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Every January I do a "year in review" of my most popular posts. This is a tradition I am loath to break, even though at this late stage in my blogging career, I am seldom surprised. Most people who visit my blog want to get published, so it's natural to assume that my most viewed posts would be calls for submissions and writing contests.  In 2020, I published 69 posts. (My total number of posts since 2012 is 818. My how time flies.) In 2020, my two most popular posts were: 44 Writing Contests in January 2021 - No entry fees (18,801 views...and counting) 85 Calls for Submissions in December 2020 - Paying markets  (10,102 views)  Usually, page views for my posts number in the quadruple digits. But when they hit ten thousand or more, I sit up and take notice. There can be only one explanation: Somebody out there with a bigger platform than mine has promoted those posts. Whoever you are, thank you! At this time of year, I also like to do a review of my most popular posts of ...

There are more than five dozen calls for submissions in February. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays. I post calls for submissions on the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page,  Calls for Submissions . You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.) Also see  Paying Markets  for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre. Happy submitting! __________________ Volney Road Review .  Genres : Fiction, poetry, CNF, art.  Payment : $10.  Deadline : February 1, 2021. Sexy Fantastic Magazine .  Genre : Fantastic erotic stories on theme of Stars. (No porn) "Any type of story with fantastic elements is acceptable, such as a metaphysical or surreal modern tale, magic realism, a dark fantasy thriller,...

This February there are more than five dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees. Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully. If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to  Free Contests . Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline is past, you can prepare for next year. Good luck!  Photo credit: Geograph (UK) ________________________ The Tomorrow Prize .  Restrictions : Open to high school students in Los Angeles.  Genre : Science fiction, 1500 words max.  Prize : $250.  Deadline:  February 1, 2021. Myong Cha Son Haiku Award .  Restrictions : Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university.  Genre : Haiku.  Prize : First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. ...

February might be "nasty, brutish and short" but it features nine great conferences for writers. These conferences offer everything from intensive workshops and panels, to pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books. This month there is something for everyone. For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see  Writing Conferences . During the pandemic most of these are being held virtually at reduced rates. Quite a few offer scholarships, so apply early. (Photo credit: Shutterstock) _____________________________ Kaz Conference Keep Writing: Playwriting Intensive for Women Writers . Feb 7 - March 15, 2021. Workshops include developmental workshops as well as talks on the practical training of writers with input from editors, publicists, agents, social media experts and productivity coaches. Because reading and reviewing other work helps to strengthen ones own writing, peer review is a requirement of all sessions. Just 10 to 16 writers are acc...

Updated 8/31/21 Here are five literary agents actively seeking writers. Eve MacSweeney is interested in narrative non-fiction and literary fiction titles that speak to her interest in emotionally driven stories, singular voices, and compelling social issues, particularly as they concern the lives of women. Susana Alvarez is looking for narrative nonfiction and memoirs. Amy Flynn wants picture books, middle-grade, or YA fiction or non-fiction. Michaela Whatnall is seeking fantasy and science fiction. She is also interested in nonfiction for both children and adults, especially narrative nonfiction in the areas of history, the creative arts, and lifestyle. Jackie Ashton looks to represent writers in the categories of popular science, business, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. She is also interested in memoir and essay collections from accomplished writers.  Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their li...

Westerns were all the rage in the 1920s and 30s. Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour wrote dozens of books featuring rugged gun slinging cowboys. Movies and TV shows like Bonanza fed the public’s seemingly endless appetite for stories of the “wild west.” But starting in the late 1960s, the genre all but disappeared. Currently, Westerns have been reduced to a small corner of the “pulp fiction” genre. While the market for historical fiction novels is robust, historical fiction short stories occupy a small niche market. For writers that is both good and bad. If you write short historical fiction, you don’t have a lot of competition, which makes getting published a little easier. But your readership won’t be as wide as more popular genres. That being said, if you have written a shoot-em-out in the O.K. Corral or invented a new adventure for the Scarlet Pimpernel, here are your go-to paying markets for historical fiction and Westerns. Note: For many more paying markets that accept fiction, poetry, ...