"The Little Boat", a poem by Jane Kenyon https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/iowareview/article/id/21285/download/pdf/ Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar https://theamericanscholar.org/the-little-boat-by-jane-kenyon/

42 Terrific International Literary Journals, curated by @authorspublish.com https://authorspublish.com/42-terrific-international-literary-journals/ #litmags

"What Only Parents Say" by Mick O Seasnain, Honorable Mention in our 2018 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest https://winningwriters.com/past-winning-entries/what-only-parents-say

MAGA’s Book Bans Are Coming Back With a Vengeance Gift article via @bloomberg.com: https://loom.ly/zdTRA8s

The Small Press Power List: 25 Publishers Redefining American Literature, curated by @unsolicitedpress.bsky.social https://unsolicitedpress.substack.com/p/the-small-press-power-list-25-publishers HT Lit Mag News #publishing

How to Apply, Get Accepted, and Get the Most Out of Writing Mentorship Programs https://authorspublish.com/how-to-apply-and-get-in-to-writing-mentorship-programs/ via @authorspublish.com

Deadline is Jan 7 to opt out of the Anthropic settlement. @authorsguild.org cautions against ClaimsHero approach: https://authorsguild.org/news/claimshero-and-anthropic-settlement-what-authors-need-to-know/ HT Jane Friedman

Deadline Feb 28: Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) Self-Publishing Literary Awards No fee. African American authors born in the US may submit self-published poetry or fiction ebooks to win $2,500. https://bcala.librariesshare.com/bcala-ebook-contest/ HT FundsforWriters

Deadline Apr 1: The Orison Prizes in Poetry & Fiction. Win $1,500 and publication. The 2026 judges are Leila Chatti (poetry) and Margot Livesey (fiction). Submit full-length poetry (50–100pp) and fiction (minimum 30,000 words) manuscripts. Fee: $25. https://www.orisonbooks.com/submissions

"One Thanksgiving Day", a poem by Pat Parker https://poems.com/poem/one-thanksgiving-day/ via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and Sinister Wisdom

Act by Dec 23: Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Holiday Special Indie authors and independent publishers may submit books published during 2024-2026. $10,000+ in prizes. 80+ categories. Fee: $80. Enter using code Holiday2025 and your second category is free. https://www.indiebookawards.com/

81 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (December 2025), curated by @authorspublish.com https://authorspublish.com/81-opportunities-for-historically-underrepresented-writers-december-2025/

Deadline Dec 31: The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction Stories may be previously published or unpublished. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. All entries are considered for publication. Limit: 10,000 words: Fee: $15. https://lascauxreview.com/contests/

No, Colleen Hoover Did Not Email Me: Current Scams Targeting Authors https://janefriedman.com/no-colleen-hoover-did-not-email-me-current-scams-targeting-authors/ HT Lit Mag News

30 Magazines Accepting Flash Fiction, curated by @authorspublish.com https://authorspublish.com/30-magazines-accepting-flash-fiction/ #litmags

Our December newsletter features "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, illustrated by Julian Peters https://createsend.com/t/d-A6D41ED81EFEFF332540EF23F30FEDED

Sponsored > Deadline Jan 30: William Saroyan International Prize for Writing - a biennial competition for newly-published books, intended to encourage new or emerging writers. Fiction and nonfiction published in 2024 and 2025 can win $5,000. Fee: $50. https://saroyanprize.stanford.edu/

Chill Subs announces Best Lit Mags of 2025. Categories include: Actually Inclusive Beautiful Design Bold and Weird New Writer Friendly... https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/35818/173882547147638069 via @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags

Sponsored > Deadline Dec 31: Lilith Magazine's Annual Fiction Contest; no fee, submit a story up to 3,000 words to win $300 and publication. *Please include full contact info on your ms.* Special invitation to writers of color and emerging writers. https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/

Our December newsletter is out! We found over five dozen excellent free poetry and prose contests with deadlines between today and January 31. Please nominate us for the next Writer's Digest list of the "101 Best Websites for Writers". https://createsend.com/t/d-A6D41ED81EFEFF332540EF23F30FEDED

A.I. writing is marked by a whole complex of frankly bizarre rhetorical features that make it immediately distinctive. How did it get that way? Gift article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/magazine/chatbot-writing-style.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8E8.HO59.RocVdHx5lwfl&smid=em-share

Deadline Feb 1: Winter Short Story Award for New Writers Emerging writers may submit unpublished fiction or narrative nonfiction up to 6,000 words to win $3,000, online pub, and agency review. Fee: $20. Guest judge: Jim Shepard. https://mastersreview.com/winter-short-story-award-for-new-writers/

11 Clever Ideas for Promoting Sequels or Later-Series Books https://insights.bookbub.com/clever-ideas-promoting-sequels-series-books/ via @bookbubpartners.bsky.social #PubTips

DL Dec 31: Dorset Prize for Poetry Submit an unpublished poetry manuscript, 48-88 pages suggested, to win $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and a two-week residency in Port Angeles, WA, worth $1,500. Fee: $30. Final judge: Sabrina Orah Mark. https://tupelopress.org/the-dorset-prize-for-poetry

Expert Critiques for Poems, Stories, and Essays - A Service from Winning Writers Cheryl J. Fish, MFA, PhD, stands ready to critique your poems and prose. Just $109. Learn more and order now: https://winningwriters.com/critiques/critiques-for-poems-stories-and-essays

Deadline Dec 15: Writer’s Digest's Short Short Story Competition Fee: $35. Submit unpublished fiction up to 1,500 words to win $3,000, publication, and paid trip to annual conference. Many smaller prizes. https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/short-short-story-writing-competition

Deadline Dec 16: The Globe Soup 2025 Open Short Story Competition International; submit unpublished fiction up to 8,000 words to win £2,000 and online publication. Standard fee for first story: £16. https://www.globesoup.net/2025-open-short-story-competition

Sponsored > Think you can out-write 15 others? Step into the Write Hook arena. 16 writers. 1 champion. €200 prize every week. €15 to enter. Fast results, tiered divisions, bundle savings, referral rewards. Break even with 1 win in 8. Join the next lineup ➜ https://www.getwritehooked.com

“Le Chien”, a poem by Billy Collins https://lithub.com/le-chien-a-poem-by-billy-collins/ via @literaryhub.bsky.social

"Craft Talk", a poem by Fargo Nissim Tbakhi https://poems.com/poem/craft-talk/ via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @deepvellum.bsky.social

"Epilogue", a poem by Robert Lowell https://poets.org/poem/epilogue via @poetsorg.bsky.social Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar https://theamericanscholar.org/epilogue-by-robert-lowell/

Sponsored > Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat June 21 - 27, 2026 3 Immersive Programs 2 Exciting Tracks 1 Incredible Week Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].

Deadline Dec 15: Nominate your favorite writing-related website for the 101 Best Websites for Writers feature in the May/June 2026 Writer’s Digest https://www.writersdigest.com/best-websites-for-writers-nomination-2026 via @writersdigest.bsky.social

Authors think they're submitting to a traditional press. Only at the contract stage, they find out they're supposed to pay. 😯 authorspublish.com/bait-and-swi...

Attention Advertisers: Last Call to Save Money on Your 2026 Mailings The price goes up to $1,350 on January 1. Order now for $1,250. Email [email protected]. https://createsend.com/t/d-0D6BACF5EFB356622540EF23F30FEDED

Labs, fellowships, publication deals, and production funding at The Black List "... mentorship, resources, and transformative support for screenplays, TV pilots, plays and novels" https://blcklst.com/programs HT @literaryhub.bsky.social

Deadline Jan 25: Craft Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest Submit unpublished creative nonfiction of 1,001-6,000 words. Three winners will receive $1,000 each along with publication. Guest judge: Roxane Gay. Fee: $20. https://www.craftliterary.com/craft-memoir-excerpt-essay-contest-2025/

#GiftIdeas: The Literary Hub Gift Guide: 50 Gifts for Writers https://lithub.com/the-literary-hub-gift-guide-50-gifts-for-writers/#GiftIdeasvia @literaryhub.bsky.social

DL Jan 15: New American Poetry Prize Submit an ms of 48+ pages to win $1,500 and pub. Fee: $25. Some or all of the ms may have been published previously, though not in the same form that it is being submitted to NAP. https://newamericanpress.com/2026-new-american-poetry-prize-final-judge-rick-barot/

Writer Conferences: What to Expect and Tips for Prep https://insights.bookbub.com/writer-conferences-what-to-expect-tips-prep/ via @bookbubpartners.bsky.social

Deadline Jan 6: Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Submit an unpublished personal essay of 450 words in the Humor or Human Interest categories to win $1,000 and a free registration to the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Fee: $25 ($15 for students). https://wclibrary.info/erma/

The FISH List of lively independent literary magazines evaluates and ranks over 4,000 lit mags against 14 criteria to help you find your new favourite indie lit mag. https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list.html HT @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags

#Writing calls & contests for #fiction, #nonfiction & #poetry paying up to $72,000. #SubmissionCall themes include: Unidentified Funny Objects; nightfall; timefuckery; transformations; tales of steel & sorcery; cozy #fantasy; bad #romance; summer in the city. 🔗 authorspublish.com/37-themed-su...

10 Magazines Accepting Formal Poetry, curated by @authorspublish.com "These journals accept formal and/or rhymed poetry of various types, from villanelles to sonnets to lyric poetry." https://authorspublish.com/10-magazines-accepting-formal-poetry/

"Leda and the Swan", a poem by William Butler Yeats https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43292/leda-and-the-swan Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar https://theamericanscholar.org/leda-and-the-swan-by-w-b-yeats/

19 Instagram Book Promotion Ideas from Publishers https://insights.bookbub.com/instagram-book-marketing-ideas-from-publishers/ via @bookbubpartners.bsky.social #PubTips

Sponsored > Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat June 21 - 27, 2026 3 Immersive Programs 2 Exciting Tracks 1 Incredible Week Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].

37 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for December 2025, curated by @authorspublish.com "These are calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry." https://authorspublish.com/37-themed-submission-calls-and-contests-for-december-2025/

Sponsored > Deadline Dec 31: Lilith Magazine's Annual Fiction Contest; no fee, submit a story up to 3,000 words to win $300 and publication. *Please include full contact info on your ms.* Lilith seeks quality short stories with heart, soul and chutzpah. https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/

"This Animal", a poem by Aracelis Girmay https://poems.com/poem/this-animal/ via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and BOA Editions