Opportunities for Writers: May 2013

Here is our collection of prizes, publication opportunities and other events happening in May 2013 for both emerging and established writers.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships
award up to five aspiring screenwriters with fellowships of US$35,000. The final entry date is 1 May. The fellowships are open to writers worldwide.

St. Francis College Literary Prize
awards a mid-career author US$50,000 for their 3rd to 5th novel. The prize is open to writers based anywhere in the world and self-published entries are eligible for entry. Closes 1 May.

Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize
awards $2,500 and publication by the Kent State University Press to a poet who has not previously had a collection published. Entrants should submit 50 – 70 pages of poetry. Closes 1 May.

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship
is offered by the International Women’s Media Foundation. The selected journalist will spend an academic year in a tailored program with access to MIT’s Center for International Studies and media outlets like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience in journalism. A stipend will be provided, and expenses, including airfare and housing, will be covered. Applications close 1 May.

Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading
publishes one story a week. During the spring submission period only previously unpublished work will be considered. Fiction ranging in length from 2,000 to 10,000 words will be considered and each contributor is paid US$300. Submissions close 1 May.

Open House at Random House 
in New York City on 3 May is a chance to see behind the scenes at one of the world’s largest publishing houses. The day includes a range of panels and discussions.Tickets are US$45 and include breakfast, lunch and access to cocktail mixer with publishing professionals.

The Horatio Nelson Fiction Prize
is run by Black Balloon Publishing. The winner will receive a book deal including US$5,000 up front. The prize is for unpublished manuscripts of 50,000 words or more. Closes 6 May.

Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade
is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) being conducted by Mt. San Jacinto College. For experienced writers, this might be a good refresher in grammar and composition. The course commences on 13 May.

The Middlebury Fellowships in Environmental Journalism 
offer 10 journalists near the start of their careers support while working on an ambitious reporting project in print, web-based, or radio journalism.Fellows meet together twice during the year and each receive US$10,000. Applications close 15 May.

The Montreal International Poetry Prize
is open to original, unpublished poems up to 40 lines long. Entrants can be from anywhere in the world and do not need to be previously published poets. The winner receives CA$20,000. Entries close 15 May.

Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
is for short stories up to 3,500 words. It is open to writers based anywhere is the world and the winner receives US$1,500 and publication. The closing date for entry is 15 May, though discounted entry is available before 1 May.

The Creative Capital / Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program
aims to support the broad spectrum of writing on contemporary visual art, from general-audience criticism to academic scholarship.The program supports approximately 20 – 25 projects each year. Grant amounts range from US$3,000 to $50,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. The final date for applications is 15 May.

The BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum
is seeking British comedy screenwriters to showcase at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in August and at the New York Television Festival in October. Interested applicants should submit their work by 15 May.

John Knight Memorial Poetry Manuscript Prize
a prize for an unpublished poetry manuscript of 40 pages. The winning manuscript will be edited and published by Fence Post Press. Entries close 17 May.

Australian Literature Review
is running monthly short story competition. The May theme is ‘small town setting’ and stories should be between 1,000-3,000 words. Writers outside Australia are welcome to enter and to have their work shortlisted and displayed on the ALR site, but only writers in Australia are eligible for the monthly prizes. Entries close on 30 May.

Boroughs Novella Contest
for manuscripts between 25,000 and 40,000 words that share its title with the name of a song. Boroughs is primarily a romance publisher and all finalists will be offered a contract to have their story published. Completed novellas, together with a two paragraph synopsis should be submitted by 31 May.

Bollywood Superstar Writer
Freedom Studios in association with Bradford UNESCO City of Film is seeking script for a 10-minute play that recreates the magic of Bollywood to be performed live in the heart of Bradford. The successful screenwriter will receive £1,000 and see their work performed. Entries close 31 May.

The Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize 
is for short stories in English of between 2000 and 5000 words. The prize will be judged by Tony Birch, Maria Takolander and Terri-ann White and first prize is AUD$5,000. Entries close 31 May.

The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award
is one of Australia’s richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. The winner receives publication by Allen & Unwin, with an advance against royalties plus prize money totalling AUD $20,000. Previous recipients include Kate Grenville, Tim Winton and Gillian Mears. Entries close 31 May.

The Baltimore Review’s Summer Contest
has the theme ‘threes’. Three winners will be selected from among all entries. There is a 3000 word limit for fiction and creative non-fiction, and one to three poems can be included per entry. All entries considered for publication. Closes 31 May.

The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition 2013
is open to all English-speaking writers aged 16 or over. First prize of £500 and there is a second prize of £100; both winners will also be published in an upcoming Fiction Desk anthology. Entries close 31 May.

The Big Issue Australia
is currently considering submissions for its fiction issue. Stories must be no longer than 2500 words and the writers can be based anywhere in the world. Closes 31 May.

The Crocodile Prize 2013
is a literary contest for Papua New Guinean writers.There are six categories and each winner receives K5,000 and a trophy. The best entries will be published in The Crocodile Prize Anthology. Entries close 31 May.

Literary Agent Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis
is seeking new clients. She is seeking picture books, middle grade, young adult and new adult projects, with a particular interest contemporary fiction, horror and thrillers/mysteries.

The Iowa Summer Writing Festival
held on the campus of the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop offers an extensive program of weekend and one-week writing courses. The festival runs between 9 June and 28 July. Workshops are limited to 12 persons each and early registration is encouraged.

Pan Macmillan Australia’s Manuscript Monday
accepts unsolicited manuscript submissions between 10am and 4pm AEST every Monday. Types of works they are looking for include commercial fiction, children’s books and young adult, literary fiction and non-fiction. Interested authors should sent three chapters of their manuscript and a synopsis of up to 300 words. Manuscripts will be read within three months.

Soho Press
is one of few American publishers which puts a priority on unsolicited manuscripts from new writers. Interested authors should send three chapters (or fifty pages) and a cover letter to the attention of the acquisitions editor.

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