Home » NewPages Winter 2020 LitPak

The NewPages LitPak is 9×12 envelopes filled with fliers from literary magazines, creative writing programs, writing conferences and events, independent publishers, and more advertising calls for submissions, writing and book contests, application deadlines, upcoming events, new releases and issue announcements, and more.

Please feel free to print, post, and share the digital versions of our current LitPak fliers. If you are interested in your program or school being added to the list of people who receive LitPaks in the mail, please contact us. Individuals can also purchase subscriptions to the NewPages LitPak here.

Writing Contests | Workshops, Conferences, & Programs | New & Forthcoming Releases

New & Forthcoming Releases


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Diode Editions New Spring 2020 Titles

Preorder new titles from Allison Joseph, Julia Cohen, Gregory Donovan, Michele Poulos, Nancy Chen Long, & Zeeshan Khan Pathan & join Diode at AWP San Antonio—table #2212—for book launch signings & more. On Friday, March 6th, come celebrate the 2020 Diode Editions San Antonio launch at The Good Kind Southtown (1127 South St. Mary’s St.) from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. It’s free! Featuring: Dorothy Chan, Nancy Chen Long, Gregory Donovan, Kathleen Graber, Jared Harél, Allison Joseph, Zeeshan Pathan, Simone Person, Michele Poulos, KC Trommer, & Gail Wronsky. www.diodeeditions.com

Conferences, Workshops, & Writing Programs


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2020 Elk River Writers Workshop Flier
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Elk River Writers Workshop – Paradise Valley, Montana

Deadline: Rolling (July 1 final deadline)
Elk River Arts and Lectures is now accepting applications to our summer writers workshop, August 16–21, at historic Chico Hot Springs Resort, 30 miles from Yellowstone National Park. We host some of the most celebrated nature writers in the United States to work with students in an area of Montana that has inspired the work of conservationists and writers for decades. Workshop classes are limited to 10 students in each genre. This year, Rick Bass, Linda Hogan, J. Drew Lanham, William Pitt Root, and Pamela Uschuk will serve as our core faculty. Apply via Submittable or visit: elkriverwriters.org.

UNCG MFA Winter 2020 LitPak Flier
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MFA in Creative Writing at UNCG: Find Your Story Here

Application Deadline: January 1 (annually)
One of the oldest creative writing programs in the country, UNC Greensboro’s MFA Writing Program offers fully funded graduate assistantships with stipends, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance. The MFA is a two-year residency program with an emphasis on studio time for the writing of poetry or fiction. Students work closely with acclaimed faculty in one-on-one tutorials and small classes, including courses in contemporary publishing and creative nonfiction. Our campus features a Distinguished Visiting Writers Series of authors and editors; other professionalization opportunities include college teaching and hands-on editorial work for The Greensboro Review. More at mfagreensboro.org and greensbororeview.org.

Hollins University MFA flier
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Jackson Center for Creative Writing at Hollins University

Application Deadline: January 6
For well over sixty years, this highly regarded Hollins MFA has supported lively and determined writers who want to concentrate on craft. Our intensive two-year graduate program helps students find their way in an atmosphere of cooperation and encouragement. Our students work successfully in poetry, short fiction, novels, and creative nonfiction—and in between genres. Our faculty writers take time to work with students in this vibrant, supportive community. Our alums have a remarkably high record of publication. Program provides graduate assistantships, teaching fellowships, travel funding, and generous scholarships. Most of all, a vibrant, supportive community. For information, www.hollins.edu/creative-writing-MFA.

Florida Atlantic University MFA
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The MFA at FAU

Florida Atlantic University’s MFA program offers concentrations in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. All accepted students are offered a complete funding package including a teaching assistantship, stipend, and tuition waiver. Core faculty include Ayşe Papatya Bucak, Andrew Furman, Becka Mara McKay, Susan Mitchell, Kate Schmitt, and Jason Schwartz. Students have the opportunity to work on national literary magazine Swamp Ape Review which is open to submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, visual art, and “Swamp” beginning April 1, 2020. No submission fee. www.fau.edu/artsandletters/english/mfa/

Killer Nashville 2020 Contests
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Are You a Killer Writer?

The 2020 Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference will take place August 20-23 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a premier forum for all literature incorporationg mystery, thriller, suspense, or true crime. Scholarships are available! Apply today. Killer Nashville is also seeking both published and unpublished works for its annual contests. The Claymore Award is an open competition for unpublished works open to entries through April 1. The Silver Falchion Award is an open competition for works published in 2019 open to entries through May 1. For complete details including prize information, visit www.KillerNashville.com.

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Summer Writers Institute @ Washington University in St. Louis

Registration Deadline: July 16, 2020
Event Dates: July 17–July 31, 2020; Washington University in St. Louis
The Summer Writers Institute is excited to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020. We are known for bringing together adult writers of all levels to work with published authors and exceptional teachers in a supportive, non-competitive format. Our intensive two-week program features workshops in fiction, micro-fiction, poetry, and personal narrative. Whether this is your first foray into the writing life or the next step in honing your craft, we look forward to welcoming you in St. Louis this summer! summerschool.wustl.edu/summer-writers-institute

Los Angeles Review of Books 2020 Publishing Workshop
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Applications Open—Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop

Event Dates: July 5–24, 2020; Los Angeles
Applications are open for the Summer 2020 Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop: July 5–24, 2020 at Emerson College’s L.A. campus. Scholarship deadline is March 16; all applications due March 30. For more information and to apply, visit thepublishingworkshop.com.

Writing Contests


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2020 RATTLE Poetry Prize flier
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2020 Rattle Poetry Prize

Deadline: July 15, 2020
The 15th annual Rattle Poetry Prize has grown to $15,000 for a single poem. Ten finalists also receive $200 and publication, and are eligible for the $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award. With an entry fee that is simply a one-year subscription to the magazine—and a runner-up Readers’ Choice Award to be chosen by the writers themselves—the Rattle Poetry Prize aims to be one of the most writer-friendly and popular poetry contests around. Visit www.rattle.com/prize for the complete guidelines and to read all of the past winners.

december Winter 2020 LitPak flier
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december Magazine 2020 Curt Johnson Prose Awards

Deadline: May 1, 2020
december magazine seeks submissions for our 2020 Curt Johnson Prose Awards in fiction and creative nonfiction. Judges: Dorothy Allison (fiction) & Brittney Cooper (nonfiction). Prizes each genre: $1,500 & publication (winner); $500 & publication (honorable mention). All finalists will be listed in the 2020 Fall/Winter awards issue. $20 entry fee includes a copy of the awards issue. Submit 1 story or essay up to 8,000 words from March 1 to May 1. For complete guidelines visit our website decembermag.org/2020-curt-johnson-prose-awards/.

Nimrod LitPak Flier
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Nimrod Literary Awards Open: $6,000 in Prizes

Deadline: April 1, 2020
Submissions are open for The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction, with prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 and publication. Finalists and selected semi-finalists will be published and paid at a rate of $10/page. For poetry, submit 3-10 pages (one long poem or several short poems); for fiction, one story, 7,500 words maximum. Manuscripts may be mailed or submitted online: nimrodjournal.submittable.com/submit. Each entry must be accompanied by a $20 entry fee, which includes a one-year subscription. Please note our NEW DEADLINE of April 1st. For more information and the complete rules, email [email protected] or visit nimrod.utulsa.edu.

The Fiddlehead Winter 2020 LitPak Flier
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Submit to The Fiddlehead’s Creative Nonfiction Contest!

Deadline: June 1, 2020
The Fiddlehead invites submissions to its creative nonfiction contest! The contest opens on March 1 on Submittable and the deadline is June 1. One winning essay will be published in our Autumn 2020 issue and awarded $2000 CAD + publication payment. Your entry fee entitles you to a one-year subscription to The Fiddlehead, which includes a special 75th anniversary issue (that’s 5 issues!). Visit our website for more details: thefiddlehead.ca!

Fourth Genre 2020 Steinberg Essay Contest flier
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Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest Now Open

Deadline: March 15, 2020
The Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest is accepting submissions from January 1 to March 15 at fourthgenre.submittable.com. The 2020 contest judge is former editor Laura Julier. Winning author receives $1,000 and publication in the issue that’s featured at AWP. $20 per entry, up to 6,000 words. Detailed submission guidelines: fourthgenre.msu.edu.

Jacar Press Winter LitPak flier
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Submissions Open – Jacar Press A Community Active Press

Jacar Press, A Community Active Press, publishes poetry chapbooks, full-length collections, anthologies, and an award-winning online magazine, One which features Pulitzer Prize winners and new poets from 6 continents. Book sales support progressive organizations, including groups that address racism, gender discrimination, immigration issues, women’s initiatives, violence and abuse, prisoner reintegration programs, and others. Jacar Press offers low-cost workshops featuring writers like Lynn Emanuel, Patricia Spears Jones, Dorianne Laux, Li-Young Lee, Marilyn Nelson, Ilya Kaminsky, etc. Chapbook and full-length contests open through April 30. Past judges have included Chana Bloch, Toi Derricotte, Hélène Cardona, Lola Haskins, Rickey Laurentiis, Dorianne Laux, Jamaal May, and others. jacarpress.com/submissions/#contests

Gival Press Winter 2020 LitPak Flier
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Gival Press Sponsored Contests

Gival Press is hosting three contests in 2020: the Gival Press Novel Award, the Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award, and the Gival Press Short Story Award. The Novel Award deadlines is May 30. The prize is $3k and book publication in 2021. The Oscar Wilde Award for the best LGBTQ poem deadline is June 27. The prize is $500 and online publication. The Short Story Award deadline is August 8. The Prize is $1,000 and online publication. For complete details on each contest, visit: www.Givalpress.Submittable.com.

EVENT Winter 2020 LitPak Flier
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EVENT Magazine’s 2020 Non-Fiction Contest

Deadline: October 15, 2020
EVENT: A home for writers. A destination for readers. Now in its 49th year of publication, EVENT is an award-winning, internationally recognized literary magazine that inspires and nurtures writers, showcasing the best contemporary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, notes on writing, and book reviews three times a year, with stunning cover art and illustration. We are now accepting submissions of 5,000 words or less to the annual EVENT Non-Fiction Contest. $3,000 in prizes, plus publication. Entries must be postmarked or submitted online by October 15, 2020. Visit www.eventmagazine.ca for exclusive online content, and to learn more about our unique Reading Service for Writers.

2020 Nelligan Prize flier
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The 2020 Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction

Deadline: March 14, 2020
$2,000 & publication in the fall 2020 issue of Colorado Review will be awarded for the best short story. All stories will be considered for publication. The final judge is Lori Ostlund. Entry fee is $15 per story, payable to Colorado Review. For an additional $2, you may submit online at nelliganprize.submittable.com. Stories must be previously unpublished and between 10 and 50 pages. Full guidelines can be found on our website: coloradoreview.colostate.edu/nelligan-prize/.

2020 Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry
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Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry $1000

Deadline: April 15, 2020
Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry: A poetry manuscript contest sponsored by The University of Utah Press and the University of Utah Department of English. $1000 cash prize plus publication for your poetry manuscript. Prize includes an additional $500 payment for travel and a reading in the University of Utah’s Guest Writers Series. See www.UofUpress.com/ali-poetry-prize for more details.