Community Highlights

Giulietta Nardone Publishes in Friday Flash Fiction

December 2, 2022

Instructor Giulietta Nardone’s tiny “empowerment horror” story appeared in Friday Flash Fiction and her tiny memoir in Readers Write, The Sun Magazine, December 2022.

Susan Vespoli Receives 2 Nominations

November 22, 2022

Congratulations to our instructor Susan Vespoli, who received two nominations this week. Her poem “Before I Knew Adam Had Died” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by New Verse News. Her collection Cactus as Bad Boy was nominated for the Eric Hoffer Award by Kelsay Books.

Donnaldson Brown Publishes in Months to Years

November 14, 2022

Congratulations to Donnaldson Brown, whose short story “Being Human, What Do You Know?” was published in Months to Years. Donnaldson wrote her piece alongside instructor Rudri Patel. 

Catherine Kelley Publishes “Faded: An English Teacher Contemplates Her Love Life” in The Bookends Review

November 9, 2022

Congratulations to Catherine Kelley, whose short story “Faded: An English Teacher Contemplates Her Love Life” was published in The Bookends Review. Catherine wrote this story alongside instructor Barbara Henning. 

Nancy Napier Publishes “How to Hit the Wall and Come Back” in Psychology Today

November 9, 2022

Congratulations to Nancy Napier, whose essay “When You Need a New Mantra” was published in Psychology Today. Be present, be patient, and accept what your mind offers.

Rozanne Charbonneau Nominated for Pushcart

October 18, 2022

Congratulations to Rozanne Charbonneau, whose short story “The Train to Modena: Suzanna’s Story” was nominated for The Pushcart Prize. Rozanne worked on this story alongside instructor Giulietta Nardone.

Susan Vespoli Publishes “Letter to My Son’s Too Short Life” in Anti-Heroin Chic

October 7, 2022

Congratulations to Susan Vespoli, whose poem “Letter to My Son’s Too Short Life” was published in Anti-Heroin Chic.

Susan Vespoli Publishes in The Fieldstone Review

October 3, 2022

Congratulations to instructor Susan Vespoli, whose poem “I Want Sugar Again; Stupor” was published in The Fieldstone Review.

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Publication Opportunities

Drexel’s MFA Program Launches Scholarship for Marginalized Writers

Drexel University’s MFA program in creative writing recently announced a fully funded scholarship for marginalized writers. The goal of the scholarship is to fund writers whose marginalization contributes to the body of work they seek to produce. Drexel defines the term “marginalized” loosely, and seeks to support writers from a variety of backgrounds, including those with disabilities or routine financial hardship. Learn more about the scholarship, and consider applying today!

Pause for Paws

Pause for Paws, a quarterly journal which celebrates love for wild and domesticated animals, is open for submission. The journal welcomes poems by new and established poets. Submissions to the Spring 2022 issue must be sent in the month of February. 

Feeling More Alive

Instructor Giulietta Nardone’s book “Feel More Alive! 30 Brilliant Ways to Reignite Your Inner Spark” is a year old. One way she chose to market the book was to hold a writing contest. The contest will be fun and down to earth, open to writers of all levels. No credentials needed. Creativity welcomed. Judged by a panel of Citrine Publishing authors and editors.

The idea is to read the book, choose a chapter or even a couple, and write a personal essay about Feeling More Alive. Creativity encouraged! Prizes will be art from the book. A print on deep edge canvas ready to hang, a five greeting card gift set or a 144-page writing journal with divider painting on the cover.

Open to those 18 and over. 

Contest closes on February 15, 2022, with notification by the end of March. 

If you need something to get you writing, this contest deadline might be it!

More information on the contest, the rules and where to purchase the book/ebook here. 
https://giuliettanardone.com/fma-writing-contest/

the rialto

Submit to The Rialto’s 2022 “Nature and Place” Poetry Competition

The Rialto invites poets to submit to their 2022 “Nature and Place” poetry competition. Poets are invited to submit poetry that deals with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge Gillian Clarke.

Poems must be previously unpublished and no longer than 40 lines. There is a submission fee of £7 for the first poem and £4 for every subsequent poem. Prize winners will receive the following: 1st prize – £1000, 2nd prize – £500, 3rd prize – £250. 

Learn more below!

trip fiction

Submit to TripFiction’s “Sense of Place” 2021 Contest

TripFiction is looking for fiction or nonfiction for its 2021 “Sense of Place” competition. All submissions should provide a strong sense of geographic location, launching the reader into a completely different part of the world. Submissions are open until November 6th, and the winning prize is £1,000 / US$1,350!

the letters page

Submit Your Best Epistles to “The Letters Page”

Submissions are now open at The Letters Page, a literary journal based out of the University of Nottingham, UK. Writers are encouraged to send creative writing in the form of a letter to The Letters Page by mail. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and all published writers receive a gift subscription to a literary journal or small press. 

Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation

Submit Your 100 Word Story to The César Egido Serrano Foundation

The César Egido Serrano Foundation is now open for submissions to its 100 word story contest. Stories must be submitted by September 30, and can be written in Spanish, English, Arabic, or Hebrew. The winning story will receive $20,000!

a moment of your time

Read Your Story for “A Moment of Your Time” Podcast

The podcast A Moment of Your Time is seeking 1-5 minute recordings of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, centered around “solidarity and hope.” All submitted work should be uplifting and positive. Cheer the world with your voice!

Recent Student Testimonials

Janice Cafaro — Death Riding Shotgun

Lisa’s readings helped me explore this genre and also examine my own mortality and that of my beloved family members. Her discussions and writing projects further helped me explore the multi-faceted layers of mortality as expressed in the unique voices of the poetry we studied.  Lisa’s class offers an excellent foundation into existential poetry, and I will continue to explore the genre and the writers she exposed us too. Thank you for everything!

Emilia Fenton — Writing Chronic Illness

Margo showed extreme care and knowledge in planning and leading the course. She offered participants a safe container in which to explore stories of chronic illness under her confident and sensitive guidance. She’s a wonderful instructor and I would take a class with her again without hesitation.

Patti Croop — Poetry II

Rosemary is an inspired teacher. Her feedback is kind, thorough, and given with such enthusiasm that I found myself immediately wanting to improve my poems. She instilled in me a love for that process, that hard work. She also encouraged me to release the wild in my poetry, resulting in a huge shift in my writing and releasing a great joy in my life.

Emma Llewelyn — The Lyric Essay: Invitation to Play

Elizabeth Winder is a wonderful teacher, supportive, perceptive, responsive and generous with her time and experience. The joy and breadth of possibility within the lyric essay and Elizabeth’s teaching approach has freed me as a writer to follow my truth with courage.

Davinia Roberts — From Memory

this was my first writing workshop and it far exceeded my expectations. Chin-Sun Lee is an extraordinary instructor, cultivating a Zoom-based environment that felt welcoming and supportive, no matter your experience level. Her ability to engage, inspire and offer perspective is truly a gift. I’m leaving this four-week course with an overwhelming sense of inspiration, new techniques, and excited to expand on the pieces I developed. This class has reignited my passion for writing, and I cannot wait to continue.

Larry Dembski — Telling Truth

Ollie’s instruction and feedback was extremely constructive & motivating. They created a compassionate and creative environment with their philosophy, “Don’t be afraid to be bad”! They addressed individual questions in depth without losing track of the classes’ focus, and their editing tips were always very specific and helpful.

Janice Scudder — Warp and Weft

Anna worked her magic and turned us into a true writer’s community. Anna brought something fresh, lively, and challenging to each session: a new way of reading, of writing, of listening, and giving feedback.

Janice Apicella — Both Fish and Fowl

Anna is wonderful teacher and exceptional poet. Patient, kind, and informative, she cultivates the best in each poet, helping them on their journey. Besides her insightful critiques, her class discussions are educational, informative, and enjoyable. She imbues each discussion with her enthusiasm and love of poetry.

writers.com Courses Starting Soon:

Next-Level Creative Nonfiction: Elevating Essays, Memoir, Travel Writing & Literary Journalism

August 15, 2014

Elevate your memoir, travel writing, literary journalism, & lyric and personal essays.

The Ongoing Fiction Workshop

November 10, 2014

Many students have attended this 10-week online fiction workshop with Shelley Singer multiple times, completed novels, and come back to finish more books.

Claiming Our Stories: Autobiography, Memoir & Autobiographical Fiction

November 12, 2014

Turn your experience into fiction, autobiography, or creative memoir. Bring forward stories with a powerful truth at their core. Instructor Anya Achtenberg.

Creative Nonfiction and the Personal Essay

November 12, 2014

Gretchen Clark pick axes her way into the volcanic marriage of real life and fiction. Weekly writing with incisive feedback.

Poetic Prose: The Prose Poem

November 17, 2014

Explore the border between prose poetry and flash fiction. For writers of fiction, poetry, essay and memoir.