83 Calls for Submissions in September 2021 — Paying markets
This September there are nearly seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.
I post calls for submissions on the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month’s calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)
Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.
Happy submitting!
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Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: 20.00 USD for featured authors, or $10.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $5.00 USD for poems. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Fieldnotes. Genre: “We are interested in whatever there is between translations/transitions, things-in-progress, converging genres, methods of excavation and formal innovation. The purpose of the journal is to provide a test site for ideas and research; a space for experimental modes and new prototypes. “ Payment: £100-£200. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The Fiddlehead. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers residing in Canada. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. Payment: $60 CAD per published page, plus two complimentary copies. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
En Bloc. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art and photography. Payment: £35 per side. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
In the Shadow of the Horns: A Black Metal Horror Anthology. Genre: Horror fiction focused on the atmosphere and themes of black metal. Satan, Occult, Violence, Pessimism, Chaos, Death, The Sublime, Nature, Paganism, Antinatalism, etc. are all elements that are essential to submissions. Payment: 2 cents/word, up to $100 max. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Alternating Current Press: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and CNF. Theme: Parenting. 750 words max. Payment: Royalty sharing. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 1, 2021. See themes.
Uncanny Magazine. Genre: SF/F short stories. Payment: $.10 per word. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The New Lesbian Pulp: An Anthology of Short Fiction. Genre: Lesbian pulp. Payment: $500 — $1000. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Neon Door: Emotional Nudity. Genre: Art, poetry, prose. Payment: $25 for an image, $50 for a poem, and $75 for prose. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Guernica. Genre: Poetry, Essays, Fiction, Reportage. Theme: Dirt. Payment: $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Vautrin. Genre: Gritty urban fiction, Crime/Mystery Fiction, Ghosts, The Supernatural, Literary Essays. “We’re interested in essays that talk about contemporary crime fiction, or essays that walk the path between, say, 19th century fiction and fiction in the here and now.” Payment: $130.00 and two contributor’s copies for fiction over 2,000 words. $65.00 and two contributor’s copies for fiction under 2,000 words. $50.00 and two contributor’s copies for literary essays. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The Antihumanist. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, art — all genres. “We seek to publish the most challenging and thought provoking flash fiction and essays. We believe only by confronting the bare bones of reality we understand our place in the world.” Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Books and Bikes in Space. Genre: Stories about bicycling and books, from a feminist perspective. Stories can be in any speculative or fantastical genre — hard science fiction, space opera, epic fantasy, alternative history, paranormal romance, hope punk, modern fairy tales and anything around or in between. Payment: $50 minimum. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Madame Gray’s Vault of Gore. Genre: Horror. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Moonflake Press. Genre: Short stories and poems on theme of Escapism. Payment: £25 for each story/poem. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The Southampton Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Payment: Prose: $100+, Poetry: $75 per poem. Illustration: $100 per page. Art Portfolios: $200 for up to 12 images Deadline: September 1, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid fees.
The Wire’s Dream Magazine. Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, Photography, Combined Work from underprivileged individuals. Payment: $5. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries. Genre: Nonfiction, true crime accounts of unsolved criminal cases and mysteries that can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. Payment: $130. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
The Zodiac Killers Series. Genre: Thriller. Length: 5000–10,000 words, excluding title. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Young Dragons. Genre: Middle Grade and Young Adult full-length manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Rattle. Genre: Poetry. Ekphrastic Challenge. Payment: $100. Deadline: September 1, 2021.
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores. Genre: Speculative stories. Payment: 6 cents/word for original work. 2 cents/word for reprints. Deadline: September 2, 2021.
The Periodical, Forlorn: Moonlighting. Genre: Short fiction. “For this issue, we’re looking for stories about agents of evil and their minions whose employment situation is something other than we might expect.” Payment: $15. Deadline: September 2, 2021.
Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tales, and essays on theme of “Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.” Payment: $100. US dollars only. Essays: $50. Deadline: September 3, 2021.
Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of CAREGIVER / LOVER. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: September 5, 2021.
midnight & indigo. Restrictions: Open to Black women writers. Genre: Short fiction, narrative, personal essays. Payment: $50 — $75. Deadline: September 5, 2021.
A Woman Built by Man. Restrictions: Open to women and femme-identifying individuals. Genre: Short stories that explore the ways in which women are shaped by the men around them. “There is no restriction on sub-genre or subject matter, but the story must incorporate how a feminine figure is shaped by male hands through a horror lens. From supernatural creature features to the farthest reaches of space, down to the darkest depths of the sea, what does a woman built by man look like to you?” Payment: $.05 USD per word. Deadline: September 5, 2021.
Tin House. Restrictions: Eligible writers must not currently have an agent, and must not have previously published a book (chapbooks okay). Genre: Full-length nonfiction (including Memoirs and Graphic nonfiction) Payment: Royalties (?) Deadline: September 5, 2021.
Dark Moon Press: Horror Library. Genre: Horror short stories. Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: September 5, 2021.
Please See Me. Genre: Poetry, creative nonfiction/essays, fiction/short stories/flash fiction, scripts and digital media (photography, drawings, podcasts, and short films). “We are especially looking for content from vulnerable populations and those who care for them; content that connects us with every community, makes us feel something, helps us see illness, wellness, health, or the healthcare environment differently, and inspires equality in healthcare and the world.” Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 6, 2021.
Buckmxn Journal. Restrictions: Open to Oregon and SW Washington residents only. Genre: Fiction and creative non-fiction. Payment: $100. Deadline: September 6, 2021.
Scum. Genre: Feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 2000 words (50 lines for poetry, max. 3 poems) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. Payment: $60 AUD. Deadline: September 7, 2021. Opens to submissions on September 1.
Into the Void. Genre: Poetry, fiction. Payment: $10 per poem, flash fiction or visual art piece, and $20 per long-form prose piece. Deadline: September 7, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees. (Check this deadline, may be extended)
Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word for original short stories and flash fiction. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 7, 2021. Opens to submissions on September 1.
Sinister Smile Press: Screaming in the Night. Genre: Horror. Payment: $40. Deadline: September 8, 2021.
Breaking Rules Europe: Murder! Mystery! Mayhem! Genre: Any sub-genre of crime fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 8, 2021.
ParSec. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, and slipstream. Payment: 2p a word up to £180.00 with no set word limit. Deadline: September 10, 2021.
Nightmare Magazine. Restrictions: Open to BIPOC writers only. Genre: Horror, dark fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents/word. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 12, 2021.
Los Suelos. Genre: Pitches for stories for a multi-media anthology about Los Suelos, CA. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: September 12, 2021.
Underground Writers Zine. Restrictions: Priority of publication is given to Australian writers. Genre: Short stories, flach fiction, poetry. Payment: AUD$50. Deadline: September 12, 2021.
Shoreline of Infinity. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy. Payment: £10/1000 words. Deadline: September 13, 2021.
Dose of Dread. Genre: General horror flash fiction. Preference for dread-inducing stories. Length: 500–1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Shenandoah. Genre: Novel Excerpts and CNF on theme of Border Crossings. Payment: $100 per 1000 words of prose up to $500. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Collective Humanity: An LGBTQ+ Anthology. Genre: Short fiction (short stories, poetry, flash fiction) within the umbrella of speculative fiction: namely, horror, science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian. The theme for the first publication will be metamorphosis: a transformation, growth, renewal, or rebirth. Payment: This is a charity anthology, so there is no payment. All net proceeds from Collective Humanity will raise funds in support of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire General Fund, an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Lost and Found. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry. Theme: The Daddy Issue. “We’re looking for poems that explore daddy energy in all its forms.” Payment: $30. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Eye to the Telescope. Genre: Speculative poetry. Theme: The Sea. Payment: US 3¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Panel Magazine. Restrictions: Writers and artists may be of any origin but should live and work in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Baltic States, Germany/Austria/Switzerland, and the South Caucasus. If you don’t live in the region, but have written a piece related to Central and Eastern Europe, feel free to submit it. Genre: Nonfiction, poetry and visual art from (or about) Central and Eastern Europe. Payment: 20 euros. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Olit. Restrictions: They prefer writers with a connection to Orlando or the greater Central Florida area. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Artwork, Photography. “Send us all kinds of stuff. We love the artfully weird.” Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
SFWG and Cloaked Press: YA & NA Horror. Genre: Speculative fiction for young adults and new adults. Genres accepted: Mystery, Paranormal, Scifi, Fantasy, Horror; and anything in those sub-genres. Word Count Range: 2500–7000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Silence in the City. Genre: Speculative fiction. “Silence in the City is an anthology of speculative tales asking what happens when a city — and all of modern civilization — is plunged into darkness.” Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash, plus a one-year pdf subscription. Deadline: September 15, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels. Genre: True stories and poems. “We are looking for true personal stories about how an angel has touched your life — stories of true wonder and awe from people who have directly encountered or received help from angels. We’re looking for amazing stories that will make people say “wow” or give our readers chills. Have you experienced something otherworldly or celestial? Or had a personal experience with an angel or divine being? How did your angel manifest himself or herself to you? Were you the only person who saw your angel? How did your angel protect or guide you?” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven. Genre: True stories and poems. “We want to hear from you if you have experienced communication from the other side or received a sign or signal from a loved one who has passed. Has someone who has died come to you in a dream? Given you counsel or comfort? Have you gone beyond, but returned to life with new knowledge, insight, or awareness? Have you intuitively known the moment someone died?” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles. Genre: True stories and poems. “We want your true stories, both religious and non-religious, that will awe us with examples of amazing events. Inspirational stories to remind us that each day stunning miracles do happen and that a miracle can happen at any time.” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 15, 2021.
From the Yonder. Genre: Horror. “The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall-tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest).” Payment: $5. Deadline: September 19, 2021.
Zombie Works Publications: Natural Instincts Tales of Witches and Warlocks. Genre: Short-stories that involve Witches and Warlocks. Payment: 10 cents per book (per each book sold on Amazon, I assume. So, if they sell 100 books, each author will get $10) Deadline: September 19, 2021.
Nightmare Magazine. Genre: Horror, dark fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents/word. $40 per poem. Deadline: September 19, 2021.
Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction. Payment: $80. Deadline: September 21, 2021.
Translunar Travelers Lounge. Restrictions: BIPOC writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 per word with a minimum of $20. Deadline: September 21, 2021.
Reckoning. Genre: Creative writing and art about environmental justice. Payment: 8 cents a word for prose, $30 per page for poetry, art negotiable, minimum $25 per piece. Deadline: September 22, 2021.
The Puritan. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: September 25, 2021.
Island. Restrictions: Open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents. Genre: Australian nature writing. Payment: $400. Deadline: September 27, 2021.
Dragon Soul Press: History. Genre: Historical Fiction. “Any person, location, or time period accepted as long as dragons are included. Note: Dragons need to be part of the storyline. They cannot be mentioned in passing.” Word Count — 5,000–15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Nashville Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art, and nonfiction. Payment: $25 per poem & song selection; $100 per selection for all other categories, including featured artwork. Translators receive $25 per poem & $100 for prose selections. Deadline: September 30, 2021.Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.
Crow Toes Quarterly. Genre: Playfully dark fiction, poetry and art for children. See themes. Payment: $20 — $50. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Pitt Poetry Series: University of Pittsburgh Press. Genre: Poetry books by poets who have previously published full-length collections of poetry. Payment: Royalties (?). Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Kenyon Review. Genre: Prose, drama, poetry, translations, excerpts. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Event. Genre: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction and book reviews. Payment: $40/page for poetry and $35/page for prose, up to a maximum of $500. Deadline: September 30, 2021.
Qwerty. Genre: Fiction, CNF, Poetry. Payment: $10 CAD. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Dragon Soul Press: Dragons and Heroines. Genre: “Any stories involving a female Main Character and dragons.” Word Count — 5,000–15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoirs, and poetry. with a pop-culture twist. Payment: $50 per author (via PayPal) for our web issues. Payment for print is $5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and a 1-year subscription. Deadline: September 30, 2021. Note: Submit early in the month.
Working Titles. Genre: Prose written for the digital page, which may incorporate unique visual, aural, or interactive elements. Payment: $250. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. USPS submissions only.
Red Cape Anthologies: L is for Lycanthropes. Genre: Horror. “Where werewolves turn on a full moon, lycanthropes are not as restricted. This opens up to more possibilities as they may turn at the most awkward moment, leading to terrifying carnage.” Payment: £10. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Savor: Poems for the Tongue. Genre: Poetry about food. Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Where Giants Fall. Genre: Fantasy. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
The Overcast. (Podcast) Genre: Speculative fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Magical Realism, Slipstream, or an as-yet-unnamed genre. No horror. The sweet spot for submissions is 2,000–3,000 words. Payment: $0.01 per word, but not less than $20 for any story. Flat rate of $20 for all stories under 2,000 words. Deadline: September 30th, 2021. Accepts reprints.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Crazy Family. Genre: True stories and poems. “We all have that certain someone in our own family who, while lovable, sweet, and caring, is also nutty or weird. We love that person but, at the same time, that family member makes us crazy! A parent or grandparent, an in-law, a brother or sister, an aunt, uncle or cousin. We all have them and you know who they are! We are looking for true stories and poems about those family members. We would like your stories to be silly, outrageous, hilarious, and make us laugh, but they should also show the kindness and caring of your family member too.” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving, Loss and Healing. Genre: True stories and poems. “This collection of emotional and inspirational stories will provide comfort, support, and peace to those who have lost someone close to them. What helped you the most when you were grieving? Who were the people who helped you and what did they do? When did you know that you had finally “turned the corner” and were on the road to recovery? When and how did you realize there was light at the end of the tunnel? What are you doing to support others?” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Humorous Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. “Share your funny stories about something that happened to you in your life — in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home — that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Did the other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Did a misunderstanding turn into a comedy of errors?” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kindness. Genre: True stories and poems. “Has someone performed an act of kindness for you? How did it feel? Did you pay it forward and do something kind for someone else? Did that person know it was you doing that kind thing? Did you do something kind for a stranger knowing you would not be paid back? How did that feel?” Payment: $200. Deadline: September 30th, 2021.
And a few more…
Cicada’s Lament. Restrictions: Open to marginalized creators, particularly work by disabled and/or LGBTQIA+ folx. Genre: Fiction or poetry with elements of Southern Gothic or horror. Theme: (re) birth. Births, baptisms, beginnings. “Cicada’s Lament wants your hanging moss and blue porch ceilings. We want your deer skulls and old ghosts, your ancient and decrepit houses.” Payment: $5. Deadline: October 1, 2021.
Fourteen Poems Genre: Poems. “We want to represent all that’s thrilling about the new wave of LGBT+ poets. If you’re a poet, even if you’ve never been published before, we want to read your work. Every issue we publish 14 of the best queer poems we’ve found, and we want to include you! We publish 4 times a year, but take submissions all year round. To be considered, email up to 5 poems, preferably in a pdf format, with a small paragraph about yourself to hello@14poems.com.” Payment: £25 for each poem published. Deadline: October 1, 2021.
Dark Peninsula Press. Genre: Survival Horror. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 1, 2021.
Slash — Her. Genre: Horror written by women. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: October 1, 2021.
The Last Line. Genre: Fiction that ends with the last line provided. Payment: $20-$40. Deadline: October 1, 2021.
Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.
