Unusual Calls for Submissions

CONTEST: End of Life Stories
postmark deadline Dec. 31, 2009. We're seeking new essays that explore death, dying, and end of life care, for a collection to be published by Southern Methodist University Press. We’re looking for stories that transcend the “I” and find universal meaning in personal experiences. We hope to include stories representing a wide variety of perspectives—from physicians, nurses, hospice workers, social workers, counselors, clergy, funeral directors, family members, and others. We want narratives that capture, illustrate and/or explain the best way to approach the end of life, as well as stories that highlight current features, flaws, and advances in the healthcare system and their impact on professionals, patients, and families. Creative Nonfiction editors will award one $1500 prize for Best Essay, and two $500 prizes for runners-up. Guidelines: Essays must be: unpublished, 5,000 words or less, postmarked by December 31, 2009, and clearly marked “End of Life” on both the essay and the outside of the envelope. There is a $20 reading fee (or send a reading fee of $25 to include a 4-issue CNF subscription); multiple entries are welcome ($20/essay) as are entries from outside the U.S. More here.

Chicagoland Poetry Anthology: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Nirala Publications (New Delhi/Kathmandu) has announced the forthcoming publication of Chicagoland Poets, the latest poetry anthology in a distinguished series that includes the poets of London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. The 300-page anthology, edited by Illinois poets Robin Metz and Nina Corwin, will be launched in Chicago, New York, London, New Delhi, and Kathmandu for worldwide distribution. The series editor is Yuyutsu R.D. Sharma. Poets born or currently living in and around Chicago may submit up to five poems of any length on any subject (including, especially, poems about Chicago and environs or southeast Asia). A brief biographical statement (100 words) including the poet’s ties to Chicago area should also accompany the submission as well as complete contact info. Poets not born or currently living in Chicago may also submit up to five poems (as above, with accompanying rights/biographical statement(s)) on any subject related to Chicago. Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2009 and should be emailed to: Nina at treehouse523(at)sbcglobal.net (replace (at) with @) in a SINGLE .doc or .rtf file or sent snail-mail addressed to: Chicagoland Poets c/o Nina Corwin 523 S Plymouth Ct. Chicago, IL 60605. Please include SASE for reply only. MSS will not be returned. Poets included in the anthology will receive a complimentary copy.

GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION
Deadline: 1 september 2009. GenDer outlaws: tHe neXt Generation (seal Press) will collect and contextualize the work of this generation’s most forward-thinking trans/genderqueer voices—new voices from the stage, on the streets, in the workplace, in the bedroom, and on the pages and websites of the world’s most respected mainstream news sources. edited by that ol’ original Gender outlaw herself, Kate bornstein and writer, raconteur, and theater artists. bear bergman, GenDer outlaws: tHe neXt Generation will include essays, commentary, comic art and conversation from a diverse a group of trans-spectrum people who live and believe in barrier-breaking lives. send your submission as an attachment to genderoutlawsnextgeneration(at)gmail.com (replace (at) with @). More here.

SEVENTH ANNUAL FICTION COMPETITION
LILITH Magazine is looking for unpublished original stories with heart, soul and chutzpah illuminating issues in the lives of Jewish women. FIRST PRIZE: $250 and publication of story in LILITH Magazine. Submission instructions: --Manuscripts should be double spaced and should not exceed 3000 words. --Manuscripts should be mailed in. We will NOT accept electronic submissions. --Enclose sealed and stamped envelope for return of manuscript. --Deadline: November 1, 2009. Please mail to: LILITH MAGAZINE/250 West 57th Street, Suite 2432/New York, NY 10107. More here.

Rainbow Poets is sponsoring a Michael Jackson poetry contest with a $1,000 grand prize and 25 prizes in all totaling $5,000. All 25 winning poems will be published in We Are the World and sent free to all entrants. To enter, send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 1600 31st St. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124; or go online to www.rainbowpoets.com. Deadline is Aug. 31.