Special Issue

How to Find the Right Agent for Your Book

Researching agents can be a time-consuming process, but I would never submit to an agent without first doing significant research. To me, research is the most important step of the submission process. It is vital because there is no point going through all the work of writing your manuscript and submitting, just to end up…

28 Themed Submission Calls for January 2021

There are 28 themed calls for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in the 20 markets here. Some of the themes are: mermaids, lost civilizations, lesbian historic fiction, monsters, protest diaries, stories inspired by Jules Verne, parenting, engaging with the natural world, health, and (reimagined) Gothic fiction. All are paying markets (also see this list for more…

43 Writers’ “Rules for Writing”

Most writers have their own special “rules for writing,” even if they don’t talk about them. I find other writers’ rules fascinating, even when I don’t agree with them. A lot can be learned by reading about other authors’ approaches to writing. The New York Times and The Guardian have published famous authors’ answers to…

24 Creative Nonfiction Markets Open in December 2020

These magazines publish creative nonfiction, including personal essays, memoir, lyrical essays, narrative nonfiction, and others. Most of them also accept other genres, like fiction and poetry. Some of these pay writers. Here they are, in no particular order. Small Print MagazineThey publish fiction and creative nonfiction (flash pieces to 8,000 words; serialized and longer works…

27 Specialized Manuscript Publishers that Accept Direct Submissions

All of the presses on this list meet all of our guiding principles, but most of them have such a specific focus that we cannot justify writing a full review and sending it to our full list of subscribers. But they are still good publishers. Instead, we have compiled this list of mini-reviews. I have also…

3 Editing Tools Every Writer Should Be Using

By Holly Garcia As a writer, the goal is to present your best work before you submit, which won’t happen on your first draft, and probably not on your second; as they say, third time’s the charm.   Each round of edits serves its own purpose. The first time you edit, make sure what you’re writing…

28 Themed Submissions Calls for December 2020

There are 28 themed submission calls for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in the 20 markets listed here. Some of the themes are: (fictional) haunted buildings, resurrection, survival, lost contact, when worlds collide, holy war (military horror), resist with every inch and every breath, a quiet afternoon, myths and monsters, redemption, underground, twisted love,…

9 Literary Magazines Seeking Volunteer Readers & Why You’d Want To Participate

By Trish Hopkinson There is a variety of reasons you may want to volunteer as a reader for a literary magazine or journal. The majority of reading and other volunteer responsibilities will be conducted online, so you need not be in the same geographical area. Below are some of those reasons to consider, as well…

13 Ways to Boost Your Creativity

If you have writer’s block, this list should be helpful. If you don’t have writer’s block, this list should be helpful. If you don’t believe in writer’s block, this list should be helpful. I am a big believer in this quote by Pablo Picasso: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”. I am…

20 Poetry Markets Open for Submissions in November 2020

These magazines are open for poetry submissions in November. Many of them also accept other genres, like fiction and nonfiction. Some of these pay writers. Also see this list for themed submission calls, including submissions of poetry, and this list of exciting new literary journals.  The Lit QuarterlyFor poetry submissions their guidelines say, “We prefer…

7 Exciting New Literary Journals

In the last 6 months the following journals opened their metaphorical doors for the first time. A number of magazines on this particular list have specific focuses and areas of interest. It is great to submit to new journals as the editors tend to have more energy and enthusiasm. They also tend to be more…

How Often Should You Expect Literary Rejection?

Various readers have emailed me over the years asking about how often they should expect to be rejected. They phrase it different ways. Sometimes they ask if a ratio of four rejections to every one acceptance is good. Sometimes they ask if one acceptance a year is good. The one single factor that affects your…

21 Themed Submissions Calls for Writers

There are 21 themed submission calls for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some of the themes are: new tales of fairy godmothers; horrific holidays; fear the future; winter’s vindication; spring; horror and class warfare; hell; preteens; teenagers; women destroy (retro) science fiction; levity; and for the love of animals. They all pay writers, and…

18 Major Book Publishers Always Open to Submissions

Some publishers open and close their doors to submissions on a routine basis. It can be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions, and when you should submit. The following 18 publishers, however, are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. They are all respected publishers…

27 Publishers with Excellent Distribution That Accept Unsolicited Submissions

All of the publishers on this list sell many copies of physical books. All of them have books that are available not just at stores near you, but at libraries as well, because they have good distributors. If you want your novel or book to have a good chance of being placed on bookshelves and…

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