NewPages February 2026 eLitPak

Submission Opportunities, MFA Deadlines, & Writing Residency Applications

Feb 18, 2026

The eLitPak is your monthly roundup of what’s happening in the literary world—calls for submissions, writing contests, application deadlines, upcoming events, new releases, and more, all gathered in one place and delivered straight to your inbox.

Each issue features digital flyers from literary magazines, creative writing programs, writing conferences, and independent publishers. Read it, share it, pass it along.

The National Indie Excellence® Awards

The National Indie Excellence® Awards honor outstanding English-language books from self-published authors, indie presses, and university publishers. Now in its 20th year, NIEA celebrates excellence across all genres. Eligible books must be published within two years of the March 31 deadline. See flyer to learn more and submit at our website.

Banner for the University of West Alabama’s Livingston Press announcing the Changing Light Prize for a Novel‑in‑Verse, with submission guidelines, prize details, no entry fee, and a “View Full Flyer” button. Includes an illustration of a small monkey wearing a jester hat and collar.

Changing Light Prize Novel-in-Verse from Livingston Press

Deadline: May 25, 2026
Livingston Press’s fourth annual Changing Light Prize for a novel-in-verse is accepting submissions. No entry fee. Send complete manuscript to jwt@uwa.edu in a Word file. Include your bio in the file. View flyer or visit website for more information.

Banner reading “Apply Today” with application dates Feb 7–Apr 14, 2026, over a black‑and‑white photo of a house beneath large trees, with a button labeled “View Full Flyer.”

Write at Jack Kerouac’s Orlando Residence for Seven Weeks

Application Deadline: April 14, 2026
Write where Jack Kerouac wrote The Dharma Bums. The Kerouac Project residency of Orlando, FL offers the house to yourself, $600 grocery stipend, utilities paid. Finish your project in seven weeks. Six time slots available per year. We accept: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Plays, Screenplays. Application due date April 14, 2026, but we’ve been known to extend it. View our flyer and visit our website to learn more.

Banner for Spalding University’s Naslund‑Mann Graduate School of Writing featuring the quote “It’s finally time to give my all to my writing,” with application details for May on‑campus or June virtual residency, small campus images, and a “View Full Flyer” button.

Spalding University. Find your people.

Application Deadline: March 1
Imagine finding a low-residency MFA program filled with smart, passionate writers who are as dedicated as you are. A program where you develop your talent together and cheer each other on. Where you throw your whole heart into becoming publishing, producing writers—together. spalding.edu/mfa

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Banner announcing the Fish Publishing Flash Fiction Story Prize, listing judge Tania Hershman, Feb 28 deadline, 300‑word max, $1,200 first prize, and a “View Full Flyer” button.

The Flash Fiction Prize

Deadline: February 28, 2026
Write your Flash Story in 300 words or less. That’s one page of a book. Sounds easy, but the best of these bite-sized pieces hit like a full meal. It’s challenging, yes. But totally doable. Have a go! Ten will be chosen by judge, Tania Heshman, to be published in the Fish Anthology 2026. So enter your Flash Story before the Feb 28th deadline. Learn more and submit here.

Banner for Able Muse 2026 Contests, featuring the Able Muse Write Prize for poetry and fiction, prize amounts, publication info, judges’ names, March 15, 2026 deadline, and a “View Full Flyer” button.

2026 ABLE MUSE CONTESTS SUBMISSIONS

WRITE PRIZE (poetry & flash fiction: Deadline March 15, 2026): judges: Catherine Tufariello (Poetry); Tobias Carroll (Fiction).
BOOK AWARD (poetry manuscripts: Deadline March 31, 2026): Judge: Annie Finch. Go to our website to learn more.
THERE IS ALSO THE GENERAL CALL FOR SUBMISSION TO ABLE MUSE: for the forthcoming ABLE MUSE, Print Edition, Winter 2026/27, #33. (And NO reading fees for our general submissions!) DEADLINE: Our yearly reading period runs from January 1 to July 15. DETAILS at our website.

Enter Your Best Work to Win up to $400!

Deadline: May 31, 2026
The Flying South contest is now open for submissions. Submit your unpublished work in fiction, creative nonfiction, and/or poetry for a chance to win cash prizes – $400 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third in each category. All finalists receive publication in the Flying South journal. See website for a list of guidelines.

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