This sounds like fun! If you've had one of those a-ha moments and want to share it, Real Simple has an essay contest for you. The grand prize is $3,000 (enough to make a few more moments). From their site: Have you ever had a eureka moment? Tell us about... Continue reading

Chloe Aridjis - 2014 Fellow Creative Arts - Fiction Guggenheim Fellowships of approximately $50,000 each are awarded annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers on the basis of achievement and exceptional promise. Residents of the United States and Canada are eligible. Using the online submission system, submit a... Continue reading

Calling all mystery writers! Here's a great competition for first mystery novels. Winner receives a contract and $10,000 advance. Deadline is October 15, 2014. The mansucript entered must not be under contract or self-published. It must also be at least 40,000 words. Here are some guidelines from the site: Murder... Continue reading

There's still time left to submit to Lee & Low's New Voices Award. Deadline's September 30 (snail mail so make sure you get that postmark in). The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000 and a standard publication contract, including a basic advance and royalties for a first time... Continue reading

This sounds like a wonderful grant! Plenty of time to submit too, so hop on it if it applies to you. The Loft Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship for artists of color and Indigenous artists provides writers financial support and professional assistance to develop and implement self-selecting community learning and enrichment... Continue reading

Hard to believe it, but we are more than halfway through the year. If you feel like you're no closer to reaching your goals of publishing or writing, maybe you just need a little inspiration or guidance? Here are a few FREE Kindle books on writing and publishing. Post your... Continue reading

So I'm still learning my way around Scrivener (which is an amazing tool to organize your writing, both fiction and non-fiction). I'm probably using about 10% of it's ability, just like my brain. I seem to spend more time on the 'net learning how to do things with it when... Continue reading

If you're looking to put some serious work into improving on the craft of writing, DIY MFA has a great challenge coming up in August called Conquer the Draft. From August 1-29 they will email you one prompt per day, then finish off the month with a 2-day virtual writing... Continue reading

They say book marketing tends to be more like a marathon than a sprint. For me, it feels like an around the world journey on foot with multiple maps. You plod along and change course when needed. The thing is you have to keep moving. Right now, I'm throwing everything... Continue reading

(via Yahoo Celebrity) Although production has been down since April, Nickelodeon has officially canceled “Sam & Cat” after just one season, a network spokesperson told... Continue reading

Want to add a little spice to your book signings? Try this Sealed with a Kiss autograph sticker. :) Sealed with a Kiss Autograph Stickers Stickers by divaluscious Continue reading

Fifteen debut YA authors (Freshmen Fifteens) are teaming up on Wattpad to offer a new contest for young authors between the ages of 13-19. The Freshman Fifteen Common Room Mentoring Contest is open to submission from now through July 25. The winners will have the opportunity to be mentored by... Continue reading

You know I love finding great templates for Scrivener. Here's another one for picture book writers. Check out Claire O'Brien's picture book template for both US and UK writers. She also has an accompanying tutorial video, you can see it below. Still no definitive word on when the IOS release... Continue reading

I'm still coming off my writing high after attending the Yale Writer's Conference. In addition to meeting an amazing and eclectic group of writers, I also got tons of book suggestions. I mean, what else would you expect from a group of writers? The books they're reading/have read are as... Continue reading

Here's a fantastic opportunity for women playwrights! A Room of Her Own's Shakespeare’s Sister Playwriting Fellowship offers a woman playwright living in the United States the chance to hone her craft and develop a new play in the course of a year-long engagement with three world-class organizations. In addition to... Continue reading

Women writers, this residence has your name written all over it! Applications are due September 3rd. Hedgebrook is retreat for women writers on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts... Continue reading

Saw this on Callie Rose Literary Arts Cafe's Facebook page (great resource!): The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is a one-time grant of $1,500 for an emerging writer of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work... Continue reading

The Washington Post had a story about Kirkus Reviews and their unveiling of the Kirkus Prize - three $50,000 cash prizes going to YA, non-fiction and fiction books. Nice!! In order to be eligible for consideration, your book must have garnered a starred review by Kirkus. Indie authors are also... Continue reading