back and count to remember the exact number of times, but that’s the ballpark. I had been feeling low about the rejections but this just proves, that when you think you can’t go any further, something amazing will happen. In the coming weeks I will be posting more content driven material. I hope it helps you as much as my opportunities series has helped. Don’t give up. Keep going!

Contests:

1. The American Fiction Prize: The Best Unpublished Short Stories by American Writers

New Rivers Press will publish approximately twenty short stories in each American Fiction volume, subtitled, The Best Unpublished Stories by Emerging Writers. They seek well crafted, character driven literary fiction in any genre with a maximum of 10,000 words per story. Each of the selected story authors will receive national publication and distribution, author discount, and two complimentary copies. Prizes totaling $1,750 will be awarded. ($1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place.) The finalist judge for Volume 13 is Michael White. There is a reading fee of $16 for each online submission and the contest ends June 15, 2013.

http://www.newriverspress.com/

2. Sixteenth Annual Poetry Contest: Boston Review

The winning poet will receive $1,500 and have his or her work published in the November/December 2013 issue of Boston Review. Submit up to five unpublished poems, no more than 10 pages total. Any poet writing in English is eligible, unless he or she is a current student, former student, relative, or close friend of the judge. A non-refundable $20 entry fee must accompany all submissions. Deadline is June 3, 2013.

http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/index.php

3. Colony Collapse Press 2013 Novella Prize

Colony Collapse Press will award a prize of $300, publication, and 20 complimentary copies for the best novella, as judged by their editorial board. Entry fee is $10 and the deadline is July 31, 2013.

http://www.colony-collapse.com/contests.html

4. Gazing Grain Press: Inclusive Feminist Chapbook Contest

Gazing Grain Press, an inclusive feminist press sponsored by the Fall for the Book Literary Festival, seeks submissions for its annual chapbook contest. Writers of any gender or sexuality are welcome to submit. The winner of the contest receives chapbook publication, contributor copies, and an invitation to read at the Fall for the Book Literary Festival (including accommodation and travel within the continental U.S.). Reading fee is $16 and the contest closes on June 1, 2013.

https://fftbchapbookcontest.submittable.com/submit

5. The Backwaters Prize

The Backwaters Press seeks full-length (65–80 pp.) manuscripts of original poems by a single author in English. Prize: $1,000 and book publication. Final judge: Lola Haskins. Entry fee is $25 and the contest ends on May 30, 2013.

http://www.thebackwaterspress.org/submissions/the-backwaters-prize-additional-information/

Calls for Submissions:

1. The Journal of Kentucky Studies

The Journal of Kentucky Studies welcomes creative work and critical articles on any theme. Art, commentary, critical essays, history, literary criticism, short fiction, flash fiction (1,000 words or less), creative non-fiction, poetry and Black-and-white photography will be accepted. Subject matter and contributors are not restricted to Kentucky. Essays and short fiction should not exceed 6,000 words. All manuscripts must be double-spaced and include contact information on the first page. Critical articles should follow the University of Chicago Manual of Style or MLA Style for literary essays. Poetry submissions should be limited to 3-5 lyric poems or 1-2 longer forms.

Submissions will be accepted via snail mail or e-mail. Include a cover letter and 50 word bio in the body of your e-mail and submit your work as one attachment in MS Word. Submit e-mail submissions to: kentuckystudiesjournal@gmail.com. Reading period ends June 30, 2013.

http://www.nku.edu/~jks/

2. The Marie Alexander Series

The Marie Alexander Series is seeking submissions for an anthology of flash sequences. Send up to 10 pages (double-spaced, 12 pt. type, 1-inch margins) of prose sequences, of which each segment contains fewer than 500 words. Deadline is June 1, 2013.

http://www.mariealexanderseries.com/submit.shtml

3. Augury Books

Augury Books is happy to announce that our 2013 open reading period. They are looking for both full-length poetry manuscripts and for short story collections, and anticipate publishing at least one new title in each genre. There is a reading fee of $10 and the reading period ends June 30, 2013.

http://augurybooks.com/submissions/

4. On the Commons Magazine

This call for submissions for On the Commons Magazine’s Uncommon/Word: A collection of commons-inspired poetry is now open. They will review work twice yearly, often on a theme or specific subject. The current theme is “All That We Share.” Six poets will be selected and featured in the magazine during each submission round. They accept previously published work. Poets will receive a flat rate of $50 for work published in the Poet of Month column; payment is made upon publication. Email work to poetrysubmissions@onthecommons.org. Please note there is a limit of THREE (3) poems per person, per submission round. Deadline is June 30, 2013. 

http://onthecommons.org/magazine/submission-guidelines

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, art and photography. The Fall Issue (#7) is out! Happy Writing!