❤️🔥Scaffold Your Creative Brilliance
Build scaffolding, not walls, for your creative life.
My husband Ryan has been teaching himself animation and he is practicing on my Avery Maker character. This is his first attempt. What do you think?
Read Avery Maker’s Path here in English and now in Brazilian Portuguese.
Here is my confession. Some days, I think my epitaph will read: Buried in Good Intentions.
A people pleaser? That’s me.
A yes-girl? Guilty.
A doormat? More often than I’d like to admit.
I find it incredibly hard to say no, especially when the world feels so full of need. I’ve been given so much. Surely I can give just a little more, right? I can push my own projects aside for just one more day.
Until one day… I feel buried alive.
It’s like the oxygen mask metaphor on an airplane: “Put yours on first before assisting others.” That’s not just emergency protocol. It’s a truth about life. You can’t draw water from an empty well. You can’t feed the world from an empty pantry.
When I give in to my reflexive yes, I don’t just overextend. I grow resentful. And when someone gets upset because I gently decline another favor, I have to pause and ask: Were they truly a friend or just someone taking advantage of my good will?
Bottom line: we must be our own best friend first. From that wellspring of care, we can overflow into the world.
Where Are Your Boundaries?
Boundaries aren’t barricades. They’re blueprints.
They don’t shut life out. They make room for so your best life can expand. We need to remember, especially as creators, our energy is finite. To honor the insight we’ve uncovered, we must give it structure: a base to stand on, and space to grow.
Let’s take a moment right now to check in with ourselves.
Are your boundaries protecting your creative space… or are they quietly eroding it?
Take a moment to pause, to reflect and to remember what matters.
It’s time to protect that clarity, not by hiding behind walls, but by building scaffolding strong enough to hold your creative life.
Let’s build that now.
1. Create a Sacred Hour Each Day
Set aside one hour that belongs only to you and your creative spark. No notifications, no requests, no multitasking. Call it your Sacred Hour or something that resonates with you.
Use it to write, sketch, think, or even breathe in stillness. Guard it like you would a loved one’s rest. This is your time to reconnect and let ideas unfold without interruption. Choose a time when your focus naturally blooms. Anchor your day around that rhythm.
2. Use a “Yes/No” Checklist for Commitments
Before you say yes to anything new, run it through this filter:
Does this align with my creative goals?
Will this energize or drain me?
Do I have the space to give this my best?
If it’s not a clear yes, then it’s a kind, but confident no.
This simple tool protects your bandwidth from being swallowed by well-meaning distractions that quietly sabotage your momentum. The pressure may be to say yes, but taking 30 seconds to really consider can save your hours of frustration.
3. Set Creative Container Times
Creative work is fluid. It loves to expand. But even water needs a cup. Define your project’s container before you begin. Examples:
“I’ll work on this for 90 minutes every Friday this month.”
“This article gets one draft and one edit. Done is better than perfect.”
“This collaboration ends in October. No extensions.”
Containers reduce burnout and decision fatigue. They help you finish what matters without letting it sprawl.
Boundaries Make You More Available, Not Less
Protecting your clarity isn’t selfish. It’s wise stewardship of your gifts.
When you support yourself with clear boundaries, you show up with more presence, more reliability, and more creative vitality. You give your best where it matters most.
Boundaries don’t say no to others. They say yes to you.
So take what you’ve uncovered in stillness, and give it a framework. Nurture it. Let it breathe. Let it thrive. Scaffold your brilliance.
When you thrive, your work, your community, and your creative path thrive too.
What’s one boundary you’re ready to try this week?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s build a strong, spacious foundation together.
Whether you’re in the free NeighborHub or ready to join the Authortunities Co-op, I hope you’ll step into this week’s focus with us. Because boundaries aren’t built alone. They’re strengthened in community. Here, we learn to protect what fuels us, together. Let this be your next step toward scaffolding your brilliance and creating the space your creativity deserves.
Join the Authortunities Co-op, and turn your passion into purpose.
Download: Creative Boundaries YES/NO Checklist
A quick decision-making tool to help you protect your time, energy, and creative momentum. Before saying yes to a new commitment, ask yourself six key questions about alignment, energy, time, vision, motivation, and joy. If most answers are yes, it’s likely worth pursuing. If not, a kind, confident no will keep your creative life thriving. Perfect for printing and keeping where you’ll see it.
Supporting Subscribers will find your free download in the chat here.
Subscribers: Your download is available for just $8.88 here.
My authortunities are organized by emoji!
🟢 opening for submissions
🔴 closing for submissions
🖼️ visual art submission
⭐ events, classes, networking
♻️ reprints
🟢 WEEKLY· Reedsy Prompts is open until the following Friday for short fiction between 1,000 - 3,000 words based on one of five prompts. Writers have until the following Friday at 11.59 pm EST to enter. No fee to enter and have work posted. $5 fee to be eligible for the $250 cash prize. This week’s prompt is: Make a Wish ✨.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
⭐ AUG 9-10 · The Off Topic Conference hosted by Off Topic Publishing in Alberta, Canada, with in-person events and online access. This 1-day event features panels, author signings, and networking opportunities for writers and readers. Topics include craft, publishing, and marketing. Admission fees apply; virtual and in-person options available.
www.offtopicpublishing.com/conference
🔴♻️ AUG 10 · Vellum Mortis (Memento Mori Ink) closes submissions for flash fiction up to 1,000 words for their August 2025 issue themed “The Hollow Court.” This theme invites horror stories that delve into fae horror, exploring the eerie and unsettling aspects of the fae realm. Payment is $5 per story. Submission is via email. Reprints accepted.
https://www.mementomoriinkmag.com/vellummortissub
⭐ AUG 10 · 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. 1 pm GMT.
https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/inspirational-indie-author-interviews-podcast/
⭐ AUG 10 · 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.
🟢 AUG 11 · Pseudopod is open until August 21 for horror fiction (1,500–6,000 words). Payment: $0.08 per word for original fiction; $100 flat rate for short story reprints (2,000 words or more); $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories below 2,000 words). Simultaneous submissions allowed; reprints accepted. Submit via Moksha.
https://pseudopod.org/submissions/
⭐ AUG 14-17 · Author Power Summit This two-day event is designed to equip you with the tools, strategies, and insights you need to maximize your potential and solidify your place in the ever-evolving world of publishing. The Author Power Summit is your gateway to building a sustainable, successful writing career that goes beyond the next release with The Writing Wives. Costs $243, in Peabody, Massachusetts.
https://facebookadsforauthors.com/authorpowersummit
🟢 AUG 15 · Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is open until April 1 for submissions of published and unpublished humor poetry with prizes of $2,000, $500, $250, and ten Honorable Mentions of $100 each. The winner will also enjoy a two-year gift certificate from co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $100 value). The top 13 poems are published on the Winning Writers website. No fee to enter.
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flomp-humor-poetry-contest-free
🟢 AUG 15 · These Dreaming Hills Anthology is open until NOV 15 for original speculative fiction rooted in Central Appalachia by writers with strong ties to the region. Word count: 1,000–6,000 words. Payment: professional — USD $0.08/word plus contributor copy. Submission method: email.
https://duotrope.com/anthology/these-dreaming-hills-anthology-39135
🔴 AUG 15 · long con magazine is closing for Art re. art replies—creative nonfiction (up to 3000 words), fiction or scripts (up to 3000 words), poetry or prose-poetry (up to 6 pages), translations, visual art, audio, video, or hybrid forms that respond to specific artworks or artifacts. Payment is CAD $20 per piece via e-transfer.
https://longconmag.com/submit/
🔴 AUG 15 · subTerrain – Issue 102 (Winter 2025, General Issue) is closing for original, previously unpublished fiction (≤3,000 words), creative nonfiction/commentary (≤4,000 words), and theme‑related poetry (up to 5 poems). Payment: CAD $0.10/word (max $500); CAD $50 per poem. No reprints; simultaneous submissions allowed. Submission via Submittable or mail; $3 CAD online fee.
https://subterrain.ca/about/35/sub-terrain-writer-s-guidelines
🔴 AUG 15 · SmokeLong Quarterly is closing for flash fiction submissions (1,000 words or fewer) in the genres of dark fantasy and psychological thriller. Accepted stories will receive $300 and may be nominated for the Shirley Jackson Award. Simultaneous submissions allowed. No reprints.
https://smokelong.submittable.com/Submit
🔴 AUG 15 · 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
🔴♻️ AUG 17 · Collaborature Monthly Contest is closing 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
⭐ AUG 17 · Bi-Weekly Open Mic Night Join The Mad Poet and host Jordan Francis for a NeighborHub community open mic every other Sunday at 8 pm EST. Prose and poetry readings welcome. A welcoming and supportive group that encourages creative growth. For members of the Authortunities NeighborHub. Membership is free.
https://www.authortunitieshub.com
⭐ AUG 17 · 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.
🔴 AUG 20 · Full House Literary is closing for general submissions and Games Room callouts, accepting up to two pieces across poetry (max 30 lines), micro or flash fiction (up to 750 words, 250–500 preferred), visual art, hybrid work, and photography. Payment is via PayPal; alternatives can be discussed (no cheques). Simultaneous submissions welcome, but notify if accepted elsewhere.
https://www.fullhouseliterary.com/submissions
🔴 AUG 21 · The Deadlands – Poetry Submissions (August 2025 Window)
is closed for original, unpublished speculative poetry. Submit up to 3 poems per submission; there is no line limit. The Deadlands seeks poetry that explores death, grief, hauntings, and history, embracing both formal and experimental styles. They are particularly interested in works by poets from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds, including BIPOC poets and poets from the global south. Bilingual or multilingual work is welcome. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are not accepted. Payment is $50 per poem. Submit via Moksha.
https://psychopomp.moksha.io/publication/the-deadlands
🔴 AUG 21 · Pseudopod closes for horror fiction submissions. Payment: $0.08 per word for original fiction; $100 flat rate for short story reprints; $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints. Simultaneous submissions allowed; reprints accepted. Submit via Moksha.
https://pseudopod.org/submissions/
🔴 AUG 22 · 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
⭐ AUG 24 · 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.
🔴♻️ AUG 24 · The Flame Tree Publishing Romantic Fantasy Anthology Series is closing for original romantic fantasy short stories (2,000–4,000 words). Themes: A Breath of Time and Of Love & Dragons. Payment: professional — GBP £0.06 per word for original stories, £0.04 per word for reprints. Reprints are allowed. Submission method: online form.
https://duotrope.com/anthology/flame-tree-publishing-romantic-fantasy-38975
🔴 AUG 24 · Griffith Review is closing for original short fiction and nonfiction responding to the edition theme (Money for Issue 91). Length: up to 4,000 words. Payment: professional — AUD $0.75/word. Submission method: Submittable.
https://duotrope.com/magazine/griffith-review-1391
🔴♻️ AUG 25 · The Stygian Lepus Magazine is closed for original flash fiction, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, or visual art in speculative genres (fantasy, horror, science fiction, general). Payment is a token rate AUD $5 per accepted piece. Reprints are allowed. Submission method: email.
https://duotrope.com/magazine/the-stygian-lepus-magazine-35274
🔴 AUG 29 · 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
⭐ AUG 29–SEP 1 · WriterCon 2025 is a four‑day in‑person writers’ conference in Oklahoma City, OK, at the Historic Skirvin Hotel. Now in its 18th year, the conference offers 60+ speakers and 70+ sessions across all genres—including workshops on craft, publishing, marketing, pitch opportunities, manuscript reviews, and networking events. Ticket packages start around $499 (Basic), with Premium and Superstar options offering extras like private consultations, contest entries, audio recordings, and author receptions (up to $799).
🟢♻️ AUG 31 · Dalliances Anthology Series is open until September 30 for original romantic short fiction (2,000–6,000 words). Stories may be sweet or steamy and should emphasize emotional connection. Payment is semi-pro — USD $0.02/word. Reprints are allowed. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Submission method: email to Cupid’s Arrow Publishing.
https://duotrope.com/anthology/dalliances-anthology-series-38358
⭐ AUG 31 · Bi-Weekly Open Mic Night Join The Mad Poet and host Jordan Francis for a NeighborHub community open mic every other Sunday at 8 pm EST. Prose and poetry readings welcome. A welcoming and supportive group that encourages creative growth. For members of the Authortunities NeighborHub. Membership is free.
https://www.authortunitieshub.com
⭐ AUG 31 · 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.
🔴 AUG 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
🔴 AUG 31 · Thalia Press: Time after Time Anthology closes for historical or future-set mystery/crime short stories (up to 7,500 words). Cozy and dark mysteries welcome. Original works only, no reprints. Payment: $25, three author copies, and promotional ad space in the anthology. Submit via email to thaliapress@gmail.com.
https://thaliapress.com/now-accepting-submissions-for/
🔴 AUG 31 · SFPA Poetry Contest 2025 closes for unpublished speculative poems (multiple entries allowed; $3 per poem entry fee). Winners published on SFPA website. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no AI-generated content. Submit via online form; entries read anonymously.
https://www.sfpoetry.com/contests.html
🔴 AUG 31 · Short Story Substack closes for submissions of short stories (any genre, 6–10,000 words). Payment: Base pay $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue. One winner per month. Reprints accepted if distribution rights are available. Submit via email.
https://shortstory.substack.com
🔴🖼️ AUG 31 · Split Lip Magazine is closed for free submissions in fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art, interviews/reviews, and micro reviews. Payment: $75 (fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art), $50 (interviews/reviews), $25 (micro reviews). Submit via Submittable.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🔴 AUG 31 · Haven Spec Magazine closes submissions for original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–6,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 poems). Haven Spec seeks stories and poems with a strong voice and a sense of adventure, aiming to publish works that resonate emotionally and intellectually. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints are not. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction and $20 per poem. Submit via Acolyte.
https://www.havenspec.com/submit
SEPTEMBER
🟢 SEP 1 · BookLife is open until October 1 for submissions of works of horror, mystery, and the supernatural 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 picture books and other illustrated titles, including graphic novels.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Haven Spec Magazine – September 2025 Demographic-Restricted Submissions is open until SEP 30 exclusively for authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Submissions are open for original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–6,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 poems). Haven Spec seeks stories and poems with a strong voice and a sense of adventure, aiming to publish works that resonate emotionally and intellectually. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints are not. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction and $20 per poem. Submit via Acolyte.
https://www.havenspec.com/submit
🟢🖼️ SEP 1 · Split Lip Magazine is open until September 30 for free submissions in fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art, interviews/reviews, and micro reviews. Payment: $75 (fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art), $50 (interviews/reviews), $25 (micro reviews). Submit via Submittable.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🟢 SEP 1 · Berkeley Fiction Review – Short Fiction Submissions is open until April 30, 2026 for previously unpublished short stories across all genres. They seek innovative and reflective fiction that plays with form and content, as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas that contribute to ongoing cultural conversations. Submissions should not exceed 30 pages and must be typed and double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, with no personal information on the document to ensure blind reading. Payment is $25 plus a contributor copy.
https://berkeleyfictionreview.org/submit/short-fiction/
🟢 SEP 1 · Heartlines Spec – Autumn 2025 Issue is open until SEP 30 for submissions of original, unpublished speculative fiction (500–3,500 words) and poetry (up to 5 pieces per submission) that center on long-term relationships—platonic, romantic, or familial. They seek stories with strong speculative elements from the start, prioritizing earned, emotionally resonant endings (happy or bittersweet). Themes of queer platonic bonds, ace/aro love stories, and polycules are especially welcome. Payment is $0.08 CAD per word for fiction and $60 CAD per poem. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints, AI-generated content, erotica, and extreme violence are not. Submissions are accepted via Moksha.
https://www.heartlines-spec.com/submission-guidelines/
🟢 SEP 1 · AGNI (Boston University) is open until May 31 for submissions of previously unpublished fiction, essays, and poetry. Writers may submit one story, one essay, or up to five poems per reading period. AGNI seeks writing that captures experience before the crusts of habit form—poetry and prose that resist ideas about what a certain kind of writing “should do.” Submissions are accepted via their online portal (with a $3 fee) or by postal mail (free). Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints and AI-generated content are not. The reading period includes a break from December 15 to January 15, during which submissions are not accepted.
https://agnionline.bu.edu/submit/
🟢 SEP 1 · Wallstrait – Fall 2025 Reading Period is open until DEC 1 for submissions of original, unpublished fiction between 500 and 5,000 words (preferred range: 500–3,000 words). Wallstrait seeks hard-to-define fiction across all genres, including experimental, hybrid, and genre-blending works. Submissions must be double-spaced in a readable font, with a brief third-person bio and word count included. Only one story may be submitted at a time; simultaneous submissions are allowed, but reprints and AI-generated content are not accepted. Payment is $25 per accepted story via PayPal. Submit via Submittable.
https://www.wallstrait.com/submissions
🟢 SEP 1 · TeenQuill Writing Contest is open for poetry and play monologues from to students aged 12 to 19. Authors of selected works will receive a $50 Amazon e-gift card and publication in Kinsman Quarterly. Selected works will also be featured on its website, promoted on social media platforms, and included in printed advertisements. One student will be selected each season.
https://www.kinsmanquarterly.org/teenquill-writing-contest
🟢 SEP 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
🟢 SEP 1 · Three-Lobed Burning Eye opens until September 16 for “original, unpublished speculative fiction: including horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction.” Payment is US $.08 per word for short stories or (1,500–7,499 words) or flash fiction (500–1,499 words); plus one copy of the print anthology.
https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Arc Poetry is open until September 31 for poetry on any subject or form, and for pitches of 250-500 words for both essays and interviews with poets. Payment is $50 per poem, or printed page. Poets based in the USA must pay a small submission fee of $2 per poem.
https://arcpoetry.ca/resources/general-submissions/
🟢 SEP 1 · Electric Spec is open until October 15 for speculative fiction stories of “science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre” between 250 and 7000 words for their November issue. Payment is $20 per piece.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Flame Tree Fiction Newsletter calls for monthly themed submissions from newsletter subscribers only (free to subscribe) up to 1k words for $0.08 per word USD for original fiction.
https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/
🟢 SEP 1 · Fraidy Cat Quarterly is open until September 7 for submissions of horror flash fiction and short stories and always open to submissions of black and white art. Extended deadline until September 14 for “LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors.” Payment is $10 for flash fiction and art artwork and $20 per short story. Work should be created with the theme of “Gnaw.”
https://fraidycatpress.com/submission-guidelines/
🟢 SEP 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 receive $100 and publication online.
https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/
🟢 SEP 1 · The John Ridland Poetry Prize is open until December 31 for submissions of “an unpublished book-length manuscript of 48-100 pages” from a US poet 55 years and older. The winner receives $500, publication by Gunpowder Press, and 10 author copies. Entry fee of $20.
https://gunpowderpress.com/poetry-prizes/john-ridland-poetry-prize/
🟢 SEP 1 · The 2025 Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition is open until December 31 for “One to three poems on any topic.” First Prize is $2,000. Poems must contain meter. Rhyme and other traditional techniques encouraged but not required. You can enter up to three submissions, each containing one to three poems, not exceeding 108 lines in total per submission. Each submission requires the standard entry fee of $20, which includes a free subscription to their monthly e-Newsletter.
🟢 SEP 1 · Plott Hound Magazine – Fall 2025 Issue is open until September 15 for submissions of original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–5,000 words), flash fiction (up to 999 words), poetry (1–5 poems, up to 5 pages total), and nonfiction essays (1,000–2,500 words). All works must feature animal protagonists—real, mythical, or invented—and explore their cultures, societies, or sensory experiences. Human characters may appear but should not be the focus. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction, $50 per poem, and $100 per essay. Submit via Moksha.
https://plotthound.moksha.io/publication/1
🟢 SEP 1 · The 2025 SCP International High School Poetry Competition is open until December 31 for “One to three poems on any topic.” First Prize is $200. Poems must contain meter. Rhyme and other traditional techniques encouraged but not required. You can enter up to three submissions, each containing one to three poems, not exceeding 108 lines in total per submission. Each submission requires the standard entry fee of $5, which includes a free subscription to their monthly e-Newsletter.
https://classicalpoets.org/2024/08/31/the-2024-scp-international-high-school-poetry-competition/
🔴 SEP 1 · New Edge Sword & Sorcery is closed for original sword & sorcery short fiction. Word count: 4,000–6,000 words. Payment: professional—USD $0.04/word (with potential increases via stretch goals during crowdfunding). Submission method: email.
https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/submissions/
🔴 SEP 1 · IHRAM magazine, a project of the International Human Rights Art Movement, is closing for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art written to the theme “Enduring Voices: Life with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses.” Payment is $50 USD per piece, $25 for visual art.
https://humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-publishes
🔴♻️ SEP 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
🔴 SEP 5 · 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
Love this. Thanks for sharing Angela.
Angela asked: "What's one boundary you're willing to try?" . . . I used to treat friends equally, being generous with my time, supportiveness, and attention. Now I think it's better to decide which people deserve "favored nation status." :-)