Four paying markets for poetry, short stories, personal essays and true stories

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The Southern Review (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) seeks poetry. Pays $25 U.S. per page (maximum $200) plus two copies of the issue in which your poetry appears and a one-year subscription. 

Deadline: February 1, 2017. Full submission guidelines here.

The First Line literary quarterly wants 300 – 5,000-word stories beginning with the line: "Eddie tended to drift into whatever jobs were available that would pay the rent." Also seeks 500 – 800-word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work. Pays: $25 – $50 for fiction, $5 – $10 for poetry, and $25 for nonfiction (all U.S. dollars). 

Deadline: February 1, 2017.

Upcoming first lines:

Summer: “The plan suddenly made sense.” Due date: May 1

Fall: “Frank Rooney had been the manager of the Shop & Save for thirty-eight years, and he wasn't retiring anytime soon.” Due date: August 1

Winter: "I'm tired of trying to see the good in people." Due date: November 1

Full submission guidelines here.

Skirt! publishes two personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women’s interests. All essays should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Pays $200. 

Currently wants essays about traveling, wandering, the wonder of our great big world. Deadline: February 1, 2017.

Upcoming:

For May issue: Stories about the creative spark, finding your calling, the work you love. Deadline March 1

For June issue: Stories about big deals, extravagance, beauty, what takes your breath away. Deadline April 1.

For July issue: Essays about all thing summer! From bugs to backpacking. Deadline May 1.

For Aug issue: Stories about celebration, milestones, wins, achievements, the best of times. Deadline June 1

For Sept issue: Stories about the physical; body and mind, health and happiness. Deadline July 1.

For Oct issue: Stories about going offline or off the grid.. Deadline Aug 1

For Nov issue: Stories about foodie love, food memories, taste, girls’ nights. Deadline Sept 1.

For Dec issue: Stories about happiness, joy, what brings you to happy tears or tears of laughter.

Full submission guidelines here.

Hippocampus Magazine and Press  seeks true stories for its Air anthology. “We’re looking for behind-the-scene stories about small town radio stations. We’re seeking personal stories about die-hard radio fans. We want to hear from (current/former) jocks, from program directors, from engineers, from the sales team, from ancillary characters like record reps and concert promoters – tales from every corner of the radio station and from everyone radio ever reached.” Maximum 6,500 words. Pays: $50 per piece. 

Deadline: February 15, 2017. Full submission guidelines here.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Navigating tip: For more paying markets, go to the Labels for this posting listed immediately below and click on Paying Markets, or Best Paying Markets. You’ll also find a links to various other collections of postings in the list of Labels.