This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
Edit: I’d like to apologize for the earlier version of this post where the opportunities where not listed in chronological order. I understand this makes it a tad difficult to navigate, and plan your submissions. All fixed now! Thank you.
—Esohe
1. Pitch to Earth Island Journal
Earth Island Journal is seeking pitches for an upcoming special edition on education and the environment.
“In this special edition of the Journal we hope to explore the full range of issues related to education and the environment, including the ways in which our schools, universities, and other education programs are critical sources of knowledge and innovation in an era of mounting environmental crises; the increasingly fierce politicization of educational content and what that means for the climate movement; the rising threat that global heating and other environmental crises pose to learning; and more.”—EJ
Deadline: 10th April 2026 | Pay: up to $1500
Things to note:
They are looking for on-the-ground reports as well as personal essays, reflections, and think pieces of varying lengths.
They offer a $500 flat fee for shorter pieces under 1,000 words
$750-$1,500 for longer reports and essays between 1,500 and 3,000 words
$500 for interviews; and $400 for book reviews.
Please send your story ideas to submissions@earthisland.org with “Education and Environment” in the subject line.
They plan to make assignments by late April and would need full submissions by mid-June. The articles will appear in our Autumn 2026 print magazine and online.
2. 2027 Cave Canem Prize for Poetry
The Cave Canem Prize is awarded annually to the best debut collection of poems submitted by a Black poet. The Prize recipient receives a monetary award, as well as having their manuscript published by one of our partner publishers, Graywolf Press; University of Pittsburgh Press; or University of Georgia Press. The judge for the 2027 Cave Canem Prize will be poet and scholar Jericho Brown.
Deadline: 30th April 2026, 11:59PM ET | Prize: $10,000 + Book Deal + 15 Author Copies
Things to note:
All unpublished, original collections of poems written in English by Black poets who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press, are eligible.
Black authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but they request immediate notification should your work be accepted elsewhere.
One manuscript per poet.
Upload manuscript as a .doc or .pdf document. Include a title page with the title only and table of contents. Author’s name should not appear on any pages within the uploaded document.
Include a cover letter in the Submittable text box—DO NOT include within the .doc or .pdf document of the manuscript. Cover letter should include author’s brief bio (200 words, maximum) and list of acknowledgments of previously published poems.
Manuscript must be paginated, 60-75 pages in length, inclusive of title page and table of contents. A poem may be multiple pages, but no more than one poem per page is permitted.
Post-submission revisions or corrections are not permitted.
To submit, click here.
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3. Submit to The Offing
The Offing is an online literary magazine publishing creative writing in all genres and art in all media. They are currently accepting submissions under three categories: Back of the Envelope, Insight, and Translated Poetry.
Earliest Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: Up to $100
Things to note:
Back of The Envelope
Writing of any length and genre which relates to, or draws on, science and the natural world. Sharing its wonder or its horrors, relating the untold stories of discovery, or toying with everyday curiosities, they’re interested in hearing from those inside and outside the scientific community.
Insight
Creative nonfiction (usually personal essay) that centers one’s personal experience against the backdrop of art, literature, and culture. These essays generally fuse together two topics that don’t typically belong together, weaving—and investigating—what is perceived versus what is true. Ultimately, these essays explore the ways in which interacting with this aspect of culture or ideology changed you or made a lasting impression.
Word limit: 5,000.
Translated Works of Poetry
You may submit up to six poems, unless you have a reason for submitting a larger set (in which case, please let us know).
Please title your submission with the author’s last name and the title of the piece; or for poetry, please indicate the number of poems. (e.g., “Five poems by [Author]”)
In your cover letter, please include:
the original language,
the year of original publication if previously published,
brief biographical statements for both the translator and author,
and any contextual information for the work that might be helpful for our editorial staff.
It is the translator’s responsibility to obtain permission from the author/rights-holder prior to submitting the piece.
All pieces should be original, and previously unpublished in any format in English.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please be sure to withdraw your piece promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere.
Please don’t send more than one submission per department; wait until your work is accepted or declined before submitting again.
They respond within six months
4. Submit to The Blooming Onion
The Bloomin’ Onion accepts submissions of works of flash fiction, short stories, longform stories, and poetry on a rolling basis (year-round) and publishes two issues per year—April and October. Starting with Issue Three, issues can include everything except longform. In addition to the bi-annual issues, they also publish weekly featured flash fiction/short stories on Saturdays and featured poetry on Tuesdays (Poetry features starting publication on November 4, 2025), which highlight pieces we find especially captivating. Longform stories are published as standalone pieces on the first of every other month.
Deadline: Rolling | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
Flash Fiction - <1,000 words
Short Stories - 1,001-5,000 words
Long form Stories - 5,001-15,000 words
Poetry - 6 poems or 20 pages maximum
They aim for a response time of 4-6 weeks, but please be patient. You may reach out regarding your submission if you haven’t received a response within 8 weeks of the submission date.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted and encouraged! However, please withdraw your work by responding to your submission email if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
For FICTION, you may submit up to TWO total stories within a given submission period—that means two works of flash fiction, two short stories, two longform stories, or a combination of the categories.
For POETRY, you may submit up to SIX total poems or TWENTY total pages (whichever comes first) within a given submission period. Poems can be about any top
Make all submissions in a Word document (.docx)
Email all submissions to: bloominonionliterary@gmail.com
Headline for fiction:
One submission: FICTION SUBMISSION - “Story Title Here / Word Count” - “Your Name Here”
Multiple fiction submissions - “Story Title #1 / Word Count” - “Story Title #2 / Word Count” - “Your Name Here”
Headline for poetry:
POETRY SUBMISSION - “Number of Poems” - “Your Name Here”
If you poem has special formatting, please submit a PDF. Submitting in other forms complicates our lives significantly and slows down the whole process. Attach the Word document or PDF to the email.
Please combine all poems into a single document, starting each poem on a new page. Also, please list each poem title in your cover letter.
In the body of the email, please include a short cover letter and author bio. The bio should be no more than 100 words. Please include your social media handles in the bio (doesn’t count toward the 100 word limit).
Additionally, PLEASE let them know if you have 3 or less total publications. As they want to support new writers.
Finally, please include in the cover letter the name of your hometown. They like to know where in the world our contributors are from!
5. Wasafiri: Call for Fiction and Non-Fiction
For 40 years, Wasafiri has published the very best international contemporary writing, placing critics alongside leading novelists, poets, and playwrights to generate exciting cross-genre and inter-regional conversations. They are inviting fiction, non-fiction, criticial articles, and reviews that, in form, focus, or theme, seeks to expand the boundaries of global literary culture
Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: Up to £150
Things to note:
The work must be in English — either originally written in or translated to English.’
Fiction and life writing: 3,000 – 5,000 words
Critical essays and articles: 6,000 – 9,000 words
Click here to submit either or the above
Book reviews of one or two titles: 900 – 1,100 words
send pitches for book reviews to Reviews Editor, Farah Ali: wasafiri.reviews@qmul.ac.uk
Send this to a writer who needs it ❤️
6. Submit to The Ugly Review
The Ugly Collective is inviting writers to submit their works for the first-ever issue of The Ugly Review.This maiden edition is themed “The Beginnings.” The call is open to poetry, fiction, nonfiction writers, visual artists or photographers who are ready to explore what it means to start.
Deadline: Unstated | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
Must be original work and must not have been published elsewhere.
All submissions must be typed in Times New Roman font, 12-point font size.
The submitted docx. file must contain your work titled, with the author bio, nationality, and email contact.
Submitted documents must be titled with the submission title to enable us to identify your work without complications.
The subject of the mail should contain the issue you are submitting for, genre of your work, the title of your submission, and the author’s full name. For example, The Beginning Issue, Poetry— Origin of Grief, Ahmed Ngozi Itunu.
Your author bio should be brief and precise. Not more than 150 words. Feel free to flaunt your achievements within the word count.
Any submitted works containing local or indigenous languages apart from the British or American English must be translated at the end of the document.
Poetry
Poetry submissions must not exceed 40 lines.
Poems must be between 1- 3 poems, not more than 5 pages.
Poems must be the original work of the author, not plagiarized, and must not have been published elsewhere during the time of submission.
Poems must be single-spaced.
Send submissions to: poetry@theuglycollective.com
Fiction
Submit only one (1) story at a time.
Story must be between 1500-3000 words.
Send submissions to: fiction@theuglycollective.com
Creative Non-Fiction/Essays
Submit one piece at a time. Multiple submissions will not be accepted.
Non-fiction pieces must be between 1500-3000 words.
Send submissions to: nonfiction@theuglycollective.com
7. Send Pitches to Everything is Fine
Everything is Fine* is a resistance substack focused on anti-fascism in particular, and progressive issues in general. They’re looking for reported stories, opinions, profiles/interviews, and personal essays, of somewhere between 1200 and 2000 words.
Deadline: Unstated | Pay: up to $300
Things to note:
You can pitch us at everythingisfineonline.submit@gmail.com.
Please link to some of your published work, as well. Be as specific as possible with your pitch.
If it involves reporting, tell them who you’re planning on speaking with. Explain why YOU are the ONLY person (or at least the BEST person) who can write this story.
Before you pitch, take a look at their Substack to see what kind of stories they like.
Examples of recent posts are an essay calling for a nationwide general strike, an interview with a Mormon who left the faith, an opinion on RFK’s new food pyramid, and a reported story on Gov. DeSantis’ attack on higher education in Florida.
8. Submit to Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul has been the world's favorite storyteller since the first book was published in 1993. They are currently seeking submissions for their upcoming anthologies.
Earliest Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: From $250
Things to note:
Stories about November & December holidays (closing May 1st)
Please submit your true stories about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year's festivities too.
Miracles, messages from heaven & angels (Closing May 15th)
They are now accepting stories about unexplained happenings and occurrences. Stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! Powerful, astounding, stories that will make people say "wow" or give them chills. This book is for everyone, whether religious or non-religious.
Best Cat Ever... (Closing June 1st)
They are looking for first-person true stories of up to 1200 words. We want your funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about your cat.
Count your blessings (Closing June 30th)
Looking for stories about how you count your blessings. Stories can be serious or funny but definitely should be inspirational and heartwarming. Attitude adjustments, finding contentment and gratitude, a new way of handling your daily life, and other great ideas to inspire readers to find their own paths to happiness and to remember to count their blessings every day are what they are looking for.
Random acts of kindness (Closing June 30th)
They are looking for true stories about random acts of kindness that have happened to you or stories about a kindness that you performed for someone else. Stories can be serious or funny but they should definitely inspire our readers to look for ways in which they can perform kind acts.
Keep your story to 1200 words or less.
They accept poems that tell a story. A Chicken Soup for the Soul poem does the same job as a story.
To find Suggested topics for each theme, click here.
To submit, fill this form.
9. Climbing High Short Stories
FlameTree Press is calling for submissions for their next anthology. Climbing High: Speculative Stories of Female Ambition will feature stories exploring contexts where female ambition is treated differently, aspiration and achievement in the face of adversity, and ambitions that extend beyond what’s possible in our contemporary world. This anthology takes an empowering stance of embracing ambition while being unafraid to explore the costs and consequences that characters may face in doing so and the impacts of ambitions pursued or fulfilled.
Deadline: 3rd May 2026 | Pay: 0.08 per word
Things to note:
The file name of the submission must be the story name only.
Please just use spaces between words in the title (not _ or - ).
If the story name starts with A or The, please use it at the beginning of the file name.
Submissions must use the dedicated email address.
The subject line of the email must be the story title.
The file with the story must be attached to the email (.docx, .doc or .rtf format).
The name of the file must match the name in the subject line.
If submitting more than one story, please submit one story per email
Story length is most likely to be successful at 2000–4000 words, but they will still read stories slightly outside this range.
Multiple submissions are fine but must be in separate emails.
Submissions to: anthologies@flametreepublishing.com
To read the full call, click here.
10. Submit to Iskanchi Magazine
Iskanchi Mag publishes short, irreverent, disobedient, and experimental work too brief to stand alone as a book. They are committed to showcasing writing that explores what experimental form can mean in an African literary context.
Deadline: 30th May 2026 | Pay: unstated
Things to note:
All submissions must be previously unpublished.
Please include a short cover letter, a brief bio, and your social media links.
Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify them immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Send magazine submissions to submissions@iskanchi.com.
Writers will be contacted if their work is accepted for publication.
11. The UnSerious Collective Fellowship (Nigeria)
The UnSerious Collective Fellowship awards FOUR (4) emerging Nigerian poets as Unserious Collective Fellows annually for poetry that is commendable, experimental, brilliant, and daring. The fellowship is part of the major essence of the collective—to recognize talents and celebrate hard work in the bustling Nigerian Poetry community.
Deadline: 30th June 2026 | Stipend: N150,000 each
Things to note:
All emerging poets who have not published full-length collections are eligible regardless of age, geographic location, or educational status, and are encouraged to submit.
The 4 Fellows will also have their poems published in a Microchapbook.
The Fellowship does not prefer any theme, style, or approach. Just quality writing that is bold and exciting.
Submit up to TEN (previously published or unpublished) pages of poems in a .doc or .docx file.
You may submit both published and unpublished work, but NOT only PUBLISHED WORK.
Single-spaced. Font: 12, Garamond or Times New Roman. Each page must be paginated.
The submission title should read, “UCPS 2026”, and must be submitted via our submission portal.
Entries submitted via email will not be read.
No identifying information (including publication history of individual poems) should be on the file.
12. African Writer Match
African Writer Weekly is preparing to launch African Writer Match, a service which encourages collaboration between African writers both on the continent and in diaspora. Our newsletter currently reaches 2700+ writers in over 60 countries and we believe our numbers can contribute more to the growth of everyone’s craft.
The Writer Match is an on-request service which connects members of the community to other members who may be interested in collaborating on a literary project, providing (non-financial) assistance on an ongoing project, as well as language support and exchange.
Deadline: None | Goal: Collaboration
Things to note:
We value collaboration, and by opening yourself up to working with others, African Writer Match offers you the following benefits:
Priority Access to In-house opportunities: From chances to have your work or/and opinions featured in the press, to entering African Writer Weekly’s soon-to-come in-house contests and workshops. In 2026, we will launch The Rejection Olympics, a prize for the writer who has pushed themselves the most in the face of rejection. This prize will first be open to writers in the Match Pool.
Language Exchange: If you’d like to practice an African language with a native speaker, you can request to be matched with a practice buddy. While this option is also open to learners keen on improving their non-African language skills (English, French, Portuguese etc), service priority will be given to those who want to practice African Languages.
Priority requests for features in Prose and Poetry of the Week
Requirements:
Be 18 years of age by 1st May 2026.
Be an active subscriber of the newsletter community. This means you open our emails frequently, like, comment, share or/and restack our publications.
Have registered for this service by filling the Writer Match form.
This service will be launched in May 2026. All registered writers will receive an email with steps on how to request a Writer Match.
Click here to submit an opportunity.
If you did not receive a reply to a previous editorial inquiry by 31st January 2026, please send a query to editor.afww@gmail.com.
Prose of the Week
Mr Edi’s Commonwealth | Aby Ola (Nigeria)
This morning, just after Salat Fajr, the first prayer of the day, they took my bones out of the place they had lain for the last forty years. The white cloth I’d been shrouded in was still intact, although no longer white. I am now free from the unmediated darkness. I am among breathing bodies, beating hearts, and new smells. I can hear my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and random people, planning what to do after this uncommon spectacle. I can see three bare-backed diggers, their T-shirts tied around their surgical face masks as the stench of rotting wood fills the air. They pulled out the two planks of decayed wood that once covered my body and tossed my remains on them as if I wasn’t once a person.
Ayaan, my eldest daughter, jumps forward, nearly tripping over her Ankara wrapper. “Oga, I beg o, softly now…” For a moment, I hover above the scent of sour earth, watching wood lice scatter into the red soil as if they’d been called to tell my secrets. Secrets now rising with the disturbed soil…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ please fill this form.
Poetry of the Week
Armed Homeland | Hera de Jesus (Mozambique)
In memory of our heroes,
holding ballots,
chanting hymns.
We mourn you,
Mozambique.
Clenched fists,
we tear the veins of this land…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ please fill this form.
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Ó ve zé yi-wu (May it be well with you —Ebira, Nigeria)
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