Six paying markets for short stories, flash fiction, poetry, essays, and reviews, plus the CANSCAIP Writing for Children Contest

Eye to theTelescope is a quarterly online journal that’s been publishing science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative poetry, under the auspices of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, since 2011. Currently seeking poetry that address all aspects of garbage in the speculative realm. Pays 3 cents / word U.S.

Deadline: June 15, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

Arsenika is a quarterly journal of speculative poetry and flash fiction established in December 2016. Edited by S. Qiouyi Lu, Arsenika looks for gorgeous, emotional writing: poetry that shimmers with multiple layers of meaning, prose that explores and interrogates. From hard science fiction to the lightest of magical realism, Arsenika is not bound by genre, though we do prefer the speculative.

Arsenika seeks marginalized voices. We work to uplift those outside the center and believe that identity is not the defining trait of a piece of work, but that unnameable quality that weaves through prose and poetry to give it its nuance.

Each issue features at minimum two pieces of flash fiction and four poems and will be offered online and in PDF, ePub, and mobi formats.

Currently seeking flash fiction (up to 1,000 words) and poetry. Pays $60 U.S. for fiction and $30 US for poetry. 

Deadline: June 15, 2017. Submission guidelines here. 

Black Rabbit (Cambridge, Philadelphia & Montreal) is a quarterly publication devoted to highest truth. All lies are forbidden. Seeking short stories 1,000 - 1,500 words (that limit being pretty flexible) "with a literary tone and weird tendencies."  Pays $25 U.S.

Deadline: June 21, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

Puritan contributor Rebbecca Salazar

The Puritan is one of Canada's premier literary journals. Based in Toronto, it publishes fiction, poetry, essays, reviews and interviews. Pays $100 Canadian per interviews, $100 per essay, $100 per review, $50 per work of fiction, and $15 per poem (or page, capped at $60 for poems running four pages or more). 

Deadline for next issue: June 25, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

Feminine Collective publishes original stories from new, emerging, and established writers and poets. "These are unique human interest stories not found in mainstream media. We are committed to providing a platform for theses voices to be heard on every aspect of the human condition – their lives, loves, families, disappointments, successes, illnesses, challenges, and chronicling their  everyday lives. Real. Raw. With unfiltered voices."

Feminine Collective accepts articles, interviews, creative nonfiction (personal essays), poetry, flash fiction, and short stories for their online magazine. 

Guidelines here. Continually accepting new material. 

Understorey Magazine publishes “vital writing and visual art by women in Canada.” Men not welcome. Open only to writers in Canada who identify as women or non-binary. Seeking fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction on theme of "Service." Pays an hhonorarium. 

Deadline: June 15, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

Hello, Brian.

Could you post this in one of your newsletters please? The small publisher I work for is opening to submissions for another anthology. The details are below.

Thanks.

Elesha

Pen and Kink Publishing is pleased to announce volume #3 of our Triskaidekaphilia anthology series: Transformed!

Release the monster within. Nothing is quite so deliciously freeing as caving to your instincts. For centuries, shapeshifters have personified our impulse to bow to our animalistic nature. From lycans to skin-walkers and everything in between, shapeshifters give us a chance to connect with our inner-selves and celebrate our intriguing differences, our passions, and ultimately our humanity through their necessity of striking a balance between their human selves and supernatural selves.

We are seeking romantic and heated stories that delve into the different challenges all shifters face while navigating the mysterious paths of love and forbidden attraction.

Transformed will be an exploration of our dark side through characters that challenge the human experience by simply being different.

Stories between 1,000 – 15,000 words long (query for longer)

Open to all gender pairings and multiple partners

Simultaneous & multiple submissions = No

Pays $10 U.S. and a paperback copy of the anthology in exchange for the non-exclusive right to include the story in both the print and electronic versions of the anthology.

Submission Period: June 1st, 2017—August 31st 2017.

About the Editor: Charlie Watson is a freelance editor ready to make her mark on the Edmonton writing community. About the Series: Triskaidekaphilia is the love of the number thirteen. It’s also the name of our anthology series which explores the more shadowy corners of romance and erotica. There will be 13 volumes in total, each of which will be released on a Friday the 13th.

For more information, see here. 

Captain Monty Takes the Plunge by
Jennifer Mook-Sang (Kids Can Press)
began its journey to publication as an
entry in the CANSCAIP
Writing for Children Contest

CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers), in partnership with The Writers' Union of Canada, is pleased to accept entries by unpublished writers for the 20th Annual Writing for Children Competition. 

Two winners will be awarded $1,000 for a picture book/early reader entry and for a chapter book/middle grade/young adult entry. Eight additional finalists in these categories will also be selected. 

CANSCAIP will submit the entries of the winners and finalists to three Canadian children's publishers for consideration. Some winners and finalists in the Writing for Children Competition have had their entries published.

All entrants will receive feedback from the readers who evaluate the entries. This feedback is a unique benefit of entering the Writing for Children Competition. 

A goal of the Writing for Children Competition is to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of children's literature across Canada. The Writers' Union of Canada initiated the Competition in 1996, and in 2014 CANSCAIP took on this initiative.  

ELIGIBLE WRITERS

Writers who have not been published in book or e-book format in any genre and who don’t have a current contract with a publisher. It’s okay if you’ve had a story, essay, article or poem published in an anthology, collection, textbook, magazine or periodical (i.e., publications with content by multiple writers), but haven’t had a book published – you’re eligible to enter. It’s also okay if you’ve self-published a books (unless your self-published book has been sold in substantial quantities in bookstores, institutions or online – then you’re not eligible to enter).

Writers must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada

ELIGIBLE ENTRIES

Up to 1,500 words, fiction or non-fiction, English text (For a longer work, such as a novel, 1,500 words may be the first chapter or other chapter(s).

Submit text only; no illustrations 

Submission in 12-point font, double-spaced (cover letter can be single-spaced)

Entries that were submitted for a previous Writing for Children Competition can be re-submitted 

Select a reading age category for each entry: 

Picture Book (age 2 to 6)
Early Reader (age 5 to 8)
Chapter Book (age 7 to 10)

Anne Shone, senior editor,
Scholastic Books

Middle Grade (age 9 to 12)
Young Adult (age 13 and up)

ENTRY FEE

The entry fee is $30 for one entry, $50 for two entries, and $75 for three entries.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: June 30, 2017

See complete guidelines, including how to enter here.

And if you want to get your submission in shape before the contest, join us for the Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop, Saturday, May 27, in St. Catharines, with guest speaker Anne Shone, senior editor, Scholastic Books. Details here.

See Brian Henry’s complete current 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. 

One Canadian and eight British Publishers that don't require an agent seeking Kid Lit (and lots of other things)

Anne Shone

Scholastic Canada publishes recreational reading for children and young people. Its publishing focus is on books by Canadians or of Canadian interest. The original Scholastic company founded in 1920 by M.R. (Robbie) Robinson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Incorporated in 1957, Scholastic Canada Ltd. was the first of an international family of companies that now includes members in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India and Asia.

Scholastic Canada has its own editorial and acquisitions office. They do not usually accept un-agented manuscripts, unless you’ve heard their senior editor, Anne Shone, speak at a workshop. Anne will be the guest speaker at the “Writing for Children & for Young Adults” workshop on Saturday, May 27, in St. Catharines (see here). So don’t miss it!

Also, Scholastic Canada does welcome submissions from Professional illustrators interested in working with Scholastic. They’re invited to email sample art and links to an online portfolio to Andrea Casault at acasault@scholastic.ca

Full submission guidelines here.

“Writing for Children & for Young Adults” will also be offered Saturday, July 29, in Collingwood, with literary agent Monica Pacheco (see here), and in the fall, I’ll be offering a weekly class on writing Kid Lit, Thursday mornings, Oct 5 – Nov 30, at the Woodside Branch of the Oakville Public Library, 1274 Rebecca St, Oakville, Ontario (map here). For more details or to reserve a spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Nosy Crow is an independent company that began publishing child-focused, parent-friendly children’s books and apps in January 2011, with the aim of creating books and apps that encourage children to read for pleasure. This year, 2017, it was named Children’s Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards.

They’re on the lookout for exciting projects by both new and established authors, illustrators, paper-engineers, designers and other creative talent. They buy from agents, and, sometimes, directly from authors and illustrators.

They publish books for children from 0 – 14, mainly focussing on books for children up to the age of 12. They’re looking for “parent-friendly books” and don’t publish books with explicit sex, drug use or serious violence, so no edgy YA or edgy cross-over.

“And whatever New Adult is, we don’t do it. As a rule, we don’t like books with “issues” that are in any way overtly didactic. We are aiming for distribution throughout bookshops in the UK and beyond, so we can’t easily publish things with a niche and/or a local interest.”

Email submissions to: submissions@nosycrow.com

For novelty/picture books please email the full text. For longer works, you should submit a short synopsis plus the first chapter (double-spaced). You should also send a cover letter containing all relevant information about you and your work. Full submission guidelines here.

The O'brien Press is Ireland’s leading general publisher of both adult and children’s books. Their list includes biography, humor, photography, history, art, politics, cookery, sport, music, memoir, true crime and travel, plus children’s fiction and nonfiction.

Mail submissions to:

Submissions Department

The O’Brien Press

12 Terenure Road East

Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland

For works of 1,000 words or less, submit your entire manuscript. For anything over 1,000 words, send a synopsis and 2 or 3 sample chapters. No email submissions. Full submission guidelines here.

Piccadilly Press publishes stories for children aged 5 – 12. They’re looking for fun, family-oriented fiction. Submit your manuscript to: enquiries@http://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/

Attach your work as a Word file or PDF. Full submission guidelines here.

Ransom Publishing specializes in books for for struggling and reluctant readers and young, emergent readers.
“We are proud to be the first publisher to produce easily accessible, high-interest books which have a very low reading level and are genuinely suitable for older teenagers and adults. Our first series of books in this range, Dark Man, won the Educational Resources Book Award in 2006.”

specializes in books for reluctant readers. They produce easily accessible, high-interest books for older teenagers and adults which have a very low reading level.

Submissions: Ransom does not include submission guidelines on their website. To receive submission guidelines, send an email ransom@ransom.co.uk and request information about submissions.

Strident publishing is currently looking for:
Illustrated children’s fiction for ages 5-8. We are particularly keen on humorous stories. (We usually commission illustrators separately, but we will consider self-illustrated work.)

Shorter fiction for ages 7-10. This can be illustrated or non-illustrated. By ‘shorter’ we mean typically 15k-40k words.

Mid-length fiction for ages 8-12. Any genre. We love humour, jeopardy, excitement and anything thought-provoking. Twee and traditional is not our cup of tea.

Young Adult fiction. What we have published already gives a good indication of what excites us – quirky (e.g. Kirkland Ciccone’s Endless Empress),  existential (Janne Teller‘s Nothing), dystopian (Gillian Philip’s Bad Faith).

Query Strident at: info@stridentpublishing.co.uk
Do not send manuscripts. Send an email query stating what you have written, appropriate age range, word count, blurb (very important), books yours may be compared to, why your book stands out. Full submission guidelines here.

Templar Publishing is part of the Bonnier Group. Founded in 1978, Templar has become one of the world's most respected publishers and packagers of illustrated children's fiction, novelty and picture books. They have an extensive backlist built over 30 years and sell their products in over 25 languages in more than 50 countries. They’re probably best known for the Ology series, which launched in 2003 with Dragonolgy.

Submissions: Templar is currently accepting Picture Book and Novelty Book submissions. Mail your submission to:

The Submissions Team

The Templar Company Ltd

Deepdene Lodge, Deepdene Avenue

Dorking, Surrey, RH5 4AT

Do not submit picture book manuscript by email. Full submission guidelines here.

Top That books and apps cater for pre-school children to adults and are designed to promote child development, enrich relationships, and foster creativity and imagination.   There are over 100 million Top That books in print and their titles are available in more than 70 countries around the world.

Top That Publishing Ltd is a company of the Tide Mill Media group which includes Playcreate Media Ltd and Loved By Kids Ltd. Top That Publishing accepts submissions from authors, illustrators and designers but note they don't currently publish regular children's or adult fiction. They favour novelty books. Check out their current offerings here.

Submit to Josh Simpkin-Betts: josh@topthatpublishing.com

Full submission guidelines here.

Don’t miss the weekend writing retreats at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park. There are two retreats scheduled for 2017: the June in Algonquin Retreat, Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4 – or extend your retreat to Monday, June 5 (see here) and the Fall Colours Retreat, Friday, Sept 15 – Sunday, Sept 17 (see here). Read about my first stay at Arowhon Pines Resort here.

To reserve a spot or for more information, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

This summer Brian will be leading three creative writing courses, introductory to advanced:

Exploring Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, July 4 – August 22, in Burlington. Details here.

Next Step in Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, July 5 – August 23, in Burlington. Details here.

Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday afternoons, July 5 – August 23, in Burlington. Details here.

      Details of all three courses here.  

Hannah McKinnon

Upcoming workshops include: “You can write great dialogue,” Saturday, June 10 in Guelph, with author Hannah McKinnon, (see here), Saturday, July 15, in Mississauga (see here), and Saturday, July 22, in London (see here), and “How to Write Great Characters,” Saturday, June 17 in Burlington (see here).

For more information or to reserve a spot in any workshop, retreat, or weekly course, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Read reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here.

See Brian’s complete current 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.

A Writer’s Paradise ~ 2 reviews of the Retreat at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park

Writing Retreat at Arowhon Pines

by Joyce Schacter, Ottawa

I’ve just returned from an inspiring weekend of writing with the Quick Brown Fox himself, Brian Henry.  

This retreat reminded me that the craft is an interactive process: write, read, receive feedback, revise.  Brian encouraged, coached, cajoled and helped us apply ourselves to what we love:  the stuff of stories.  He presented key topics, led discussions, organized us into reader-feedback buddies, put us at ease in his kind and funny way, and set up an environment that nurtured the writer in us. 

Mark (one of the participants) and Brian in conference

In one-on-one sessions, our fearless leader applied his laser vision and editorial savvy to our writing projects and brought them to new levels of clarity. 

The beautiful natural setting at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park was ideal for a writing retreat.  Ethereal mist moved across the lake in the cool early mornings of mid-September.

We hiked, canoed, kayaked, and swam in the still waters of Little Joe Lake, and had a boat tour of the area.  Though the word “retreat” suggests temples and robes, the only monastic feature of Arowhon Pines is the old-fashioned bell clanging call to the dining hall for delicious gourmet meals.  Dining together gave us wonderful opportunities to connect and draw motivation from each other. 

We were an eclectic dozen, including a feng shui expert, a painter in search of a new artistic medium, an accountant with an interest in Depression-era prostitution, and a retired jail warden, to name a few.

After I slipped into Little Joe Lake for a pre-breakfast swim one misty morning, I was designated  Chief Lemming in the line up for the Go Jump in the Lake exercise that we’re planning next time ...  I’ve already reserved my spot.

For information about upcoming writers’ retreats, at both Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park and the Briars on Lake Simcoe, see here (and scroll down). 

To reserve a spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Writer’s Retreat with Brian Henry

by Donna Kirk, Burlington

This past weekend, I attended my first writers’ retreat at Arowhon Pines resort in Algonquin Park.

I arrived at noon on Saturday, just in time to hear the 12:30 lunch bell. The meal was beyond any expectations of gourmet. I even ate a dessert, a hard decision, given that there were about twenty to choose from. This was the beginning of two days of epicurean perfection.

After settling in my comfortable room, I realized I’d forgotten to ask for the code to the internet, and trudged back to the office.

"Mist on Little Joe Lake," photo by Joyce Schacter

“No worries about that,” said a pleasant New Zealand girl. “We don’t have internet here. Or cell phone service. But there is a TV in the games lodge where you can watch movies.”

My God. What if I get an urgent email from somebody who couldn’t wait to be my agent? Or a call from a publisher who’s heard via the grapevine about the brilliant novel I’m writing?

The Kiwi girl’s parting shot, “No liquor license either,” was delivered in a voice far too cheery for that kind of message. “But,” she added, “you’re welcome to bring any alcoholic beverage to the dining room or for enjoyment in your own room.”

My husband, who accompanied me to the retreat because we’d heard about Arowhon – the fabulous food and the wilderness location – did a one-eighty and headed back to the parking lot. The nearest liquor store was in Dwight. Teresa, the manager of the lodge, called after him. “Will you please bring me back a Globe and Mail?”

 After lunch, I plugged in my computer and sat down on the verandah of the games room with a view of Little Joe Lake to work on the re-write of the first chapter of my novel. (After all, this was what I was here for). There were no pings of in-coming email, no temptation to procrastinate on Facebook. My company was a loon swimming back and forth on the lake, couples drifting by in canoes, and complete silence.

Naomi – Brian’s wife – had to remind me at four p.m. that it was time for the get-together in Tanglewood Cottage.

We all introduced ourselves in turn. Everyone looked full from lunch but we soon woke up to Brian’s topic for discussion: What you might want to add to a piece of writing to give it the fullness that makes a story seem real. Even though Brian’s hand-outs are excellent, I take notes. The good pointers seem to stay longer in my brain that way.

Over the next two days we enjoyed writing discussions on Point of View, Dialogue, and Ways to Help Yourself Write. After these discussions, we teamed up in pairs to share what we’d been writing. My partners were helpful and honest. And after each session, we returned to our favourite place to write.

Everyone in the group had a personal half-hour session with Brian. This was the highlight for me. Brian is always helpful and honest. Besides saying what’s praiseworthy about a piece, he tells you what doesn’t work, then suggests ways to change it so it does.

I’m back to the drawing board with my opening chapter. That’s what I came to the retreat for – fresh ideas and a different outlook.

Sunday morning a thick mist was rolling off the lake – a eerie and breath-taking. A few brave souls went swimming. I didn’t need that much waking up before our morning writing sessions.

Sunday afternoon, some writers enjoyed a boat tour of the lake. Our guide, a true woodsman, extended his sympathy to those of us who live in cities. For an hour, we listened to him describe the wild life, his everyday companions: loons, moose, beavers, hawks, humming birds, deer and bears.

Monday morning, the group gathered on the dock for a picture. The retreat was everything I’d expected, and more; friendly people, wonderful food and a remote lodge in the middle of a glorious national park.

To read more about Arowhon Pines Resort, see here.

For information about upcoming writers’ retreats, at both Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park, Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph in Muskoka, and at the Elm Hurst Inn and Spa in Ingersoll, see here (and scroll down). 

See all my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day  retreats here. ~Brian

Intensive Creative Writing course, Wednesday afternoons, July 5 – Aug 23, in Burlington

Intensive Creative Writing

Eight special weeks with a group of special writers

Wednesday afternoons, 12:15 – 2:45 p.m.

July 5 – August 23, 2017        

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.) 

See details of all three courses offered this summer, introductory to advanced, here.

 The Intensive course is for experienced writers; people who have been working on their craft for a while, who have some experience in the art of giving truly helpful critiques, and who are working on their own projects. During course, you’ll be asked to bring in four pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on.  In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write.

Fee:  $167.26 plus 13% hst = 189
To reserve your spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada's most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John.But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published. 

Read a review of the Intensive course here. Read more reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here. 

See Brian’s complete current 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.