Feminine Collective wants your essays, poetry and fiction; plus 5½ paying markets, and QBF wants your pieces about reading and writing

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in the "Follow Brian by Email" box to the right under my bio and get each post delivered to your Inbox. Also, you can hang out and chat with Quick Brown Foxes (and vixens) on Facebook here. Finally, if you’re not yet on my newsletter, send me an email, including your locale, to: brianhenry@sympatico.ca  ~Brian

The Feminine Collective welcomes articles, interviews, creative nonfiction (personal essays), poetry, flash fiction and short stories for our online magazine. Here’s what they have to say:

Feminine Collective Aesthetic: Raw and unfiltered is what we publish. We want you to write like you talk, Your submission should reach out and grab us by the throat. Language is important. Whether your work is dark or light, blunt or subtle, serious or humorous, it should be in the deep voice. Make us care. Make us feel. Make us laugh. Make us cry. Make us angry. Make us want to stand up and fight for you. Give us something to sink our teeth into.

Poetry: Please send up to 6 poems, and load them into our Submittable system as one entry. Poems submitted separately will be rejected unread. We should only see your name in our system once, one document with all poems, one submission, capisce? Thank you. Poems should be single-spaced and no longer than two pages each. We adore prose poems without complicated formatting as this complicates things for our volunteer editors. We love narrative poems. Edgy for the sake of being edgy is not our thing.

Flash Fiction: We accept flash fiction up to 1,000 words in length. Must have a beginning, middle and an end. The idea: Tell a rich, complex story is as little words as possible. Flash fiction can be on any subject but we prefer stories on women, families, and relationships. Keep in mind relationships is a broad category. We accept up to three flash pieces at one time. Please load them into our Submittable system as ONE ENTRY.

Short Stories: Submit one short story up to 5,000 words in length. No novel excerpts, please.

Creative Nonfiction: Submit one personal essay up to 5,000 words in length. Please read Feminine Collective Aesthetic before submitting. All work should be written in deep voice, first person.

Articles, Interviews, Op/Eds: Feminine Collective accepts articles, interviews, and opinion pieces. Articles and Interviews should be completed works. Articles should be well-researched, journalistic style. Op/Eds should be a strong opinion on a current topic. Articles, Interviews and Op/Eds should be 1,000 – 2,500 words. For Time Sensitive Op/Ed works please select appropriate category in our Submittable system.

Full submission guidelines here.

Alien Dimensions seeks speculative fiction of 3,500 – 5,000 words. “Set it in space, in the far future, and include some friendly non-humanoid aliens helping to solve a pseudo-scientific problem.” Pays $10. Theme “Random Aliens.”

Deadline: 10^th of the month for consideration in next month’s issue. Full submission guidelines here.

Splickety Publishing Group has three quarterly flash fiction magazines, so it publishes one magazine or another each month. Here are its current calls for submissions;

Splickety Magazine is our premier flash fiction magazine. We strive to publish the finest quality flash fiction in multiple genres including (but not limited to) action/adventure, suspense, mystery, thriller, contemporary, women’s, young adult, and historical fiction.

Theme for December issue: Wreck the Halls. Sub-genres: – Holiday catastrophe, heart-warming humor, Christmas abroad, non-traditional family, slapstick, nostalgia. Christmas is full of things like family and ugly sweaters and snowballs – all of which make great ingredients for a comedy. Make us laugh while telling a story that captures all the essence of Christmas. From travel delays to the kids’ holiday programs to weird Uncle Johnny’s pants ripping, create a memory that makes us smile.

Pays 2 cents/word. Deadline: September 22, 2017. Guidelines here.

Havok is the premier publication for speculative flash fiction. We publish stories in the following genres (but this is not an exhaustive list): science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, cyberpunk, paranormal, supernatural, horror, techno-thriller, superhero, and more. 

Sub-genres – Space Opera, Far Future, Alien encounters, space travel, new solar systems

Build your own ships, solar systems, crews, and plot twists!

Theme for January issue: Deep Space Design. In this issue, we’re looking for well-developed sci-fi worlds. We still want compelling stories, of course, but we want to feel the texture of your world. The hot sand and the wretched hive of scum and villainy on Tatooine. The way the metal catwalk on Serenity echoes when someone drops a vital engine part. The many worlds and creatures the crew of the Enterprise encounter. Build a world and let us have a glimpse into it.

Pays 2 cents/word. Deadline October 27, 2017. Guidelines here.

Spark (formerly Splickety Love) is the premier publication for romance flash fiction. We publish stories in the following genres (but this is not an exhaustive list): romance, romantic suspense, historical romance, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, inspirational romance, women’s fiction, and more

Theme for February issue: Sadie Hawkins. Sub-genres – Topsy-turvy Proposal, Impatient Friend, Sparks between Strangers.

In this issue we want stories where the woman pursues the man. Strong, determined, know-what-they-want women who go after love. Whether it’s an unconventional proposal or someone who thinks they should be more than friends, let the lady take the leading role.

Pays 2 cents/word. Deadline November 24, 2017. Guidelines here.

Sirens Call Publications

For the October issue of their eZine, they’re looking for horror stories, prose and poetry celebrating classic monster stereotypes (except no zombies for this issue).

Deadline October 6, 2017. Guidelines here.

Call for submissions to an anthology: If it Bleeds, it Leads. Length: 2,500 - 5,000 words. They’re looking for stories that embody the spirit of the good ol’ newspaper headline. Pays $15 per piece. 

Deadline October 31, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

The Maple Tree Literary Supplement  provides a platform for dialogue or interviews on any topic between and amongst Canadian writers, while featuring their work and reporting on literary events, landmarks or festivals in Canada and around the world, with an emphasis on their Canadian composition. 

Usually pays $30, but currently they’re kind of broke. Deadline: October 31, 2017. Guidelines here.

Quick Brown Fox welcomes your  essays about reading and writing (see examples here and scroll down). QBF also welcomes reviews of books and movies or whatever else catches your eye. Details here. Read how to write a book review (or any kind of review) 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.

New Star Books accepts unsolicited fiction and nonfiction

New Star Books has been around in one form or another since 1969. It welcomes unsolicited manuscripts in the following areas:

Social issues and politics.

The culture and history of British Columbia and the West.

Literary prose, both fiction and nonfiction.

New Star also publishes poetry, though they do not consider unsolicited poetry manuscripts.

New Star also publishes Transmontanus, a series of short illustrated books about some of the more unusual aspects of life in a corner of the world currently known as British Columbia.

Proposals for the New Star list and for the Transmontanus series should be sent directly to New Star's editorial offices in Vancouver, either by mail to:

Rolf Maurer
Publisher
New Star Books
107 – 3477 Commercial St.
Vancouver, BC V5N 4E8

Or submit electronically to: info@newstarbooks.com

What to send

Fiction: full manuscript with a query letter.

Nonfiction: full manuscript or full outline & sample chapters, with a query letter.

The information that other publishers are also considering the manuscript, if this is the case.

For electronic submissions, a word processor document (.odt, .doc, .docx, .pdf) with double-spaced, 12 pt type.

For hard copy submissions, unbound single-sided pages, a big enough self-addressed stamped envelope for return of manuscript if necessary; or indicate we can recycle it if not interested.

See full submission guidelines here.

Bringing Up Beauty by Sylvia McNicoll,
one ofthe guest speakers in Brian's
Writing Kid Lit course

If you’re interested in and finding an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss our “How to Get Published” mini-conference, with literary agent Martha Webb, author Hannah McKinnon, and HarperCollins editor Michelle Meade on Saturday, Nov 18, in Guelph (see here).

Also, starting soon, Brian Henry will lead a full range of writing courses, introductory to advanced (and most of these classes still have space): 

Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday afternoons, Sept 28 – Nov 30, in Burlington. See here.

Writing Personal Stories, Wednesday evenings, Sept 27 – Nov 15, in Burlington. See here.

Writing Kid Lit, Thursday mornings, Oct 5 – Nov 30, in Oakville, with guest authors Sylvia McNicoll and Jennifer Mook-Sang. See here.

Next Step in Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons Sept 26 – Nov 28, first readings emailed Sept 19; Burlington. See here.

Intensive Creative Writing, Monday mornings, Sept 25 – Dec 4/11, first readings emailed Sept 18; Toronto. See here.

Intensive Creative Writing, Thursday evenings, Sept 28 – Nov 30 / Dec 7, first readings emailed Sept 20; Georgetown. See here.

Extreme Creative Writing, Wednesday afternoons, Sept 20 – Dec 6/13, first readings emailed Sept 13; Burlington

See details of all seven courses offered in the fall here.

Kelley Armstrong

And be sure not to miss the “Writing a Bestseller"workshop with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong on Saturday, Oct 21, in Oakville (see here),

Also, in the fall, Brian will lead a “How to Make Yourself Write” workshop on Saturday, Oct 14, in Toronto (see here), a “Secrets of Writing a Page-turner” on Saturday, Oct 28, in Caledon at the Bolton Library (see here), “Writing with Style” on Saturday, Nov 4, in Barrie (see here) and“How to Build Your Story” on Saturday, Nov 25 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.

You're invited to the launch of a new novel: About Vee by Barbara Fraser Wood (writing as Molly Fraser)

Hi, Brian.

My new novel About Vee will be released on September 15, 2017, by Solstice Publishing under my pen name of Molly Fraser. The book will be available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format. Unlike my previous fantasy, Blade and Blood, this one is a contemporary novel. It introduces Victoria Grace Stuart, a woman in her 80s who lives in a retirement home.

Because her present is bland and predictable, Vee spends many hours reflecting on her colourful past. Unexpectedly, her routine is disturbed by Keith Albert Theodore, a new resident who makes clear his interest in her. As their story isn’t finished by the last page of this book, a second novel Vee Again will complete it. I’m currently working on the sequel.

A retirement home in a far off land isn’t a conventional novel setting but I know about such places. My mother lived in a senior centre for seven years and I visited her regularly. I’m also familiar with New Zealand, as it’s my birthplace and the country where I now spend part of each year.

Both books will be launched on October 15 at the Westmount Gallery, 88 Advance Road in Etobicoke from 3 to 5 p.m. This is a wonderful location for an event: you can buy a book by a Canadian writer and then choose a painting by a Canadian artist. Help to save both literature and art by first saving the date of Sunday, October 15^th.         

Barbara Fraser Wood

www.mollyfraser.ca

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. 

Six agents at the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency seek authors, including new agent Julie Tibbott

Jill Corcoran Literary Agency

2150 Park Place 

Suite 100

El Segundo, CA 90245

http://jillcorcoranliteraryagency.com/

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in the “Follow Brian by Email” box in the right-hand column under my bio, and get each post delivered to your Inbox. Also, if you’re not yet on my newsletter, send me an email, including your locale, to: brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~Brian

The Jill Corcoran Agency has recently greatly expanded its roster, so it now has eight agents on its roster, including half a dozen with extensive experience in children’s publishing, everything from picture books to young adult. But they’re not just looking for Kid Lit; they’re also actively seeking adult fiction and nonfiction. Six of the agents on staff are actively looking for new authors, including the agency’s president Jill Corcoran, and five newer agents. And remember, the great thing about new agents is that they need authors.

Julie Tibbott is the newest member of the team. Julie has long been involved in creating books as an editor, an author and now as an agent. As might be expected from the author of Members Only, a book about cults and secret societies, Julie is drawn to stories that give us access to hidden worlds, unusual communities and unique points of view. 

She was previously a senior editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where she worked on science fiction by Diane Duane, historical fiction by Carolyn Meyer, morbidly funny YA fiction by Gina Damico, and fantasy by Sarah Porter, among many others.

Julie is looking for books for both teen and adult audiences. For both, she is seeking psychological thrillers, clever mysteries, speculative fiction, fantasy with one foot in the real world, high-concept fiction, and nonfiction with a pop culture connection. In general, she likes works infused with a touch of the surreal, spooky, absurd, quirky, or magical.

As part of the agency, Julie is excited to discover new talent. Julie partners with Jill Corcoran an all client manuscripts, with Julie focusing on editorial and Jill on submitting, selling, and negotiations. Authors need only submit to either Julie or Jill as they share all submissions.

Query Julie through the Corcocan Agency’s submission manager here.

Include a synopsis and the first two chapters.

Five more agents at the Corocan Agency are also looking for authors:

Jill Corcoran

Jill Corcoran is on the hunt for unique concepts in MG, YA, Adult, Graphic Novels, Illustrated MG fiction and non-fiction. Literary with a side of Humor = a ginormous plus.

Query Jill through the submissions manager here.

Adah Megged Nuchi is looking for picture books authors and illustrators, middle-grade and young adult fiction, and upmarket fiction for adults.

Query Adah through the Co submission manager here

Elizabeth Bennett is looking for fiction and non-fiction submissions with series and franchise potential, licensed brands, board books, novelties, graphic novels and middle grade fiction. She tends to be partial to books with humor; books that approach contemporary issues in a fresh, new way; books that are inspired by pop-culture and current trends.

Query Elizabeth through the submission manager here

Jodell Sadler is looking for picture book, graphic novel, and middle grade author/illustrators. 

Query Jodell through the submission manager here.

Silvia Ariente is looking for Young Adult fiction of any kind, YA and MG fantasy and sci-fi as well as Adult romance with a twist, and Adult crime stories.

Query Sylvia through the submission manager here.

If you’re interested in and finding an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss our “How to Get Published” mini-conference, with literary agent Martha Webb, author Hannah McKinnon, and HarperCollins editor Michelle Meade on Saturday, Nov 18, in Guelph (see here).

Also, starting soon, Brian Henry will lead a full range of writing courses, introductory to advanced (and most of these classes still have space): 

Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday afternoons, Sept 28 – Nov 30, in Burlington. See here.

Writing Personal Stories, Wednesday evenings, Sept 27 – Nov 15, in Burlington. See here.

Writing Kid Lit, Thursday mornings, Oct 5 – Nov 30, in Oakville, with guest authors Sylvia McNicoll and Jennifer Mook-Sang. See here.

Next Step in Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons Sept 26 – Nov 28, first readings emailed Sept 19; Burlington. See here.

Intensive Creative Writing, Monday mornings, Sept 25 – Dec 4/11, first readings emailed Sept 18; Toronto. See here.

Intensive Creative Writing, Thursday evenings, Sept 28 – Nov 30 / Dec 7, first readings emailed Sept 20; Georgetown. See here.

Extreme Creative Writing, Wednesday afternoons, Sept 20 – Dec 6/13, first readings emailed Sept 13; Burlington

See details of all seven courses offered in the fall here.

And be sure not to miss the “Writing a Bestseller" workshop with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong on Saturday, Oct 21, in Oakville (see here),

Also, in the fall, Brian will lead a “How to Make Yourself Write” workshop on Saturday, Oct 14, in Toronto (see here), a “Secrets of Writing a Page-turner” on Saturday, Oct 28, in Caledon at the Bolton Library (see here), “Writing with Style” on Saturday, Nov 4, in Barrie (see here) and “How to Build Your Story” on Saturday, Nov 25 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.

Navigation tips: Always check out the labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. Also, if you're searching for a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.