Authortunities Calendar
Welcome to the current Authortunities Calendar! This page is updated regularly with carefully vetted opportunities for writers like submissions, contests, classes, and events, all chosen for clarity, fairness, and accessibility. If it’s here, it’s something I’d genuinely recommend to a writer I care about.
Listings are organized with simple icons for easy scanning: 🟢 open for submissions, 🔴 closing, ⭐ events, and ♻️ reprints accepted.
From JAN 18 - FEB 15
⭐ JAN 19 · Rattlecast livestreams, is part interview and open mic with a prompt-based open mic. Hangout with Rattle editor Timothy Green and Katie Dozier. Each Rattlecast begins with an interview, a writing prompt, and poets reading from the last week’s prompt. | Rattlecast at 8 pm EST.
⭐ JAN 21 · Finish Your Project This Year Julia F. Green will teach you how to reignite your passion for a long-term project and complete it by the end of the year. In this session, we will explore what it means to finish a project, how to create structures that create forward progress, common obstacles that slow writers down, creative solutions to the ever-present challenge of finding time and space in this busy world, and what relationships are essential to getting to the finish line. Class costs $35.
https://symposium.pipelineartists.com/event/finish-your-project-this-year
🟢 JAN 23 · Mythaxis Magazine – Winter Window is open until January 26 for speculative fiction (1,000–5,000 words). Payment: €0.01/word (min €20), PayPal only. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints.
https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html
🔴 JAN 23 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week’s deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
⭐ JAN 24 · THRILLS AND CHILLS: WRITING & SELLING HORROR with NY Times bestseller JONATHAN MABERRY Scary is back and even the big publishing houses are gobbling up novels for the mainstream audience. Horror anthologies bring new stories to hungry readers. Horror comics sell big. And even horror poetry has a growing audience. Telling spooky tales –in fiction or nonfiction—is big business, and that market is growing. This masterclass covers a lot of ground, from research, to writing, to finding markets to sell your spooky tales. Class costs $50, proceeds benefit no-kill animal shelters and provides meals for disadvantaged children.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-182874635
🔴 JAN 25 · CRAFT Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest 2025 closes for unpublished literary creative nonfiction, but are open to a variety of genres and styles including memoir excerpts, lyric essays, personal essays, narrative nonfiction, speculative nonfiction, and experimental prose. Three winners will receive $1,000 USD, publication in CRAFT, each with an introduction by the guest judge; publication of an author’s note (craft essay) to accompany the piece; and a set of six titles of Graywolf’s The Art Of series. Two “editors’ choices” will publish alongside the three grand-prize winners and fifteen shortlisted creative nonfiction writers will receive a $1,000 scholarship to PocketMFA. Guest judge is Roxane Gay. Reading fee: $20 USD.
https://www.craftliterary.com/craft-memoir-excerpt-essay-contest-2025/
⭐ JAN 26 · Rattlecast livestreams, is part interview and open mic with a prompt-based open mic. Hangout with Rattle editor Timothy Green and Katie Dozier. Each Rattlecast begins with an interview, a writing prompt, and poets reading from the last week’s prompt. | Rattlecast at 8 pm EST.
⭐ JAN 28 · Book Idea Workshop: Critical Steps to Elevating an Idea When we have a book idea, we often don’t know where to start. We ask, is this idea any good? Is it worth doing? Am I good enough to do it? In this session, Amy Goldmacher will take you through an interactive process that will get you clear on your book idea so you can write it (or the proposal for it). Class costs $35.
https://symposium.pipelineartists.com/event/book-idea-workshop-critical-steps-to-elevating-an-idea
⭐ JAN 28 · Concept is King: Elevating Story Concepts Veteran screenwriter and teacher Tom Vaughan defines concept and shows how to exploit it for your narrative projects. This session will offer a whole new insight into what is meant by commercial viability. Class costs $35 USD.
https://symposium.pipelineartists.com/event/concept-is-king-elevating-story-concepts
🔴 JAN 29 · Baubles From Bones closes for “that broadly falls in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. We’re open to most subgenres and themes but have a particular fondness for compelling adventures, folk-retellings, stories of hope in the dark, emotional healing, love of all sorts, environmentalism, and the humanity (or lack of it) among the fantastical and speculative.” Payment is $.01 USD per word.
https://www.baublesfrombones.com/submission-guidelines.html
🔴 JAN 30 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week’s deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
⭐ JAN 31 · Crafting a Memoir Based on Almost No Memory Presented by Prof. Will Carter, all of Fahmidan’s workshops will be recorded via Zoom. Check the listing for times. Cost: $24.99.
https://fahmidanjournal.submittable.com/submit/308885/fahmidan-workshops-2024-2025
🔴 JAN 31 · Apex Magazine Monthly Flash Fiction Contest Submissions close to all for speculative flash fiction at midnight. Winner will be announced no later than the 15th of the following month and be paid $0.08/word or $10, whichever is more, and published on the Apex Magazine Patreon as an exclusive the month following and will be included in the forthcoming issue of Apex Magazine.
https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/apex-magazine-flash-fiction
🔴 JAN 31 · Strange Horizons is closing for speculative poetry with Vanessa Jae (she/her/hers) as January’s editor. Payment is $50 USD per poem, regardless of length or complexity.
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/poetry-submission-guidelines/
🔴 JAN 31 · Negative Space 3: The End of All Sanctuary is closing for submissions of “horror stories with a “siege” or “trapped” sub-theme, found in movies like The Mist, Sinners, Don’t Breathe, and Demon Knight. Home invasion stories are also welcome, especially with characters fighting against some sort of supernatural threat, like in Night of the Living Dead and Dog Soldiers.” Compiled and edited by Aric Sundquist. Payment is $25 USD.
https://www.darkpeninsulapress.com/phantom-worlds-the-cellar-door-issue-6.html
🔴 JAN 31 · Rattle Magazine’s Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge is closed for ekphrastic poetry in response to selected visual art posted on their page. Two winners, one chosen by the artist and the other by Rattle’s editor, receive $100 and publication online.
https://rattle.com/page/ekphrastic/
⭐ JAN 31 · Revision, Not Reinvention Authortunities founder Angela Yuriko Smith will be hosting a one-hour guided workshop to help turn January’s Substack posts into practical, personal revisions. Included free for paid subscribers—no action needed. If you’re currently a free subscriber, upgrading will give you immediate access. Replay included. The Google Meet link and all workshop details will be available in the paid-subscriber section of the January 31 post. 7:30 pm (UTC-3 / local time).
https://authortunities.substack.com/p/welcome-to-authortunities
FEBRUARY
🟢 FEB 1 · BookLife is open until March 1 for submissions of self-published books related to travel, global culture, and food for their Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books both online and in print in Publishers Weekly magazine. Each Indie Spotlight is open to all types of books as long as they match the month’s topic. Submissions close for self-published romances and nonfiction titles devoted to the topic of relationships.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 FEB 1 · Write or Die Magazine is open for free submissions of essays and essays and fiction for the first week of the month. There is a $3 submission fee for the rest of the month. No fee for author interviews. “Payment is approx. $50.”
https://writeordiemag.com/submission-guidelines
🟢 FEB 1 · The Forge Literary Magazine is open for fiction and nonfiction, including flash and micro, until the free submissions quota is full. “If there is no free link, we’ve hit our quota.” Payment is for $100 flat rate, regardless of length.
https://forgelitmag.com/submit/
🟢 FEB 1 · Strange Horizons is open until February 28 for speculative poetry with Lisa M. Bradley (she/her/hers) as February’s editor. Payment is $50 USD per poem, regardless of length or complexity.
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/poetry-submission-guidelines/
🟢 FEB 1 · The Threepenny Review is open through APR 15 for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment is $400 per story or article and $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Postal and online submissions,
https://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions.html
🟢 FEB 1 · Electric Spec is open until APR 15 for speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre), 250–7,000 words, for their May issue. Payment is $20 per story. Submission method: online guidelines.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🟢 FEB 1 · Rattle Magazine’s Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge opens until the last day of the month for ekphrastic poetry in response to selected visual art posted on their page. Two winners, one chosen by the artist and the other by Rattle’s editor, receive $100 and publication online.
https://rattle.com/page/ekphrastic/
🟢 FEB 1 · Flame Tree Fiction Newsletter is open to monthly themed submissions of original fiction (700–1,000 words) from newsletter subscribers only (free to subscribe). Payment is $0.08 / £0.06 per word. Submission windows typically last around two weeks each month. Submission method: online guidelines.
https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/
🟢 FEB 1 · Dappled Things (2026 Reading Period) is open until MAY 31 for submissions of original, unpublished fiction, poetry, and visual art. Fiction and poetry submissions are accepted exclusively during this period, while nonfiction, book reviews, and guest blog posts are read year-round. Fiction and nonfiction pieces receive $100 per accepted submission; poetry payments are unspecified; visual artists featured in each issue receive $100. Simultaneous submissions are allowed; reprints and AI-generated content are not accepted. Submit via Submittable.
https://www.dappledthings.org/submissions
🟢♻️ FEB 1 · NonBinary Review, Zoetic Press is open for prose, poetry and visual art for Issue #44: Saying Goodbye to Yesterday. Submissions may close before the closing date as there is an acceptance cap for each issue. Payment is $0.01 USD per word for prose up to 3k words, $10 for poetry and visual art $25 USD flat rate.
https://nonbinaryreview.submittable.com/submit
🔴♻️ FEB 3 · Collaborature Monthly Contest is open until the 17th of the month for fiction and poetry “written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry).” Reprints are allowed. Payment is $20 USD.
https://collaborature.blogspot.com/p/contests.html
⭐ FEB 5-7 · Superstars Writing Seminars seeks to empower writers, ignite creativity, and guide individuals on the transformative journey to becoming successful authors. Since their inception in 2010, they have been on a mission to redefine writing conferences, offering more than just workshops: they are on a quest to shape careers and transform dreams into tangible success stories. Cost: $799 for new members, with discounts for students or military and for conference alumni. There are also tickets available for “Skills Day,” an optional workshop that takes place February 4 before the event. In Colorado Springs, Colorado.
https://www.superstarswriting.com/
⭐ FEB 6 · First Friday - Third Thursday Quick Read features 6 authors each reading a selection of speculative fiction for 8 minutes. There will be time for questions & answers at the end and a giveaway from the authors. This free event hosted by Strong Women - Strange Worlds features Minerva Cerridwen, Victoria Goddard, Rachel Handley, Lisa Morton, Gita Ralleigh, and Melissa Widmaier. Pre-register.
https://strongwomenstrangeworlds.weebly.com/
🔴 FEB 6 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week’s deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
⭐ FEB 7 · How Writers Can Earn a Living in the Creator Economy This class reframes the modern writer’s business model through the lens of the creator economy, where you reach readers directly and build a business model based on that reach. You’ll learn how to generate income while strengthening your visibility as an author. When these strategies work in concert, they not only supplement your book income but also increase your book sales over time.
https://www.midwestwriters.org/masterclass-with-jane-friedman-2026/
🟢 FEB 7 · Apex Magazine Monthly Flash Fiction Contest Submissions open to all for speculative flash fiction until the last day of the month at midnight. Winner will be announced no later than the 15th of the following month and be paid $0.08/word or $10, whichever is more and published on the Apex Magazine Patreon as an exclusive the month following and will be included in the forthcoming issue of Apex Magazine.
https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/apex-magazine-flash-fiction
⭐ FEB 8 · Inspirational Indie Authors podcast with the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and Howard Lovy. Dive deep into personal stories of indie authors, understanding their pathways to success, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Every 2nd Sunday, 1 pm GMT.
https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/inspirational-indie-author-interviews-podcast/
🟢 FEB 10 · The Scholarship From Hell is open until March 10. This is the only scholarship offered by HWA that puts the recipient right into the intensive, hands-on workshop environment of Horror University. The winner will receive domestic coach airfare (contiguous 48 states) to and from the StokerCon venue, $50 for luggage reimbursement, a 3-night stay at the convention, free registration to StokerCon, and HU workshops.
https://horrorscholarships.com/the-scholarship-from-hell/
⭐ FEB 11 · What Do Your Characters Want? In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn how to leverage your characters’ goals and desires from Page 1 to get readers to quickly invest in their journeys, eager to come along for the ride. With plenty of examples from bestsellers across genres, you’ll see how focusing on character motivations as a guiding principle can not only bring your story’s central players to life, but add propulsion to your plot, raise and complicate the stakes, and deepen the meaning of your story. Workshop costs $25 through Feb. 8 / $35 if you register after Feb. 8.
https://janefriedman.com/what-do-your-characters-want-with-jessica-strawser/
⭐ FEB 11 · A Crash Course in Novel Writing Your story matters, and “someday” is not the time to write it. If something has been holding you back from writing your novel—whether it be lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of knowing how to write it, or just plain fear—then Grant Faulkner, former Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, can help you get your creative juices flowing and take the first steps to planning your novel. Workshop costs $35.
https://symposium.pipelineartists.com/event/a-crash-course-in-novel-writing
⭐ FEB 12 · Get Your Author Brand in Order In this live webinar by longtime publishing industry expert Jane Friedman, she will show you how building a brand is ultimately a creative exercise that often involves telling a story about yourself. And fortunately, brand is not a static thing, just like your career is not a static thing (or let’s hope not). It is organic, evolving, and even unpredictable. Webinar costs $89.99.
https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/get-your-author-brand-in-order
🔴 FEB 13 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week’s deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
🔴 FEB 13 · 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards is closing to all indie book authors and publishers who have a fiction or nonfiction book, manuscript, or galley proof written in English and released in 2023, 2024 or 2025. First place winner receives a $1,500 cash prize and trophy. See listing for more awards and information. The 2026 entry fee is $80 per title for the first category entered, and $65 for each additional category entered.
https://indiebookawards.com/awarddetails.php
🟢 FEB 15 · North Street Book Prize is open until July 1 for self-published or hybrid-published fiction books. One Grand Prize Winner will receive an awards package that includes $10,000 USD, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson and a $500 credit at BookBaby. Other awards include $1,000 and $500 plus other benefits. Entry fee is $95.
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize
🔴 FEB 15 · Luna Station Quarterly is closing for speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy, no horror) from 500-7k words written by women-identified authors. Payment is $10.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/luna-station-quarterly-ehWK6
What are your favorite events and calls? Let us know in the comments!