Literary Weather Report: Unseasonably Inspired
NewPages Newsletter #180: Because even when the seasons misbehave, the stories keep blooming.
It’s the second full week of May, and it feels like we’ve skipped spring entirely—straight into summer. After a long stretch of lingering cold, the trees are just now leafing out, flowers are finally blooming, and some plants seem a bit confused about what season it is. I even seem to have acquired a backyard pond—though you wouldn’t know it until you step into the grass and feel the water rise around your ankles. This year seems determined to keep us on our toes.
If you’re also navigating seasonal surprises, NewPages is here to offer a steady rhythm of literary delights—fresh reads, upcoming events, and submission opportunities. And since we’ve landed in the middle of May, this week brings extra goodies with our monthly eLitPak newsletter! It will be hitting inboxes on Wednesday, so stay tuned!
In literary news, Mudfish has announced the winners of its 18th annual Mudfish Poetry Prize, judged by Vijay Seshadri. Congratulations to Stacy Spencer, who took first place, and to honorable mentions Elisabeth Murawski and Ann Robinson. They will be published in Mudfish 25.
And speaking of fresh reads, there’s no better time to dive into the latest issues from the literary world. Whether you're revisiting a longtime favorite or stumbling upon something entirely new, the Magazine Stand is brimming with discoveries waiting to be made.
The MacGuffin has restocked its April 2025 issue—after it completely sold out at this year’s AWP Conference! This issue features the winners of Poet Hunt 29 (Poet Hunt 30 is currently underway!), complete with commentary from judge Michael Meyerhofer, plus so much more.
Speaking of big news, Wordrunner eChapbooks is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the release of Issue 55: Disturbances. Although no theme was announced for this anthology, many of the stories and poems are connected by disturbances—both small and large—endured by troubled adolescents, bereaved mourners, day laborers, boxers, and struggling writers (including Mary Shelley).
Sky Island Journal’s 31st issue arrives with a stunning seasonal cover—one that makes you want to soar alongside that bird in the sky. Inside, you’ll find compelling work by Amy Allen, Ar Manu, Denise David, Jennifer Mitchell, Jose Oseguera, and many more.
Meanwhile, The Lake’s May 2025 issue is now live! This month’s featured poets include Aman Alam, Nick Allen, Emma Atkins, Melanie Branton, Marianne Brems, and C. B. Crenshaw. Dive in and discover your next favorite poem. Plus, come back later this week to learn more about Baltimore Review’s Spring 2025 issue.
In book news, explore Meditations: The Assorted Prose of Barbara Guest, edited by Joseph Shafer. This volume brings together—for the first time—an extensive collection of prose by Barbara Guest, a major voice in twentieth-century American literature.
Later this week, keep an eye out for new releases including Crunchwrap Truth by Kevin J.B. O’Connor, It All Felt Impossible by Tom McAllister, and Where Do You Live by Dr. Hanaa Ahmad and Jennifer Jean.
Looking for more book recommendations? Our reviewers have you covered!
Eleanor J. Bader shares her thoughts on Police Against the Movement: The Sabotage of the Civil Rights Struggle and the Activists Who Fought Back by Joshua Clark Davis—a powerful account of how the FBI and local police worked to undermine civil rights organizing from the 1960s onward.
Bader also reviews Mother of Methadone: A Doctor’s Quest, A Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis by Melody Glenn. Drawing from her own experience working at a methadone clinic, Glenn explores the stigma surrounding addiction treatment and the systemic barriers patients face.
And coming soon: a review of The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary by Sarah Ogilvie.
Inspiration Prompt: “Out of Sync”
This spring—more like this entire year—has felt a little off, as if we skipped a step in nature’s rhythm while the world around us spun in unexpected directions.
Write a piece (poem, flash fiction, or creative nonfiction, or whatever genre or format you love) that captures a moment when time felt out of sync. Maybe a season arrived too early or too late. Maybe a personal milestone came before you were ready—or never came at all or perhaps came too late. How do we find our footing when the world refuses to follow the usual script?
Alternatively… what if you could write the script? Not for the whole world, but for your tiny corner of it. What would you change? What would stay the same?
Calls, Contests, & More
Below is a small preview of this week’s 64 writing contests, calls for submissions, and literary and writing events.
Tremont Writers Conference in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Application Deadline: May 15, 2025
"Pairing a writing workshop with the mountains: I couldn’t have imagined anything more perfect." - Sarah, previous participant. "I was reminded to use ALL of my senses, to be observant, and then articulate the experience." - Kim, previous participant. “The thing that stands out to me about the Tremont conference is that the Great Smoky Mountains is not simply a setting for the program - it is an integrated feature." - Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet and conference leader Maurice Manning. Applications are now open for the third annual Tremont Writers Conference, taking place this October inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Join renowned authors Crystal Wilkinson, David Joy, Karen Spears Zacharias, and Maurice Manning for an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Financial aid is available. Learn more and apply.
Submissions Open for Housatonic Book Awards
Deadline: July 18, 2025
The Housatonic Book Awards are now accepting submissions of all books published in 2024. Authors or agents are welcome to submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction manuscripts for consideration in the HBAs. All manuscripts will be reviewed by a committee and the winners will be notified in October 2025. Each award carries a $1,000 honorarium and $500 travel stipend in exchange for the author appearing at either WCSU's fall or summer writing residency. Entering a title implies the author’s willingness to attend the WCSU MFA residency to host a 2-hour workshop. We look forward to considering your work! Learn more here.
Darrel Alejandro Holnes judges Poet Hunt 30!
Deadline: June 15, 2025
The MacGuffin’s Poet Hunt 30 awards a $500 grand prize and publication! Up to two Honorable Mentions also published. Guest Judge Darrel Alejandro Holnes will make the final selections. Entrants receive one copy of the issue containing the selected poems. Send five poems per $15 entry fee. Include your contact info and poem titles in a cover letter or via the Submittable form. Personally identifiable information should not be included on the poems themselves to preserve the anonymous review process. Enter via Submittable; or to enter by post, see full rules at our website.
2025 Cow Creek Chapbook Prize
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Have a small poetry collection that you're ready to get out into the world? We're currently accepting submissions for this year's chapbook contest! The Cow Creek Chapbook Prize is a poetry chapbook contest brought to you by Pittsburg State University. We're open to all styles and subjects. As long as the poems challenge and capture the imagination, we want to see them. The winning poet will receive $1,000 and 25 author copies. This year's judge is Rebecca Gayle Howell. Deadline: May 15, 2025. More guidelines and submission portal can be found at our website.
$7,500 in Awards + Publication in New Letters
Deadline: May 19, 2025
New Letters invites you to submit fiction, essays, or poetry to the New Letters Literary Awards. Winners receive $2,500 for best essay, $2,500 for best poetry, and $2,500 for best fiction, and publication in New Letters. All entries are considered for publication and must be unpublished. Winners will be announced mid-September 2025. Essay and fiction entries may not exceed 8,000 words; poetry entries may contain one to six poems. For complete guidelines, visit our website.
Swan Scythe Press Announces its 2025 Poetry Chapbook Contest!
Deadline: June 15, 2025
Swan Scythe Press announces its 2025 poetry chapbook contest. Entry fee: $18. We are accepting submissions from March 1 to June 15 (postmark deadline). Winner receives $200 and 25 perfect-bound chapbooks. The 2024 winner is Aida Zilelian for Dissonance. For full guidelines, visit our website and submissions manager.
Made from Midnight: Poetry and Short Fiction Wanted for Anthology
Deadline: June 6, 2025
Poets in the Pines welcomes you to our debut anthology, Made from Midnight. We are a small collective of writers, poets, and editors seeking short prose and poetry for this upcoming collection. Themes like death, rebirth, aging, grief, transitional spaces, the supernatural, or whatever else death evokes for you are all welcome. Exceptional writing, vivid imagery, and bone-chilling emotions wanted; magic desired. Please see our detailed submission guidelines, FAQ, and more information on our submission form located through the link below. Fate is unfurling a timid, open hand out to you... will you take it? Submit here.
The Branches Spring Issue Release Party
Deadline: May 18, 2025
Join us on Sunday May 18th to celebrate the release of the Spring 2025 issue of The Branches with readings from authors, print copies, and a potluck lunch in Central Park in New York City. The Branches is a journal of literature, cultural criticism, and visual art. Instead of making silos for creative expression, theological meditation, popular media, and intellectual thought, The Branches is interested in the overlap of all of these. Please see our website for our fall issue, our socials (Substack etc.). If you plan to come, please bring a dish to share if able. We'll be in the Heckscher picnic area. You can RSVP via here.
Salamander 2025 Fiction Contest, Judged by Helen Phillips
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Salamander's annual fiction contest will accept submissions of short stories up to 30 pages or 7500 words from May 1 - June 1. First prize will win $1000 and publication; second prize is $500 and publication. Helen Phillips will judge. Entry fee of $20 includes a one-year subscription. Find more information and enter at our website. Questions: email us.
Please note: only paying subscribers get access to all 64 submission opportunities! You can become a paying subscriber for only $5 a month and get early access to submission opportunities and events before they go live on our site.
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