Shift Happens: 10 Tools for Focus
Outside-the-box techniques to reset attention and find flow
Wind. Some days it fills our sails and carries us toward new adventures. Other days it blows us completely off course. What do we do then? Since we can’t stop the wind, the only option is to learn how to work with it.
For me, the wind shows up every Friday. That’s my newsletter deadline day. By Saturday morning, your inbox needs a fully edited, linked, polished issue waiting for you.
And yet, Friday is also the day every side project suddenly becomes urgent. Rearranging bookshelves? Fascinating. Researching something random? Vital. My brain treats deadlines like a signal to do everything but the thing I’m supposed to do. Why?
Because shift happens.
Drifting Minds, Gentle Returns
My mind is a wanderer. I’ll sit down to focus, and five minutes later I’m scrolling, cleaning, or falling into some rabbit hole about gravitational pull.
And honestly? I love the sparks of inspiration that come from wandering. But if I want to finish anything, I need gentle guardrails. Too much structure and I lose the magic of surprise. Too little and I drown in half-finished everything.
The key is balance. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay afloat and find your flow.
Equipping Your Toolbox
Focus isn’t about finding the method. There is no one-size-fits-all fix, and what works brilliantly one week may flop the next. The secret is having a toolbox ready to go. The more tools you have, the more likely you are to find one that fits the moment.
Here are ten techniques I’ve actually used:
Tapping (EFT / bilateral tapping): Lightly tap points on your body (collarbones, forehead, sides of hands) to calm overstimulation and recenter attention. Read more.
Binaural beats or isochronic tones: Set to beta (14–30 Hz) for alertness or alpha (8–12 Hz) for relaxed focus. Read more.
Eye yoga / gaze shifting: Shift your gaze side-to-side or near-to-far to break visual fatigue and reset attention. Read more.
Task chunking with micro-deadlines: Use a timer (Pomodoro, 10–15 min “sprints,” or 5-min start rituals) to reduce overwhelm. Read more.
Aromatherapy: Peppermint, rosemary, or citrus oils sharpen alertness while lavender, cedarwood, or sandalwood help calm anxious overstimulation. Read more.
Body doubling: Work alongside another person (virtually or IRL) to mirror accountability. Read more.
Orienting technique: Look around the room and name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear — resets your attention loop. Read more.
Mindful breathing hacks: Box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4) or physiological sighs (two short inhales, long exhale) regulate focus fast. Read more.
Color cues: Work in a specific color-coded space (e.g., a green notebook for deep work) to train associative focus. Read more.
Task-specific playlists: Create music “anchors” so your brain connects certain sounds with certain types of work. Read more.
Think of these like anchors you can drop into shifting winds. Some days one holds steady. Other days, you’ll need another. The point is to have options.
Attention Is a Muscle
Once you find the tools that fit, give yourself time to build them into your flow. My mind may wander a hundred times, but each time I bring it back, I’m strengthening my focus muscle. What matters isn’t the drift. It’s the return.
I’m still experimenting, still wandering, still collecting new tools. For me, every finished newsletter is a small win, and small wins add up.
Now I’d love to know: what’s your favorite way to bring your attention back when it drifts? Hit reply and share your tools. I’m always looking to add more anchors to my kit.
Download: Focus to Flow Journal Worksheet
The Focus to Flow Journal is a one-page worksheet designed to help you track and reflect on different focus techniques. Record what you tried, when you used it, how you felt before and after, and whether you’d use it again. With simple prompts and a color-coded “before and after” scale, this tool makes it easy to notice patterns and build your own flow toolkit.
Subscribers: Your download is available for just $8.88 here.
Supporting Subscribers will find your free download in the chat here.
Hello September!
Here are the projected posts for this month for our theme, “Focus to Flow.”
Grow with the Flow – Simplify to amplify!
Shift Happens: 10 Tools for Focus – Body doubles, eye yoga and tapping?
Anchoring Your Attention – Staying on task even when your world won’t.
Flowing to Freedom – Using your flow to befriend your inner imposter.
I’m so excited for this month. We had a month to recharge. Now let’s start ramping up for the busy months on our terms.
Whether you’re already in the free Authortunities NeighborHub or ready to step up into the Authortunities Co-op, I hope you’ll join us to have your best year ever. Makers aren’t built in isolation. They’re nurtured in community.
Join the community and find your flow.
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: Through the Trees with Jessica Fogleman 🌲.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
🟢 SEP 13 · Shenandoah is open until October 15 for fiction submissions. Accepts flash fiction up to 1,000 words (up to 3 pieces), short stories between 1,000–7,500 words, and novelettes up to 8,000 words. Payment is $80 per 1,000 words, up to $400. Reprints are not accepted. Submit via Submittable.
https://shenandoahliterary.org/submissions/
🔴 SEP 14 · Fahmidan Journal's Winter Issue submissions close for poetry, fiction and nonfiction prose. Payment: $25 per piece.
https://www.fahmidan.net/journal-submissions
🔴SEP 14 · Grain Magazine – Summer Submission Period is closing for fiction (up to 3,500 words), literary nonfiction (up to 3,500 words), poetry (up to 6 pages or suites), and queries for other forms (plays, comics, translations). Open to under-represented/marginalized writers internationally; simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Payment: CAD $50/page (max CAD $250) plus two print copies; visual art inside (B&W) or cover (color) paid same page rate (max CAD $500). International submitters pay a CAD $5 reading fee via PayPal or cheque.
https://grainmagazine.ca/submit
🔴 SEP 14 · Fraidy Cat Quarterly is closing the extended deadline for “LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors” but remains open to submissions of black and white art from all. 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 14 · 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/
⭐ SEP 14 · 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
⭐ SEP 14 · 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.
🔴 SEP 15 · Plott Hound Magazine – Fall 2025 Issue is closed 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 15 · The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts is open until DEC 15, accepting fiction and creative nonfiction focused on the concept of compression. They pay $50 per accepted piece, respond in 1–5 days, and accept simultaneous submissions.
https://matter.submittable.com/submit
🟢 SEP 15 · Fahmidan Journal's Spring Issue submissions open for diverse poetry, fiction and nonfiction prose. Payment: $25 per piece.
https://www.fahmidan.net/journal-submissions
🟢 SEP 16 · Three-Lobed Burning Eye closes 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 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
⭐ SEP 17-21 · Novelists, Inc. (NINC) Conference is a unique experience that brings together multi-published, professional authors who publish traditionally, independently, or both. Speakers are selected from the top echelons of the industry, and the conversations and networking opportunities rise far above what you’ll experience anywhere else. Costs $575, though tickets are open to Novelists, Inc. members only. Annual membership dues are $95. In St. Pete Beach, Florida.
⭐ SEP 18 · Lessons Learned: A Decade of Indie Publishing M.K. Williams is the author of multiple science fiction books, short stories, and self-publishing guides. A truly all-American author, she has lived and worked across the country and now finds herself beneath the sunny, and often rainy, skies of Tampa. Because she has found so much joy in helping others realize their dreams of becoming an author, M.K. Williams has launched Author Your Ambition, your go-to location for all the things you need to be a success self-published author with FREE email courses, books, and more. M.K. joins us to share the lessons she's learned from the last decade as an author who helps other authors.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lessons-learned-a-decade-of-indie-publishing-tickets-1693134453729
🔴 SEP 19 · 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
⭐ SEP 21 · 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.
🟢 SEP 22 · Astrolabe is open until October 22 for up to 150 submissions of fiction and creative nonfiction (up to 3,000 words total, up to 3 pieces) and photography/art (up to 5 pieces). Payment: $50 honorarium upon publication. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no multiple submissions; unpublished work only. Submit via email.
https://www.astrolabe.ooo/submissions
⭐ SEP 25 · ZapConnect is Zapier’s free virtual conference for automation enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and business owners. Learn how to harness the power of automation to save time, scale your work, and connect the tools you already use. Features keynote speakers, expert-led sessions, and practical workshops designed to help you build smarter workflows.
https://zapier.com/zapconnect#hero
⭐ SEP 25-28 · WIT 2025: Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Festival A weekend in the Berkshires where writers, thinkers, and readers explore “The Power of Words: Authors & Activism.” Join in-person or via livestream for urgent, high-impact conversations—beloved literary voices like Marilynne Robinson, Hanif Abdurraqib, Catherine Coleman Flowers, Torrey Peters, M. Gessen, and more in dialogue on literature, freedom, and justice.
https://authorsguild.org/foundation/wit-words-ideas-and-thinkers/
⭐ SEP 25-28 · Colorado Gold Writers Con A nonprofit, volunteer-run community devoted to encouraging, educating, and supporting writers on their journey toward commercial fiction publication. RMFW hosts a wealth of resources: free monthly workshops, an annual Colorado Gold writers conference, local and online events, writing retreats, anthology publication opportunities, critique groups, and a vibrant community across genres. Membership also includes perks like discounts on education, conference access, and professional services.
🔴 SEP 26 · 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
⭐ SEP 28 · 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
⭐ SEP 28 · 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.
⭐ SEP 30 · Free Masterclass: How to Dictate Your Novel (Without the Overwhelm) A powerful 60-minute live session with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, founder of FictionCourses. She’ll show how she’s written 14 fiction books through dictation and how you can too, using her Fictation™ method. This masterclass will help you bust through common dictation hurdles (yes, even if you’ve tried and given up), write faster, more confidently, and with less physical strain and speak your story instead of typing.
https://authortunities--fictioncourses.thrivecart.com/how-to-dictate-your-novel-sept-2025/
🔴 SEP 30 · Ghastly Goings-On Press closes for submissions to the “To Whom It May Not Concern” anthology of fictionalized or unsent emails/letters to schools and institutions. Accepts fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry (500–2,000 words, flexible). Payment is $20 for prose and $10 per poem. Reprints accepted. No AI-generated work. Submit via Google Form.
https://www.ghastlygoingson.com/submissions
🔴 SEP 30 · Riddle Fence closes for submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. Payment: CAD $50 per published page (written work); CARFAC fees for art. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Submit via Submittable.
https://riddlefence.com/submit/
🔴 SEP 30 · The Writers College Short Story Competition closes for submissions of short stories (1,000–2,000 words) on the theme "All the things we didn't learn." Payout: NZD $1000 for the winner. Open to unpublished writers or those with fewer than four publications. No reprints; simultaneous submissions policy unspecified. Submit via email.
https://www.thewriterscollege.com/the-writers-college-annual-short-story-competition/
🔴♻️ SEP 30 · The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction is closing for submissions of previously published or unpublished memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, or discovered up to 10,000 words. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
🔴 SEP 30 · Flash Fiction 500 Competition is closing for original flash fiction up to 500 words. First place winner receives £300, second place winner receives £200, and third place winner receives £100. Entry fee is £5 for one story, £8 for two stories, £11 for three stories, £14 for four stories.
https://flash500.com/flash-fiction/
🔴 SEP 30 · 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
🔴 SEP 30 · Thalia Press: Cat-Themed Mystery Anthology closes for mystery/crime short stories prominently featuring cats. Cozy, dark, and neo-noir styles encouraged. Original works only (up to 7,500 words), no reprints. Payment: $25, three author copies, and promotional ad space in the anthology. Submit queries, nominations, or stories via email to thaliapress@gmail.com.
https://thaliapress.com/now-accepting-submissions-for/
🔴 SEP 30 · The New Quarterly closes fiction and poetry submissions. Literary excellence required; seeking balanced, innovative work in approachable language. Payment: $275 for fiction, $50 per poem, plus contributor copy. Submit via online portal.
🔴 SEP 30 · Heartlines Spec – Autumn 2025 Issue closes submissions for 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 30 · 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 [https://shortstory.substack.com]
🔴🖼️ SEP 30 · 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 30 · Haven Spec Magazine closes submissions 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 30 · The Big Book of Quantum Fiction is closing for speculative fiction exploring quantum theory and reality shifts. Submit up to two original stories (2,500–7,500 words). No reprints or simultaneous submissions. Payment: $100 per accepted story.
https://www.tracyshew.com/blog/the-big-book-of-quantum-fiction
🔴🖼️ SEP 30 · FreeFall Magazine is closing for original, previously unpublished prose (up to 4,000 words), poetry (1–3 poems, ≤ 6 pages each), and black & white artwork (6”×4” at 300 dpi). They also accept proposal queries for interviews and reviews. Payment: $10/page for prose (up to $100); $25/poem; $100 for cover art/photos; $50 for approved interviews/reviews. All contributors receive one print copy. Simultaneous submissions accepted; no reprints.
https://freefallmagazine.ca/submissions/
🔴♻️ SEP 30 · Dalliances Anthology Series is closing 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
🔴 SEP 30 · In the Words of a Flower: The Language of Flowers Anthology (Inked in Gray) is closed for adult fantasy short stories (2,000–7,000 words) that incorporate floriography, the language of flowers. International submissions welcome. Payment is $50 per accepted story for first edition exclusive rights (6‑month exclusivity).
https://inkedingray.com/work-with-us/
OCTOBER
🟢 OCT 1 · BookLife is open until November 1 for submissions of books on world and military history 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 works of horror, mystery, and the supernatural.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 OCT 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
🟢 OCT 1 · Split Lip Magazine is open until October 31 for tip jar submissions in fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, interviews/reviews, and micro reviews. Payment: $75 (fiction, flash, memoir, poetry), $50 (interviews/reviews), $25 (micro reviews). Submit via Submittable.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🟢 OCT 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
🟢 OCT 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/
🟢 OCT 1 · IHRAM magazine, a project of the International Human Rights Art Movement, is open until December 1 for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art written to the theme “Echoes from the Street: Homelessness and the Unhoused.” Payment is $50 USD per piece, $25 for visual art.
https://humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-publishes
🟢 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 · 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
🟢 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 · The Lascaux Prize in Poetry is open until March 31 for submissions of previously published or unpublished poetry with no length restrictions. All genres and styles are welcome. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. Entry fee is $15 USD.
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
🔴 OCT 1 · The Lindenwood Review (Issue 16) closes submissions for original, unpublished short fiction, creative nonfiction, and prose poems. Accepted formats include short stories and flash fiction; personal essays, lyric essays, and flash nonfiction; and prose poems in paragraph format (no line breaks or stanzas). Submit one piece per category per year (maximum 10 pages, minimum one paragraph).
https://thelindenwoodreview.submittable.com/submit
🔴 OCT 1 · The Last Line Literary Journal closes today for short fiction ending with the line: “I called back a week later and told them we were good to go.” Payment is $20–$40 per piece.
https://www.thelastlinejournal.com/submission.htm
🔴♻️ OCT 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
🔴 OCT 3 · 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 5 · State of the Story Screenwriting Event A screenwriting event featuring a full-day series of curated discussion panels, providing practical insights into the state-of-the-craft and profession of storytelling. Learn and network with industry leaders. Virtual tickets $75 USD.
⭐ 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 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
🔴♻️ OCT 10 · Vellum Mortis (Memento Mori Ink) closes submissions for flash fiction up to 1,000 words for their August 2025 issue themed “Terraform the Damned.” 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
🔴 OCT 10 · 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 · Master Screenplay Writing with Thomas Fenton Learn the art of fear in this 3-hour horror story screenwriting masterclass with Thomas Fenton. For $195, you’ll explore how to build chilling stories from the ground up using beat sheets, notecards, and the 5-act structure, while mastering pacing, jump scares, reveals, and twist endings. From character design to balancing gore, mythos, and subgenres, you’ll walk away with the tools to craft screenplays that keep audiences haunted long after the credits roll.
https://www.workingscreenwriter.com/class-page-horror-story
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/
🟢 · long con magazine is open year‑round for Art re. art replies from 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. Must be responses to one or more artworks/artifacts (identified in artist statement). Payment: CAD $20 via e‑transfer per contribution (regardless of length or form).
https://longconmag.com/submit/
🟢 · 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
Oh, this post came at the perfect time! I will be using these focus centering techniques and sharing them with my son.