Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity: December 2021

Top 5 Online Resources for Children’s and YA Book Writers

Children’s books are a burgeoning market. Along with the YA market, they constitute the most popular — and top-grossing — genre of books. With all this burgeoning, where can a children’s book writer find reliable, comprehensive, and concise information about publishing and marketing?
Among the spate of websites that offer information about the world of children’s literature, there are five that stand out as particularly useful. Make these the first stops on your path to publication. Read more here>>

62 Writing Contests in December 2021 — No entry fees

This December there are more than five dozen writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and short plays. Prizes range from a gold medal to $25,000. None charge entry fees. Read more here>>

87 Calls for Submissions in December 2021 — Paying markets

This December there are more than seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays. Read more here>>

3 Distinctive Writing Conferences in December 2021

Because of the holidays, writing conferences are sparse in December. That doesn’t mean there are none worth attending.The New York Pitch Conference is well worth attending if you are ready to publish a book. This conference draws editors from all the major publishing houses, as well as agents who want to hear your pitch. If you write commercial fiction or nonfiction, this conference is a career starter. Read more here>>

AGENTS SEEKING CLIENTS

5 New Literary Agents Seeking Romance, Sci-fi, Horror, Nonfiction, Memoir, YA, MG, Fantasy and more

Here are five new agents actively expanding their client lists. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. Emma Bal is actively looking for nonfiction and memoir. Clara Chuiton is seeking romance. Saint Gibson is interested in representing adult romance, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Becca Langton is looking for new stories in all shapes and sizes, from middle grade and graphic novel to teen and YA fiction. Naomi Eisenbeiss is interested in literary fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Read more here>>

4 Agents Seeking Literary Fiction, Autobiography/Memoir, Commercial Fiction, Feminist Fiction, Healing/Health, Historical, Humor

Rebecca Rodd is seeking adult and adult-leaning YA literary fiction that centers people of color in all genres. In the non-fiction space, Rebecca is interested in millennial experiences and perspectives. She’s also interested in pop culture and social commentary, especially from underrepresented voices. Margaret Riley King wants Autobiography/Memoir, Commercial Fiction, Feminist, Fiction, Healing/Health, Historical, Humor, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Regional, Religious/Spiritual. Jaclyn Gilbert is looking to represent voice-driven, emotionally compelling literary fiction and upmarket nonfiction with an experimental bent. John Baker is looking for anything under the broad church of SFF as well as horror. Read more here>>

PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES

Substack for Fiction Writers

Substack is the newest publishing platform on the block. But is it any better than the old ones? For nonfiction writers, Substack offers quite a few interesting, and lucrative, services, such as paid newsletter subscriptions. The question is whether fiction writers can make headway with short stories, or by serializing their novels. Some novelists have indeed been offered substantial advances to serialize forthcoming novels on Substack. Other writers are using it to distribute short stories. Read more here>>

How to Get 40,000 Readers Without Guest Blogging

What Greg Ciotti has to say about email lists is important. Having a list of people who want to hear about you is incredibly valuable. Instead of trying to glean a few followers from a vast, impersonal crowd, your time would be much better spent talking to people who are your fans. These people will buy your books, promote them to their friends, and post positive reviews. Read more here>>

WRITING WORLD

Writers Are from Venus, Agents Are from Mars

Writers, especially fiction writers, focus on crafting our work. After a long and difficult labor, we give birth to novels. The last thing we need while in the throes of contractions (no pun intended) is for the midwife to ask, “What kind of diapers would you like? Cloth or disposable?” As far as we are concerned, our job is finished when we push out the last line. Read this article here>>

The Grammar Mistake That Will Kill Your Career

Every writer knows that grammar and spelling errors are the kiss of death in a manuscript. That’s why we hire professional editors and send our manuscripts to proofreaders. What writers don’t realize is that making simple mistakes in a query letter, or a submission, or even in a blog post can cost you your career. (You never know who might be reading your blog.) Read more here>>

Arranging Your Own Book Tour

Book events draw a select crowd. These are people who love you. You cannot survive without them. They will buy your books, and what is even more important, they will visit your website and blog. They will “like” your Facebook page and send it to everyone they know. The teachers at schools you give presentations to will recommend your book as summer reading. Libraries will put your book in a prominent place. Read more here>>

“How I Became a Best-Selling Author”: Self-publishing is upending the book industry. One woman’s unlikely road to a hit novel.

Darcie Chan’s experience still resonates among writers who have been turned down by hundreds of agents and dozens of publishers. After waiting five years for agents and publishers to take notice of her, Darcie decided to take matters into her own hands. Read more here>>

Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.