5 Million Page Views ... and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog

Seven years ago, one of my spawnlings told me I needed to write a blog. I forget which one ... I often get them confused, but it was probably the same spawnling who said I needed to have a Twitter account (whatever that was) and a Facebook page.

I have since regretted both of those decisions, because prior to joining the world of social media I was pleasantly removed from humanity, lost in a haze of thinking that all was right with the world. (It wasn't.)

But I digress.

The blog experience is somewhat like the publishing experience: If you don't promote your writing, it may as well not exist. Whatever you write, whether it's a book or a blog, the only way people will know it exists is to advertise. Granted, you may not want anyone to know what you've written, but if that was the case, you wouldn't be reading this. So, read on.


Promotion, promotion, promotion

In the real world of writing, promotion is everything. Writers would like to think that polished prose and fascinating ideas move a story into the public eye. Sadly, that is not the case. More often than not a brilliant writer's work remains unknown while some piece of utter trash makes it onto the best-seller list. Is this fair? Not a bit. But it is reality. The same holds true for your blog. You may put a lot of effort into getting your ideas into written form, but you are only talking to yourself unless someone reads them.

Having spent the better part of my life talking to myself, I can tell you no good will come of it. You will either be diagnosed and thrown into a psych ward or end up teaching in a junior Ivy League college. (Trust me, you don't want to end up teaching in a junior Ivy League school. It's hell.)

But, once again, I digress.

So, how do you get your blog into the jaded public eye? First, you have to write it. People mainly read blogs for two reasons: 1) They are fun to read, and/or 2) They are informative. People like to be entertained, which, being a writer, you can easily pull off. They also like information that will help them reach their goals. You can pull that off, because there is lots of information about how to do everything on the net, and because there must be something you can do other than write The Great American Novel. Write about cat sitting if you have to. Someone will want to know how to sit on a cat.

What was I saying? Oh, yes. Promotion.

Once you have produced a blog with a theme, your next step is to tell the world about it. Do these things:

1) Tweet. I hate to say it, but Spawnling number 2 (or was it number 1?) was right. Build a Twitter following. Normally I would throw cold water all over the idea of building a social media following, but in this case it will be useful. Tweet about anything you like, follow cool people like mad, and get people to follow you. The reason you need Twitter followers is not because Twitter is a good promotional tool for your book (it really isn't), but because of Medium.

2) Post on Medium. Medium is a great platform for writers of any ilk. But unlike most other platforms, you don't have to start from scratch. Your Twitter followers can be imported. (There is nothing like an instant base of followers to warm the cockles of your writer's heart.) Your next step is to find a publication within Medium that caters to whatever you are blogging about. Ask to be accepted, and then submit your blog posts. Conveniently, these can be imported directly onto Medium.

3) Post on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg is a little capitalist twat, but now that Google+ has bitten the proverbial dust, Facebook is the best place to promote your blogs. Join groups! You can easily find them by typing a word or two into a Facebook search. Then post links to your blog posts.

4) Hunt around for any other platform you can find. There are too many to list here, and many of them are topic specific, so the platforms you choose will depend on what you are writing. If your blog host includes analytics, check to see where your traffic is coming from. Sometimes these can lead to new venues.

It was by doing all of the above that my humble blog ended up with five million page views.

Lessons Learned

I am going to repeat myself: If you want people to read what you have written, you have to promote your work every day. Whether it's your blog, your short story, your poetry, or anything you've put into words - you have to let people know it's there. In the age of the Internet, online writing has a short lifespan. You can't count on it being seen for more than a day or two at most.

I will now quote myself. "The most important lesson, and this applies to writing a blog, a book, a short story, poetry, or a personal essay - is write for yourself. The fact that you have an audience can be a little daunting, and it can tempt you to write for them. But the minute you lose track of what's in your heart, what you are compelled to say, your writing will become hollow."

Here are some posts with good information for promoting your blog (and other writing):

10 Simple Ways to Promote Your Blog (For Writers)

Flogging your Blog

How to Get 40,000 Readers Without Guest Blogging

3 Agents Seeking Children's Books: Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult

Updated 6/29/22

Here are three literary agents actively building their client lists. All work with reputable literary agencies with solid track records. These agents are seeking children's literature, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult in all genres.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Ms. Christy Ewers of The CAT Agency Inc.

Christy Ewers is the new owner and lead representative of the CAT agency. Christy has been working in the children's literature industry since her mother started the agency in 1994, and joined as an agent in 2013. Although Christy is not an artist herself, art has been a huge part of her life and career, even before joining the agency. With a degree in English/Journalism and over a decade of experience in various creative fields, Christy offers a different perspective to the agency, while maintaining the enthusiasm and love that her mother brings to the industry. She works closely with the entire “family” of artists, spearheading the promotion and deals for CAT Agency illustrators, as well as working alongside the authors in the group to help craft their stories and hone their writing for young readers.  

What she is seeking: Author illustrators, and illustrators.

How to submit: To submit your artwork to Christy, email submissions@catagencyinc.com, and have the subject line read: “Submission to Christy”

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Ms. Kelsey Klosterman of Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency

NO LONGER AN AGENT

Kelsey holds a certificate in publishing from the Columbia Publishing Course, and graduated from Emory University with high honors in English and creative writing.

What she is seeking: I’m an editorial-style agent looking primarily for young adult (YA) fiction, middle grade (MG) fiction, and graphic novels in the YA and MG spaces, though I'll take on a picture book if it's really something special! I’m also on the hunt for some good new adult (NA) fiction. My preferred areas for all the above age groups are fantasy of all types, contemporary fiction, magical realism, speculative fiction, and genre-benders. I’m open to suspense, thrillers, and mild horror in YA and MG spaces. In addition to authors, I’m also looking for illustrators

How to submit: Please send your submission to querykelsey@sheedylit.com with “query” and the title of your book in the subject line. Include your query letter and the first one or two chapters pasted in the email—no attachments unless it’s an illustration sample, please! Include the word count, genre, target audience, your writing / publishing creds if applicable, whether you’ve had agent representation before, and whether the book is meant to be a standalone or part of a series.

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Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau2, Inc.

Nicole Tugeau is the agent/owner behind the T2 Team. She is ecstatic about the ever-growing agency and committed to working happily for the network of illustrators surrounding her. What she enjoys most about being an Agent is the partnership-making, the relationships and of course the success stories.  Nicole's husband, Jeremy, is a long-time children’s illustrator. He continues to work as an artist and public school art teacher while maintaining some involvement with Tugeau 2, Inc. as a creative resource and promotional guru.

What she is seeking: Author illustrators, and children's book authors.

How to submit: Please send an email introducing yourself, along with five samples of your work and/or a link to your personal website.

3 New Agents Seeking Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir, Speculative Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Romance and more

Updated 11/9/20

Here are three new agents actively expanding their client lists. Susan Canavan is seeking narrative nonfiction that explores the limitlessness of human potential or that change the way we think about the world around us. Kelly Thomas is interested in non-fiction (memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, and true crime) and fiction (psychological thrillers, mysteries, suspense, adventure stories, young adult, fantasy, and comedies). Tara Gilbert wants speculative fiction, romance, graphic novels, children's literature, YA, horror, LGBTQIA+ books, and Tarot cards.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Ms. Susan Canavan of Waxman Literary Agency

Susan Canavan joined the Waxman Literary Agency in 2019. She was formerly a senior executive editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt where she acquired and edited dozens of New York Times bestsellers in the categories of narrative nonfiction, history, adventure, sports, memoir, journalism, health, science, pop culture, parenting, nature and literary and historical fiction. She is interested in books that explore the limitlessness of human potential or that change the way we think about the world around us. A graduate of Boston College with an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, she is passionate about exceptional storytelling, narrative arc and discovering original voices.

What she is seeking: Narrative nonfiction.

How to submit: Please email your query letter and the first ten pages of your project in the body of an email. Please submit narrative nonfiction and memoir to Susan Canavan at susan@waxmanagency.com

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Ms. Tara Gilbert of KT Literary

CLOSED TO QUERIES

Tara began their career working as an intern in 2017 and soon became an agent in 2019. Tara’s passion is working with LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Neurodiverse, body diverse, and underrepresented authors and illustrators, focusing on fiction and graphic novels for MG, YA, and adults. Their clients include award nominees Lee Mandelo, CG Drews, ST Gibson, bestselling illustrator Joanna Cacao, and more.

What she is seeking:

• General fiction
• Romance
• Fantasy/science fiction
• Juvenile fiction
• Children's books
• African-American
• LGBTQ

How to submit: Queries should be submitted through QueryManager: http://QueryMe.Online/TaraGilbert
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Kelly Thomas of Serendipity Literary Agency

Kelly Thomas has over 15 years of experience in sales, having served as a Head Hunter specializing in matching candidates with dream positions. Now she brings her extensive sales and business expertise to the literary world as a champion for writers to secure publishing deals for their projects. Kelly has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Pace University where she concentrated on Literature and Communications. Prior to joining Serendipity she provided manuscript analysis for the president of D4EO literary agency. Kelly is a published poet with publications in ‘Tales for the Disenchanted’ (2008) and ‘Penumbra Art & Literature’ (2015). Kelly is eager to build her client roster and is actively seeking the next bestselling author!

What she is seeking: She is interested in nonfiction (narrative nonfiction, memoirs, true crime, self-help, business, travel writing, photography, medical, STEM, psychology, health and fitness, music, food & drinks, cooking) and adult fiction (psychological thrillers, suspense, comedies). She enjoys working with musicians, television personalities, athletes, and other pop culture figures to help translate their stories or expertise onto the page. She also represents children’s books including picture books, middle grade, and young adult. She enjoys fast-paced, plot-driven fiction with twists, turns, and jaw-dropping moments. She is drawn to stories about leadership, overcoming adversity, and beating the odds. Stories that are told from a unique psychological vantage point are always of interest. The truth is often stranger than fiction, so Kelly is actively looking for the next great true crime manuscript with a murderous and methodical plot.

How to submit: Please use the agency's online forms.

35 Calls for Submissions in October 2019 - Paying markets

Pixabay

There are 35 calls for submissions in October. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. Some accept reprints.

As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post upcoming calls for submissions at the end of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on upcoming calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)


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Power Play Anthology. Genre: Stories about hockey combined with the drama and emotion of romance. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Cherry Tree. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and literary shade. Payment: $20. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

The Blue Route. Restrictions: Only the work of current undergraduate writers will be considered.  Genres: Fiction, or creative nonfiction totaling no more than 3000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 for prose, $10 for poetry. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Boyfriend Village. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, hybrid, visual and multimedia art, sound collage, video, games, databases. "We want work that bores discursive holes through the internet, or is manufactured from the dialog beneath the discourse. It should shout in pianissimo and whisper in double forte." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 10, 2019.

Return to San Cicaro. Genre: Dark urban fantasy, the weird, the macabre and the hopeful. "Tell us of unassuming teenagers stumbling upon witch meetups, who weave spells for good or ill. Of hell-born creatures leaving scenes of carnage that confound the police. Of trolls trying to fit into the society of the homeless. We want them all."  Payment: $135. Deadline: October 11, 2019.

Jalada 08: Bodies. Genre: Short fiction, essays, creative nonfiction, poetry, and more that play with the very concept of the body and bodies. Payment: Between 100 and 150 USD. Deadline: October 11, 2019.

Rattle: Young Poets Anthology. Genre: Poetry. The author of the poem must have been age 15 or younger when the poem was written, and 18 or younger when submitted. Payment: $100. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

The Puritan: Creativity and D&D. Genre: Personal essays, critiques, and creative explorations about Dungeons & Dragons. Payment: $25 CAD. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Gumbo Media. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, photography. "Black and Brown communities are filled with talent. But opportunities can be hard to come by, especially when steady media narratives are driven by monoliths or entertainment and celebrity. Much in our communities remains unseen, and we’re calling on all emerging artists to help us bring it to light. In the spirit of shining a spotlight, we open our call for submissions to any and all Black creatives—of all identities, expressions, backgrounds, abilities, personalities, and communities (including global)—to submit." Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Zombie Pirate Publishing. Genre: Short stories for CLOCKWORK DRAGONS: A Fantasy Punk Anthology, 1,500-8,000 words long. Stories should be set in a world where magic or fantasy elements have become the prevailing means by which mainstream technology is powered or run. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

The Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Volume V. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Payment: $75AUD. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Havok. Genre: Mystery, scifi, comedy, thriller, and fantasy on theme of Open Mic Night. Length: 300 to 1,000 words. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 18, 2019.

Inklings Press: Pirates. Genre: Short stories about pirates. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 18, 2019.

Wizards in Space. Genre: Short stories, poetry and art. "For Wizards in Space’s golden fifth orbit, we’re reflecting on what it means to come full circle: the journeys that propel us toward growth, the endings that loop into beginnings, the reliable chaos of moving from winter to spring to summer to fall." Payment: $40. Deadline: October 18, 2019.

WordWorks. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: Twenty-five cents a word for articles ($50 for reprints) and $50 for creative prose pieces or poems. Deadline: October 21, 2019.

Story Seed Vault. Genre: Microfiction tweets based on science. Payment: Short Fiction (<150CH) $3AUD per story; Long Fiction (>150CH/<200CH) $2AUD per story. Deadline: October 23, 2019.

Suburban Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art. Payment: $75 - $150 for prose and poetry; Art $100 - $200. Deadline: October 24, 2019.

Every Day Fiction. Genre: Flash fiction (1000 words max) Payment: $3. Deadline: October 27, 2019.

Corners of the World Volume 1: Judaism. Genre: Jewish stories of horror. "We want stories from Jews of every ethnic background focusing on the culture and world of Judaism." Payment: $5.  Deadline: October 30, 2019.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: "Laughter Is the Best Medicine." Genre: True stories. "We are looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life - in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Did the other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Did a misunderstanding turn into a comedy of errors? We can’t wait to hear your true stories. We want them to be silly, outrageous and hilarious, and they absolutely must make us laugh!" Payment: $200. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Horroraddicts.net: Dark Divinations. Genre: Horror fiction on divination. Stories must be horror, set in the Victorian era (1837-1901), and can be set anywhere – England, American West, Colonial India, or Africa. Payment: $10. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

New Writing Scotland. Restrictions: Open to writers resident in Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. Genre: All forms of writing. Payment: £20 per published page. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Overcast. Genre: Speculative fiction podcast. Payment: $20 minimum. Deadline: October 31, 2019. Accepts reprints.

Songs of Eretz. Genre: Poetry, cover art on theme of Christmas/Chanukah/Yule. Payment: $5.   Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Rumpus. Genre: Essays. Payment: $300 divided among all contributors (?). Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Room Magazine. Genre: Feminist fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, interviews, and book reviews. Payment: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Capilano Review. Genre: Art, poetry, fiction, essays and interviews commissioned by the editor, as well as a small selection of unsolicited poetry and prose. Payment: $50 per published page to a maximum of $200. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Eleventh Transmission: 45 Poems of Protest. Genre: Poems of protest. Payment: Royalties.  Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Banshee Press. Genre: Fiction, poetry, essays. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Jersey Pines Ink: WHO DUNIT ANTHOLOGY: Genre: Mystery stories. "Stories MUST have a beginning, middle and end with a solution. The mystery story will be solved with the influence, inspiration, or assistance of a pet--Any pet." Payment: $5. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Monsters, Movies, & Mayhem. Genre: "Original short stories that feature a monster in a movie setting, to include a mix of science fiction, fantasy, horror, alien, magical, witchcraft, AI, and romance elements. Must be appropriate for a “PG-13” audience. Please, no copyrighted characters and no real movies." (6,000 words max) Payment: 6¢/word on acceptance. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Pulp Horror Phobias Volume 2. Genre: Pulp/noir short stories about phobias. Length: 4,000-6,000 words. Payment: 4¢/word. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Arsenika. Genre: Speculative flash fiction and poetry. Payment: $30 for poems and $60 for fiction. They also publish in audio format. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

35 Writing Contests in October 2019 - No entry fees

Flickr - Clinton Steeds

There are nearly three dozen writing contests in October for short stories, poetry, essays, scripts, and books in every genre. None charge entry fees. Prizes range from $100 to $54,000. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

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 has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck!

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The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Young Poets Prize. Restrictions: Open to all poets ages eighteen and under. Genre: Poetry. Prize: First, second & third place prizes will be awarded to three poems in the amount of $300, $200 and $100, respectively. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Stories Out of School. Genre: Flash fiction. Prize: First-prize winners receive $1000; second-prize winners, $500. Both will be published online by Electric Literature in The Commuter. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Perito Prize. Genre: Fiction about accessibility. Prize: £250 and the story will be uploaded to the Perito Prize section of the Perito Ltd website. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Houston Poetry Fest 2018 Youth Poet Competition and the Mary Villarreal Memorial Award. Restrictions: Poets aged 16 or younger by October 12, 2018. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $100. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize. Topic: Philosophy and International Relations. Prize:  £2,500 top prize. Deadline: October 1, 2019.

The Word Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing on the theme “light in our darkness.” Prize: £100, £50 and £25. Deadline: October 3, 2019.

Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: October 4, 2019.

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2019.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to published Canadian authors. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: CAN$25,000.00. Deadline: October 7, 2019 for books published between August 24 and September 30, 2019.

2020 Embracing Our Differences International Art Exhibit Celebrating Diversity. Genre: Quotes, 20 words max. "These quotations provide the writers a chance to voice their thoughts, feelings and ideas reflecting our theme of “enriching lives through diversity and inclusion.” Prize: $1000. Deadline: October 8, 2019.

Fairytalez: Best New Phenomenon Fairy Tale. Genre: Original fairy tale or folktale that explains a how and why behind a natural phenomena – from the stars to the appearance of animals. Prize: $200 gift certificate to Amazon.com. Deadline: October 9, 2019.

NUHA Blogging Prize. Genre: Article on specific topic. (See website) Prize: $150 - $2400.    Deadline: October 12, 2019.

Bath Flash Fiction Award. Genre: Flash fiction (300 words max). Prize: £1000 prize for the winner, £300 second and £100 third. Two commendations £30 each. Deadline: October 13, 2019.

Kathy Fish Fellowship for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: All writers previously unpublished in SmokeLong Quarterly and who do not have a published chapbook or book-length work in any genre (or are not under contract for such) are eligible to apply. Genre: Flash fiction (1000 words max). Prize: $500. Deadline: October 15, 2019. (The application fee is $8. For writers who cannot afford an application fee, there is a free submission option in Submittable.)

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book. Prize: $1000 and six months of editorial support from A Public Space editors to prepare a piece of prose for publication in the magazine. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States. Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement. Prize: $54,000 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2019.

Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction. Restrictions: Open to residents of UK. Genre: Short stories between 2000-6000 words on the theme "Artificial Intelligence." Prize: £500 and 10 shortlisted authors will be published in an ebook anthology. Deadline: October 25, 2019.

50 Word Horror Story Halloween Contest. Genre: Horror: 50 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: October 25, 2019.

The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 29, 2019.

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the most prestigious literary award in the US. Restrictions: Authors must be living American citizens. Self-published works not accepted. Genres: Novels, novellas, and collections of short stories. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize. Restrictions: Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. Prize: First prize of £750, second prize of £500. Winning entries will be posted on the website and also published online by The Telegraph. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Young Walter Scott Prize. Restrictions: Open to UK authors aged 11-19. Genre: Historical fiction between 800 and 2000 words. Prizes: £500 travel and research grant to further explore historical places in the UK, and an invitation to the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Two runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all four winning stories are published in a special YWSP anthology book. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40 on December 31, 2019. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Lex:lead Essay Competition. Restrictions: Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre: Essay: How can access to justice reduce poverty and support economic development? Prize: $500 scholarship. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Kraemer Intergenerational Story Contest. Genre: Short story, video, art, audio clip featuring more than one generation. Length: 500 words max. Prize: $500. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Restrictions: The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction is open to novels and short story collections first published in the UK or Ireland in the calendar year 2019. Genre: Fiction that explores ideas and issues, political themes, dilemmas and injustices through imagined narratives. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2019. 

Frontier New Voices Fellowship. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers traditionally under represented by mainstream magazines and presses, in order to make that “breaking in” a little easier. Prize: $500 grant meant to be used toward covering industry submission costs, multiple publications (original poetry and prose) in Frontier, participation in their editorial community, and introductions to agents and presses. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

Deborah Rogers Foundation Award. Restrictions: Applicants may not be under contract to any publisher for any work or title. Applications are only open to writers who have not previously published or self-published a full length book of their own prose writing (with the exception of a collection of poetry). Entrants must write in the English language and reside within the British Commonwealth and Eire. Genre: Excerpt: 20-30,000 words of a work in progress, fiction or non-fiction, which is not under option or contract. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

The End of Our World 2.0. Genre: Stories about climate change. Prize: Up to $1000. Deadline: October 31, 2019.

27 Writing Conferences in October 2019

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This October there are 27 conferences, intensive workshops, retreats and book fairs from coast to coast. You will also have a chance to pitch your work to agents, meet editors, and get to know your fellow writers. Conferences provide great opportunities to network, so make the most of your experience!

I strongly recommend that you plan ahead for next year if you miss your perfect conference or workshop. Many of these conferences offer scholarships, but you have to apply early.

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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Bookgardan: A Year's Sustenance for Writers. October 1, 2019 - October 1, 2020: Keene, NY. "Devote a year to writing your book in community with an intimate group of dedicated writers, nurtured from start to finish by acclaimed author, seasoned editor, and literary mentor Kate Moses. The program opens and closes with week-long fall residency intensives at Craigardan, a secluded artists' retreat set at a circa-1800s farm nestled in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. From the first residency onward Kate will provide writers the structure, tools, and guidance required to cultivate and nourish their manuscripts, with the goal of bringing projects to fruition (a full first draft, a revised draft, or meeting an individual goal) by program's end. Throughout the year, writers will receive ongoing individual and group mentorship, one-on-one monthly conferences in response to their manuscript submissions, and take part in online craft tutorials, group seminars, interviews with published writers and publishing professionals, and other opportunities for connection with like-minded artists sharing in an often solitary endeavor. Bookgardan culminates twelve months later—once again syncing with the autumn harvest—with a second Craigardan residency focused on the business of writing and publishing, the sustenance of lasting fellowship, and a deserved celebration. Limited to a maximum of 6 participants each year."

Georgia Romance Writers: Moonlight and Magnolias. October 3 – October 3, 2019: Atlanta, Georgia. Includes keynote speakers, workshops, editor/agent appointments, autographing & bookfair, awards banquet.

New York Comicon. October 3 - 6, 2019: New York, New York. New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest popular culture convention: Show Floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television; Panels and Autograph Sessions give Fans a chance to interact with their favorite Creators; Screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit big and small screens.

2019 Creative Retreat for writers, photographers. October 4 - 6, 2019: Mountain View, Missouri. Relax & refuel your creativity along a scenic river, while picking up tips from professionals in writing & photography. There will be time to learn & time to create. Participants stay in rustic cabins & enjoy family-style meals in dining hall.

State Writing Conference & Convention, sponsored by The Kansas Authors Club, Oct 4 - 6, 2019, Wichita, Kansas. Writing workshops, panels, and presentations by Kevin Rabas, Jeff Broome and more.

Write on the Sound Writers' Conference and Pre-Conference. Oct 4 - 6, 2019: Edmonds, WA. WOTS offers the opportunity to explore various writing craft techniques with nationally recognized industry professionals in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

WriteAngles. October 5, 2019: South Hadley, Massachusetts. Panels and workshops, with two keynoters, a limited number of agent meetings. Continental breakfast, and buffet lunch included. Agents: TBA

Picture Book Summit. Oct 5, 2019, Online. An online, one day live event for picture book writers including author keynotes, interviews, workshops and agent & editor panels. Recordings provided for attendees for four months post-conference.

Ozark Creative Writers Conference. Oct 10 - 12, 2019: Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Workshops by published authors, editors and agents; Publishers Row, independent publishers available to hear about your next project; Writing contests available to all participants.

Historical Writers of America Conference 2019. Oct 10 - 12, 2019: The Woodlands, Colonial Williamsburg, VA. The conference programming will focus on supporting quality historical writing – fiction and nonfiction, research, the submission process, the road to publication, and the life of a historical writer. There will be a mix of sessions on the craft of writing and genre and era specific knowledge (food, clothing, language) as well as the business side of publishing including self/indie publishing, marketing and publicity and social media techniques. While many of the sessions are geared specifically to historical writing, this year the focus is on the craft of writing - in all genres.

Imaginarium. Oct 11 - 13, 2019: Louisville KY. A three day annual event held in Louisville, Kentucky centered entirely around creative writing, including the worlds of books, movies, gaming, music, and comics/graphic novels. Imaginarium Convention features extensive programming content, with panels and workshops presented by over 150 professional guests covering everything from the craft of writing to various genres, industry-specific topics, publishing, and social media/publicity. The convention features a film festival with a full array of awards, a masquerade/costume contest, live music, gaming, an expo open to the general public, an awards banquet, a series of literary awards called the Imadjinns, and many more activities, creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that is content-rich and ideal for networking, promotion and personal development.

Be a Better Freelancer  October 11 - 13, 2019: St Louis, MO. Annual conference for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, graphic artists, website managers and developers, etc., with presenters offering guidance and tips on marketing, promotions, new skills and other business aspects of freelancing. Focus: Nonfiction.

Letters & Lines Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference. October 12 - 13, 2019: Golden, CO. Conference focus: children's and young adult books. Faculty: Molly O’Neill, Sylvie Frank, Tiffany Liao, Meredith Mundy, and many more.

James River Writers Conference. October 12 - 13, 2019: Richmond, Virginia. The conference features pitch sessions with agents and editors and panel discussions for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The conference will also offer preconference master classes on October 11. Participants include poets Jon Pineda and Pavana Reddy, fiction writers Nafissa Thompson-Spires and Padma Venkatraman, nonfiction writers Marita Golden and Roben Farzad, and literary agents Brenna English-Loeb (Transatlantic Agency), Anna Knutson Geller (Write View), Marie Lamba (Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency), Beth Marshea (Ladderbird), Christina Morgan (Serendipity), and Eric Smith (P.S. Literary). The cost of the conference, which includes some meals and a one-on-one meeting with an agent, is $355, or $195 for a single day. The cost of a master class is an additional $65.

Writing By Writers Workshop @ Tomales Bay. October 16 - 20, 2019: Tomales Bay, California. Manuscript and poetry workshops are limited to 12 participants and generative workshops are limited to 15 to ensure an intimate setting.

Annual Florida Writers Conference, October 17 - 20, 2019: Altamonte Springs, Florida. Four workshops and panels dedicated to help you learn how to pitch your story, and more than fifty acclaimed authors, poets, and publishing industry experts for three days of networking opportunities.

Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers. October 18 - 19, 2019: University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, master classes, panel discussions, and individual manuscript consultations with faculty. Participants include poets Kim Addonizio and Jeanetta Calhoun Mish; fiction writers Rachel Hall, Margot Livesey, and Anna-Marie McLemore; nonfiction writer Rhys Martin; agent Jennifer Udden (Barry Goldblatt Literary); Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry editorial board members Diane Burton, Crystal Carey, Cynthia Gustavson, and Christopher Murphy; and recent winners of the Nimrod Literary Awards. The cost of the conference is $60, which includes lunch. Scholarships are available. The deadline to register for a one-on-one manuscript consultation with an editor is October 12; general registration is first come, first served.

Northern Woodlands Writers & Readers Conference. Oct 18 - 20, 2019: Fairlee, Vermont. Sponsored by The Trust for Public Land, the conference explores how writers, artists and educators express the rich forest heritage of the Northeast: both the natural history of our region, and the interactions of people and place. The event will include writing workshops, readings, a nature illustration class, special workshops for educators, woods walks, fun talks on forest topics, and plenty of time for informal conversations over meals and around the campfire. Register by Oct 1.

Emerald City Writers' Conference. Oct 18 - 20, 2019, Bellevue, WA. Local Romance Writers of America conference, featuring film and television scouts, who will be taking pitches along with editors and agents, keynote speakers, workshops, and a master class. 

Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference, October 19, 2019: Rochester, Michigan. Lectures, Workshops and Panel Discussions in fiction, non-fiction and business of writing presentations. Open to new, working and published writers of all genres. Attendees select four presentations from a dozen to tailor fit their needs.

Viable Paradise Science Fiction Writers' Workshop. Oct 20 - 25, 2019: Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Viable Paradise is a unique one-week residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy. The workshop is intimate, intense, and features extensive time spent with best-selling and award-winning authors and professional editors currently working in the field. VP concentrates on the art of writing fiction people want to read, and this concentration is reflected in post-workshop professional sales by our alumni. Applications close June 1.

Other Words Literary Conference. Oct 24 -26, 2019: University of Tampa, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. Their goal is "to bring together writers, editors, agents, publishers, book sellers, grant administrators, directors of writers' colonies and retreats, and other interested folk in one place. We'll be talking about the how to of the literary arts: how to write it, make it, sell it, fund it, and nurture it."

Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, October 24 - 27, 2019: Pasadena, CA. Experienced authors, editors, agents and publishing experts will be on hand, ready to help you develop your own craft and position yourself for success.

Gotham Writers Conference. Oct 25  - 26, 2019: NY, NY. A writing conference built by agents, for writers, with a faculty of some of the top agents in New York City. Receive focused attention within your genre from some of the best in the business.

Atlanta Writers Conference. October 25 - 26, 2019: Atlanta, Georgia. The conference features publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and a workshop on creating or improving author websites. Participating publishing professionals included editors Sarah Blumenstock (Berkley), Matthew Daddona (Dey Street Books), Rachel Diebel (Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press), Tom Hoeler (Del Rey Books), Tiara Kittrell (Balzer + Bray), Loan Le (Atria Books), Megha Majumdar (Catapult), and Christopher Werner (Amazon Publishing), and agents Amelia Appel (Triada US), Lucy Cleland (Kneerim & Williams), Arielle Datz (Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency), Melissa Edwards (Stonesong), Wendi Gu (Janklow & Nesbit Associates), Saritza Hernández (Corvisiero Literary Agency), Tamara Kawar (ICM Partners), and Kelli Martin (Wendy Sherman Associates). The cost of a single session ranges from $50 to $170; the cost of the “All-Activities Package,” which includes two manuscript critiques, one query letter critique, two pitch sessions, a craft workshop, access to two Q&A panels, and an optional pre-conference manuscript edit, is $620. Writers who are not members of the Atlanta Writers Club must purchase a yearlong membership for an additional $50 in order to register. The deadline to register for a manuscript critique is September 24.

Magna cum Murder XXIV. Oct 25  - 27, 2019: Indianapolis, IN. 45+ authors of crime writing fiction.

Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. October 25 - 28, 2019: Truchas, New Mexico. The conference features evaluation and discussion of book-length and chapbook-length manuscripts with poets, editors, and publishers. The cost of the conference is $1,400, which includes lodging and meals. Using the online submission system, submit a brief bio and three to four poems.

Top 10 Paying Markets for Fiction, Personal Essays and Poetry

Mr B finds Pamela writing (Wikimedia Commons)

Updated 11/11/25

Here are ten prestigious literary magazines that accept submissions of poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. None charge submission fees, and all pay writers at professional or semi-professional rates.

Although these are big names in the world of literary magazines, you don't have to be an established writer to submit to them. In fact, many of these magazines are proud of their reputation of discovering new voices and launching the careers of famous authors. You could be one of them!

There are, of course, many more prestigious magazines than the ones on this list. Check out these lists. (Some of the magazines on these lists charge fees to submit.):

Top 50 Literary Magazines -Every Writer

20 Respected Literary Journals and Magazines that Publish Creative Writing

Ranking of the 100 Best Literary Magazines

For hundreds of additional paying markets, see: Paying Markets

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Narrative

Narrative accepts short stories, essays, one-act plays, and other complete short works of nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of fiction and nonfiction, as well as novellas (up to 40,000 words), and audio prose. There is a fee-free submission period during the first two weeks of April.

Payment: $500 for a Story of the Week.

—$200 for a Poem of the Week.

—$250 to $500 for 500 to 2,000 word manuscripts.

—$500 to $1,000 for 2,000 to 15,000 word manuscripts.

—$200 minimum for each accepted poem or audio/video piece. ($100 for poetry reprints.)

—$100 for Readers’ Narratives.

The Atlantic

The Atlantic is a highly prestigious magazine founded in 1857 as The Atlantic Monthly in Boston, They always interested in great nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Payment: Professional rates. To submit poetry, send your manuscript to: poetry@theatlantic.com.

The Georgia Review

Founded in 1947, The Georgia Review is the University of Georgia’s journal of arts and letters.  The journal has twice taken a top prize in the annual National Magazine Awards competition, winning out over the likes of the Atlantic, Esquire, the New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, and has been a finalist twenty times in various categories. Payment: $50 per printed page for prose and $4 per line for poetry. Essay-reviews and standard reviews earn honoraria of $50/printed page. In addition, all contributors receive a one-year subscription to The Georgia Review. No fee to submit by regular mail. Closed to submissions between May 15 and August 15.

Harper's Magazine

Founded in 1850, Harper's Magazine is one of the oldest magazines in the country. It has a circulation of more than 220,000. They publish fiction, art and nonfiction. Payment: According to Who Pays Writers Harper's pays between 25 cents and a dollar a word. Snail mail submissions only.

The Kenyon Review

This is another long-standing publication with a great reputation. In addition to poetry, they publish fiction, plays and creative nonfiction. Payment: Professional rate. Their annual submission period is in September.

One Story

One Story is seeking literary short stories. "They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone." Single stories are sent to email subscribers every month. Length: Between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Payment: $500 and 25 contributors copies. See reading periods.

The Paris Review

In its long history as a literary magazine The Paris Review has published such luminaries as Jack Kerouac, Philip Larkin, V. S. Naipaul, Philip Roth, Adrienne Rich, Italo Calvino, Samuel Beckett and Robert Bly. It has a readership of over 22,000. The Paris Review accepts fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment: Who pays writers reports payments of 10 cents/word to $100 flat fee. The Paris Review accepts unsolicited submissions of prose in March and September and unsolicited submissions of poetry in January, April, July, and October.

Poetry Magazine

Poetry is a highly prestigious publication, and therefore has a high rejection rate. But do not be afraid to give it a whirl. (The worst that can happen is that they will cut your head off and stick it on a pole as a warning to other poets.) Payment: $10 per line (with a minimum payment of $300), and $150 per page of prose, for first serial rights. Closed to submissions June 15 through September 15.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker is New York. It started as a humor weekly in 1925, and has since grown to be one of the most prestigious magazines in the country. The New Yorker publishes one short story per issue and several poems. Payment: Professional rates. Submission guidelines are here.

VQR

"VQR strives to publish the best writing we can find. While we have a long history of publishing accomplished and award-winning authors, we also seek and support emerging writers. We read unsolicited fiction, poetry, and nonfiction submissions July 1-31 through our Submittable portal." Note: Genre fiction not accepted. Payment: $200 per poem, up to 4 poems; for a suite of 5 or more poems, payment is $1,000. For short fiction, $1,000. For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Online content is generally paid at $100-$200, depending upon genre and length.