Neighborhub Launch Party October 1
Authortunities #81 │September 28—October 26
The Authortunities Hub (dubbed The Neighborhub by Nikki DeKeuster/
) is growing fast. As of this posting we are at 75 members and October 1 marks our launch party. We’ll be celebrating with an online book fair, an open mic and preparing for our first anthology-tournament based on Stephen Schwartz’ Smalltown Tales game. Join the Hub to participate. Membership is free.🌳What’s in this issue?
Brian Hugenbruch has a great free read up on Escape Pod here.
Space and Time #147 is on track for an early October release.
⭐ OCT 4 · Bestiary of Blood from Crystal Lake Entertainment will host a book launch event on Facebook. Written by 37 of horror’s greatest writers, including 18 Bram Stoker Award Winners, and edited by Jamal Hodge. Find it here.
⭐🎓💼 OCT 4-6 · “Scares That Care” AuthorCon IV will be an in-person event in St. Louis, Missouri. A charity event hosted by Brian Keene. Find it here.
Ryan Aussie Smith (aka my husband) is on a push to make Twitch Partner, so any likes, follows and lurks appreciated. Thank you everyone! He streams Saturday-Tuesday here: Twitch.tv/Aussiemanplays.
Finally, a cool thing happened this week! I’ve been trying to break into the 3% for awhile now.
Authortunities may contain affiliate links that might earn a small fee for Authortunities at no extra cost to you. Comments, questions, compliments or concerns?
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🟢 opening subs
🔴 closing subs
⭐ networking
💼 conference
🎤 open mics
🎓 education
♻️ reprints
🏆 awards
💰 grants
🟢 BookLife runs the Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books from a broad range of genres and topics, 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. Submit your works of horror, mystery, and the supernatural until October 1.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 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. New prompt every Friday. This week’s prompt is: The Perfect Recipe 🍽️.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
🟢 SEP 28 · Dread Mondays: A Whisper House Press Anthology of Workplace Horror from Whisper House Press is open for submissions of short stories up to 4k on the theme of workplace horror. Payment is 6 cents per word. Special extended deadline of November 30 for historically marginalized voices.
🟢 SEP 28 · Painted Hearts Publishing is open until October 15 for submissions of holiday/winter-themed LGBTQ+ romance “of all heat levels.” Payment is a flat $100.
https://www.paintedheartspublishing.com/submissions
🎓 SEP 28 · Celebrating Authors Summit: Attract The Right Readers When you're clear about your target audience's characteristics and your own brand, and how you want to be seen by your readers, you can incorporate concepts and word choices in order to catch your audience's attention. Our speakers each have a unique approach to branding, messaging and positioning. Listen in and choose which approaches you'd like to explore for yourself. Free to attend live.
https://copy-of-celebrating-summit-2409-2.eventraptor.com/
⭐ SEP 29 · GoIndieNow presents This Week In Indies for 2024 a weekly Sunday chat show that covers issues relevant for Indie artists and the scoop on who is publishing what and where you can get it. Broadcasting every Sunday at Noon ET/11a CT/10a MT/9a PT. This week features AF Stewart, Lily Luchesi, Sarah Tasz, David Green and Bryan Tann.
🔴🏆 SEP 29 · The Edgar® Awards, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theater. Submissions close for books published in August. Books must be submitted during the month of publication. In addition, the book MUST arrive to the judges within 30 days of sending the submission form to the national office.
https://mysterywriters.org/edgars/edgar-submission-information/
🔴 SEP 30 · Split Lip Magazine closes free submissions for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, art, interviews/reviews, and mini-reviews. Payment is $75 per author for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🔴♻️ SEP 30 · Short Story on Substack is closed for short stories from 6- 10,000 words in any genre. Payment is $100 + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Selected story to be announced on the 15th. Reprints welcome.
https://shortstory.substack.com/
🔴🏆💰 SEP 30 · The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction submission period closes September 30. The winner will receive $15,000 and finalists will receive $5,000 each. $95 entry fee
https://www.penfaulkner.org/our-awards/pen-faulkner-award/
🔴 SEP 30 · Rattle Magazine’s Ekphrastic Poetry challenge calls for poems inspired by a visual art prompt posted on their site. Poets have until the end of the month to write. Two winners will receive online publication and $100 each.
https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/
🔴 SEP 30 · The Kenyon Review closes submissions for short fiction and essays (up to 7,500 words), flash fiction and essays (up to 3 pieces, up to 1,000 words each; please format and submit as a single document), poetry (up to 6 poems; please format and submit as a single document), plays (up to 30 pages double-spaced), and excerpts (up to 30 pages double-spaced) from larger works for payment of $0.08 per published word of prose (minimum $80, maximum $450) and $0.16 per published word of poetry (minimum $40, maximum $200).
https://kenyonreview.org/submit/
🔴 SEP 30 · Event Poetry and Prose closes free submissions for poetry and prose. Payment is $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500.
https://www.eventmagazine.ca/submit/
🔴 🏆💰 SEP 30 · 2023 Willie Morris Awards for Southern Poetry, seeks poems that evoke the American South. Winner will receive a $3,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the awards ceremony in April 2024. Judged by Susan Kinsolving. No entry fee. One entry per person and 3 pages maximum for the poem.
https://www.williemorrisawards.org/submissions
🔴 🏆 SEP 30 · The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award seeking merging short fiction writers. No entry fee. Winning works will be published by the University of Iowa Press
https://uipress.uiowa.edu/resources/prospective-authors/iowa-short-fiction-award
🔴 SEP 30 · Rattle Magazine’s Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge closes 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 30 · Event Magazine closes for poetry or “when our allowable unpaid submission limit is reached (whichever comes first).” Payment is $40 (CAD) per page.
https://eventmagazine.submittable.com/submit
🔴 SEP 30 · The Other Stories Podcast closes for 2,000 word speculative fiction on the theme of SHAKESPEARE. “Pay homage or re-imagine the Bard’s timeless works. We’re looking for stories of star-crossed lovers, tragic heroes, cunning jesters, and more.” Payment is $15 GBP.
https://theotherstories.net/submissions/
🔴 SEP 30 · DreamForge seeks “science fiction and fantasy stories with a positive vibe” until September 30 for $0.08/word for original fiction up to 7,000 words. Payment on acceptance.
https://dreamforgemagazine.com/submission-instructions/
🔴 OCT 1 · The Last Line opens for fiction, poetry, and nonfiction using the last line “I didn't want to admit it, but Lee was usually right.” Payment: $20–$40 for fiction. The story should be 300 to 5000 words. There are also related submission calls for their sister publication, The First Line.
https://www.thelastlinejournal.com/submission.htm
🔴💰 OCT 1 · Horror Writers Association Scholarships close for applications for their variety of scholarships to assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. They also offer one endowment to libraries to expand their young adult reading programs. HWA membership is not a requirement.
The available scholarships are:
💰The Horror Writers Association Scholarship, $2500
http://horrorscholarships.com/hwa-scholarship/
💰The Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship, $2500 http://horrorscholarships.com/mary-shelley-scholarship/
💰Up to 4 Diversity Grants, $500
http://horrorscholarships.com/diversity-grants/
💰The Dark Poetry Scholarship, $1,250
http://horrorscholarships.com/dark-poetry-scholarship/
💰The Dennis Etchison Young Writers Scholarship, $500
http://horrorscholarships.com/dennis-etchison-young-writers-scholarship/
💰Up to 5 Young Adults Write Now endowment program, $250
http://horrorscholarships.com/young-adults-write-now-endowment-program/
🟢 OCT 1 · Last Girls Club opens for feminist horror short stories and poems. Payments for short story-2,500 words or less is $0.015 USD per word ($37.50 USD max); Flash Fiction-less than 1,000 words $0.015 USD per word ($15 USD max); Payment for poems $10 USD.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/last-girls-club-lImp7
🟢 OCT 1 · Flash Fiction Online opens until October 31, or submission cap has been reached, for speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction submissions. Payment is $100.
https://ffo.submittable.com/submit
🟢 OCT 1 · Solarpunk Magazine opens until October 14 for submissions of prose and poetry that will “stir readers with themes of defiance, change, and achievement.” Pro rates paid as defined by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA): $.08 per word for fiction ($100 minimum), $40 per poem, $75 for for nonfiction, $100 for reprint cover art, $200 for original unpublished cover art, $50 for reprint interior art, and $100 for original unpublished interior art.
https://solarpunkmagazine.com/submissions/
🟢 OCT 1 · Apparition Lit’s 2024 Flash Fiction Contest opens until October 14 for submissions of speculative flash fiction (under 1k words) prompted by “Bread of the Dead.” The writer of the selected story will be notified and their story published the following month. The prize is $30 USD.
https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/
🟢 OCT 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/
🟢 OCT 1 · New Orleans Review opens for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment is $300 for prose and $100 for poetry. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, there are no submission fees for Latinx writers from September 15th to October 15th. $3 submission fee otherwise.
https://www.neworleansreview.org/submit/
🟢 OCT 1 · Riddlebird opens until October 26 for literary fiction, personal essays, and genre fiction from 650-5000 words focusing on humor and lighthearted pieces until full. Payment is $100.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/riddlebird-Ae4Nk
🟢 OCT 1 · Brick opens until October 31 for literary non-fiction. Payment $65–720, “depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine.”
https://brickmag.com/submissions/
🟢 OCT 1 · Chestnut Review opens until November 30 for poetry, prose, or hybrid chapbooks of 15-25 pages of poetry, or 15-35 pages of prose: Submission fee is on a sliding scale between $6-$12. Payment is $150 USD, 50 copies of their chapbook plus 30% royalties on all Amazon sales of the chapbook, paid annually.”
https://chestnutreview.com/chapbooks/
🟢 OCT 1 · Electric Spec opens for speculative fiction stories of “science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre” between 250 and 7000 words for their November issue until October 15. Payment is $20 per piece.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🟢 OCT 1 · Off Topic Publishing’s Poetry Box opens to submissions of poetry until the 25th of the month. Selected poems to be sent as a physical card with tea and chocolate to subscribers. Payment is for $30 CAD.
https://offtopicpublishing.com/opencalls/
🟢 OCT 1 · Strange Horizons opens for speculative poetry submissions year-round, including at times when they are 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. This month Lisa M. Bradley (she/her/hers) is the editor. Payment is $50 USD per poem, regardless of length or complexity.
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/poetry-submission-guidelines/
🟢 OCT 1 · Bourbon Penn is open now 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/submission
🟢💰 OCT 1 · PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative opens applications until October 31 for the PEN America Writers Emergency Fund, which offers grants for “writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.” Applications received on or before the following quarterly deadlines will be reviewed before the last day of that month. (For example, an application received on or before January 1, 2024 will be reviewed before January 30, 2024.)
https://pen.org/us-writers-aid-initiative/
🟢 OCT 1 · Split Lip Magazine opens tip jar submissions for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, art, interviews/reviews, and mini-reviews until October 31. Payment is $75 per author for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, and art, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🟢 OCT 1 · The Forge Literary Magazine calls for fiction and nonfiction under 3,000 words including flash and micro fiction for $100 flat rate until the free submissions quota is full. “If there is no free link, we’ve hit our quota.”
https://forgelitmag.com/submit/
🟢 OCT 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/
🟢 OCT 1 · Diet Milk Magazine is open until October 31 for submissions of “micro and flash fiction for its December series, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER.” Payment is $3 for micro fiction, $5 for flash fiction.
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/diet-milk-magazine-rv29z
🟢♻️ OCT 1 · Short Story on Substack opens for short stories from 6-10,000 words in any genre. Payment is $100 + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Selected story to be announced on the 15th. Reprints welcome.
https://shortstory.substack.com/
🟢 OCT 1 · The Nimrod International Journal, a nonprofit literary magazine published by The University of Tulsa, is closed for poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction pieces, and translations on the theme of refuge up to 7,500 words; poetry may be up to 7 pages. $3 reading fee, payment is $10/printed page with a $200 maximum. Closes October 1.
https://nimrodjournal.submittable.com/submit
🎓 OCT 1 · Adding Intrigue & Action To Your Prose—Don Bentley is the latest offering from the Outliers Online Ongoing Writers Conference where all classes are taught by working, best-selling authors with two classes per month, every month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 4 pm PST. “Learn how to add intrigue and action to your writing with hands on editing exercises as well as thoughts from today’s top thriller writers and editors“ Costs $45.
https://www.outlierswritinguniversity.com/ongoingconference
⭐🎓 OCT 1 · Publishing Wide, Leveraging Kickstarter, and Direct Sales Join this insightful Q&A session with Russell Nohelty, a seasoned author and publishing expert from Writer MBA. This webinar will explore how authors can expand their reach and revenue by publishing wide, with a focus on two powerful strategies: Kickstarter campaigns and direct sales. Hosted by Evan at StoryOrigin. Free registration.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-ugrTIjGdx7dZDvQ9Yl2HeNLF7Q4qLl#/registration
🟢♻️ OCT 1-2 · Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores is open for new work, reprints, poetry (up to 40 lines) and prose from 1,000 words and up. Payment is .08 per word for new fiction, .02 per word for reprints, .02-.08 for new fact based work, .01-.04 for reprinted fact based work, $1 per line for original poetry, .50 per line for reprinted poetry. No simultaneous or multiple submissions.
https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/
🟢🏆 OCT 2 · The BookLife Prize for Nonfiction opens until January 31 for “unpublished or self-published books–works for which the author has subvented the cost of the book’s publication–in the English language” for a chance at a cash prize of $5,000 as well as a profile in Publishers Weekly. All entrants will receive a Critic’s Report, which includes a score and a brief written critical assessment of their novel by a Publishers Weekly reviewer.
https://booklife.com/about-us/the-booklife-prize.html
⭐🎓💼 OCT 2-5 · Indie Unconference - Europe 2024 will be an in-person event in Florence, Italy with “a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of professional self-publishing.” Registrations begin at €112.50.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indie-unconference-europe-2024-tickets-763354573077
⭐ OCT 4 · 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 is hosted by Strong Women - Strange Worlds and features Stephanie Ellis, Deborah Wilde, Tiffany Putenis, Melanie Bell and Laura McPherson. Pre-register.
https://strongwomenstrangeworlds.weebly.com/
🔴 OCT 4 · 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
🟢 OCT 4 · Reedsy Prompts calls for short fiction between 1,000 - 3,000 words based on one of five prompts. Writers have until the following Friday at 11.59pm EST to enter. No fee to enter and have work posted. $5 fee to be eligible for the $250 cash prize. New prompt every Friday.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
⭐🎓 OCT 4 · Rattle Magazine’s livestream Poetry Critique of the Week Rattle's editor hosts a livestreamed poetry critique on YouTube and Facebook, offering suggestions and feedback. The viewing audience is encouraged to participate. The goal is to help us all become better poets through the honest sharing of our reactions, similar to the experience of an MFA roundtable workshop. Critique of the Week at 4 pm EST.
https://www.youtube.com/@RattlePoetry/featured
⭐ OCT 4 · Bestiary of Blood from Crystal Lake Entertainment will host a book launch event on Facebook with games, excerpts, and sneak peeks at the interior. Written by 37 of horror’s greatest writers, including 18 Bram Stoker Award Winners, and edited by Jamal Hodge.
⭐🎓💼 OCT 4-6 · “Scares That Care” AuthorCon IV will be an in-person event in St. Louis, Missouri. “Scares That Care! is an all volunteer charity. Net proceeds from all organization events are provided to… organizations and families with a child affected by illness, burns or women fighting breast cancer.” Hosted by Brian Keene. Registrations begin at $35.
https://scaresthatcare.org/author-con-iv
🎓 OCT 5 · Celebrating Authors Summit: Authorship Rules, Regulations & Best Practices Unless you're writing a book for your family for personal reasons, it's important to understand the larger regulatory landscape to avoid any future challenges. Our speakers bring important concepts to help you navigate this territory. Free to attend live.
https://copy-of-celebrating-summit-2410.eventraptor.com/
⭐🎤 OCT 5 · 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.
⭐ OCT 6 · GoIndieNow presents This Week In Indies for 2024 a weekly Sunday chat show that covers issues relevant for Indie artists and the scoop on who is publishing what and where you can get it. Broadcasting every Sunday at Noon ET/11a CT/10a MT/9a PT. This week features Ben Meeks, JD Estrada, Jessica Nettles, Sean Hillman and Nikki Nelson-Hicks.
🟢OCT 7 · Daikaijuzine opens until October 13 for speculative fiction, poetry, and art submissions. Payment is $10 for short stories and $5 for poems and flash fiction.
https://daikaijuzine.org/guidelines
⭐🎓 OCT 8 · Black Lawrence Press presents Paula Carter – From the Personal to the Universal: How to Make Meaning from Our Experiences at 8 pm EST. Attendance is free. Zoom registration required.
https://blacklawrencepress.com/events/
⭐🎓 OCT 9 · Supercharged Book Launches: Paid Newsletters & Promo Stacking Join Evan at StoryOrigin for an insightful Q&A session with Mike Hourigan from Written Word Media to delve into the world of paid newsletter promotions and promo stacking for book marketing. Learn how to leverage these powerful tools to boost your book's visibility, increase sales, and build a loyal readership. Free registration.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudOmhrT8oGNyEzWuZpIOKtCGMBs2Izs2k#/registration
🎓 OCT 10 · Platform Building When You’d Rather Write—Literary Strategies to Elevate Your Career with Jane Friedman Worried that you’re not all that good at marketing and promotion? Most effective promotion is centered on existing or potential relationships, not aggressively marketing yourself. And the most enlightened approach to this is called literary citizenship. You’re not competing with others, but collaborating; when others succeed, you will succeed too. In partnership with Writer’s Digest, class starts at 1 p.m. EST and costs $89.
🔴 OCT 11 · 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
⭐🎓 OCT 11 · Rattle Magazine’s livestream Poetry Critique of the Week Rattle's editor hosts a livestreamed poetry critique on YouTube and Facebook, offering suggestions and feedback. The viewing audience is encouraged to participate. The goal is to help us all become better poets through the honest sharing of our reactions, similar to the experience of an MFA roundtable workshop. Critique of the Week at 4 pm EST.
https://www.youtube.com/@RattlePoetry/featured
🟢 OCT 11 · Reedsy Prompts calls for short fiction between 1,000 - 3,000 words based on one of five prompts. Writers have until the following Friday at 11.59pm EST to enter. No fee to enter and have work posted. $5 fee to be eligible for the $250 cash prize. New prompt every Friday.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
⭐🎓💼 OCT 11-13 · Romance Writers of America® 2024 Annual Conference will be an in-person event in Austin, Texas and feature “an exciting lineup of speakers, interactive sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities” along with an appearance by Stephen Schwartz presenting Smalltown Tales at “Up Your Game at Storytelling and Writing.” Registrations begin at $349.
https://www.rwa.org/2024-conference
🎓 OCT 12 · Celebrating Authors Summit: Finding Your Best Writing Strategy Need Some New Writing Strategy Ideas? Do you have a hard time getting the words from your vision onto paper? Our speakers share their own personal strategies … what's worked for them and what hasn't. Join us to learn more ways you can try to create a writing strategy that will work for you. Free to attend live.
https://celebrating-authors-series-summit-2410.eventraptor.com/
This is the end of the free authortunities, but do you know what else is free? The Authortunities Hub where the full month is posted early for members each week. Join us at authortunitieshub.com.
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