CONTESTS

Avri Press Young Adult Fantasy Fiction Contest: Entry fee: $5. DL 3/31/06. Wants novels 60-120K wds. Winner will receive contract from Avri Press, $200, plus royalties. http://www.avaripress.com/contest.htm

Genesis Promotions/Linden Bay Romance Writing Contest: No fee; DL 3/31/06. Romance fiction short stories to 25k wds; novellas to 50k wds. Prize is a contract. Email subs only to writingcontest(at)genesispromotions.com. http://www.genesispromotions.com/WritingContest.html

InkSpotter's 3rd Annual Finding the Right Words Flash Fiction Contest: Entry fee: $1.50CA. Prizes: $60 and $30 plus publication. Theme: Rebel Heart. Wants stories to 500 words. DL 7/21/06. http://inkspotter.com/contests.htm. Mail subs to Betty Dobson, InkSpotter Publ., 163 Main Ave. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 1B3

Mount Horeb Mustard Museum's Mustard Mystery Contest: No entry fee. Open to U.S. citizens. Read chapter 1 which will be posted at http://www.mustardweb.com/mystery/; write chapter 2 (to 2500 wds) and a summary (800 wds) of the rest. Details at the site. Top Prize: $5000.

Our Echo Contests: No entry fee. Site has various contests with prizes of $100 and $50. http://www.ourecho.com/contest.shtml

Saturday Writers Poetry Contest: Entry fee: $5/poem. DL 3/15/06. Prizes: $100, $50, $25. http://www.saturdaywriters.org

PAYING MARKETS

Air Force Times: Air Force news stories (pay and benefits, career, issues and trends). Pmt: 15-25¢/wd. Query to Rob Colenso Jr., Gannett Newspapers, 6883 Commercial Dr., Springfield VA 22159 or email to rcolenso(at)airforcetimes.com. http://www.airforcetimes.com.

AlienQ: "Quick paced interesting stories" involving alien encounters, real or imagined, possible futures, spiritual abilities and powers, etc, 2000-5000 wds. Pmt: $50. Sub as Word doc to editor(at)alienq.com. http://www.alienq.com/writers.asp

Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest: "Best in dark scifi and horror fiction." Wants stories 1000-10k wds. Pmt: 1¢/wd, min. $15. Sub to Jason Sizemore, Apex Publications, 4629 Riverman Way, Lexington, KY 40515. Email: editor(at)apexdigest.com. http://www.apexdigest.com. GL at http://www.apexdigest.com/submit.shtml.

Authorship: How-to articles for beginning writers to 900 wds. Pmt: $10. Sub to National Writers Association, 10940 S. Parker Rd., #508, Parker CO 80134; http://www.nationalwriters.com; email: sandywrter(at)aol.com

The Black Mom's Best Friend: Mag from Family Digest to "help black moms get more out of their roles...", wants fiction (erotica, ethnic, historical, humor, romance). Pmt: $100-500. Query w/clips to John Starch, P.O. Box 342373, Austin TX 78734. http://www.familydigest.com.

Byline: Fiction, 2000-4000 wds; pmt: $100. Also features on writing (pmt: $75), personal essays (700 wds, pmt: $35), and poetry on writing (pmt: $10). http://www.byline.com. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul, Health Living Series: Arthritis or Back Pain: Expected pub. date is 9/6/06. Pmt: $200 for 300-800 wds. DL 3/30/06. Email subs to stories(at)thehealthysoul.com. http://www.thehealthysoul.com for format and details.

Chicken Soup for the Dieter's Soul: Expected pub date is 12/06. Pmt: $200 for 500-1500 wds. DL 6/30/06. For details, email teri(at)dieterssoul.com. Website is under construction, but will be at http://www.dieterssoul.com. 

Chicken Soup for People Helping People, Your Antidote to the 6 o'clock News: Expected pub date is 3/07. Pmt: $200 for stories 500-1500 wds. DL 8/30/06.  http://www.soulofthepeople.com for more information on what we're looking for (chapters). Email stories via website or to mailto:stories(at)soulofthepeople.com.

Children's Magic Window Magazine: Fiction (humor, fantasy, mystery, suspense) to 1000 wds. Pmt: to $400 for all rights. Joan Foster, P.O. Box 390, Perham MN 56573. http://www.childrensmagicwindow.com.

Children's Playmate: features "creative stories, poems, rebuses, recipes, activities, crafts, science experiments..." 300-700 wds, for children 6-8. Pmt: 17¢/wd.  http://www.childrensplaymatemag.org. http://www.cbhi.org/cbhi/writersguidelines.shtml

Children's Writer: Newsletter for children's writers, wants market news, publishing, research, etc. Pmt: $300 for 1800-2000 wds; $200 for columns (750 wds plus 150 wd sidebar). Query to Susan Tierney, 93 Long Ridge Road, West Redding CT 06896. Email: cwtierney(at)ChildrensWriter.com http://www.childrenswriter.com.  http://www.childrenswriter.com/guidelines.htm.

ChimeraWorld #4 - Things To Do In a Bizarro Car: Annual print anthology. Pmt: 50% of profit share for 2000-4000 wd story. DL: 9/06. Email to mike(at)hertzanchimera.com. http://www.horrorquarterly.com/mikephilbin/cw4guidelines.html

Club Romance: True love stories, poetry and fiction. Pmt: $3/poem, $15 true story, $25 short story. Romantic Short Love Stories, P.O. Box 397, Brice OH 43109. GL at http://www.romantic-short-love-stories.com/make-romance-happen.html

Confrontation: "A general literary journal open to all forms and styles." Pmt: $25-200 for stories; $10-100 for poetry; $15-150 for essays. Length is open. Sub to English Dept, C.W. Post of Long Island Univ., Brookville, NY 11548. Email: martin.tucker(at)liu.edu.

Cracked: Comedy and satire mag, wants essays, creative writing, comics, interviews. Pmt: 50¢/wd for all rights. http://www.cracked.com. 381 Park Ave. South, Suite 1200, NY NY 10016. Sub by email to editor(at)cracked.com.

Dark Jesters: "Best in underground comedic horror" stories to 1500 wds. Any style of horror is okay, but must be funny. No porn or sacrilegious. Pmt: $10. Emails subs to NickYak(at)aol.com. http://www.novellopublishers.com/DarkJesters.html

Dark Recesses Press: Horror/dark fiction 500-5000 wds. Pmt: $5 for 2000 wds; $10 for 5000 wds. "No gore for gore's sake."  Reading periods are Oct. 1-Nov. 30, Jan. 1-Feb. 28, Apr. 1-May 31 and Jul. 1-Aug. 31. Email subs only to submissions(at)darkrecesses.com as an attached word document or .rtf file with the word 'Submission' in the subject line. http://www.darkrecesses.com/SubInfo.htm

Deep Outside: Scifi/horror/dark imaginative fiction, 1500-4000 wds. Pmt: 3¢/wd. Sub by email only to storysub(at)clocktowerfiction.com. http://www.clocktowerfiction.com/Main/guidelines.shtml

Dragons, Knights, and Angels: Mag of Christian scifi/fantasy. Pmt: $10 for stories, $5 for poetry of any length. http://www.dkamagazine.com/submission.html

The Edge: "Modern, borderline gothic, horror/fantasy/scifi, slipstream, crime or erotica" to 2000 wds. Nonfiiction to 20k wds. No cliches. Pmt: to £50/1000 wds. Sub to Dave Clark, 65 Guiness Buildings, Hammersmith, London W6 8BD UK; email: davec(at)theedge.abelgratis.co.uk. http://www.theedge.abelgratis.co.uk/ http://www.theedge.abelgratis.co.uk/order.htm

Family Fun: "Idea book for things families can do together." Sub to Ann Hallock, Buena Vista Magazine Inc., 244 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. http://familyfun.go.com/magazine; email: ed(at)familyfun.com. Pmt: 50¢-$1.25/wd for all rights.

Fictitious Force: Spec fiction stories 2000-7500 wds (pmt: 1¢/wd), also short shorts to 1999 wds (pmt: $5) and novellas over 12k wds (pmt: $50). GL at http://www.fictitiousforce.com/

The First Line: Offers a first line on the website, http://www.thefirstline.com; pmt: $10/story; Robin LaBounty, P.O. Box 250382, Plano, TX 75025. Email: info(at)thefirstline.com. GL: http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm.

Five Points: Literary mag, wants fiction; pmt: $15/page minimum; $250 max. Georgia State Univ., P.O. Box 3999, Atlanta GA 30302. http://www.webdelsol.com/Five_Points

From the Asylum: Fiction (fantasy, horror, humor, scifi, pmt: $10-25) to 10k wds and poetry (pmt: $10). Email: fta(at)fromtheasylum.com. K. Sanger, P.O. Box 1519, Dickinson TX 77539; www.fromtheasylum.com

Fun for Kidz: Mag for kids 6-13. Wants articles to 500 wds, puzzles, poems, cooking, carpentry, crafts, riddles, etc. Pmt: $10/poem, variable rates for other. http://www.boysquest.com/frameset.html?target=bq

The Funny Times: "Liberal monthly humor review." Pmt: $60 for stories 400-700 wds, "anything funny." Also needs cartoons. Sub to "The editors," P.O. Box 18530, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. Email: ft(at)funnytimes.com. http://www.funnytimes.com.

The Harrow: "Online literary magazine devoted to works of fantasy and horror," to 7500 wds. Pmt: $5 via Paypal. Sub to fiction(at)theharrow.com or poetry(at)theharrow.com. 1772-J Avenida de los Arboles
#231,
Thousand Oaks CA 91362. www.theharrow.com/journal

The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies. Wants nonfiction (100–10k wds); pmt: $5-25; fiction (500-3000 wds); pmt: $15. Pays $5-25; also poetry, 5-100 wds. Pear Tree Press, P.O. Box 540052, Orlando FL 32854. Email: peartreepress(at)cfl.rr.com; lizzieandrewborden.com

Hopscotch: Mag for girls 6-13. Wants articles, fiction, nonfiction and poetry that deal with pets, nature, hobbies, science, sports, careers, etc. No dating, romance, sexuality, cosmetics, etc. Pmt: 5¢/wd for fiction and nonfiction, $10/poem or puzzle. http://www.boysquest.com/frameset.html?target=bq

In The Fray: Literary mag, wants " reportage, commentary, fiction, criticism, that explores the human experience." Pmt: $20-45. No pay for personal essays and commentaries. http://inthefray.com/html/article.php?sid=192

Into the Dream Lands: "Stories in this collection will explore the relationship between the Dreamer and the Dream Lands," 3000-15K wds. Pmt: $10 and copy, plus royalties. Sub period 4/1/06-6/06. Must have a Paypal account for payment. http://www.simianpublishing.com/Guidelines.html.

Literal Latté: Stories and essays to 6000 wds, plays and poems to 4000 wds. Sub to Dorie Davidson, Literal Latte, 200 East 10th Street, Suite 240, NY NY 10003. No pay for ezine, but if selected for "best of" anthology, pmt up to $1000. http://www.literal-latte.com

Map of Murder: Short mysteries to 5000 wds. Setting should be a well-known location and key element of story. DL 3/16/06. Pmt: $25/story. Sub to Red Coyote Press, P.O. Box 60582, Phoenix, AZ 85082; http://www.redcoyotepress.com

Modern Drunkard Magazine: Poetry, fiction and nonfiction (1000-4000 wds) specifically about drinking. Likes fiction in the style of Hemmingway, etc. Pmt: 10¢/wd. http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/index.html

New England Review: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction (essays) that is "challenging and inviting to the general reader." Pmt: $10/printed page. Sub w/SASE to Stephen Donadio, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753. Email: nereview(at)middlebury.edu. http://go.middlebury.edu/nereview

Now and Then: Nonfiction, 1000-2500 wds dealing with Appalachia (no stereotypes), pmt: $30-250. Also fiction, pmt: $30-100; and poetry, pmt: $10. Purchases all rights. Sub to Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, P.O. Box 70556-ETSU, Johnson City TN 37614. http://cass.etsu.edu/n&t/

NYCPlus: Nonfiction (900-4000 wds); pmt: $100-300. Also fiction (pay not listed for fiction). Community Media, LLC, 487 Greenwich St., #6A, NY NY 10013; http://www.nycplus.com

Nuketown: "Heroic speculative fiction" (fantasy/horror/scifi), 1000-4000 wds. Pmt: $20. Kirsten Lincoln, 813 Porter St.
Easton PA 18042
; http://www.nuketown.com

Pangaia: Covers "earth-based religions." Pmt: 3-5¢/wd for nonfiction, 500-5000 wds (how-to, insp, religious, humor), also fiction (fantasy, pagan, ethnic, scifi). Sub to Blessed Bee, Inc., P.O. Box 641, Point Arena CA 95468; http://www.pangaia.com

Poetry Magazine: Nonfiction articles 1000-2000 wds and poetry of any length. Pmt: $150/page or $6/line for all rights unless requested by author. The Poetry Foundation, 1030 N. Clark St., Chicago IL 60610. http://www.poetrymagazine.org.

Reflection's Edge: Scifi, fantasy, horror, erotica, western, magical realism, etc, 500-10k wds. Also accepts nonfiction. Pmt: $15. No mainstream or literary fiction. http://www.reflectionsedge.com/submit.html

Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine: guide to "all genres of women's fiction including romances, mystery, science fiction, paranormal, and chick lit." Pmt: $50 for 800-1000 wd article.  Faygie Levy,55 Bergen St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. Email queries or ms to cstacy(at)romantictimes.com. http://www.romantictimes.com.

Vampires 2 Magazine: Adventure, erotica, fantasy, horror, suspense, and pulp fiction involving vampires, 1500-3500 wds. Pmt: $25. Sub to Man's Story 2 Publishing Co., P.O. Box 1082, Roswell GA 30077. http://www.vampires2.com.

Walking Bones: Non-themed online mag; wants fantasy, horror, dark horror, speculative, scifi, and imaginative fiction. Also poetry. Pmt: $20. Email subs in Word, rtf or pdf format to walkingbonesmagazine(at)hotmail.com, or Walking Bones Magazine, 210 North Summit, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. http://www.walkingbones.com/

Write for Cash: Nonfiction (essay, gen. int. how-to, religious, travel); pmt: $10-15. Email: Allison(at)jjkent.com. JJ Kent, 2000 S. IH 35, Suite Q11, Round Rock TX 78681; www.writeforcash.com

The Writers' Journal: "How-to articles for writers" 800-2500 wds. Pmt: subscription or money depending on budget and article. Email: writersjournal(at)writersjournal.com; http://www.writersjournal.com

NON-PAYING MARKETS

Birds and Blooms: Nonfiction stories to 800 wds. No pay listed. http://www.birdsandblooms.com. Sub to Birds & Blooms, 5925 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129 or editors(at)birdsandblooms.com.

Fictional Musings: Flash fiction (incl. crime, suspense, paranormal, fantasy, romance, humor and mystery) to 700 wds. Sub to KellyParra(at)Earthlink.net

Foliate Oak: General literary mag, wants fiction and nonfiction, 200-3500 wds. Sub to University of Arkansas-Monticello, Arts & Humanities, 562 University Dr.
Monticello AR 71656; http://www.uamont.edu/foliateoak

GSU Review: Literary fiction to 7500 wds, creative nonfiction and poetry. Georgia State Univ., Campus Box 1894, MSC 8R0322, Unit 8, Atlanta GA 30303. Has a spring contest with pay. http://www.review.gsu.edu

LitBits--Bite Sized Fiction: Fiction to 500 words. Sub to submit(at)litbits.ca; include 25-wd bio. http://www.litbits.ca/submit/

Noneuclidean Café: "A journal of unexpected meetings" wants fiction 50-10k wds and poetry 2-1000 lines.  Sub to James Swingle, submissions(at)noneuclideancafe.com
http://www.noneuclideancafe.com

Thuglit: Ezine, wants mystery and noir to 5000 wds. Sub to submissions(at)thuglit.com in Word format or in body of email. Pmt: t-shirt. http://www.thuglit.com.

WEB TIPS AND EMAIL SUPPORT GROUPS

Crime and Suspense email list: Discuss crime writing, markets, and general writing chat.  To subscribe, send a blank email to crimeandsuspense-subscribe(at)yahoogroups.com.

Famous First Lines: If reading novel's first lines inspires you to create your own, a list of 100 can be found at http://www.litline.org/ABR/100bestfirstlines.html.

Flash Fiction Workshop: Free workshop. Submit pieces 500-1000 wds. Must submit one per month and critique one per month. To subscribe see http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/FlashFictionFlash or send a blank email message to: FlashFictionFlash-Subscribe(at)yahoogroups.com. http://home.att.net/~p.casto/