CHECKEDHow the list is checked

Where each listing comes from

Every listing is copied from the outlet's own guidelines, rules or submissions page, never from another list. The pay, the entry fee and the deadline are the outlet's words, shortened. Each listing links straight to that page so you can read the fine print yourself.

What makes the cut

• It pays money. Copies or "exposure" alone don't count.
• The pay is stated, or the outlet says plainly that it pays and sets the rate on acceptance. Those say so in the listing.
• Any entry or reading fee is shown next to the pay, not hidden.
• It is open now, or reads all year.
• Calls that the rules limit to residents of a single country are left out. Some calls have other limits, such as new writers only; the guidelines page has the details.

The weekly check

Once a week a script opens every source page again and looks for four things:

1. Dead. The page is gone or won't load. The listing comes off.
2. Passed. The deadline is before the check date. The listing comes off.
3. Changed. A phrase saved from the page when the listing was added, such as "we are currently open for submissions", is no longer there. A person reads the page and updates or removes the listing.
4. Closed notice. The page now says something like "currently closed". A person checks whether the notice is for this call or another section of the site.

Anything flagged is fixed before the list goes out. Deadlines are also hidden in your browser the day after they pass, in case you visit between checks.

Check history

Each row is one run of the check. The full report for each run is kept with the list.