Getting Your Writing Published -- The Business of Writing
For creative people, the business end of things is often the most difficult. This site provides essential information on getting published, finding an agent or editor, hunting out sources of funding, and dealing with copyright/plagiarism issues.
How I Self Published
Do you have experience with self publishing? Share your experiences, good and bad, with other writers, or read about others' experiences with this increasingly common form of publishing.
Do you have experience with self publishing? Share your experiences, good and bad, with other writers, or read about others' experiences with this increasingly common form of publishing.
Discover the Bear Deluxe Magazine
The Bear Deluxe is an environmental magazine published twice yearly by Orlo, a Portland-based nonprofit organization that explores environmental issues through the creative arts. They accept poetry, fiction, art, photography, and creative nonfiction.
The Bear Deluxe is an environmental magazine published twice yearly by Orlo, a Portland-based nonprofit organization that explores environmental issues through the creative arts. They accept poetry, fiction, art, photography, and creative nonfiction.
How to Submit to Artful Dodge
Since the first 1979 issue, printed on a Xerox machine, Artful Dodge has published acclaimed writers such as W. S. Burroughs, John Kinsella, Lynne Sharon Schwartz, and Ronald Wallace. Find out how to add your name to the list.
Since the first 1979 issue, printed on a Xerox machine, Artful Dodge has published acclaimed writers such as W. S. Burroughs, John Kinsella, Lynne Sharon Schwartz, and Ronald Wallace. Find out how to add your name to the list.
Should You Self Publish?
With the publishing industry ailing, more writers wonder if they should self publish than ever before. Proponents of self publishing claim that this is now a more respectable option because 1) print-on-demand (POD) books can be superior to books…
With the publishing industry ailing, more writers wonder if they should self publish than ever before. Proponents of self publishing claim that this is now a more respectable option because 1) print-on-demand (POD) books can be superior to books…
Funding for Writers
When you're trying to complete a big project, funding can make all the difference. Here you'll find the basics on the major funding opportunities available for writers.
When you're trying to complete a big project, funding can make all the difference. Here you'll find the basics on the major funding opportunities available for writers.
Funding for Writers
When you're trying to complete a big project, funding can make all the difference. Here you'll find the basics on the major funding opportunities available for writers.
When you're trying to complete a big project, funding can make all the difference. Here you'll find the basics on the major funding opportunities available for writers.
How to Find Agents -- Share Your Advice on Agents
Are you in the process of researching agents? Share the tips that are working for you.
Are you in the process of researching agents? Share the tips that are working for you.
How to Find Legit Literary Agents
Ready to research agents, but don't know where to start? These basic tips will help you begin your search.
Ready to research agents, but don't know where to start? These basic tips will help you begin your search.
All About Book Trailers
Videos aren't just for musicians anymore: writers have them, too. The technology doesn't have to be fancy if you have a good concept. In fact, simple is better if you're doing it yourself.
Videos aren't just for musicians anymore: writers have them, too. The technology doesn't have to be fancy if you have a good concept. In fact, simple is better if you're doing it yourself.
How to Get a Book Reviewed
Don't sit passively back, waiting on an overworked publicist to get those review copies out. There's no reason you can't contact reviewers, bloggers, and journal editors yourself. Here's how.
Don't sit passively back, waiting on an overworked publicist to get those review copies out. There's no reason you can't contact reviewers, bloggers, and journal editors yourself. Here's how.
Publish Your Short Stories
The idea of trying to publish your work can be daunting, but it's not hard to make submitting stories part of a writing routine.
The idea of trying to publish your work can be daunting, but it's not hard to make submitting stories part of a writing routine.
How to Find a Literary Agent
Though the process of finding a literary agent can be one of the hardest steps in getting a book published, it's also one of the most important. A good agent will help edit your book, get it into the hands of receptive editors, and make sure that you get the best possible deal. So how do you go about this all-important (and time consuming) process? The steps below will get you started.
Though the process of finding a literary agent can be one of the hardest steps in getting a book published, it's also one of the most important. A good agent will help edit your book, get it into the hands of receptive editors, and make sure that you get the best possible deal. So how do you go about this all-important (and time consuming) process? The steps below will get you started.
Writing Contest Tips
Most writing contests involve at least two tiers of judging. Preliminary judges whittle down the stack of applications into a manageable group, usually twenty to fifty applications, for the main judges, who then read the applications carefully. The good news is that most entries eliminate themselves in the preliminary phase, either by failing to follow the rules or by careless writing: only a sma…
Most writing contests involve at least two tiers of judging. Preliminary judges whittle down the stack of applications into a manageable group, usually twenty to fifty applications, for the main judges, who then read the applications carefully. The good news is that most entries eliminate themselves in the preliminary phase, either by failing to follow the rules or by careless writing: only a sma…
Short Story Contests by Month
Stay on top of deadlines with these monthly lists of short story contests, fellowships, and residencies.
Stay on top of deadlines with these monthly lists of short story contests, fellowships, and residencies.
Literary Journals and Magazines
The first step in getting published is researching the market. Start with these lists of literary journals and magazines, grouped by journal size and age group.
The first step in getting published is researching the market. Start with these lists of literary journals and magazines, grouped by journal size and age group.
Book Promotion for Creative Writers
In the age of the Internet, writers are much more involved in marketing their books than ever before. Find the methods of self-promotion that fit you best.
In the age of the Internet, writers are much more involved in marketing their books than ever before. Find the methods of self-promotion that fit you best.
Cover Letter Advice
Submitting your work for publication is not that different from applying for a job. You want to put your best, most professional foot forward, starting with your cover letter. Though striking the right tone for this crucial document takes some thought, once you have a template, you can simply adjust it for each Cover Letter Example
Middle-grade novelist Berniece L. contributed this example of a cover letter she sent for her first novel.
Submitting your work for publication is not that different from applying for a job. You want to put your best, most professional foot forward, starting with your cover letter. Though striking the right tone for this crucial document takes some thought, once you have a template, you can simply adjust it for each Cover Letter Example
Middle-grade novelist Berniece L. contributed this example of a cover letter she sent for her first novel.
Writing Scams
How do you evaluate whether or not a writing contest is a writing scam? You can start with the criteria we try to follow when deciding whether or not to add a contest to our calendar. While you may want to be even more selective, these questions will provide a baseline.
How do you evaluate whether or not a writing contest is a writing scam? You can start with the criteria we try to follow when deciding whether or not to add a contest to our calendar. While you may want to be even more selective, these questions will provide a baseline.
Literary Agent FAQs
A good literary agent will help edit your book, get it into the hands of receptive editors, and make sure that you get the best possible deal. How do you go about finding the right agent? Find answers to common questions here.
A good literary agent will help edit your book, get it into the hands of receptive editors, and make sure that you get the best possible deal. How do you go about finding the right agent? Find answers to common questions here.
Query Letter Dos and Don'ts
Your query letter is your one-page chance to win over a literary agent. How can you be sure you're getting it right? This list of dos and don'ts will help you strike the right tone.
Your query letter is your one-page chance to win over a literary agent. How can you be sure you're getting it right? This list of dos and don'ts will help you strike the right tone.
Publishing Company Profiles
When you're ready to get your novel published, you'll probably start at the top, with companies like Random House, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster. It's helpful to know a little bit about the business, even if you plan to have an agent.
When you're ready to get your novel published, you'll probably start at the top, with companies like Random House, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster. It's helpful to know a little bit about the business, even if you plan to have an agent.
Publications for Teen Writers
A number of magazines and journals are seeking work from teens and young adults. Use this list to begin investigating the possibilities.
A number of magazines and journals are seeking work from teens and young adults. Use this list to begin investigating the possibilities.
Small and Independent Presses
If you think the small press world might be right for you -- or if you're just curious about some of the better presses out there -- these profiles will provide you with background information.
If you think the small press world might be right for you -- or if you're just curious about some of the better presses out there -- these profiles will provide you with background information.
Publishing Advice from Jeanette Perez
Jeanette Perez offers publishing advice culled from her time in the editorial department of HarperCollins Publishers.
Jeanette Perez offers publishing advice culled from her time in the editorial department of HarperCollins Publishers.
Writers' Conferences Advice
An editorial director at Random House Children's Books offers advice on how to present your ideas in a professional way during high-pressure writers' conferences pitch sessions.
An editorial director at Random House Children's Books offers advice on how to present your ideas in a professional way during high-pressure writers' conferences pitch sessions.
2008 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
A review of the 2008 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market, an indispensable tool for any fiction writer wishing to see his or her work in print.
A review of the 2008 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market, an indispensable tool for any fiction writer wishing to see his or her work in print.
Literary Journals and Magazines
Are you ready for bigger literary magazines, or just wanting to start at the top? Here are ten of the top journals in the U.S.
Are you ready for bigger literary magazines, or just wanting to start at the top? Here are ten of the top journals in the U.S.
Are You Ready to Publish?
Before beginning the publication process, it's important to know whether or not you're ready. These five questions will help evaluate whether or not it's the right time to enter this stage of your writing life.
Before beginning the publication process, it's important to know whether or not you're ready. These five questions will help evaluate whether or not it's the right time to enter this stage of your writing life.
Short Story Editing Checklist
Before you show your story to anyone, make sure that you've caught at least the obvious spelling and grammar mistakes using this comprehensive editing checklist.
Before you show your story to anyone, make sure that you've caught at least the obvious spelling and grammar mistakes using this comprehensive editing checklist.
Spotting Scams
There are plenty of people out there willing to take advantage of writers' desire to get published. Unless you're independently wealthy, the time you spend working to make money is time away from your art, so you should be careful with your money. But how do you know if a contest is legit? Here are a few things to consider before writing out a check.
There are plenty of people out there willing to take advantage of writers' desire to get published. Unless you're independently wealthy, the time you spend working to make money is time away from your art, so you should be careful with your money. But how do you know if a contest is legit? Here are a few things to consider before writing out a check.
Profile of International PEN
International PEN, a worldwide association of writers, promotes friendship and cooperation among writers worldwide.
International PEN, a worldwide association of writers, promotes friendship and cooperation among writers worldwide.
Texas Book Festival
A profile of the Texas Book Festival, held each October in Austin, Texas, to raise money for Texas libraries.
A profile of the Texas Book Festival, held each October in Austin, Texas, to raise money for Texas libraries.
The Rewards of the Publication Process
In spite of the rejection and the work involved, the process of getting published can be rewarding in and of itself. After all, the people who run journals and magazines aren't that different from you and me...
In spite of the rejection and the work involved, the process of getting published can be rewarding in and of itself. After all, the people who run journals and magazines aren't that different from you and me...