Publisher Pan Macmillan Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts - No Agent Needed

Updated 11/17/24

Pan Macmillan Australia is accepting electronic manuscript submissions directly from writers - no agent needed.

Pan Macmillan is a major Australian publisher with a wide range of titles under group imprints, including Macmillan, Pan, Picador, Plum, Momentum, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, Pancake, St Martin's Press, Tor, Forge, Griffin and Sidgwick & Jackson.

Pan Macmillan publishes commercial and literary fiction, children's and YA fiction, picture books, Australiana, history, biographies, cooking, health and self-help, sports and travel. It also handles sales for Guinness World Records.

Allen & Unwin also accepts submissions directly from writers - no agent needed.

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From the website:

We do not generally publish poetry, plays or textbooks but are happy to receive any genre of manuscript. We are particularly interested in the following:

Fiction: Contemporary drama, sagas, psychological suspense, crime and thrillers, historical, literary

Non-fiction: Narrative non-fiction, contemporary issues, memoir, history, true crime, lifestyle and health, mind body spirit

Children’s books & young adult fiction: Junior and middle grade fiction, young adult/crossover fiction

Please review our catalogue to find out what kind of books we publish. This is also a great opportunity to discover authors and titles similar to yours.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

1. Prepare the first  50 pages of your novel or non-fiction proposal.

2. Fill out the form here: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/submissions/

Your manuscript will be read within three months of the date we receive it.

2 Literary Agents Seeking Nonfiction

Updated 5/29/19

Here are two agents eager to build their client lists. Trena White (Transatlantic Agency, Canada) is looking for nonfiction in these areas: current affairs, business, culture, politics, technology, religion, and the environment. Leila Campoli (Stonesong Literary) is seeking nonfiction projects in business, finance, investing, science, pop culture, and current events.

ALWAYS check the agency website before submitting. Agents may switch agencies or close their lists and submission requirements may change.

If these agents do not suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Leila Campoli of Stonesong Literary

About Leila: Before joining Stonesong, she was most recently an editor at Palgrave Macmillan. Some of her previous titles include: Mark D. White’s The Illusion of Wellbeing, Gudrun Johnsen’s Bringing Down the Banking Industry, Deborah Gregory’s Unmasking Financial Psychopaths, and Matt Ragas and Ron Culp’s Business Essentials for Strategic Communicators.

What she is seeking: prescriptive and narrative nonfiction projects in business, finance, investing, science, pop culture, and current events. Her ideal author has a strong platform, groundbreaking ideas, and unique style. She’s particularly interested in books that offer a window into remarkable lives and little known operations. Please no fiction, poetry, or screenplays.

How to submit: E-query submissions [at] stonesong.com. Put “Query for Leila: [Title]” in the subject line of your email. No attachments. “If you have not received a request from us within 12 weeks, consider that we have passed.”

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Trena White of The Transatlantic Agency

NO LONGER LISTED ON AGENCY WEBSITE

About Trena: Last fall, Trena White joined fellow Page Two principal Jesse Finkelstein in forming an alliance with The Transatlantic Agency. At Page Two, the two publishing experts consult for authors and businesses on both traditional and non-traditional publishing strategy. White and Finkelstein also secure book deals for authors of adult non-fiction whose books have strong trade potential and can benefit from the backing of an established, respected literary agency. Follow Trena on Twitter: @trenawhite

What she is seeking: I specialize in upmarket, accessible nonfiction that challenges current conceptions, whether through a “big ideas” book or narrative. I am drawn to entrepreneurs and people who are innovators in their fields and writing about current affairs, business, culture, politics, technology, religion, and the environment. I am most interested in authors who have an existing platform. No memoirs please.

How to submit: Query Trena at trena [at] transatlanticagency.com with a cover letter in the body of your email and an attachment of your work (maximum 20-page writing sample/excerpt in Microsoft Word document form) along with a publishing history and synopsis. Please note if other agents are also considering the project.

22 Writers' Conferences in May

May is a busy month for writers. This month there are conferences from one coast to the other (plus Alaska and Hawaii). They range from intimate retreats, where you can get writing time in addition to workshops, to large events featuring book fairs, talks, pitch sessions, and the rare chance to chat with agents and editors.

A few of these conferences offer scholarships and financial aid. While conferences lasting several days can be expensive, one-day workshops are usually affordable. (The one-day workshop held in Ohio on May 2 is free.)


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14th annual Muse and the Marketplace Conference. May 1 - 3, 2015: Boston, Massachusetts. "The Muse and the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking. On all three days, prominent and nationally-recognized established and emerging authors lead sessions on the craft of writing - the "muse" side of things - while editors, literary agents, publicists and other industry professionals lead sessions on the business side - the "marketplace."

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival. May 1 - 3, 2015: Salem, Massachusetts. Workshops, panels, readings, music, visual arts presentations, and a book fair featuring small presses and literary magazines. Featured poets: Rita Dove, Richard Blanco, Stephen Burt, Denise Duhamel, Nick Flynn, Regie Gibson, Jorie Graham, Richard Hoffman, Adrian Matejka, Marge Piercy, Rachel Wiley.

Kauai Writers Conference. May 1 - 3, 2015: Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Kapaa, Hawaii. craft talks, publishing presentations, agent consultations, and readings for fiction writers and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Lynne Cox, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Kristin Hannah, Jill Landis, Laura Moriarty, and Colson Whitehead; participating publishing professionals include Julie Barer (Barer Literary), Silissa Kenney (St. Martin's Press), and Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberly Cameron and Associates). Registration is limited to 150 participants.

Gold Rush Writers Conference. May 1 - 3, 2015: Mokelumne Hill, CA. "Writing professionals will guide you to a publishing bonanza through a series of panels, specialty talks, workshops and celebrity lectures. Go one-on-one with successful poets, novelists, biographers, memoirists and short story writers." Writing workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Children's, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Travel, Young Adult. Faculty: Alex Espinoza, Mary Volmer, Kevin Arnold, Gillian Bagwell, Helen Bonner, Kathy Boyd-Fellure, Lou Gonzalez, Luisa Giulianetti, Kathie Isaac-Luke, Indigo Moor, Monika Rose, Pam Mundale, Lucy Sanna, Amy Smith, Dawn Spinella, Sandy Towle, Jennifer Tristano.

Write Now! May 2, 2015: Raleigh, North Carolina. One-day writing conference sponsored by Triangle Area Freelancers featuring tracks devoted to fiction, nonfiction and technical writing. Open to writers of all skill levels.

Columbus State Community College Writers Conference. May 2, 2015: Columbus, Ohio. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Fiction, Journalism, Marketing, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting. This one-day conference is free of charge. 

Mokulē‘ia Writers Retreat. May 3 - 8 in Waialua, Hawaii at Camp Mokulē‘ia, Oahu. Offers workshops in fiction and nonfiction, readings, one-on-one consultations, publishing panels, yoga sessions. The theme of the retreat is "nā wahi ho‘oulu," or “Places That Inspire Us.”Faculty includes fiction writer Kathryn Ma and nonfiction writers Zoe FitzGerald Carter and Don Wallace. 

11th annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. May 4 - 10 at various locations in New York City. readings, performances, and panel discussions for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. This year’s festival will focus on literature and cultures of the African continent. Participating writers include poets Yahya Hassan, Tracy K. Smith, and Yusef Komunyakaa; fiction writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Edwidge Danticat, Boubacar Boris Diop, Richard Flanagan, Aminatta Forna, Rachel Kushner, Sigrid Nunez, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Colm Tóibín, and Binyavanga Wainaina; and nonfiction writers Mona Eltahawy and Wayne Koestenbaum. Many events are free.

Lakefly Writers Conference. May 8 - 9: Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Workshops, talks, and a bookfair for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include fiction writer Barry Wightman and nonfiction writers Kelli Dunham and Michael Perry. Admittance to the Author Showcase on May 9 is free and open to the public.

Seaside Writers Conference. May 11 - 17: Seaside Assembly Hall in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. "The Seaside Writers Conference is an annual gathering of creative writers from all over the nation, and features award-winning writers in poetry and fiction and screenwriting who will offer a full week of intensive writing workshops, one day seminars, school outreach programs, and social events." Faculty includes poet Seth Brady Tucker and fiction writer Matt Bondurant. Participating publishing professionals include Melissa Flashman (Trident Media Group) and Roger D. Hodge (Oxford American). Some financial aid available to published writers.

Idaho Writer & Readers Rendezvous. May 14 - 16, 2015: Boise, Idaho. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Screenwriting, Travel, Young Adult.  Faculty Authors, agents, editors and publishing gurus including Katherine Neville, Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Rusch, Robin O’Bryant, Jen Mann, and Danny Manus.

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The 2015 Milwaukee Writing Workshop, May 15, 2015 - a full-day of “How to Get Published” workshops. "This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches writers, as well. This year’s faculty so far includes literary agent Jennie Goloboy (Red Sofa Literary), literary agent Laura Crockett (Triada US Literary), literary agent Abby Saul (Browne & Miller Literary), literary agent Elizabeth Evans (Jean V. Naggar Literary), literary agent Jodell Sadler (Sadler Children’s Literary), and literary agent Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary)."

The Writer's Pen Weekend Workshop. May 15 - 16, 2015: Bel Air, Maryland. Book Fair with over 20 authors. Keynote presentation with author Kevin Cowherd; 36 workshops with 19 instructors in Fiction, Marketing, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing.

Chicago Writing Workshop, May 16, 2015, Chicago, IL. Attending agents: Marcy Posner (Folio Literary); Jen Karsbaek (Fuse Literary); Jennifer Mattson (Andrea Brown Literary); Tina Schwartz (The Purcell Agency); Dan Balow (Steve Laube Literary); Jodell Sadler (The Sadler Agency).

Pennwriters Conference, May 15-17, 2015, Pittsburgh, PA. Friday keynote Ridley Pearson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 48 novels, divided almost equally between adult suspense and young adult adventure. Attending agents: Danielle Chiotti (Upstart Crow Literary); Uwe Stender (TriadaUS Literary); and June Clark (FinePrint Literary).

Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp. May 15-23, 2015: West Bend WI. 6-day, residential workshop-retreat for writers in all genres working on a novel or creative nonfiction book. Workshops in Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult. Registration is limited to 30 people.

Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference. May 22 - 24: Wyndham University Center in Pittsburgh. Master classes, craft discussions, publishing talks, pitch sessions, and readings for creative nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Jason Bittle, Maggie Jones, Jill Kandel, Marissa Landrigan, Dinty W. Moore, Leslie Rubinkowski, and Anjali Sachdeva. Participating publishing professionals include Stephanie Bane (Smith Brothers Agency), Torie Bosch (Future Tense Books), Rachel Ekstrom (Irene Goodman Literary Agency), Lee Gutkind and Hattie Fletcher (Creative Nonfiction), Saeed Jones (BuzzFeed), Adam Kushner (Washington Post), Emily Loose, and Alan Olifson (Moth StorySLAM).

Algonkian Retreat for Aspiring Commercial Novel Authors, Short Fiction Writers and Memoirists, May 27 - 31, 2015. Algonkian Park, Virginia. "You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, clear your head, have your work read by our writer mentors, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer. You discuss with us ahead of time via the Algonkian Writer Retreat Application the goals you wish to accomplish, and we'll work with you to make it happen. Do you desire a review of your short stories or flash fiction? A line edit? Do you wish to discuss the reality of the current fiction market, your novel project, plot and characters, or perhaps get feedback on the opening hook or a few sample chapters? Or would you simply like a relaxed and productive dialogue about your goals as a writer?"

Bear River Writers’ Conference. May 28 - June 1: Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake, near Petoskey, Michigan. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, discussions, nature walks, and time to write. The faculty includes poets Stephen Dunn, Laura Kasischke, Jamaal May, and Richard Tillinghast; fiction writers Nami Mun, Antonya Nelson, and Thisbe Nissen; and creative nonfiction writers Jerry Dennis, Thomas Lynch, and Sue William Silverman.

River Teeth Nonfiction Conference. May 29 - 31: Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. Individual manuscript consultations, seminars, readings, open mics, and book signings. Participating creative nonfiction writers include Jill Christman, Steven Church, Valerie Due, Steven Harvey, Kate Hopper, Sonya Huber, Joe Mackall, Ana Maria Spagna, Cheryl Strayed, Ginny Taylor, Jerald Walker, and Sarah M. Wells.

Hedgebrook VORTEXT Salon. May 29 - 31: Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island, about 35 miles northwest of Seattle. Workshops, panel discussions, lectures, open mics, and time to write in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for women writers. The faculty includes poet Victoria Redel; fiction writers Carole DeSanti, Ruth Ozeki, Dani Shapiro, and Hannah Tinti; and nonfiction writer Rahna Reiko Rizzuto.

Indiana University Writers’ Conference. May 30 - June 3 on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. Workshops in poetry and fiction, craft classes and readings. The faculty includes poets Gabrielle Calvocoressi and Adrian Matejka; fiction writer and artist Lynda Barry; fiction writers Lou Berney, Dan Chaon, and Alissa Nutting; and performance artist John-Paul Zaccarini. 

First Bookstore Dedicated to Self-Published Authors Opens in Florida

This is an idea whose time has come: A brick-and-mortar bookstore for self-published authors.

Essentially, it's a coop. Each writer pitches in enough per month to pay for rent and overhead. How cool is that? I'd like to see this model in other parts of the country where tourists gather. (Or where people are still accustomed to reading print.)

Take a look at the Gulf Coast Bookstore's website. It's inspiring.

(And you know what else a few dedicated self-published authors could do? Form a cooperative publishing company. We really need to stop going it alone.)

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First Bookstore Dedicated to Self-Published Authors Opens in Florida

By Judith Rosen, Publishers Weekly

Frustrated by a lack of opportunity to display and sell their work, self-published children’s author and illustrator Patti Brassard Jefferson and history author Timothy Jacobs decided to create a bookstore of their own, Gulf Coast Bookstore, and to only sell books by indie authors.

“It’s just hard to compete with Stephen King or Dan Brown in a mega-bookstore that has tens of thousands of books for sale,” says Jacobs.

Although Jacobs came up with the idea for a bookstore that would showcase indie authors a few years ago, he and Jefferson didn’t act on it until recently. When a space became available in downtown Fort Myers, Fla., last month, the store came together quickly. On April 1, the pair held a soft opening for Gulf Coast; the grand opening followed on April 10.

Gulf Coast operates very differently from a traditional bookstore chain or independent. Self-published authors rent shelf space for three months for $60, plus a $15 set-up fee, close to what they might spend to exhibit a single title at a day-long book fair. They also handle stocking and restocking. In return, the authors receive 100% of every sale rather than 40% from a bookstore that sells their books on consignment.

The reason Jefferson and Jacobs can afford to give authors such a high percentage of sales is that they are operating what Jacobs describes as “pretty much a self-sufficiently run bookstore.” Butterfly Estates handles sales and credit-card processing and runs a weekly sales report. “If we had to do this as a standalone on our own,” adds Jefferson, “we’d have to have staff and pay for utilities.”

Jefferson and Jacobs rearrange inventory every two weeks to keep the space fresh. There is no curation of authors. According to Jefferson, the only criteria is “they have to be local.” She and Jacobs also cap the number of titles in any particular genre the store carries at six. Children’s books filled up first for the initial inventory. Other areas represented include education, fantasy, local history, and memoir.

Each writer—currently there are 37 with another 16 authors to be added on May 1—can display 10 copies of a single title or up to 10 titles with one copy each. Authors can also place bookmarks, business cards, or brochures about their work on shelves.

Read more HERE.

20 Writing Contests in May - No Entry Fees

You have much to gain from entering writing contests. If you win, your chances of getting published increase exponentially. And if the contest is free, what have you got to lose?

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Crucible: Poetry and Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Barton College Department of English. Genres: Fiction (limited to 8,000 words or less) and poetry (limited to five poems). Restrictions: All work must be original and unpublished. Prizes: $150.00 First Prize. $100.00 Second Prize. Publication in the Crucible. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

The Society for Humanistic Anthropology Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories that relate to the four fields of anthropology. Restrictions: Stories should not exceed 20 pages typed double-spaced. There is a limit of one story submission per applicant. Prize: The first place story will be published in the Society’s journal, Anthropology and Humanism. The first place winner(s) will receive a certificate and award of $100. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE. (Scroll down the page.)

Grant MacEwan Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Drama, or Graphic Novel. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate creative writing program of study or mentorship. (Max age 25) Alberta residents only. Prize: $5000 (CAN). Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Polari First Book Prize. Genres: The prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in English. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission. Restrictions: Writer must be born in UK or resident in the UK between Feb 2, 2014 and Feb 1, 2015. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

St. Francis College Literary Prize is sponsored by St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY. Genre: 3rd to 5th work of fiction published between June 2013 and May 2015. Self-published books and English translations are considered. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

West Virginia Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Shepherd University Department of English in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Genre: Any original, unpublished work of fiction, between 500 and 2,500 words, one submission only. The submission must not have received any other award, recognition, or special honor. Restrictions: Contest open to any resident of West Virginia or student attending school in West Virginia. Prize: $500.00 First Prize Award and possible publication, $100 each Second and Third Prize Awards. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

We Need Diverse Books Short Story Contest. WNDB is a grassroots organization created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority narratives in children’s literature. Genre: Children's short story. (Ages 8-12) Restrictions: Writer must be "diverse." Prize: $1000 and inclusion in WNDB Anthology to be released by Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books in January 2017. Two runner-up winners will receive honorable mentions and awards of $250 each. Deadline: May 8, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between September 18, 2014 and September 17, 2015. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 29, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

ESME. Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Essay. Submissions will be judged anonymously. The nine award winners will be announced on June 15, 2015. Restrictions: Open to any current or former Solo Mom. Prizes: $500, $350 & $150 prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in each category. Deadline: May 30, 2015. Read guidelines HERE. Note: The deadline appears to have been extended until Sept 25, 2015.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories with soul & chutzpah that speak to feminist Jewish readers. Preferred length is 2500 words or under. Prize: Winner will receive $250 and publication in Lilith. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Unicorn Press First Book Contest. Genre: Unpublished book-length poetry. Individual poems do not have to be unpublished. Prize: The winner will receive $250 and the winning manuscript will be published by Unicorn Press. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

The Victoria Book Prize. Genres: Published fiction, literary non-fiction, or poetry. (Not open to self-published works.) Book submitted must have been published between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 and must be a new work, not a re-issue or a revision of a previous work. Restrictions: Author must be a resident of the Capital Region and a Canadian citizen or resident. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Cromwell Article Prize. Genre: Articles published in 2014 in the field of American legal history. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Writing Competition. Genre: Play. Only full-length works (dramas, comedies, musicals, screenplays) will be considered. One entry per author. Scripts must be original. Must be in English. All must concern LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) life and be based on, or directly inspired by, a historical person, culture, work of art, or event. Prize: First Prize, $3,000. Second Prize, $1,500. Honorable Mentions, $500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $100 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Save the Earth Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem (1). Poems submitted should, in any way possible, evoke humankind’s awareness of the natural world and nature as such. Restrictions: Open to High school students, grades 11 & 12. Prize: $200 awarded to seven winners. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.

Hugo Awards "Broken"

Alexis de Toqueville is famously quoted as saying, "In a democracy, people get the government they deserve." De Toqueville may not have actually said those words, but the sentiment remarkably apt, for it implies a world of manipulation, coercion and downright shenaniganing.

The principle of "one person one vote" underlies all forms of democracy. It is predicated on the faith that power brokers will not game the system. From the first day the system was devised, they have, and they will continue to do so in ever more ingenious ways.

In the case of the sadly "broken" Hugo awards, the system was gamed by some old right-wing dogs, the Sad Puppies and the Rabid Puppies, both of which attempted to stuff the box with nominations of authors they perceived to be conservative. Two of those authors have now pulled their names from the nominations and Connie Willis, who was asked to present the Campbell Award, has also withdrawn.

George R. R. Martin says the Hugos are "broken." He may well be correct, for as long as literature continues to be the domain of intelligent discourse, there will be people on the other side who insist on bringing it down to their level.

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Hugo award nominees withdraw amid 'Puppygate' storm

By Alison Flood: The Guardian, April 17, 2015

Two authors have withdrawn their work from contention for the prestigious Hugo science fiction awards in the wake of what George RR Martin has called “Puppygate”, the controversy that has “plunged all fandom into war”.

Marko Kloos, whose novel Lines of Departure had been picked along with four other authors for the best novel Hugo – an award that counts Dune and Neuromancer among its former winners – announced on Wednesday that he had withdrawn his acceptance of the nomination. Annie Bellet, whose Goodnight Stars was a contender for best short story, also withdrew from the race.

Both writers had been included on a slate of titles pulled together by a group of right-leaning science fiction writers dubbing themselves the Sad Puppies, who had mobilised fans to pay for membership of Worldcon, enabling them to vote and thus flood the categories with their choices. Brad Torgersen, the author behind Sad Puppies, wanted to reverse what he called the Hugos’ favouring of works that were “niche, academic, overtly to the left in ideology and flavour, and ultimately lacking what might best be called visceral, gut-level, swashbuckling fun”.

But they were also on the slate for the so-called Rabid Puppies campaigners, led by the writer Theodore Beale, known online as Vox Day, an inflammatory far-right blogger who was expelled from the Science Fiction Writers of America following racist comments about the award-winning author NK Jemisin.

Read more HERE.

Publisher Allen & Unwin Accepting Unsolicited Submissions

Updated 11/10/24

Allen & Unwin is an independent Australian publishing company established in 1976 as a subsidiary of the British firm George Allen & Unwin Ltd., one of the leading publishers of the twentieth century.

After the HarperCollins buyout of George Allen & Unwin Ltd. in 1990, Allen & Unwin became an independent publisher. It currently publishes up to 250 new titles a year, including literary and commercial fiction, a broad range of general non fiction, academic and professional titles and books for children and young adults.

Although Allen & Unwin primarily distributes its titles in Australia and New Zealand, it has international distribution channels in the UK, the US, Asia, and South Africa. Please only apply to the Friday Pitch if you are currently living in Australia or New Zealand or have a connection to Australia or New Zealand.

Authors report good experiences with Allen & Unwin. They are responsive to their authors, and have a hands-on, personalized approach.

Despite its name, the Friday Pitch is open all week.

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From the website:

THE FRIDAY PITCH

Allen & Unwin know how difficult it can be for writers to get their work in front of publishers, which is why we’ve been running our innovative and pioneering Friday Pitch service for the last 6 years. Through Friday Pitch we have given new and emerging writers a chance to have their work read by our publishers within a reasonable time.

ALL adult submissions – both fiction, non-fiction, and illustrated – to Allen & Unwin (including Murdoch Books) should now come via Friday Pitch. To do this, email us a short synopsis or outline of your chapters and contents, and the first chapter of your work and related illustrations if relevant. If we like what we read, and want to read more, we will get back to you within a fortnight.

Friday Pitch has discovered several bestselling authors, including Fleur McDonald, the author of Red Dust and Blue Skies; Helen Brown, whose book Cleo has sold throughout the world and is currently being made into a film; and Mary Groves, author of An Outback Life.

PLEASE NOTE: The Friday Pitch service is now open to writers for children and young adults.

Knowing it’s important to authors to have their manuscripts read as quickly as possible, ALL unsolicited adult fiction, non-fiction, illustrated, children's and YA submissions to Allen and Unwin must be sent electronically to The Friday Pitch.

So what should you send? It’s simple: copy and paste the relevant title information sheet  into the body of your email, and fill in the gaps. Then attach the FIRST chapter or section of your manuscript and a short synopsis (of no more than 300 words) or an outline of your chapters and contents as separate Word documents (please, no PDF documents unless your submission is for an illustrated book).

Our title information sheet is designed to ensure your manuscript is assessed quickly by the appropriate department in-house. You can assist us with this by using the subject line of your email to tell us whether your book is literary fiction, commercial fiction or non-fiction or illustrated, and what genre or subject it deals with in that category.

See guidelines HERE.

High-Impact Paid Promotion for Indie Authors

Updated 11/14/24

If you have the money to spare, and are building a marketing plan modeled after what a large publishing house would do, you will have to include paid review and promotional services. As an Indie author, you'll need to do your research first to discover which venues are worth the money. But if you choose wisely, and coordinate a paid campaign with a virtual book tour, you can see an immediate return for your expenditure.

You can use a couple of different strategies to promote your book, depending on whether you've placed it on multiple platforms or are using KDP Select. If you've gone the first route, and have print copies available, it may be worth it to pay for a Kirkus review. Kirkus is expensive, but it is the fastest way to reach a lot of crucial markets at once.

If you have decided to publish with Amazon's KDP Select, there are several paid options open to you. Almost all of these are more effective than free services, though some are more pricey than others. (For a single book - not part of a series - you should stick to the cheaper options.)

No matter how you advertise, you will have to plan ahead of time to make sure reviewers are lined up before you begin a promotional campaign. It is always a good idea to coordinate your efforts, for example arranging talks at local libraries and bookstores, sending press releases announcing your upcoming release, and hitting every social media outlet and online reviewer so that your release makes a splash.

I've only listed below the services that authors have reported are the most effective for promoting their books. There are many, many more. For a full listing of paid sites see:

7 Strategies and 110 Tools to Help Indie Authors Find Readers and Reviewers

Also see this post for one author's detailed experience with promotional sites: Call to Arms: Year-long survey reveals which book advertiser offers best value for money

Dave Chesson wrote an excellent review of NetGalley with a lot of helpful suggestions: NetGalley Review: Is NetGalley Worth It?

A word of caution: Be selective and research before you spend you money. Not every paid service is worth your hard-earned cash. If you are strapped, you can avoid paying for reviews altogether. There are plenty of reviewers who do not charge. 

Related Posts:

How to Get Reviews for Your Self-Published Book

Free Publicity for Your KDP Select Free Days

More information on paid promotions:

Marketing Your Indie Book – A Rough Nautical Map In A Sea Of Advertising Options

____________________

Kirkus Indie

Cost: $450

Bottom Line: You can get a lot of bang for your buck with a positive review. But a negative review from Kirkus is the kiss of death, so unless the review is glowing keep it private.

What they offer: Kirkus is the most prestigious book review service in the industry, and one of the oldest. All books are read by professional reviewers, who give an unbiased review of 250–350 words. Reviews for Kirkus Indie can be kept private or published. Because their reviews are distributed to Google, Barnes & Noble, Baker & Taylor, and Ingram, they reach librarians and major media reviewers (e.g. New York Times). Your review may also be selected to be featured in the Kirkus email newsletter, which is distributed to more than 50,000 industry professionals and consumers. The Kirkus website gets more than 1.5 million page views monthly

How to submit: You can request a review by clicking the Get Started link on the author services page. Provide as much information as possible about your book, choose whether you want to send Kirkus a printed (mailed) or digital (uploaded) submission, select either standard service (7-9 weeks) or express service (4-6 weeks) and pay for your review (standard service $450, express service $599). 

More information: Read an interview with Karen Schechner, Senior Indie Editor for Kirkus, about how self-publishers can best use their service here.

____________________

NetGalley 

Cost: $450 for a six-month listing. (There are various rates for add ons.)

Bottom Line: If you can afford it, NetGalley is worth the money. But make sure you have reviews lined up elsewhere well in advance. NetGalley does not guarantee reviews.

What they offer: NetGalley offers ebook ARCs to reviewers. They work with publishers in Australia, Canada, the UK and USA. The service is widely used by well-trafficked review sites.

____________________

BookBub

Cost: $104 - $4000, depending on the book's category and price.

Bottom Line: BookBub is recommended if you are giving away books, or selling them at 99 cents, but only in their top four categories: Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, and Thrillers.

What they offer: BookBub sends a daily email alerting its members to free and discounted titles matching their interests as they become available on retailers like Amazon's Kindle store, Barnes & Noble's Nook store, Apple's iBookstore, and others. The service is free for readers. With more than one million members, BookBub is the largest of the ebook promotion services. BookBub posts all of their pricing and sales statistics on a convenient table.

How to submit: BookBub requires error-free manuscripts and professional covers. They will only feature full-length novels (150 pages minimum). Books must be free or discounted by at least 50% for a limited time only. Read their submission tips here.

More information: Lindsay Buroker describes a positive experience with BookBub here.

____________________

E-Reader News Today

Cost: Book of the Day listings cost $60 for a book priced below $2.99 or $150 for a book priced $2.99 and above. All payments are made through Paypal – no exceptions.

Bottom Line: The price is not cheap, but authors have reported good results, depending on the genre. The demographics of ENT show that the highest percentage of readers are women between 35 and 55. Attractive covers are a must.

What they offer: Your book will get sent out to over 475,000 Facebook fans and 150,000 email subscribers who are avid Kindle readers.

____________________

Kindle Nation Daily

Cost: $30 - $140. Accepts Paypal and credit cards.

Bottom Line: KND offers a wide variety of promotional services, which allows authors to customize. Best results are for free books.

What they offer: KND has a list of over 288,000 readers. The site provides tracking tools, which is useful for measuring the success of your promotion. KND also posts monthly stats so you can check to see which genres perform the best.

____________________

The Fussy Librarian

Cost: $10 - $22, depending on the genre.

Bottom Line: The Fussy Librarian is for discerning readers, which is an advantage for those who have their books professionally edited. The price is reasonable, although the chances of getting a significant number of readers from a single email is remote.

What they offer: The Fussy Librarian sends 115,000 subscribers a daily email, which is where your ebook will be featured once. The number of subscribers in each genre varies - you can find the latest stats on the prices page on the right. Your book will be included in their searchable database for 30 days as part of your fee.

In order to be considered, your ebook must have:

• 10 reviews and a 4.0 rating on Amazon OR 10 reviews and a 4.0 rating on Barnes and Noble, 11 to 19 reviews and a 4.0 rating, or 20 reviews and a 3.5 rating. If you have 10 reviews split between Amazon's various stores - like US and UK - your book is eligible.
• A price of $5.99 or less.

____________________

BookSends

Cost: $50 to $120

Bottom Line: Book Sends is a BookBub-style service, but it costs a lot less. (Best prices are for books that are not free.)

Requirements:

*At least 5 reviews, with a high overall average, and an attractive cover.

*A planned sale price of less than $3 and at least 50% off full price.

*Due to limited space, authors are asked to submit just 1 book at a time and are limited to one ad per 30 days. They will not feature the same book more than once every 90 days.

*Novellas and short story collections are unlikely to be accepted at paid prices.

*If a book has been free in the previous 90 days, that's the only price they're willing to feature it at.

____________________

San Francisco Book Review

This service does not specify that it takes (or does not take) Indie authors. But there are ads for self-published books on the site.

Cost: $150 standard, $299 expedited, $450 review plus interview. $300 interview only.

What they offer: An in-depth review with interview (extra). If you don't like the review, you can exchange it for an ad. For an extra $99, they will cross-post your review on the Manhattan Book Review.

____________________

Clarion Review

Clarion is the paid service of Foreword Reviews.

Cost: $549 - More than Kirkus but  without the clout.

What they offer: A 450-word review with an express delivery of 4-6 weeks. The review will be posted on their website and licensed to book wholesalers.

_____________

Publishers Weekly Select

PW provides free reviews on a selective basis. They also offer PW Select reviews to Indie authors, for a fee.

Cost: $167

What they offer: Review is posted in the magazine and on PW's websites, in the newsletter, and on social media channels, as well as a listing in its special announcements database, and to readers who subscribe to its magazines.

_____________

Reedsy Discover

"When you submit your book to Discovery, it will instantly be available to over 1,000 reviewers on our platform. Reviewers select books on a first-come, first-served basis, and if they choose yours, they will have until your launch date to publish a review. On the week of your launch, your book will have the opportunity to feature on Reedsy's newsletter and homepage."

Cost: $50

2 Agents Actively Seeking Magical Realism, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Alternative History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, YA, MG and Nonfiction

Updated 5/25/19

Here are two new agents looking for clients. Jesse Finkelstein of Transatlantic Literary is looking for nonfiction. Kurestin Armada of P.S. Literary is looking for Magical Realism, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Alternative History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ (any genre), select Young Adult and Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Mystery (including mystery with elements of SF/F), and Romance. In nonfiction, she is looking for Design, Cooking, Pop Psychology, Humour, Narrative, Photography, and Pop Science.

ALWAYS check the agency website before querying. Agents may switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

If these agents do not suit your needs, there is a comprehensive list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents seeking clients.

Jesse Finkelstein of Transatlantic Literary

NO LONGER A LITERARY AGENT

About Jesse: Last fall, Jesse joined fellow Page Two principal Trena White in forming an alliance with The Transatlantic Agency (Canada). At Page Two, the two publishing experts consult authors and businesses on both traditional and non-traditional publishing strategy. As associate agents of Transatlantic, Finkelstein and White also secure book deals for authors of adult nonfiction whose books have strong trade potential and can benefit from the backing of an established, respected literary agency. Follow Jesse on Twitter:@j_finkelstein

What she is seeking: Upmarket, accessible nonfiction that challenges current conceptions, whether through a “big ideas” book or narrative. “I am drawn to entrepreneurs and people who are innovators in their fields and writing about current affairs, business, culture, politics, technology, religion, and the environment,” she says. “I am most interested in authors who have an existing platform.”

How to submit: Query jesse [at] transatlanticagency.com with a cover letter in the body of your email and an attachment of your work (maximum 20-page writing sample/excerpt in Microsoft Word document form) along with a publishing history and synopsis. Please note if other agents are also considering the project. Open to representing writers in US / UK / Canada.

____________________

Kurestin Armada of Root Literary

About Kurestin: Kurestin began her publishing career as an intern with Workman Publishing, and spent time as an assistant at The Lotts Agency before joining P.S. Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Kenyon College, as well as a publishing certificate from Columbia University. Kurestin is based in New York City, and spends most of her time in the city’s thriving indie bookstores. She reads widely across genres, and has a particular affection for science fiction and fantasy, especially books that recognize and subvert typical tropes of genre fiction. She can be found on Twitter at @kurestinarmada.

What she is seeking: My main focus is genre fiction (so speculative in some way) but I enjoy stories that range widely across that spectrum. For younger readers I prefer books that make me laugh, but even for adults I like there to be a light somewhere in the darkness. For graphic novels I'm more open to contemporary stories along with speculative, and really look for illustrators with a strong sense of dynamic use of panels and movement on the page.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

253 Hashtags for Writers

Updated 11/11/24

If you are on Twitter and aren't using hashtags, you are wasting a great resource.

Hashtags (#) are a way of grouping posts on similar topics. They can be used to track trends and topical news, such as the hilarious #myozobituary posts that abounded after a national Australian newspaper opened their obituary of famed author and neurophysiologist Colleen McCullough with the words: "Plain of face and certainly overweight, she was nevertheless of woman of wit and warmth." (If you can't see anything wrong with this description of the person who wrote The Thorn Birds - and 23 other novels - then I suggest you search twitter for #everydaysexism.)

Hashtags can also be used to search for specific information and topics, which brings me to why you need to employ hashtags that are already in use. If you want to reach a broad audience, you really don't want to make up a hashtag. (I confess to having done that. Apparently, #voodoomedicine is some kind of rock group.)

Utilizing hashtags that already have a following means you have a built-in set of people looking for you. And, with the millions of people tweeting day and night, it is better to have people actually seeking your posts, than to hope that they will somehow find you in the din.

That being said, there are some rules you should follow for using hashtags:

• Don't use more than three hashtags per tweet. 
• Don't #hashtag #several #words in a row in the body of your tweet. 
• Do not simply tweet invitations to read your book over and over again. You're a writer! Tweet something that is fun, interesting, informative, controversial, creative, and above all cool. 
• Before you use a hashtag, search Twitter to make sure it is appropriate for your tweet. 

Here are some useful articles on hashtags for writers:

44 Essential Twitter Hashtags Every Author Should Know

The 12 Best Hashtags for Writers

Also see: Pitching Your Book on Twitter Fests for a list of hashtags for twitter pitch fests

__________________________________________

Bloggers

#MondayBlogs Tweet your blog posts on Mondays only. Bloggers will retweet.

Indie Promotion

#IARTG - Indie Author Retweet Group: Simply follow to join, then add #IARTG in any tweet you want us to re-tweet. :) #RT #indie #author #retweet #group @retweet_groups

#IFNRTG - ReTweets for Fantasy Indie Authors via #IFNRTG @IFNRTG and Book Promos via #Books & More! Blog.BerniceFischer.com

#IAN or #IAN1 (Independent Author Networking)

#Indie

#IndieAuthor

#IndiePub (or #IndiePublishing)

#Indiepubchat

#BYNR - Book Your Next Read. "Avid-Reader and keen supporter of Indie-Authors. Here to spread the good word about great Books. Please include the hashtag #BYNR We #followback & #RT." 

#TuesdayBookBlog - blog posts about books and writers.

Writing and Connecting With Other Authors

#140Poem

#1K1H or #1K1HR  (write one thousand words in one hour)
#1LineWednesday - Share the best line from one of your books on Wednesdays

#amediting - posts from people who are editing

#amwriting - posts from people who are writing (optional - add genre, ex. #amwritingya, #amwritingscifi, etc.)
#amquerying - posts from people who are querying agents

#AmRevising - posts from people who are revising

#AuthorLife – writers sharing random stuff
#callforsubmissions - journals and other venues seeking submissions

#CopyWriting – advice about copywriting
#cpmatch – used by writers looking for a critique partner (or beta reader)

#EditGoal

#Editing

#IndieAuthors

#nanowrimo - national novel writing month
#submissions - like #callforsubmissions

#WordCount

#wip - work in progress

#WriteGoodNews

#Writer

#Writers

#WritersBlock

#WriteChat – all sorts of advice and information

#WriteGoal

#WriterWednesday (or #WW or ##WW) – a way to give a shout-out to writers / suggest authors to follow, or to share writing tips, and anything else to do with writers or writing

#Writing

#WriteMotivation

#WriteTip - writing advice

#WritersLife

#WritersRoad

#WritingBlitz

#WritingParty

#WritingPrompt

#WritingSprint

#WritingTip - writing advice

#wordcount

#WroteToday
#writingcommunity
#writerslift

 ____________________

Marketing

Tip: search on "book reviewers" plus your genre to find accounts of book bloggers.

#author - good for self-promotion

#authors - also good for self-promotion

#bookmarketing - posts related to marketing books

#bookworm - for reviews

#editing

#emergingauthors

#fictionfriday

#fridayflash - flash fiction on Friday. Writers write/post flash fiction. Readers comment and RT.

#followfriday or #ff - used on Friday to suggest people to follow to your followers. (Don’t just tweet handles, tell them why they should follow.)

#novels

#novelists

#poem

#poet

#poets
#twitterfiction - where you can tweet your latest story 

____________________

Publishing Industry

#AskAgent

#AskAuthor

#AskEditor

#BookMarketing

#EBooks or #ebook

#ePub

#ePublishing

#GetPublished

#HowTo

#IAN or #IAN1 (Independent Author Networking)

#Indie

#IndieAuthor

#IndiePub (or #IndiePublishing)
#MSWL - manuscript wish list. This is where agents post what they are looking for.

#PromoTip

#Publishing

#Pubtip

#PubWrite

#querytip

#SelfPub

#SelfPublishing

#tenqueries – agents share the reasons why they do or do not request manuscripts

#VSS (very short story)

#WebFic

#WebLit

#WriteTip
#WLCAuthor -The World Literary Café is a promotional website for authors. Similar to the Independent Author Network (#IAN), Indie authors who join these organizations help each other in their promotions.

____________________

Chats (chats can be scheduled or ongoing)

#kidlitchat: Craft & business of writing for young people, board books up through YA. Topic or topics announced at the beginning of the chat. Moderators: @gregpincus

Tuesdays: PST: 6 pm MST: 7 pm CST: 8 pm EST: 9 pm.

#writermoms - Women who write (and have children) can find other like-minded women through this ongoing chat.

#fantasychat - Weekly chats for writers of fantasy. Tuesday 8 - 9PM ET. @marilynmuniz @fantasy_chat

#IBCchat - Indie Author Book Chat. Tuesday 4:30 - 5:30 PM CT. @WritingNoDrama @IndieBookIBC @RachelintheOC @kaitnolan

#kidlitart - Weekly chat for illustrators, pb authors & author/illustrators. Topics announced in advance via @kidlitart. Thursday 9:00 - 10:00 PM ET. @BonnieAdamson @lyonmartin

#StoryDam - Friendly writing community. We chat about all things to do with writing & self publishing Hosted by @MDragonwillow @riverand @mentalmosaic @BookSquirt @plynne_author. @Storydam Thursday, 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET. storydam.com

#indiechat - every Tuesday at 9PM EST

#MemoirChat (every other Wednesday at 8 pm ET)

#PBLitChat (picture books only)

#PoetTues

#journchat

#kidlitchat

#litchat

#scifichat

#scribechat

#storycraft - Sunday 10:00 - 11:00 AM CT. @darcyconroy @story_cra

#writechat

#PoetTues

#ScriptChat
#TVWriterChat - Sunday, 8:30 - 9:30 PM CT

#UFChat - Discussion for urban fantasy writers and readers. More info on #UFChat blog. @inkgypsy  @snowppl.  Saturday, 6:00 - 7:00 PM CT

#wclw - The WordCount Last Wednesday writer chat covers freelancing, blogging and writing basics. As the name implies, it takes place the last Wednesday of every month. @michellerafter Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:00 AM PT michellerafter.com

#WritersMovement - An online community where writers and aspiring authors meet for chat, exchange of knowledge and ideas, and promotion. @authortiffanie @maddwriter Saturday, 5:00 - 6:00 PM CT

#WriterWednesday (or #WW or ##WW)

#yalitchat young adult literature chat

#BBchat  - BookBaby chat

#ZineChat

____________________

Connect By Book Genre

#Biopic

#Book

#Comedy

#Cookbooks

#Cooking

#Crime

#DarkFantasy

#Dystopian

#Erotica

#KidLitChat

#FanFic

#Fiction

#FlashFic

#Food

#Historical

#History

#HistFic

#HistNovel

#Horror

#KidLit

#Literature

#LitFic

#MGLit (Middle Grade Lit)

#MemoirChat

#Mystery

#NonFiction

#Novel

#Paperbacks

#Paranormal

#poetry

#Recipes

#RomanceWriter

#Romance

#Romantic

#RomanticSuspense

#RWA (Romance Writers of America)

#SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators)

#Science #Fiction

#ScienceFiction

#SciFi

#SciFiChat

#Short

#ShortStories

#Short #Stories

#ShortReads

#ShortStory

#SteamPunk

#Suspense

#TrueStories

#UrbanFantasy

#WomensFiction

#YA

 ____________________

Promotion and Connecting With Readers

#99c - use this if you are selling your book for 99 cents

#99cents - use this if you are selling your book for 99 cents

#Amazon
#AmazonCart - each time your readers include #AmazonCart in a tweet, Amazon will know to add the items with the corresponding Amazon link to your readers’ shopping carts.

#AmazonKindle

#AmazonLikes

#AmazonPrime

#AmReading

#AuthorRT

#BestRead
#bibliophile - If you’re looking for a reader for your books, add this hashtag
#BookBoost

#BookBuzz

#BookBuzzr

#BookGiveaway
#bookmarket

#BookMarketing
#BookPlugs  - 1000s of Authors Offering Tiny Writing Blurbs. It's like wine sampling but with books. Authors add #bookplugs to your promos. Prefer the author's own work.

#BookReview

#Books

#BookWorm

#Borrow

#eBook

#eReaders

#followfriday or #ff - used on a Friday to suggest people to follow to your followers. (Don’t just tweet handles, tell them why.)

#fRead0 (that’s a zero at the end – not a lower case oh)

#Free

#Freebie

#FreeBook

#FreeDownload

#FictionFriday

#FictionFridays

#FridayFlash

#FridayReads or #FridayRead- tell people what you’re reading

#FollowFriday

#FreebieFriday

#FreeReads
#Goodread

#GoodReads
#GooglePlay

#GreatRead

#IndieThursday

#IndieTuesday

#iPad
#iTunes

#KDP

#KDPSelect

#Kindle

#KindleBargain

#KindleBooks

#KindleeBooks

#KindleFire

#KindleTouch

#KindleTweet

#Kobo

#LendingLibrary

#LitChat

#MustRead

#MyWANA (Writer’s community created by Kirsten Lamb)

#New

#Nook

#Novel

#Novelines

#Novelists

#Novels

#Paperbacks
#PDF1 - PAID FORWARD – A RTing tag for Books/Authors/Writers/Publishers/Agents This tag was created by Van Heerling and his Pay It Forward Team.

#Poetry

#PoetryMonth

#Pubit

#Read

#Reader If you’re looking for a reader for your books, add this hashtag

#Readers

#Reading

#Reviews

#SampleSunday

#ShortReads

#Smashwords

#Sony

#Special

#StoryFriday

#StoryTelling

#TeaserTuesday or #TeaserTues
#GreatReads
#WhatToRead

#WriteQuote

#WeekendReader

#whattoread

Reddit for Writers

Updated 11/12/24

Reddit calls itself the "front page of the internet." They may be right, at least for one demographic.

Most Reddit users (Redditors) are young, well-educated white men. Twenty-two percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 years use Reddit, with an average age of 23. According to Semrush, Reddit ranks as the 9th-most-visited website in the world and 6th most-visited website in the U.S.  

Aside from being one of the best places to get the latest news, Reddit is a great resource if you know how to navigate it.

At first it may seem like a manic hodge-podge of random questions, comments, and news items. There is that, but there is also a world of specialized knowledge. (The most popular reddits, however, have nothing to do with any consistent topic.)

There is a wide range of subreddits for those who are looking for specific topics and areas of interest, some of which are well-trafficked, and some that are voices crying in the wilderness - for example, those having to do with writing. But, as it happens, sometimes a small, intimate group can be more productive than 8 million subscribers who simply want a laugh. (Funny is one of reddit's most popular subreddit.)

The best way for writers to use reddit is not as a marketing tool. It's true there are subreddits that will allow you to post your freebies, but the best use you can make of Reddit is as a source of information and/or critique.  If you are looking for publishing or marketing advice, for example, you can ask a question and get useful - and accurate - answers from professionals and from people who are willing to share their personal experience.

There are also a number of active writing critique groups on Reddit. The critiques I've read have been right on the mark, and written by people who clearly understand the craft of writing. You may even find yourself willing to offer some suggestions of your own.

So, check out the subreddit list below. 

Not on this list, but deserving of mention is /r/books. This is where books get discovered.

General

Subreddits

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/writing	2.1m
/r/write	20.3K
/r/shutupandwrite	9,416 (Private)	About
/r/KeepWriting	81K	About
/r/writers	131K

Genre

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/fantasywriters	371K
/r/Erotica	136K
/r/comedywriting	13.9K
/r/scifiwriting	50.1K	About
/r/WritersOfHorror	8.8K	About
/r/EroticWriting	9.7K	About
/r/JournalingIsArt	17.6K
/r/YAwriters	14.2K

Medium

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/Screenwriting	1.3m
/r/webfiction	1.5K
/r/yourserial	151
/r/fictionmagazines	186	About

Skillset-specific

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/freelanceWriters	86.3K
/r/Newbwriters	4.7K
/r/HighSchoolWriters	1.9K	About
/r/AmateurWriting	2.9K

Length

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/sixwordstories	62.2K
/r/OneParagraph	8.5K
/r/ShortyStories	2.1K

Publishing

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/selfpublish	77K
/r/epublication	964
/r/coverdesign	801

Critique and Workshops

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/WritersGroup	29.4K
/r/LitWorkshop	2.8K
/r/ShortStoriesCritique	4K
/r/PracticeWriting	2.4K
/r/writingfeedback	1.8K	About
/r/WriteWithMe	5.4K	About
/r/writingclinic	239	About
		About

Prewriting

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/worldbuilding	828K
/r/IAmAFiction	7.5K	About
/r/streamwriting	140

Story Sharing

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/readitnow	6.3K
/r/shortstoryaday	4.4K

Fanfiction

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/FanFiction	225K
/r/Sherlock_Fanfiction	3.6K
/r/SuperWhoLock	1.2K
/r/masseffectfics	2.7K

Contests and Events

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/nanowrimo	36.1K	About
/r/writingcontests	7.5K
/r/CampNaNoWriMo	2K	About

Number Enthusiasts

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/wordcount	3K

Writing Prompts

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/WritingPrompts	15.6K	About
/r/promptoftheday	14.9K
/r/creativechallenge	852
/r/Artprompt	2K

Gender-specific

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/femalewriters	1.9K
/r/malewriters	60

Inactive

Subreddit	Readers	About
/r/DarkWorkshop	305