writing

Litopians! Arise and congregate! October is a great month for writing conferences. There are so many, and such a variety to choose from. If you can't attend a conference this coming month, simply put it on your "To do" list for the future. There is no greater opportunity for hobnobbing with...

Fellow Litopians, lend me your ears... I have set up Final Polish Editorial Services to help authors cross the finish line, to ensure all your hard work is given the best possible chance of success, because we all become word blind to our work. I'm a long-standing member of Litopia (back to...

A familiar topic here. I tend to write early evening, myself, fuelled by cups of tea I then forget to drink. And also, insulting publishers without justification, just because I saw this absurd cartoon -

Litopians! Arise and Compete! I've put together more than two dozen free writing contests coming up in August. They cover the full range of topics, styles and genres, from short stories, to essays, to poetry, to full-length works. Some offer substantial prizes. (Please look at the "Writing...

June is a great month for writing conferences. It's vacation time for anyone attending school, and with the warm weather and free time, conferences proliferate. (Keep an eye on July!) I've said it before, and I will say it again - conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips...

Liptopians! Arise and compete! There are nearly three dozen free contests in June. They cover the full range of topics, styles and genres, from essays, to poetry, to full-length works. In addition to the prestige of winning a contest, some of the monetary prizes this month are substantial...

Isn't this the way of writing, and maybe also the doom? That like Penelope, you weave at your loom, and unravel your work in the night, and do it again next day - one difference being, she was besieged by suitors where we - I- ain't exactly under siege from desirous .... editors. (But who wants...

Litopians! Arise and congregate! There are 29 great conferences coming up in April. Conferences are not only the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry, they make you feel like a writer. We all need community, and this is how we, as writers...

In 2017 List scavenged via Twitter

If you have never been to a writers' conference, I encourage you to attend one. Conferences are the best way to meet agents, get tips from other writers, and learn about the publishing industry. In addition to providing valuable professional contacts, nothing will make you feel more like a...

Litopians! Arise and network! I realize many of you aren't US residents, but if you are there are plenty of opportunities to schmooze with your fellow writers in February. Conferences not only offer opportunities to network with other writers, they are the best way to find an agent. (If you live...

Litopians! Arise! There are nearly three dozen free writing contests in January. They cover the full range of genres, from debut mystery novels to poetry. In addition to the prestige of winning a contest, a few of the monetary prizes this month are substantial. Publishing ... and Other Forms of...

Litopians! Tell your life story! Here is a list of 230 agents looking for memoirs. These agents are, in most cases, also interested in representing other non-fiction. Read their submission requirements carefully. In the case of memoirs, agents frequently want a writing sample, just as they would...

"It was a dark and stormy night." That pretty much sums up November. It's cold, it's damp, it's dreary ... what better time to attend a writing conference? Fortunately, there are 17 of them this month. Remember: If you miss your ideal conference this year, there is always next year. To find a...

Litopians! Arise and publish! There are a dozen calls for submissions in October. As always, there are calls for a wide variety of genres and styles. Short stories, essays, interviews, poems, and flash fiction are all welcome. All of these markets pay writers. I will be posting more markets on...

Litopians! Get out there and schmooze! There are nearly two dozen writing conferences this October to keep you warm and inspired. Writing conferences are a wonderful experience. Nothing motivates writers more than a meeting of the minds. And if you are ready to publish, attending a conference is...

I am an Apple fan, and have been for many years. I therefore own a Macbook and use Pages as my default word processor software. I can export/convert files to Word, but I dislike Windows Office software intently. Can anyone recommend Scrivener, or an alternative to Pages? I am reasonably...

Hello, everyone! My name is Cos and it's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm an aspiring writer and if you'd have me, I'd love to occasionally ask for your advice on this or that little piece of thought and dream. In my professional life I'm also a software developer, and since I have started...

Most of us have problems fitting a writing conference into our schedules. But, if you have a completed novel it is definitely worth going to a conference with pitch sessions. Agents who would otherwise turn you down will not only listen to a pitch but may sign you on. In some cases, agents who...

My W.I.P is set in 16th Century Tudor England and I find myself not only seeking out appropriate language for my characters but also writing with words that have existed since the 1500s. It feels right to do so, but I wonder if I am making more work for myself, or perhaps even dating the tale...