Getting Your Mentee Mileage
Maximize Mentorship and Turn Feedback into Growth
Authortunities may contain affiliate links that might earn a small fee at no extra cost to you.
In this week’s NeighborHub Newscast I review Bookvault. As an ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) member, you’ll receive a BookVault promo code that waives the usual setup fee for up to five titles each month. Join ALLi here!
Marge Simon is a dear friend, a talented poet and the best kind of beta reader… one who will tell the truth. In 2018, I was working on my second poetry collection and it wasn’t clicking for me. Being inexperienced, I couldn’t tell if I was being overly critical of myself, or if it genuinely wasn’t ready. I asked Marge if she wouldn’t mind looking at it.
Back then I was so new to the industry I don’t know how much I had just asked for. Writing time is precious. I had asked her to take the time away from her own work not only to read mine, but to consider the flaws and strengths, and then share more of her time to craft a critique that would be constructive without being discouraging for a fledgling poet. This is something I will always be grateful for.
Her verdict? The collection was in no way ready.
Was I disappointed? Yes. Did I want her to tell me only words of golden perfection flowed from my keyboard? Sure, but those kind lies would have done me no good. Instead, I tossed the entire thing and started over. A year later I published the reworked collection as Altars and Oubliettes. It’s still not the best poetry book in the world, but it was my best at the time and I’m proud of it.
In the Avery Maker’s path, this was my moment of reckoning with the Review Ravens. I had two choices. I could be crushed by the honest critique or I could use it to become a better poet. I have some nice poetry awards on my shelf now that, I hope, demonstrate that I did improve. If every award included a list of names of my mentor angels, Marge’s name would be one inscribed in gold.
Maximizing Your Mentorship Experience
I could have ignored everything Marge told me and published that collection, but being a successful mentee isn’t about passively absorbing advice. It's about active, intentional engagement. If you’ve ever wondered why some mentees flourish while others stall, it usually comes down to cultivating these powerful habits:
1. Embrace Openness
Enter each mentorship session with an open mind, ready to learn and challenge your assumptions. True growth requires vulnerability. Stay curious and receptive, even when feedback feels uncomfortable.
2. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Great mentees take initiative. Come prepared with specific, purposeful questions designed to yield actionable insights tailored precisely to your needs and goals.
3. Practice Active Listening
Mentorship thrives on dialogue. Engage fully by listening deeply, taking notes, clarifying your understanding, and following up to ensure insights translate into practical steps.
4. Take Personal Responsibility
Your mentor offers guidance, but the effort and execution are your responsibility. Actively apply their advice, and consistently update your mentor about your progress. Your success ultimately depends on your commitment and accountability.
5. Show Genuine Gratitude
Mentors generously invest their time, wisdom, and emotional energy in your growth. Regularly expressing sincere appreciation strengthens your relationship and encourages ongoing support. Remember, mentors usually have their own projects they would like to see finished. Leaving reviews, purchasing and sharing their works are all beautiful ways to give back. Even better, pay it forward by sharing your own time and talent with another fledgling Maker.
This month, we have been focusing on mentorship. We've explored why mentoring is important and shared mentors, what a mentor is (and isn’t) and how to find the right mentor. Next week I’ll wrap the month up with how you can make being a mentor your day job.
What's the best lesson you’ve learned from a mentor? Share your story in the comments!
Download: Feedback Decoder Checklist
The Feedback Decoder Checklist empowers Makers to confidently navigate criticism by clearly distinguishing constructive from destructive feedback. Use this practical guide to identify valuable insights, set healthy emotional boundaries, and transform even tough critiques into meaningful growth opportunities.
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: Between Circuits and Soul with Lancali 🤖.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
⭐ JUL 18-20 · LitRPG Con 2025 at Grand Hyatt Denver, Denver, CO. The first-ever, in-person convention dedicated entirely to LitRPG (gaming, progression fantasy, culti‑vation), presented by The Legion Publishers & Soundbooth Theater. Panels & workshops run 9 am–1 pm daily; gaming sessions (Dungeons & Dragons, tabletop, board/card) 2 pm–6 pm; evening entertainment follows 8 pm. Children 4 & under attend free. Early-bird three-day passes approx. US $85, general admission around US $109. Expect over 100 authors, narrators, and industry professionals, guest signings, vendor hall, and live entertainment
🔴 JUL 20 · Astrolabe closes for submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography/art. Payment: $50 honorarium upon publication. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no multiple submissions; unpublished work only. Submit via email.
https://www.astrolabe.ooo/submissions
🔴♻️ JUL 20 · Flame Tree Publishing Romantic Fantasy Anthology Series is closed for short fiction (2,000–4,000 words) that blends gothic fantasy with passionate Romantasy—featuring strong-willed protagonists, emotional depth, unique magical worlds, and integral romantic arcs. Reprints and simultaneous submissions accepted. Professional payment at £0.06/word (≈ US $0.07), reprints £0.04/word.
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/romantic-fantasy-first-submissions-0
⭐ JUL 20 · 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
⭐ JUL 20 · 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.
🟢 JUL 23 · Mythaxis Magazine – Summer Window is open until JUL 30 for speculative fiction (1,000–5,000 words; exceptions possible). Payment: €0.01 per word (min €20) via PayPal. Accepting simultaneous submissions; no reprints.
https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html
🔴 JUL 25 · 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
⭐ JUL 27 · 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.
🔴 JUL 30 · Mythaxis Magazine – Summer Window is closing for speculative fiction submissions (1,000–5,000 words) in their summer open window. Payment: €0.01/word (min €20). Simultaneous submissions accepted; no reprints.
https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html
🔴 JULY 31 · Fiction on the Web closes for submissions of short stories and novelettes across various genres. Payment: £15 or $15 per accepted story. Simultaneous submissions allowed; reprints accepted. Submit via Submittable.
https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/submissions.html
🔴 JUL 31 · Space and Time magazine is closing for fiction up to 5k words and poetry in the speculative genre. Publisher prefers genre blending work that Payment is .01 per word for fiction prose and $5 per poem.
https://spaceandtime.net/submissions/
🔴 JUL 31 · Arc Poetry is closing 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/
🔴 JUL 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
🔴 JULY 31 · NonBinary Review: Issue #41 – Solarpunk closes for speculative poetry, prose, visual art, and other genres exploring solarpunk themes. Acceptance cap applies, submissions may close early. Submit via Submittable or Duosuma.
https://www.zoeticpress.com/submit
🔴 JUL 31 · Taco Bell Quarterly is closing for Issue 8 submissions of fiction, poetry, essays, comics, art, multimedia, and other experimental forms. Submissions should be 500–2,500 words (up to 4,000 considered). Payment: $150 per accepted piece. Simultaneous submissions allowed. No reprints.
https://tacobellquarterly.submittable.com/submit
🔴 JUL 31 · Briefly Write Poetry Prize 2025 is closing for original, unpublished poems up to 10 lines (title not included). Entry is free and open worldwide. Prize fund: £80 minimum, with £40 (1st), £25 (2nd), and £15 (3rd). All shortlisted poets will also be paid. Simultaneous submissions not accepted. No reprints.
https://brieflywrite.com/poetry-prize/
🔴 JUL 31 · DEEP Anthology from Death’s Head Press is closing for horror stories set in underwater, aquatic, or deep-sea environments. Submissions should be 2,000 to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.05 per word. Simultaneous submissions allowed. No reprints.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJkuZ6coBKy/
🔴 JUL 30 · Baubles From Bones closes submissions for speculative fiction (1,000–8,000 words) and poetry or short prose (up to 3 pieces, each under 40 lines or 600 words). They seek stories that delve into science fiction and fantasy realms, with a fondness for compelling adventures, folk-retellings, and tales of emotional healing and environmentalism. Poetry and prose should explore the fantastical, supernatural, or speculative, aiming to challenge perceptions and offer inventive explorations. Payment is $0.01 per word for fiction and $10 per poem or prose piece.
https://www.baublesfrombones.com/submission-guidelines.html
🔴 JUL 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
🔴🖼️ JUL 31 · Ubwali Literary Magazine – July 2025 Reading Period closes submissions for original, unpublished fiction (3,000–6,000 words), essays (up to 3,000 words), poetry (1–3 poems in a single document), and visual art (5–10 images). Submissions are open to Zambian artists living anywhere. Non-Zambian African artists residing in Africa may submit only during the January reading period. All work must be unpublished, including on social media. Simultaneous submissions are allowed; reprints and AI-generated content are not accepted. Only one submission per category per period is permitted. Payment is $10 per accepted artist. Submit via the online form.
https://www.ubwali.com/submissions
🔴 JUL 31 · Flash Fiction Online is closed for original flash fiction themed “Regret” (500–1,000 words). Payment: $100 per story for first e‑rights (6‑month exclusivity), plus non‑exclusive anthology rights. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Anonymous submissions required.
https://ffo.submittable.com/submit
AUGUST
🟢 AUG 1 · BookLife is open until September 1 for submissions of self-published picture books and other illustrated titles, including graphic novels 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 otherworldly science fiction and fantasy.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 AUG 1 · Haven Spec Magazine – August 2025 Submissions are open until AUG 31 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
🟢🖼️ AUG 1 · Split Lip Magazine is open until August 31 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 1 · The Deadlands – Poetry Submissions is open until August 21 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 1 · Redivider (Fall 2025 Issue) is open until December 1 for submissions of previously unpublished fiction (1,200–6,000 words), flash fiction (up to 3 pieces, each under 1,200 words), poetry (up to 5 poems, 10 pages max), memoir and personal essays (up to 6,000 words), cultural critique (up to 8,000 words), and visual art (up to 6 pieces). They welcome fresh, off-beat, and inventive work that challenges literary norms. Simultaneous submissions are allowed; reprints and AI-generated content are not accepted. Payment is $30 per accepted piece. Submit via Submittable.
https://redivider.emerson.edu/submissions/
🟢 AUG 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
🟢 AUG 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
🟢 AUG 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/
🔴 AUG 1 · 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 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
🟢 AUG 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/
🟢 AUG 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/
🔴 AUG 1 · Dark Waters Anthology Vol. 3 is closing for horror, mystery, and thriller fiction (flash up to 1,000 words; short 1,000–7,000 words). Accepting simultaneous submissions, no reprints. Payment: up to USD 25 depending on length, plus a free contributor copy. Submit via email.
https://darkwaterspodcast.com/
🔴♻️ AUG 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
⭐ AUG 3 · 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 3 · 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 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
🔴 AUG 8 · 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 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 · 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
Always Open♾️Organized Alphabetically
🟢 · AAWW: The Margins accepts original and translated poetry (up to 5 pages total), fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, and interdisciplinary writing exploring Asian American culture, social justice, and literature. Payment: $50–$90 for poetry; payment varies for prose. Simultaneous submissions and unpublished digital reprints considered. Submit via Submittable.
https://aaww.submittable.com/submit/44797/poetry
🟢 · 4LPH4NUM3R1C Podcast seeks speculative poetry (up to 50 lines) and prose (up to 1,500 words) ideal for audio performance. Each accepted piece is paid $15 and featured in twice-monthly podcast episodes, with a year-end anthology starting in 2026. Submit via Duosuma.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/4-l-p-h-4-n-u-m-3-r-1-c-ynFf4
🟢 · Asimov Press is always open for Long Reads, Columns, and Fiction exploring scientific progress and its impact on climate, energy, medicine, and more. Writers with expertise in science or journalism are encouraged to pitch.
Payment: $1,000 for fiction, $1,500 for articles under 2,500 words and $2,000 for longer pieces.
https://press.asimov.com/about
🟢 · Bad Day Book is always open for poetry and prose submissions with themes specified on their site. Payment ranges from $40 to $75, depending on length.
https://thebaddaybook.com/faq/
🟢🖼️ · Berkeley Fiction Review is always open for visual art submissions across all mediums, intended for print publication in their annual issue. Accepted pieces should evoke strong emotions—joy, awe, fear, etc.—and must be adaptable to fit within 5⅛ inches wide by 8 inches tall. Submit up to 7 pieces in JPG, PNG, or PDF format via email with the subject line “Art Submission: [Name], [Title].” Include a brief artist statement (max 150 words) and a 2–3 sentence third-person bio. Payment is $25 plus a contributor copy.
https://berkeleyfictionreview.org/submit/art/
🟢 · BFS Horizons Poetry is always open for original short stories, poetry in various forms and creative, engaging images depicting fantasy, Sci-Fi, or horror scenes. Payment: £20 per poem, piece or artwork per issue.
https://britishfantasysociety.org/get-in-touch/bfs-horizons/
🟢 · Breath & Shadow is always open for submissions from people with disabilities, broadly defined, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, or sensory impairments that significantly affect major life functions. They welcome poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama on any topic, with a focus on disability-related academic or article-type nonfiction. Payment is $20 for poetry and $30 for prose.
https://www.abilitymaine.org/submission-guidelines
🟢 · Bourbon Penn is always open for 2000-7500 word “highly imaginative stories with a healthy dose of the odd… looking for genre / speculative stories and are quite partial to slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal." Payment is .04 cents per word.
https://www.bourbonpenn.com/submissions
🟢♻️ · Chicken Soup for the Soul is always open for stories or poems on a variety of themes posted on their drop down menu. Payment is $250 to be paid “one month after publication of the book and ten free copies.”
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/submit-your-story/
🟢 · Chortle on Substack is always open for sharp, original humor up to 600 words. Submit finished pieces to greg@chortle.blog with the word SUBMISSION and the name of the piece in the subject line. Payment is $40. No submission guidelines posted, originally posted on The Freelance Writing Network.
🟢 · Clarkesworld Magazine is open year-round for original, unpublished science fiction and fantasy short stories between 1,000 and 22,000 words. The magazine seeks stories with strong narratives and compelling characters. Translations are welcome, provided the translator has secured rights from the author. Simultaneous submissions and multiple submissions are not accepted; authors must wait for a response before submitting again. Reprints are not accepted. AI-generated or assisted content is strictly prohibited. Payment is $0.12 per word for original fiction. Submit via Moksha.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/
🟢 · Craft is always open for “fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as craft essays and interviews.” They offer free submissions with fast response times for BIPOC and other mis- and underrepresented writers. Craft pays $100 for flash and $200 for short fiction and creative nonfiction.
https://craft.submittable.com/submit
🟢 · Electric Spec closes to speculative fiction stories of “science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre” between 250 and 7000 words for their next issue. Payment is $20 per piece.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🟢 · Every Day Fiction is always open for flash fiction up to 1000 words. Payment $3 USD. “All fiction genres are acceptable, and stories that don’t fit neatly into any genre are welcome too.”
https://everydayfiction.submittable.com/submit
🟢♻️ Fusion Fragments is open for unpublished science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction stories and novelettes ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 15,000 words. Their tastes lean towards slipstream, cyberpunk, post-apocalypse, and anything with a little taste of the bizarre. FF prefers character-driven stories, and often skews towards quiet, reflective pieces.” Payment is “unpublished work and reprints pay 4 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $400 (CAD) per story.”
https://www.fusionfragment.com/submissions/
🟢 · Griffith Review is always open for nonfiction and fiction submissions on the theme "No Place Like Home," what it means to us, why it matters and how it shapes our sense of self. Payment is $0.75 AUD per word for fiction and nonfiction, $200 AUD per poem and $500 per piece AUD per work commissioned for GR Online.
https://www.griffithreview.com/submit-to-griffith-review/
🟢♻️ · Ill-Advised Records is always open for artwork, short horror fiction, and music “modeled after 70s/80s pulp fiction zines.” Payment is “$15 for under 500 words, $25 for 500 to 1000 words, and $50 for 1000+ words.”
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVqaB46US5ojfyMv7OI7PtMgD-BxdK7xqN3HiFnHFd8sOt-g/viewform
🟢 · Lilith Magazine is always open for “high-quality, lively, original writing: reporting, analysis, opinion pieces, memoir, fiction and poetry with a feminist take on subjects of interest to Jewish feminists.” Writers and artists are paid for their work in Lilith, in print and on the blog.
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
🟢 · Lit Shark’s Poem of the Month Contest accepts poetry submissions (up to 5 poems or 10 pages) monthly on a rolling basis. No theme required; simultaneous submissions welcome; no reprints. Monthly winner receives $20, a digital broadside, featured publication, and inclusion in the annual Best Of anthology. Honorable Mentions also published. Submit via email: publishing@litshark.com.
https://litshark.com/submit-potm/
🟢 · MAYDAY Magazine seeks literary fiction (300–3,000 words), nonfiction (up to 5,000 words), poetry (1–3 poems, max 10 pages), translations, book reviews, interviews, culture writing, visual art, and MAYDAY:Black (nonfiction from Black writers). Simultaneous submissions encouraged. Payment: $20 (fiction, nonfiction, translations), $10 per poem, $50 (MAYDAY:Black). No AI-generated content or reprints. Submit via Submittable (free submissions July & December).
https://maydaymagazine.com/submit/
🟢 · MEMEZINE is always open for hybrid work engaging with digital culture (text <1200 words, video <1 min). Simultaneous submissions and previously published work accepted. Payment: $5 per accepted featured piece (via Venmo or PayPal). No AI-generated or offensive content. Submit via Duosuma.
https://www.memezinelit.com/submit
🟢 · New Orleans Review is always open for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry submissions. Payment is $300 for nonfiction and fiction prose and $100 for poetry regardless of word counts.
https://www.neworleansreview.org/submit/
🟢 · NonBinary Review accepts speculative writing and art year-round, with rotating themed issues. Currently open for visual art, poetry, prose, and all genres via Duosuma. Submissions may close early if acceptance cap is reached.
https://www.zoeticpress.com/submit
🟢 · Orion's Beau is open until September 10 for LGBTQ science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and dark fantasy in fiction, poetry, and art. Payment is $3.
https://www.orionsbeau.com/arts-and-literary-submissions
🟢 · Reappropriate, an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) race advocacy and feminism blog is always open for pitches on topics such as race, gender, identity, Asian American history, and current events. They pay $75-150 for 800 to 2,500 words.
http://reappropriate.co/submit-writing/
🟢♻️· Samovar, published by Strange Horizons, seeks speculative fiction, review-essays, poetry, interview/conversations, and reprints in translation. Payment for fiction is 8 US cents per word to the author, and 8 US cents per word to the translator. Payment for reprints is a flat $100 USD to the author and $100 USD to the translator. Payments for poetry are $40 USD to the author and $40 USD to the translator. Payment for interview/conversations is $40 USD to each participant. Payment for review-essays is $40 USD.
http://samovar.strangehorizons.com/submit/
🟢♻️ · Scrawl Place is open year-round for submissions of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry that explore specific, physical places—whether local or visited. Submissions should be connected to a tangible location that readers could potentially visit. Payment is USD $35 per accepted piece. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are accepted. Submissions are accepted via Submittable.
https://scrawlplace.com/submit/
🟢♻️ · The Dark Magazine is open year-round for original, unpublished horror and dark fantasy fiction between 2,000 and 6,000 words. The editors encourage experimental and unconventional narratives but do not accept graphic, violent horror. Reprints are considered if published within the past two years in established print markets. Payment is $0.05 per word for original fiction upon publication and $0.01 per word for reprints upon acceptance. Submit via email to submissions@thedarkmagazine.com
https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/
🟢 · The SFWA Blog is open to pitches for original nonfiction articles on topics that might be of interest to new and/or established creators of science fiction and fantasy. SFWA welcomes pitches from both members and nonmembers. Black, Indigenous, and other writers of color, and writers of other under-represented identities, are encouraged to submit article pitches. Payment is 10 cents per word.
https://www.sfwa.org/sfwa-publications/sfwa-blog-guidelines/
🟢 · Solarpunk Magazine is always open for nonfiction that will “stir readers with themes of defiance, change, and achievement.” Payment is $75 for nonfiction.
https://solarpunkmagazine.com/submissions/
🟢 · Star*Line, the official print journal of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA), is a literary venue for speculative (including science-fiction, fantasy, and horror) poets and poetry enthusiasts, and features interviews, articles, reviews, member news and letters, association business, and poetry. Star*Line is open for submissions year-round. Payment for poetry: 4¢/word rounded to next dollar, minimum $4. Nonfiction, 1¢/word rounded to the next dollar. Reviews pay a flat fee of $4.
https://www.sfpoetry.com/starline.html
🟢 · Strange Horizons is open for speculative poetry submissions year-round, including at times when Strange Horizons is closed to fiction submissions. The editors operate on a rotation system, so the person who reads and replies to your poem will depend on when you send it. Payment is $50 USD per poem, regardless of length or complexity.
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/poetry-submission-guidelines/
🟢 · Tagg Magazine, a US-based queer women's publication, is always open for pitches on various themes, including personal essays, listicles, dating advice, and fashion-related content. Articles are 350-1,000 words long and pay $75-175. They also welcome pitches for article ideas.
https://taggmagazine.com/contribute/
🟢 · takahē Magazine accepts poetry submissions (up to 4 poems) year-round. Poems should engage with urgency, sensitivity, authenticity, and flair. Simultaneous submissions welcome. Payment: NZ$45 for first poem, NZ$35 each additional. Submit via Submittable.
https://takahemagazine.submittable.com/submit
🟢 · The Gay & Lesbian Review is always open for “unsolicited manuscripts and proposals on all LGBT-related topics.” Payment is $250 for features.
https://glreview.org/writers-guidelines-for-submission/
🟢 · Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern is open to unpublished fiction up to 10k words. Snail mail submissions. Payment is $400.
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-quarterly-submissions
🟢 · Torch Literary Arts is always open for creative writing by Black women for their Friday Features. “We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what contemporary writing by Black women should be” in fiction, hybrid works, poetry, and drama, including pieces accompanied by video or dramatic audio. Payment is $150.
https://torchliteraryarts.submittable.com/submit
🟢 · Wildsam is a first of its kind national magazine dedicated to road trips, recreational vehicles and the outdoors with a reverence for the textures, stories and characters of the open road. See listing for multiple submission opportunities. Payment rates are roughly $1/word and can vary with the complexity of an assignment.
https://www.wildsam.com/about-us