NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH (NCR)
Weekly Notices for the week of Oct. 7 to Oct. 13, 2013
14 ITEMS 5 NEW EVENTS 2 NEW CONTESTS
Please send all submission & event notices to Carol Stephen at cstephen0@gmail.com
####Find writing-related services offered by our members at our CAA-NCR website http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/hire-a-member.shtml
NOTE TO CAA MEMBERS: Have you recently published a novel, won a writing award, had a spectacular book signing or in some other way been recognized within the writing community? If so, write up a little blurb about your accomplishment and we’ll publish it in Byline, the CAA-NCR branch Magazine. We are all excited, and encouraged, when someone in our writing family shines. Send your note to Sharyn Heagle, Editor, Byline at <sharyn_40@yahoo.com>
CAA-NCR EVENTS
ITEM 1: CAA-NCR MONTHLY MEETING OCTOBER 8, 2013
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Meeting Room, Lower Level of the Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, Metcalfe and Laurier Streets.

Ottawa Public Library’s Main Branch, designed by Bemi & Associates Architects (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
N/C to CAA members, $10 for non-members
Topic: HAVING FUN WITH MURDER AND MAYHEM: Exploring the many facets of crime writing Speaker: RJ Harlick
Described by the Ottawa Citizen as “one of the brightest new voices in the mystery business”, RJ Harlick, writes the acclaimed Meg Harris mystery series set in the wilds of Quebec. Like her heroine Meg Harris, RJ loves nothing better than to roam the forests surrounding her own wilderness cabin or paddle the endless lakes and rivers. The 4th book, Arctic Blue Death, was a finalist in the 2010 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel. In A Green Place for Dying, the latest in the series, Publishers Weekly said “Meg Harris…gets an education in evil in Harlick’s absorbing fifth mystery.” Meg travels to the Canadian west coast to Haida Gwaii in the next book, Silver Totem of Shame, which is scheduled for release in 2014.
RJ is the current President of Crime Writers of Canada.
CAA-NCR MEMBER NEWS
ITEM 2: MEMBER PHYLLIS BOHONIS BOOK LAUNCH NEW!
DATE: FRIDAY, OCT. 18 2013 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: THE WINE CELLAR, 10471 HWY 7 UNIT A CARLETON PLACE
Phyllis Bohonis, Ottawa author, and President, CAA-NCR branch, invites you to a BOOK SIGNING of her debut novel Fire in the Foothills, at THE WINE CELLAR, 10471 Hwy 7, Unit A, in Carleton Place, on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18th 2013, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – 7 pm.
Listen to a reading or two, enjoy some cheese and apple cider, have your book signed. Books will be available for purchase. For further information www.phyllisbohonis.com or phyllis.bohonis@sympatico.ca
CAA OTHER BRANCHES
ITEM 3: VANCOUVER CAA BRANCH 2013 Fiction Contest
NEW Deadline Extended to October 10th!
Open to all Canadian Writers
Win over $600 worth of prizes: First $300, Second $200, Third $100
Each winner receives two copies of National Voices 2014 Anthology
Rules
Length: Between 1,000 to 2,000 words, unpublished fiction of all types and styles
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by Thursday, October 10, 2013
- Fee per entry: $15 for national Canadian Authors Association members, $20 for non-members
- Cheques: Payable to CAA Vancouver, or pay online via PayPal (see below)
- Address: CAA Vancouver Fiction Contest 2013, 5679 – 47A Avenue, Delta, BC V4K 4B5
MORE INFO OR TO PAY ONLINE: http://www.canauthorsvancouver.org/contests.html#FictionContest
OTHER WORKSHOPS
ITEM 3: THE BANFF CENTRE LITERARY ARTS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS!
In(ter)ventions: Literary Practice at the Edge
Program dates: February 10 – 22, 2014
Application deadline: November 15, 2013
Faculty: Steven Ross Smith (director), J.R. Carpenter, Carla Harryman, Roy Miki
Guests: Jacob Wren, cris cheek
A groundbreaking residency that enables experimentation and creation in innovative writing practices. In(ter)ventions welcomes interventions in writing as an art form, where the medium itself (language) is the site of investigation. The means of production that might frame such interventions (such as audio, electronic literature, interactivity, vizpo, video, performance, collaboration, and so on) are secondary to and/or juxtaposed with the compositional.
APPLY NOW! http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=1393&p=apply
ITEM 4: OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS AUTHOR SERIES THIS FALL
The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a series of 13 author visits this Fall. Authors will discuss their most recent work, or a combination of their work, personal experience or research.
- Richard B. Wright: Mr. Shakespeare’s Bastard, Sunnyside, October 19, 2-3 p.m.
- Elizabeth Hay: Alone in the Classroom, Nepean Centrepointe, October 23, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Charles de Lint: Over My Head, Alta Vista, October 28, 7-8 p.m.
- Michael Redhill, Inger Ash Wolfe: The Calling, Alta Vista, November 2, 2-3 p.m.
- Robert Douglas: That Line of Darkness: The Gothic from Lenin to Bin Laden, Main Library, November 9, 2-3 p.m.
- Mark Frutkin: A Message for the Emperor, Carlingwood, November 16, 2-3 p.m.
- Denise Chong: Lives of the Family, Carp, November 12, 2-3 p.m., * offered in partnership with Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities (MASC)
- Carolyn Abraham: The Juggler´s Children, Nepean Centrepointe, November 16, 2-3 p.m.
- Veena Gokhale: Bombay Wali and Other Stories, Rosemount, November 23, 2-3 p.m.
- Tamara Levine: But Hope is Longer: Navigating the Country of Breast Cancer, Sunnyside, November 23, 2-3 p.m.
Online registration is required to attend these free programs. This series is offered with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts. For a complete list of programs, visit
http://www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/programs
For more information, contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca
ITEM 5: THE OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY IS HOSTING A SERIES OF SIX POETRY PROGRAMS THIS FALL
- Fall Poetry Reading: Monty Reid, Chris Jennings, Deanna Young, Rhonda Douglas, David Groulx and rob mclennan. Main Library, October 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
- Poetry Workshop with rob mclennan, Rosemount, October 19, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
- Poetry Workshop with Chris Jennings, Carlingwood, October 26, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Online registration is required to attend these free programs. For a complete
list of programs, visit http://www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/programs . For more information, contact InfoService at 613-580-2940 or InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca
ITEM 6: WRITESCAPE WORKSHOPS THIS FALL NEW!
Turning Leaves 2013
DATES: November 22-24 at Fern Resort in Orillia
LOCATION: FERN RESORT, ON LAKE COUCHICHING
Three-day all-inclusive writing retreat at the fabulous Fern Resort, just 2 hours north of Toronto on Lake Couchiching. Our guest author is Bill Swan, winner of the 2012 Red Maple Award.
- Professional writing instructors
- Inspiring writer’s craft workshops
- Plenty of time to exercise your pen
- Private setting and first-class amenities
Autumn Reflections Oct. 20 Havelock, ON.
Glentula in the Kawarthas
If you can’t get away for a full weekend retreat, spend Sunday, October 20 at Gwynn’s scenic lakefront home in Havelock. This one-day getaway is filled with inspirational writing activities to get you writing.
We’ll draw inspiration from the woods brilliant with fall colour, the rich smells of harvest time, the camp fire, the lake and streams as well as the energy of writing in a community of other writers.
For more information or to register: Visit Writescape at www.writescape.ca, email info@writescape.ca or call 905-728-7823.
SUBMISSION CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES
ITEM 7: BYWORDS.CA SUBMISSION CALL
DEADLINE: The 15th of every month for the following month’s issue
Bywords.ca considers previously unpublished poetry from emerging and established poets for our online monthly magazine. We consider work by current and former residents, students and workers of Ottawa. We also publish poems by contributors to our predecessor, the Bywords Monthly Magazine. FOR SUBMISSION INFORMATION VISIT www.bywords.ca and click on Guidelines. Amanda Earl, Managing Editor. Check out Bywords.ca’s literary events calendar here: http://www.bywords.ca/calendar/index.php, with up-to-date info on NCR readings, book signings, writers’ circles, literary festivals, spoken word showcases & slams. Event submissions can be sent to events@bywords.ca.
IN THE INTEREST OF WRITERS HELPING WRITERS
ITEM 8: OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL
FALL 2013 TICKETS ARE GOING FAST and WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED!
in early October, Canadians of all political stripes won’t want to miss CTV News Host CRAIG OLIVER in conversation about the role of the citizen, the personal lessons of defeat and a compelling tell-all account of modern politics from renowned author and former Liberal Party of Canada leader MICHAEL IGNATIEFF
Later in October, just before our 2013 Fall Edition begins, we’ll talk about our relationship with the foods we eat at home, learn secret flavours and taste some favourite recipes from the kitchen of Celebrity Chef and bestselling author CHEF LYNN CRAWFORD
- Wednesday October 9th 7 pm Fire and Ashes One on One with MICHAEL IGNATIEFF
- Tuesday October 22nd 7 pm At Home with CHEF LYNN CRAWFORD A Special Food Tasting Event and Book Launch Sample her favourite home recipes.
Click here for ticket and event details. http://www.writersfestival.org/events
ITEM 9: CANADIAN WRITERS’ CONTEST CALENDAR EARLY BIRD ORDERS NEW!
There are only two weeks left for your members to save money by advance order for the 2014 Canadian Writers’ Contest Calendar. Full details at http://www.wmpub.ca/cwcc-2014.htm
— Deborah Ranchuk White Mountain Publications
ITEM 10: TREE READING SERIES PRESENTS CRAIG POILE + STEPHEN PRICE TUESDAY, OCT. 8
LOCATION: CLUB SAW, 67 NICHOLAS ST. OTTAWA, ONT.
6:45p Workshop – stream of consciousness writing with Bruce Kauffman
8:00p Readings – Open Mic and Featured Readers
Craig Poile, Poet and playwright, winner of the Ottawa Book Award and Archibald Lampman Poetry Award
Craig Poile works as a technical writer and has been active as a playwright and theatre producer. His poetry has appeared in The Malahat Review and The Literary Review of Canada, and in the anthologies Best Canadian Poetry in English 2008 and Seminal: The Anthology of Canada’s Gay Male Poets, and is forthcoming in I Found It at the Movies, an anthology of poems inspired by cinema. His collection True Concessions (Goose Lane, 2009) won the 2010 Ottawa Book Award and the Archibald Lampman Poetry Award. He lives in Ottawa with his partner Christopher and their two daughters.
Steven Price, Novelist and poet, winner of the Gerald Lampert Award and author of Omens in the Year of the Ox (Brick Books, 2012)
Steven Price is the author of two collections of poetry, Anatomy of Keys (Brick, 2006), which won the Gerald Lampert Award, was shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Prize, and was named a Globe & Mail Book of the Year, and Omens in the Year of the Ox (Brick, 2012). His first novel, Into that Darkness (Thomas Allen, 2011), was shortlisted for the Ethel Wilson Prize. He lives in Victora, BC.
More info: http://www.treereadingseries.ca/
ITEM 11: POSTSCRIPTS TO DARKNESS LAUNCHES VOLUME 4 AS PART OF CHISERIES OTTAWA
DATE Tuesday, October 8, 2013 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Maxwell’s Bistro and Nightclub 340 Elgin St, Ottawa, Ontario
ChiSeries Ottawa and Postscripts to Darkness are pleased to invite you to the Ottawa launch of Postscripts to Darkness volume 4!
We’ll be celebrating the launch of our monster of a fourth issue, chock-full of strange and fascinating fiction and art, with readings, food, drinks, trivia, prizes, and other surprises at Maxwell’s Bistro and Nightclub starting at 8 pm on Tuesday Oct 8.
ChiSeries Ottawa director Matt Moore will be your host, and we’ve got a line up of fine talent to entertain and unnerve you, with readings from our volume 4 contributors Kate Heartfield and Lydia Peever, with other surprise special guests to be announced closer to the date.
Please join us for some strange literary fun, and support the creators and collectors of some of the most innovative weird and horrific writing in Canada! We look forward to seeing you there.
You can find more information on ChiSeries Ottawa by going to http://chiseries.webs.com/chiseriesottawa.htm
ITEM 12: THE FACTORY READING SERIES PRESENTS:
PRE-SMALL PRESS BOOK FAIR READING NEW!
DATE: Friday, October 11, 2013
LOCATION: The Carleton Tavern, 223 Armstrong Street (at Parkdale; upstairs) doors 7pm; reading 7:30pm
span-o (the small press action network – ottawa) presents:
The Factory Reading Series pre-small press book fair reading
- Rhonda Douglas (Ottawa)
- Jessica Bebenek (Toronto)
- Mark Jordan Manner (Toronto)
- Brian Mihok (Buffalo)
- + Jeannie Hoag (Buffalo)
lovingly hosted by rob mclennan
For bios and map to the location, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/211313355704248/
http://www.abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2013/09/the-factory-reading-series-pre-small.html
ITEM 13: SPAN-O (THE SMALL PRESS ACTION NETWORK – OTTAWA) PRESENTS: THE OTTAWA SMALL PRESS BOOK FAIR AUTUMN 2013 EDITION
DATE: Saturday, October 12 NOON TO 5 P.M.
LOCATION: Room 203, Jack Purcell Community Centre, (off Elgin, at 320 Jack Purcell Lane).
Contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com to sign up for a table, etc.
- General info: the Ottawa small press book fair noon to 5:00 p.m. (opens at 11:00 for exhibitors). Admission free to the public.
- $20 for exhibitors, full tables, $10 for half-tables (Payable to rob mclennan, c/o 402 McLeod St #3, Ottawa ON K2P 1A6)
- Send by October 1 if you would like to appear in the exhibitor catalogue.
Note: Due to increased demand, we are now offering half tables. For catalog, exhibitors should send name of press, address, email, web address, contact person, type of publications, list of publications (with price), if submissions are being considered & any other pertinent info, including upcoming Ottawa-area events (if any).
BE AWARE: Given that the spring 2013 was the first to reach capacity (forcing me to say no to at least half a dozen exhibitors), the fair can’t (unfortunately) fit everyone who wishes to participate. The fair is roughly first-come, first-served, but preference will be given to small publishers over self-published authors (being a “small press fair,” after all).
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1409040419312522/
http://www.smallpressbookfair.blogspot.ca/2013/07/the-ottawa-small-press-fair-19th.html
ITEM 14: OTTAWA INDEPENDENT WRITERS BOOK FAIR 2013
Date: Sat. Oct. 26 & Sun. Oct. 27 Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: RA Centre, Bytown Room B, 2nd floor on Riverside Drive next to Billings Bridge Shopping Centre
Admission & Parking: FREE
Authors: Approximately 30 Local Authors will display and sell their books
OIW is holding its annual Ottawa Authors & Artisans Fair again this year. We are excited to report that it will take place on the same weekend as a large pottery show at the RA Centre. As usual, a basket of books will be raffled off, with all proceeds donated to CHEO.
Contact: George Laidlaw: gwjlaidlaw@gmail.com or (613) 831-2505
MAGAZINE SUBMISSION CALLS:
NO DEADLINES SPECIFIED:
The Mackinac (Canada/US) seeks poetry that “bridges the strait between nostalgia and the immediate, the wilds seen and unseen, the best of emerging and established voices.” Submit up to 5 poems for consideration. Deadline: Ongoing. Guidelines: themackinacmagazine.com/submit.html
Dentists on the Frontier (Canada) seeks short, pithy, provocative and even happy stories of dentists and dental procedures from practitioners and patients of dentistry. Filed under the title “Writing Home Again,” stories should be in the form of an anonymous open letter (Dear Dentist or Dear Patient). Accepting nonfiction and creative nonfiction only. Length: 600 words max. Deadline: ongoing. Guidelines: dentistsonthefrontier.com/submissions/
Featured Fifty Poetry: We’re Seeking Your Best Poems for writers age 50 and older.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/featured-fifty-poetry_n_3489074.html
Ploughshares’ reading period is now open! We’re accepting submissions for Ploughshares literary magazine and for our Ploughshares Solos series of long stories and essays. You can now submit all those poems, essays, and stories that you’ve been working on and saving up since January. For guidelines and to submit, visit our website. http://www.pshares.org/submit/index.cfm
Dead Beats (Sheffield, UK), a student-run publishing and live poetry organization, seeks submissions. Accepting poems, short stories (max. 2000 words) and experimental pieces from everyone, regardless of experience. Seeks to “share inspired and inspiring works from around the globe.” No deadline. Guidelines: http://www.deadbeats.eu/submission
Independent hybrid lit mag The Holler Box accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, lyric essays, nonfiction, and artwork year-round. Each issue is published online and in the form of a limited release handmade chapbook. Welcomes the alternative and experimental, as well as new and unpublished writers. Length: 5000 words max (prose) and poetry (up to 3). Guidelines: https://thehollerbox.submittable.com/submit
Online arts review magazine The Coastal Spectator (Victoria, BC) seeks reviews of theatre, books, music, film, visual arts, and other cultural happenings around coastal BC specifically (but not exclusively). Submit pieces that are “short and sharp.” Length: 300-500 words. Payment: stipend of $25. Partial to views that reflect a coastal slant on things. Query the editor at lvluven@uvic.ca.
Quarterly journal Squalorly (US) welcomes submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, illustration, and photography. Submit story/essay (5000 words max), flash pieces (up to 3), and poems (up to 5). Appreciates work with emphasis on emotion: “Move, amaze, horrify, and educate.” http://www.squalorly.com/submit
Gervais Advertising is looking for short articles on a wide variety of subjects for their small shopping/tourism guides available at locations throughout central Ontario. Articles do not need to be location-specific and should have a casual slant based on fun, personal experience. Payment: $0.12 per word for accepted articles/stories. Contact Editor, Cyndy Gervais: syndy@bmts.com.
The Mackinac is accepting poetry submissions. Details at: http://www.themackinacmagazine.com/submit.html.
Running out of Ink, a new webzine, is accepting short stories of all genres. For more information, visit: www.runningoutofink.com.
Riddle Fence is currently accepting submissions for its spring issue. The publisher is looking for poetry, fiction, non-fiction and visual art. Info please visit http://www.riddlefence.com.
Fierce Ink Press Co-op Ltd. is currently open for submissions. The publisher is looking for books between 50,000 and 80,000 words long in all young adult genres. For more information, please visit http://fierceinkpress.com/submissions/.
Decoded Past is looking for writers with expertise in history and/or prehistory. This internet site will showcase articles written by experts for the general reader: new interpretations of past events, new developments or theories, the past in the context of the present. Writers must hold a degree in the social sciences or historical sciences and be writing in an area of personal expertise, or have an established platform in professional historical writing. Contact Rosemary Drisdelle at info@rosemarydrisdelle.com.
CIRCA: A Journal of Historical Fiction is accepting submissions. Details are available at: http://circajournal.com/submissions/.
Dragon Ink Press is accepting submissions from comic artists, fantasy writers and poets for their new comics and literary anthology. Guidelines: http://dragoninkpress.tumblr.com/.
From the Well House is accepting fiction, scholarly essays and poetry. Details can be found at: http://fromthewellhouse.org/?bu0Dd7M9.
Ruminate Magazine is now accepting submissions. Guidelines and deadlines are available at: http://www.ruminatemagazine.com/submit/submission-guidelines/.
Carousel is accepting submissions. Info: http://www.carouselmagazine.ca/submit.html.
Antiphon: accepting poetry submissions. Info: http://antiphon.org.uk/index.php/submissions.
Convert Publishing, a new digital publisher, is accepting manuscript submissions. For more details, visit: http://convertpublishing.com/?page_id=19.
Neon: A Literary Magazine accepting submissions, info: http://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/
Queen’s Quarterly is accepting articles, reviews, short stories and poetry. Details can be found here: http://www.queensu.ca/quarterly/correspondencesubmissions.html.
Event Poetry and Prose is accepting submissions. Guidelines are available at: http://eventmags.com/about-2/submission-guidelines/fiction-poetry/.
The Ottawa Arts Review seeks prose submissions (including short fiction, personal essays, reviews, and interviews) relating to literary and visual arts, poetry, drama, and visual art. oar.uesa.ca/submissions/submission-guidelines/
Sweptmedia.ca, an online youth-culture magazine based in Toronto/GTA, is looking for original contributions in all print mediums: journalism, short fiction, poetry, etc. Also willing to consider other forms of visual communication modes: photography, painting, comic strips, etc. info: sweptmedia.ca/index.php/contact-us
New online magazine The Island Review (international) seeks submissions of poetry, short fiction, non-fiction, photography and art from islanders, island-lovers, and those whose work is influenced by islands, or explores ideas of islandness. http://www.theislandreview.com/submissions/
The recently-launched Northern Cardinal Review (Canada) is seeking creative and vivid poetry, non-fiction essays, and book reviews. Open to writers living in Canada, Alaska, or the northern border states of the U.S. http://northerncardinalreview.wordpress.com/submissions/
Comedy website The Higgs Weldon (US) seeks forms of writing (1000 words max.) and cartoons. Deadline: Ongoing: http://thehiggsweldon.com/submit/
Kolaj (Montreal, QC) is a quarterly, print magazine about contemporary collage. Seeks critical reviews and essays, artist profiles, event highlights, articles on collage making, collecting, and exhibiting, and other contributions. Pays. kolajmagazine.com/content/submissions
Formalist poetry review The Rotary Dial (Canada) seeks poetry from Canadian and international writers. Looking for work that rhymes and/or scans but isn’t too versey: blank verse, syllabic verse, etc. Response within two weeks. http://therotarydial.ca/submissions/
Garbanzo Literary Journal (US) is published in limited-run copies as part of a hand-created series of chapbooks. Seeks stories (1172 words max.) poems (43 lines max.), micro-fiction, macro-faction, creative nonfiction, and a variety of verse forms. Appreciates writing that disregards the rules: http://www.garbanzoliteraryjournal.org/Submission_Guidelines.html
BareBacklit is an online bi-monthly magazine seeking poetry, prose, and visual art. Accepts poetry (4 poems max.), fiction (2500 words max.), and flash fiction (1000 words max.). Prefers work that is “unpretentious, minimalist… entertains first, and provokes thought later.” http://www.barebacklit.com/Submissions.html
LWOT (Lies With Occasional Truth) seeks fiction from writers in Canada “(and sometimes by Americans who pretend, in their cover letters, to be Canadian)”. The term fiction is open to interpretation. : http://lwot.net/submission.htm
Online journal Pithead Chapel seeks fiction (short and flash) and nonfiction (experimental, personal, lyric essays) “that moves toward something bigger… takes chances.” Accepts stories and essays 4000 words max. Reads year-round. : http://pitheadchapel.com/submission-guidelines/
The New Inquiry welcomes short- and long-form pieces “from anyone who wants to write.” Looks for well-written, original posts on ideas, books, art, culture, and more. No fiction or poetry. : http://thenewinquiry.com/submit-to-tni/
Literary journal Revolver (US) seeks “short range” (up to 1000 words), “long range” (1000-5000 words), and art for its next issue. Welcomes fiction, poetry, essays, lists, and art. Also accepting bar stories for “Shots with Strangers”. : http://www.around-around.com/submit/
Website strange bOUnce accepts short stories, satire, and poetry, that have been “lightly brushed with sport.” Send work to IWantToWrite@strangebOUnce.com. No payment. http://strangebounce.com/
Small circulation literary publication Cant Journal (US) seeks poetry and prose for Issue #5. Accepts poetry, short inventive prose (micro fiction, flash fiction, etc.; 300-1000 words), poetry book reviews, essays on poetry, and interviews with poets. Submit 3-7 poems, 1-3 short prose pieces, or 1 poetry book review or essay on poetry. Journal is small (5 x 11); writers are encouraged to keep this in mind when submitting. Publishes annually in April. Payment: Three copies. Guidelines: cantjournal.com/submission-guidelines
Red Kitty is a webzine and limited run print zine based out of Austin, TX. Accepting poetry, prose, short fiction, personal narrative, humor, and experimental journalism; illustration, photography, and doodles; and sound portraits, video art, and spoken word. Prefers works that takes risks and gets messy, including the “strange, thought-provoking, funny, demented.” Deadline: rolling. Guidelines: redkittyzine.weebly.com/submit.html
Independent magazine Bitterzoet (US) is now looking for new poetry, fiction, and artwork for their monthly online zine and bi-annual print editions, and mini chapbooks. Publishes work that engages in the “interplay between bitterness and sweetness, light and darkness, salvation and damnation.” Accepts poetry (3-8) prose (6 pages max), and artwork. Also looking for shorter pieces (“bonbons”) of poetry (10 lines max) and prose (150 words max.). Deadline: rolling. Guidelines: bitterzoetmag.submittable.com
Independent online journal Black Heart Magazine (U.S) seeks short fiction for its weekday (M-F) publication cycle. Length: 1500 words max. All genres accepted, with a literary angle preferred. Appreciates ‘short-form modern literature, from pulp to literary fiction and everything in-between.’ Deadline: Ongoing. Guidelines: blackheartmagazine.com/submission-guidelines
GlassFire Magazine (US) seeks submissions of fiction and non-fiction (3000 words max.), poetry, and artwork for the Winter 2013 issue. Pays $5 per poem/artwork/photography and $10 per story/nonfiction Deadline: Rolling. http://www.peglegpublishing.com/glassfire.htm
OCTOBER DEADLINES
Online journal Cactus Heart Literary Magazine (U.S.) seeks poetry, fiction, nonfiction, book reviews, art & photography for Issue #6 (e-Issue) and Issue #6.5 (print), both due out in December 2013. Looking “your spiny, your sharp, your relentless… work coursing with energy and able to thrive in the harshest of places, while maintaining a vulnerable, succulent interior.” Deadline: October 10, 2013. Guidelines: http://www.cactusheartpress.com/submit
In Fact Books (in association with Creative Nonfiction, U.S.) is seeking essays about all things related to babies for an anthology, Oh, Baby: True Stories About Tiny Humans. Looking for true narratives about the art and science/wonder and struggle of birth, babyhood, and childrearing. Essays must combine a compelling narrative with an informative or reflective element, reaching beyond personal experience to some deeper meaning. Length: 4500 words max. Deadline: October 14, 2013. Fee: $3. Payment not indicated. Guidelines: creativenonfiction.org/submissions/oh-baby
Rattle Magazine Love Poems Deadline: October 15th. For adults, our next themed issue will feature nothing but Love Poems. If you haven’t already, please send us a few (feel free to mix non-love poems into the batch; they don’t all have to be love poems). Keep in mind that we see a difference between love poems and poems about love. A love poem is written for, to, or about someone (or something), even if the real meaning is disguised. It should be possible for a love poem to be given to someone as a token of love. Poems about the nature of love in general, or the loss of love, and so on, might not necessarily be love poems by this definition. I hope that makes sense—but if not, don’t fret, just send the poem in, and we’ll decide. To submit, follow our regular guidelines, and mention in the subject line or cover letter that there’s a love poem in there (not that we wouldn’t notice, but as we near the deadline we’ll start to read those submissions first). http://www.rattle.com/poetry/submissions/guidelines/
Blank Fiction Magazine is accepting literary fiction submissions for their first issue. Length: 15,000 words max. “Stories should provide a solid understanding of the traditional practices of the genre, especially if they haven’t been established yet or you are going to disregard them completely.” Debut issue will be published November 1 in the iTunes App Store and will be available as a “pay what you like” PDF download on the Blank Fiction site. Payment: $50 honorarium. Deadline: October 15, 2013. Guidelines: blankfictionmag.com/submissions
Online monthly zine Subliminal Interiors seeks poetry, nonfiction, and criticism for an upcoming issue on Modernism. Commentaries also welcome. Nonfiction and critical submissions should “engage the editor’s belief that Confessional poetry, Language poetry, and other supposed successors of Modernism are (and always have been) aesthetically sterile–unfit for the challenge of giving a coherent voice to our world-historical moment.” Deadline: October 15, 2013. Guidelines: http://subliminalinteriors.net/submit.php
Art School Horror Stories (US) is looking for stories from art school and art class — funny, sad, horrific, crazy, embarrassing — for an anthology (Published in December). Can be fact or fiction. Submissions can be in any format: poetry, haiku, short stories, etc. Also accepting drawings and photography. Deadline: October 31, 2013. Submission fee: US$10. Guidelines: http://br0250.wix.com/artschoolhorror#!submit/c1ktj
The Antioch University Los Angeles Creative Writing MFA program’s biannual publication, Lunch Ticket, is accepting submissions for its next issue. Submit fiction, creative non-fiction, YA fiction, poetry, and art/imagery. Theme/genre: Open. Deadline: October 31, 2013. Guidelines: http://www.lunchticket.org/about/submission-guidelines
Bones – a journal for contemporary haiku: Send a maximum of 5 single haiku and/or 1 series/sequence of maximum 10 haiku. Submission deadlines are October 15 – November 15 for the December issue & April 15 – May 15 for the June issue. Submissions: submission (at) bonesjournal (dot) com. with “Submission to bones” in the subject line. Please include the works in the body of the email AND as an attached file (doc, docx, odt, rtf)
ROOM MAGAZINE Call for Submissions: 37.2: Contest issue. Room would love to add a bit of your literary brilliance to our already sparkling lineup for issue 37.2, to be published in June 2014. In this open-themed issue we will showcase our 2013 contest winners, feature an interview with Canadian poet Sandra Ridley, and have commissioned short fiction by another Canadian, Jessica Westhead. If you see your work—whether it is poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction—fitting into that mix, send it our way. Check out our guidelines for full details. http://www.roommagazine.com/submit Deadline: October 31, 2013
AND LATER:
Creative Nonfiction (US) is seeking new essays about mistakes — major or minor, tragic or serendipitous, funny or painful — for an upcoming issue. Looking for true stories about poor decisions, missteps, miscalculations, embarrassing boo-boos, dangerous misjudgments, or fortuitous faux pas that explore the nature and outcomes of human fallibility. First prize: $1000. Length: 4000 words max. Entry fee: $20 (or $25 for a subscription to Creative Nonfiction — US only). All essays will be considered for publication in a special “Mistakes” issue. Deadline: November 1, 2013 Guidelines: http://www.creativenonficction.org/submissions/mistakes
The Muse, An International Journal of Poetry, an online bi-annual journal of poetry from India, is seeking submissions for their next issue. Accept poems (send 1-5 poems), and essays and research papers (3000 words minimum). Deadline: November 10, 2013. http://themuse.webs.com/
Online literature/arts magazine The Broken City (Toronto, ON) is currently accepting submissions for its winter 2013 edition: “Turn on, tune in.” Looking for music-related poetry, fiction, essays, comics, illustrations, photography, reviews as well as mp3 submissions for a mixtape. Deadline: December 1, 2013. Non-paying. Guidelines: thebrokencitymag.com/submissions.html
UPCOMING WRITING CONTESTS
OCTOBER DEADLINES:
- The Missouri Review. EXTENDED DEADLINE Entries may now be postmarked or submitted electronically through Tuesday, October 8th. Submit to our Jeffrey E. Smith Editor’s Prize Competition–for which we offer over $15,000 in prizes. We accept submissions in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Winners in each category receive a prize of $5,000, plus a feature in our Spring issue and paid travel to our gala reading and reception. Contest finalists will receive cash prizes and have their work considered for publication as well. We accept submissions online. Winners will be announced in January of 2014. Don’t forget that your $20 entry fee gets you a one-year subscription to The Missouri Review. Subscriptions are available in print or digital versions. Our downloadable digital subscription includes a full-length audio version of the journal. You can find more information about the contest through our website: http://www.missourireview.com/tmrsubmissions/editors-prize-contest/.
- Descant invites entries for the 2013 Winston Collins/Descant Prize for Best Canadian Poem. Length: 100 lines. Prize: $1000, plus honorarium. Entry fee: $30 (includes tax + one-year subscription). Deadline: October 12, 2013. Guidelines: http://descant.ca/winstoncollins
- The Northwind Story Contest is back! The 2013 Story Contest is open for submissions. Send us your best fiction and narrative non-fiction by October 15 to be eligible for the $1,000 First Prize, $250 Second Prize and $100 Third Prize. http://www.northwindmagazine.com/contests/2013_story_contest.html
- SAMUEL De CHAMPLAIN LITERARY ARTS COMPETITION FOR YOUTH DEADLINE: OCT. 21, 2013 To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s voyage, the City of Ottawa will hold a literary competition for young writers – a citywide, bilingual contest seeking works that relate to Champlain’s explorations and the welcome he received from the Algonquin inhabitants. The contest is open to Ottawa students in two age groups: junior writers (grades 3 to 5) and senior writers (grades 6 to 8). Five categories of literary arts will be judged: First person narratives (including letters and journal entries), essays or opinion pieces, fictional stories about Champlain’s adventures and discoveries, poems (including original ballads), and dramatic monologues. Awards will be presented at a celebratory evening on December 10, 2013. All entries must be submitted by teachers by October 21, 2013. Application forms and entry requirements are available online: http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-culture-and-community/arts-theatre-music/samuel-de-champlain-literary-arts Contact Tina.Haji-Esmaeili@ottawa.ca for more information.
- NEW! RANDOM HOUSE SPOOKY SHORT STORY CONTEST.Details: Stories must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words. And, to make it just a bit more challenging, your story has to include the following 10 words provided by John Boyne and Diane Setterfield: Shadow, Children, Fog, Mirror, Revenge, Black, Hidden, Sleep, Eye, Never. The contest starts now and you have until October 24th at midnight (mua ha ha) to submit your story. Submit your entry by emailing onlinemarketing@randomhouse.com with the subject line “Spooky Short Story Writing Contest”. In the body of the email, please include your submission and your name. The three best stories as chosen by Retreat by Random House will be posted to this blog on October 31, 2013. MORE INFO AT http://www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca/2013/09/spooky-short-story-writing-contest/?Ref=Email_Canada_10/3/2013
- The Black River Chapbook Competition (Fall) Awarded twice annually for a chapbook (16-36 pages) of poetry or short stories. Beginning with the Fall 2009 competition, winner receives $500 and 25 copies of chapbook. Entry Period: September 1 – October 31. Deadline: October 31, 2013. http://www.blacklawrence.com/BRCCContestPage.html
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER DEADLINES:
- carte blanche and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) announce a creative nonfiction contest open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The prize is $500 and publication in carte blanche. Submit original, previously unpublished creative nonfiction of up to 3,000 words to https://carte-blanche.submittable.com/submit by November 1 at midnight ET. Entry fee of $7 for CNFC members and $12 for non-members.
- The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is given for a book of poetry by a Canadian woman published in the preceding year, and is in memory of the late Pat Lowther, whose career was cut short by her untimely death in 1975. The awards carry a $1,000 prize, and are presented each year at the annual LCP Poetry Festival and Conference in June, with the shortlist announced during National Poetry Month in April. The deadline for submission to these awards is November 1st, 2013. For books that are published after this date, but still within the calendar year, please e-mail me (readings@poets.ca) by Nov 1st, 2013 to arrange to have the deadline extended (to Dec 15th at the latest). For more information on these awards, and to download a submission form, please go to: http://poets.ca/wordpress/contests-awards/pat-lowther
- The Gerald Lampert Memorial Award is given in the memory of Gerald Lampert, an arts administrator who organized authors’ tours and took a particular interest in the work of new writers. The award recognizes the best first book of poetry published by a Canadian in the preceding year. The awards carry a $1,000 prize, and are presented each year at the annual LCP Poetry Festival and Conference in June, with the shortlist announced during National Poetry Month in April. The deadline for submission to these awards is November 1st, 2013. For books that are published after this date, but still within the calendar year, please e-mail me (readings@poets.ca) by Nov 1st, 2013 to arrange to have the deadline extended (to Dec 15th at the latest). For more information on these awards, and to download a submission form, please go to: http://poets.ca/wordpress/contests-awards/gerald-lampert
- The Raymond Souster Award is given for a book of poetry by a League of Canadian Poets member (all levels, dues paid) published in the preceding year. The award honours Raymond Souster, an early founder of the League of Canadian Poets. The award carries a $1,000 prize. It is presented each year at the LCP Annual Poetry Festival and Conference in June, with the shortlist announced in April. The deadline for submission to these awards is November 1st, 2013. For books that are published after this date, but still within the calendar year, please e-mail me (readings@poets.ca) by Nov 1st, 2013 to arrange to have the deadline extended (to Dec 15th at the latest). For more information on these awards, and to download a submission form, please go to: http://poets.ca/wordpress/contests-awards/raymond-souster
- The Malahat Review’s Open Season Awards. Deadline is November 1. http://www.malahatreview.ca/contests/open_season/info.html.
- CANADA WRITES CBC SHORT STORY PRIZE DEADLINE NOV. 1 2013 Submit your original, unpublished stories stories between 1200 and 1500 words. Competition opens: September 1, 2013. Deadline to submit: November 1, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET OPEN TO All Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada can submit. MORE INFO HERE http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/literaryprizes/shortstory/
- Prairie Fire’s Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests. Deadline is November 30, (postmarked). http://www.prairiefire.ca/contests.
- Bottle Tree Productions One Act Play Competition for Writers 2013. DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2013. Go online at http://www.bottletreeinc.com/script_contest.html. First Prize $1,000, Second Prize $250, Third Prize $100. The entry fee for each submission is $25. One Act Plays of from 10 minutes to 70 minutes may be submitted by mail or email. By mail to Bottle Tree Productions, 445 Southwood Drive, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7M-5P8. Please make cheque payable to Bottle Tree Productions. For environmental and storage reasons email submissions are preferred. By email to contest (at) bottletreeinc (dot) com. Go online at http://www.bottletreeinc.com/script_contest.html
- NEW! Briarpatch Magazine is accepting entries for their third annual writing contest, Writing in the Margins. Seeking fresh, fiction and creative non-fiction “that brings to life issues of political, social, and environmental justice.” Cash prizes totalling $750. Length: 2000 words max. Entry fee: $25 (includes subscription). Deadline: December 1, 2013. Guidelines: briarpatchmagazine.com/announcements/view/creative-writing-contest
- FREEFALL MAGAZINE Just for fun we’ve added a new contest: “The Corner of 13th and 13th” Flash Fiction. Write a story in 500 words or less about what happened on Friday September the 13th 2013 at one of the 13th Avenue and 13th Street intersections in the photos found at: http://www.freefallmagazine.ca/flash-fiction-contest.html. Entry Fee: $13.00. First Prize: $130.00. Deadline to enter is: Friday Dec 13th 2013
- Red Tuque Books 2013 Canadian Tales of the Fantastic Short Story Competition. Deadline is December 31: http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/contest.htm.
- 2013 annual FreeFall Prose and Poetry Contest is now open! Contain your joy as we let you know that we’ve doubled the first place prize money from $300 to $600. Deadline to enter is: December 31, 2013. For current contest info visit: http://www.freefallmagazine.ca/contest.html.
2014 CONTESTS
- Gemini MAGAZINE is now accepting entries for its fourth annual Poetry Open competition. The grand prize is $1,000. Second place wins $100 and four honorable mentions will each receive $25. All six finalists will be published online in the March 2014 issue of Gemini. The entry fee is $5 for each batch of three poems. Deadline: January 2, 2014. We are open to any type of poetry, any subject matter, any length. Scroll down the Poetry Open page http://gemini-magazine.com/poetryopen.html to see the broad range of work from previous winners and finalists.
- NEW! League of Canadian Poets announces: Submissions are now open for the Jessamy Stursburg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth. There are two age categories, junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12). First place poems in each category will receive a cash prize: Winners: $350 Second Place: $300 Third Place: $250 All winning poems will be published in the LCP’s e-zine, Re:verse at www.youngpoets.ca. All winners will receive Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth certificates and student membership in the League of Canadian Poets for one year. Deadline: January 15, 2014. http://poets.ca/jessamy-stursberg-poetry-contest-for-canadian-youth/
- The Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry. The prize is awarded annually to the best poetry manuscript by an emerging Canadian writer (a writer who has published fewer than two books). Each year the winning manuscript will be selected by an established poet in co-operation with Invisible Publishing’s Snare Imprint. The winner receives a trade paperback contract with Invisible Publishing’s Snare Imprint which will include the publication of the manuscript and a $500 advance. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: January 31, 2014 Info here: http://matrixmagazine.org/rkaward/ Each entry must be accompanied with a business size SASE and an entry fee for $30.00 Canadian. Please make all cheques and money orders payable to “Matrix Publications.” No cash please. Send manuscripts to: The Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry, Invisible Publishing’s Snare Imprint, c/o Matrix, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. LB 658, Montreal QC H3G 1M8 Or via Submittable: https://matrixmagazine.submittable.com/submit Alternatively, you may send you manuscript electronically to Kroetsch2014@gmail.com and send your payment via PAYPAL: RK Award Entry Fee $30
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