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The Writer's Workout
Mar 3, 20234 min read

March Contests




These are some great magazine and contest opportunities closing in the next six weeks.

Read the host's information carefully and submit responsibly. Good luck!


Some March deadlines from the February post are also included here.



The Forge

—Magazine—

Deadline: Rolling

Entry: FREE (until quota, then $3)

Payment: $75

Word count: up to 5,000 (f) (under 3,000 preferred)

Details: "The Forge Literary Magazine was founded by volunteers from the Fiction Forge, an international online writers’ forum, which counts amongst its members and alumni winners of numerous literary awards, including the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, O. Henry Prize, the Bridport Prize, the Bristol Short Story Prize and the Pinch Literary Award in Fiction."

Find all the details here: forgelitmag.submittable.com/submit



A Coup of Owls

—Magazine—

Deadline: March 15

Entry: FREE

Payment: £5-15 (dependent)

Word count: 100-8,000 (f); drabble, flash, and shorts accepted

Details: "We’re looking for stories you’ve poured your soul into but haven’t been able to find the right home for. We’re looking for stories that make us feel something. Warmth, love, melancholy, rage. We want it all. "

Find all the details here: acoupofowls.com/submissions


James Jones First Novel Fellowship

—CONTEST—

Deadline: March 15

Entry: $33

Prizes: $10,000 (1st); $1,000 (2nd, 3rd)

Word count: first 50 pages plus 2-pg outline

Details: "The award is intended to honor the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture exemplified by the late James Jones, author of From Here to Eternity and other prose narratives of distinction. Jones himself was the recipient of aid from many supporters as a young writer and his family, friends, and admirers have established this award of $10,000 to continue the tradition in his name. Two runners up awards of $1000 each may be given by the Jones Literary Society. All selections are at the discretion of the judges."

Find all the details here: jamesjones.submittable.com/submit


Long Con

—Magazine—

Deadline: March 16

Entry: FREE

Payment: $25-50 CAD

Word count: varies (lit/f/p)

Details: "long con magazine is a digital arts & literature quarterly that publishes art about art. While based in Kjipuktuk, Mi’kma’ki (known by settlers as Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), we welcome submissions from established & emerging artists across the world."

Find all the details here: longconmag.com/submit



Savage Mystery Contest

—CONTEST—

Deadline: Open March 18-20

Entry: FREE

Payment: $35-50 (dependent)

Word count: TBA, theme TBA

Details: "[This] is a 48-hour short story writing contest. [It] runs twice a year, on the weekends closest to March 21 and September 21. All entries must be composed within the contest time frame, and adhere to the topic and word range announced at the contest start."

Theresa's Note: This is similar to Writer's Games with a surprise announcement and word count, though without the free feedback.



Sans Press

—Anthology—

Deadline: March 27

Entry: FREE

Payment: €150

Word count: 5,000 (f); theme: passageway

Details: "Passageway is for stories that dare to experiment, that cross further than they have ever been before, and that encounter whatever may come with hope and open arms."

Find all the details here: sanspress.com/submissions



Fish Poetry Prize

—CONTEST—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: €14 (€9 per each additional)

Prizes: €1,000 (1st); A week in residence at Anam Cara Writers and Artists Retreat + €300 (2nd); €300 (3rd); top ten selections published

Word count: 60 lines (p)

Details: "The Fish Poetry Prize was established in 2006. Previous judges include Billy Collins, Brian Turner, Leanne O’Sullivan, Michael McCarthy, Peter Fallon, Matthew Sweeney, Paul Durcan, Ruth Padel, Nick Laird and Jo Shapcott. We are delighted that Billy Collins will again be judging. Billy will select the 10 poems to be published in the Fish Anthology 2023."



Pinch Literary Awards

—CONTEST—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: $20

Prizes: $2,000 (ea for f and p)

Word count: 5,000 (f); 3 pieces (p)

Details: "The Pinch is a bi-annual literary journal produced entirely by the students of the University of Memphis MFA Program and English Department. As always, all submissions' fees and other support go toward funding our annual contest, our contributors, and our production costs."

Find all the details here: pinchjournal.com/literaryawards



(Pinch) Page Prize

—CONTEST—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: $10

Prize: $1,000

Word count: 1,000 (nf)

Details: "The Pinch is a bi-annual literary journal produced entirely by the students of the University of Memphis MFA Program and English Department. As always, all submissions' fees and other support go toward funding our annual contest, our contributors, and our production costs."

Find all the details here: pinchjournal.com/literaryawards



Plough Poetry Prize

—CONTEST—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: FREE

Prizes: £1,000 (1st); £500 (2nd); £250 (3rd)

Word count: 40 lines (p)

Details: "Now in its twentieth year, the Plough Poetry Prize is an international open competition for a poems in English up to 40 lines on any subject. We're delighted that this year's competition will be judged by Imtiaz Dharker."



Southword Journal

—Magazine—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: FREE

Payment: €250

Word count: 5,000

Details: "Southword: New International Writing is a print literary journal published twice a year by the Munster Literature Centre."

Find all the details here: munsterlit.ie/southword


Weird Horror

—Magazine—

Deadline: March 31

Entry: FREE

Payment: 1.5¢ per word ($25 USD min), 2 print copies

Word count: 500-6,000

Details: "Undertow Publications is a celebrated independent press in Canada dedicated to publishing original and unique genre fiction of exceptional literary merit."



Nimrod Literary Awards

—CONTEST—

Deadline: April 1

Entry: $23

Prizes: $2,000 (1st); $1,000 (2nd); both incl publication and Tulsa Writing Conference attendance (and domestic travel)

Word count: 7,500 (f); 3-10 pg (p)

Details: "Nimrod supports and defends the literary tradition of small magazines, spotlighting lesser-known poets and writers and providing foundations for their literary careers. We promote a living literature, believing that it is possible to search for, recognize, and reward contemporary writing of imagination, substance, and skill."

Find all the details here: nimrodjournal.submittable.com/submit


Consequence Forum

—Magazine—

Deadline: April 15

Entry: FREE

Payment: $20-150 (dependent)

Word count: 1,000 (flash), 5,000 (f), 4,000 (nf), 3pc (p)

Details: "Consequence Forum addresses the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence through literature, art, and community events offering intellectual and emotional access to the experiences of combatants, victims, and witnesses. We provide the public with works and voices from around the world to promote a clearer and more nuanced understanding of what’s at stake in choosing to wage war or engage in conflict. "

Find all the details here: consequenceforum.org/submissions


Science Write Now

—Magazine—

Deadline: April 15

Entry: $3 AUD

Payment: $0.30/wd up to $390 (f); $70-180 (p)

Word count: 2,500 (f/nf), 4pc (p); theme of "Migration"

Details: "Science Write Now is a network of people and resources that support creative writing about science. We believe that truth comes in many forms, some of which—like fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and memoir—help us translate complex or remote ideas into everyday lives, build spaces for empathy and change."

Find all the details here: sciencewritenow.com/submissions



You can find more great opportunities on Chill Subs and Reedsy!

Please submit responsibly.


 

About the author: Theresa is the co-founder of The Writer's Workout, a crime fiction writer, and the editor at Premier Literary Services.


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