Opportunities for writers, poets and publishers for October ‘22.

In our continuing series, we share opportunities for those who wish to submit work be it poetry, prose, or other related arts in October 2022. These callouts are divided into journals, publishers, prizes, and education (MFAs, Fellowships, residencies).

Literary magazines/journals/anthologies

Ake Review

Submissions for Ake Review 2022 are open. This is the last edition of Ake Review so we are also interested in personal reflections on previous editions of the Ake Festival. Submit poetry, reflections, and artworks to [email protected]

Theme: Homecoming

Deadline: October 24
Details: On poster

Ipikai Poetry Journal

Ipikai is an initiative of the new Zimbabwe Poets Society; they have a callout for work with the theme “Thank God, it’s Friday.”
Deadline: November 24
Details: Click here.

Poda Poda Stories

Are you a Sierra Leonean writer with content to share? Submit your work for a chance to be published on Poda-Poda Stories!

Deadline: November 15
Details: Click here.

Brittle Paper Festive Anthology

Brittle Paper is launching an annual festive anthology! The anthology will feature a range of selected poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and essays all centred on festive holidays of any and every kind. So, get to writing about your favourite festive holiday, memory, tradition, or experience and send it to us!

Deadline: November 6
Details: Click here.

The Quilled Ink Review

The Quilled Ink Review is a literary journal featuring poetry, essays, and short fiction. We also aim to showcase artwork or photography on our covers and encourage you to submit your pieces for consideration if you would love to see your work grace the cover of one of our journals.

Deadline: November 20
Details: Click here.

Decolonial Passage

Decolonial Passage presents each distinct piece of writing as a passage worthy of readers’ attention in which writers create texts to articulate a variety of themata affecting the human condition including, but not limited to authenticity, liberty, alienation, dignity, community, and boundless love. Decolonial Passage publishes writing from emerging and established writers who use language and form in innovative ways.

Deadline: Not indicated
Information: Click here.

The Shallow Tales Review Issue 39

The Shallow Tales Review is an electronic literary magazine publishing African and Black Literature. It publishes three times a year.

It is presently accepting short fiction, poetry, one-act plays, poetry, art photographs, translations, reviews and cultural essays for its 39^th edition.

Deadline: October 31
Details: Click here.

The Black Girl Survives in This One

We’ve entered a new golden age in Black horror storytelling. Today’s wave of Black horror writers and filmmakers are filling an important gap in the horror canon, inserting Black characters front and centre as heroes and survivors within the horror genre.

This Spooky Season we’re looking to celebrate this milestone moment by featuring a new Black voice in horror fiction in an all-new anthology. We are seeking a Black woman or Black nonbinary writer to contribute a short story to THE BLACK GIRL SURVIVES IN THIS ONE, a Young-Adult horror fiction anthology that will be published in Winter 2024 by Flatiron Books.
Deadline: October 31
Details: Click here.

Libretto Magazine

Libretto Magazine seeks unique works with strong sense of imagery, desire, and emotion; words that resonate, that are produced in styles which push boundaries, complete with an elegant and fascinating use of language or imagery. Send in your euphoria and fears, your faith and doubts, as well as your despair and triumphs. We want voice. We want craft. We want heart.

Deadline: October 31
Details: Click here.

Lilac Journal

The LILAC Journal was established in 2022 to document Life in Lagos And the Continent, by a passionate team of African writers and editors, spanning a diverse group of ages, backgrounds and interests, including prizewinning podcasters, fiction and nonfiction writers. Their editorial board includes African youth, so at every level, their voices are heard. This is a nonfiction journal for writers, thinkers and doers. It’s a space for underrepresented voices and a platform for publishing and promoting young authors, where they are seen and celebrated. Intended to amplify the voices of young Africans, The LILAC Journal inspires kids and teens to read, write and create.

Deadline: Not indicated.
Details: Click here.

Short Fiction

Short Fiction is a high-quality online journal (previously also in print, since 2006), publishing some of the finest short stories from around the world.

Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.

FIYAH Literary Magazine

FIYAH is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. This definition is globally inclusive (Black anywhere in the world) and also applies to mixed/biracial and Afro-appended people regardless of gender identity or orientation.

Deadline: December 31 (for Jan ’23 and April ’23 editions)
Details: Click here.

Moremi Review

Founded on the values of equity, Moremi Review hopes to feature women-only voices both in the Nigerian literary sphere and beyond. They are named after Moremi Ajasoro, a legendary Yoruba queen.

Deadline: October 15
Details: Click here.

Guernica

Guernica publishes poetry, essays, reportage/journalism, criticism, and fiction, and we offer honoraria of $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage/journalism.

Deadline: Not indicated
Details: Click here.

Publishers

Ankara Press

Ankara Press was started in 2015 as the imprint of Cassava Republic Press devoted to publishing romance by Black writers. We are thrilled to announce that we are open for submissions! We are now accepting romance, horror, fantasy, and all other genres of pop fiction.

Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.

Iskanchi Press

Iskanchi Press calls for book length manuscripts in any genre by writers of African descent. Women over the age of 50 are particularly encouraged to submit. Please submit only one manuscript at a time.

Deadline: October 30
Details: Click here.

Botsotso

Since 1996, Botsotso has published 66 books: 20 editions of our Literary Journal, Anthologies, and over 40 individual collections of Poetry, Fiction and Drama. Botsotso is proud to announce that they will now also begin publishing Novels, Memoir, and full-length works of Nonfiction.

Deadline: October 30
Details: Click here.

Ouida Books

Ouida Books calls on all writers of unpublished fiction and nonfiction to send us their works. We look forward to receiving your manuscripts.

Deadline: Not indicated
Details: Click here.

Prizes

Queen Amina Short Story Prize

The Queen Amina Short Story Prize is a prize that seeks to award the best short stories by women and girls in Sokoto at Sokoto Book and Arts Festival. Women and girls in Sokoto between the ages of 15 — 29 years are invited to submit for the Queen Amina Short Story Prize.

Theme: Strong Female Lead

Deadline: October 31
Details: On poster

Afritondo Short Story Prize 2023

This Afritondo Short Story Prize is making a call for writers to respond to the theme of “aliens”: unfamiliar things, unfamiliar people, how they are received and lived with or rejected, how they change families, communities, and societies. The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000. Four other shortlisted writers will get $100 each. The longlist will be published in an anthology. It will be judged by Doreen Baingana, Ayesha Harruna Attah, and Efemia Chela.

Deadline: December 16, 2022.
Details: Click here.

Kalemba Prize

The Kalemba Prize celebrates contemporary Zambian short fiction. Established in 2017, the annual prize is awarded for the best unpublished short fiction by a Zambian writer. The 2023 short story Prize is open for submissions.

Deadline: December 10, 2022
Details: Click here.

The James Currey Prize for African Literature

The James Currey Prize for African Literature is an annual award for the best-unpublished work of fiction written in English by any writer, set in Africa or on Africans in Africa or in Diaspora.

Deadline: April 1, 2023
Details: Click here.

The Island Prize for Fiction.

The Island Prize for Fiction, in its second year, seeks to recognize and provide support for emerging literary talents from Africa. It invites submissions of unpublished debut literary manuscripts from authors across the African continent.

Deadline: January 6, 2023
Details: Click here.

Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2023

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize aims to identify talented writers who go on to inspire their communities. It unearths and promotes the best new writing from across the Commonwealth, developing literary connections worldwide. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000 – 5000 words). It is open to translated fiction. The overall winner receives £5,000 and regional winners receive £2,500. Translators will receive additional prize money.

Deadline: November 1
Details: Click here.

Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry 2022

The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, under the auspices of the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is an annual award of USD $1,000. Established in 2015 and named for the literary philanthropist Glenna Luschei, this Pan African Poetry Prize is the only one of its kind in the world and aims to honor and promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet.

Deadline: December 1
Details: Click here.

The Jericho Prize

The Jericho Prize, open to unpublished Black British writers, is a new award for writing for children aged four years plus (picture books) and seven to nine (short chapter books). Each submission must include a Black or mixed-Black main character.

Deadline: November 7
Details: Click here.

Guyana Prize for Literature

The Guyana Prizes for Literature were founded by President Desmond Hoyte in 1987, with a view to promoting the development of local literature. Prizes are awarded biennially in categories including best book of fiction, best first book of fiction, best book of poems, best first book of poems, and best play.

Deadline: November 4
Details: Click here.