OutWrite is a celebration of LGBTQ literature, held annually the first weekend in August in Washington, D.C. The 2021 festival will be August 6-8, 2021. This year they are running their third annual chapbook contest for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that explore some aspect of the queer experience, interpreted broadly. There is no fee to submit.

For more information on OutWrite and their chapbook competition, see my interview with Co-Chairs Marlena Chertock and Malik Thompson and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: How/why was the OutWrite chapbook competition originally started?

MC/MT: This is our third year running the chapbook competition. We’ve been honored to be more in conversation with queer writers and writing through this competition. There’s no ulterior motive aside from celebrating and uplifting queer voices. It’s been a powerful way to provide additional publishing opportunities for a community that has often been underrepresented.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?

MC/MT: Entries that explore aspects of LGBTQ culture or identity are encouraged. Thematically-linked works are encouraged, but not required. There are no limitations regarding genre. Chapbooks may be submitted in three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Manuscripts should be no shorter than 20 pages and no longer than 40 pages. Guest judges include: Christopher Gonzalez for Nonfiction, Darcie Little Badger for Fiction, and Dena Rod for Poetry.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?

MC/MT: Hybrid work and work that pushes boundaries of form. We’d also like to see more novelette length work in the fiction and nonfiction category (single works that take up the 20-40 page length).

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

MC/MT: The Deaf Poets Society, Little Patuxent Review, Paper Darts, Neon Hemlock Press, Wordgathering, Lines+Stars, Paranoid Tree, Plants & Poetry, Noble/Gas Quarterly, The Shade Journal 

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with OutWrite?

MC/MT: Being able to create spaces that uplift and celebrate our diverse LGBTQ+ community is incredibly fulfilling. And putting together a festival of queer literature is challenging but fun!

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions?

MC/MT: Google Form

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?

MC/MT: Queries can be made to outwritecontest@gmail.com. If the form is inaccessible to you for any reason, please email your submission to the email above with all of the information requested by the form.

DEADLINE: June 15, 2021

SUBMISSION FEE: None

THEME(S): Unthemed, but we will be looking for chapbooks that explore some aspect of the queer experience, interpreted broadly.

FORMS: fiction, nonfiction, poetry

FORMAT: Print

ISSUE FREQUENCY: annual chapbook competition

AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: All submissions will be informed of their status in July 2021.

SUBMISSION METHOD: Google form

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Each writer may only submit one entry per category. We will be accepting simultaneously submitted work. All semi-finalists will be required to remove their work from simultaneous review upon notification.

PAYMENT: Each winner will receive 25 copies of their winning chapbook, an offer of print publication from Neon Hemlock Press, and an opportunity to read from their work at OutWrite 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

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