July 4 is a good day to remind ourselves that the US was built on the genocide of the Indigenous people and the enslavement of Black people. And that it is currently funding and arming a genocidal army genociding the Palestinians.
This poem has been making the rounds in social media today and is worth sharing again:
No Explosions
To enjoy
fireworks
you would have
to have lived
a different kind
of life—Naomi Shihab Nye
I haven’t written anything new in some time now.
I finished the first draft of a short story some time ago but can’t bring myself to edit it. This is a much more ambitious project than what I’ve done so far, with over 4k words already. It will likely be longer once I work on the second draft.
I already printed it out, and the stapled papers are in my backpack, traveling with me wherever I go for the last couple of months.
Also, the story is depressing AF, which is probably not helping. I know I wrote it… but it’s bumming me out big time.
Oh well… I just need to sit down and do it one of these days.
Curated Opportunities
These opportunities focus on creative and magazine writing. I try to include a mix of super high-profile and indie publications that are more beginner-friendly. (Click the names of the publications for detailed submission guidelines.)
Agnes and True: They accept fiction with a Canadian sensibility. Pay: Couldn’t verify, but according to ChillSubs, they pay $75 CAD per story.
The Paris Review: Their poetry submissions window is now open (until they reach cap, so hurry!) Pay: Yes, amount unknown.
Forge: Their fiction and nonfiction prose submissions close on August 1. Pay: $100 per piece.
A Public Space: They have two open calls right now (until July 14) on the following themes: “The Present” and “The Art of Culinary Writing.” More info about what they’re looking for is in the link above. Pay: Unsure.
Midway: They have rolling submissions for prose, poetry, and art submissions. Pay: no.
Waxwing: They’re open for flash fiction (1,000 words max) until July 10. Close call. Pay: no.
Union Spring: Brand new literary magazine currently accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions for issue one. Pay: no.
Story South: They’re accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction through July 15. Pay: no.
Midsummer Dream House: They’re open for multiple genres through July 15. Pay: no.
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*** Note: I cannot always vet each of these publications, unfortunately. So, please do your due diligence and research. See if their values align with yours, if there are conditions/restrictions to who can or cannot pitch/submit, whether or not they’re a paying market, how much they pay, etc., if these things matter to you.***
That’s all.
See you next week!