Resources For Writers
#1. THE PRACTICING WRITER
Erika Dreifus, author of Quiet Americans (fiction) and a professional freelance writer and book reviewer, keeps up the incredible blog The Practicing Writer. What makes Erika’s blog unique is that she only focuses on paying opportunities. Updated several times a week, Erika makes sure that her readers know about submission opportunities she’s heard about and contests that require no fees. She’s a friend to any writer who insists on being paid for work. (No “payment in exposure” opportunities will be found on Erika’s blog.) Erika also keeps up a separate blog called My Machberet to inform writers with Jewish content about paying and some non-paying opportunities. (It’s a smaller pool for Jewish content in BOTH categories as is!) Finally, Erika’s monthly newsletter is FULL of submission deadlines and other great information for writers.
#2. WRITER UNBOXED
Writerunboxed.com was the first writing site I ever read (about eight years ago), and I’ve stayed a fan ever since. The site is updated daily from one of the many writers on staff with either a craft lesson or a discussion of the business of writing. I appreciate the site because the main focus is on the art of writing and not just about finding an agent, etc. You can, however, still find some of those helpful business tidbits. The Writer Unboxed team is having their first writing conference in November. I can’t attend, but if they do it again it’s for sure one I would seriously consider. I also had a Twitter tips column with Writer Unboxed a few years ago. It was so much fun, and they were so good to me.
#3. THE WRITE LIFE
Good craft and practical articles about the writing life. I especially liked this recent one, “19 Websites and Magazines That Want to Publish Your Personal Essays.”
#4. THE HERSTORIES PROJECT
Jessica and Stephanie of The HerStories Project are quickly becoming experts in publishing anthologies and providing great online classes for writers and bloggers. They always have new classes or anthology submissions in the works. Check out the site to see what’s happening currently.
#5. DUOTROPE, NEWPAGES, AND SUBMITTABLE
If you like to keep track of interesting submission opportunities, it’s a good idea to follow Duotrope, Newpages, and Submittable either on Facebook or Twitter.
#6. ANNE R. ALLEN’S BLOG
Anne and her blog partner, Ruth Harris, provide a craft or “business of writing” lesson every Sunday. Each post ends with submission opportunities as well.
#7. MY TWITTER AND BLOGGING TIPS
Hey, it’s my blog. Obviously I have to draw your attention to my series of Twitter and blogging tips where I talk about why I follow people on Twitter (and why I don’t), why certain kinds of thank yous on Twitter feel disingenuous and over the top, and my general thoughts on Twitter etiquette, using Twitter lists, and much more. I have a few posts with blogging tips, too.
#8. READ WIDELY AND PAY ATTENTION TO BIOS
The most important way to get work into new venues is to read the sites and literary magazines that catch your eye. There’s no way around this. If you’re blindly submitting to random sites and journals, you’re much less likely to be able to show the editors that you understand their publication. I also tend to read the bios of the writers if I like an essay or story. Here’s a list of places I’ve had fiction published, which might introduce you to some new literary journals. And here’s the list for nonfiction.
I HOPE THIS POST INTRODUCES YOU TO A RESOURCE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN BEFORE! I truly believe that the writing world works best if people share. An atmosphere of competition is unnecessary. There is more than enough space out there for all of our words.
Have a great week, writers! Photo credit is MINE. I took that picture when I was organizing all of my essays and stories into binders. It was a really time consuming but fulfilling project! [Tweet “There’s enough space out there for all of our words. Sharing 10 of my fav writing resources.”]
LISTEN TO MY FRIENDSHIP PODCAST: DEAR NINA
JOIN THE DISCUSSION ANY TIME ON THE NEW DEAR NINA FACEBOOK PAGE.
SIGNUP FOR MY NEWSLETTER (COMES 1-2 TIMES/MONTH)
Latest posts by Nina Badzin (see all)
- #125 – The Negativity Bias in Friendships - December 19, 2024
- #124 – Friends Who Criticize You and Two More Dilemmas - December 12, 2024
- #123 – Male-Female Friendships and Liking Friends’ Social Media Posts - December 5, 2024
- #122 – Grieving the End of a Friendship - November 27, 2024
59 Responses
Nina, you are too kind! Thank you! One correction: For My Machberet and the specifically “Jewish” writing opportunities, I do bend the rules. The pool is simply too small–I do include fee-charging or no-pay opportunities on My Machberet. See also http://www.erikadreifus.com/resources/jewish-writing/awards-prizes/ .
Erika Dreifus recently posted..Monday Markets for Writers: No Fees, Paying Gigs
Oh good! Thanks for pointing that out. I edited the post.
Thank you for this, Nina! Sharing it everywhere!
Alison recently posted..Hey, I Have Feelings Too
Thank you, Alison! And for that tweet I just saw. I cannot believe the twins are 1 month by the way. I swear you had them last week.
Great post, Nina. I just found TheWriteLife!
Your photo makes me envy your discipline.
Amanda recently posted..Passionate Distortion-Making Sense of Life
So glad to hear! That post in particular was really helpful.
Ditto, Amanda. And wow, Nina, I’m no less impressed with that photo seeing it the second time. You are a force. Thank you for sharing!
Justine U recently posted..read * hear * say * see * eat {4}
Great post Nina. Bookmarking and sharing this one.
Estelle
Estelle recently posted..Monday Morning Content Finds
Thank you!
Thanks for the comprehensive list of resources. I learned a lot the first time I read your posts on Twitter tips and other blogging advice. But I’m old and I forget things so now I’m clicking the link for a refresher course.
Mo at Mocadeaux recently posted..Update On The McLuxies
That’s a HUGE compliment that would read them twice! Thank you! And I hope you find a good nugget or two in there.
Thank you for these great resources, Nina. I know a few, but I will check out the others. Also wanted to tell you that I have started my own binder project. I’m four months in, and it’s been cool to see my own growth as a writer. I almost want to delete most of those old posts, but I’m resisting!
Dana recently posted..My biggest pet peeves
Yes! Resist! It’s important to have those. I struggled with whether or not to put in posts like this one or other lists. In the end I kept them, and created a separate tab for them since they’re not essays. Still, it might be fun one day to see what I was into (thinking of the Friday Finds for the most part).
Nina, this is fantastic and SO helpful! Thanks so much for including HSP in your list of resources! 🙂 xo
Stephanie Sprenger recently posted..Where the Sidewalk Ends: A Story of Trust
Thank you! AND, my pleasure!
Thank you for these amazing resources, Nina. I haven’t looked at Erika’s in a long time and really need to.
Julia Munroe Martin recently posted..Saturday Six
Thank you! And yes, she always has good stuff. I really recommend the monthly newsletter.
Awesome list, Nina! There were a few I hadn’t heard of so thank you! xoxo
Hallie Sawyer recently posted..Sharing Highs of Weekend & an Interview
Thanks Hallie! And so glad!
Great post with some new-to-me resources. Thank you! xoxo
So glad!
This was great Nina. Thanks!
Vikki recently posted..Keep Walking
Thanks for letting me know! Hope to see you SOON.
Nina, Thanks so much for sharing these. I have been loving Susan Maccarelli’s “Beyond Your Blog” podcast.. I am sure your other recommendations are just as good. I will definitely be referring back to this list!
Pam recently posted..Our Epic Road Trip
I love the podcast! I listen while I’m doing other computer things and it’s great.
Wow, great list of resources, Nina! I’m already a fan of Anne Allen’s site, Writer Unboxed and yours, of course. 🙂
A few suggestions on your list are new to me. I’ll definitely be checking out Erika Dreifus’s site.
Thanks for doing the legwork. Looking forward to reading more of your work soon.
Jackie Cangro recently posted..The One With the Fate Worse Than Death
Jackie, you will really appreciate the info on Erika’s site, I think.
Nina,
Once again you are so generous with the information that you share. I’ve followed a few of these sites, but some are unfamiliar to me. Thanks so much for sharing. I will definitely check them out.
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri recently posted..Tracking the Ordinary
Thank you for saying that, Rudri!
Such a great list! I knew about half which is awesome. Love the photo too, looks very familiar 😉
Tricia recently posted..For your bucket list
Ha! Yup, a writer’s kitchen.
Thanks so much for this, Nina. I just bookmarked several of these! You are so very helpful.
Shannon recently posted..Hello. I’ve missed you. Here is a bunch of random stuff.
Oh good! And always happy to help.
Nice list! I always like hearing what resources other writers use, and New Pages is a new one to me. Thanks for sharing!
Annie Neugebauer recently posted..3 Amazing Horror Authors and Why You Should Read Them
Yay! Glad to introduce you. I follow the on Twitter.
Wow, great post, Nina. So many of these were unknown to me. Thank you!
Cynthia Robertson recently posted..The Real (Secret) Meaning of “Write What You Know”
So glad you found some new ones!
There is enough room for the words of all of us.. and we are all so different too. It’s a beautiful thing.
I’m becoming fast familiar with HerStories and Beyond Your Blog. I’m a big fan!
Tamara recently posted..A Bit of a Once Upon a Time Story.
Yes, good point that we’re all different, too. What’s a good venue for some would not be for others.
What a great list of tips. Thank you as always for your generosity!
Always love to help!
What a great article! Thanks!
You’re welcome!
Amazing list, Nina! Thank you SO much for sharing.
Absolutely!
Okay, what’s the best way to save an incredibly useful article like this? I’m going to pin it. This is really great Nina!
Jennie Goutet recently posted..Jesus. Rock Star.
Great resources! I totally need to bookmark this post. Thank for sharing!
Camesha | Mama Motivator recently posted..I’m Being Watched…
Not sure how I missed this post, but thank you so much for putting all of these resources all in one place, this is amazing. I am definitely bookmarking this to come back to again and again.
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted..A Life That’s Good
So glad you alerted us to this; somehow I missed it last week. Excellent resources; thank you, Nina!
Melissa Crytzer Fry recently posted..Forgiveness
This is awesome Nina! Thank you for sharing!
These are great Nina, thanks for sharing, and I hope you’re doing well!!
Absolutely! And you too, Diann!
I am a little late, but these are awesome resources! I know I will be referring to this. Thank you so much.
Kim recently posted..We Are Not Ninjas – 7 Things You Should Know If You Hang With Our Family
Never too late! So glad you found this, and I hope it really helps.
WOW, Nina, this article is an incredible source of info! Thank you for such a comprehensive list, including the link to your Twitter tutorial which is truly invaluable, especially to a total Twitter novice like myself 🙂
-Dana
Dana recently posted..Welcome to…
Thanks so much, Dana! I’m glad you found it helpful and I so appreciate the compliments on the Twitter posts. If you ever have specific questions feel free to contact me! Are you Twitter friends? If not tweet to me and we will be!