Paid Calls
Writing work that pays. Last checked 2026-10-17.
Magazines, contests, open calls and freelance briefs that pay writers. Every listing was checked on 2026-10-17 (UTC): the link works, the call is open, it pays, and the deadline hasn't passed.
61 listings from 42 outlets: 25 magazines, 15 contests, 12 open calls and 9 freelance briefs.
Ten from the current list
Pay rates and deadlines are copied from each outlet's own guidelines page. Read the guidelines before you send anything.
magazine
SmokeLong Quarterly
Flash up to 1,000 words
Pays: $100, or $150 with audio
Deadline 2026-11-15. Entry fee: Free during the free window, small fee after.
Read the guidelinescontest
Reedsy Prompts
Monthly contest: The Haunting Season
Pays: $1,500
Deadline 2026-10-31. Entry fee: $20 USD per entry.
Read the guidelinesopen call
Neon Hemlock Press
Novella Series
Pays: Advance plus royalties, or royalties only
Deadline 2026-10-30. Entry fee: None.
Read the guidelinesfreelance brief
Longreads
Researched and critical essays
Pays: From $500
Rolling, no deadline. Entry fee: None.
Read the guidelinesmagazine
PRISM international
Fiction, poetry and nonfiction
Pays: $40 CAD/page prose, $45 CAD/page poetry
Deadline 2026-11-15. Entry fee: $3 CAD reading fee.
Read the guidelinescontest
The Malahat Review
Open Season Awards
Pays: CAD$2,000 per genre (poetry, fiction, CNF)
Deadline 2026-11-01. Entry fee: CAD$35 from Canada, CAD$45 elsewhere.
Read the guidelinesopen call
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Humorous stories
Pays: $250 plus 10 copies of the book, if published
Deadline 2026-10-31. Entry fee: None.
Read the guidelinesfreelance brief
Smashing Magazine
Web design and development articles
Pays: Honorarium, paid on publication
Rolling, no deadline. Entry fee: None.
Read the guidelinesmagazine
Riddle Fence
Fiction, poetry and nonfiction
Pays: $50 per published page
Deadline 2026-11-15. Entry fee: Free during this window.
Read the guidelinescontest
CBC Books
CBC Short Story Prize 2027
Pays: $6,000 to the winner; $1,000 to each of four finalists
Deadline 2026-11-01. Entry fee: $25 per entry, taxes included.
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How are the listings checked?
A script opens every source page. It flags dead links, closed calls and passed deadlines, and checks that the line confirming the call is still on the page. Anything flagged is reviewed by hand. The date of the last check is at the top of this page.
Are unpaid markets listed?
No. Every listing pays: per word, per page, per piece, or cash prizes.
What about entry fees?
Contests with entry fees are listed only when they pay cash prizes, and the fee is shown on the listing.
Where do the listings come from?
From each outlet's own public guidelines or contest page. No editors' names or personal emails are listed. The link goes to the outlet's page.