Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity Newsletter: April 2025
Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts
This is a HUGE list of 450 publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers — no agent needed. The list is conveniently organized by genre. All of these are traditional publishers, meaning authors are not charged for any publication costs. Make sure to read their submission requirements carefully.
67 Calls for Submissions in April 2025 — Paying markets
This April there are more than five dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.
I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month’s calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)
62 Writing Contests in April 2025 — No entry fees
This April there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $60,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.
If you want to get a jump on next month’s contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.
32 Amazing Writing Conferences and Workshops in April 2025
This April there are more than two dozen writing conferences. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held in person or use a hybrid format. These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions — there is something for everyone.
For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!
AGENTS SEEKING CLIENTS
82 UK Literary Agencies Seeking Clients
Here are 82 British literary agencies seeking clients. Some of them are quite large (and famous). If you are not from the UK, make sure to check their guidelines to see if they are open to international authors.
Remember: 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.
7 Agents Looking for Horror Writers
Here are seven agents actively seeking horror. All are from reputable agencies. Remember to 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.
PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES
185 Literary Magazines Accepting Reprints
There is nothing quite like having your work published. Sadly, the elation you feel when you have finally seen your work in print may be short-lived. Most stories and poems that make their way into literary journals have only a brief shelf-life. After readers have read your work and the issue has been archived, now what? One good way to extend the life of your work is to send it to literary magazines that accept reprints. Here is an extensive list of magazines that accept reprints. (Some of them pay.)
20 Awards for Self-Published Books
There are a more than a few contests for self-published authors that are not only prestigious, but offer considerable prizes to the winners, either in terms of cash or publicity. I have listed 20 of the most worthwhile in this post. The majority of these contests charge a fee, although in most cases the fees are reasonable (under $100).
WRITING WORLD
The Skinny on Virtual Book Tours
A virtual book tour (aka blog tour) consists of lining up a series of bloggers to review your upcoming book (and/or conduct author interviews) during a time frame that corresponds to the release of your title. It is, as the name suggests, the internet version of an old-fashioned, in-the-flesh book tour. Here are some suggestions for how to find blogs that will advertise your book, as well as a list of book tour services and what they offer.
What Is the Best Price for Your Novel?
If you are self-publishing, setting a price for your novel can be daunting. Do you set the price as low as possible in order to garner the most readers, or do you set a higher price in hopes that you will make some money for your labors? And if you do set a higher price in hopes of gaining an income, what price is reasonable?
Hold on to Your Copyright!
Copyright is one of the few legal protections offered to authors, yet surprisingly few writers take advantage of this safety net. Many writers assume that once they have written something it is automatically copyrighted. Technically, that assumption is correct. Anything you create is copyrighted, but unless you register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office you will never be able to defend your claim. As far as the courts are concerned, simply claiming ownership does not confer it. Sending yourself a manuscript in the mail, and leaving it unopened, does not qualify as proof that you wrote it. It only proves that someone wrote it.
Top 5 Sites for Historical Fiction
Historical fiction enjoys a long and vibrant tradition in world literature. If you write historical fiction, you are not limited by genre. Historical fiction sub-genres include historical fantasy, historical mysteries, children’s historical literature, historically based graphic novels, the ever-popular nautical and pirate fiction, historical romance, and fictional biographies. To guide you on your way, see these top resources for writing historical fiction
Like this newsletter? Want to get a jump on next month’s calls for submissions, agents seeking clients, free writing contests, and publishing news? Sign up for the Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity newsletter on my blog. It’s free! (I also have a ton of free writing resources on my blog.)
