Call for Essay Submissions

Writer’s Thought for the Week: I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say. ~ Flannery O'Connor
 

Morning smile

While helping bag my groceries at the supermarket last Monday morning, I noticed a sign in the next cashier aisle: “Register broken. Thank Management.”

I couldn’t help but smile. It was a slow morning and no customers were behind me in line. The cashier noticed me smiling and asked if she could help with anything.

I gestured toward the sign. “I was just noticing the sign. Did management really break the register?”

The cashier looked and grinned. Nothing like getting both one up on your boss and a reason to smile on a Monday morning.

THE WATERMAN FUND
http://www.watermanfund.org/EnterEssayContest.shtml

 

Deadline: April 15, 2012

Top prize: $1,500.

Honorable mention: $500
No entry fee; limit of one entry per author.

The Waterman Fund seeks essays about life in the mountains of the northeastern U.S. for its annual Waterman Fund Alpine Essay Contest held in partnership with Appalachia Journal. They want personal essays about stewardship of wild places. Essays must be original works at least 2000 words long.

Orion Magazine

Orion magazine is open to submissions  January 15-30, 2011.

If the New Year makes you philosophical about people and nature, this could be a market for you. The magazine welcomes submissions concerning the collision of nature and culture, the commingling of people and place. Published bimonthly, Orion considers unsolicited essays, narrative nonfiction, interviews, profiles, short stories, photo essays, and portfolios of fine art. No unsolicited poetry. Orion is typically forward-looking, anticipating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for people and nature.  

Feature articles range from 1,500 to 6,000 words, departments from 350 to 1,200 words. Lead time is typically six to nine months. No more than two submissions up to 6,000 words each per person. Pays $400-$1,000 for features, $50 to $450 for shorter texts for first North American serial rights, as well as exclusive worldwide electronic rights for sixty days and nonexclusive permanent web rights for their electronic archive.