Deadlines: March 08

StoryQuarterly's Love Story Contest welcomes fiction and non-fiction entries in the following categories: short stories, short short stories, novel excerpts, essays, memoirs, and excerpts from book-length nonfiction. First prize: $2500; additional prizes available. Winners eligible for inclusion in the 2008 StoryQuarterly Annual. Length: 8000 words max. Entry fee: US$20. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

Atlantic Canada's newest online poetry journal, RHYTHM Poetry Magazine, is seeking submissions of 2 to 6 poems for its Spring/Summer 2008 issue. Accepts only unpublished metrical verse. More details...

QWERTY (NB) is looking for "provocative, prickling prose." Accepts fiction and non-fiction, 2000 words max. Especially interested these themes: being lost, taking risks, manufacturing or discovering lies. More details...

Wolsak and Wynn (ON) invites poetry, non-fiction and anthology manuscript submissions. Send 15-20 sample pages of poetry with a letter of enquiry. Authors receive royalties annually on books sold, at a rate of 10% of list price. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

Annual Toronto festival seeks writers and performers for the 2008 Masala! Mehndi! Masti! DesiLit Writers' Stage. Open to writers of fiction, poetry and non-fiction who are of South Asian ancestry, and/or from the South Asian diaspora. Performances will occur on July 26th and July 27th. Deadline: March 30, 2008. More details...

Soliloquies Anthology, Concordia's Undergraduate Literary Magazine, is looking for submissions for their 12.1 issue. Submit prose (3500 words), drama (up to 8 pages), non-fiction (2000 words max.) and poetry (up to 8). Deadline: March 28, 2008. Payment: none; accepted authors may be asked to read at launch where they will receive free copy. Submit cover letter with genre, full contact info, and 70-word bio to: soliloquiesanthology@gmail.com.

Contemporary Verse 2 invites entrants for its 6th annual 2-Day Poem Contest. Participants have 48 hours to write the best poem which includes all ten secret words emailed at the start of the 48-hour period: April 5-7, 2008. Prizes: $350, $175, and $90. Entry fee: $10 entry fee; $20 includes subscription. Registration deadline: March 28, 2008. More details...

Canadian horse racing publication Trot Magazine wants descriptive writers who have never seen a live horse race to take part in a unique writing project. Articles will be observation pieces written by newcomers to the sport, 1000 words max. Locations: Saint John, Truro, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Toronto, Peterborough, London, Barrie, Edmonton, and Surrey. Some local travel may be required. Deadline: March 31, 2008. Payment: $300. Apply by email to: dkaplan@standardbredcanada.ca.

Fish Publishing (Ireland) invites entries for their 3rd Fish International Poetry Prize. First prize: €1000 plus publication in the 2008 Fish Anthology; runners up: €100 and publication, plus five copies of the anthology. Winning authors invited to the launch during the West Cork Literary Festival in July 2008. No restriction on style, theme, or length. Submissions made online. International entries welcome. Entry fee: €12 per poem. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

Fish Publishing (Ireland) invites entries for their 2008 One-Page Short Story Prize. First prize: €1000 plus publication in the 2008 Fish Anthology; runners up: €100 and publication, plus five copies of the anthology. Winning authors invited to the launch during the West Cork Literary Festival in July 2008. Stories should be approximately 250 words (300 max.) Submissions made online. Entry fee: €12. Deadline: March 31, 2008. International entries welcome. More details...

The Indiana Review invites entries for the 2008 Poetry Prize. First prize: US$1000 plus publication. Entry fee: US$15 (includes subscription) for up to 3 poems. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

The Canadian Federation of Poets seeks travel poems for an anthology, The Poetry of Travel. Theme: travel (out of body or in, abroad or down the street, etc.). Send 1-3 poems to: lynnt@federationofpoets.com. No reading fee. Deadline: March 31 2008. Payment: not indicated. More details...

Online journal Vibrant Gray seeks fiction, poetry, and non-fiction for its third issue. Publishes writing on the in-between: sex, politics, religion, culture, what falls through the cracks. Send up to six poems and/or one prose piece. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

Annual journal Flint Hills Review (US) invites submissions of poetry, short fiction, plays, and literary non-fiction. Publishes work with a particular interest in region: place, ethnicity, gender, and memory. Deadline: March 31, 2008. Payment: one free copy and discounted additional copies. More details...

What If? Canada's Creative Magazine for Teens invites poetry entries from young writers for their next Penguin Books Poetry Contest. First prize: Penguin Books prize pack (valued at $50) plus publication in Summer 2008 issue.Theme: Teachers. Open to Canadian writers under 19. Deadline: March 15, 2008. No entry fee. More details...

What If? Canada's Creative Magazine for Teens invites fiction entries from young writers for their next Stone Road Mall Fiction Contest. Prizes: First prize: $100 Stone Road Mall Gift Certificate (winner can arrange to receive gift certificates for stores in their area) plus publication in Summer 2008 issue. Theme: What If? Open to Canadian writers under 19. Deadline: March 15, 2008. More details...

Third Person Press (NS) seeks short stories of up to 8000 words and poetry up to 30 lines for an anthology. Stories and poetry must be in the speculative fiction genre (science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic realism, and paranormal). Open to Cape Breton writers and those with a substantial connection to the area. Deadline: March 15, 2008. Payment: one copy and share of royalties. More details...

The Puritan: Ottawa's Literary Prose Journal is seeking literary fiction and creative non-fiction for its sixth issue. Submissions: 500-7500 words. Deadline: March 17, 2008. More details...

Taddle Creek is accepting submissions of fiction and poetry for its 2008 Halloween spooktacular issue. Theme: fright of a Halloween nature; the actual day need does not have to appear. All the regular submission guidelines apply. Open to Toronto writers only. "Halloween" must appear in the subject line or on the envelope. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

The Niagara Branch of the Canadian Authors Association invites entries for its 9th annual "Ten Stories High" Short Story Competition. First prize: $300; second prize: $200; third prize: $100. The top ten finalists will be published in "Ten Stories High" anthology. Open to all Ontario residents. Stories can be of any genre but must be previously unpublished, 1000-3000 words. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

kaleidowhirl seeks poetry and flash fiction submissions for its next issue. Deadline: March 31, 2008. More details...

Leah America (US) seeks essays from people working in the sex industry for an anthology on the sex industry. Encourages submissions from current and former strippers, erotic dancers, phone sex personalities, hookers, or those with a promiscuous lifestyle. Length: 3000 words max. Deadline: March 31, 2008. Payment: one copy. No reading/publishing fees. More details...

INHOUSEPRESS invites short story (1000 words max.) entries for the First Human Potential Writing Competition. Open to Canadian and US entrants. First prize: publication online. Entry: free. Deadline: March 28, 2008. More details...

carte blanche (Quebec Writers' Federation) is looking for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for its spring issue. Submit odes, sonnets, free verse, short stories of all types and genres, memoirs, personal essays, book reviews, literary journalism, and musings on the writing process. Length: 3500 words max. Welcomes international submissions. Deadline: March 15, 2008. More details...

The Cup of Comfort (US) series seeks personal stories for their Salute to Military Families anthology. Stories can cover a wide range of topics and reveal a variety of perspectives, experiences, and emotions specific to military personnel and/or their loved ones. Stories must be true, original, uplifting, and 1000-2000 words. First prize: US$500; US$100 each for other stories published in book. Deadline: March 15, 2008. More details...

LWOT Magazine is giving writers a chance to "become a part of Canadian broadcasting's rich, forgettable history." Submit pitches for the next Great Canadian TV Show. First prize: publication. Max 3500 words. Deadline: March 15, 2008. More details...

Inscribed, an international literary magazine based in Canada, seeks traditional to experimental poetry, fiction, essays and artwork submissions. Leniency toward the interesting and the bizarre. Deadline: March 25, 2008. More details...