One Piece

This is an eye-opening article about a writer who could not get his book published and ended up with a movie deal.   Not a single agent was interested in D. Eric Maikranz' debut novel about a young man who is haunted by the total recall of two past lives and then stumbles upon an ancient secret society of other people just like him. So, he self-published his book. But there was a twist.  On the first page, he encouraged his readers to help by offering a cash reward to anyone who would introduce his novel to a Hollywood producer. And it worked! Under normal circumstances, I would raise a skeptical eyebrow about this strategy. But, I know from experience that fans will do more for your book than agents or publishers. And if your fans are motivated by the same reward an agent would get, why not give them the opportunity?  As a case in point, my first book was sold to Random House by a new assistant. The assistant, who had just been hired, loved my book. My agent had not been...

This May there are more than eight dozen calls for submissions. 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! (Image credit: Pixabay) ___________________ The First Line .  Genres : Fiction, poetry, nonfiction using the first line provided. (See site.)    Payment : $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction.  Deadline : May 1, 2021. Witness .  Restrictions : Black writers only.  Genre : Poetry, nonfict...

This May there are nearly three dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $60,000 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: Flickr) ________________________ Spider’s Web Flash Fiction Prize .  Restrictions : Open to female-identified writers.  Genre : Microfiction on the theme of Metamorphosis. Word Count: 20 to 100 words.  Prize : $150.  Deadline : May 1, 2021. The CookOut .  Restrictions : Open to black writers.  Genre : Poetry.  Prize : $1000.  Deadline : May 1, 2021. Message to the World Poetry Contest .  Restrictions : Open to perso...

Despite the pandemic, spring writing conferences and workshops are going ahead! This May most writing conferences will be held online. Virtual events still offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - 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: Wikimedia ___________________ Austin SCBWI 2020 Writers & Illustrators Working Conference . May 1 - 2, 2021: Austin, TX. Conference on children's books with keynotes; general sessions; breakout sessions for writing, professional development and illustration; intensives for novels, picture books and illustration; critiques; pitches and more.  Will be held online . The Loft's Wordplay Conference . May 2 - 8, 2021, Minneapolis MN. ...

Updated 9/7/21 Whodunnits never go out of style, and neither do pulse-pounding thrillers, so if you write mysteries or thrillers, you are in luck.  Here are a baker's dozen mystery and thriller publishers that don't require an agent. All are traditional publishers. (No vanity presses) Make sure your manuscript is complete before you submit. None of these publishers accept proposals or partially completed work. Happy submitting! (Image credit: Pixabay) _____________________ Camel Press  is the genre imprint of Coffeetown Press. (Coffeetown Press publishes memoir, nonfiction, some literary mysteries, and literary fiction). "Camel Press is a feisty little publisher with a mission: to be your trusted purveyor of popular literature—the stuff that makes you lie in the sun too long and read in bed until the cock crows, the urban chickens start clucking, or your neighbor leaves for her 6 am shift."  Seeking : Genre fiction: mystery/suspense, cozy mystery, mystery thrillers, r...

Pulp fiction was quite popular through the 1940s, when pulp magazines generated millions of sales. Unlike literary works, pulp fiction was considered "cheap," both literally and figuratively. Pulp magazines were printed on less expensive pulp paper and the topics were often racy, characterized by a lot of action. The stories were appealing to an audience eager for adventure. Pulp magazines, which had been the nation's single largest outlet for short stories, collapsed in the 1950s on the heels of post-WWII paper shortages. Lately there has been a resurgence of interest in pulp. But, with those magazines out of print, the stories are no longer accessible to readers.  Enter Michael Tierney and Robert Allen Lupton, two pulp historians who have launched an impressive kickstarter campaign to resuscitate  The Cosmic Courtship , a work of pulp fiction. The book is notable because it was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne's son, Julian.  Tierney and Lupton hope to bring Hawthorne...

Updated 9/3/21 Here are five new literary agents actively building their client lists. Lee O'Brien is looking for books with clear stakes and an immersive world, as well as anything with lots of atmosphere, magic, monsters, intrigue, or a plot full of twists and turns across all age categories. Meridith Viguet is looking to represent adult “sweet spot” fiction that straddles the commercial and literary line as well as popular nonfiction, especially titles that examine life in rural areas in the US and around the world, and current, too-wild-to-be-true memoirs.  Paige Terlip is actively building her list of illustrators and is especially looking for author-illustrators and graphic novel illustrators. Isabel Kaufman is seeking young adult fiction (all genres), science fiction/fantasy, romance, historical fiction, literary fiction, thrillers, horror, and graphic novels as well as narratives focused on travel, food, and the science of beauty. Lindsay Guzzardo represents adult...