5 Writerly Things, 7.25.26
Resources to support your writing life
There’s only one more week to send your best short fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry to the Jade Ring Contest. This year’s judges:
Fiction: National Book Award finalist, Sandra Scofield, author of eight novels, a book of short stories, a chapbook, and two memoirs. Her THE SCENE BOOK and THE LAST DRAFT are enduring craft books for fiction writers.
Nonfiction: Janet Burroway, author of poems, plays, essays, children’s books, and nine novels. Her WRITING FICTION is now in its tenth edition and IMAGINATIVE WRITING in its fifth. She is Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Emerita at the Florida State University and winner of the Florida Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award.
Poetry: Poet, essayist, and children’s writer, Cathy Cultice Lentes’ work appears in various literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. She published the poetry collection, GETTING THE MAIL (Finishing Line Press) in 2016 and co-authored, with poet Wendy McVicker, of STRONGER WHEN WE TOUCH (The Orchard Street Press) in 2023. She was recognized as a Woman Making a Difference in the Arts in the state of Ohio.
The Iowa Short Fiction Award and the John Simmons Short Fiction Award are annual prizes given to two collections of stories by emerging short fiction writers, which are then published by the University of Iowa Press. Manuscript submissions are managed and juried through the Iowa Writers' Workshop; please click here to learn more about eligibility, and to submit your story collection for consideration. Submissions are accepted between July 1 and August 31.
Red Oak is honored to support the Oriental Theater screenings of Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World, a documentary about the life of one of our most esteemed poets. Discount code OLIVER will give our newsletter subscribers member pricing when you order your ticket. Milwaukee, July 25-28th.
Ovunque Siamo: New Italian American Writing accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and book reviews quarterly.
Call for Poetry Submissions: Read your poem on the theme “Why do we write? Why do we read?” at the opening of the Central Wisconsin Book Festival. Deadline: Sept 1, 2026