What: Queries for the labour issue are due July 3rd. If your query is accepted you have until August 8th to turn in a first draft. They are looking for articles, investigative reporting, historical analysis, photo essays, timelines, personal essays, reviews, profiles, recommendations, lists, humour, comics, and art on the topic of labour (for suggested topics, click here). For more information, including payment rates, click here.
To Submit: Your query should outline what ground your contribution will cover, give an estimated word count, and indicate your relevant experience or background in writing about the issue. If you haven’t written for Briarpatch before, they are asking that you provide a brief writing sample. Send queries to pitch@briarpatchmagazine.com. Please review their submission guidelines before submitting, and be sure to check out their guide to better pitching.
What: Short stories (~2,000-4,000 words) for the two following anthologies:
Pirates & Ghosts: Adventures and hauntings at sea, shipwrecks and buried treasure, treacherous waters, sea spirits, ghostly galleons, giant squid, kraken and a myriad of deadly sea monsters, sailors gone mad, revenge and madness, romance and the ancient skulls of desperate mariners…
Agents & Spies: From Machiavelli to James Bond, the intrigue of the Tudor court, the avarice of the Medicis, the poisons, the secret letters, the betrayal of lovers and governments, the smuggling of plans and formula for new weapons and inventions: this is the murky world of the official saboteur, plausible deniability and quiet knife in the back.
To Submit: Submit by email to 2017@flametreepublishing.com. For more information and terms click here.
"...we’re looking for around twenty to thirty short stories by contemporary writers to complement a selection of classic tales in two new anthologies. We are keen to encourage new writers, without prejudice to age, background or previous publication history. It’s the story that matters, and the quality of writing."
Who: Writers looking for help with their submissions material
What: Polished query letter & first 250 words of your manuscript (Contemporary Adult Romance genre only this round). "Please don't 'personalize' the query for the agents or include your bio paragraph, but other than that, treat it as you would a normal query letter. Include your manuscript's word count and title in your query. Comp titles are welcome if you were planning on using them in your regular query letter. The winning entries with agent commentary will be posted on Operation Awesome. If you aren't comfortable with having your entry (which will be anonymous) shared on the blog, please don't enter Pass or Pages!"
Entry fee: $0
To Submit: Submission via online form (check here between July 10-12). For more information and rules, click here, and here. Writers that have been chosen to receive feedback on their query letter will be announced July 24-28.
"We hope to get many types of romance entries, with main characters of different nationalities, sexual orientations, and from any underrepresented groups."
Who: Writers with stories about college
What: Stories set in school or college days, fiction or non-fiction, roughly 500 words. "Story trumps grammar and complicated words - for sure. But do pay some heed to the language. You can make more than 1 entry. The entries will be judged on two criteria: 1) Popularity among your peers – Get your friends to “Like” your entry (40% weightage) and 2) Judging Panel – a panel of expert judges will deliberate and decide the winner (60% weightage)." For more information, important dates, and prize amounts click here.
Entry fee: $0 (must sign in to Fourth Ambit)
To Submit: Submission via online form (click here)
"What happens when friends - both old and new - hang out together? Why is every "gupshup" session filled with stories that start with “Do you remember when..?” There is something really special about stories borne out of nostalgia. Stories that make you smile, laugh out loud, cry, perhaps even shudder at the narrow escapes. Here is a chance to showcase such stories & WIN exciting prizes!!"