Community Highlights

Susan Vespoli Publishes “Self Portrait as Mother in Chapters” in Gyroscope Review

January 20, 2023

Congratulations to Susan Vespoli, whose poem “Self Portrait as Mother in Chapters” was published in Gyroscope Review. Read it here. 

Barbara Henning’s “Ferne: A Detroit Story” Listed as a Michigan Notable Book of 2023

January 9, 2023

Congratulations to instructor Barbara Henning, whose book Ferne: A Detroit Story was listed in the Michigan Notable Books 2023 list. 

Tina Barry Publishes “The Little I Remember”

January 4, 2023

Congratulations to Tina Barry, whose poem “The Little I Remember” was featured in Rattle, then reposted by Verse Daily. Read it here.

Susan Vespoli Publishes “I want to focus on light,” in Plum Tree Review

January 2, 2023

Congratulations to Susan Vespoli, whose poem “I want to focus on light,” was published in Plum Tree Review. Read it here!

Susan Vespoli Publishes “Dear 2022” in New Verse News

December 28, 2022

Congratulations to Susan Vespoli, whose poem “Dear 2022” was published in New Verse News. Read it here.

Two Publications by Rudri Patel’s Students

December 21, 2022

Congratulations to Lisa Braxton and Leena Trivedi-Grenier, two students of Rudri Patel’s who both have exciting publications.

Lisa’s piece, called “Our Messes,” was published in The New York Times. Read it here. 

Leena Trivedi-Grenier’s piece, called “Racism Caused Early Graying. Now I Turn It Into Hair Art.”, was published in The Cut. Read it here.

Congratulations to all!

Susan Vespoli Publishes “3 Sonnets from Adam’s Text Messages from 2020 to Day He Died – March 12, 2022” in Anti-Heroin Chic

December 9, 2022

Congratulations to instructor Susan Vespoli, whose “3 Sonnets from Adam’s Text Messages from 2020 to Day He Died – March 12, 2022” were published in Anti-Heroin Chic. 

Liz Mayers Receives Pushcart Nomination

December 5, 2022

Congratulations to Liz Mayers, whose 50 word story “Adopting Catherine” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Blink-Ink. Liz credits her courses with Giulietta Nardone and Barbara Henning for bringing out words she didn’t know she had. 

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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!

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.