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World History Encyclopedia’s international historical and mythological short story contest is now open for submissions. Stories should be set at least 50 years ago, with historical stories set against the political, social, and cultural climate of the event a participant wants to write about. For mythological stories, writers should make it clear which myth they are writing about, but the time period and place of the original myth can be changed.
Deadline: 22nd August 2026 | Prize: Custom artwork + book + lifetime membership
Things to note:
Historical fiction:
A story set at least fifty years ago, which takes the social, political, or cultural atmosphere of the past into consideration. Alternative history – events that could have happened – is allowed, but no time travel.
Stories set in prehistory, before written records, are welcome if they plausibly evoke the lived experience, worldview, or oral traditions of that time.
Make sure no part of the story happens more recently than fifty years ago.
Mythological fiction:
A story set in the past, at least fifty years ago for this contest, which clearly draws from a myth, mythic figure, or cultural belief e.g., Circe from Greek Mythology, or Ravana from Southeast Asia, yakkas from Sri Lankan folklore.
Stories do not need to be set in the time or place of the original myth.
Fantasy elements are welcome, but stories must remain rooted in specific mythological or folkloric traditions.
Global myths and oral traditions are encouraged; not all cultures had vast pantheons.
Excluded Topics
Stories that are pure fantasy without being rooted in genuine mythology or traditional beliefs are not accepted.
All parts of the story must be set at least fifty years ago. No time travel or stories set in the present day that discuss events or people in the past.
No content that is religiously, politically, or otherwise offensive in that it encourages hate or intolerance.
Some of our reading team do not enjoy excessive gore, so if it’s gratuitous, you might miss out on being longlisted.
Only previously unpublished stories are eligible (your own blog or social feed is okay). Entrants must be 18 or older for the main contest.
Submissions must be in English but can be from anywhere in the world. No creative or academic nonfiction, poetry, or illustrations.
Each author may submit one story strictly between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Youth entries are strictly between 800–1,000 words. Your title isn’t included in the word count.
Submissions must be accompanied by a third-person author biography (less than 100 words). An author bio is optional for the youth category.
Five winners receive custom artwork inspired by their stories, created by our in-house cartographer and graphic designer, a history book of their choice, and a free lifetime World History Encyclopedia membership and World History Insider e-magazine subscription.
For more guidelines and formatting rules, click here.
To enter the contest, click here.
Headland is an online journal publishing quality short fiction and creative non-fiction. The journal gives voice to aspiring writers alongside established authors, from Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.
Deadline: 24th August 2026, 4pm (NZ time) | Pay: $75 (NZ)
Things to note:
Short fiction and creative nonfiction only (up to 5,000 words). At this time they do not publish poetry, novel excerpts, scholarly essays, reviews or art. They do not include any illustrations in the pieces they publish.
They ask for first publication rights, after which all rights revert to the author.
They kindly ask that you acknowledge Headland in any reprints.
They invite submitting authors to include (in your email) up to 300 words on what Headland journal means to you. (optional)
Please submit one piece only. Submissions can be made via email to headland.journal@gmail.com.
They do not accept submissions by post. They do not accept material generated by AI.
Please format both your document name and the subject header of your email with the genre and the title of your piece, e.g. ‘Nonfiction_The House at Pukawa’.
Include in your email a very brief writer’s bio.
For fiction and nonfiction, they ask for pieces up to 5,000 words in length. All work should be previously unpublished; this includes self-publication.
They want to judge your work on its own merits, so please do not include your name anywhere in the body or file name of your document. Please include in the header of your document:
Title
Word count
Your nationality and country of residence
And, if relevant, ‘Unpublished Author’
Any referencing should be in MLA style; see the Purdue OWL for MLA guidelines.
Please submit your work as a .doc or .docx file.
The New Voices Fiction Contest is now open for submissions under the theme: A country in motion.
“Ghana, as we know her, is never still. Charley, e dey move! Through her people, her politics, her cities, her villages, her struggles, her joys, her religions, her histories, her languages, her stories, her art, her music, her economies, her seasons…and the list goes on. She moves in the everyday negotiations of survival, of ambition, of becoming, of activism, of traditions, of identity, of belonging, of resistance, of reinvention, of hope. A lot has happened, a lot keeps happening. And because of that, we have stories all around us, everywhere you pass—in our streets, homes, markets, classrooms, churches, taxis, chop bars, trotro stations, kiosks, beaches, every corner you turn.”
You are invited to write this country in motion to life. Interpret the theme as broadly or narrowly as you want; as boldly, intimately, thematically, or stylistically as you choose.
Deadline: 24th August 2026 | Prize: Total of GHS 3000 + book vouchers + anthology publication
Things to note:
Applicants must:
Be Ghanaian by nationality or of Ghanaian heritage.We use Ghanaian broadly and inclusively. You are welcome to submit if you:
Are a Ghanaian citizen, whether living in Ghana or abroad.
Are of Ghanaian heritage or descent (including mixed heritage).
Are not Ghanaian by nationality or heritage but have a genuine, long-term, and lived connection to Ghana—for example, by being born and raised in Ghana or having lived in the country for many years.
Be at least 16 years of age at the time of submission.
Be an emerging writer. Applicants must not have previously published a full-length novel, novella, or single-author short story collection, whether through traditional publishing or self-publishing. Publication in a multi-author anthology, magazine, journal, newspaper, or literary website does not count as publishing a full-length work and does not affect your eligibility.
Submit original work that is entirely their own and created solely by the entrant.
Submit only one entry per person.
Submit work that has not been previously published in print or online, self-published, or shortlisted for another competition. Simultaneous submissions are permitted; however, if your work is accepted elsewhere during the judging period, you must notify the organisers immediately.
Stories must:
Be original works of fiction. We do not accept previously published work. This includes blogs, self-published platforms, or any publication that retains public access
Be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Be written in English or in a Ghanaian language accompanied by an English translation.
Be submitted as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) document.
Use a readable 12-point font (such as Times New Roman or Arial) with double spacing.
Include page numbers.
Contain no identifying information within the manuscript to ensure anonymous judging.
Longlist Announcement: 30th September, 2026
Submit your work here.
Covert Literary Magazine and Writers Project Ghana are pleased to open applications for their special Covert Talent Development Programme, Ghana Issue. This is a great opportunity for 16 Black, Asian and ethnically diverse/BPOC writers living in Ghana or who are of Ghanaian descent living in the UK, to develop their writing practice with a range of professional writers, who will provide an online programme of creative writing workshops, editorial feedback and mentoring support, as well as peer-led writers groups, from September to December 2026.
Their work will be published in the 7th issue of Covert Literary Magazine themed ‘Ghana’.
Deadline: 26th August 2026, 10:00am BST | Pay: Free fellowship
Things to note:
Participants will participate in four online creative writing workshops and one online masterclass, which will take place between September and early December 2026.
Thursday 17 September, 2026, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Collective Memory Through Food Writing: Sensory Approaches to Memoir and Life Writing with Zoe Adjonyoh
Saturday 14 November 2026, 11am-1pm: Who’s speaking? A dialogue workshop with Mamle Kabu
Sunday 25 October 2026 11am-1pm: Scriptwriting workshop with Anni Domingo
Thursday 19 November 2026, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Effective Sensory Writing For Poetry And Prose with Kadija Sesay
Wednesday 24 November 2026, 6pm-8pm: Reimagining the Imagination – Radical Approaches to Structure and Plot with Martin Egblewogbe
They ask that UK participants contribute ( £25- £100) towards the cost of running the programme so that they can make the programme and magazine sustainable in the long run.
To be eligible, you must be writing in one of the forms that our magazine publishes. This includes:
Poetry
Fiction
Creative non-fiction
Drama
For more information and to apply, click here.
Scribbled is an online platform that celebrates emerging creative talent, from poets to essayists, historians to film critics and everything in between! They are currently looking for volunteer editors interested in joining a fantastic team of fellow wordsmiths coming together each month to read the submissions from their wonderful community and give feedback
Deadline: 31st August 2026, 23:00 BST | Pay: None
Things to note:
Time committment: 2-5 hours per month
Every month you will be assigned a set number of pieces to read through and provide feedback on.
Fully remote
Scribbled is happy to give references for future employers.
To apply, fill this form.
Nine Syllables Press is delighted to announce our fourth annual chapbook contest. Nicole Sealey will be the final judge for 2026. BIPOC poets are especially invited to submit.
Deadline: 31st August 2026. | Prize: $500 + author copies
Things to note:
Send an original, unpublished poetry collection of 20-40 pages.
Please note, they are not able to consider collections which include images such as photographs, collage, or other visual media.
The manuscript you submit cannot have been previously published. Individual poems from the collection may have been published elsewhere.
Poets outside the US are also welcome to submit.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, please withdraw your work if it is accepted elsewhere.
Do NOT include your name, acknowledgements, or any identifying details (address, social media handles, etc) anywhere in your manuscript. If your name appears in a poem, such as a ghazal, please redact it with a [ ].
Please use a standard typeface such as Times New Roman or Garamond, size 12.
Include a table of contents at the beginning. This does not count towards your page count.
Please include page numbers on all pages.
There is a $10 submission fee but you can request a fee waiver by emailing 9syllablespress@smith.edu.
Strange Pilgrims is awarding prizes for Story of the Year, and Essay of the Year. They are an Indie press who believe in narrative as pilgrimage — a journey through wild and wounded places into strangeness and transformation. The work they’re drawn to is surreal, philosophical, sincere, and unforgettable — stories and essays that get under your skin and reach the heart of the human condition.
Deadline: 31st August 2026 | Pay: Total of $3000 + 6 week writing course
Things to note:
Send stories & essays up to 10,000 words in any genre and style
Previously unpublished work only (though social media/personal Substack publication is alright)
Do not include your name or identifying information in the document or the title of your submission
In evaluating submissions, they look for originality, an authentic voice (something that only you could’ve written), emotional intensity, musicality of language, cohesion of plot, characters & narrative.
All submitted work is considered for publication in Strange Pilgrims
All writers who submit their work are considered for representation by Curtis Brown/UTA Agents
Simultaneous submissions are totally fine, but please let them know promptly if your piece is accepted elsewhere with the words “Withdraw” in the email somewhere.
There is a submission fee, however, fee waivers are available on request.
To submit, click here.
The Hemlock Journal is calling for submissions for their Hemingway Challenge which asks: how much can be said in a single sentence?
“Tell us a memorable story in just one sentence. Surprise us. Move us. Make us laugh. Make us think. Show how much can be accomplished with carefully chosen words.”—THJ
Deadline: 31st August 2026 | Prize: $50 + annual membership
Things to note:
Publication on The Hemlock’s Blog
Only one submission per author allowed.
Maximum Word Count : 20
Your story must be strictly in a single sentence. Periods (.), question marks (?), and exclamation marks (!) in between the sentence are not allowed. However, commas (,), colons (:), semicolons (;), and em dashes (—) may be used.
The story you submit should be stand alone and meaningful.
They accept submissions from all writers regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, and gender. However they do not accept entries from writers below 18.
To submit, click here.
This is an open call for short fiction submissions for a planned anthology by Blaft. Blaft is an Indian publishing house which in 2008, and publishes speculative fiction among other genres. They are now seeking short story submissions under the theme Women with Weapons. Stories can come from any genre or time period, but must fail the reverse Bechdel test.
Deadline: 15th September 2026 | Pay: $0.03/word
Things to note:
The Bechdel test requires that a story features
at least two women
who talk to each other
about something other than a man.
The reverse Bechdel test is the same thing but with the genders swapped.
To FAIL the reverse Bechdel test, then, your story must feature
at most one man
or, if it does feature more than one man, the men must not talk to each other
or, if the men do talk to each other, they must ONLY talk about the women; they are not allowed to discuss anything else.
YOUR STORY SHOULD PROMINENTLY FEATURE A WOMAN/WOMEN WIELDING A WEAPON.
Your story should be 1000-8000 words long, previously unpublished.
This call is open to writers of all genders residing anywhere in the world.
Send in submissions to blaft@blaft.com with subject line: WWW SUBMISSION
(Important: Exactly this!)
Send this to a writer who needs money🫶🏾
Zikoko HER is looking for a Junior Writer to join the team and help us tell stories that are sharp, relatable, thoughtful, and impossible to scroll past. You’ll be writing, pitching ideas, interviewing people, keeping up with conversations that matter to our audience, and finding fresh ways to bring HER stories to life across platforms.
Are you always spotting stories in everyday conversations? Do you have strong opinions about culture, relationships, work, money, identity, and the wonderfully complicated experience of being a Nigerian woman? Apply today.
Deadline: Unstated | Pay: Unstated | Type: Hybrid
Things to note:
They’re looking for someone who can:
find and develop interesting story ideas
Write stories people actually want to read
Interview people and tell their stories well
Keep up with culture, conversations and trends
Think beyond the website and create for Instagram too Bring fresh ideas to our stories, formats and events. Basically, if you’re curious, creative and have something to say, come and join us.
Application requirements:
Filled online form
2-3 writing samples (unpublished works are accepted)
CV
Open Press is an Indie press supporting artists across all mediums. They are currently seeking human writing that explores what our world would look like with 50 years of AI. They want dystopian, prophetic, and imaginative work. “AI is rotting our brains, everyone knows it. We want you to explore the real effects of using AI, and report back to us”—OP
Deadline: Unstated | Pay: unstated
Things to note:
Submissions are open to prose, poetry and short fiction pieces from writers of all levels
Send one piece to theopenpress@outlook.com
Send your word as a Word document
Include your Instagram handle in the email.
They request you follow them here.
Click here to submit an opportunity.
If you did not receive a reply to a previous editorial inquiry, please send a query to editor.afww@gmail.com.
Exclusion, Dispossession, and Alienation in Black Diversity: Why Black Groups Often Clash | Ibrahim Rahman (Nigeria)
Last year, I followed the back-and-forth debate around a 2020 video of South Africa’s Tyla, where she described herself as both “coloured” and Black, given her Zulu, Irish, and Indian descent. Black Americans, for whom the word “colored” is associated with a history of derogation, labeled her and, by extension, other Black Africans insensitive. Some even boycotted her music. Black Africans, on the other hand, accused Black Americans of insecurity and of insisting on a monopoly over defining Black identity and experience – particularly its plurality – to the exclusion of other Black peoples.
Another debate/banter erupted over Nigerian artist Rema’s outfit in the video for his song “Fun.” Black Americans claimed their hip-hop culture inspired Rema’s looks, suggesting that otherwise he would have worn traditional Nigerian attire like Agbada or Isi Agu…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ please fill this form.
Photo by Keith Kasaija on Unsplash
Home is a Woman | Arao Ameny (Uganda)
Before I enter the matatu
for the drive to Kampala then Lira
the driver stops me to tell me
he’s never seen me on this route
“you must live outside”
I remember I live outside my own country
I pretend not to hear
and he says it again, this time behind a cigarette and a smile
he asks me “who are your people? who is your father? your grandfather?”
saying he may know my people
I tell him my mother’s name and her mother’s name…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ please fill this form.
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Embabazi za Mukama zibariinde (May God's grace keep you safe—Kinyarwanda, Uganda)
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