My Top-5 Creative Writing Submission Opportunities for this weekend’s Up-And-Coming Writer and Poet

Looking forward to a weekend of creative writing and wondering where to focus your energy? Here are five places to consider submitting to—some with deadlines fast approaching, others with ongoing submission processes you can tuck away for the future. Think of this as your weekend jumpstart, a curated list for writers who want to make the most of their time and talent.

Follow me on Twitter at @PajerWrites for new opportunities every week.

As a bonus, a few of these aren’t just for poets and prose writers. If you like to branch out into visual art or have ever been curious about event planning, this week’s list might spark some unexpected inspiration.

1. 2025 New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition

Deadline: Oct. 15

This is especially made for women who are trying to break into the publishing world with a chapbook—those slim, beautiful collections that often serve as a poet’s first big calling card. Finishing Line Press is looking for strong, distinctive voices, and the contest is open to emerging women poets who have yet to publish a full-length collection. If you’ve been sitting on a small but cohesive body of work, this could be the nudge to finally get it in order. Or, if you have some time this weekend but no cohesive body of work, this is the perfect opportunity to make one.

2. Flash Fiction Magazine

Deadline: Aug. 28

Flash Fiction Magazine doesn’t just publish your work; they’ll also give you critique. According to their site, they want to help young writers get published—if not with them, then with someone else. That kind of editorial feedback is rare in the contest world, and while there’s a $30 fee, it could be worth it for the insight alone. I’m trying it myself to see if the investment matches the value, so stay tuned for my verdict.

3. Modern Haiku

Ongoing submissions

Lots of people know how to write haiku and do it well, but Modern Haiku also publishes related forms that can expand your poetic toolkit. On their submission page, you’ll find clear descriptions of similar types of poetry—including senryu, haikai, haibun, and more. Even if you’ve never written in these forms before, the submission guidelines alone are like a miniature workshop. Sometimes reading about a form can spark a completely unexpected piece.

4. Phylum Press

Ongoing submissions

First off—just check out their logo! You’ve got to love it! But beyond the aesthetic appeal, Phylum Press is open to hosting events, which is a great way to get involved in your local literary scene. Why consider event planning? Because the ratio of people who want literary gatherings to people who actually organize them is small—and shrinking. If you want to stand out in the writing community, being someone who can both produce good work and bring people together is a winning combination.

5. QWERTY Quarterly

Ongoing submissions

To submit, reach out via their contact page. QWERTY Quarterly is a quirky, offbeat magazine, and for any Milwaukee-area writers, it’s a must-know name. They’re also behind QWERTY Fest, coming up Oct. 3–5, which blends writing with music, art, and community events. Even if you’re not local, keeping an eye on them could connect you with the kind of cross-genre opportunities that make a portfolio more dynamic.

Deadlines can be the best motivation for a writer, but so can the thrill of knowing your work has a place to land. Whether you’re polishing a chapbook, dabbling in haiku, or testing the waters of flash fiction, these opportunities are a reminder that the literary world is alive with possibilities. Submit where you feel most called, but don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone—sometimes the submission you take a chance on is the one that changes everything.

So this weekend, pick one (or two) from this list, brew yourself something strong, and send your words into the world.