Content of this Newsletter:
– Writing Contests
– Selling Books on Pinterest
– Residencies & Fellowships
– Freelance Writing
– Book Reviewers
August is also known as the “dead month” in the publishing industry. During August all work comes to a virtual halt as editors, agents, proofreaders, typesetters, and reviewers are vacationing. Don’t submit your manuscript to publishers, and don’t send your queries to agents in the month of August. Instead, you can head to the beach, you can write your next novel … or you can do research!
August is the ideal time to do searching for and find beta readers and reviews, assemble your list of ideal agents in your genre, and do the research for and lay out your next book.
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– WRITING CONTESTS
The Other Side of Hope
Poetry by refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants only. They accept submissions in any language other than English. Payment: £50. Deadline: August 5
https://othersideofhope.com/submissions-mother-tongue.html
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Live Theatre’s North East Playwriting Award
Open to playwrights (Full-length play) who are either from or based in the North East of England, age 16 and older. Prize: £10,000. This will be a commission fee of £7,000 (under 70 minutes) and a commitment to develop the play at Live Theatre. Deadline: August 7
https://www.live.org.uk/td/neplaywritingaward
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Tulip Tree Contest
Stories that need to be told. Fiction, nonfiction, or poetry—if it tells a story, it fits. Grand Prize: $1,000 and a two-year ($100) gift certificate to Duotrope. $20 Entry Fee. Deadline August 9
http://www.tuliptreepub.com/contest.html
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ScotiaBank Giller Prize
Open to Fiction books published in Canada in English between July 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023. Must be nominated by publisher. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: August 11
https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca
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Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards
The 11th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards honors the best self-published e-book(s) in eight of the most popular categories with $5,000 in cash, and a $1000 prize in each category, a featured interview in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in NYC. English-language e-books which were published (or revised & republished) electronically between 2018 and 2023. $100 Entry Fee. Deadline Aug 15
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-ebook-awards
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KoreoMag
Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work.” Stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between. Payment: 0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and $40-300 for art. Deadline: August 15
https://www.khoreomag.com/submissions/
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Manchester Fiction Prize
Open to international entries. For a short story of up to 2,500 words. Top prize is £10,000. £18 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 1
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition/fiction-prize
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Manchester Writing Competition – Poetry
Open to international entries. For a portfolio of three to five poems. Top prize £10,000. £18 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 1
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition/poetry-prize
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Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize
Some low-income entry fee slots are available. An annual short story competition for both published and unpublished writers, writing original fiction in English. The prize is £2500. Shortlisted writers each receive a cash prize of £200. Long-listed writers receive £50 in book vouchers, plus a 4-book subscription to Galley Beggar Press. £10 Entry fee. Deadline Sept 30
https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize
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Pen/Robert J. Das Short Story Prize
Recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize and will be published by Catapult in their annual anthology, Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize. No Entry Fee. Deadline Nov 1.
https://pen.org/pen-dau-short-story-priz
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ServiceScape Short Story Award
The award is $1,000. Any genre or theme of a short story is accepted. All applicants should submit their original unpublished work of short fiction or nonfiction, 5,000 words or fewer.
Deadline Nov 30
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
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– SELLING BOOKS ON PINTEREST
People have always used Pinterest for shopping inspiration. When visitors see something on Pinterest they would like to own – they should be able to buy it right away. Pinterest may often be overlooked by sellers, but it can be one of the best platforms for driving awareness, clicks, and sales.
As a visual discovery platform, Pinterest is perfect for reaching new, relevant audiences. Plus, the whole experience is fully clickable, making it easy to turn browsers into customers. Get detailed info in eight easy ways by Jillian Warren on how to use Pinterest as a shopping platform and all of its features: https://later.com/blog/sell-on-pinterest/
https://www.pinterest.ca/111publishing/
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– RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS
Stochastic Labs Residencies
Awards fully sponsored residencies to exceptional engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Residencies are of variable length and include a private apartment at the mansion, co-working and/or dedicated workspace, shop access (laser cutter, 3D printer etc), a monthly stipend, and a budget for materials. Residents become part of Stochastic’s creative community, participating in weekly dinners and invitation events. Residents may apply as individuals or as teams. While applicants may be at any stage in their career, the selection is highly competitive. Stochastic Labs convenes leading creative minds in the SF bay area and beyond for conversations about the future of technology, science, entrepreneurship, and the arts (in a curious Victorian mansion in Berkeley, CA).
https://stochasticlabs.org/residencies/
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Jentel Artist Residency
Deadline September 15 for month-long residencies taking place January 15th – May 13th, 2024. \Any visual artist or writer over 25 currently residing in the United States or any U.S. citizen living abroad is eligible. Individuals currently enrolled in an academic institution are ineligible to apply. https://jentelarts.org/apply/
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Art Omi Residencies
Formerly known as Ledig House, hosts authors and translators for two weeks to one month throughout the spring and fall. The program’s strong international emphasis provides exposure for global literary voices and reflects the spirit of cultural exchange that is essential to Art Omi’s mission. Location Ghent, NY. Deadline October 15
https://authorsguild.org/contests/summer-fall-2023-writing-opportunities/
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Bryn Du Artist in Residence
The Residence program will provide an inspirational setting for the creation of artistic works by one artist at a time, of any discipline, over an 8 or 12-week time frame. While in residence, the chosen artist will reside in the newly-renovated laundry building, the Artist in Residence cottage, behind the Bryn Du Mansion. U.S. Artists of visual arts, literature, music, theatre, fashion, dance, storytelling & audiovisual studies. Stipends include $2000 for an 8-week residency and $3,000 for a 12-week residency. Location Granville, OH. Deadline Aug 31.
https://www.bryndu.com/airapplication
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Pat Conroy Literary Center
The 8-day residency is available to writers of all genres, published or unpublished unless otherwise noted in the specific call for applications. Located on a salt marsh on St. Helena Island, 15 minutes from historic downtown Beaufort, SC. The deadline for March is in late November.
https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/about/writers-residency/
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– FREELANCE WRITING
Bloomberg News
Seeking opinion columns with a business, economic or policy focus. Seeks strong opeds on music, politics, fashion, media, race, identity, good, social media, tech and marketing. Pitch Jhodie-Ann Williams, Opinion Editor at Jwilliam1011@bloomberg.net
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Chicken Soup for the Soul – Positive Thinking
How did you “think positive” and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of positive thinking! Limit 1,200 words. First-person true stories only. Pays $250 and 10 copies of the book. Deadline August 30
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/story-guidelines/
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Orion’s Belt
Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: 1200 words max. Payment: 8 cents per word.
Deadline: September 1. https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions
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Chicken Soup for the Soul – Funny Stories
We are looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life — in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home — that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Limit 1,200 words. First-person true stories only. Pays $250 and 10 copies of the book. Deadline November 20
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/story-guidelines/
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– BOOK REVIEWERS
The time to contact reviewers is three to four months in advance of publication. So, if you have finished your manuscript and plan to self-publish as soon as the last word is written, STOP. Don’t publish until you have reviewers lined up, and all your book marketing in place. You can even place short reviews on the back matter of your print book or under editorial reviews on your Amazon sales page
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Take it easy this month: In the US, National Lazy Day is August 10. National Relaxation Day is August 15. And August is also a wonderful month for star gazing! And reading I would add. Every good writer is also an avid reader… Enjoy this time of the year before the busy fall season starts.
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