Unusual Calls for Submissions

Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred
What is poetry of the sacred? Poetry that expresses, directly or indirectly, a sense of the holy or that, by its mode of expression, evokes the sacred. The tone may be religious, prophetic, or contemplative. More here.

Call for Writing Inspired by Mark Twain
The Village Pariah, a bi-annual literary journal sponsored by the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, is accepting submissions for its inaugural issue. We are interested in publishing poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction inspired by the writings and life of Mark Twain, his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, the Mississippi River, the Midwest, and small town or rural life in America. More here.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Exot Books, a high-quality chapbook press in New York City, is publishing an anthology of sonnets in 2010. Submit as many sonnets as you like to the editor, Mary Meriam, at sonnetexot(at)gmail.com (replace (at) with @). The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2010.

Lone Star Legacy: African American History in Texas
LONE STAR LEGACY is seeking work for our PREMIERE SEPTEMBER 2010 FALL ISSUE by Writers from Texas and Writers with Connections to Texas. Lone Star Legacy is looking for work that details the struggles, existence, and triumphs of trailblazing African Americans (current and past) throughout Texas, including various periods from their arrival to the present. Submissions should be the author’s original work. No reprints please. We are interested in: Creative Nonfiction(Especially Memoir/First Person Narratives), Historic Poetry, Journalistic Articles, Literary Articles/Essays, Color Photographs, Black and WhitePhotographs, Interviews. Writers whose work is selected will be asked to submit an electronic copy upon acceptance. Include a Self AddressedStamped Envelope for our reply. The reading period is from December 5, 2009 toMarch 1, 2010. Writers whose work is selected will receive a free issue. Please Mail submissions to: Wiley College / Attn: Delicia Daniels / Lone Star Legacy Issue / 711 Wiley Ave
Marshall, Texas 76570.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Ninth annual free contest. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $3,600. Top prize $1,500. New simplified online entry process. Submit one humor poem by April 1 deadline. No entry fee. Winning entries published online. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Sponsored by Winning Writers, one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2009). Guidelines and online submission here.

War Poetry Contest
Ninth year. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $5,000. Top prize $2,000. Submit 1-3 unpublished poems on the theme of war, up to 500 lines in all. Winning entries published online. Sponsored by Winning Writers, one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2009). $15 entry fee, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: May 31. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Include cover sheet with contact information. No name on poems. Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, Attn: War Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. More information here.

The Haiti I Knew, The Haiti I know, The Haiti I want to Know
Edited by Women Writers of Haitian Descent, Inc. To be published in the United States through an independent press in English, French and Creole. Distribution: International. We are currently seeking short stories for an anthology of prose by women in Haiti, and women of Haitian descent living abroad, which will strengthen the voice of Haitian women in the world of literature. Through a sampling of various Haitian women's narratives, the literary legacy and unique history of the island will be highlighted in content and style. This collection will be unique yet use successful techniques from preceding anthologies. As in Lillian Castillo-Speed's anthologyLatina: Women's Voices from the Borderlands, the work will include both fiction and nonfiction. Like Edwidge Danticat's anthology The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States, the book will have a thematic structure according to the contributions received. More information here.