Here are some book publishing terms you should know

This serves as a light glossary of key book publishing terms for new authors unfamiliar with the phrases and abbreviations casually tossed around in the book-publishing world.

1. “It’s all about the comps”

When a literary agent or editor speaks about comps, they are not referring to computers, nor anything that may be complementary.

In book publishing, comps generally stands for competitive or comparative titles/authors.

A literary agent will often request two to three of these from an author to work into the literary agent’s pitch to publishers. None of this is ever to merely compare an author’s manuscript to similar works, but rather to hold an author’s manuscript in high esteem.

A good comp is usually a similar book genre/age group, published within the last three to five years, that was an award-winner or bestseller. Best to compare to success.

In the eyes of an editor, comps help to place the manuscript under consideration in its proper place on a publishing list and answers any questions for a publisher on where a book would fit in at a bookstore. This might also be a way of selling the book to readers.

However, you write a fantasy, don’t go and compare yourself to classics and masters such as J.R.R. Tolkien—that just gets eye rolls from literary agents and editors.

2. “This is a hurry-up-and-wait business”

An impatient author may want to hear back on their submission quickly, but publishing is generally a slow-moving business, as it takes time to read.

Three to four months is usually a reasonable amount of time to expect to hear from editors at publishing houses, once they’ve received a manuscript submission from a literary agent.

Especially after that three- to four-month period, it’s more than reasonable to expect a literary agent to follow up with editors still considering a submission.

Of course, just like writers, literary agents wish editors could read much faster. Apart from the submission process of book publishing, other functions can sometimes be slow as a result of this “mañana” attitude among some book publishers.

3. “Book publishing is a backward business”

One of the things that makes book publishing unique is people tend to stumble into book publishing as a profession, usually from a background in the humanities. (In recent years, this is changing with more undergraduate and graduate studies in book publishing being offered at colleges and universities).

So rather than having a bunch of business majors running publishing as a business, often there are English majors trying to make sense of a business landscape in book publishing.  

As you can imagine, that can make for some interesting results. Sometimes this type of precarious situation can unintentionally results in what might feel like an unprofessional business environment, and can be frustrating to a book publishing professional with more business savvy.

4. MS and MSS

No, I am not talking about that archaic notion of women in the 1950s attending colleges and universities to attain their “Mrs. Degrees.”

MS stands for manuscript and MSS is the plural of manuscript.

This abbreviation is widely used among publishers and literary agencies, often without even a second thought given to whether or not an author might know the term. It might be easy to miss MS as just two simple letters in an email, but whenever you see this, know that your manuscript is being referenced.

5. P&L

As far as book publishing terms go, you might be familiar with this term because many industries use profit and loss statements in calculating business decisions and expenditures.

P&L stands for profit & loss statement.

While you’d think book publishing was an exact science, it’s far more subjective. Publishers are sometimes surprised by books that become surprise mega-bestsellers. Or the opposite: books they thought would be mega-bestsellers that tragically underperformed.

Before a book publisher commits to acquiring a book, and therefore paying a book advance, they dogmatically run that P&L anyway. This is usually a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, containing formulas that calculate what the profits (royalties, special sales, additional advances from licensing, etc.) on the book might be, against the publisher’s losses (book advance, cost of production, shipping, warehousing, etc.).

You might then wonder where the publisher comes up with potential profits. That brings us back to those comps. Book publishers look to the comp titles for potential success of the book. They evaluate sales of a given title on Nielsen Bookscan’s reporting (now Power BI).

Now you can see why it’s all about the comps.

6. D&A

It’s ironic that this phonetically sounds like “DNA,” because this phase makes up much of the life structure of a book publishing deal and is one of the most commonly-used book publishing terms.

D&A refers to when the manuscript is delivered & accepted.

Usually a large portion of a book advance is placed on the delivery and acceptance of the manuscript to help incentivize the author and accounting easier for the publisher.

By allocating different portions of the advance on a signing payment, D&A payment, and/or publication payment, rather than paying out all the money on signing, book publishers are able to spend their money more easily on other projects and book publishing functions that require financial resources.

Most book publishers will not release the delivery and acceptance portion of a book advance until the manuscript is accepted and made press-ready for final copy editing and proofreading stage, before printing. This also helps to ensure the publisher finds the manuscript in a suitable shape before publication.

7. Pub date

No, your literary agent or editor is not asking you out for drinks…

Pub date is short for “publication date” or the day that a book publishes.

For any happy author, this is your book’s most important day, its birth date.

Oddly enough, many book publishers choose to publish on Tuesdays to time their publications with certain bestseller lists and other publications entering the marketplace. The three-to-four months leading up to publication and the three-to-four months thereafter are crucial times for sales of a new book on the market.

The fall/winter season is usually when the biggest books of the year are published, since it leads into the gift-giving season of the major holidays.

This also makes for the most competitive time of year when a book can be published, so it’s usually advisable that an author trying to make their debut publish in a quieter season. Less competition might be found in the winter/spring season, when books are still bought in large numbers for gift-giving holidays like Easter, Father’s Day, etc.

The quietest time of the year is usually in the spring/summer season. That’s when a book will experience little competition, but this is also a popular beach-reading season, as many readers have free time and school’s out for summer.

Getting started in book publishing means much more than knowing how to write a novel, how many words are in a novel, and how to write a book proposal. This list of key book publishing terms will hopefully help you navigate some of the tricky lingo of our quirky industry!

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

While many of these conferences are on location, there are also online options so be sure to check those out too!

Here are 55+ writers conferences to check out

We’ve broken the list of writers conferences into categories, including blogging, freelancing, fiction, and more to help you narrow down on what interests you most.

Writers Conferences to Consider

General Interest

Ready to connect with literary agents, editors, and fellow writers at a writers conference or writing retreat?

WriterCon

When: Annually in August

Where: Oklahoma City, OK

WriterCon is a community of writers working together to build skills, exchange knowledge, make connections, and achieve their writing dreams. The conference aims to provide knowledge and opportunities designed to push you forward along your writer’s journey.

San Francisco Writers Conference

When: Annually in February

Where: San Francisco, CA

Held annually in February, the San Francisco Writers Conference is a “celebration of craft, commerce and community.” Connect with industry experts, bestselling authors, agents, editors and leaders in both self-publishing and traditional publishing.

Northern Colorado Writers Conference

When: Annually in July

Where: Fort Collins, CO and online

The Northern Colorado Writers Conference provides support and encouragement to writers of all genres and levels. The group also offers monthly meetings, classes and other networking and social events.

The in-person events are open to limited attendees, so you’ll get a more intimate experience.

Association of Writers and Writing Programs

When: Annually in February

Where: Various North American cities

Each year, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) hosts the Annual Conference & Bookfair in a different city. The event celebrates authors, teachers, students, writing programs, literary centers and publishers in the region hosting the conference. With more than 12,000 writers and readers attending each year, AWP is the largest literary conference in North America.

Las Vegas Writers Conference

When: Annually in April

Where: Las Vegas, NV

Each year, Henderson Writers Group hosts the Las Vegas Writers Conference. The organization also hosts three meetings per week in Las Vegas. They’re open to the public, and members can read their writing for critique by attendees.

Midwest Writers Workshop Super Mini-Conference

When: Annually

Where: Muncie, IN and online

The Midwest Writers Workshop is a day-and-half conference and one of the more affordable option for writers at all levels. They offer a variety of in-depth small sessions in craft taught by published authors. You’ll also get to mingle with other writers and industry experts.

Writing Day Workshops

When and Where: Year-round throughout the U.S. and Canada (in person and online)

Writing Day Workshops presents day-long workshops offering a crash course on how to get your book published, with classes and presentations on everything from writing queries to working with an agent to marketing your book.

Missouri Writers Guild Conference

When: Annually

Where: St. Louis, MO

The Missouri Writers Guild is a 100+-year-old organization for professional writers in all genres across the Midwest. Join the Missouri Writers Guild Conference for writers at all levels for breakout sessions and masterclasses covering the craft and business of creative writing.

Fiction Conferences

Romance Writers of America Annual Conference

When: Annually in July/August

Where: Location varies

Romance writers gather at the Romance Writers of America Annual Conference to learn more about the business of being an author. Get an opportunity to meet and mingle with budding and successful romance authors, as well as workshops and events to boost your author career.

SleuthFest

When: Annually

Where: Boca Raton, Florida

SleuthFest is an annual conference for mystery, suspense and thriller writers sponsored by the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

This conference includes writing and marketing workshops, networking events, and pitch sessions with guest agents and editors. It even includes hands-on forensic workshops!

Worldcon and North American Science Fiction Convention

When: Annually

Where: Various locations around the world

The World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”) is an annual gathering of the science fiction and fantasy community, held in a different location around the world each year. When Worldcon is held outside of North America, the corresponding NASFiC is held in North America.

This five-day international conference is attended by thousands of writers, artists, fans, editors, publishers, academics and dealers. The event embraces science fiction in all the forms, including film, TV, art, comics, anime and manga, and gaming.

Killer Nashville

When: Annually in August

Where: Nashville, TN

While attractive to mystery/thriller authors and screenwriters for its unique crime-focused sessions, Killer Nashville welcomes writers of all levels and genres. 

“Imagine hearing a CIA Analyst, an FBI agent on terrorism, Dr Bill Bass on The Body Farm, bestselling CJ Box on how he juggles his writing and plans his days, Heyward Gould on screenplays, and so much more. They even had a crime scene, with awards to those who studied the clues and figured out the mystery.”

Mystery author C. Hope Clark, reflecting on her 2012 Killer Nashville experience

Virtual Winter Thrills (Thrillerfest)

When: Annually

Where: Manhattan, New York and online

“It is the only conference where I really feel at home—and [International Thriller Writers] is truly the tribe I belong to…. I can talk about ways to murder people and weapons of choice and not feel weird. I can learn from some of the biggest names in the business, whose hours of writing experience number in the many thousands.”

Thriller author J.F. Penn at The Creative Pen

Virtual Winter Thrills is the latest iteration of the popular Thrillerfest writers conference from International Thriller Writers. It includes the perennial Practice PitchFest sessions and Master Class with best selling authors, plus a new series of craft and business classes called Winter Thrills MBA.

Blogging

We All Grow Weekend Fest

When: Annually in the spring

Where: Near Los Angeles, CA

We All Grow is a unique professional conference for Latinas working in the digital space. If you’re an online influencer or creative entrepreneur, this conference can help you network with others, learn strategies for personal and business growth, and connect with brands that want to reach your community.

Alt Summit

When: Annually in March

Where: Palm Springs, CA

Originally the Altitude Design Summit for design bloggers, Alt Summit has expanded since its founding in 2009 to include thousands of creative entrepreneurs, content creators, artists, and influencers. The emphasis is on connecting and collaborating with fellow creatives, and you’ll also get to attend keynotes, panels, and TED-style talks from high-caliber celebrities of popular culture and the online business world.

South by Southwest

When: Annually in March

Where: Austin, TX and online

South by Southwest has become the country’s premier event for the music, comedy, film and digital technology industries—basically, any creative person or fan!  In 2021, they launched the first SXSW Online, a digital extension of the massive convention. In October 2023, Australia hosted its first South by Southwest conference.

“What I love about SXSW—it always brings out my spontaneous side. I don’t make any plans until five minutes beforehand, and I love it.”

Jenny Blake, Life After College, The Number One Tip for SXSW Newbie

BlogHer Creators Summit

When: Annually in summer

Where: Various cities in the United States

Previously known simply as BlogHer, the reimagined Creators Summit promises to bring all the heat of thought leaders and influencers that the conference has been known for for nearly two decades. Attend workshops, panels and keynotes for anyone who wants to level up their online business. You’ll even get to engage with popular beauty and wellness brands.

Freelancing

American Society of Journalists and Authors Annual Conference

When: Annually

Where: Various cities in the United States

Attend the American Society of Journalists and Authors annual one-day conference to learn how to manage a freelance business or publish a book in the new media environment.

You can also find other one-day events throughout the year, covering various topics relevant to nonfiction writers, journalists, and authors. For example, in January 2024 there was a national convention of professional ghostwriters called Gathering of the Ghosts, a collaboration between ASJA and Gotham Ghostwriters.

Society for Professional Journalists Spring Conference Series

When: Annually in Spring

Where: Various cities in the United States

The Society for Professional Journalists day-long professional development meetings take place across 12 regions throughout the United States. They draw pros, students and educators for networking and training in topics ranging from writing skills to using new technologies.

Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing

When: Annually in Spring

Where: Various cities in the United States

Learn about new media for journalists, writing for various industries, managing your freelancing business, and more in this three-day conference from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing for journalists, business writers, and editors. Also keep an eye out for focused virtual and in-person trainings around the country.

Children’s Book Writing and Illustrating

SCBWI Annual Conferences

When: Various dates

Where: Various locations

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) hosts a slew of regional conferences around the world throughout the year, including the Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles each August, and the Annual Winter Conference in New York each February.

Christian Writing

Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference

When: Annually

Where: near Asheville, NC

Held annually at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center nestled in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is the premier training and networking event for both seasoned and aspiring writers and speakers.

Renewal Conference

When: Annually in April

Where: Bothell, WA

This annual conference by the Northwest Christian Writers Association celebrates and cultivates writers who are Christians. Hone your craft and engage your faith at the same time through keynotes, workshops, Q&A panels, networking events, and one-on-one appointments with professional writers and industry leaders.

Indie Publishing and Self-Publishing

Author Advantage Live

When: Annually

Where: Online

Author Advantage Live is a three-day interactive virtual experience contains all the information you’ll need to be successful as a self-published author—no matter your genre or goals! Author Advantage Live brings a vast list of expert speakers to the table. For example, Jenna Kutcher and Steven Pressfield were keynote speakers in 2022 and Amy Porterfield was the keynote speaker in 2023.

SelfPubCon: The Self-Publishing Advice Conference

When: Annually in Spring and Fall

Where: Online

SelfPubCon is for authors interested in self-publishing. It runs fringe to the London Book Fair and Digital Book World.

The conference is free and contains 24 sessions—one an hour for 24 hours. You can register to learn how to attend the next conference, and you can attend sessions live or catch up on your own time.

Orlando Reads Books

When: Annually in Fall

Where: Orlando, FL

Orlando Reads Books is a four-day event that includes workshops, panels and social events for indie, hybrid, and traditionally-published authors. It features sessions on craft and marketing, as well as events that let you mingle with readers and fellow authors.

Writer’s Digest Annual Conference

When: Annually

Where: Various locations

The Writer’s Digest editors bring you the Writer’s Digest Conference with resources for craft, career and creative inspiration. Nearly 50 agents and editors participate in the infamous Pitch Slam, and dozens of industry experts lead educational sessions.

International Writers Conferences (Outside of the United States)

Canada

Surrey International Writers’ Conference

When: Annually in October

Where: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

The Surrey International Writers’ Conference is the “most comprehensive professional development conference of its kind in Canada.” Open to writers of all levels and genres, the conference offers an opportunity to show off your work to the international literary marketplace as well as to hone your craft and business skills.

Vancouver Writers Festival

When: Annually in October

Where: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

In the cultural heart of Vancouver, B.C., on Granville Island, the Vancouver Writers Festival invites authors, poets, spoken word performers and graphic novelists to celebrate the art of the story. It takes place for six days each October and continues throughout the year through special events and the Incite reading series.

“The Vancouver Writers Fest turns reading into a community experience, bringing people together to share thoughts, explore ideas and witness brilliant conversations.”

Vancouver Writers Fest

Kingston WritersFest

When: Annually in September

Where: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

At Kingston WritersFest, writers and readers in attendance will get to participate in thought-provoking discussions and unique events that champion artistic expression and development.

Hosted in a notably literary city, this festival is all about “the power of the written word to create a strong, engaged community.”

WordFest

When: Annually in April and October

Where: Calgary, Alberta 

A not-for-profit charitable arts organization, WordFest “brings readers and writers together through a premier international writers festival and year-round literary events.” Throughout the year, book clubs and other activities are available to those who want to engage with fellow writers and readers. Guests can enjoy readings, workshops, panel discussions and presentations that work toward connecting Calgarians through transformative ideas. 

Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival

When: Annually in April 

Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival is a bilingual (English/French) festival features programming for adults and children. Attendees enjoy workshops, readings and lectures from speakers across genres of writing and art.

The festival is free to attend, but you’ll have to pay a fee for select activities.

gritLIT

When: Annually in April 

Where: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

gritLIT is a four-day festival is a celebration of Canadian authors. Its purpose is to highlight local writers and engage with the community.

“gritLIT brings the best contemporary Canadian writers to Hamilton to engage with local booklovers, to inspire and to be inspired by Hamilton authors, to promote a love of reading in young audiences and to celebrate the exchange of diverse ideas, experiences, and viewpoints.  ”

gritLIT

International Festival of Authors

When: Annually in October

Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Since 1974, the International Festival of Authors has highlighted authors of contemporary literature. It includes 11 days of readings, interviews, artist talks, round-table discussions, book signings and several special events.

IFOA features novelists, poets, playwrights, short story writers and biographers from Canada and around the world.

The Toronto Star called this Canada’s “premier literary festival” and “a top destination for both international superstars and up-and-coming writers.”

Lakefield Literary Festival

When: Annually in July

Where: Lakefield, Ontario, Canada

The Lakefield Literary Festival includes author readings and masterclasses in writing for all ages. Admission price per event ranges.

“[The festival is] a celebration of the rich literary heritage of Lakefield and the surrounding area which includes the works of Catharine Parr Traill, Susanna Moodie and Isabella Valancy Crawford, among others, all of who lived and wrote in Lakefield.”

Lakefield Literary Festival

LitFest Alberta

When: Annually in October

Where: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

LitFest Alberta celebrates nonfiction through readings, lectures, panel discussions and workshops. It covers diverse topics—from food writing to feminism. Several events are free.

Ottawa International Writers Festival

When: Annually in October and May

Where: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Ottawa International Writers Festival celebrates ideas and imagination! Programming includes a poetry cabaret, town-hall style discussion, and fiction and nonfiction readings. To celebrate writing “outside the pages of books,” the festival often includes staged play readings, feature films, documentaries, CD launches and songwriter circles.

“Twice a year, we convene an international celebration of ideas to recharge our imaginations. From politics to poetry, science to music, history to thrillers, we celebrate the full diversity of the word and the gifted writers who guide us in our exploration of the world.”

The Ottawa International Writers Festival

When Words Collide

When: Annually in August

Where: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Readers, writers, editors, publishers, agents and other artists attend this festival, which highlights commercial and literary fiction. When Words Collide welcomes writers of most genre fiction, YA, children’s books, nonfiction, and poetry.

UK and Ireland

The London Book Fair

When: Annually in Spring

Where: Olympia, London

The London Book Fair brings together authors, publishers and readers in the cultural hub of London to explore and understand the rapidly-changing publishing world.

“The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content.”

The London Book Fair

The International Dublin Writers’ Festival

When: Annually in June 

Where: Dublin, Ireland

From open mic readings to illuminating presentations, The International Dublin Writers’ Festival will give you the opportunity to attend training sessions led by renowned authors and industry experts, where you’ll learn about the craft and business of writing, as well as connect with fellow writers.

“This conference will help you to improve your writing craft, publish successfully, and plan the marketing necessary for any author to achieve success whether traditionally published or self-published. This conference provides practical support, valuable training and an opportunity to meet and get to know fellow writers in one of the world’s great literary cities.”

The International Dublin Writers’ Festival hosted by Books Go Social

Listowel Writers’ Week

When: Annually in May/June

Where: Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland

Running nearly 50 years, Listowel Writers’ Week is an annual literary festival for YA literature. It includes writing workshops, readings, interviews, forums, book launches and masterclasses. Enjoy tours of the historic Irish town and access to local and international writers.

The festival also includes several writing competitions for novel, short story, humor, and playwriting. Awards even exist for sports journalism, writing for readers with special needs and writing in prisons.

Stoke Newington Literary Festival

When: Annually in June 

Where: London, UK

The Stoke Newington Literary Festival celebrates the diverse, “radical, rabble-rousing and literary history” of the Stoke Newington area of Hackney in London. Free and paid events feature readings and performances across genres and media. Admission to paid events ranges from £3 to £10.

Strokestown International Poetry Festival

When: Annually during the first weekend in May

Where: Strokestown, County Roscommon, Ireland

The Strokestown International Poetry Festival has been celebrating poetry since 1999. Its mission is to “showcase contemporary poetry, local, national and international, foster the development of emerging writers and consolidate poetry in local cultural life bringing it to the widest possible audience.”

The weekend includes readings from several established and up-and-coming poets, a poetry workshop and poetry competitions for poems in English and Irish.

Hay Festival

When: Annually in Fall and Spring

Where: Hay-on-Wye, Wales

President Bill Clinton dubbed this festival “Woodstock of the mind,” according to The Telegraph.

The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.

“Hay celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking.”

Hay Festival

Kent Arts Conference

When: Annually in July or August 

Where: Canterbury, Kent, UK

Originally the Warnborough College Conference on the Arts and previously the Canterbury Arts Conference, the Kent Arts Conference has grown to accommodate an international audience. It welcomes artists in all disciplines and media, academics, students, historians and other professionals.

Participants have the opportunity to share and publish research, and network with peers. The conference includes creative writing and visual art workshops, as well as presentations of art in a variety of media.

Ledbury Poetry Festival

When: Annually in July

Where: Ledbury, UK

The Daily Mail called this festival, launched in 1997, “the world’s most diverse poetry festival.”

It really has something for everyone. The Ledbury Poetry Festival features an array of community events to celebrate the writing and performance of poetry. Attend readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, musical performances, craft seminars and open mics in the “lively and picturesque market town” of Ledbury.

It also includes programs for new writers and a poetry competition.

Europe

Geneva Writers Group

When: Various dates throughout the year

Where: Various locations in Geneva, Switzerland 

The Geneva Writers Group is brimming with opportunity. It offers several informative events throughout the year: the biennial Geneva Writers’ Conference; a “Meet the Agents” weekend on alternate years; monthly Saturday workshops from September to June that include masterclasses and critiquing sessions; coordinated writing groups; and an annual literary cruise on Lake Geneva. 

Whether you’re an established author or just starting out, GWG welcomes writers from around the world and offers a supportive community that encourages creative writing. 

Paris Café Writing

When: Various dates in April and November

Where: Le Marais, Paris

Patricia Tennison, a professor and author of award-honored books, leads a small group of eight writers in a week-long workshop. Accompanied by her husband Joseph Prendergast, a poet and teacher, Tennison guides writers of all experience levels through five morning seminars and a private writing session. 

Some meals and activities are included in the registration fee for Paris Cafe Writing, but guests are responsible for lodging and transportation. 

Frankfurt Writers’ Conference 

When: Annually in March

Where: Höchst, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The Frankfurt Writers’ Conference began in 2018 and anticipates organizing an even bigger and better event each year. In two fun-filled days, the conference hosts an interactive workshop and discussions led by an accomplished list of German and English-speaking literary agents, publishing representatives and writers. 

Expect to learn ways to improve your pitch, receive insider knowledge on the world of publishing and more. 

Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

When: Annually in September 

Where: Erice, Sicily

Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference is a seven-day writers conference in the beautiful, ancient town of Erice.

Attendance is limited to just five groups of six participants for an intimate experience. The conference includes small-group workshops, plus classes and lectures for all attendees. It’s open to fiction, poetry and nonfiction writers.

For additional options, check out sister Bread Loaf conferences in Ripton, Vermont.

Information, Medium & Society: International Conference on Publishing Studies

When: Annually in July

Where: Venice, Italy

Since 2003, this evolving research network has brought writers, readers, publishers, emerging scholars and more together to discuss “investigations on the nature and forms of information, and publishing practices as distinctive modes of social knowledge and cultural production.”

When you attend the International Conference on Publishing Studies, make sure to attend a range of sessions and presentations that allow opportunities for networking and learning more about key issues in the industry.

Iceland Writers Retreat

When: Annually in Spring

Where: Reykjavik, Iceland

Whether you’re an aspiring, published or hobby writer, you’re welcome to join the Iceland Writers Retreat. It includes small-group workshops, dinner and receptions for networking, and tours of the area.

This program focuses on literary fiction and nonfiction books, so it’s not a good fit if you want to learn more about freelancing, online writing, genre fiction, poetry, or other media.

Asia and Oceania

NonfictioNOW

When: Annually in December

Where: Wellington, New Zealand 

NonfictioNOW features roundtable discussions and keynote speakers that highlight a variety of nonfiction, including memoir, essay and literary journalism. There are also multimedia presentations, including graphic and video essay.

“The NonfictioNOW Conference is a regular gathering of over 400 nonfiction writers, teachers and students from around the world in an effort to explore the past, present, and future of nonfiction.”

NonfictioNOW

Melbourne Writers Festival

When: Annually in late August/early September

Where: Melbourne, Australia

The Melbourne Writers Festival is for readers, writers, and thinkers and engages participants through, storytelling, discussion, intellectual debate, educational programs, live performance, music, and art events.

Enjoy writing workshops, lectures and panel discussions on all forms of creative writing.

Asian Festival of Children’s Content 

When: Annually in May or September 

Where: Various Southeast Asian countries

Guests joining the Asian Festival of Children’s Content get to have unique and culturally rich experiences, hosted in a different Southeast Asian country each year. Workshops, masterclasses, presentations, panels and other events organized by the Singapore Book Council explore the world of children’s publishing, from creation and distribution to consumer consumption. 

Whether you’re an academic, a writer, editor, agent, publisher, teacher, parent or anything in between, guests are encouraged to partake in the celebration of Asian content for children and young adults, plus take advantage of opportunities to network and hone their craft.

Central and South America

San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival

When: Annually in February

Where: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Established and emerging writers are welcome at the San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival.

Attendees will get the chance to network with writers from around the world at this prestigious multicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish) writers’ conference and literary festival. Prepare to hone your craft through workshops, masterclasses, keynote presentations, panel discussions and seminars.

And don’t forget the beautiful location! Bill Maxwell, opinion columnist at Tampa Bay Times, said of his experience in San Miguel:

“Rarely have I fallen in love with a landlocked city. … This is a magical place, starting with its colonial architecture. Many of its large and colorful homes are nestled among jacaranda and decorated with bougainvillea. As I walked the narrow cobblestone streets, music and gaiety greeted me.”

Bill Maxwell, opinion columnist at Tampa Bay Times

Storyteller Within

When: Annually

Where: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

The Storyteller Within Women’s Retreat is a nine-day conference specifically for women. It includes daily yoga and writing sessions and encourages women to do self-reflective, inner healing work. Conference participants are selected through an application process.

Cuenca International Writers Conference

When: Annually in August (note: we’re unable to verify if this conference is still happening)

Where: Cuenca, Ecuador 

Ready to learn, network and recharge? At this conference, “you’ll laugh, you’ll learn, you’ll meet new friends who understand the writing life, and you’ll return home with a fresh perspective that allows new ideas to flourish.” 

Tucked away in what’s considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America, the Cuenca International Writers Conference provides writers of all backgrounds intimate networking opportunities with distinguished presenters, stimulating workshops, and unforgettable cultural experiences.

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via Matej Kastelicg/ Shutterstock 

And, most importantly, is it going to break the bank and wipe out your revenue? 

I wish I could give you a firm rule, something like proofreading will always cost one cent per word, copyediting two cents per word, and developmental editing three cents per word.

Wondering how much does an editor cost? Keep reading!

The truth is much hazier than that. How much a book editor costs depends on several factors.

So my goal here is to flesh out those factors and give you a sense of how much book editing might cost.

Freelance editing rates vary widely from one editor to the next, so I’ll also help you think through how to compare different editors and decide which one to hire.

How much does an editor cost? 

How much an editor costs, as with any self-publishing service, depends on a lot of factors. That said, for copyediting/proofreading, you’re generally looking at $1,000-$3,000 per book. For developmental editing—the higher level stuff—you’ll be looking at $5,000 to $10,000 USD per book.

There’s obviously a lot of room in there, so let’s break down some hard numbers and actual rates. 

Many writers point to the Editorial Freelancers Association rates page as a guide toward setting editorial rates. (Disclaimer: I’m a member of the EFA.)

The EFA rates page lists various editing and writing tasks and their attendant hourly rates as self-reported by EFA members who took the rates survey. They break down editing into five subcategories and list proofreading as a separate category.

(Tip: they also list per-hour and per-word rates for writing work.)

For comparison purposes, let’s look at the editing rates and use an average page-per-hour and an average hourly rate. For instance, the EFA lists basic copyediting of 5–10 pages per hour at a cost of $30–$40 per hour, so I’ve assumed 7.5 pages per hour at a cost of $35 per hour. The other total calculations also use their respective average rates.

For a 70,000-word book, your editing costs could be:

• Developmental editing: $.08 per word, or $5,600 total
• Basic copyediting: $.018 per word, or $1,260 total
• Proofreading: $.0113, or $791 total

It’s easy to extrapolate from this what your total expected editing cost could be. Fantasy, sci-fi, and epic novel writers should be forewarned.

For a 120,000-word book, your editing costs could be:

• Developmental editing: $.08 per word, or $9,600 total
• Basic copyediting: $.018 per word, or $2,160 total
• Proofreading: $.0113, or $1,356 total

While these are simply one website’s average estimates for editorial costs, they serve as a reliable benchmark.

If you end up paying more for an editor, you might be glad you did. As in life, so too in books: you often get what you pay for.

7 questions to ask before hiring an editor

Think through these questions when trying to figure out how much to spend on your editing project. They’ll help you figure out how much you’ll need to pay an editor to review your book.

1. What kind of editing do you need?

What does a book editor do? Not all editing is created equal. Here are a few different kinds of editing:

• Developmental editing: big picture, content editing, macro editing
• Copyediting: micro editing, grammar editing, flow and structure editing
• Proofreading: consistency check, format and layout

Developmental editing costs more than copyediting, and copyediting costs more than proofreading.

2. What’s your total word count?

Book editors for hire typically charge by word count or page count. Some charge by the hour, but that’s rare, especially for editing long books.

Knowing your total word count is essential to an editor’s cost estimations for taking on your project.

3. How complex is your book?

Editing academic work to a niche style guide will cost more than editing a novel per the Chicago Manual of Style.

Editing a book with hundreds of footnotes or endnotes should cost more than editing a book without citations.

In other words, the complexity and niche of your work will affect the book editing rate.

4. What’s your deadline?

How quickly do you need the work done? The more flexible you are with your deadline, the less you might pay.

If you ask for your 100,000-word novel to be copyedited within two weeks, you might have to pay a premium for such a fast turnaround, especially if your editor is already booked.

5. What’s your writing experience?

Do you consider yourself a beginner, mid-level or expert writer?

By default, beginning writers will need more help, which means more time, which can mean more money.

An experienced editor can often take a look at an excerpt from a manuscript, get a feel for your experience level, and deduce the amount of time they need to edit the full manuscript.

For beginning writers: always look at hiring an editor as an investment in both your book and yourself. With the right editor, you should grow as a writer because of the feedback.

6. What’s your editor’s experience level and/or demand?

A novice editor will cost less than an editor with decades of experience and multiple best-sellers in their portfolio.

Of course, you get what you pay for, and an experienced editor might bring more value.

Likewise, if you want to work with an editor who’s in high demand and booked six months out, you’ll likely have to pay more than if you choose to work with an editor who has lots of room in her schedule.

7. What’s your flexibility?

If an editor is booked solid, can you afford to wait six months to get the editor you want?

Or, will you pay a premium to jump their queue if they offer such an option? Or, will you choose a lesser-known or less experienced editor at a lower price so that you can have your editing accomplished faster?

How to compare editing costs (free download)

If you’d like to get truly organized about your search, download this simple book editing checklist to help in your search for an editor who meets most of your desired criteria and offers freelance editing rates you’re willing to pay.

I say “most of your desired criteria” because it’s rare to find an editor who will meet all your criteria.

For instance, you may have to pay a few hundred to a few thousand dollars more for your top pick. Or, you may find someone at your precise price point, but their experience isn’t quite what you’d like it to be. You must be the one to assess what trade-offs you’re willing to make.

By using that checklist, you should be able to quickly and easily compare the editors you’re vetting.

If you’re given an hourly rate for freelance editing, ask the editor how many pages per hour they can edit, then extrapolate their per-word rate.

Compiling this information is a headache (especially for math-averse writers like myself), but seeing every editor’s rate as a per-word rate will help you better compare editors.

To learn more about editing as a whole, and the entire publishing process, check out the resource below.

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

If you are looking for Christian writing work, you’re on the cusp of joining a writing niche that is in no way small.

The faith economy’s annual worth is $1.2 trillion. Much of this is due to writing. Christian writers contribute to the writing world in many ways, a few of which are via personal blogs, journalism, and writing faith-based books.

Contributing to Christian publications can be a fulfilling way to use your talents. In addition, if you’re hoping to transition out of your traditional 9-5 job, there are specific ways you can pursue full-time Christian writing work. In this article, I first define Christian writing work and then dive into five concrete steps you can take to get started. 

Christian Writing Work Defined 

Christian writing work centers on writing, drafting, and editing Christian copy for online or print publication. Whether you naturally gravitate toward online journalism or writing faith-based books, if you want to jump into Christian writing work, there is a place for you.

It takes writers of all backgrounds and talents to create a well-rounded market. In fact, there are many names you may recognize that make a living in Christian writing and whose work spans a plethora of genres and writing styles.

You may know Jerry B. Jenkins’ name from his well-known series, Left Behind. Katelyn Beaty is also a Christian writer, but she steers clear of fiction, taking a more journalistic approach. John Piper’s Christian writing work spans the continents in both book and digital form.

So wherever you find yourself, below are five ways you can get a foot in the door of Christian writing work.

6 Options To Get Started

Breaking into any industry can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. The good news is there are many different roads you can take to begin Christian writing work. No one option is better than another, it simply depends on what’s best for you and your writing goals. 

1. Freelancing

Freelancing is a great first step into Christian writing work due to its availability to writers at various stages in their journey. If you are first starting out, you may want to create a simple website and list your services. This way, when you query potential clients, your website adds legitimacy to your request. 

There are also many blogs that hire freelancers and pay per word. Other publications pay per article. For instance, Chicken Soup For The Soul reportedly pays $250 per 1,200-word article, as well as free copies of the book itself. 

Christian writing work may feel difficult to get into, but once you send your first query, you’ve taken that first step. Freelancing is an extremely nonthreatening way to test the waters.

2. Start Your Own Blog

In an era of influencers, blogging is another opportunity to make a dent with Christian writing work. Sadie Robertson Huff (Duck Dynasty) is a celebrity influencer who uses blogging to reach her audience. Sarah Young (Jesus Calling) includes a blog on her author website.

You don’t need to have sold 30 million copies of your book to start a blog, however. In fact, both Sadie and Sarah lacked a writing platform earlier on.  While you can always query established bloggers and ask to guest blog, starting your own blog is a way to get started in Christian writing work. This low investment with potential for high influence is a nearly fail-proof way to get started. 

Don’t forget to blog regularly, whether a month or once a week, so your growing audience knows what to expect from you. As your audience list grows, your opportunity to monetize your blog will increase as well. 

3. Submitting to Paid Publications

Billy Graham started the vision behind the now well-known magazine, Christianity Today. This publication allows freelancers to query ideas, and if accepted, pays them for their article. There are many more paid publications you can check into as you pursue Christian writing work, and here are a few tips for doing so:

• Query simultaneously
• Send you best ideas
• Include a few important credentials 
• Be brief but efficient 
• Track your progress 

A simple Excel spreadsheet or even a good notebook can help you document the responses you receive and the dates you queried which publications. 

4. Writing A Faith Book

Sharing your story or writing on faith-based topics is another great way to get into Christian writing work. You can choose to traditionally publish or self-publish your book and even launch a speaking career if your book does well. 

Authors often use books as the launching pad for their career, pulling quotes for social media, specific topics for speaking events, and even building entire online courses to go with the book.  

5. Christian Journalism 

For those with a more journalistic mindset, Christian journalism can be an exciting niche to tap into. You can offer your work in book form with the help of a publisher of Christian books, host a podcast, or craft research articles on the current topics in Christianity. 

There are so many ways to use journalism in Christian writing work, and many people are paving the way forward in this area. If you have a background in journalism or are currently studying this writing form, you may want to explore the possibilities in this niche. 

6. Working With Authors

With millions of books published annually you can rest assured that ghost writers and editors are needed. Working with authors provides writers with a unique look at individual stories, provides a behind-the-curtain glimpse at authors’ lives, and can add credibility to their own Christian writing work. 

If you are interested in working with an author, whether editing their manuscript or helping them write it, you can start in a few ways:

• Sit down with an editor and ask for advice 
• Look for editing jobs at Christian publishing houses 
• Add this service to your website and begin freelance editing

Working with authors is one way many well-established writers got into the business, and is a opportunity you can benefit from as well.

Your New Day Job in Christian Writing Work

Getting into Christian writing work is an exciting prospect. If you are a person of faith, pursuing this type of work is not only a helpful transition into a new career path, but distinctly fulfilling as well. 

Here comes the hard part. How do you take the above opportunities and translate them into steps you can take today? Below are a few possibilities that you can pursue with little time investment and zero financial investment: 

• Build a free website with a template 
• Email Christian writers in your network asking for advice
• Browse the above links for paid freelance work
• Follow this step-by-step process to write your book

Remember that just like any career shift, solidifying yourself in the industry takes time. Use your credentials to establish your credibility and keep in mind that slow and steady, over time, can yield great results. 

Before I leave you to get started, here is a simple mindset tip to focus on as you begin your journey: Treat your pursuit of Christian writing work like the day job you one day want it to be. Prioritize it, give it your all, and pursue it relentlessly. Best wishes out there! 

As for your host on today’s article, I’m a full-time book editor, author and ghostwriter.

I’ve written, coauthored, or ghostwritten eight books and have edited dozens more. I’m well-versed in self-publishing, and I’ve helped a handful of clients craft proposals for traditional publishing, one of which was picked up at the tail end of 2016.

In other words, I’m in the trenches every working day.

Through this column, I hope you’ll learn what I wish I would have known about editing and editors when I first became serious about writing as a business.

To that end, let’s get to what may be the most pressing topic for a new author seeking to self-publish.

How to find an editor

You could search the Internet for “editor,” “book editor,” or “Help, I need an editor ASAP,” but you will be overwhelmed with choices.

Even that last search phrase has more than 200,000 hits, and most of those seem to be video editors. So how are you supposed to find the right editor for your book?

Try each of these steps until you find one that nets you at least a few good leads.

1. Seek referrals from other writers

The best advertising for an editor is a satisfied client.

Talk with your fellow writers, whether online or in real life, and ask who they recommend.

However, you may encounter a Catch-22: better editors’ schedules may be packed, and you may not want to wait a few months for them even to begin working on your book.

That’s when you proceed to Step 2.

2. Seek referrals from that referral

If your writer friend has provided a glowing review of his or her editor, but that editor doesn’t have room for you in their schedule (or they don’t provide the specific kind of editing you need), kindly and quickly ask that editor for a referral to another editor.

Most experienced editors have professional connections they’ll be more than happy to leverage in order to help a writer.

But what if you don’t have any writer friends who’ve used an editor?

3. Check pre-vetted lists

Instead of searching the entire Internet for an editor, consider these sites that have already compiled lists of qualified, capable editors:

• Self-Publishing School Recommended Book Production Partners: You do need to be a customer of theirs to access this list. But these are some of the best around.
• “Need a Good Book Editor? Top Recommendations”: As an editor herself, and after being asked far too often for editorial recommendations, author K. M. Weiland created this list based on writing experts whose opinions she trusts.
• The Editorial Freelancers Association: In addition to searching its directory, you may also submit your editing need for free, but be warned: you might receive dozens or even hundreds of replies.

Whether you use these sites or other compilations, be sure to read up on how a list was curated.

Did the editor have to pay to be listed? (The EFA requires a yearly subscription.) Did someone else have to vouch for their work in order to be added? (Other writers vouched for editors on K. M. Weiland’s list.) Could they simply add themselves? (Fiverr, Upwork, etc.)

Always conduct due diligence.

4. Utilise Social Media

Social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook offer invaluable resources for you when seeking an editor. Within these platforms, there are numerous groups and communities dedicated to writing, editing, and publishing.

You can join these groups to network with fellow authors and editors, share experiences, ask for recommendations, and even find editors directly advertising their services.

By engaging with these online communities, writers can tap into a vast pool of editorial talent and connect with professionals who can help refine their work to its fullest potential.

5. Professional Organizations

Professional organizations such as the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) serve as invaluable resources for you when seeking an editor.

These organizations typically have directories or databases of experienced editors available for hire, along with resources and guidelines to help writers navigate the editing process effectively.

By joining such organizations, you can gain access to a network of reputable professionals who can provide expert editorial services tailored to your specific needs.

Additionally, these organizations often offer workshops, conferences, and other events where you can further develop their skills and connections within the editing community.

6. Writer’s Conferences 

Writer’s conferences, such as the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference, offer fertile ground when seeking editors.

These events attract a diverse array of literary professionals, including editors from publishing houses, literary magazines, and freelance backgrounds. When attending these conferences, you can seize the opportunity to network with editors during panel discussions, workshops, and networking events.

Many editors participate as speakers or panelists, providing valuable insights into the editing process and offering opportunities for one-on-one interactions.

By engaging with editors at writer’s conferences, you will be able to forge meaningful connections, pitch work, and potentially secure editorial partnerships to enhance the quality of your writing projects.

7. Local Writing Groups

Local writing groups serve as excellent resources for writers in search of editors.

These groups often consist of passionate writers who are eager to support one another in their writing endeavors. Within these communities, writers can often find members who have experience working with editors or can provide recommendations based on their own experiences.

Additionally, writing groups may host events or workshops focused on the editing process, where writers can learn more about finding and working with editors effectively.

By participating in local writing groups, writers not only gain access to potential editors but also foster connections with fellow writers who can offer valuable insights and support throughout the editing journey.

8. Literary Magazines and Journals

Literary magazines and journals are valuable resources for writers seeking editors to refine their work. Many of these publications offer editing services or can connect writers with experienced editors in their network.

For instance, “The Paris Review” provides editorial services for writers looking to polish their manuscripts before submission. Similarly, “Granta” offers manuscript consultations where writers can receive feedback and guidance from experienced editors.

These opportunities not only help writers improve their work but also provide valuable networking connections within the literary community.

Additionally, some literary magazines like “Poets & Writers” maintain directories of editors, making it easier for writers to find the right editorial support for their projects. By engaging with literary magazines, writers can access a wealth of editorial expertise to elevate their writing to the next level.

9. University Writing Centers

University writing centers provide great opportunities for writers when seeking editing assistance. These centers typically employ trained writing tutors who can provide feedback on drafts, assist with grammar and style, and offer guidance on the editing process.

For example, the writing center at Harvard University offers one-on-one consultations where writers can receive personalized feedback on their writing projects. Similarly, the University of California, Berkeley’s writing center provides online resources and workshops to support writers at all stages of the writing process.

By utilizing university writing centers, writers can access expert editorial support and improve their writing skills in a collaborative and supportive environment.

10. Online Forums and Communities 

Online forums and communities, such as Reddit’s r/writing, serve as vibrant hubs for writers seeking editors. These platforms provide spaces for writers to connect with editors, exchange feedback, and share resources.

For instance, the subreddit r/HireAnEditor offers a platform for writers to post job listings and connect with freelance editors for various projects.

Additionally, forums like Absolute Write and WritingForums.org host sections dedicated to editor recommendations and services.

By engaging with online writing communities, writers can tap into a diverse pool of editorial talent, receive valuable feedback on their work, and establish professional relationships that enhance the quality of their writing projects.

11. Self Publishing Platforms

Self-publishing platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark are other viable avenues for writers seeking editing services.

These platforms often offer editing packages or connect writers with professional editors who specialize in their genre.

For example, KDP’s Author Services provides editing options ranging from basic proofreading to comprehensive editing services. Similarly, IngramSpark offers access to Ingram’s network of professional editors who can assist writers with refining their manuscripts.

By utilizing self-publishing platforms, writers can access affordable and reliable editing services to ensure their work is polished and ready for publication.

How to vet an editor

After discovering a handful of editors who seem like a good fit, you’ll want to spend more time ensuring that they’re the right person for you and your book.

After all, you’ll be closely working with them on something that’s likely very close to you.

By investing time up front to find the best candidate, you may just succeed in landing a great editor on your first try, saving you the hassle of further back-and-forth emails with more editors.

Vetting an editor can be as simple as two steps, though each of these steps could require a fair amount of work on your part.

1. Do your research

Before contacting an editor, comb through your prospective editor’s website.

Carefully read about the kinds of editing they offer. Browse through the books they’ve edited. Read their endorsements.

If you’re really intent on learning about what it’s like to work with that particular editor, consider reaching out to one of that editor’s clients. Find the editor on social media to see what he or she is like apart from their writing work. Conduct a search with just the editor’s name to see what the rest of the web may say about them.

2. Ask specific questions

Don’t waste your time (or theirs) to discover information that’s already online.

Do as much homework as you can before contacting an editor by email or phone. However, you will undoubtedly have specific questions that can only be answered by contacting your prospective editor.

Here’s a list to help you think through what you ought to know about your editor before contracting to work with him or her:

• What types of editing do you offer?
• How much do you charge?
• How long have you been editing?
• Can you put me in touch with other clients you’ve worked with?
• What experience do you have in [insert your genre]?
• What’s your process in working with writers?
• What software do you use to edit?
• Will you send me a contract before work commences?
• Can we schedule a face-to-face meeting [or Zoom] prior to beginning work together?
• How often (and how) will you be in contact with me during the editing process?
• Do you offer a sample edit?
• When is payment due?
• What are my options for payment?
• Will you be nice to me?

For more questions for your editor, check out this article. Despite what they may do to your manuscript, most editors I know actually are nice people.

They love to read as much as you do, and their goal for your book is the same as your goal for your book: to make it the best it can be with the time and resources allowed to them.

Finding the right editor for your book can be challenging, but if you approach it from a professional mindset and follow the suggestions in this article, you should be able to find someone who can make your book shine.

May your search for an editor be short and successful.

Have you worked with an editor before? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Good news! You can finally stop stressing about where and how to submit your short stories—we compiled a list for you. 

Trying to find a sense of community comes with the territory of being a writer. Whether you’re looking for the right writing contests or residencies, it’s hard to know where to begin and how to find the right home for your personal work. 

In this guide, you’ll find 30+ magazines and literary journals that publish short fiction (and nonfiction). Our list includes a mix of publications across various genres and styles, ranging from prestigious, highly competitive options to those specifically seeking new and emerging voices.

Plus, international writers, a lot of these are open to you, too! 

30 Outlets that Publish Short Stories

While we’ll give you a brief idea of the flavor of each magazine and site, you’ll definitely want to spend some time reading your target publications before submitting to become familiar with the sort of pieces they prefer. 

Many of these short story publishers accept original submissions that are simultaneously submitted elsewhere. Just make sure to withdraw your submitted submissions if you get your story published!

Ready to get started? Here’s where to submit short stories.

1. The New Yorker

Might as well start with a bang, right? Adding publication in The New Yorker to your portfolio puts you in a whole new league, though it won’t be easy. Author David. B. Comfort calculated the odds of acceptance at 0.0000416 percent!

It accepts both standard short fiction as well as humorous short fiction for the “Shouts & Murmurs” section. No word counts are mentioned, though a quick scan of the column shows most pieces are 600 to 1,000 words.

Deadline: Open

Payment: Huge bragging rights; pay for unsolicited submissions isn’t specified. As of this post’s publication, no rates specifically for short stories

2. The Atlantic

Another highly respected magazine, The Atlantic, publishes both big names and emerging writers in fiction and nonfiction. Submission guidelines advise, “A general familiarity with what we have published in the past is the best guide to what we’re looking for.”

Deadline: Open. Fiction stories are submitted to fiction@theatlantic.com

Payment: Unsolicited submissions are generally unpaid

3. The Threepenny Review

The 3P Review is quarterly arts magazine focuses on literature, arts and society, memoir and essay. Short stories should be no more than 4,000 words, while submissions to the “Table Talk” section (pithy, irreverent and humorous musings on culture, art, politics and life) should be 1,000 words or less.

Deadline: January 1 to April 30

Payment: $400 for short stories; $200 for Table Talk pieces

4. One Story

One Story is just what the name says: a literary magazine that publishes one great short story every three to four weeks, and nothing more.

Its main criteria for a great short story? One “that leaves readers feeling satisfied and [is] strong enough to stand alone.” Stories can be any style or subject but should be between 3,000 and 8,000 words.

Deadline: January 15 – May 31 | September 3 – November 14

Payment: $500 plus 25 contributor copies

5. AGNI

Thought-provoking is the name of the game if you want to get published in AGNI. Its editors look for pieces that hold a mirror up to the world around us and engage in a larger, ongoing cultural conversation about nature, mankind, the society we live in and more.

There are no word limits, but shorter is generally better; “The longer a piece is, the better it needs to be to justify taking up so much space in the magazine,” note the submission guidelines.

Deadline: Open September 1 to December 15; February 15 to May 31

Payment: $10 per printed page (up to a max of $150) plus a year’s subscription, two contributor’s copies and four gift copies

6. Kindle Vella

Rather than seeking a magazine or journals editorial approval, you can publish directly to Kindle Vella’s short story program. Here, your work will go directly to market and its success will be determined by the general public, not by an editorial team. You also don’t have to wait months on a response as to whether your short story will be published. You can upload and be published on Kindle Vella in under 48 hours.

For a full review of Kindle Vella, read this article.

Deadline: Open

Payment: Royalties on KDP reads

7. Barrelhouse

Published by an independent nonprofit literary organization, Barrelhouse’s biannual print journal and online issue seek to “bridge the gap between serious art and pop culture.” Its editors look for quality writing that’s also edgy and funny—as they say, they “want to be your weird Internet friend.”

There’s no hard word count, but try to keep your submission under 8,000 words.

Deadline: Currently open for book reviews only. Check the webpage to see all open categories and sign up for the email list to receive updates on submissions

Payment: $50 to print and online contributors; print contributors also receive two contributor copies

8. The Cincinnati Review

The Cincinnati Review publishes work by writers of all genres and at all points of their careers. Its editors want “work that has energy,” that is “rich in language and plot structure” and “that’s not just ecstatic, but that makes its reader feel ecstatic, too.”

Fiction and nonfiction submissions should be no more than 40 double-spaced pages.

Deadline: The review accepts submissions during three time periods, September, December, and May. Submit earlier in the month because they will stop accepting submissions when their cap is reached.

Payment: $25 per page for prose in journal

9. The First Line

This cool quarterly is all about jumpstarting that pesky writer’s block. Each issue of The First Line contains short fiction stories (300 to 5,000 words) that each begin with the same pre-assigned first line. 

If you really want to get ambitious, you can also write a four-part story that uses each of that year’s first lines (which is due by the next year’s spring issue deadline). To find each issue’s assigned first line, check out the submission guidelines.

Deadline: February 1 (spring); May 1 (summer); August 1 (fall); November 1 (winter)

Payment: $25 to $50 (fiction); $25 (nonfiction) plus a contributor’s copy

10. The Georgia Review

Another one high on the prestige list, The Georgia Review features a wide variety of essays, fiction, book reviews, and more across a wide range of topics. You can read specific requirements for each in the submission guidelines, but the common theme among them all is quality, quality, quality.

Bear in mind submitting requires a $3 processing fee if you’re not a subscriber.

Deadline: Opens on August 15

Payment: $50 per printed page; contributors also receive a one-year subscription to the quarterly and a 50% discount on additional copies of that issue

11. Boulevard Magazine

Boulevard Magazine is always on the lookout for “less experienced or unpublished writers with exceptional promise.” It accepts prose pieces (fiction and nonfiction) up to 8,000 words (note: no science fiction, erotica, westerns, horror, romance or children’s stories).

There is an online submission fee of $3. Free if submitting by post.

Deadline: Open November 1 to May 1

Payment: $100 to $300

12. Story

Story Magazine is, you guessed it, all about the story, whatever shape it takes. Each issue—printed tri-annually in February, June, and November—is “devoted to the complex and diverse world of narrative with a focus on fiction and nonfiction.” Luckily, you don’t have to stick to any formal guidelines in regards to style, content, or even length; they consider all “short” narrative length work, from flash fiction to novellas. There is a $3 submission fee.

Deadline: Open

Payment: Regular payment rate is $10 per page upon publication

13. Vestal Review

Prefer to keep your short stories extra short? Vestal Review publishes flash fiction of no more than 500 words. Its editors are open to all genres except for syrupy romance, hard science fiction and children’s stories, and they have a special fondness for humor. R-rated content is OK, but stay away from anything too racy, gory or obscene.

There is a submission fee of $2 for each submission. 

Deadline: Submission periods are February to May and August to November

Payment: The author of an accepted print submission gets $25 and a print copy; $10 for accepted web submissions

14. Flash Fiction Online

Flash Fiction Online allows for slightly longer flash stories—between 500 and 1,000 words. Its editors like sci-fi and fantasy but are open to all genres (except for nonfiction and poetry!). As with Vestal, stay away from the heavier stuff like erotica and violence. What they’re looking for is developed, empathetic characters and discernible, resolved plots. Unlike many of the other publications, they will accept previously published work, which you’d submit in the reprint category.  

Deadline: Open each month for submissions from the 1st to the 21st of the month.

Payment: $80 per story; two cents per word for reprints

15. Black Warrior Review

Black Warrior Review publishes a mix of work by up-and-coming writers and nationally known names. Fiction pieces of up to 7,000 words should be innovative, challenging, and unique; its editors value “absurdity, hybridity, the magical [and] the stark.”

BWR also accepts flash fiction under 1,000 words and nonfiction pieces (up to 7,000 words) that complicate western traditions of truth-telling, and “foregrounds the history of emotions rather than the history of facts.” There is a $3 submission fee.

Deadline: Submission periods are December 1 to March 1 and June 1 to September 1

Payment: A one-year subscription to BWR and a nominal lump-sum fee (amount not disclosed in its guidelines)

16. The Sun Magazine

The Sun Magazine offers some of the biggest payments we’ve seen, and while its guidelines specifically mention personal writing and provocative political/cultural pieces, they also say editors are “open to just about anything.”

Works should run no more than 7,000 words. Submit something the editors love, and you could get a nice payday.

Deadline: Open

Payment: $300 to $2,000

17. Virginia Quarterly (VQR)

A diverse publication that features both award-winning and emerging writers, VQR accepts short fiction (3,500 to 8,000 words) but is not a fan of genre work like romance, sci-fi and fantasy. It also takes nonfiction (3,500 to 9,000 words) like travel essays that examine the world around us.

Deadline: Submissions read July 1 to July 31

Payment: Generally $1,000 and above for short fiction and prose (approximately 25 cents per word) with higher rates for investigative reporting; $100 to $200 for content published online

18. Ploughshares

Ploughshares’ award-winning literary journal is published by Boston’s Emerson College. They accept fiction and nonfiction under 7,500 words and require a $3 service fee if you submit online (it’s free to submit by mail, though they prefer digital submissions). You can also submit your significantly longer work (7,500 to 20,000 words) to the Ploughshares Solos series!

Deadline: June 1 to January 15 at noon Eastern Time

Payment: $45 per printed page (for a minimum of $90 per title and a maximum of $450 per author); plus two contributor copies of the issue and a one-year subscription

19. Carve Magazine

Writers are in for a treat! Carve Magazine accepts poetry, short stories and nonfiction submissions, not exceeding 10,000 words. They accept literary fiction only and are not open to genre fiction (i.e. thriller, horror, romance, etc.). They also accept novel excerpts but only those that can stand alone in the story. There’s a $3 submission fee, but you can subscribe to the magazine to skirt past it.

Deadline: Open all-year-round from anywhere in the world

Payment: Pays $100 and offers feedback on 5 to 10% of declined submissions

20. Daily Science Fiction

Sci-fi and fantasy writers, this one’s for you. Daily Science Fiction is looking for character-driven fiction, and the shorter, the better. While their word count range is 100 to 1,500 words, they might consider flash series—AKA three or more flash tales built around a common theme. 

Deadline: Open except for the period between December 24 to January 2

Payment: Eight cents per word, with the possibility of additional pay for reprints in themed Daily Science Fiction anthologies

21. JMWW

JMWW is a literary journal that publishes fiction stories with up to 300 words and flash fiction of no longer than 1.500 words, and it’s open to any genre as long as the story is well-crafted. To up your chances of catching the editors’ eyes, note that they like “strong characters whose motivations are not always known to us but can be explained within the confines of common sense,” as well as surprise endings (nothing gimmicky). 

Deadline: Open

Payment: No pay specified

22. Smokelong Quarterly

SmokeLong, a literary mag devoted to flash fiction, publishes flash narratives up to 1000 words—and that’s a firm word limit, so be sure to stick to it. The SLQ aesthetic remains “an ever-changing, ever-elusive set of principles,” but it most likely has to do with these kinds of things: language that surprises and excites, narratives that strive toward something other than a final punch line or twist, and more which you can see in the submission guidelines. Think you can handle that?

Deadline: Open

Payment: $50 per story upon publication in the quarterly issue

23. The Master’s Review

The Master’s Review’s New Voices category is open to any new or emerging author who has not published a work of fiction or narrative nonfiction of novel length—not including authors with short story collections. Submit your flash fiction of 1,000 words or your piece of fiction or narrative nonfiction of up to 7,000 words. Though, editors are honest: There are no submission fees, but they’re highly selective. 

Deadline: Open

Payment: A flat rate of $100 for flash-length stories; $200 for short fiction

24. Ruminate Magazine

Both emerging and established writers are encouraged to submit fiction or creative nonfiction stories that “engages the contemplative spirit of our journal and embraces curiosity and discovery rather than resolution.” Both genres are capped at a word count of 5,500 words. 

Want another option? There’s no pay for this one (just contributor copies), but The Waking is Ruminate Magazine’s online publication space and they’re looking for short-form prose, fiction and nonfiction that is “holy, nutritious and crucial.” Keep your submissions to 1,000 words or less.

Deadline: July 2, 2020; fiction reading periods are April 1 to June 30; January 15 to June 30 for nonfiction

Payment: $20 per 400 words, plus contributor copies

25. Asimov’s Science Fiction

Have you ever wondered where George R. R. Martin’s Daenerys Targaryen first appeared on the printed page? Well, this is it! An established market for science fiction stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine has won numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards, and the writers they’ve published have led successful careers. 

They want you to submit your character-oriented, “serious, thoughtful, yet accessible fiction,” but there’s room for humor as well. While science fiction dominates what the magazine publishes, you’re welcome to submit borderline fantasy, slipstream and surreal fiction—steer clear of sword and sorcery, explicit sex or violence. While there’s no specific word count, ASF seldom buys stories shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 20,000 words. 

Deadline: Open

Payment: 8 to 10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words; 8 cents per word for each word over 7,500

Check out this helpful video from our friends at selfpublishing.com for writing a short story.

26. Slice Magazine

Got a fresh voice and a compelling story to share? This one’s for you. To bridge the gap between emerging and established authors, SLICE offers a space where both are published side-by-side. In each issue, a specific cultural theme becomes the catalyst for articles, interviews, stories and poetry from renowned writers and lesser-known voices alike. Short fiction and nonfiction submissions should be 5,000 words max.

Deadline: Slice published their final issue in the fall of 2021 and are no longer looking for submissions

Payment: $400 for stories and essays; $150 for flash fiction pieces; $100 for poems

27. Cricket Media

Cricket Media wants to publish your finest quality writing for children of all ages in one of its four literary magazines—you have options! Open to submissions from writers of every level of experience, CM’s mags are interested in a lot of things, no matter what genre: realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, folk tales, myths and legends, humor, and even westerns. Their advice? Focus on telling a good story that’s well-plotted, character-driven and has a satisfying conclusion.

Most stories are 1200 to 1800 words in length; however, they occasionally serialize longer stories of up to 6,000 words. 

Deadline: Varies; check the guidelines to learn the deadlines for each lit mag 

Payment: Up to 25 cents per word 

28. The Dark Sire

Horror writers, you’re up! A fairly new literary journal, The Dark Sire is a quarterly online and print journal that “explores speculative fiction works for enthusiasts” of gothic, horror, fantasy and psychological realism in short fiction, poetry and art. ​Subjects of particular interest include: vampires, monsters, old castles, dragons, magic, mental illness, hell, disease and decay of society. No word count. 

Deadline: Open

Payment: None, but they promote writers through author events, social media outreach and the (in development) TDS podcast

29. The Common

Based at Amherst College, The Common is an award-winning print and digital literary journal published biannually in the fall and spring. They seek fiction and nonfiction stories and dispatches (800-word notes, news and impressions from around the world) that “embody a strong sense of place: pieces in which the setting is crucial to character, narrative, mood and language.” Stick to a 10,000 word-count and you’re solid. There is a $3 submission fee.

Deadline: Reading periods are March 1 to June 1 and September 1 to December 1; subscribers can submit for free year-round

Payment: $100 for fiction and nonfiction submissions; $50 per dispatch

30. The Antioch Review

The Antioch Review is currently paused and not accepting submissions. Check back in the future.

The Antioch Review rarely publishes more than three short stories per issue, but its editors are open to new as well as established writers. Authors published here often wind up in Best American anthologies and as the recipients of Pushcart prizes.

To make the cut, editors say, “It is the story that counts, a story worthy of the serious attention of the intelligent reader, a story that is compelling, written with distinction.” Word count is flexible, but pieces tend to be under 5,000.

Deadline: When operational, open except between June 1 to August 31. No electronic submissions

Payment: $20 per printed page plus two contributor copies

31. Literary Orphans

Literary Orphans is currently paused and not accepting submissions. Check back in the future.

Fiction comes first for this short fiction and art magazine. Editors want your fiction of any genre, but they have a need for micro-fiction, flash, and short stories that are 2,000 words or less (but 1,500 is their sweet spot!). Creative nonfiction is also accepted for the bi-monthly Literary Orphans issue on the main website; just keep your story to 5,000 words max. Plus, teens under 19, there’s a category for you, too. Submit a story of no more than 3,000 words to its “TEEN SPIRIT” section

Because they receive a high volume of submissions, editors ask that you submit your *best* piece. But here’s where it gets interesting: If you can’t choose just one, send both! (As long as both stories combined don’t surpass 2,000 words.)

Deadline: Currently no open calls for submission, but check back in the future!

Payment: Not specified

Short Story Submission Tips

With hard work and patience you can see your short stories published!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking to submit short stories

• Take time to read through the literary magazines before you submit. You will have a better idea of what they are looking and know which magazines fit best with your writing style
• Read the submission details before you submit. Each publication has different specifications for submissions – make sure you fulfill their requirements
• Be patient. Many of these publications have a small team and a lot of submissions. It is normal to wait several months before hearing whether an article will be published or not
• Keep track of which articles you have submitted to which publications. Because can submit the same short story to multiple publications, you will need to withdraw that article if it gets published. You don’t want to accidentally publish the same piece in multiple places
• Don’t give up! While you might receive multiple rejections before you get your first piece published, with hard work it will be worth the wait once you get your first piece in print!

The original version of this story was written by Kelly Gurnett. We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers.

Photo via Nito/ Shutterstock 

Unless you prefer your friends to be story nerds or those who lean toward obsessive-compulsive tendencies when it comes to grammar, you shouldn’t necessarily seek to befriend your editor.

However, you should seek to do everything in your power to be a professional friend of your editor. One of the simplest ways to do that, which too many authors fail to consider, is formatting.

Why Formatting is Important

When you skip over the basics of how your manuscript is formatted, you’re subconsciously showing a lack of respect for your craft (and your editor). If you send a poorly formatted manuscript to your editor, they very likely won’t say anything, but I can promise you that they’re thinking one of two things.

1. I can hardly read this manuscript
2. I’m wasting my time reformatting this manuscript

In these instances, an editor will either edit your manuscript as-is or spend the time you’re paying them for to do the work you could have (and should have) done yourself.

But once you incorporate the standardized basics of formatting a manuscript in preparation for your editor, you’ll see that it will save both you and your editor a lot of time and frustration.

How to Format Your Book

While this article attempts to offer standardized recommendations, some editors, literary agents or publishing houses may have their own formatting stipulations. Always be sure to scan websites for that information, and when in doubt, ask.

The following formatting recommendations hold true for both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts in the United States. Any accepted variations are noted, and comments are appreciated with regard to differences for international markets.

Here’s what’s expected for a standard manuscript format.

1. Use black, 12-point, Times New Roman as the font

Yes, Times New Roman is boring, but it’s essentially on every computer ever made.

Don’t use a cool font for effect. Save that for your book’s interior design, which comes much later after the editing process.

Font trivia: Times New Roman is no longer used by The Times.

2. Use the U.S. standard page size of 8.5×11 inches and set your margins to 1 inch on all sides

Starting a new document in Word defaults to these parameters, but if you’re exporting to Word from your word processor of choice, double-check the output to ensure your page size and margins are correct.

To set page size in Word, go to File>Page Setup and look at the drop-down menu for Page Size.

To set margins in Word, go to Format>Document.

3. Set alignment to left justified

Left justified text is also known as ragged right text. The text will align itself along its left side, leaving its right side nonuniform (unjustified).

To set alignment in Word, select all of your text, then click the left justification icon in the Home tab or select Format>Paragraph and choose “Left” in the Alignment drop-down box.

4. Use a single space after periods

If you were trained to type two spaces after a period, retrain yourself.

In the digital age, use a single space. (For why, see “Space Invaders.”)

Tip: if your manuscript has two spaces after a period, use your word processor’s Find and Replace tool. Type two spaces into “Find” and one space into “Replace” then hit “Replace All” with reckless, typing-teacher-be-damned abandon.

5. Use double-spaced line spacing

This may be the greatest help to your editor.

You want to ensure they see your every last word, so give your words room to breathe on the page.

Tip: if you’ve already written your book with different line spacing, select all of your text in Word, click Format>Paragraph, then select “Double” in the drop-down box under “Line spacing.”

6. Indent all paragraphs by .5 inches, and don’t hit tab or space to indent

This may be every editor’s pet peeve. Setting tabs and hitting tab aren’t the same thing.

If you’re a tab-hitter or space-space-space-space-spacer, select all of your text in Word, then set indentation using Format>Paragraph. Under “Indentation” and by “Left,” type .5. under “Special,” then choose “First line” from the drop-down menu.

Note: Generally, the first paragraph of any chapter, after a subhead, or following a bulleted or numbered list isn’t indented.

7. Format paragraphs according to genre standards

Fiction authors should use indented paragraphs without full paragraph breaks. Nonfiction authors may opt for no indentation so long as paragraphs are separated by a full paragraph break.

Tip: Crack open a book in your genre to see what the paragraphing conventions are, then emulate.

8. Use page breaks

To begin a new chapter, don’t just keep hitting return until you create a new page. Rather, use page breaks.

In Word, place the cursor at the end of a chapter, then click “Insert>Break>Page Break” in Word’s top menu.

9. Number your pages

Don’t begin numbering on your title page. Rather, begin numbering on the page your story begins.

To place page numbers in Word, double-click within the header area of the page on which your story begins and click “Insert > Page Numbers,” then select your preferred options. Choose to place your page numbers at the top left of the page.

10. Send your manuscript as one Word document (.doc /.docx)

You don’t have to compose your masterpiece in Word, but because Word’s “Track Changes” feature is still the de facto editing tool of choice, your editor will appreciate receiving a Word file.

And whatever you do, never send your editor individual chapters as separate files.

Alternate Option: Use Software to Help Learn How to Format a Book

While you can do most of these steps in Microsoft Word or Google Docs while writing your manuscript, when it comes time to turn it into a format that is used in the marketplaces, you’ll probably want specialized book formatting software. This kind of software can help you with both ebooks and paperbacks.

While there are a number of options out there, one of the best is Atticus. It will help you produce professional-looking books easily, with no technical background. Plus, with all of its features, you can customize your book and make it truly unique.

What to do next

These 10 easy-to-follow steps will put you on your editor’s good side. While each of these issues typically doesn’t take too much time to rectify, the problems are compounded when an editor has to fix more than a few.

Want more help formatting your book? Check out this related article on “Book Format: 7 Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them.”

Just remember, when an editor receives a well-formatted manuscript, they can immediately begin the work that you’re actually paying them to do: editing!

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via Chinnapong/Shutterstock

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly qualifies as passive voice misuse you’ve come to the right place. Passive voice is an issue many new writers face. In fact, I didn’t know there was a “right way” to write until I was in college.

As a new writer, I thought great writing came down to the idea and the adjectives used to describe that idea. Point-of-view, voice, and tense were not major factors in my writing. Thankfully, once I began training in creative writing I quickly learned that I had a lot to study. 

Passive voice misuse can set writers apart as novices or as experts who know how to wield writing rules with power. In this article, I define what passive voice misuse is, why it’s a no-no for new writers, and give four steps to fix passive voice misuse. Let’s get right into it! 

Defining Passive Voice Misuse 

While there is a time and place for this type of voice, passive voice misuse occurs when the subject should be performing the action. 

Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb. Can you spot the use of passive voice in the previous sentence? You can make a sentence active by focusing on the subject as the one doing the action. 

Passive: Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb.

Active: Passive voice is simply when the verb acts on the subject of a sentence.

In this active sentence, the verb is doing the action rather than the subject being acted upon. Many writers unconsciously use passive voice throughout their stories. 

Why Passive Voice Is A No-No

The reason writers frown on passive voice is due to its unnecessary wordiness and lack of clarity. For newer writers, writing to just “get the story down” is perfectly acceptable. However, passive voice easily creeps in. Several issues can result: 

• Protagonists feel reactive 
• Confusion overrides clarity
• The writing lacks strength 

It’s easy to write passively. It takes forethought to write in an active voice. So how do we fix this issue?  

4 Steps To Fix Your Voice

One of the best ways to combat passive voice is to simply change your mindset in writing. If the mindset shift doesn’t work, there are some concrete steps you can take to further help. Let’s start with a mindset shift.

Move Action Forward With Purpose

At the core of writing lies an advancement of the plot. Consider the classic example of the hero’s journey: The protagonist sets off on a journey (literal or figurative) with an endpoint, or goal, in mind.

Whether it’s Frodo Baggins taking literal steps toward Mordor or Peter Rabbit hopping out of the garden and toward home just in time, these beloved characters feature a proactive mindset. 

Personalize this mindset by focusing on the end of your story and proactively, rather than reactively, writing toward it. 

Simple lines such as the following take on an entirely new meaning. For instance:

Example 1: Professional figure skating was her dream. The Olympics was a real possibility if she put in the work. 

Example 2: She dreamed of professional figure skating, and if she put in the work, she could make it to the Olympics.

In the first example the reader passively takes in information. In the second, there is a sense of urgency. The protagonist is the one proactively dreaming. 

Create An Active Protagonist 

Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. Look through the following list and ask yourself how your protagonist would act or speak in the following situations: 

• Planning a beach day but waking up to rain
• Responding to a breakup 
• Getting rear-ended 
• Pursuing their dream job
• Spotting a lost child

In the first three examples, outside circumstances impact the protagonist: Rain, being broken up with, and someone hitting their car. The last two feature the protagonist as proactive, or with the possibility of being proactive. How you write them is imperative:

• “It’s raining. I’ll go study at a coffee shop” Or, “It’s raining. I’ll have to stay in today.”
• “He broke up with me. I’ll cancel my plans.” Or, “He broke up with me. I’ll go home and process.”
• “That child looks lost. I wonder if his parents are around.” Or, “That child looks lost. I’ll go see if I can help.”

Same situation, similar responses, but one features a passive protagonist and the other a proactive one. 

Cut Being Verbs

If the mindset shift isn’t quite doing it for you, try this concrete step: In point number two, look at the subtle difference in how I could write the opening sentence. In the sentence I used, I excluded being verbs. In the second example, I include being verbs.

Sentence 1: Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. 

Sentence 2: Your mindset can also be influenced by how you describe your protagonist. 

In the first sentence, the subject (mindset) leads the sentence actively (plays a role). In the second one, the subject is acted on by the verb. 

In the same way, if your protagonist must complete a task, how can you shift the focus from their response to circumstances to them impacting circumstances? Frodo makes the active choice to take the ring to Mordor, even though he appears to be the least equipped out of the nine. 

Imagine Tolkien writing The Lord of the Rings passively. Instead of the iconic line, “I will take the ring. I will take the ring to Mordor!” We could read, “The ring will be carried by me. The ring will be carried by me to Mordor.” This is the difference between writing actively and passively.

Try Present Tense

If you’re willing to take action steps even further, I’ve found present tense as a shortcut to learning the power of active voice. In fact, I wrote an entire manuscript in present tense rather than past tense because I felt so stuck in my habit of passive voice misuse. 

Past tense: I was going home when I was followed by a black car.

Present tense: On my way home, I notice a black car following me. 

For some reason, this shift dramatically helped me.

Caveat: Know The Rules So You Know When To Break Them

Now that we discussed several cons to passive voice misuse and how to combat it, it’s crucial to remember that there is a time and place to break writing rules. 

Passive tense is not always, forevermore, and with no excuses, a no. For new writers, studying writing tips and how to write actively will aid their learning curve. However, writing passively is not always bad. 

Learning how to write in an active voice helps you avoid passive voice misuse while also teaching you when you can use it. 

Think of a painter: They know the brushes and what they are intended for, but sometimes they may choose a different brush, one that isn’t intended for a specific style, to help present their painting in a more nuanced way. 

The same is true for tense. Learn the rules, and then enjoy (occasionally) breaking them!

Magazine writers are able to write fascinating articles on a wide variety of topics. If you have ever picked up a copy of Rolling Stone, Vogue, Southern Living, or any other magazine, you probably have a good idea of what magazine articles are like.

If you love taking a topic, story, person, or experience and being able to explore what it means and why people should care, magazine writing might be a perfect career for you.

This article will go over how to become a magazine writer, cover what it takes to get your foot in the door, how you can get experience, salary expectations, and more.

What is Magazine Writing?

For the most part, magazine writing is either under the umbrella of journalism or commentary. Most magazine articles are considered longform journalism.

Most magazine pieces have certain rules, with research needing to be done, people needing to be interviewed, and the whole story being put together in a particular way. Some magazine articles can also be fiction or personal narratives as well.

When the article includes the author’s perspective, experience, or thoughts, there is still a central theme or idea being explored.

Instead of it being a short informational piece, as you would see in a newspaper, magazine articles are well-researched, long, and thought-out. Most people who are in the field are people who come from writing for newspapers, first.

Skills Needed To Become A Magazine Writer

One of the top skills you will need to succeed as a magazine writer is being able to write like a journalist.

That means you know how to structure your pieces and you know how to inform readers with what you are writing about.

Research is also a key skills in order to succeed as a magazine writer. You will need to know how to dive deep into a topic, pull out the relevant facts, and double check that those facts are correct.

Once you know how to research well and compile the most important information, you will need to know how to put it together in a way that will be interesting to the audience. It is important to follow journalism-style of writing but at the same time, give them enough story and intrigue to want to keep a reader interested through the whole piece.

It will also be essential that you build good connections and contacts so you have people to interview or who can help you get in touch with people you could normally not get in touch with on your own.

On top of all of that, you will need to develop the art of pitching articles. For the most part, instead of being assigned articles from a magazine (although that can happen), you will need to find your own stories and angles and pitch them to magazines.

Do You Need To Go To School To Become A Magazine Writer?

For the most part, a lot of magazine writers majored in journalism, writing, or a related field.

While it is not always a necessity, it can help a lot when it comes to getting your foot in this field. Otherwise, if you do not go to school, you will need to make sure you write well and can make your work stand out on its own.

It might be harder to get your first few assignments, but it is certainly still possible.

How to Become A Magazine Writer

Okay, so now that you know what goes into magazine writing and the skills you need to succeed, let’s go over what it actually entails

#1 – Learn what it takes to do magazine writing

Before you start applying for magazine writing jobs, you will need to study how these pieces are put together. You might want to buy or subscribe to magazines that interest you and start to flip through them.

You might want to also take an online course in magazine writing or buy some books that can give you the frameworks you will need to succeed.

Keep in mind, you might also need to decide whether you want to work as a freelance writer or work to become a staff writer.

If you are a staff writer, you are only writing for one publication and will typically have a set salary. If you want to freelance, you can writer for a wide variety of magazines and you will often be paid per article.

#2 – Get experience with magazine writing

Whether you have a degree in journalism or not, you will still need to practice writing articles and putting them together in the same way magazines do.

More than anything, potential magazines will look at your portfolio before they decide to give you a shot. They want to be impressed with your work and be able to see that you know what you are doing.

This might mean you need to write samples on your own, do an internship, or even take on some free work just to get your foot in the door and start to put together samples.

#3 – Gather your samples and start to apply

You will want to take the time to put all of your samples into one place. In today’s modern world, that generally means you need to create an online portfolio of some kind.

Yes, some people choose to create physical portfolios to bring in when they meet potential employers, but the stronger your website is, the more likely they will want to work with you.

If you have written a lot of work, you might want to pick out the pieces that are more in line with what their specific magazine is so they can get an idea of what you can do for them.

Otherwise, you will want to pick your strongest written pieces to put in your portfolio.

If you choose to go the freelancing route, you will often be rejected more times than you can count in the beginning. This is just a natural part of the process and it is rarely personal. What matters is that you keep pitching anyway.

#4 – Optional: Develop an online presence

While having an online presence is not mandatory, it is certainly something that can help you grow your career as a magazine writer.

If you have a huge following, magazines are more likely to give you work because you can also distribute and promote your work to your audience, helping the magazine get more readers.

You can also use social media to network with other magazine editors, sources, and people in your space who can help you grow in this career.

Typical Salary For Magazine Writers

The average annual salary for a magazine writer is $72,487 per year.

However, the pay between some of the bottom magazine writers and the top magazine writers varies greatly. Some of the bottom salaries are around $20,000 a year while the top magazine writers make $125,000 a year.

If you are looking to get into this career, you will want to think deeply about writing for the top-tier magazine and making sure your skills are on a level of making decent money.

Want To Become A Professional Writer?

In this article, we covered magazine writing and how to get into it.

However, there are a ton of avenues you can pursue if you want to become a paid professional writer.

If you do not know the available career options out there, we have a writing career quiz that can help you figure out exactly which path is right for you.

So what exactly is this type of club? Why do they matter? Are they just for avid readers or can authors take advantage of these clubs as well? In this article, we get into the following:

• What Is A Book Club?
• Benefits Of A Book Club
• List Of Book Clubs

If you’ve never been part of a club like, or simply want to learn more details about their benefits and how you can take advantage of them as an author, keep right on reading!

What Is A Book Club?

A book discussion club is simply a group of individuals who come together for the sole purpose of discussing books. You will commonly find clubs discussing topics such as:

• What they liked about a book
• What they disliked 
• Their opinions
• Book takeaways 

While not every club follows the same format, typically, they are laid back with a deep focus on a particular book. Everyone in the club is tasked with reading the same nonfiction or fiction work, and at a specific, recurring time, they all come together for discussion. 

Think of this form of club as an in-person forum where you can share your thoughts with other readers, hear their insights, and share the commonality of a love for reading. 

Benefits Of A Book Club

Joining a club is a great way to engage with fellow readers, gain more insights into plot and characterization, and hear what’s selling well and why. If you are an aspiring author, joining one such club could be the perfect opportunity for you. 

Not only will a club surround you with fellow-readers but it will enable you to interact with your potential target audience in person. Below is a list of benefits you may find when joining as a writer.

#1 – Immerse Yourself In Literature 

While we may all want to read the classics, it can be difficult to find the time and motivation to do so. Depending on what type of book club you join, you may discover that reading a classic with a group is much more fun than you once imagined. Of course, not every book club reads the classics, but knowing famous stories that stood the test of time can help you grow as a writer.

#2 – Broaden Your Insights

The more you surround yourself with other writers and readers, the more you will discover about the world of books. It’s easy to get stuck in a one-track mindset and walk away from a story with one set of takeaways. When you join a book club, the opposite happens. Yes, you experience your own insights, but you also get the privilege of hearing what others discover through the story. 

#3 – Get A Feel For Audiences Across Genres 

As a writer, your job is to connect with your target audience in such a way that they read your book and desperately want to read your next one. Book clubs study a myriad of genres, and your target audience is bound to exist in one of them. Joining a book club will help you understand your audience at a more personal level, and ultimately, write better books. 

#4 – Learn From Genres You Don’t Naturally Read

While writers read, not all writers enjoy genres outside their own. That said, it’s extremely beneficial to open yourself up to new writing opportunities through familiarizing yourself across genres. Imagine how well you could write historical fiction if you immersed yourself for a month or so in biographies of historical figures? 

#5 – Discover Feedback Without Sharing Your Work

One of the larger benefits of joining a book club is taking note of what other readers say about genres similar to yours. It can be intimidating to share your work-in-progress with beta readers, let alone your final draft with an audience. Book clubs allow you the inside scoop on what types of plots and characters work well in specific genres, and which ones do not. 

Now that you know several reasons why you could benefit from joining a book club, let’s discuss some actual book clubs you could join or even submit your own book to. 

A List To Get You Started

Check out the below list to help you get started in your search today!

#1 – Reese’s Book Club

Popular for a reason, Reese Witherspoon is known for her book-to-screen adaptations. If you want to read up to twenty-four books a year, join Reese’s club! Join 2 million other readers and keep up with both YA and adult reads on social media. 

#2 – Between Two Books

Did you read The Goldfinch or love the movie? This book club began in 2012 and was established by fans of Florence Welch. This is an online club with over 100,000 members. A community that always seems to be involved in books somehow (video readings, discussions, etc.) this is a great club to join if you want a more intimate feel. 

#3 – Silent Book Club

What if you are an introvert but you want to get out more and interact with other readers? Join one of Silent Book Club’s more than 240 chapters, spread across over 30 countries. This club focuses on readers coming together, not to talk, but to read books in the presence of other readers. 

Book Club Steps For Authors 

What if you are an author and want to submit your book to a particular book club? You may want to try looking into the Greenleaf Book Club, which has been in existence since 1997. When pursuing how to submit a book club, a crucial step is to learn all you can about what readers love.

Unique individuals fill every book club, so while you may want to pitch your book to famous celebrity clubs, it’s crucial to submit your book to the correct audience. 

A second way to create an in with a book club is simply by engaging as a proactive member. Invest in the other readers, share your thoughts on books you loved, books you want to read, and authors you aspire to be like. 

The more you engage as a member, the more likely other members will respect what you have to say and want to hear your opinion. Once you establish yourself as a contributing member of a group, consider talking with the person who runs the book club and pitching your book as a potential read. 

Just as you need to understand your target audience and comparative works when writing your book, these details are vital to getting your book in for a book club as well. Before submitting your work, ask yourself the following questions: 

• What types of books has this book club read?
• What books did the members gravitate to?
• How is my book similar?
• How does my book stand out?

Best wishes as you pursue both engaging with a book club as a reader and submitting your own book!