TCK Publishing describes themselves by saying: “We publish fiction and non-fiction eBooks, print books, and audio books in all major genres and niches.” While this is technically true, they mostly publish general nonfiction and business nonfiction. These appear to be the books they have the most experience selling. In most of the fiction genres, only two to four books are listed, many books showing up in multiple categories.

Originally the TCK Publishing website was focused entirely on recruiting authors, rather than readers, both in terms of submitting manuscripts and in attending their courses. In the past few years they have switched away from this method and now their website is reader focused, although they still do offer courses, and the section of the website geared towards writers is still significant. For example when you click on the nonfiction authors section, you do not get a list of the nonfiction authors they represent, but a pitch for the reader to submit their nonfiction manuscript. It includes a mention of how many nonfiction books they have sold and resources for potential authors. They do not offer similar stats for fiction writers, but they do have other resources. This is not standard practice, and I assume this was also part of their former author geared site.

TCK Publishing has reached out to me to request that I list them more than any other publishing company, over the past five years. Originally I declined because of the focus of the website and some concerns raised here that have been largely resolved recently, when they changed their method for calculating royalties (You can see the full breakdown of how they now structure royalties here). They are very forward about promoting themselves, but as long as this is also happening in terms of the books they are publishing it is not necessarily a bad thing. They also do talk a fair amount about marketing in terms of writers, which is a good thing.

They also have made it clear that they now offer intensive editing to the books they accept, which was a previous sticking point. Their distribution is Ingram, which is not particularly helpful. It means a local bookstore could special order your work, but it is unlikely to be on the shelves otherwise.

You can learn more about their submission guidelines here.

Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2021 Guide to Manuscript Publishers.

You can read their most recent issue here to get a feel for what they publish.

They are open to submissions till January 15th, 2022, for their spring issue. They try for a quick turnaround time but do not give an estimate of how quick.  They are not interested in novel excerpts.

When you submit, please include a short third-person bio and cover letter. If you are submitting poetry, you can submit up to 5 poems at a time. For flash, please submit no more than 3 pieces. For short fiction and creative nonfiction, one piece at a time please, but they do not have strict word limits. You can submit a small handful of irregulars.

All submissions must be made by email. Work should be attached in a word document (.doc or .docx) or open text document

To learn more or to submit, please visit their website here.

Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2021 Guide to Manuscript Publishers.

Extra Teeth
This is a Scottish magazine, and they accept fiction and nonfiction from writers all over the world. They want “short stories that stick with you, lingering in the memory long after reading, and essays that explore specific interests or issues from a new perspective. We offer a space for writers to be strange, bold and experimental, and to express their unique style however they see fit.”
Deadline: 14 December 2021
Length: 800-4,000 words
Pay: £100
Details here.

The Puritan
This Canadian literary magazine publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction – interviews, essays and reviews – from all over the world. They accept a certain number of fee-free submissions every month. Deadline: 25 December 2021 for the Winter issue; reads year-round
Length: Up to 10,000 words for fiction, up to 4 poems; various for non-fiction (see guidelines)
Pay: CAD200 per essay; CAD150 for fiction; CAD100 per interview or review; CAD25 per poem (or page, capped at CAD80)
Details here.

(The Cincinnati Review is also open for submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translations – pay is $25/page of prose and $30/page of poetry for the print magazine. The deadline is 31 December 2021, or until filled – and submissions usually fill up quickly. MiCRo submissions, for which there is no cash payment, will reopen on 1^st January 2022.)

(Submissions are also open for issue #14 of Planet Scumm magazine, for Fall 2022 – they publish science fiction of all kinds, speculative fiction, weird fiction, and slipstream. Pay is $0.04/word for stories up to 5,000 words, as well as a contributor copy, and the deadline is 17 January 2021.)

Fiyah
This magazine publishes work by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. “This definition is globally inclusive (Black anywhere in the world) and also applies to mixed/biracial and Afro-appended people regardless of gender identity or orientation.” They are reading speculative fiction (short fiction to novella length) and poetry submissions for an unthemed issue; non-fiction is closed. They also accept reviews.
Deadline: 31 December 2021
Length: 2,000-15,000 words for fiction; up to 1,000 words for poetry
Pay: $0.08/word for fiction, $50 for poems
Details here.

Mumber Mag
They want fiction, nonfiction, translations, and poetry. Their guidelines say, “We want stuff suited to the internet. That could mean short. It could mean it makes use of hyperlinks. Whatever. Surprise us. Make us laugh. Something between WS Merwin and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Or between Werewolf Bar Mitzvah and Lorrie Moore. That’s the sweet spot. We want something so good you’d forward it to your mom, your brother, your colleagues at work.”
Deadline: 1 January 2022
Length: Up to 2,000 words for prose
Pay: $25 per poem or short, $50 for prose
Details here.

Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the author of 182 Short Fiction Publishers. She can be reached here.

These opportunities include prize awards, scholarships and fellowships. Opportunities are reproduced from the respective websites.

12 x 12 2022 Challenge Scholarships

There are six scholarships available for 2022, three Financial Need Scholarships and three Diversity Scholarships.

You are welcome to apply for either or both scholarships (although you can only be awarded in one category). Recipients of these scholarships will receive full membership tuition for the Little GOLDen Book level ($357) for 2022 and lifetime access to The Complete Picture Book Submissions System ($297)*.

Eligibility for Financial Need Scholarships: Any picture book writer/illustrator from any country who would otherwise not be able to join 12 x 12 due to the cost.

Applicants over 18 years, not agented or published by a traditional publisher in the picture book genre may apply.

Self-published picture book authors may apply.

Eligibility for Diversity Scholarships: Any picture book writer/illustrator from any country with Ethnic, Cultural, and/or other backgrounds underrepresented in the canon of children’s picture book literature (including but not limited to Native American, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern or Muslim, Pacific Islander, Special Needs).

Applicants should be over 18 years, not be agented or published by a traditional publisher in the picture book genre.

Self-published picture book authors may apply.

For both categories, your picture book manuscript written in English must be an original work of no more than 1,000 words, specify target audience of children aged 0-4 or 4-8, and not be under contract.

Deadline to apply is December 10, 2021.

If you are applying for both scholarships, please send a separate email for each application.

For eligibility, guidelines and application, go here.

Folger Institute Artist Research Fellowship

The Folger Institute Artist Research Fellowship is open to artists working in all media whose work would benefit from significant primary research. This includes, but is not limited to, visual artists, writers, dramaturgs, playwrights, performers, filmmakers, and composers.

While a terminal degree is not required, applicants should describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV. All applicants must apply as individuals, including artists working as collaborators.

For 2022–2023, all Artist Research Fellowships will be non-residential. Awards are $3,500 for four weeks of work away from the Folger. Fellowships may be undertaken between July 2022 and June 2023.

The Deadline for application is 11:59pm ET on January 18, 2022.

For details, go here.

To apply, applicants must register here.

Patricia Lea Olson Creative Writing Scholarship

The Patricia Lea Olson Creative Writing Scholarship exists to encourage students to reach their full potential in creative writing. $1100 will be awarded to one student who is currently enrolled in creative writing studies.

To apply, write a short essay between 400 – 600 words, explaining why you’re studying creative writing — what your goals, hopes, and dreams are for your future in creative writing, and how you hope to affect others with your words.

The deadline is December 8, 2021.

For details, go here.

The Island Prize For A Debut Novel From Africa

Holland House Books (UK), Karavan Press (SA) and Karen Jennings are proud to announce the inaugural The Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa. The purpose of the prize is to give writers from the continent of Africa (or the diaspora) a chance to showcase their work to a wider audience, with the possibility of feedback, mentoring, meeting with a potential agent and publication (both in the UK and South Africa).

Between five and ten entries will be shortlisted from which the winning three manuscripts will receive cash prizes, be considered for publication and introduced to an agent.

1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize £300; 3rd Prize £200.

Deadline for application is December 12, 2021.

For details, go here.

Writing As Activism Fellowship 2022

Literary Action Coalition’s Writing as Activism Fellowship will offer a six-month immersive workshop experience for six New York City-based writer-activists committed to uplifting the voices of those most marginalized in the city through writing, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, Black, Latinx, Asian American, Indigenous, disabled, low-income, and at any intersection of these and other experiences.

“We are looking for activists who are invested in growing their capacities and practice as writers, and for writers who are invested in growing as activists.”

Benefits include $2000, bi-weekly creative writing workshops, guidance from teaching artists, activists, and professional writers, resources to organize an end of fellowship event/mobilization led by entire cohort.

Applications close at 11:59pm ET on December 3, 2021.

To apply, go here.

The University of Mississippi MFA in English

The University of Mississippi is home of the Yalobusha Review and one of the South’s best literary towns. The MFA program requires neither the GRE, nor an initial application fee. Successful writers receive three years of full funding.

Deadline for application is December 15, 2021. To apply, go here.

Bio: Hassan Muhammad writes children’s books as NmaHassan Muhammad. He writes from Minna, Nigeria.