Submission Opportunities September 2025

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San Miguel Writers’ Conference Writing Contest|Deadline: September 15, 2025

One winner will be chosen from each category and will win one “The Works Package” to the 2026 Conference – February 11 – 15. This package is worth $1,650 USD and includes full access to the conference, including parties and receptions, seven workshops and one six-hour Intensive Workshop. See their website for a full list of everything The Works Package includes. Winners will also receive accommodation for the dates of the conference upon request.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Fiction: 2,500 words of double spaced 12pt prose.
• Creative Nonfiction/ Memoir: 2,500 words of double spaced 12pt prose.
• Poetry: Three poems of no more than ten pages.
• Please use Times New Roman or Calibri font.
• Please do not include your name in the body of your creative submission.

Fee: $35 | Pay: conference package

Type: Fiction/Creative Nonfiction & memoir/Poetry

Notes: Limited to emerging writers who have not yet published 10,000 copies of any book. The submission must be unpublished work.

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Swamp Pink|Deadline: 31 Dec (opens 1 Sep)

Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, all with really well-chosen images.

Fee: Yes | Pay: 0.05/word, up to $200

Type: Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry

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Shanghai Literary Review|Deadline: TBC; submission window opens early Sep*

From their website: ‘We are interested in art and criticism about urbanism, globalism, identity, and transnationalism, though by no means should submissions be limited to those topics. We’ll publish a good story about cats in Africa if it floors us. And then there’s Shanghai.’

Fee: unknown | Pay: unknown

Type: Fiction / Poetry / Nonfiction & Criticism / Flash Fiction / Visual Art / Translation / Reviews & Interviews

*Notes: SLR’s university sponsor, Duke Kunshan, pulled their funding after printing had already begun. I don’t know how the situation will affect the upcoming submission window, but this is a cool journal worth supporting in a time when cool journals are facing serious headwinds all over the world. –Alex

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Split Lip Magazine | Deadline: Free submission window opens Sept 1 until filled

They love “voice-driven” writing and pop culture. They publish five pieces a month, one in each of their accepted categories: Short Story, Flash, Poetry, Memoir, and cover artwork.

Fee: Free window opens Sept 1st, then $3 tip jar submissions | Pay: $75

Type: Flash (<1000) / Memoir (<2000) / Story (1000-3000) / Poetry ( 1 poem)

Note: Submissions are always free for Black writers

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The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2025 | Deadline: Sept 29

Gurnaik Johal, Ben Pester, and Erika Price are the judges for this year’s competition.

Fee: £12 | Pay: First Prize: £750 / Second Prize: £450 / Third Prize: £300

Type: Short Stories (1000-4000)

Note: There is a discounted submission fee for university students

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Choose Where We Fly | Deadline: Ongoing

New SF magazine that pays pro rates and accepting new stories and poems.

Fee: None | Pay: .08/word for prose, $1/line for poetry

Type: Short stories up to 2000 words, or poems

Note: They prioritize shorter works

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Cliffhanger! | Deadline: Ongoing

Another new magazine inspired by the classic pulp stories of Edgar Rice Burrows, Robert E Howard, or Louis L’ Amour. They want adventure.

Fee: None | Pay: $10

Type: 5000-6500 words

Note: Will consider serial fiction of a longer word count, please reach out to discuss.

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Deadly Duos | Deadline: September 30, 2025

This Publication of Dreadstone Books is accepting horror stories with the theme: ‘Funfair’ about “carnivals, travelling fayres, amusement parks, and all adjacent topics”.

Fee: None | Pay: .01/word

Type: up to 5000 words

Note: If no stories are selected the submission window may be extended until we find the right fit.