This list has something for everyone! This month you'll find calls for speculative fiction, romantic fantasy, chapbooks on illness, works of poetry and prose as well as grants and residencies!
Thank you SO much for putting this amazing list together! I'm so happy to share my latest short... it's a prequel to the fantasy trilogy I'm writing. I'm playing around with releasing these short stories in advance of the novels so people get a taste of the world I've built. The thing that moves is the motivation for writing these stories... I'm writing these to remind us all of how powerful we are as humans. This story, though, has to do with the awakening of one woman who will prove to be very important to the stories later.
This week I launched a new Substack titled, "Owning It: Black Mother Abuse."
This is the description:
"In our compassionate judgement-free sisterhood, black mothers who have been neglectful and abusive parents own our behavior, learn, grow forgive, heal, and transform trauma into joy for ourselves and for our past, present, and future generations."
Wow. This is incredible. I love your mission and your heart to own the past. I will definitely subscribe! I had an abusive mother (who I’ve totally forgiven) and she hasn’t found the courage to face the past - which I’m not blaming her for. I just share that to say I feel I have an idea of how hard it is to look back and see. You’re doing incredible work that is so needed. Don’t give up. I don’t know if this helps, but I genuinely feel my mother was doing what was most necessary for the growth of my Soul. I know that may sound nuts, but I have become so strong, resilient and self-loving through this. We never know the fullness of the bigger picture… Sending you so much love and peace. 🩵
Thank you for subscribing! I've subscribed to you.
You are my hero because of your capacity to forgive your mother even though she never apologized. I am working on being able to do the same to my sister, my surrogate mother. I believe having my daughters forgive me is bound to me forgiving my sister.
If you don't mind me asking, how is your relationship with your mother? How were you able to get to forgiving her without her apology?
Oh, sister… I hear you. I’ve written about this a lot, actually. I’m going to link a couple of posts below that may help… honestly, it’s been a ten year process so it’s not easy. One factor is that my mom and I aren’t in contact (and haven’t been for 5 years.) She’s still abusive, so I had to draw a line… but in a way being totally removed from the energy has really helped me get perspective. Once the wound stops hurting like an amputated leg, you can start to forgive and release. Not for them, but for you.
I’ve participated in a lot of healing modalities as well… the thing that ended up being the most effective for me is connecting with Mother Earth and letting her re-mother me until I could re-mother myself. Honestly, plant medicine was hugely helpful for me to release some of the protective walls I’d built. So many things… overall, I’d say that your intention to forgive her is ENOUGH. If you make that decision with your heart, your Soul (or Higher Self) will take the wheel and bring you the tools and modalities that will be most helpful. It’s a SLOW unwinding but it will happen.
Last thing I’ll say is that number one lesson of abuse is to become our own best friend and advocate. So, if you want your kids to be able to do that… do it for yourself first. You will model it for them. You don’t have to wipe the floor with yourself because you made mistakes. You were most likely giving what you received and how could you have known better? Yes, own it. And at the same time, as you extend compassion and begin to trust yourself again, you will find it easier to forgive your sister… and that will ripple to your children.
I hope all that makes sense…. totally just writing from my heart.
Ah, yes! Well, I just wrote a bunch more… lol! Hope it wasn’t too much. This is one of my favorite topics because healing is so possible. Sending you so much love!
I read your other comment. Part of what I wondered about was your relationship with your mother. So you've forgiven her AND you aren't in contact with her because she's still abusive. I needed to hear this — and also everything you wrote in your last comment.
Thanks for this newsletter!! And taking up your offer to share! "After 80 you don't need pants" is my latest post in my substack Not Enough Middle Fingers- I call it the love child of Nat Geo🦩 and Sex & The City💅🏼 https://substack.com/home/post/p-167113727
Let me share this article with you: https://lauramoreno.substack.com/p/the-fascinating-life-of-isabel-allende. One night I was reading and found myself looking up more and more information on this topic. I had read about Pinochet's famous visit to Thatcher in London at the time in the New Yorker; but much more information has since come to light. Illusions have dominated so much of the public discourse; it's time to grow up and acknowledge difficult truths.
Hi! I've been following this awesome newsletter for the past three months, and not only have I found great opportunities, but also, getting into the thought process of writing something with a specific purpose, has really boosted my writing overall. For my series called MISUSE, I recently wrote this piece on GUILT: https://substack.com/home/post/p-167112647
Thank you for your careful research to be able to produce this newsletter! One suggestion, it would be really cool if you would have an international section, for people who aren't based in the US to be able to easily find the ones that are eligible for. 🥰
I believe racial justice cannot be achieved without racialized folks understanding our own internalized racism and how that continues to perpetuate white supremacist systems of oppression.
Congratulations on your book, Judith! What a wonderful thing you're created through facing yourself! I just finished your essay and it truly brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for this. This was the first post I wrote on substack, and something I'm still proud of: a quiet ode to the mess and exhaustion of motherhood; how beauty and sacrifice and pain can co-exist at once. It's called "Witching Hour" - https://whereclairewrites.substack.com/p/witching-hour
Sharing an essay I wrote a min ago ahout the intersection of grief and love with my dad and my dog. I've been working on a larger piece- a collection of essays, but also maybe an audio project? And this piece felt like a good way to blend it all. I gathered photos (some taken
with disposable cameras, some with my professional camera) that I had
taken over the years of both my dad and Mags. I also got together audio
clips of both of them- Mags frolicking through the woods or breathing deeply
on my kitchen floor, my dad laughing over dinner with my siblings, me
helping him get dressed, and a detailed voicemail he left about cherry
pie.
I guess I've surrounded myself with tangible memories to combat the
inevitable process of forgetting. This essay was a nice way to remember.
This was such a beautiful piece! As someone that has spent time documenting the elders in my family, it certainly resonates. Dedicating yourself to remembering is such a lovely tribute to your Dad and Magnolia. Also - the portraits of your Dad are wonderful.
Thank you for sharing these calls and for the opportunity to promote our work!
My most recent story, The Eyes I Once Hated, was written after I lost my job, house, and my foster son (now adopted) was moved to a different placement. It has a lot more of me in it than some of my other works.
Yessirrr I was refreshing the page all morning for this 😀 Thank you for the upload!!
Ahhhh thank you Tiara! I appreciate your kind words x 100!
Thank you SO much for putting this amazing list together! I'm so happy to share my latest short... it's a prequel to the fantasy trilogy I'm writing. I'm playing around with releasing these short stories in advance of the novels so people get a taste of the world I've built. The thing that moves is the motivation for writing these stories... I'm writing these to remind us all of how powerful we are as humans. This story, though, has to do with the awakening of one woman who will prove to be very important to the stories later.
https://kyrafinleycreates.substack.com/p/talurias-awakening?r=129yl2
This sounds really cool, Kyra! Looking forward to reading your work.
Thanks for this.
This week I launched a new Substack titled, "Owning It: Black Mother Abuse."
This is the description:
"In our compassionate judgement-free sisterhood, black mothers who have been neglectful and abusive parents own our behavior, learn, grow forgive, heal, and transform trauma into joy for ourselves and for our past, present, and future generations."
This is the first post/podcast:
https://open.substack.com/pub/writeperiod/p/30-paid-open-calls-for-writers-and
Please subscribe if you find it helpful. It's hard to expose myself this way. Having subscribers helps me have the will to do it again.
Wow. This is incredible. I love your mission and your heart to own the past. I will definitely subscribe! I had an abusive mother (who I’ve totally forgiven) and she hasn’t found the courage to face the past - which I’m not blaming her for. I just share that to say I feel I have an idea of how hard it is to look back and see. You’re doing incredible work that is so needed. Don’t give up. I don’t know if this helps, but I genuinely feel my mother was doing what was most necessary for the growth of my Soul. I know that may sound nuts, but I have become so strong, resilient and self-loving through this. We never know the fullness of the bigger picture… Sending you so much love and peace. 🩵
Thank you for subscribing! I've subscribed to you.
You are my hero because of your capacity to forgive your mother even though she never apologized. I am working on being able to do the same to my sister, my surrogate mother. I believe having my daughters forgive me is bound to me forgiving my sister.
If you don't mind me asking, how is your relationship with your mother? How were you able to get to forgiving her without her apology?
Oh, sister… I hear you. I’ve written about this a lot, actually. I’m going to link a couple of posts below that may help… honestly, it’s been a ten year process so it’s not easy. One factor is that my mom and I aren’t in contact (and haven’t been for 5 years.) She’s still abusive, so I had to draw a line… but in a way being totally removed from the energy has really helped me get perspective. Once the wound stops hurting like an amputated leg, you can start to forgive and release. Not for them, but for you.
I’ve participated in a lot of healing modalities as well… the thing that ended up being the most effective for me is connecting with Mother Earth and letting her re-mother me until I could re-mother myself. Honestly, plant medicine was hugely helpful for me to release some of the protective walls I’d built. So many things… overall, I’d say that your intention to forgive her is ENOUGH. If you make that decision with your heart, your Soul (or Higher Self) will take the wheel and bring you the tools and modalities that will be most helpful. It’s a SLOW unwinding but it will happen.
Last thing I’ll say is that number one lesson of abuse is to become our own best friend and advocate. So, if you want your kids to be able to do that… do it for yourself first. You will model it for them. You don’t have to wipe the floor with yourself because you made mistakes. You were most likely giving what you received and how could you have known better? Yes, own it. And at the same time, as you extend compassion and begin to trust yourself again, you will find it easier to forgive your sister… and that will ripple to your children.
I hope all that makes sense…. totally just writing from my heart.
Love you!!
https://kyrafinleycreates.substack.com/p/forgiveness-isnt-what-you-think-how?r=129yl2
https://kyrafinleycreates.substack.com/p/rewriting-relationship-with-the-mother?r=129yl2
I just thought about the question I posed to you in my last comment. I think you answered it in your initial comment:
"I feel my mother was doing what was most necessary for the growth of my soul."
I think this is the healthiest way for me to view everything I experience. Thanks for the reminder.
Ah, yes! Well, I just wrote a bunch more… lol! Hope it wasn’t too much. This is one of my favorite topics because healing is so possible. Sending you so much love!
I read your other comment. Part of what I wondered about was your relationship with your mother. So you've forgiven her AND you aren't in contact with her because she's still abusive. I needed to hear this — and also everything you wrote in your last comment.
Wow! What an incredibly important and vulnerable space. This is such important work. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading your work.
Thanks for this newsletter!! And taking up your offer to share! "After 80 you don't need pants" is my latest post in my substack Not Enough Middle Fingers- I call it the love child of Nat Geo🦩 and Sex & The City💅🏼 https://substack.com/home/post/p-167113727
Let me share this article with you: https://lauramoreno.substack.com/p/the-fascinating-life-of-isabel-allende. One night I was reading and found myself looking up more and more information on this topic. I had read about Pinochet's famous visit to Thatcher in London at the time in the New Yorker; but much more information has since come to light. Illusions have dominated so much of the public discourse; it's time to grow up and acknowledge difficult truths.
Hi! I've been following this awesome newsletter for the past three months, and not only have I found great opportunities, but also, getting into the thought process of writing something with a specific purpose, has really boosted my writing overall. For my series called MISUSE, I recently wrote this piece on GUILT: https://substack.com/home/post/p-167112647
Hi Athina! hanks for your kind words and for sharing your work! I looking forward to reading!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SHOUTOUT!!! 💗
You're very welcome! I'm happy to support! <3
Thank you for this rich list. Happy writing.
Thank you for being here! Hope you find something that speaks to you!
Thank you for your careful research to be able to produce this newsletter! One suggestion, it would be really cool if you would have an international section, for people who aren't based in the US to be able to easily find the ones that are eligible for. 🥰
Hi Kaila, thanks for reaching out! You'll find those listings at the top of the list in the 'international applicants welcomed' section.
Oh! I must have missed that, thank you so much :)
No worries at all! :) You're welcome!
Thank you for this amazing list! I'm sharing this essay published last year that explores the internalized racism I've been unpacking: https://capitalcitypress.wordpress.com/2024/07/02/my-not-so-secret-identity/
I believe racial justice cannot be achieved without racialized folks understanding our own internalized racism and how that continues to perpetuate white supremacist systems of oppression.
Phew! Thank you for sharing, Judith! Such important work you're unpacking! I look forward to reading your work.
Thank you so much! I have a book coming out in 2027 called Muted Colours that is a deep dive into internalized racism and racial identity. :)
Congratulations on your book, Judith! What a wonderful thing you're created through facing yourself! I just finished your essay and it truly brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you so much for your kind comment and support ❤️
You’re welcome! I’m happy to support and look forward to updates about your future endeavors.
wow this is the most interesting thing i’ve found on Substack, subscribed immediately. I just posted this on how LESS THAN ZERO ruined me, books are powerful and dangerous: https://open.substack.com/pub/figsolivescitrusandwine/p/first-read-less-than-zero?r=3h7jaz&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for the support, David! Your post sounds really interesting. Looking forward to reading your work.
Thank you for this. This was the first post I wrote on substack, and something I'm still proud of: a quiet ode to the mess and exhaustion of motherhood; how beauty and sacrifice and pain can co-exist at once. It's called "Witching Hour" - https://whereclairewrites.substack.com/p/witching-hour
You're welcome, Claire! Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading your piece!
This was a wonderful piece, Claire! Thank you for sharing.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-167355919?source=queue
Thank you for sharing!
Hmm
https://substack.com/@martinzuzak/note/c-131390721?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=3en26e
Thank you for sharing!
Hi hi! I love this.
https://laynedixon.substack.com/p/fine-fine-fine
Sharing an essay I wrote a min ago ahout the intersection of grief and love with my dad and my dog. I've been working on a larger piece- a collection of essays, but also maybe an audio project? And this piece felt like a good way to blend it all. I gathered photos (some taken
with disposable cameras, some with my professional camera) that I had
taken over the years of both my dad and Mags. I also got together audio
clips of both of them- Mags frolicking through the woods or breathing deeply
on my kitchen floor, my dad laughing over dinner with my siblings, me
helping him get dressed, and a detailed voicemail he left about cherry
pie.
I guess I've surrounded myself with tangible memories to combat the
inevitable process of forgetting. This essay was a nice way to remember.
This was such a beautiful piece! As someone that has spent time documenting the elders in my family, it certainly resonates. Dedicating yourself to remembering is such a lovely tribute to your Dad and Magnolia. Also - the portraits of your Dad are wonderful.
Thank you so much! It's so nice you took the time to read this and give such a beautiful response back.
I thought I was crushing life: stable job, new house, beautiful girlfriend who was becoming a lawyer.
So why did I feel like I was dying inside?
Truth: I wasn’t living MY life. I was performing someone else’s script of what success looked like.
Most of your desires aren’t even yours.
https://open.substack.com/pub/neilbishop/p/whose-life-are-you-actually-living?r=5nwsvi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Thank you for sharing these calls and for the opportunity to promote our work!
My most recent story, The Eyes I Once Hated, was written after I lost my job, house, and my foster son (now adopted) was moved to a different placement. It has a lot more of me in it than some of my other works.
https://coreydaneevanswrites.substack.com/p/the-eyes-i-once-hated
Thank you for sharing, Corey! I look forward to reading your piece.
Thank you for reading! I greatly appreciate it 😊