Where to Submit Your Work in August
A Carefully Curated List of Places to Send Your Fabulous Writing
Summer in our house is passing in a whirlwind of tea parties, swim days, and books. But before you envy my pretty little life, there’s plenty of sibling fighting, too.
In case you’re wondering, “stop fighting this instant” remains a very effective parenting tool.
Freelance writing is notoriously slow in the summer, which is a godsend since the kids are running amok. I’m using a little extra time to edit my manuscripts (one is due out in ‘26, which is feeling dangerously close) and clean the long-neglected baseboards.
I’m excited to have a few pieces in print with
’s “The Way Back to Ourselves” & ’s Calla Press’s “Wonder” anthology. Both of these books will look splendid on a coffee table. However, as I’ve committed my family to “No Buy July,” the books are in my Amazon cart, anxiously awaiting August.
Speaking of August, would you like to see the curated list?
I thought you would.
Here, my dear fellow writers, is where you should send your work this month. May your words be blessed and have wings.
Where to Submit in August 2025
I. Journalism & Essays
Antics Magazine: This New York-based quarterly print magazine focuses on emerging music and culture, featuring both written and visual work. Michael Tedder, the Managing Editor (michael.tedder@anticsmag.com), is seeking essay pitches. These can range from personal reflections and trend analyses to humorous pieces or unconventional concepts. They compensate $200-$250 for accepted essays, profiles, and reported features.
MANDE: This publication welcomes submissions from bipolar creatives on any subject. While they acknowledge the challenges of bipolar disorder, they are particularly interested in exploring its positive aspects, joy, or unique elements. They also accept work from individuals familiar with bipolar, provided it directly relates to manic depression. MANDE offers $50 for artwork, $50 per poem, and $50 per 1000 words of prose, with a maximum payment of $250.
The Lighthouse - Black Girl Times (BGX): Black Girl Times consistently seeks engaging stories and content for Black women, girls, and their allies. Their focus is on Black, Southern girls, women, gender non-conforming individuals, and those who resist. Pay rates for writers, ranging from $0.25 to $1.00 per word, are determined by experience level, skill, and other contributing factors.
Ginosko Literary Journal: This journal features fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and art. They are interested in submissions that address current global crises and reflect on the human condition in politically charged times, with a particular interest in work from outside North America. They prioritize distinctive voices, compelling narratives, and pieces with strong social or political undertones, also accepting translations. While Ginosko is a paying market, specific rates are not publicly listed on their Submittable page, typically ranging from token to modest professional fees.
Motherwell: Submissions for Motherwell revolve around parenting-related themes. Their current call for submissions (see ‘Current call for submissions’) includes topics like: the challenges of raising children in a digital and comparative world, fostering calm parenting over self-doubt, ensuring child safety, and adjusting expectations through life's hardships. They also explore navigating parental identity shifts as children mature, such as impacts of divorce, rediscovering purpose as women, balancing care for older children and aging parents, and adapting to evolving family dynamics. All formats are accepted, with a suggested word count of up to 1,200 words for completed essays, which should include the word count. They also consider personal essays on parenting, holiday experiences as a parent, and other related themes, though some formats may not be compensated.
American Craft: Adventure: This magazine highlights American craft and its creators, publishing reported articles, essays, and opinion pieces. They cover inspiring contemporary craft, community-focused craft organizations, thought leadership in the field, and craft's cultural significance in the U.S. For their Spring 2026 issue, the theme is Adventure, with special sections dedicated to travel, ceramics, and glass. Articles typically range from 400-2,000 words, and pitches should be submitted via the form on their guidelines page.
Pay: $0.50–$1.00 per word.
Pitches for Adventure theme due: August 11, 2025.
Details here (scroll down for theme details).
(Note: They also accept pitches for "Revolution" due November 10, and "Work" due February 9, 2026.)
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, messages from heaven & angels: This publication seeks authentic stories and poems, up to 1,200 words, centered on unexplained occurrences. They are looking for compelling narratives about miracles, angels, divine messages, premonitions, remarkable coincidences, and other positive, unexplainable events. The goal is to collect powerful, astonishing stories that evoke wonder or provide chills for a broad audience, regardless of religious background. Suggested topics include signs and wonders, divine intervention, and prophetic dreams. They do not accept stories where people are referred to as "angels" for their good deeds, nor eulogies for deceased loved ones now considered "angels."
Pay: $250.
Submission deadline: July 31, 2025. (Note: This deadline is in July.)
Details here (Also check other tabs on this page, including FAQ).
II. Literary Magazines & General Submissions
The First Line Journal: This journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Submissions must begin with a specific opening line and adhere to a predetermined theme, which writers should confirm on their website.
Submission Deadline: August 1, 2025.
Payment: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, and $10 for poetry.
Dark Waters: This publication is seeking dark fiction pieces, up to 7,000 words. Submissions must align with their current theme, which authors should verify on the publication's website.
Submission Deadline: August 1, 2025.
Payment: Up to $25.
Details here (Please remember to check their site for the current theme.)
Iterant: This publication is currently open for poetry submissions. Poets are permitted to submit up to eight individual poems via their online submission form.
Submission Method: Online form available on their website.
Availability: Currently open.
Compensation: $50 per poem.
Big Score Lit: A recently launched biannual print magazine, Big Score Lit welcomes narrative prose (including fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and other forms), poetry, and critical essays (pitches for criticism are also accepted).
Submission Window: Submissions close on August 10, 2025, or once they reach their submission capacity.
Length Guidelines: Preferred narrative prose is 1,500-3,500 words; poets can submit up to 5 poems; critical prose ranges from 4,000-12,000 words (consult detailed guidelines for specifics).
Compensation: Authors receive $400 for accepted prose, $100 per poem, and commissioned critical prose pays between $400-$1,200 (refer to guidelines for variations).
A Breath of Time & Of Love & Dragons (Anthologies - Flame Tree Publishing): Flame Tree Publishing is actively seeking short stories for a new Romantic Fantasy series, offering paid opportunities for both new and established writers. They are interested in tales featuring strong, independent female protagonists who may be resilient, flawed, or possess hidden powers, secrets, or royal lineage. Characters should evolve through emotionally charged journeys and not be solely defined by their romantic interests.
Compensation: Pays Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) rates: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints.
Story Length: Stories most likely to be successful are 2000–4000 words.
III. Contests
Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award: This prestigious award, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries and named after novelist Sydney Taylor, grants $1,000 for an unpublished middle-grade fiction book with Jewish themes. It specifically targets writers who have no prior published works of children's literature, making it an excellent opportunity for new authors in the genre.
Manuscript Length: 64-200 double-spaced pages.
Submission Deadline: September 1, 2025 (must be received by this date).
Application: Submit a complete manuscript, a cover letter, CV, and a completed online application form.
Entry Fee: Free.
Oregon Literary Fellowships (For Oregon Residents): Literary Arts provides highly recommended fellowships to full-time Oregon residents, particularly those demonstrating exceptional talent early in their writing careers. Awards are available across various genres including poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama, and young readers literature, designed to assist writers in initiating, developing, or completing literary projects.
Awards: Two fellowships of $10,000 each, and up to eight fellowships of $4,000 apiece.
Special Fellowships: Two fellowships ($10,000 and $4,000) are designated for writers of color. Additional fellowships support women/gender-nonconforming writers, and fiction writers who have resided in Oregon for the past five years (Swails/Monroe Fiction Fellowship).
Eligibility: Must be a full-time Oregon resident, 18 years or older. Previous recipients from 2021-2025 are ineligible for the 2026 cycle. Not open to current students in degree-bearing creative writing programs.
Submission Deadline: August 8, 2025 (must be received by this date).
Application: Submit an online entry form with up to 15 pages of poetry or 25 pages of prose. For the larger $10,000 grant, also include a 1-page artist's statement and 1-page impact statement.
Entry Fee: Free.
Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest: Sponsored by The Academy for Teachers, this contest seeks original, unpublished flash fiction (6-499 words) featuring a K-12 teacher as the protagonist or narrator. Authors do not need to be teachers but must be 18+. The Academy for Teachers supports NYC educators through master classes and events, connecting them with leading experts.
Submission Deadline: September 7, 2025 (must be received by this date; formerly September 1).
Entry Fee: Free for Fellows of The Academy for Teachers; non-Fellows incur a $5 fee.
Prizes: Up to $1,000, with potential for print and online publication in A Public Space.
The Caledonia Novel Award: This is an international novel award for novelists who have not been previously published (or have self-published). They accept entries across all genres of adult fiction (excluding children's books, middle-grade, young adult, and poetry). The award aims to discover new talent and assist writers in securing representation from literary agents.
Entry Fee: £28.
Deadline: July 31, 2025. (Note: This deadline is in July.)
Prize: £1,000 and a consultation with a literary agent.
WOW! Women On Writing Essay Contest: This contest invites submissions for personal essays. They are looking for "WOW! moments"—personal, illuminating experiences that shift one's perspective, fostering insight and connection. Essays should be authentic accounts presented in a creative and engaging manner.
Entry Fee: $20.
Deadline: July 31, 2025. (Note: This deadline is in July.)
Prizes: 1st place $500, 2nd place $300, 3rd place $200. (Top 10 winners also published.)
IV. Publishers & Agents Seeking Submissions
The Booker Albert Agency (Agent: Haley Warrington): Haley Warrington, a new agent, is seeking to represent Adult or New Adult romance fiction. She enjoys all romance subgenres, whether explicit or implied. She is drawn to emotionally driven stories that evoke strong reactions, particularly sad narratives. Her interests also include cross-generational love stories, second-chance romances, "Gossip Girl"-esque plots with a romantic focus, stories exploring grief, murder mysteries akin to Knives Out, and romance novels incorporating fantasy elements (excluding high fantasy).
How to Query: Submit your query via QueryTracker. She requires a query letter, a one-sentence pitch, synopsis, target audience description, comparable book titles, content warnings, and the first 10 pages.
Details here (also check her MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/haley-warrington/)
Metamorphosis Literary Agency: This agency is dedicated to representing exceptionally crafted commercial fiction and nonfiction. They emphasize close collaboration with authors. Each agent has specific genre preferences and opens for queries at different times of the year, so it's crucial to consult individual agent wishlists on their website. Common genres of interest include romance, fantasy, horror, mythology, magical realism, historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, YA, and LGBTQ+ narratives.
How to Query: Follow the specific submission guidelines for individual agents on their website. Generally, submit the first three chapters, a query letter, synopsis, and a pitch. They accept queries for unpublished projects through specific agent links on their submissions page. Response times can be up to 6 months.
Liza Dawson Associates: This agency represents a broad spectrum of genres, from popular commercial fiction to literary fiction, and nonfiction that aims to positively impact the world or delve into life's complexities. They represent books for nearly all age groups, though individual agents have distinct preferences. They also handle audio, foreign, licensing, and television/film rights, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles.
How to Query: You must review each agent’s profile page on their website for specific query email addresses and submission guidelines. Query only one agent at a time; if rejected by one, you may then query another. They typically prefer to receive only a query letter initially, and will request a manuscript portion if interested.
Tugeau 2 Art & Literary Agency: Their primary focus is children’s publishing, encompassing board books, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and YA. They also manage projects for magazines, advertising, editorial content, toys, games, and greeting cards. They aim to build long-term relationships with clients and provide comprehensive support.
How to Query: Authors must consult the "Agent Wishlists" within the "About Us" section of their website before querying. Query guidelines differ by agent. Some agents (like Nicole Tugeau) accept author queries at submissions@tugeau2.com, requesting 1-3 full-length picture book texts and a brief bio/platform. Others (like Carter Hasegawa) utilize QueryTracker.
Details here (and specifically for submissions: https://tugeau2.com/contact)
Savvy Literary: Savvy Literary represents a wide array of both fiction and nonfiction. Fiction interests include: Historical, Multi-Cultural, Mystery, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Speculative, Suspense/Thriller, Upmarket Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, and selected Literary Fiction. Non-Fiction interests include: Advice/Relationship, Biography, Business, Diet, Health, History/Politics/Current Affairs, How-to, Humor, Lifestyle, Memoir, Narrative Non-Fiction, Parenting, Religion/Spirituality, and True Crime.
How to Query: Send your submission via email to submissions@savvyliterary.com. For fiction, include a query letter (with title, genre, word count), a 1-5 page synopsis, the first three chapters, a detailed author bio, and a marketing plan. For nonfiction, submit a query letter, a polished book proposal (covering overview, target audience, marketing plan, competitive analysis, author bio, chapter outline/descriptions), and 1-3 sample chapters. All documents must be double-spaced, in Times New Roman, 12pt font, and in PDF format.
Details here (also check their specific submission guidelines page: https://savvyliterary.com/submissions-1)
There you have it, the August curated list. Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.
Rooting for you!
Wow!! This is quite the list! I wonder if freelance writing is something I should think about.
I've sent your list off to a friend of mine in the NJ/PA area, who writes poems and has written two amazing mini-anthologies of American history in poetic form. One is in Haiku form and the other in Couplet form, both written in honor of America's 250th Anniversary next year (one poem for each of the years of our history).
Great compilation of information, Kris Ann!!!! Keep up this great work! :)
So helpful!