10 May Submission Opportunities

1. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories about November & December holidays - The deadline for submissions has been extended to May 15, 2026. How do you celebrate the holidays? Are your celebrations very traditional or are they very spontaneous and never the same? Do you stay home or do you travel? Do you gather with family and friends to share the special spirit of the season? How do you brighten those long winter days? If you live in a warm climate, no snow for you! How does that affect your celebration? What special things do you do? Please submit your true stories about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year's festivities too. Remember that these holiday titles do make wonderful gifts for everyone on your list! **If your stories are about celebrating Christmas, please be sure that they are "Santa Safe" so that we don't spoil the magic for precocious readers! Submit at: Possible Book Topics | Chicken Soup for the Soul

2. PLATFORM STORIES LITERARY CONTEST 2026 - https://laultimaestacionfilm.com/concurso/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2026. This international contest invites us to give voice to those who care without recognition: family members, friends, neighbors who dedicate their time, energy, and love t1. o caring for others. Stories or tales based on your experience as an unpaid caregiver. Length 1000-1500 words. Texts in Spanish or English. Prizes range $100-$300. All finalists and honorable mentioned receive publication in the anthology + audiovisual capsule recording + certificate.

3. Pinhole Poetry - They want poetry for their themed issue. “The July 2026 issue will be all about subways, undercurrents, subtext and undertows, basically anything that moves us, somewhere under the surface. Send us up to five of your best poems that fit the theme by May 15th!” They have detailed guidelines about the kind of poems they like. They also accept photography. Deadline: 15^th May 2026.
Length: Up to 5 poems. Pay: CAD5. Details here.

4. Scryptid Games: Tales from the Cryptids Anthology - This is a games, fiction, poetry, and ephemera anthology. “From Scryptid Games, this anthology of games, fiction, poetry, and other ephemera flips the lens on conventional cryptid lore. In this book, cryptids are beings with vivid lives, goals, and stories of their own to share. We are more interested in thoughtful tales of transformation, self-discovery, and embedded interrogation than stories centering cryptid hunting, categorization, or collection. … For the purpose of this anthology, cryptids are beings of real or imagined folklore who “could be real” and exist on the fringes of our world. We welcome thoughtful submissions featuring documented cryptids like Bigfoot, Mothman, and Nessie, and we also love new takes on cryptids and creative reflections on the wondrous in the everyday. Could a cryptid be a song, a memory, an entire town? We are excited to read expansive, imaginative perspectives on this theme.” And, “we are keen to acquire TTRPGs and other narrative games that embody a sense of the liminal. … For fiction and poetry, we want cryptid content that prioritizes the agency of liminal beings, places, and experiences. Your work does not need to feature a cryptid protagonist or an optimistic point-of-view, but your monsters must have agency and depth. We are also interested in micro-submissions of uncanny ephemera to literally occupy the margins of this book. Send us cryptid scribbles, doodles, haikus, photographs, and other 2D marginalia. Even we don’t quite know what we want in this category. Surprise us.” They also accept reprints. They will stay open until the deadline, or till they hit a submission cap in each category. The anthology has been funded on BackerKit. Deadline: 15 May 2026, or until filled - Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction and games, up to 3 poems - Pay: $0.10/word for original fiction and games, $50 for original poems, $25 for ephemera. Details here and here.

5. Flash Fiction Online: Paranormal Noir - They have extended their submission window for the themed call, and have also opened a submission window for (unthemed) translations and reprints. They want speculative flash fiction on the Paranormal Noir theme, stories “that marry the noir and paranormal aesthetic in any speculative genre. … “Isn’t Paranormal Noir just a subset of Urban Fantasy?” It can be, but we’d love to see a new, fresh take on old themes: Vampires in space, doing crime? Far-future consciousness transfer-hauntings? Sad wizard investigates a murder in LA? Okay, sounds cool, submit that, but also what if he were on Mars instead? A group of West Virginia moonshiners firebombing a haunted A.I. data center?” Something else? They also welcome stories from unique points of view. Also see the kind of stories they do not want. Deadline: 15 May 2026, or until filled (extended) for themed fiction, 30 May 2026 for translations and reprints. Length: 500-1,000 words. Pay: $100 for originals, $36 for reprints. Details here.

6. Cat Eye Press: Don’t Go for the Vault – A Bank Robbery Horror Anthology: This is a fiction anthology. They want “horror stories involving bank robberies. While the title for the anthology is “Don’t Go for the Vault,” we want characters who do exactly that. We want to see what you have hidden behind that giant metal door. Give us a reason to heed this legendary piece of bank robbery advice. Stories can take place in any time period and do not need to occur exclusively within the confines of a bank. The three main requirements for stories are: must involve a bank robbery, must mention or include a bank vault door being opened; AND must have horror elements (either inside or outside the vault). While these requirements may seem simple, we encourage you to think outside the box.” Deadline: 20 May 2026 for all writers; 21^st May-31^st May for underrepresented writers. Length: 1,500-4,500 words. Pay: $0.05/word for originals. Details here.

7. Salt Bloom - This is a new print journal and they are reading submissions for their inaugural issue. The magazine is affiliated with Fairfield University. They want prose of up to 3,500 words, which “includes flash, hybrid works, micro fiction and memoir, short plays, and play excerpts”, as well as poetry. The deadline is 31 May 2026. Details here.

8. Qwerty Magazine: Post and Beam (The Architecture Issue) - They’re open for fiction, poetry, and art for their 30^th anniversary issue. “We've lain the cornerstone. Now we build the house. In this special issue commemorating our 30th anniversary, we want your stories, poems, and otherwise artistic interpretations on the theme of dark architecture and pseudoarchaeology. The connection is closer than you think: chances are the chill summer enclosure on your back deck was built with the same basic principle as Stonehenge: post and beam construction. We're not looking for any old office building—no perfect beachfront property. We want your weird little crawlspaces. We want your five-and-a-half-minute hallways and backrooms. We want your unknowable ancient monuments that might be instruments for giants. Send us your doors found ajar, dwelling and liminality, flash fiction found on street signs and graffiti, and literal concrete poetry. Over the last 30 years, we have built a lasting little nook behind the cracks of the Poets' Corner—our own typeface Fraggle Rock. Let this issue be a testament to the weird: an architecture you don't so much digest as suck it down.” Qwerty is published by graduate students in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They accept work via Submittable. Deadline: 31^st May 2026. Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, up to 6 pages of poetry. Pay: $15. Details here and here.

9. Shacklebound Books: Witches & Warlocks - They want exactly 100-word stories (excluding the title) on the theme, Witches & Warlocks. They want dark fantasy stories for this digital and print anthology; authors receive a cash fee and a digital copy. Deadline: 31 May 2026. Length: 100 words.
Pay: $5. Details here (scroll down).

10. Cracked Anvil Press: Off the Broken Path – Dark Tales of Enchanted Forests - They want stories featuring enchanted forests for this anthology. “Tell us tales of enchanted forests. Stories filled with grit and gore. Tales of warning and woe. And if your story ends happily… make sure your characters bleed for it. We like to be surprised. Excited. Engaged. Preferring short, compact prose to long, drudgy sentences. Stories that move quickly, with subtle set ups and brutal pay offs.” Regarding genre / theme, they want “Fantasy. Grimdark. Horror. With enchanted forests taking a central role in the story. (With a preference for fantasy settings.)”. Deadline: 15 June 2026. Length: 1,000-5,000 words (can accept shorter or longer – see guidelines). Pay: $5. Details here.

IWSG: Inspiring Feedback and Affirmations

 It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

MAY 6 QUESTION - What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

MY ANSWER - It always makes me feel humbled and melts my heart a little when a reader tells me my writing reminds them of another favorite author. Luckily, for me, it's been in reference to someone I myself respect and enjoy. It's very uplifting to have a reader connect with your story and put you in a class with other favorites.

SAMPLE ANSWERS - Below are a few examples of comments left for writers followed by self- affirmations in case you have never received positive feedback. Don't give up!

1. Heartfelt & Encouraging

"Your words have a way of reaching beyond the page and into the heart. The way you weave emotion and meaning together is truly a gift—keep sharing your voice with the world, because it matters."

2. Motivational & Vision-Focused

"Every sentence you write builds a bridge between imagination and reality. Your storytelling has the power to inspire, comfort, and spark change—never underestimate the impact of your craft."

3. Gentle & Reassuring

"Even on days when the words feel heavy, remember that your voice is unique and irreplaceable. The world needs your stories, your perspective, and your courage to keep writing."

✨ Writer’s Affirmation ✨

*"My words carry truth, beauty, and meaning.

Every page I write is a step toward touching hearts and minds.

I am a storyteller, and my voice matters."*

🌿 Calming

*"I write with ease and flow.

Each word finds its place naturally,

and my stories grow like gentle rivers toward the sea."*

🔥 Empowering

*"My voice is bold, my vision is clear.

Every word I write shapes worlds,

and I have the power to inspire change."*

🌙 Poetic

*"In the quiet between heartbeats,

my stories bloom like midnight flowers—

rare, luminous, and unforgettable."*

How about you? What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

2026 Faust Sonnet Contest

Last week was both "National Library Week" and "National Talk Like Shakespeare Day" (see my previous posts). To continue the celebration, consider entering this annual submission opportunity:

The "Faust Sonnet Contest" is now accepting submissions. The sonnets may be written in Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian, or non-traditional form. Only previously unpublished sonnets are eligible. 

There is no entry fee for youth and $5 for up to three poems for adults. 

Each entrant may submit one to three sonnets, maximum, with sonnets to be received no later than June 1, 2026. Cash prizes total $3,000.  When you visit the site, you can review the winning entries from the last few years. For more information, visit http://www.sonnetcontest.org/

Not sure how to write a sonnet? Try reviewing these guidelines, tips, and examples: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/sonnet-examples.html

Have you ever written a sonnet? Does this seem like something you might want to try?

2026 National Library Week

It's National Library Week (April 19 - 25, 2026) in America. This is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. The first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!"

From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries offer opportunity to all. The theme for National Library Week 2026 is "Find Your Joy". This theme is meant to emphasize the value of reading and the role of libraries in enriching lives.

Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there's so much more to the story. Libraries lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, story times, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Library infrastructure advances communities, providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. National Library Week will be a great time to tell your library’s multi-faceted story.

Mychal Threets, the viral Librarian and social media sensation known for focusing on just how cool libraries are, has been chosen as Honorary Chair of this year's event.

"I love libraries enthusiastically every week! To serve as Honorary Chair for National Library Week takes that enthusiasm to a whole new level. Celebrating libraries, thanking library workers, visiting libraries is how I find my joy. There are so many library kids and grown-ups who have yet to fully embrace their library joy, and I am so excited for them! When they enter the world of libraries and stories, I am confidence they will find not only their library joy but their courage to believe in their own story and maybe even share it with others." - Mychal Threets

“Find Your Joy,” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. The theme amplifies a message that is ever-present in Threets’ viral videos about the innumerable ways people can find joy in the library and in his debut picture book, "I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy."

During National Library Week, April 19-25, 2026, discover your library joy.

• Stop by your library and bring someone with you.
• Help a friend sign up for a library card. It’s one small step that opens up endless possibilities.
• Explore something new: a book, a program, a class, or a conversation. From storytimes to makerspaces, author talks to job support, libraries are places where curiosity and connection come to life.

Monday, April 20: Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. The American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Week with the release of its State of America's Libraries Report, including the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2025.

Tuesday, April 21: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

Wednesday, April 22: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.

Thursday, April 23: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries. 

For more ways to celebrate, visit the American Library Association or (ALA): http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

Most writers and readers adore their local libraries, and it's often an included vacation locale. However, many don't realize the full range of services a good library offers. For great examples, check out this article at The Write Life.

Do you celebrate this event? What is your favorite aspect of libraries?

2026 Shakespeare Day

Next week is "National Talk Like Shakespeare Day"! It's observed on April 23, in honor of the author's birthday. To learn more about this celebration, check out the official site at: http://www.talklikeshakespeare.org/ This year it happens to coincide with "National Library Week".

Folger Shakespeare Library also hosts a variety of events, activities, contests, and programs for both kids and adults.

I've previously shared my own interest in Shakespeare in an article with Southern Writer's Magazine. You can check that out here: For the Love of Shakespeare.

For other great reads, Shakespeare fans should check out:

25 Romances for Shakespeare Fans
English, Irish, and Scottish Poetry

All the World's a Stage: Great Drama

Are you a Shakespeare fan? Will you be celebrating? What is your favorite Shakespearean creation? 

Easter 2026

I'm praying you are able to find the meaning and time you need in your life this week.

I hope you are all able to enjoy some much-needed time of relaxation, fun, and love this weekend as well.

Looking for a great Easter read? Check out This Easter Reading List.

For a little Easter writing inspiration, check out one of my former posts 4 Easter Inspired Prompts, or this list I came across: Easter Journal Prompts.

Do you celebrate Easter? How are you celebrating this season? Have you tried writing anything Easter inspired, or similar to the above prompts? Do you want to share anything that you have felt pulling at your heart lately?

IWSG: Writing Playlist

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

APRIL 1 QUESTION - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

MY ANSWER - My playlists change frequently but often highlights hits from the 1980s and 90s. While I enjoy other time periods, those seem to be the ones I'm drawn to the most, but the genre changes based on mood and needs. I'm just as likely to listen to classical as rap and enjoy country just as much as rock and pop. I'm fortunate to have a family that loves music just as much as I do so they are just as eclectic in their tastes.

How about you? If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

8 Submissions Due by March 31

Eight submissions open with a March 31 due date:

1. EYE CONTACT AWARD IN GENRE FLASH FICTION

https://sites.google.com/setonhill.edu/eyecontact/guidelines/genre-flash-fiction-prize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. Theme Symphony. Genre Fantasy. Submit the best genre story that lands 1000 words or less by the deadline — and that also fits the theme — and you could not only be accepted into the magazine but win a cash prize (or gift card equivalent) of $250!

2. COPPICE PRIZE
https://www.redbudwriting.org/coppice-prize-2026
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. The Coppice Prize is an annual short story competition run by the Redbud Writing Project. Every year, we invite writers around the world to submit a short story, up to 4000 words. The contest is open to writers who identify as belonging to marginalized or under-represented groups (e.g. cultural identity, income level of your family, racial identity, gender identity, disability, or something else). Winners and the finalist receive review and feedback from a literary agent. Winners also receive $600 (first place), $300 (second place) and $100 (third place).

3. CLAIRE HARRIS POETRY PRIZE
https://gooselane.com/pages/claire-harris-poetry-prize-submissions

NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. Eligible writers include Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who are writers from Black, Indigenous, or other racialized communities and who have not previously published a book-length collection of poetry. (Poets who have published a chapbook, but not yet a book-length collection, are eligible to apply). Manuscripts should be book-length works of poetry, i.e., approximately 48-100 pages. The prize includes a cash award of $1,000, a contract for the publication of the collection under the icehouse poetry imprint in the following year (2027), and public readings in at least three Canadian cities.

4. FOLEY POETRY CONTEST

https://americamedia.submittable.com/submit
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. Each entrant is asked to submit one poem of 45 lines or fewer. Poems should not be under consideration elsewhere. Poems may address any topic. The winning poem will be announced in early June and published in the print edition of America. The cash prize is $1,000. Three runners-up will also be published in subsequent issues.

 

5. PARSEC SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://parsec-sff.org/short-story-contest/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. The 2026 Contest theme is "Metamorphosis." No minimum, no more than 3500 words. Stories will be judged on writing quality and effective use of the contest theme. The contest is open to non-professional writers who have not met the eligibility requirements for SFWA Full Membership. Writers meeting the SFWA Associate level of membership are eligible to submit to the contest. Submitting to the contest implies consent for printing in the Confluence program book and publication in a short story contest ebook that will be distributed to Parsec members. First-place receives $200 and publication in the Confluence program book and 2026 short story contest ebook. Second-place receives $100 and publication in 2026 short story contest ebook. Third-place receives $50 and publication in 2026 short story contest ebook. Youth Story Prize receives $50 and publication in 2026 short story contest ebook.

 

6. THE ILSE SCHWEPCKE PRIZE FOR WOMEN'S TRAVEL WRITING
https://societyofauthors.org/prizes/other-prizes/ilse-schwepcke-prize/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. This prize is for non-fiction prose works of travel writing and not open to fiction or poetry. The winning author will receive £5,000. Entries must be written in English and not translated works. Submissions must be made by an established commercial publisher.

 

7. ANN PETRY AWARD

https://redhen.org/ann-petry-award/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. The Ann Petry Award is for a work of previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages, by a Black writer. Grand prize $3000, publication by Red Hen Press. 

 8. WILD LOT PRESS

https://wildlotpress.com/submissions

NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31 2026. Wild Lot Press, with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP), is publishing an illustrated nonfiction anthology book about night, with the working title Nightness: Ruminations on the Darker Side of Day. We’re looking for essays/creative nonfiction of any length, from snippets and passing anecdotes to longform opuses, that take keen interest in what happens between dusk and dawn in the wild spaces of our world, or better still, in the liminal spaces that bridge the human-centric, built world and the extra-human margins that encircle us. The winning essay will receive a prize of $250; all selected contributors will receive free copies.

2026 A to Z Challenge Master List Opens

Don't forget to join the "A to Z" blog hop and post your theme reveal if you have not already done so. Also, today is the official open of the Master List if you have not signed up yet.

I thought about joining again this year, but I've just taken on too many responsibilities at the moment and I'm not certain I'll be around to post each day, let alone have time to visit all of the blogs each day. I do plan to stop by and visit as possible. I just know it will be difficult to dedicate a lot of time over the next two months.

Best of luck to all who are participating. I look forward to visiting as possible.

To learn more about this challenge, or what you can expect to see this April, be sure to follow their website http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/ 

Theme reveal sign up: March 9
Theme reveal closes: March 14
Master list opens: March 23
Master list closes: April 4
After-survey: May 4-9
Reflections: May 3-8
Road-trip: May 11

Have you ever participated in this challenge? Will you be taking part this year? What other hops or challenges do you enjoy?

2026 St. Patrick's Day

March 17 is the traditional day to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Some of the best-known celebrations in the United States include Walt Disney World's Raglan Road experience, Chicago River Dyeing, and parades in New York.

If you're interested in participating in some St. Patrick's Day fun, but not quite sure how or where near you, check out this article I shared a couple of years ago: Irish Classics, Prompts, and Party Tips.

Feeling Lucky? Check out the post about where I and a few other writers get their inspiration: https://iwsganthologies.blogspot.com/2022/03/feeling-lucky.html

Some additional educational and fun holiday ideas include:

• Streaming Irish jigs and songs.
• Watching traditional Irish dance on YouTube or chrome cast to your TV.
• Adding green food dye to your short bread cookie recipes.
• Sewing or gluing crazy Green Irish hats, ties or belts using felt, ribbons, or fabrics.
• Cooking Irish Stew, scones and clotted cream or butter from scratch or from cans. 
• Telling Irish fables about leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, or gnomes.
• Reminding your children about the “kiss of the blarney” and the folkloric tradition known today as “the gift of the gab”.
• Research the real St. Patrick.

How about you? Are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day? How are you spending this time?

IWSG: Book Launches

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

MARCH 4 QUESTION - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

MY ANSWER - I've never launched a book alone because I've never attempted to publish an entire book. I have had the pleasure of working with many others on launching anthologies I was fortunate enough to appear in alongside. So, I look forward to reading what the other IWSG members say on this subject. 

How about you? What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?