Creative Writing | Ex Libris

by Ex Libris on June 4, 2026

Summer Submission Deadlines

Looking for magazines and contests to submit your work to over the summer? See below for important deadlines: The Masters Review – Best Emerging Writers Contest – June 8, 2026Fiction Creative Nonfiction SmokeLong General Submissions – June 15, 2026Flash narratives—fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid—up to 1000 words Epiphany Magazine – June 15, 2026PoetryFictionNonfictionTranslation The Paris Review – June 30, 2026Fiction Bauhan Publishing’s May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry Prize – June 30, 2026 A Public Space – July 1, 2026FictionNonfictionPoetryTranslation The Plentitudes – July 15, 2026FlashFictionNonfictionPoetry Birdcoat Quarterly – July 30, 2026FictionCreative NonfictionPoetry Prairie Schooner Creative Nonfiction Contest… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on May 26, 2026

Electric Literature’s First Emerging Writers Contest

On July 1, submissions will open for Electric Literature’s first Emerging Writers Contest, with categories in fiction and poetry. One winner in each genre will receive $1,000, publication in either Recommended Reading (fiction) or The Commuter (poetry), and two weeks at the Writing Downtown residency program in Downtown Las Vegas, started by Plympton and the Writer’s Block bookstore. Second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100. All fiction finalists will receive a review with feedback from a literary agent. Submissions will open on July 1, 2026 via Submittable.

by Ex Libris on May 22, 2026

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Submit Your Work to The Orange Couch!

Submissions are open for the issue “&” of the Writing Center’s digital literary magazine, The Orange Couch! The magazine is revision-based and requires writers to receive feedback either through a writing center appointment or through either Writers Guild or Scriptwriting Society (the Writing Center’s creative writing groups). The deadline to submit is Friday, May 29! See below for more details.

by Ex Libris on May 4, 2026

Suspended Magazine Submissions

Suspended is meant for the stories that are complete, yet seem unfinished. The endings hang and dangle off the final page, like a pendulum, seeking answers. We want your poems or short fiction stories that are suspended in this regard, have suspenseful endings, or are ambiguous in nature at any or every turn. Send us your visual art that makes onlookers question its meaning. Submissions Suspended accepts simultaneous submissions. Let us know if your submission is accepted elsewhere. We charge $3 to submit. Upload your submission to our Submittable page, and please use a Microsoft Word document, Times New Roman 12 pt. font and double-spaced, for written… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on April 27, 2026

Upcoming Submission and Contest Deadlines

Check out these upcoming deadlines for submissions across genres, and specialized contests: Redivider Call for Submissions – April 30, 2026 Fiction Flash Fiction Poetry Memoir & personal essay Cultural critique Cover art The Massachusetts Review – April 30, 2026 Nonfiction Fiction Performance Poetry Translation Hybrid Art Mud Season Review – April 30, 2026 Full-length Manuscript Reviews Nonfiction Fiction Poetry Art Chicago Story Press – April 30, 2026 Essays Creative Nonfiction New Croton Review – Open Submissions There is no deadline, but the next issue will go live May 9, 2026. Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Artwork and photos Barry Spacks Poetry Prize – April 30, 2026 Gunpowder Press is accepting book-length manuscripts of 48–100 pages for the 12th annual Barry Spacks Poetry Prize, which honors Barry’s… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on April 14, 2026

Spring English Conference Submissions Due TOMORROW!

The deadline to submit your work to the 17th Annual Spring English Conference ends tomorrow, April 15! The Spring English Conference is a time-honored tradition that originated in 2010 as the EGSA (English Graduate Student Association) Spring Conference. We have been very pleased to accept work from both graduate and undergraduate students over the years, expanding our annual conference into an event that all English students can participate in and attend. This year’s conference will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026! Submission Guidelines: Please submit your work to englishconference.dpu@gmail.com and include your name, area of concentration/major, genre, and length of piece…. Read Article →

by Ex Libris on April 6, 2026

Submit Your Work to the Spring English Conference!

Submit your work to the 17th Annual Spring English Conference! We are now accepting submissions for literary essays and creative writing pieces for the conference, where you will have the opportunity to present and discuss your work with audience members and fellow student panelists. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2026. The Spring English Conference is a time-honored tradition that originated in 2010 as the EGSA (English Graduate Student Association) Spring Conference. We have been very pleased to accept work from both graduate and undergraduate students over the years, expanding our annual conference into an… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on March 18, 2026

Spring Submission Deadlines

Before you log off for Spring Break, take a look at this list of upcoming submission deadlines for the rest of March & April: The Other Almanac Call for Submissions – March 20, 2026 Essays Journalism Art 2026 Four Way Books Levis Book Prize in Poetry – March 31, 2026 Awarding publication of a book-length collection, participation in a Four Way Books sponsored reading, and $1000. Eligibility: Open to any poet writing in English regardless of publication history. Submissions are accepted online only. Solstice Literary Magazine – March 31, 2026 Fiction Poetry Nonfiction THREE Literary Magazine, “Boundless” – March 31, 2026 Fiction or non-fiction Previously unpublished short stories essays, vignettes, poems, or opinion… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on March 12, 2026

Spring English Conference Call for Submissions!

Submit your work to the 17th Annual Spring English Conference! We are now accepting submissions for literary essays and creative writing pieces for the conference, where you will have the opportunity to present and discuss your work with audience members and fellow student panelists. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2026. The Spring English Conference is a time-honored tradition that originated in 2010 as the EGSA (English Graduate Student Association) Spring Conference. We have been very pleased to accept work from both graduate and undergraduate students over the years, expanding our annual conference into… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on February 19, 2026

Submit to Crook & Folly by February 22!

The deadline for submitting your work to Crook & Folly is this Sunday, February 22! Check out the submission form here. Guidelines: Submissions are open from January 12th – February 22nd, with incentive period running from January 12th – February 1st. This is a great opportunity to have staff take a look at your pieces before the final deadline. What can you submit? Poetry – 1 to 3 poems Fiction – no more than 3500 words Creative Nonfiction – no more than 3500 words Flash Fiction – no more than 800 words Dramatic Lit – no more than 15 pages When… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on January 27, 2026

Updated Submission Deadlines!

The Ghost Story – The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition – January 31, 2026 Interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words Entry fee: $15 Brink Literary Journal No. 12 – February 1, 2026 Poetry Fiction Creative Nonfiction Video Essay & Cinepoetry The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers– February 1, 2026 PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship – February 2, 2026 The Emerging Voices Fellowship provides a virtual five-month immersive mentorship program for early-career writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing world. The Journal Call for Submissions – February 15, 2026 Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Photo essays Author interviews Book reviews 2026 Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition – February 22, 2026 Submit an… Read Article →

by Ex Libris on January 15, 2026

2026 NOR Literary Prizes are Open for Submissions

Submit your best work to New Ohio Review’s 2026 contests in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction! Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in New Ohio Review will be awarded for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Submit a story or essay of up to 20 pages or a poem or group of poems of up to 6 pages with a $22 entry fee between now and April 15th. For the cost of your entry, you will also receive two complimentary issues of NOR (37 and 38). See the full guidelines on the submissions page… Read Article →

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