Writer Resources

This is a place where I will collect various resources for writers. Whether you choose self-publishing or want to try the traditional route, you will find many things here to help you on your journey.

Places to find open calls for submissions

Whenever you are looking for potential places to submit work, beware of any publisher that wants you to pay for the privilege of having them publish your work. No legitimate publisher will EVER ask you for money up front. This is not the same as a writing contest that charges a submission fee (there are some of these on the lists as well); while some contests are free to enter, others charge a small fee to cover the costs of running the contest. Use your best judgement. There are many reputable contests that charge an entry fee, and there are some questionable ones that are free. Do your research before you submit your work anywhere!

Published to Death

This is a fantastic website for writers. There is a plethora of useful information here. I highly recommend bookmarking this one and taking the time to read through anything you can here. But since this section is about submissions, I am starting you in that section. The page is updated monthly and there is a long, long list to read through. This is the first place I go. A great place to begin. It is not a comprehensive list, as some small publishers can slip through the cracks.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association

I don’t always write in these genres, but I enjoy them so this is often a place I check to see if there are any new or upcoming markets. These market reports are usually updated monthly, though in slower months they may combine two months into one report. Also, note that these reports are compiled by the people who run another website I use, The Submission Grinder.

Community of Literary Magazines and Presses

Many of these can found on the PtD website, but I do find a few that did not make that list. I have found some vanity publishers on here, so be careful.

The Submission Grinder

This site has a very long list of small presses in any genre you might be looking for, but they are organized alphabetically; only the ones with recently submitted reports appearing on the short list, which means a lot of work on your part to read through the extensive lists. Also, this does have a nice feature where they track success, failure, and response rates. Of course, people have to volunteer that information, but you can get a general picture of how reliable some of these small presses are.

Submittable

This is another site that has a solid list plus a bonus – many publications use Submittable as a platform for authors to submit their work as well. It is free to sign up and to use their lists. You can also find things like workshops and classes here. You will also find that a great many here charge a fee.

Authors Publish

This is a nice resource, but you do need to sign up. It is free to sign up, plus they only list “traditional” publishers so there are none here that charge fees. Their list is not as long as some other sites, but it is well-maintained and updated. They also have some free lectures and others that must be paid for.

Poets & Writers

Another very long and frequently updated list. A big plus here is that they have a permanent list of magazines and publishers that accept submissions year-round. 

Tools for the writer

A good writer always has a toolbox of websites they use, whether it is for motivation, inspiration, or education. Here you will find a variety of sites for planning, writing, designing, and more. My favorite is first; NaNo has helped me a great deal with my focus, time management, and my penchant for editing while I write. I will do my best to keep this organized.

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is a website for self-motivation. There are a load of tools here, but the focus is on November, where you are challenged to write 50K words in 30 days. It works on the honor system, through there are groups you can join. I no longer actively support them due to some controversy regarding their stance on the use of A.I. in art, but I leave you to make your own choices about this.

Inkarnate

Hey all you fantasy writers! This is a wonderful site for making the maps of your fantasy world. I have only played around with the free version, but even for someone as artisically challenged as I am, it was easy to use. 

Canva

You probably know this one already, but if you don’t I highly recommend this one for designing various projects. Personally, I use it for business cards and promotional items, along with some stuff for my website. You can design book covers, flyers, and more with their huge library of images (some require a paid account) and AI tools.

Get Covers

This is a paid service that offers book covers (all formats, including e-books audio books), logos, promotional materials, and more. They have reasonable prices and a range of services. While I have not used them myself, I know some authors who have and they have all been very happy with the results. Perfect for the self-published author on a budget.

All Things publishing

Here you will find some information about publishing your novel, be it though the traditional route or by self-publishing. As posts and articles come and go, I will of course update this section. These are all things that I refer to frequently, some weekly, if only for inspiration or a kick in the butt. Things like query letters, finding an agent, cost breakdowns, and maybe places to help you with some of the different aspects of doing it all yourself, such as book covers. Good luck!

25 Steps to Being a Traditionally Published Author: Lazy Bastard Edition

There’s not much to say here. This is a frank, occasionally hysterical, somewhat sobering timeline of what being published in a traditional way looks like. You will not get a better idea of what it is like than this article, and if you go that route you will probably find yourself referring to this often.

How to Write a Query Letter That Wows Literary Agents

Ugh, the query letter. Along with the dreaded synopsis, this is a something that many writers struggle with. This post is a great breakdown of the basics to writing a query letter. There’s even a template for a straightforward query that is a fantastic jumping-off point. If you plan on querying agents, read and absorb the lessons here.

How Much Does it Cost to Publish a Book – 2024 Costs

What’s that you say, you want to self-publish your book(s)? Before you do, consider this article. It breaks down the startling and somewhat shocking amount it can cost to do it correctly. A lot of self-published authors cut corners. This website (selfpublishing.com) has a lot of great information for those who want to do it themselves, but I recommend beginning here so you fully understand what you are getting yourself into.

The Manuscript Wishlist

Okay, so you want to try the traditional publishing route? Then finding an agent is your first step (well, after you’ve spent an ungodly amount of time writing and editing your precious). There are other sites like this one and I will add more, but this was the easiest one to navigate in my opinion. You can also find editors here if self-publishing is in your future. There’s also a great blog with lots of helpful hints.