This Tree Saved My Sanity
From overwhelm to flow with my new Task Tree method
Surprise! This isn’t the post I originally planned to send today. But in the spirit of August’s theme, “Recharge and Reflect,” I had an epiphany this week that completely reframed my task list. I think it’s worth sharing with you, in case it sparks something for your own.
Hear me out…
Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “There’s no way a simple reframe can tame my to-do list,” let me give you a peek at mine. I manage Space and Time magazine, I’m prepping to start interviews for The First 50 Years history project, serving as HWA President, coaching authors on Reedsy, co-editing Coven of the East with Pauline Chow, wrapping up the 13 Spooky Tales anthology, tackling my own short story and poetry assignments, writing a book on request for a publisher, finishing edits on Soft Deadlines (to publish next week!)... all while still wanting to spend time with my family, eat, hydrate, and take care of myself.
Oh, and did I mention I try to keep weekends with family non-negotiable?
Until this week, my to-do list was always spilling off the page. I felt like I could never catch up, and in the back of my mind was that constant whisper: you’ve probably forgotten something important. I struggled to prioritize. Whatever was in front of me felt like the most urgent thing, which, let’s be honest, is not a best practice for success.
Then it clicked…
But reflecting on “Recharge and Reflect” all month with you nudged me to reassess my workflow. We all want less of the grind work and more of the flow, right? This week I was pondering: surely there has to be a better way.
That’s when the metaphor of a tree rooted itself in my mind. And suddenly… everything clicked.
Roots → Self-care. If my roots aren’t fed, rested, and hydrated, they can’t support the rest of the tree.
Trunk → The essential structures I need, but don’t touch every day (taxes, LLC paperwork, my will).
Branches → Ongoing projects: books, anthologies, coaching, magazine issues.
Leaves → Social media, presentations, publicity — the ways projects catch light and give value back.
Fruit → Finished work, like a published book or launched class, ready to be shared.
Compost → Abandoned or retired projects that break down into nutrients for future ideas.
Seeds & Saplings → New ideas and experiments that may one day grow into full branches.
I built a new folder in Google Drive called My Task Tree. In it, I created folders for each of these categories, then made one master list I optimistically called my “No-More-Dash Board” (get it?) and linked the folders there. I started moving my endless tasks from my chaotic old list into this new system. With an organization that made sense, it was pretty fast and easy.
Here’s what happened:
Suddenly, I could see my workload and understand the true value of each task.
I realized I had too many branches, so I started pruning.
I made my roots (self-care) a non-negotiable priority.
For the first time in a long while, I’ve been in a focused flow instead of drowning in overwhelm.
Because the folders are linked, it’s easy to drop important info into the right place. No more endless email scrolling to find simple info I know I’d saved.
It’s still evolving, but this week has been beautiful. I feel lighter. More intentional. More aligned.
Thank you for walking with me through August’s theme of Recharge and Reflect. Honestly, if I hadn’t been holding that idea in mind, I doubt this breakthrough would have landed for me. I reordered my responsibilities by flow instead of just go, and it’s already changing everything.
Want to try it yourself?
Set up folders for Roots, Trunk, Branches, Leaves, Fruit, Seeds, Saplings, and Compost.
Use one master to-do list linked to those folders.
Watch your task list transform into a living, breathing system.
I’ll be sharing how this system evolves more through next month. If you try this, let me know how it works for you in the comments!
Goodbye August!
Here is what we learned this month with “Recharge and Reflect.”
The Re-entry – Today we engage on our terms, according to our goals.
Bonus: Today’s Task Tree epiphany!
Did this last month focus help you as much as it did me? I feel recharged and ready to go! This closes out August’s theme. Next week I’m excited to step into September’s: “Focus to Flow.”
Download: Task Tree Starter Guide & Workbook
The Task Tree Starter Guide & Workbook is a simple way to turn overwhelm into flow by reframing your to-do list as a living system. This quick guide walks you through with easy instructions, reflective prompts, and workbook pages. You can print it, use it in Notion, or adapt it to whatever system works best for you because the magic isn’t in the platform, it’s in the organization.
Subscribers: Your download is available for just $8.88 here.
Supporting Subscribers will find your free download in the chat here.
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: From the Sidelines 👀.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
⭐ AUG 29–SEP 1 · WriterCon 2025 is a four‑day in‑person writers’ conference in Oklahoma City, OK, at the Historic Skirvin Hotel. Now in its 18th year, the conference offers 60+ speakers and 70+ sessions across all genres—including workshops on craft, publishing, marketing, pitch opportunities, manuscript reviews, and networking events. Ticket packages start around $499 (Basic), with Premium and Superstar options offering extras like private consultations, contest entries, audio recordings, and author receptions (up to $799).
🟢♻️ AUG 31 · Dalliances Anthology Series is open until September 30 for original romantic short fiction (2,000–6,000 words). Stories may be sweet or steamy and should emphasize emotional connection. Payment is semi-pro — USD $0.02/word. Reprints are allowed. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Submission method: email to Cupid’s Arrow Publishing.
https://duotrope.com/anthology/dalliances-anthology-series-38358
⭐ AUG 31 · Bi-Weekly Open Mic Night Join The Mad Poet and host Jordan Francis for a NeighborHub community open mic every other Sunday at 8 pm EST. Prose and poetry readings welcome. A welcoming and supportive group that encourages creative growth. For members of the Authortunities NeighborHub. Membership is free.
https://www.authortunitieshub.com
⭐ AUG 31 · Rattlecast livestreams, is part interview and open mic with a prompt-based open mic. Hangout with Rattle editor Timothy Green and Katie Dozier. Each Rattlecast begins with an interview, a writing prompt, and poets reading from the last week’s prompt. | Rattlecast at 8 pm EST.
🔴 AUG 31 · Apex Magazine Monthly Flash Fiction Contest Submissions close to all for speculative flash fiction at midnight. Winner will be announced no later than the 15th of the following month and be paid $0.08/word or $10, whichever is more, and published on the Apex Magazine Patreon as an exclusive the month following and will be included in the forthcoming issue of Apex Magazine.
https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/apex-magazine-flash-fiction
🔴 AUG 31 · Thalia Press: Time after Time Anthology closes for historical or future-set mystery/crime short stories (up to 7,500 words). Cozy and dark mysteries welcome. Original works only, no reprints. Payment: $25, three author copies, and promotional ad space in the anthology. Submit via email to thaliapress@gmail.com.
https://thaliapress.com/now-accepting-submissions-for/
🔴 AUG 31 · SFPA Poetry Contest 2025 closes for unpublished speculative poems (multiple entries allowed; $3 per poem entry fee). Winners published on SFPA website. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no AI-generated content. Submit via online form; entries read anonymously.
https://www.sfpoetry.com/contests.html
🔴 AUG 31 · Short Story Substack closes for submissions of short stories (any genre, 6–10,000 words). Payment: Base pay $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue. One winner per month. Reprints accepted if distribution rights are available. Submit via email.
https:// shortstory.substack.com [https://shortstory.substack.com]
🔴🖼️ AUG 31 · Split Lip Magazine is closed for free submissions in fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art, interviews/reviews, and micro reviews. Payment: $75 (fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art), $50 (interviews/reviews), $25 (micro reviews). Submit via Submittable.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🔴 AUG 31 · Haven Spec Magazine closes submissions for original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–6,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 poems). Haven Spec seeks stories and poems with a strong voice and a sense of adventure, aiming to publish works that resonate emotionally and intellectually. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints are not. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction and $20 per poem. Submit via Acolyte.
https://www.havenspec.com/submit
SEPTEMBER
🟢 SEP 1 · BookLife is open until October 1 for submissions of works of horror, mystery, and the supernatural for their Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books both online and in print in Publishers Weekly magazine. Each Indie Spotlight is open to all types of books as long as they match the month's topic. Submissions close for self-published picture books and other illustrated titles, including graphic novels.
https://booklife.com/about-us/booklife-s-indie-spotlight.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Haven Spec Magazine – September 2025 Demographic-Restricted Submissions is open until SEP 30 exclusively for authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Submissions are open for original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–6,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 poems). Haven Spec seeks stories and poems with a strong voice and a sense of adventure, aiming to publish works that resonate emotionally and intellectually. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints are not. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction and $20 per poem. Submit via Acolyte.
https://www.havenspec.com/submit
🟢🖼️ SEP 1 · Split Lip Magazine is open until September 30 for free submissions in fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art, interviews/reviews, and micro reviews. Payment: $75 (fiction, flash, memoir, poetry, art), $50 (interviews/reviews), $25 (micro reviews). Submit via Submittable.
https://splitlipthemag.com/submit
🟢 SEP 1 · Berkeley Fiction Review – Short Fiction Submissions is open until April 30, 2026 for previously unpublished short stories across all genres. They seek innovative and reflective fiction that plays with form and content, as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas that contribute to ongoing cultural conversations. Submissions should not exceed 30 pages and must be typed and double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, with no personal information on the document to ensure blind reading. Payment is $25 plus a contributor copy.
https://berkeleyfictionreview.org/submit/short-fiction/
🟢 SEP 1 · Heartlines Spec – Autumn 2025 Issue is open until SEP 30 for submissions of original, unpublished speculative fiction (500–3,500 words) and poetry (up to 5 pieces per submission) that center on long-term relationships—platonic, romantic, or familial. They seek stories with strong speculative elements from the start, prioritizing earned, emotionally resonant endings (happy or bittersweet). Themes of queer platonic bonds, ace/aro love stories, and polycules are especially welcome. Payment is $0.08 CAD per word for fiction and $60 CAD per poem. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints, AI-generated content, erotica, and extreme violence are not. Submissions are accepted via Moksha.
https://www.heartlines-spec.com/submission-guidelines/
🟢 SEP 1 · AGNI (Boston University) is open until May 31 for submissions of previously unpublished fiction, essays, and poetry. Writers may submit one story, one essay, or up to five poems per reading period. AGNI seeks writing that captures experience before the crusts of habit form—poetry and prose that resist ideas about what a certain kind of writing “should do.” Submissions are accepted via their online portal (with a $3 fee) or by postal mail (free). Simultaneous submissions are accepted; reprints and AI-generated content are not. The reading period includes a break from December 15 to January 15, during which submissions are not accepted.
https://agnionline.bu.edu/submit/
🟢 SEP 1 · Wallstrait – Fall 2025 Reading Period is open until DEC 1 for submissions of original, unpublished fiction between 500 and 5,000 words (preferred range: 500–3,000 words). Wallstrait seeks hard-to-define fiction across all genres, including experimental, hybrid, and genre-blending works. Submissions must be double-spaced in a readable font, with a brief third-person bio and word count included. Only one story may be submitted at a time; simultaneous submissions are allowed, but reprints and AI-generated content are not accepted. Payment is $25 per accepted story via PayPal. Submit via Submittable.
https://www.wallstrait.com/submissions
🟢 SEP 1 · TeenQuill Writing Contest is open for poetry and play monologues from to students aged 12 to 19. Authors of selected works will receive a $50 Amazon e-gift card and publication in Kinsman Quarterly. Selected works will also be featured on its website, promoted on social media platforms, and included in printed advertisements. One student will be selected each season.
https://www.kinsmanquarterly.org/teenquill-writing-contest
🟢 SEP 1 · Write or Die Magazine is open for free submissions of essays and essays and fiction for the first week of the month. There is a $3 submission fee for the rest of the month. No fee for author interviews. “Payment is approx. $50.”
https://writeordiemag.com/submission-guidelines
🟢 SEP 1 · Three-Lobed Burning Eye opens until September 16 for “original, unpublished speculative fiction: including horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction.” Payment is US $.08 per word for short stories or (1,500–7,499 words) or flash fiction (500–1,499 words); plus one copy of the print anthology.
https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Arc Poetry is open until September 31 for poetry on any subject or form, and for pitches of 250-500 words for both essays and interviews with poets. Payment is $50 per poem, or printed page. Poets based in the USA must pay a small submission fee of $2 per poem.
https://arcpoetry.ca/resources/general-submissions/
🟢 SEP 1 · Electric Spec is open until October 15 for speculative fiction stories of “science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre” between 250 and 7000 words for their November issue. Payment is $20 per piece.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🟢 SEP 1 · Flame Tree Fiction Newsletter calls for monthly themed submissions from newsletter subscribers only (free to subscribe) up to 1k words for $0.08 per word USD for original fiction.
https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/
🟢 SEP 1 · Fraidy Cat Quarterly is open until September 7 for submissions of horror flash fiction and short stories and always open to submissions of black and white art. Extended deadline until September 14 for “LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors.” Payment is $10 for flash fiction and art artwork and $20 per short story. Work should be created with the theme of “Gnaw.”
https://fraidycatpress.com/submission-guidelines/
🟢 SEP 1 · Rattle Magazine’s Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge opens until the last day of the month for ekphrastic poetry in response to selected visual art posted on their page. Two winners receive $100 and publication online.
https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/
🟢 SEP 1 · The John Ridland Poetry Prize is open until December 31 for submissions of “an unpublished book-length manuscript of 48-100 pages” from a US poet 55 years and older. The winner receives $500, publication by Gunpowder Press, and 10 author copies. Entry fee of $20.
https://gunpowderpress.com/poetry-prizes/john-ridland-poetry-prize/
🟢 SEP 1 · The 2025 Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition is open until December 31 for “One to three poems on any topic.” First Prize is $2,000. Poems must contain meter. Rhyme and other traditional techniques encouraged but not required. You can enter up to three submissions, each containing one to three poems, not exceeding 108 lines in total per submission. Each submission requires the standard entry fee of $20, which includes a free subscription to their monthly e-Newsletter.
🟢 SEP 1 · Plott Hound Magazine – Fall 2025 Issue is open until September 15 for submissions of original, unpublished speculative fiction (1,000–5,000 words), flash fiction (up to 999 words), poetry (1–5 poems, up to 5 pages total), and nonfiction essays (1,000–2,500 words). All works must feature animal protagonists—real, mythical, or invented—and explore their cultures, societies, or sensory experiences. Human characters may appear but should not be the focus. Payment is $0.08 per word for fiction, $50 per poem, and $100 per essay. Submit via Moksha.
https://plotthound.moksha.io/publication/1
🟢 SEP 1 · The 2025 SCP International High School Poetry Competition is open until December 31 for “One to three poems on any topic.” First Prize is $200. Poems must contain meter. Rhyme and other traditional techniques encouraged but not required. You can enter up to three submissions, each containing one to three poems, not exceeding 108 lines in total per submission. Each submission requires the standard entry fee of $5, which includes a free subscription to their monthly e-Newsletter.
https://classicalpoets.org/2024/08/31/the-2024-scp-international-high-school-poetry-competition/
🔴 SEP 1 · New Edge Sword & Sorcery is closed for original sword & sorcery short fiction. Word count: 4,000–6,000 words. Payment: professional—USD $0.04/word (with potential increases via stretch goals during crowdfunding). Submission method: email.
https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/submissions/
🔴 SEP 1 · IHRAM magazine, a project of the International Human Rights Art Movement, is closing for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art written to the theme “Enduring Voices: Life with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses.” Payment is $50 USD per piece, $25 for visual art.
https://humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-publishes
🔴♻️ SEP 3 · Collaborature Monthly Contest is open until the 17th of the month for fiction and poetry “written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry).” Reprints are allowed. Payment is $20 USD.
https://collaborature.blogspot.com/p/contests.html
🔴 SEP 5 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week's deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
🟢 SEP 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
⭐ SEP 7 · 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 07 · Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest is closing for original flash fiction featuring a K–12 teacher as the protagonist or narrator (6–499 words, unpublished). Entry fee: USD $5 (waived for Academy Fellows). Prize: USD $1,000 and publication in A Public Space (print for winner, online for runners‑up). Submission via online form.
https://academyforteachers.org/contests
🔴 SEP 7 · Fraidy Cat Quarterly is closing regular submissions of horror flash fiction and short stories but remains open to submissions of black and white art from all. Extended deadline until September 14 for “LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors.” Payment is $10 for flash fiction and art artwork and $20 per short story. Work should be created with the theme of “Gnaw.”
https://fraidycatpress.com/submission-guidelines/
🔴♻️ SEP 10 · Vellum Mortis (Memento Mori Ink) closes submissions for flash fiction up to 1,000 words for their August 2025 issue themed “The Unmaking.” 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
🔴 SEP 12 · 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 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 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
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
I love this! I always forget to nurture my roots but will make it my priority from now on. Thank you for sharing this! ❤️
That is really clever!