Three of the best-paying markets for articles about meaning, true stories and poems, and personal essays, plus a flash fiction contest

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Hi, Brian.

The deadline for our ninth annual Flash Fiction Contest is August 31. The top prize is $1,000 while the entry fee is just $5. No-fee general submissions remain open year round. 

Thanks for reading,

David Bright, Editor 

Gemini Magazine

Parabola is a quarterly journal devoted to the exploration of the quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world’s myths, symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern life.  Each issue of Parabola is organized around a theme. Examples of themes we have explored in the past include Rites of Passage, Sacred Space, The Child, Ceremonies, Addiction, The Sense of Humor, Hospitality, The Hunter, The Stranger, and Prayer & Meditation.

The theme for the upcoming issue is Families.

Parabola publishes articles and poetry, some book reviews and, on rare occasions, short fiction directly connected to the theme for the particular issue.

Pays from $150 to $400 for articles. 

Deadline: September 1, 2017. Guidelines here. 

Skirt! publishes two personal essays (800–1,100) words 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. 

For the November issue, they want stories about going offline or off the grid. Deadline Sept 1.

For the December issue, stories about happiness, joy, what brings you to happy tears or tears of laughter. Deadline Oct 1

Full submission guidelines here.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is always looking for true stories and poems for upcoming anthologies.  Pays $200. 

 Currently, they’re seeking true stories on various themes:

Stories and poems of Redemption. Deadline August 31, 2017.

My Crazy Family! You must submit your story or poem using your real name, but if your work is selected to be published in the book, we expect many of you to use pen names and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). Deadline September 5, 2017

Love Stories and poems. Deadline October 31, 2017 .

Christmas and Holiday Collection – 2018. Deadline October 31, 2017.

Check out the full 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.