Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 2hBeyond Story: How to Use Case Studies in Your Nonfiction Book janefriedman.com/beyond-story-how-t…janefriedman.comBeyond Story: How to Use Case Studies in Your Nonfiction Book | Jane FriedmanAn effective case study allows your reader to connect with what works and what’s possible for them, and most importantly, keeps them turning pages. 001
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 22hDeadline: Nov 15: The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2026. Submit your best micro fiction up to 250 words to win $1000 and publication. Fee: $14 | www.smokelong.com/the-smokelong-gra… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 02/10/2026Q: Can stories with unsavory characters find a home in today’s lit mag landscape? litmagnews.substack.com/p/q-can-sto…litmagnews.substack.comQ: Can stories with unsavory characters find a home in today’s lit mag landscape?“They will not be using delicate language.” 100
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 02/10/2026"Further Exercises", a prose poem by Susan Briante poems.com/poem/further-exercises via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @noemipress.bsky.social 021
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 01/10/2026Deadline: Nov 30: Catalogue Zine: “People, Places, Things” Issue. Submit creative writing, art, interviews, and video and audio work for Issue #5, "People, Places, Things" to win publication. No fee | www.cataloguezine.net/submitcataloguezine.netSubmit | Catalogue ZineSUBMIT TO CATALOGUE ZINE! Catalogue Zine is a climate-action focused magazine that publishes community artwork, writing, and any other type of original work. 013
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 01/10/2026LAST CALL! Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest sponsored by Winning Writers. $12,000 in prizes, plus two bonus awards from our co-sponsor Duotrope. Fee: $25 for 1-3 poems. Deadline: 11:59pm Hawaii Time tonight! winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 01/10/2026Why Creative Constraints Actually Boost Creativity elizabethspanncraig.com/motivation-…elizabethspanncraig.comWhy Creative Constraints Actually Boost Creativity – Elizabeth Spann CraigDiscover how creative constraints and genre guidelines actually enhance creativity and lead to more innovative writing solutions. 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 30/09/2026Deadline Tomorrow! Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Two poems will win $3,500 each. Ten HMs will receive $500 each. Top 12 poems published online. Submit published or unpublished work. Fee: $25 for 1-3 poems. winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom… 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 30/09/2026Deadline: Oct 31: Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award sponsored by Red Hen Press. Submit a previously unpublished original collection of poetry to win $3,000 and publication. Fee: $25 | redhen.org/awards/benjamin-saltman-… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 30/09/2026Deadline: Oct 23: Witches: Fantasy Short Story Writing Challenge. Enter the short story competition to win $1,800 and publication. More details on website. Fee: $38 | www.woodlandwriters.com/witches-2026woodlandwriters.comWitches Short Story Challenge — Woodland WritersWitches Short Story Challenge — Woodland Writers 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 30/09/2026"Cubistic Body World", a poem by Carolyn Marie Rodgers www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymaga… Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar theamericanscholar.org/cubistic-bod… 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 29/09/2026Deadline: Oct 31: Broken Sleep Books: Smutty Poetry Anthology. Submit unpublished "smutty poetry" that speaks from, to, or around desire, sex, and the body, to win publication. More details on website. No fee | www.brokensleepbooks.com/anthology-… 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 29/09/2026Deadline: Sep 30: Prize for Fiction sponsored by Dzanc Books. Submit original novels to win $5,000 advance and publication. More details on website. Fee: $25 | www.dzancbooks.org/contests 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 29/09/2026Press Release: Winning Writers Celebrates 25th Anniversary Serving the Literary Community www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wi… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 28/09/2026Deadline: Oct 15: Submissions to Phoebe Journal. Submit poetry, essays, short stories, and visual art to win $30 and publication. More details on website. Fee: $3 | phoebe.submittable.com/submitphoebe.submittable.comPhoebe Journal Submission ManagerSubmissions to the 2027 winter print issue are now OPEN!Our print issue is now open for submissions from August 15 to October 15! Our spring contest issue will open January 15 to March 15. Stay tuned on our socials for updates!-phoebe purchases First North American serial rights and pays $30 per accepted poem, essay, story, and piece of visual art. All contributors to the print issue also receive one copy of the journal upon publication. The fee for submission is $3 in all genres, including v... 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 28/09/2026The Latest Literary Scam: Emailing the Long-Dead Legends of 20th-Century Literature lithub.com/the-latest-literary-scam…lithub.comThe Latest Literary Scam: Emailing the Long-Dead Legends of 20th-Century LiteratureIn these first few years of the AI era, tens of thousands of published writers have received emails that begin something like this: Dear Fred, “I’ve long admired your novels, but feel that Windsong… 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 28/09/2026“A Planet Is A Moment”, a poem by Mary Buchinger www.ronslate.com/a-planet-is-a-mome… via Ron Slate 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 27/09/2026Deadline: Oct 11: Navy Pen Literary Magazine: Noise Issue. Submit short stories (up to 4,000 words), essays (up to 3,000 words) and poetry to win publication. No fee | navypen.submittable.com/submit 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 27/09/2026Deadline: Dec 1: The 2026 Bio-Sanctuary Contest. Submit poetry or non-fiction up to 500 words, along with 1-3 photos, to win $1,000 and publication. Fee: $10 | www.agarts.org/agarts-announces-the… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 27/09/2026"If We Lived in a Virtual World", a poem by Ghayath Almadhoun Translated from the Arabic by Catherine Cobham poems.com/poem/if-we-lived-in-a-vir… via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @actionbooks.bsky.social 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 26/09/2026Deadline: Jan 11: Amazing Women’s Edition Writing Contest. Submit one original book of 20–30 pages, created by a K–8 grade student in the United States, to win $250 and publication. More details on website. No fee | www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/ama… 001
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 26/09/2026"Eulogy for the Dairy Queen on Market", a poem by Marina Carreira poems.com/poem/eulogy-for-the-dairy… via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @cavankerrypress.bsky.social 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 25/09/2026Deadline: Nov 3: Minds on Fire. Submit an unpublished poetry manuscript of 48-90 pages to win $1,500. More details on website. Fee: $25 | www.conduit.org/book-prizes 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 25/09/2026Sponsored > What if publishing your book could cost $300 less? Through Sep 30, it can. Even better? With Atmosphere Press, you get the quality editing, bespoke design, and author-first support of a trusted selective hybrid publisher. Here's how to save before it's gone: loom.ly/JavjMLY 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 25/09/2026Long Before Toy Story, It-Narratives Imagined the Inner Lives of Objects lithub.com/long-before-toy-story-it…lithub.comLong Before Toy Story, It-Narratives Imagined the Inner Lives of ObjectsIt’s nighttime in the playroom and the toys have gathered for a conference. For modern audiences, this scene likely evokes the imaginative world of Toy Story, the long-running film franchise about … 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 24/09/2026Our $12,000 Poetry Contest Closes on October 1 We will award two $3,500 prizes for individual poems, plus 10 Honorable Mentions of $500 each. Top 12 poems published online. Entry fee: $25 for 3 poems. winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom… 012
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 24/09/2026Rolling deadline: Submissions to Frontier Poetry. Submit your poetry to win $50 and publication. More details on website. No fee | www.frontierpoetry.com/submitfrontierpoetry.comFrontier Poetry Submission Opportunities and Guidelines (opens in new tab New Voices Always open. Always free. We are thrilled to offer significant payment to our partner poets: $50 per poem. We warmly invite poets from historically under-represented and marginalized groups to submit. Our aim is… 021
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 24/09/2026Asking Confidently and Advocating for Your Work litmagnews.substack.com/p/asking-co…litmagnews.substack.comAsking Confidently and Advocating for Your Work“Why should someone want to read my writing?” 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 24/09/2026Early Bird deadline Sep 30: Next Generation Indie Book Awards Indie authors and independent publishers may submit books published in 2025-2027 to win $1,500 and trophy. Many smaller awards. 80+ categories. Fee: $80 (choose a second category for free). www.indiebookawards.com 012
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 23/09/2026Deadline: Oct 1: The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction sponsored by @reedmagazine.bsky.social. Submit your creative nonfiction up to 5,000 words to win $1,333. Fee: $20 | www.reedmag.org/gabriele-rico-chall… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 23/09/2026Help, My Writing Group Thinks My Latest Story Was Really Funny: It Wasn’t Meant to Be lithub.com/help-my-writing-group-th…lithub.comHelp, My Writing Group Thinks My Latest Story Was Really Funny: It Wasn’t Meant to BeHello again, gentle readers! Welcome back to another delightful installment of everyone’s favorite bimonthly drunken advice column, Am I the Literary Asshole? It’s a column designed to bring hope, … 010
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 23/09/2026Early Bird deadline Sep 30: Next Generation Short Story Awards Submit an unpublished short story of up to 5,000 words to win $500, digital publication, and trophy. Many smaller awards. 30+ categories. Fee: $25. Second category is free when you enter early. shortstoryawards.com 021
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 22/09/2026We are proud to have our Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest final judge Michal 'MJ' Jones featured in this week's Grants & Awards newsletter from @pw.org. You can subscribe to it at www.pw.org/grants 010
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 22/09/2026Eight Simple Rules for Dating Your Historical Fiction lithub.com/eight-simple-rules-for-d…lithub.comEight Simple Rules for Dating Your Historical FictionThis first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. Consider these opening lines. Their source is far from obscure, so there’s a good chance you’ll recognize them right away.… 010
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 22/09/2026Deadline: Oct 15: Gerald Cable Book Award sponsored by Silverfish Review Press. Submit a book-length manuscript of original poetry to win $1000 and publication. More details on website. Fee: $25 | silverfishreviewpress.com/submissio…silverfishreviewpress.comSILVERFISH REVIEW PRESSComprehensive guidelines for the Gerald Cable Book Award submission process by Silverfish Review Press. Submit your poetry manuscript today! 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 22/09/2026"Tiira", a poem by Michael Imossan poems.com/poem/tiira via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @univnebpress.bsky.social 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 21/09/2026Deadline: Oct 31: Drinking Gourd Chapbook Prize sponsored by . Submit your poetry manuscript (25–35 pages in length) exploring the experiences of people of color to win $500 and publication. No fee | nupress.northwestern.edu/drinking-g… 031
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 21/09/2026Q: Simultaneous submissions: who, what, where, when, why...and huh? litmagnews.substack.com/p/q-simulta…litmagnews.substack.comQ: Simultaneous submissions: who, what, where, when, why...and huh?“This led to a lot of confusion for writers...” 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 21/09/2026Two $3,500 prizes for poems. Deadline: 10 days. 24th annual contest sponsored by Winning Writers. Fee: $25 for 1-3 poems. Submit published or unpublished work. createsend.com/t/d-B50522F67DED6F76… 021
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 20/09/2026Deadline: Nov 27: The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, & Books. Submit your short fiction, poetry, or a book to win a share of $3,000 USD and publication in The Letter Review. More details on website. Fee: $20 - $30 | letterreview.com/informationletterreview.comThe Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, and Books - The Letter ReviewThe Letter Review Prize - Now Open The Letter Review Prize is an internationally celebrated event, offered every four months in the categories of Short Fiction, Poetry, and Books. We publish our winners, maintain shortlists, submit to The Pushcart, and award over $16,000 USD annually to writers, meaning our prize is among the highest paying 022
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 20/09/2026When and How to Nudge Agents janefriedman.com/when-and-how-to-nu…janefriedman.comWhen and How to Nudge Agents | Jane FriedmanIf you haven’t heard back from an agent and you’re starting to wonder if you ever will, you might consider sending the agent a nudge. Here’s how. 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 19/09/2026Deadline: Sep 30: engine(idling Drive Award. Submit an unpublished poem on any theme and of any length to win $205.58. No fee | www.engineidling.net/drive #authors #writersofinstagram #writingcontest #writingcommunity #cnf #writingcontest #literarycontest #literature #bookstagram #poetry 062
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 19/09/2026Deadline: Sep 30: Morton Marcus Prize 2026 sponsored by Hive Poetry. Submit a poem up to two pages in length to win $1,000 and publication. Fee: $18 | hivepoetry.org/morton-marcus-prize 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 19/09/2026“Ithaka", a poem by C. P. Cavafy www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/5129… Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar theamericanscholar.org/ithaka-by-c-… 000
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 18/09/2026Deadline: Apr 30: The Moriarty Award. Submit fiction published in 2026 featuring a literary villain or antagonist who slinks off the page and into our psyches to win $1,000 and additional prizes. More details on website. Fee: $50 | www.bellcowproductions.com/awardbellcowproductions.comMoriarty AwardMoriarty Award 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 18/09/2026Deadline: Oct 8: Autumn's Many Colorful Moons Poetry Contest sponsored by Poetry Soup. Submit a poem up to 60 lines exploring the Autumn seen through a cultural lens to win publication. No fee | www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/contests/… 021
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 17/09/2026Deadline: Jan 15: Book Prize sponsored by Longleaf Press. Submit an original manuscript of at least 50 pages to win a $1,200 prize, 25 copies, and a virtual reading. More details on website. Fee: $27 | longleafpress.org/longleaf-press-po… 011
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 17/09/2026Opinion: You Have More Agency Than You Think: Creative Writing and Publishing in the Age of AI selfpublishingadvice.org/opinion-yo…selfpublishingadvice.orgOpinion: You Have More Agency Than You Think: Creative Writing and Publishing in the Age of AI — The Self-Publishing Advice CenterThis is an informed opinion piece by Nigel George, an indie author, ALLi Author Member, and the founder of GNW Independent Publishing (indiepublishing.au). He helps writers skip the snake-oil internet gurus and build sustainable careers based on authentic relationships with… 020
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 17/09/2026Our $12,000 Poetry Contest Closes on October 1 24th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. Fee: $25 for 1-3 poems. createsend.com/t/d-F3628A78F34526E7… 010
Winning Writers @winningwriters.com · 17/09/2026Our September newsletter features "Mushrooms" by Sylvia Plath, from Julian Peters' Nature Poems to See By. createsend.com/t/d-4C3B556382E57FC4… 000