Resources
From Category: Markets and Contests for Writers
Hour of Writes
Hour of Writes is a UK-based online writing forum that hosts weekly writing contests judged by the site members. Each week, a prompt is posted on the site, and entrants have one hour (from the time they click "start") to submit a poem or short prose piece in response. Every piece is critiqued, and the winner each week receives a modest cash prize. There is a small entry fee plus the obligation to judge three other entries. The site's mission is to encourage people to devote one hour each week to working on their creative writing.
Pitch Travel Write
Full-time freelance travel writer Roy Stevenson's website gives tips on how to develop and market original ideas for travel articles, as well as practical information for planning your trips.
Christopher Fielden’s Writing Advice and Competitions Listings
The blog of Christopher Fielden, author of the thriller Wicked Game and numerous short stories, includes several pages of useful resources for fiction writers. In addition to Fielden's writing advice and editorial services, there are links to the top English-language competitions for short stories, unpublished novels, and published and self-published books.
Algonkian Writer Conferences
Algonkian Writer Conferences bring together authors, agents, and editors in different locations across the US to help emerging novelists create marketable commercial fiction. Their workshops cover the elements of successful fiction and how to revise and pitch a manuscript. The faculty has included notable authors such as Robert Bausch and Robert Olen Butler.
A Woman’s Write
The website A Woman's Write offers writing advice, editing and reviewing services, links to other useful sites for women writers, and an annual Good Read Novel Competition with a $500 prize for unpublished manuscripts. The contest fee includes a critique.
Black and White Gets Read
Kind of a Hurricane Press publishes this webzine devoted to reviews of poetry books and chapbooks.
Now What? The Creative Writer’s Guide to Success After the MFA
Published by Fairfield University's MFA Program, this multi-genre writer's guide features essays from numerous published authors about their postgraduate career paths.
How Books Win Awards: Advice from C. Hope Clark
C. Hope Clark is the author of the Carolina Slade mystery series from Bell Bridge Books, and the editor of the FundsForWriters newsletter and website. In this guest post at author Glenda C. Beall's blog, Clark describes what judges look for in contests for small press and self-published books. Also included are her tips for spotting scams and protecting your rights.
GLA Blog “Dear Lucky Agent” Contests
Writer's Digest hosts this recurring free contest at Guide to Literary Agents (GLA) blog. Each contest is focused on a different genre, e.g. contemporary middle-grade fiction. Entrants should submit the first 150-200 words of their manuscript via email. No entry fee, but to be eligible for consideration, you must mention the contest twice through any social media. Contest is judged by literary agents who are seeking new authors to represent. Winners receive critique and subscription to WritersMarket.com.
Writing Maps
Writing Maps are illustrated fold-out posters with creative writing prompts. The story and memoir ideas on the posters can be used in writing workshops or on your own. The site offers monthly themed contests, with two winners each month. Prize is publication in the Writing Maps Journal plus free copies and posters. Entries may be prose, poems, graphic stories, or any hybrid thereof.
Seawoman’s Caribbean Writing Opps
Writer Sandra Sealy's blog showcases writers of Caribbean descent and links to publishing opportunities for them.
My Machberet
This blog by Erika Dreifus, who also runs the writers' resource site The Practicing Writer, focuses on Jewish literary news and commentary. Machberet is the Hebrew word for notebook.
Indies Unlimited
Fiction writer K.S. Brooks administrates this online community that offers a platform for self-published and small press writers to promote their books. Weekly themed contests, judged by the readers of the site, offer the chance to be published on the website and in an annual e-book anthology. "At Indies Unlimited, we support a broad and inclusive definition that encompasses authors whose body of work is not obligated to a single large publishing company. Authors who are exclusively self-published, those who work with small print or regional presses, or small digital publishers, and those who may do some of each, or even have only some work published by traditional publishers are welcome here. The bottom line is that if you consider yourself to be an indie, you most likely qualify."
Small Press Database at Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers Magazine offers this free online database featuring submission guidelines for over 100 small literary presses. The database is searchable by name, keyword, genre, openness to simultaneous and electronic submissions, geographic region and more. A very useful service.
Writing-World.com
Concise tips and essays for writers of all kinds. Now offering a searchable contest database. Essays in the poetry section explore such themes as cowboy poetry, tips on translations, and the form of the triolet. Also provides selected links to poetry resources.
WritersMarket.com
Contact information for thousands of editors and agents. Search by keyword and category. Monthly access is $2.99. Annual access is $29.95, with a 30-day money back guarantee. Includes advice on improving your query letters and answers to common questions. Daily industry updates.
Writers Online Directory of Competitions
Writers Online, a British writing site, posts listings of writing competitions, workshops, and book publishing services in the UK. Their directories are searchable by keyword and by geographic region within the UK and Ireland.
Writer’s Relief: Literary Journals By And For Women Writers
Compiled in March 2012, this list features 20 literary journals with a focus on women's writing. Writer's Relief is an authors' submission service.
Working Writers Newsletter
Blog for writers and screenwriters features upcoming contests, calls for submissions, literary conferences and events, and the latest news from the publishing industry.
Wikipedia List of Literary Awards
This page links to all of the literary awards that currently have Wikipedia page entries, sorted by geographic region, genre, and language. The individual award pages are a useful place to find past winners and contest history, though they may not indicate whether the contest is still active.
What Editors Want: A Must-Read for Writers Submitting to Literary Magazines
In this essay from the online bulletin of the literary journal Glimmer Train, Lynne Barrett gives new writers an overview of the magazine editing process and offers tips to help your submission succeed. Barrett is the author of several short fiction collections and the editor of The Florida Book Review.
Unbound
UK-based site applies the principle of "crowdfunding" to book publishing. Agent-recommended authors pitch their book ideas on the site. If you like their idea, you can pledge to support it. If they hit the target number of supporters, the author can go ahead and start writing. If the target isn't met, you can either get your pledge refunded in full or switch your pledge to another Unbound project. Pledging readers get backstage access to the creative process, including updates on the book’s progress, exclusive interviews, draft chapters, information about the author's backlist, and discussions with the author and other supporters.
Poetry Library UK
The Poetry Library at Southbank Centre maintains this page of poetry competition opportunities.
Top Ten Topics for Writers
Basic information on submission etiquette, getting published, writers' conferences and degree programs, avoiding scams, and promoting your work. From the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine.
The Writers’ Union of Canada: Awards & Competitions
Canadian writers should take note of these quality fiction and nonfiction contests. Prizes are awarded for individual pieces, collections, writing for children and short-shorts.
The Whole 9
Free online job board features calls for artists, writers, performers, and graphic designers, plus contests and other opportunities for creative people.
The Smart Approach to Contest Submissions
In this essay from May/June 2013, the staff of Poets & Writers Magazine gives seven simple steps to make your contest submission choices more efficient and well-targeted.
The Practicing Writer
Very useful free monthly e-newsletter for writers of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction, featuring articles, interviews, contests, calls for submissions, and more. Editor Erika Dreifus (Ed.M., M.F.A., Ph.D.) is a Massachusetts-based writer and writing instructor with many publication credits, who serves as contributing editor of The Chattahoochee Review. Dreifus says, "Our mission is to support the craft and business of excellent writing."
The Muse’s Muse: Songwriting Contests
Jodi Krangle has done a great job of finding interesting songwriting contests and other resources for songwriters. Subscribe to her free newsletter, and enjoy articles and tools for both novices and professionals. We especially liked "Six Easy Steps to Writing Hit Lyrics".
The Great First Impression Book Proposal
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of five how-to books for writers, including 'The Frugal Book Promoter', has condensed her expertise into 'The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes'. Check out other useful resources on her website.
The Great American Poetry Show
Hardcover poetry anthology is open year-round to submissions of poems in English on any subject and in any style, length and number. Submit by mail or email. Each anthology contains about 100 poems; publication schedule is about 2 years between volumes. Simultaneous submissions and previously published poems are welcome. Response time is usually 1-3 months. Each contributor receives one free copy of the volume in which his/her work appears. See website for table of contents and contributors' list from Volume 1. Site also has an extensive directory of poetry links.
The Frugal Editor
Book-promotion expert Carolyn Howard-Johnson offers tips for perfecting your business letters, query letters, book manuscripts, and book proposals. Readers of this award-winning blog are encouraged to submit questions that may be answered on the site.
ShortStops
Literary news site covers contemporary short fiction in the UK and Ireland. ShortStops features listings of live literary events where short stories are read, journals that publish short stories, a directory of authors in the genre, and other related links.
Scribe & Quill
This free monthly ezine for writers suggests contests and markets, publicizes the successes of its readers. The motivational articles are particularly valuable.
Savvy Authors
This multi-author blog shares opportunities and advice for writing genre and commercial fiction. Online workshops are also available.
Save the Short Story
Site devoted to preserving and expanding the market for literary short fiction has links to dozens of literary journals publishing this genre, and to websites featuring modern masters of the form.
Sapling: The Writer’s Guide to the Small Press Industry
Black Lawrence Press publishes this weekly e-newsletter for writers. Each issue includes profiles of a currently-open contest and a recommended literary journal, an interview with a writer or editor on a career-related topic, a readers' Q&A, and recent successes for subscribers. Subscriptions are $50/year. Selections from back issues can be read for free on their archive page.
Saison Poetry Library
Located at the Southbank Centre, the Saison Poetry Library is the most comprehensive and accessible collection of poetry from 1912 in Britain. It is the major library for modern and contemporary poetry and is funded by the Arts Council England. Visit the Competitions page for listings of British poetry contests, updated monthly.
Review Outlets Database at Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers Magazine maintains this searchable database of periodicals and websites that publish book reviews. Find out where to send review copies, what genres are accepted, whether self-published books will be reviewed, and more.
Publishers & Vendors of Deaf-Related Materials
The website of Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf, features this list of English-language publishers who specialize in or otherwise publish a relatively large number of deaf-related books and/or videos. The list was last updated several years ago, but it is a good place to start your research into this market.
Poets & Writers: A Frequent Winner’s Advice
In this interview with Poets & Writers Magazine from January 2009, award-winning poet Cynthia Lowen offers tips for maximizing your success with writing contests.
Poetry Super Highway
Be sure to sign up for the weekly email update highlighting emerging poets and new poetry links.
Poetry Northwest: Quarterly Poetry Competitions
Poetry Northwest, the literary journal of Everett Community College in Washington, offers the quarterly poetry competition "The Pitch". Each round features a writing prompt drawn up by a notable writer and work submitted must adhere to the specifications outlined in the prompt. Work can be submitted via email as a Word.doc or pdf attachment to thepitch@poetrynw.org (only these formats can be accepted) and include in the email message your name, address, phone number, and month/year of birth. One entry per person. Please include your legal name in the email address, even if you wish to be represented on our site by a pseudonym. See website for complete rules. Two finalists will be selected by the editorial staff for a public vote. The finalists will appear on poetrynw.org at the end of the quarter for which their pitch submission is received: for spring and summer, September 15; for fall, December 15; for winter, March 15. Voting will last three weeks. The winner will be published on the site in perpetuity, and will receive a one-year subscription to Poetry Northwest.
Poemeleon Mystery Box Contest
Online journal Poemeleon seeks poems inspired by a "mystery box" depicted in a photo on their website. The winner and runners-up will be published in Poemeleon, and the first-prize author will receive the box. Deadlines are irregular; check website.
Playscripts, Inc.
This service aims at matching authors of new plays with producers who are looking for specific types of work. Searchable database allows you to sort scripts by genre, duration, and casting requirements, and read samples online.
Pioneer Drama Service: Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest
Free contest from a leading publisher of middle- school, high-school and community-theater plays. Winner receives a $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication. Pioneer specializes in farce and musical comedy that would be appropriate for family audiences. Postmark deadline is March 1 each year.
New York Foundation for the Arts Database
Large directory of opportunities for visual artists, performers and writers. Search by genre, geographic eligibility, type of funding and more.
National Association of Writers’ Groups
UK-based NAWG sponsors its own literary contests and provides information about two dozen others around Britain. The contest listings are updated several times each year. From the NAWG home page, click the Competitions link.
MovieBytes: Screenwriting Contests & Markets Online
Frequently updated links page for screenwriting contests and markets. Complete the brief, free registration to access Contest Report Cards. Includes contest advice, news of recent script deals and interviews with entrants about their experiences with various contests.
Make a Living Writing
Freelance writer Carol Tice's blog offers field-tested tips on how to market yourself and increase your earnings. Other services include an e-newsletter and mentoring consultations.
