“I’m dying for a break,” said my client Tim, the chief physician of adult and family medicine at a large health care system. “But even when I try to take a single weekend off, I can’t seem to go more than a few hours without opening my work email. Logically I know I don’t have to — and I don’t really want to — but I feel compelled to check. To be honest, I become restless and insecure if I don’t.”

“I thought that when I finally secured funding and launched this business I’d be content,” said Samantha, an entrepreneur at a fast-growing technology company. “But I was wrong. And I’m a bit worried that if this isn’t enough, I’m not sure what will be.”

“I’ve long felt the pull of distraction and I’ve long had a tendency to overthink things,” explained Ben, the CEO of a large software company. “Yet it feels intensified now. Like hyper-distraction. It’s harder than ever to be present. I can deal with it; but I don’t like it.”

“I cannot stop obsessing about getting my book published by a major house,” bemoans my friend Ben. “I wish I could, but it’s become this nagging force pulling on my self-esteem.”

Here’s my other friend, Sarah: “I thought that once I got published by a major house I’d be satisfied. But it turns out, now I spend all that time thinking about hitting a major bestseller list. And on social media. And on all these other sources of stimulation that are not writing.”

How to stay grounded in the face of heroic individualism

Everyone wants to be successful. But few people take the time and energy to define the success they want. As a result, they spend most, if not all, of their lives chasing what society superimposes on them as success. Examples include a bigger house, a faster car, a more prestigious position, greater relevance on the internet, and so on. Yet, even if someone finally attains these so-called successes, they are often left wanting.

Many men describe an ever-present pressure, a cumbersome need to be bulletproof, invincible. Many women report feeling like they must be everything always, continually falling short of impossible expectations. I’ve come to call this heroic individualism: an ongoing game of one-upmanship, against both self and others, paired with the limiting belief that measurable achievement is the only arbiter of success. Even if you do a good job hiding it on the outside, with heroic individualism you chronically feel like you never quite reach the finish line that is lasting fulfillment.

Long before heroic individualism, in ancient eastern psychology there was a concept known as the hungry ghost. The hungry ghost has an endless stomach. He keeps on eating, stuffing himself sick, but he never feels full. It’s a severe disorder. And it is one that too many people are still suffering from, as evidenced by skyrocketing rates of anxiety, loneliness, depression, burnout, and substance abuse.

It’s none of our faults, per se. After all, the survival of a consumerist economy, like the one most of us live in, depends on the creation of hungry ghosts and heroic individuals: people who feel like they never have enough, always on the lookout for more, trying to fill emptiness with stuff and outward achievement, on a treadmill that keeps spinning round and round. But you, me — all of us — can choose to opt out of this game. You just have to know how.

Enter: groundedness, a transformative path to success that feeds — not crushes — your soul

Groundedness is internal strength and self-confidence that sustains you through ups and downs. It is a deep reservoir of integrity and fortitude, of wholeness, out of which lasting performance, well-being, and fulfillment emerge.

Groundedness does not eliminate passion, productivity, or all forms of striving and ambition. Instead, it is about ditching an omnipresent and frantic anxiety to begin living in alignment with your innermost values, pursuing your interests, and expressing your authentic self in the here and now.

When you are grounded there is no need to look up or down. You are where you are, and you hold true strength and power from that position. Your success, and the way in which you pursue it, becomes more enduring and robust. You gain the confidence to opt out of the consumer-driven rat-race that leaves you feeling like you are never enough. And, you get much better as a writer—because you can focus on the craft itself, not all the stuff surrounding it.

How to stay grounded: 6 principles of groundedness for writers

The concept of groundedness is the result of the last five years I’ve spent coaching, researching, and reporting for my own book, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul. It is drawn from both the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, as well as age-old teachings from Buddhism, Taoism, and Stoicism. It offers six principles as a roadmap to a different kind and better kind of success. 

As you’ll see below, each of these principles is especially important for writers. 

Accept where you are to get you where you want to go

Seeing clearly, accepting, and starting where you are. Not where you want to be. Not where you think you should be. Not where others think you should be. But where you are. You can’t work on something in a meaningful way if you refuse to accept that the thing is happening to begin with. You don’t have to like what is happening, but you have to accept it.

Many writers fall into the trap of wishing they had this deal or that deal, that they got their work accepted by this publication or that one. As a result, we tend to engage in a lot of wishful thinking. This wishful thinking often gets in the way of the writing itself. Acceptance means focusing on the work, even if you don’t already have publishing glory lined up. After all, there is no publishing glory without doing the butt-in-the-chair work. If you are struggling to get started, remember: you don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance at feeling good.

Be present so you can own your attention and energy

Being present, both physically and mentally, for what is in front of you. Spending more time fully in this life, not in thoughts about the past or future. Distraction is tempting — perhaps for some, even addicting — but the research is clear: happiness, well-being, and peak performance emerge from full engagement in what you are doing.

Writers, take note: do not rely on your willpower to overcome distraction. Schedule time to write, and during that time, keep your phone in another room, close your Internet browser, turn off your email client. If that’s not enough, consider buying a cheap computer with no internet connection, and use it only for writing (something I’ve done before when struggling with distraction).

Be patient and you’ll get there faster

Giving things time and space to unfold. Not trying to escape life by moving at warp speed. Not expecting instant results and then quitting when they don’t occur. Realizing that we often do things quickly — not better, but quickly — to gain time. But what is the point if in the time we gain we just do more things quickly? I have yet to meet someone who wants their headstone to read, “They rushed.”

Let the process unfold. This often means stopping a bit short today so you can pick up in a good rhythm tomorrow. Ernest Hemingway was known for forcing—that’s right, forcing—himself to stop working when he was still in a groove so he could resume from that place the next morning. There is nothing wrong with a marathon session; but don’t make it a habit. Consistency compounds. Small steps—or in this case, sentences—taken every day compound into something big.

Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence

Being real with yourself and with others, at work and in life. Eliminating cognitive dissonance, the inner turmoil and distress that arises when too much of your outward life is performative, when there is too wide a gap between what the sociologist Erving Goffman called your “front stage” and “back stage” selves.

Don’t be scared to take big swings and to put your heart on the page. Writing that feels the most vulnerable is also writing that resonates the most with other people. Why? Because everyone is going through something always. What feels unique to you rarely is. Research shows the more vulnerable we are, the more connected to other people we become. This is every bit as true on the page as it is off of it. This is how to stay grounded.

Build deep community

Nurturing genuine connection and belonging. Building supportive spaces in which individuals can hold each other through ups and downs. Prioritizing not just productivity, but people too. Remembering that on our deathbed we are less likely to harp on the gold-medal, promotion to regional vice president, bestseller, or any other outward achievement, and more likely to savor the bonds and relationships we forged along the way.

The best way to get better at any craft, including writing, is to surround yourself wisely. Connect with other writers. Share you work. Brainstorm together. The title and the sub-title of The Practice of Groundedness both came from conversations with other writer friends. 

Move your body to ground your mind 

Regularly moving your body so that you fully inhabit it, connect it to your mind, and as a result become more situated wherever you are. This doesn’t mean you have to be an athlete. It just means to make movement a part of your life, even if only in some small way.

Study after study shows that the single best way to enhance creativity is to move your body. I consider exercise a part of my job as a professional writer. At least 60 percent of my best ideas have come while on the trail. Even though it can feel like you are sacrificing precious writing time to exercise, it’s actually the opposite that is true. By moving your body, you are bolstering what you bring to the table during your precious writing time.

Brad Stulberg’s book, upon which this story is based, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success that Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul, is available on Amazon.

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.

The writing industry is vast and many people will have, at some point, wondered if they should bother to pursue a career within it.

With writing being an essential part of everyday life, the opportunity to translate that experience and knowledge into an income has greater potential than many other industries, but it also means it is more competitive.

But what does it actually take to become a freelance writer? And how exactly does one go about it? Is there a freelance writing for beginners guide?

In this article we’ll answer these questions and more. We’ll break down the ins and outs of freelance writing as a career path, examining the skill set required, the steps to take and the knowledge you need. 

By the end, you’ll be in a position to ascertain whether or not a freelance writing career is for you as well as how to break into the industry.

What is freelance writing?

Freelance writing is a dynamic profession where individuals, known as freelancers, offer their writing services on a project-by-project basis, unbound by long-term commitments to a single employer. 

As independent contractors, freelance writers cater to diverse clients, producing content across various genres and platforms. This flexible career allows writers to choose their projects, set their schedules, and work from virtually anywhere. 

From creating engaging articles and blog posts to crafting marketing copy and technical documents, freelance writers navigate a vast landscape of opportunities. 

Success in freelance writing often hinges on a blend of writing proficiency, business acumen, and adaptability, empowering writers to pursue their passion while meeting the unique needs of clients in a constantly evolving digital landscape.

What skills do you need to become a freelance writer?

Becoming a successful freelance writer requires a diverse skill set to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital content creation.

Here’s a guide to key skills essential for freelance writers:

• Writing proficiency—Strong writing skills are the foundation. A freelance writer must convey ideas clearly, concisely, and creatively
• Research skills—The ability to gather accurate information efficiently is crucial for creating well-informed, credible content
• Adaptability—Freelance writers often work on varied topics and formats, demanding adaptability to different styles, tones, and industries
• Time management—Meeting deadlines is paramount. Effective time management ensures timely delivery of quality work
• SEO knowledge—Understanding search engine optimization helps writers create content that performs well in online searches
• Communication—Clear communication with clients is vital. Freelancers must interpret client needs and convey progress and challenges effectively
• Editing and proofreading—A keen eye for detail ensures the delivery of polished, error-free content
• Creativity—Creativity adds flair to writing, making content engaging and memorable
• Self-motivation—Freelancers must stay motivated to meet goals and navigate the uncertainties of freelancing
• Attention to detail—Precision in details, from grammar to formatting, contributes to professional, high-quality work
• Marketing skills—Effective self-promotion is key. Understanding marketing strategies helps freelancers attract clients
• Client collaboration—Building strong client relationships fosters repeat business. Collaborative skills ensure client satisfaction

By honing these skills, aspiring freelance writers can embark on a rewarding career, delivering valuable content to diverse audiences.

How do you find work as a freelance writer?

Acquiring freelance writing work requires a proactive approach to showcase skills and attract clients. Here are several ways emerging freelance writers can secure opportunities:

Create an online portfolio

Develop a professional website or blog showcasing a portfolio of your best work. This serves as a centralized platform for potential clients to assess your writing style and expertise.

Join freelance platforms

If you are brand new and have no idea where to start, register on freelance job platforms like Upwork, Freelancer or Fiverr to find a variety of writing opportunities. Complete your profile with relevant details and samples.

Networking

Connect with fellow freelancers, editors, and content creators on social media platforms like LinkedIn and other professional forums. Networking can lead to referrals and collaborations.

Pitch to job boards

Many websites, especially in the writing niche, post job opportunities. Regularly check job boards like ProBlogger, Freelance Writing Jobs and BloggingPro for new listings.

Guest blogging

Contribute guest posts to reputable blogs within your niche. This builds your portfolio and establishes credibility and attracts potential clients.

Utilize social media

Actively participate in writing communities on platforms like Threads, Facebook and Reddit. Share your expertise, engage in discussions and make connections that may lead to job opportunities.

Cold pitching

Identify potential clients or publications and send personalized pitches. Clearly articulate how your skills align with their needs.

Freelance writing agencies

Join agencies that connect freelance writers with clients. These platforms often handle administrative tasks, allowing writers to focus on their craft.

Attend networking events

Attend local or virtual events related to writing, publishing or freelancing. Networking with professionals in these spaces can open doors to opportunities.

Offer free workshops or webinars

Showcase your expertise by hosting free workshops or webinars. This not only positions you as an authority but may attract clients seeking your services.

Remember, persistence and consistency are key when establishing a freelance writing career. Building a strong online presence and actively seeking opportunities will contribute to a steady flow of work.

Entry routes for new freelance writers

Freelance writers just starting out can explore various creative ways to pitch and acquire work, especially in the initial stages of their career.

Here are some entry-level examples:

Social media management proposal

• Pitch small businesses or startups on improving their social media presence
• Offer to create engaging content, manage posting schedules, and respond to audience engagement

Website content rewrite

• Approach local businesses with outdated or poorly written websites
• Propose a website content overhaul to enhance clarity, SEO, and overall user experience

Blog post packages

• Create a package of blog post writing services
• Offer businesses a set number of monthly blog posts to improve their online visibility and showcase their expertise

Newsletter creation

• Target businesses without an active newsletter
• Propose a newsletter creation service to help them connect with their audience through regular updates and promotions

Email marketing campaigns

• Pitch e-commerce businesses on crafting compelling email campaigns
• Highlight the potential for increased customer engagement and sales through effective email marketing

Resume and LinkedIn profile writing

• Offer resume and LinkedIn profile writing services
• Target individuals looking to enhance their professional profiles for job applications

Product descriptions for small e-commerce stores

• Reach out to small online shops without optimized product descriptions
• Offer to revamp their product descriptions to boost sales and customer understanding

Local event coverage

• Propose event coverage for local businesses or community events
• Offer to write event summaries or promotional content

Guest blogging for startups

• Approach startups in your niche and offer guest blogging services
• Provide them with valuable content to showcase their expertise and attract a wider audience

Editing and proofreading services

• Advertise editing and proofreading services on platforms like Craigslist or local community boards
• Offer assistance with resumes, essays, or any written content

Remember to tailor your pitches to the specific needs of your target clients and showcase the value you can bring to their business or personal brand. As you gain experience, you can expand your services and reach a broader clientele.

Freelance writing for beginners

Breaking into the freelance writing industry then can open up a world of opportunities for creative expression and financial independence. As you navigate the marketplace of freelance writing, remember that persistence, continuous learning and adaptability are your greatest allies. 

The diverse entry points discussed, from social media proposals to blog post packages, showcase the varied paths to success. Every pitch, rejection and acceptance contributes to your growth. 

Building a freelance writing career requires patience and resilience, but the satisfaction of seeing your words make an impact is unparalleled. 

Take the lessons learned, refine your skills, and embrace the journey of becoming a freelance writer.

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 

Think about it. Any time you bring up your writing, you’re met with predictable, annoying responses, showing the ignorance of everyone you know to the intricacies of the writing life.

Here are some of the things I’d love to shout from the rooftops to non-writers. And some advice for educating your own loved ones in a less-dramatic fashion.

1. Everyone has an idea for a novel or screenplay

As soon as you tell someone you’re a writer, they’re excited to tell you about the novel or screenplay they’ve “been working on.” Dig a little deeper, and you realize they’ve had this idea since high school. I always feel a little disrespected when someone brings up their story like we have something in common. Do they think my job is just me wistfully going about my day with big ideas?

If you find yourself cornered by someone else’s half-baked dreams, try to steer the conversation toward the reality of your career and lifestyle to help them understand that you’re more than fantastical ideas. Explain what your day really looks like, and the deadlines and commitments that drive your work toward the finish line.

2. I’m a professional writer, not a hobbyist

It drives me crazy when someone replies to my declaration of my profession with, “Oh, yeah, I love writing, too.” Writing is writing. But writing for fun in your free time is not writing for a living, and it’s offensive that they don’t see what I do differently.

Tactfully pointing this out in polite conversation isn’t easy; it can pretty quickly paint you as condescending. But you can slide the distinction in there while still accepting their perceived common ground. Try saying something like, “I’ve always loved it, too. It was a lot of work to make the jump to freelancing, where it feels a lot more like a job than fun sometimes.”

3. Blogging is real writing and a real job

When you say, honestly, that you make your living blogging, they make that face. Maybe it’s just for a second, but it’s unmistakable: They’ve pinned you for a fraud, not a real writer. Or, worse, they say it out loud, “Oh! I didn’t know you could be paid for THAT.”

Thankfully, this misconception is fairly simple to clear up. Just provide a description of the work you do—the types of companies you blog for, the kind of knowledge you have to possess, etc.—and you can effectively re-frame blogging as a legitimate career option in their once-ignorant minds.

4. My work is worth paying for, just like yours

Obviously, the old, “Would you ask a doctor to work for free?” argument isn’t getting through to some of your friends, because they’re constantly asking you to “take a look” at something they’ve written, offer feedback, edit, toss around ideas. It’s uncomfortable. They think your professional-level consultation is just a conversation between friends.

When a friend approaches you with a writing-related request, say, “Sure, I’d love to help you out. No charge this time!” Mentioning money casually reminds them you’re a professional, and helps you avoid the slippery slope that turns innocent conversations into dozens of unbilled work hours.

5. I’m working right now—so, no, I can’t do the laundry, chat, or run errands

You’re in the middle of a quiet, productive writing sesh, and your spouse/roommate/neighbor/etc. appears in the doorway and just starts chatting. Or, worse, they hit you with a honey-do list as they whisk off to the office, out the door before your cry of, “But I’m working!” can even leave your mouth.

Even if writing isn’t a money-maker for you, you deserve the freedom to take it seriously. (Click to tweet this idea!) When the people in your life don’t value your writing time, you have to take control of it. Claim your space—whether you get a whole office, or a corner of the living room — and explain to everyone that when you’re there, you’re working. Stick to it, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to leave you alone.

6. I’m not responsible for my significant other’s writing needs—unless they hire me to help them

This seems to be a gendered issue, but maybe only because I’m a cis female. If you’re the writer in a relationship, people will assume you take care of the writing needs of your husband’s “real” job. What’s that about?

If someone hits you with that question: “So, do you edit all his memos?” *condescending wink* kindly explain that he has colleagues and employees responsible for such things. You’re too busy with your own work, and your partner probably couldn’t afford your services. *payback wink*

Maybe you want to become the next Sarah Dessen of YA fiction, or perhaps you created a series you know will rival the book-to-movie successes of “Hunger Games” and “Harry Potter.”

Either way, you should know that no road to authorship is paved with gold. It doesn’t matter which road you choose—there are pros and cons to both routes.

While authors who self-publish boast the wonders of creative control and higher royalties, they also bemoan the uphill climb it can be to reach an audience. Authors who publish traditionally say mainstream success is the only way to go, all the while they relinquish the ability to have a say in final book decisions and lose creative control. 

That means the answer to this age-old debate: “traditional vs. self-publishing” is inconclusive. The right path for you depends entirely on what you want from your author experience. 

Of course, you will ask yourself more than five questions about whether it’s better to self-publish or get a publisher, but these essential questions ought to provide you foundational answers for a complex and often confusing process.

Once you’ve worked through these questions, I recommend researching more on the topics that resonate with you. The world of publishing seems to change on a monthly basis, so it’s to your advantage to research your decisions before fully committing.

Now, let’s discuss five essential questions to ask yourself about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.

• How soon do you want to release your book?
• How many people do you want to reach?
• How much control do you want over your book?
• How much do you want to earn?
• What is your primary goal?

1. How soon do you want to release your book?

Generally speaking, a traditionally published book takes at least one year to be published.

That doesn’t include the writing of the manuscript or the laborious and time-intensive process of pitching agents and waiting on a publishing house to accept your book. Timelines do vary, as smaller publishing houses can move faster, but it’s a safe bet that once a publisher has accepted your manuscript, it’ll be another year before it’s on sale.

In my experience as a co-author on the traditional publishing side, we needed a year before a publisher bought our book. It was another year until the book was on sale. All told, we waited two years after its writing to see the book in bookstores.

In stark contrast, you could self-publish your book tomorrow.

If all of your essential prep work was complete—editing, cover design, formatting—and you knew how to upload the correct documents to your preferred self-publishing platform, your book could be available to the masses within a day.

I wouldn’t recommend doing this, but quick-turnaround self-publishing is possible. (That benefit is also a deficit: Self-publishing suffers from drivel overload because the barrier to entry is too low.)

If your primary goal for your book is to release it as soon as possible, self-publishing is your choice.

Winner: Self-publishing.

But speed-to-market shouldn’t necessarily be your only deciding factor. Take these other questions into consideration before you make a firm decision.

2. How many people do you want to reach?

Most every writer wants the world to read their book. Or, at best, they want their target audience to find their book, read and review their book and become ardently devoted fans for the rest of the author’s life.

But, with rare exceptions, such fandom doesn’t just happen. It has to be built from the ground up, whether you plan to self-publish your book or seek traditional publishing. These days, both processes demand that the author has a platform.

For authors without a sizable platform attempting to reach readers, self-publishing can be a black hole. In “Publishing 101,” Jane Friedman wrote the blunt truth: “When writers chase self-publishing as an alternative to traditional publishing, they often have a nasty surprise in store: No one is listening. They don’t have an audience.”

If you don’t believe that, believe this: As of August 1, 2018, the Kindle store sold 6,922,403 titles. (Thanks to Claude Forthomme for helping me find that number.)

And because Amazon sells the majority of ebooks among all retailers, those millions of titles are your competition. Yes, you have the opportunity to reach Amazon’s millions of daily customers, but you also have to figure out how to get those customers to find your one-in-a-million book.

Unless you’re knowledgeable about the many publishing outlets available to self-publishers, you will likely rely on Amazon’s ecosystem for your sales. But that carries one looming caveat: little to no bookstore distribution.

Sure, your book could be ordered by a bookstore if a patron specifically requests it, but the likelihood of your self-published book being distributed to major bookstores across the nation is, well, slim.

The relationships that traditional publishers have with distributors and bookstores may be their greatest benefit to authors. 

Side note: Don’t fall for the lie that a traditional publisher will provide ample marketing dollars to back your masterpiece. They likely won’t. Even if they do front some money, your book better do very well in its opening week and first few months to warrant them investing any more.

Again: every author needs a platform. Don’t wait for anyone to build it for you.

Winner: Tie. It depends on your platform.

3. How much control do you want over your book?

If you want complete control of your book, you will self-publish. But it’s important to think through exactly what you’re taking on—or giving up—when talking about controlling your book.

Controlling your book means being fully responsible for every aspect of the book. This extends far beyond just writing the book.

You will have to spend time or money to ensure that your cover design, interior design, editing, rights, distribution, pricing and marketing are all accomplished to a level that can compete with traditionally published books.

You will either have to apprentice yourself to the many aspects of self-publishing or pay someone—or many someones—to help you. In “Publishing 101,” Jane Friedman calls self-publishing “a ton of work, like starting a small business (if you do it right).”

Still, you retain creative control. The freelancers you may hire work for you. You get to tell them what to do because you’re signing their paychecks.

In contrast, consider what else Jane Friedman advised: “When working with a traditional publisher, you have to give up a lot of power and control. The publisher gets to decide the cover, the title, the design, the format, the price, etc. You have to go through rounds of revisions and will likely have to change things you don’t want to change.”

To some authors, that’s terrifying. They wouldn’t be able to abide by changes that went against their creative sensibilities. It’s their book, after all.

Joanna Penn wrote about her friend Polly Courtney, who “famously resigned from her publisher on publication day because she was marketed as chick-lit when she writes gritty novels about social issues. She was angry and upset about losing that creative control. You may also get an editor you don’t agree with, especially as many of the more experienced editors move up in the company or are working freelance for more money.”

But, for other authors, giving up that control is freeing. They don’t have to spend the time, money or brainpower on the seeming incidentals of getting a book published. They can focus on writing, then on writing the next book.

Whether you pursue self-publishing or traditional publishing, you’ll have to give up something: time, money or control. Which of those are most important to you?

Winner: Self-publishing.

4. How much do you want to earn?

Unfortunately, we can’t all be John Scalzi, who accepted a 10-year, 13-book deal for $13.4 million from Tor Books after a rather well-known and lucrative move from self-publishing to traditional publishing.

Today, earning a living from book sales is hard, but it is an uphill battle.

While the average self-published author can’t make a full-time living from their books, there are outliers—Rupi Kaur, Andy Weir, Hugh Howey, E. L. James, etc.

But the same can be said for the majority of traditionally published authors. Most aren’t making a full-time living from their books, especially when the average book advance is between $5K-$20K.

What I’m trying to unsubtly suggest is what Jane Friedman says so well in her book: “Anyone in it for the coin should find some other field.”

Now that I’ve warned you against the lure of publishing riches, here are the frustrating and unhelpful facts about earnings per book when it comes to self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

With royalties ranging from 30 to 70 percent, you stand to make more per book by self-publishing.

The challenge for you self-publishing will be distribution. It’s easy to get into Amazon where 70% of all book sales happen. But it’s tough to get eyeballs unless you have good ads, a good platform, and good keywords and categories.

In contrast, traditional publishing offers increasingly lower advances (unless you’re famous or have written a book that leads to a bidding war). Royalties are lower than in self-publishing as well—that is, if you even earn out your advance. Up to 80 percent of books never earn back their advance, meaning that the author never receives royalties (“Publishing 101”).

The frustrating, confusing aspect is that traditional publishing offers better distribution. Simply put, your book is available in more places.

The question comes down to this: Would you rather earn more per book but have to drive your own distribution by self-publishing, or would you rather earn less per book and hope the traditional publishing process helps your reach?

Winner: Tie.

5. What is your primary goal?

This is the tiebreaker question.

What if you’ve read this far and each of your answers has canceled out the previous answer? What if, by this point, you’re more confused than when you began?

Consider your primary goals:

• If you want to get your book to market as fast as possible, self-publish your book
• If you want to reach the most readers, learn how to start building your author platform because that’s the key to selling books whether you self-publish or traditionally publish
• If you demand creative control over every aspect of your book, self-publish

Your primary goal may not even be listed in this article, but you need to define what success looks like for your book. Then work backward from there.

In the end, no matter which route you take, pursue that path with as much passion and care as you placed into the writing of your book. No one will champion your book unless you’re it’s first and greatest champion.

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

Photo via Dean Drobot / Shutterstock 

One of the biggest obstacles for writers attempting to get paid for their work is finding legitimate, paid, online writing jobs. It’s all too easy to stumble across freelance writing “gigs” that offer little more than exposure—which doesn’t put money in the bank.

A great resource for freelancers, this membership site is $40/month and you get access to more than 300 hours of “bootcamps” that teach you how to make money as a freelance writer and hundreds of forums where you can get any question answered. Whether you want to listen to expert guests on their podcast, access the 24/7 community of writers, or check out video and audio training materials, the Den has everything a freelancer needs to grow their career — all in one place.

If you’re serious about freelancing, this is worth considering. You can join at the links above, or read our full Freelance Writers Den review for more details.

So where should you look online for freelance writing jobs?

Fortunately, some reliable resources for finding online writing jobs do actually pay. 

In this post, we’ll share a list of our favorites. Here are some of the best places to find freelance writing jobs online.

1. FlexJobs

One of the top job boards for not just freelance writing jobs but remote work in general, FlexJobs enables you to create a custom job search profile to meet your specific needs. Select your categories (there are several under “Writing”), your preferred work schedule, your experience level and more to hone down your search results to those that best fit the freelance writer job you’re looking for. You can also set alerts so you’re notified when new jobs matching your search criteria are posted. 

A subscription is $9.95/week, $24.95/month, $39.95 for three months or $59.95/year. Here’s a search for “writer” jobs if you want to try it.

2. SolidGigs

SolidGigs is part job board, part productivity tool. Why? Because their team literally saves you hours of scouring job boards. They hand-pick the best gigs from around the web and compile them into a weekly email, including remote opportunities. 

It’s $21/month to subscribe, and they offer a free 14-day trial. Along with curated job opportunities, you’ll also get access to business training courses and hundreds of lessons on freelancing and interviews with successful freelancers.

3. Freelance Opportunities!

Freelance writer Kaitlyn Arford curates this handpicked, exclusive freelance opportunities list, which is hosted on Beehiiv and sent twice weekly to subscribers. With both a free tier and a paid tier, Kaitlyn covers a wide variety of writing jobs, including journalism, copywriting, content writing, fact checking, content design, content strategy, search engine optimization, public relations, marketing, social media, and more.

4. Working In Content

Working In Content aims to connect organizations with passionate content professionals. As a bonus, it values diversity, equity and inclusion, and it encourages the employers it works with to do the same. 

Whether you’re a UX writer or a content strategist, this site is a great option to find work in content design, marketing, management and more. It offers full-time and contract roles that are either remote or in cities like Seattle, New York City and San Francisco. Be sure to subscribe to its free newsletter that shares expert interviews, resources and job opportunities once a week.

5. ProBlogger Job Board

Created by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger, an authority site on blogging, the ProBlogger job board features part- and full-time, contract and freelance writer jobs across a wide variety of locations, industries and writing specialties.  

Plus, given ProBlogger’s high profile in the blogosphere, it’s likely you can often find jobs posted by some big-time blogs and employers who have an idea what good writing is really worth. Besides content writing, it also lists a healthy dose of copywriting jobs.

6. Best Writing

This site is a content writing job board that includes remote, freelance, contract and full-time jobs. To peruse these hand-picked writing opportunities, visit the site online, sign up for daily job alerts or subscribe to its paid newsletter that shares brand new openings once per week for $19.50/month and up. 

Another good resource: This site offers a content writing blog that features long-form interviews with prolific content writers, authors and founders who share tips of the trade.

7. Behance Creative Jobs

Powered by Adobe, Behance is an online platform for creative professionals to showcase their work, find inspiration and connect with companies looking to hire. 

Behance allows you to upload your past projects to quickly create a visually-pleasing online portfolio, making it a great resource for writers without a website. It has its own job board which you can browse to find your next career move or freelance writing job!

8. MediaBistro

MediaBistro is a great resource for media freelancers of all stripes, offering online courses, tools and information that can help you navigate your career.

Be sure to check out the freelance job board section of the site, as well, for a wide range of jobs for all experience levels from industries like TV, PR/marketing, magazine and book publishing and social media—a little something for everyone.

9. FreelanceWriting

FreelanceWriting provides a nice compendium of freelance writing and editing jobs with competitive pay rates. 

With exclusive job opportunities as well as posts pulled from sites like Indeed and Craigslist, the job board consolidates a variety of gigs for everyone from newbie to seasoned freelancers. Save yourself the time of scouring numerous sites and let this newsletter bring the decent jobs right to your inbox.

10. Who Pays Writers?

Who Pays Writers? is a crowd-sourced list of publications that pay freelance writers—and it’s a gold mine. The list has hundreds of publications to explore; it not only shows you which publications are accepting submissions, it also tells you how much they pay per word. 

The site primarily offers writers a good research opportunity to learn how much different publications pay, but there are some online blogging opportunities as well (depending on the publication). Maintained by an anonymous volunteer collective, the list is updated monthly.

11. The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs

Freelancer Sophie Lizard compiled a free ebook listing 75 blogs that pay $50 to $2,000 per post, broken down into sections like Writing Blogs, Food Blogs, etc. She also includes some good tips on how to approach these blogs, how to promote yourself once you’ve landed a post, and more. 

To get the ebook, add your email address to her newsletter list—you’ll also get free access to her money-making toolkit and more.

12. LinkedIn Jobs

If you’ve already got a LinkedIn profile (and you really should to attract new clients), don’t let it just sit there. Networking goes a long way in the freelance world, and LinkedIn is a great resource to do some networking through common connections.

While you’re doing that networking, check out the Jobs section and sign up for email alerts when jobs are posted that match your interests. Many will be location-based, but who’s to say you can’t approach these employers with a proposal for freelance writing services? Maybe they need someone to fill the gap in the hiring interim, or maybe the job could just as easily be done remotely but they hadn’t considered that. Talk about a different kind of pitch! 

13. Freelance Writing Gigs

This invaluable resource updates daily with online writing jobs scooped from around the ‘net. It’s also got a rich archive filled with posts offering all kinds of tips and insight for beginning and experienced freelancers alike.

Along with the daily blog posts, you can also check out the Freelance Writing Gigs Board, where those in need of copy services of all sorts post jobs on the regular.

14. Where to Pitch

This one takes a little bit of forethought and footwork. Instead of simply listing online writing jobs, Where to Pitch offers a list of potential venues when you type in a topic you’re interested in working on. If you’re willing to put in that effort, you’re bound to find some new publications to pitch.

You can also sign up for the Where to Pitch newsletter,  which gets you access to five real pitches that snagged the writer bylines in the New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, and other large publications.

15. Upwork

Although Upwork has a bit of a reputation for offering low-rate jobs, it’s definitely possible to find postings offering livable wages for writing jobs online. When this article was published, a job to write a finance/trading article for $500 and a ghostwriter gig for $600 were both listed. 

Plus, you get the added benefit of rate transparency: You know exactly what you’re going to get before you even put in the effort to read the full job description! If you’re curious about this platform, here’s a longer post on why one writer says Upwork is legit.

16. JournalismJobs.com

Offering full-time, freelance and remote jobs opportunities, JournalismJobs.com can help you find writing, editing, reporting or copy editor gigs. You can also find jobs across a wide range on industries like non-profit, technology and TV, so you’ll never get bored with this website’s selections. 

Plus, while you’re here, be sure to set job alerts to know right away about new freelance writer jobs, check out its section of career advice or even peruse the fellowship listings.

Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

If this list is helpful, you’ll get even more out of The Write Life’s ebook: 71 Ways to Earn as a Freelance Writer. We suggest dozens of different ways to earn income online as a writer, including information on how much each gig pays and tips for how to land those freelance writing jobs. The bulk of the jobs we suggest are ones you can do from home. 

17. Smart Blogger

Smart Blogger launched in 2012 and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest sites dedicated to writing and blogging. As well as a jobs page that lists hundreds of opportunities for freelance writers, they also have a resources and tools section which provides a number of valuable insights to help freelance writers in all areas of their work.

There’s good reason that Smart Blogger has over 300 thousand subscribers to date and any aspiring freelance writers would be well placed to become one themselves.

18. Contena

Contena markets itself as an online program and suite of tools designed to help users get started with freelance writing and remote work. They operate through a membership scheme with prospective users invited to fill out a simple form on their website, however anyone is able to view the list of jobs available, which is impressively extensive.

Independent reviews suggest Contena is indeed a great resource, so you should definitely check it out when seeking new opportunities.

19. Freelance Framework

Curated by content writer and marketer Chris Bibey, Freelance Framework is a daily newsletter delivering freelance writing gigs by email. Like most of these services, there’s a free tier and a paid tier, and the website features archives in case you want to search for something specific. Expect a variety of gigs spanning the globe.

20. What Editors Want

Curated by James Durston, this Substack curates calls for pitches from other sites around the Internet including X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and even other newsletters mentioned on this list. There’s a lot to go through, with many of the articles citing 75+ calls for journalism and/or writing pitches. There are three tiers for this newsletter: free, monthly, and annual.

Bonus. Opportunities of the Week

Founded by Sonia Weiser, this bi-weekly newsletter became a must-have for freelance writers. Before being acquired by Study Hall, Sonia would gather dozens of calls for pitches and email them to her community. The service was previously offered through Ghost, where members were asked to contribute up to $10 per month. In addition to freelance writing jobs, she included career advice, resources on how much different outlets pay, and other helpful links.

Alright, but how do you run a freelance writing business, anyway?

Even with tons of resources for finding online writing jobs, it can be hard to know exactly what it takes to get your foot in the door with those editors. After all, you don’t just fall into a job (usually); you’ve got to prove to someone that you’re the right fit.

All of that to say nothing of the fact that running a freelance writing business is its own job, once you get started. You’ll have to negotiate pay raises, deal with editorial disagreements, and even—perish the thought—figure out self-employment taxes.

If you’re eager to learn about any of those topics, check out some of these helpful posts, created to help freelancers tackle every part of the writing-for-a-living experience.

• How to Become a Freelance Writer
• How to Pitch a Story
• Tips for Raising Your Freelance Writing Rates
• Portfolio Website Options for Freelancers
• Avoid Freelance Writing Scams

We never said it was easy, but the writing life certainly is a rewarding one.

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.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life—and we thank you for that!

There’s a ton of advice out there about how to carve out moments in your day to create time to write: wake up an hour early, write in 10-minute intervals to get something down, write during your lunch break at work; the list seems endless. 

In between juggling work and home life, writers are left to daydream about spending time in a quiet colony or residency, where creative solitude is the only objective. 

You deserve more than just a few stolen moments, and that’s what residencies are for!

Plus, many of them aren’t too competitive, so you’re more likely to get accepted.

Our founder, Alexis Grant, enjoyed three highly productive residencies at The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences.

“Don’t make the mistake of only applying to the super-competitive residencies, especially if you’re an unpublished author. There are so many wonderful residencies and colonies to choose from.” —Alexis Grant

Looking for a writing residency? Here are 32 to consider

We’ve rounded up several dozen high-quality writers residencies you might want to apply for. We start with those in the United States and later cover international opportunities.

While some of these are quite selective, others are less competitive or more open with their admission policies. (And if you’re still hungry for more opportunities, we also have posts on writing retreats, writers grants and writing fellowships.)

Here are some writing residencies to consider.

1. Willapa Bay AiR

I’m so amazed by the detail of thought that went into every single aspect of planning the residency program—from cottages designed for comfort and productivity (and nature!) to the community spirit that permeates everything; from generous and well-crafted food to the nurture of the artist within and without. I came with projects in mind, and I was able to do most of what I hoped to do. But beyond the work itself and beyond the experiences of exploration and community, I became a better, more dedicated, more committed artist at Willapa Bay. —Barbara Presnell, writer 

Launched in 2014, the Willapa Bay AiR residency program combines the opportunity for solitude with the opportunity for daily community that fosters creative endeavor.

It’s located in Southwestern Washington and offers month-long residencies to emerging and established artists of all types. Lodging, meals and workspace are provided to six residents per month from April 1 through October 28. Expect a $30 application fee—and a $100 refundable deposit to confirm your residency if you’re admitted. (You’ll get it back as soon as you arrive!)

Applications are accepted from June 15 to August 31 each year.

2. Millay Colony for the Arts

For the last couple of years, a number of writers we call the FUEGO group has gathered at Millay for a few precious days of writing retreat and fellowship. What a privilege to work in such idyllic surroundings. Millay has been a feast and a sanctuary for us all. For a few days, we are able to be completely absorbed in our craft and leave feeling refreshed and emboldened toward what we need to accomplish as writers. Thank you for this golden raft of paradise. —Sarah Gambito, poet

This small artist’s colony occupies the former estate of Edna St. Vincent Millay in upstate New York, offering two-week and month-long residencies to six or seven artists between the months of May and October.

Unlike many other residencies, the Millay Colony for the Arts doesn’t emphasize social events or speakers, instead preferring for you to focus on producing your art. There are no costs, and food is included. You can also apply for a virtual residency or a group residency if you’re collaborating with partners.

Check the website for application deadlines and note there’s a $45 application fee. If you’re invited to attend, you’ll also be charged a nonrefundable $100 deposit.

3. Ucross Foundation

At Ucross I learned that I am capable of focusing deeply for long periods of time. I love to write. I don’t think I would have said that before this trip. —Edan Lepucki, novelist

A favorite among writers (including alumni Annie Proulx!), the Uncross Foundation is a colony is located on a 20,000-acre working cattle ranch in Wyoming.

It serves 100 artists per year, with up to 10 people in residence at any one time—typically four writers, four visual artists, and two composers. Lunches are delivered to your door, while dinners are eaten together in a group; towels, linens, and weekly housekeeping is provided. Residencies last two to six weeks and are free of charge.

Please note, there’s a $40 nonrefundable application fee. Visit the application page for updated deadlines.

4. Jentel

The month’s end is a time I am not looking forward to because with the space itself being gorgeous and comfy, the food being good, the people being wonderful, and me being productive. I can see myself dreaming of this place once I leave. —Jennifer Baker, fiction writer

Sitting just eight miles away from UCross is Jentel, which hosts month-long residencies year-round on a cattle ranch with spectacular views of the Big Horn Mountains. The program accepts both established and emerging artists, offering dedicated individuals a supportive environment to further their creative development. 

Though food isn’t included, they do provide a $400 weekly stipend to help with the costs of your trip. Applicants must be over the age of 25.

Deadlines are January and September 15 each year. Expect a $30 application fee.

5. Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

There was something magical about being in such a supportive and beautiful environment, having a different place (studio) to go to every day with the deliberate purpose of writing, and being inspired by the serious work ethic of all the other artists. —Penny Harter, poet

This selective residency offers two attractive locations: one in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and another in France, open to those who’ve already completed a domestic VCCA residency. Artists of all types are accepted. Residencies are offered year-round and last from two weeks to two months, with 25 artists in residence at one time. You’ll receive private quarters and, in the case of the Virginia residency, three meals per day—and are asked to contribute what you can, up to their $150 per-day cost to host you. (Residents at the French location will receive one community dinner per week and are required to pay at least $70 per day.) 

The standard application fee is $30, and deadlines are January, May and September 15.

(TWL Founder Alexis Grant attended this residency, and noted its lovely setting!)

6. Rockvale Writers’ Colony

My time at RWC allowed me to work in a beautiful setting without distraction. In one wonderful week, I was able to complete what would have normally have taken me a month. Grateful to have a place like this close to home. —Sheba Karim, writer

Tucked away on 65 acres of beautiful countryside in College Grove, Tennessee, Rockvale Writers’ Colony is a new residency open to writers of all backgrounds and genres. Spacious and private accommodations are provided in either a 160-year-old farmhouse or a 150-year-old cabin, both of which have been outfitted inside with modern amenities. 

Residencies run for one, two, three or four weeks at a time, and residents pay $425 per week. However, mini-residencies lasting one to three nights are also available for $100 per night. While you’ll be responsible for making most of your own meals, you’ll be given ample pantry and refrigerator space stocked with spices, oils, condiments, coffee, and tea available for everyone to share.

Applications are accepted year-round and require a $30 fee.

7. Omi International Arts Center

The international character of [Omi] sharpens your perspective on what it means to be a writer outside the U.S.A. in the 21st century… As for the writing, my main reason for being here, it went sailing along, with only a few days when the anchor dragged. —Alfred Corn, writer

Writers Omi welcomes published writers of all types for residencies of one week to two months. Located on 300 acres overlooking the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, they offer full room and board to about 10 writers at a time and frequently host dinner guests from the New York City publishing community.

There is no application fee and no fee to attend, but selected residents are responsible for funding their own travel. Check the website for application deadlines.

8. Norton Island Residency

I can’t imagine a more creative environment than Norton Island.  Every day poses a fresh and authentic encounter with nature, fellow artists, and one’s self. Long stretches of solitude are balanced with moments of raucous camaraderie. It is a place for clear thinking, and dreamy starry nights.  The kind of experience I live for, and as a theatre artist, the kind of experience I hope to create. —Phil Atlakson, playwright

The Norton Island Residency for Writers and Artists is 10-day residency is located on a 150-acre island (primarily consisting of spruce forests) off the coast of Maine and offers a rustic and outdoorsy experience each summer for a flat fee of $150.

When we say “outdoorsy,” we mean it, so get ready: WiFi is limited, cabins lack running water, cellular signal is spotty, and the program reminds you to “Watch out for wildlife—most of it amazing, some of it icky, all of it harmless.”

There’s a $45 tax-deductible application fee, and any additional expenses for room and board will be covered by the residency.

9. Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts

I think the facility at KHN could not be more ideally suited for an artist residency program. I felt like I was staying in a very comfortable private home and I had everything that I needed to do my work, and having the private bathroom and spacious kitchen was wonderful.—Gary Peter, fiction writer

Located in Nebraska City, Nebraska, the KHN Center offers more than 50 residencies per year to established and emerging writers, visual artists and composers. If accepted, you’ll receive free housing for stays of two to eight weeks and a $100 stipend per week to cover food.

There’s a $35 application fee. Plan ahead to meet the March 1 and September 1 deadlines.

10. Blue Mountain Center

I quickly found myself being as productive as I’ve ever been. And it was the best kind of productivity, too: the relaxed, fulfilling kind—not the over-caffeinated, deadline-driven, better-get-this-done-quick kind. The idyllic setting, the stimulating conversation of interesting writers and artists (who shared ideas and techniques), and above all the extended time away from the pressures of ‘normal life’ proved remarkably conducive to good writing. —Scott Stossel, editor

Creative and non-fiction writers, activists, and artists of all disciplines, go off the grid in the heart of the Adirondacks. This artist’s community at Blue Mountain Center offers three different month-long sessions in the summer and early fall, including free room and board. Cell phones aren’t welcome, though you’ll be able to access its phone booth and computer room with ethernet plug-ins (no WiFi here!) 24 hours a day.

The annual application deadline is February 1. Expect a $25 application fee.

11. Mineral School

I still look back on my two weeks in Mineral as the most productive ‘six months’ I’ve ever had. —Janine Kovac, memoirist

With sweeping western Washington views of Mineral Lake and Mount Rainier, it would be hard not to produce great work at the Mineral School residency, held in a renovated 1947 elementary school building.

Open to writers of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and screenplays, the program provides lodging, studio space and meals for two weeks at the price of $900—plus, presentations by guest writers and artists and opportunities for public presentation are included as well. Limited fellowships are available.

12. Vermont Studio Center

This place really captures the essence of “sanctuary.” Coming off of a very demanding working mom schedule, it was a gift to have the time to hit the reset button and get to the creative work that I’ve been meaning to devote more attention to. — Monica Ong, visual artist and poet

Another favorite is the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency program in the United States, hosting more than 50 visual artists and writers each month in the heart of Northern Vermont.

While writers give the Artist & Writer Residency at Vermont Studio Center high marks, it’s not cheap. For the complete program, you’ll pay $12,000 for a four-week residency. However, fellowships, grants and work-exchange programs are available to help reduce your cost—in some cases, all the way down to nothing.

During your stay, you’re provided a private bedroom, 24-hour access to a private studio space, 20 hot meals per week, plus round-the-clock fresh fruit, hot and cold beverages, and breakfast cereal.

The application fee is $25. Fellowship deadlines are February 15, June 15 and October 1, rolling applications are accepted year-round and are eligible for financial aid, but will not be considered for a fellowship.

13. Anne LaBastille Memorial Writers Residency at The Adirondack Center

I had expected that the quiet Adirondack location would inspire my writing, and it certainly did, but even more inspiration came from my fellow writers.… During those two enchanted weeks at Twitchell Lake I revised one short story, wrote a new one, and did a complete overhaul on a Young Adult novel that I’ve been working on for years. —Noah Stetzer, writer

The two-week residency at The Adirondack Center is offered to six writers annually in October at a beautiful lodge in the Adirondacks. Along with indoor and outdoor writing space, you’ll also enjoy communal meals and fireside chats with an intimate community of writers, as well as a single room with a private bath.

Be advised that disconnecting from reality won’t be optional—there’s not much cell phone coverage at this location. (All the better for your concentration!) There’s no cost to the residency (beside transportation to and from Twitchell Lake) and staff will prepare and serve dinners all week.

Visit the website for application details and deadlines.

14. Wildacres Retreat

The staff is amazing. I feel incredibly well-cared for and very fortunate to have had this opportunity to work in such a calm and peaceful environment. —Yvonne Dutchover, fiction writer

If you’re looking for a short residency on the East Coast, look no further. Wildacres offers one- and two-week residencies from April through October. You’ll stay in one of three cabins on their property in the mountains of North Carolina. Meals are served in the main lodge, where you’ll interact with other residents, guests, and staff—but you can also eat in your quarters if you’re knee-deep in work.

There is a $20 application fee but no cost if accepted.

15. The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow

The full impact of a stay at the Writers’ Colony is hard to measure in immediate terms—for writers, everything is an influence. My stay at Dairy Hollow will appear in different forms throughout my career as a writer. —Nikki Kalio, writer and photographer

Open year-round, The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow in Arkansas hosts dozens of writers each year for residencies ranging from one week to three months. If accepted, you’ll receive either a subsidized general residency or a fully-funded fellowship.

Actual costs of the residencies are about $125 per night, but non-fellowship residents contribute a flat $85 per night as well as a one-time $25 cleaning fee—these rates include all food for meals and weeknight dinners prepared by a chef/housekeeper.

There’s also an application fee of $35.

16. Anderson Center

The publisher of an independent press had helped screen residency applicants, and before I could even travel to Red Wing to begin my month-long stay there, she reached out by email to compliment me on my writing sample and inquire about my novel-in-progress.… She agreed to recommend me to a handful of agents, one of whom took me on as a client a week later. —Stephan Eirik Clark, fiction writer

Based in the scenic river city of Red Wing, Minnesota, the Anderson Center offers two-to four-week residencies to approximately 35 writers and scholars from May through October, which also happens to be the most beautiful months of the year up there.

Residents are provided lodging, studio space, and weeknight dinners, but prepare their own breakfasts, lunches, and weekend eats (but the chef shops for your groceries!). Both emerging and established artists from around the world are encouraged to apply, and there’s no application fee.

Each year, the application opens in early September and closes on January 9.

17. Fine Arts Work Center

These have been the best two years of my life as a writer. No matter where I’m traveling to or what gig I’m going to do, knowing that I’ve had this home to come back to and work in has been invaluable. I think the FAWC is the most densely populated, interdisciplinary group of talent I’ve ever been a part of. —Jerriod Avant, poet

A well-established fellowship program that’s been offering residencies since the 1960s, the Fine Arts Work Center residency is pretty darn selective—but a great gig if you can land it.

Each year, 10 writers and 10 visual artists are offered a seven-month stay (October 1 to April 30 annually) in its Provincetown, Massachusetts facilities, including lodging, studio space, and a $1,000 monthly stipend.

Writing fellowship applications are due December 1 annually, and has a $50 fee which can’t be waived for any reason. But boy, if you make it in, you’ll be among exceptional company—alumni of this program have gone on to win virtually every major national award in their respective fields, including the Pulitzer and Pollock-Krasner prizes.

18. Hedgebrook

I had no book when I was accepted to Hedgebrook in 1995. I’d published poems in a few journals but that was all…. Fast forward 18 years. The stay at Hedgebrook changed my life in several important ways. — Susan Rich, poet

While the Hedgebrook residency is pretty well-known, we wanted to include it on this list because it’s only for women, and only for writers.

Featuring six handcrafted cottages located on Whidbey Island, outside of Seattle, approximately 40 women attend each year to immerse themselves in free residencies of two to six weeks in length that run from February through October.

19. The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences

You know that saying, “I can hear myself think?” At this writer’s colony, I can. I can hear the words and phrases bouncing around in my head, begging me to put them down on paper…I can get to the heart of what I’m here to do: Create. —The Write Life founder Alexis Grant

Lasting from two to eight weeks, The Hambidge Center residencies are located on 600 acres in the mountains of north Georgia, so get ready to explore miles of nature trails, meadows, waterfalls, a swimming hole and an abundance of wildflowers.

For food and lodging, you’ll pay $250 per week—a fraction of the total $1,500 cost to the program. Limited fellowships are available primarily for first-time residents, which waive the fees and provide a $700 weekly stipend.

Deadlines are January, April, and September 15; the application fee is $30.

20. Kerouac Project

The poems typed under the sloping roof of the Kerouac House became my first volume of poetry. The process of bringing them down from the walls where I’d taped them and watching them become “Short Houses With Wide Porches” remains one of the great memories of my life. —Christopher Watkins, poet

This residency allows writers to spend three months typing away in the Orlando cottage where literary legend Jack Kerouac wrote his acclaimed Dharma Bums. The Kerouac Project offers four residencies a year, and residents are expected to spend their time on their project, participate in a Welcome Potluck Dinner at the start of their residency, and read from their work at the end. (Other events and workshops are available if a resident is interested.) Participants also receive a $1,000 food stipend.

The application period opens on January 1 of each year, and remains open for approximately 10 weeks. Expect a $35 application fee.

21. The Mastheads

“Finding the time to devote yourself to your own work as completely as I’ve been able to do here—it’s nearly impossible in day to day life. The problem isn’t merely finding the hours; I have those. But during this month-long residency, the hours accrue, you’re able to find more of yourself, and maybe there’s more of you to find.” —Justin Boening, poet

Located in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains, The Mastheads is an experimental writers’ residency centered around five sculptural-architectural writing studios installed throughout the city of Pittsfield. Each July, five writers are offered exclusive use of one of the studios, a $900 stipend, housing, travel reimbursement, and a room in a communal house in downtown Pittsfield. Residents find community in the other writers, and solitude in the studios.

Applications are free and open to writers of all genres.

22. Djerassi Resident Artists Program

I found the Djerassi Program Artists Ranch to be hallowed ground. There was something in the vastness of the ranch that increased my spirit. There was something in the quiet that amplified my inner whispers. There was something in my meanderings that released the ties that bound me. —Nathan Yungerberg, writer

How would you like to spend four or five weeks at this residency located on a 583-acre ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains? From mid-March to mid-November each year, more than 70 emerging and mid-career artists are welcomed to the Djerassi Resident Artist Program to take advantage of “uninterrupted time for work, reflection, and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty,” all at no cost to the artist!

The program provides transportation to and from San Francisco International Airport and all dinners are provided by a chef, but ingredients for all other meals are provided. There’s a $45 application fee.

23. The Edith Wharton Writers-in-Residence Program

Each March, three women—who identify as poets, fiction or creative nonfiction writers—are awarded the Edith Wharton residency that offers two and three week retreats at the famous writer’s former Georgian revival mansion in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Selected writers will receive a $1,000 stipend, work space at The Mount, and nearby (but offsite) lodging for the entirety of their residency—but you’re on your own for transportation to and from The Mount. While there, your main responsibility is to spend time developing your creative work, but you’ll have to be available for local media requests and one public panel discussion with fellow participants.

24. Write On

Three weeks have flashed by in a kind of dream. I’ve so appreciated the opportunity to put my writing first all this time and to settle into deep engagement and reflection and reading. Often I would wrestle with a section all day and a solution would come to me overnight or on waking–something that almost never happens in my “normal” life. Thank you WODC for making this wonderful, nurturing space for writers. I felt cherished, supported, blessed by your generosity and hard work. —Catherine Jagoe, poet and essayist

At the Write On, Door County residency in Wisconsin, emerging and established writers in any contemporary literary genre will receive a private bedroom and bathroom, and access to The Coop, the writing studio of the late writer Norbert Blei.

Writers are responsible for their own food and travel, but in exchange for lodging, a community service project has to be completed—usually, a public writing workshop, but other opportunities are possible. Residencies last for one week to one one month, and applications are accepted year-round, though writers are encouraged to submit applications eight months prior to their desired residency date.

There is a $40 application fee. 

25. The Prairie Ronde Artist Residency

The Prairie Ronde Artist Residency is located in historic Vicksburg, Michigan, near Kalamazoo. The residency offers one resident (three times a year) a stipend of $2,000 for four to seven weeks, housing, studio space, a $500 travel grant, and even the use of a car!

Artists are encouraged to utilize the area’s creative community, donate a piece of work to the residency’s collection as well as propose a community “give back”—like a workshop or open studio days.

Deadlines are every December, March and June 15, and applications don’t require a fee.

New Orleans Writers’ Residency

As of September 2022, the New Orleans Writers’ Residency has shut down operations.

There’s little more inspiring than jazz, strong cocktails and beignets in a culturally rich neighborhood close to the French Quarter. If you want to do some hard work in the Big Easy, consider applying for the New Orleans Writers’ Residency.

If accepted, you’ll spend four weeks in a historic house with six other writers—each writer will share a room with two others during their stay. Better yet, the program offers daily continental breakfasts as well as a $200 weekly stipend for food and living expenses, and up to $350 for airfare. Expect a $25 application fee.

International writing residencies

26. Gullkistan (Iceland)

As much as I love New York, I wanted to spend a month in a setting that couldn’t be more different—I wanted sublime natural beauty, peace and quiet, relaxation and simplicity—a reset button for myself. Gullkistan was an ideal answer. —Ben Valentine, writer

Located in Iceland’s Laugarvatn Valley, Gullkistan is a quiet getaway for all sorts of artists, scholars, and writers and includes a peaceful setting with mountains, woods, and creeks. The minimum stay is one month, but they may be able to work out a shorter stay for people who are interested.

Fees vary based on accommodation preference, starting at 850 Euros. Applications are accepted all year round, and no application fee is required.

27. Camargo Foundation (France)

Inspiration came from my magnificent view of the Mediterranean sea, that ever-changing body of water—silvered over with sunlight in the morning, Aegean blue in the afternoon, black as ink on nights without a moon—and from the space, silence, and freedom of self-direction the fellowship affords. —Amina Gautier, fiction writer

Imagine waking up each morning on the southern coast of France, with nothing on your to-do list but write, write, write. If you’re one of the 18 writers that land one of these six- to eleven-week residencies through the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, it could be a reality—one that includes transportation, lodging, and a $250 USD weekly stipend.

The call for applications for residencies encompasses writers across all disciplines.

28. Arteles Creative Center (Finland)

Located in the Finnish countryside, Arteles are one- to two-month themed residencies held at various intervals year-round and house between 11 and 14 artists per month.

Food is not provided, but participants enjoy a traditional Finnish wood-burning sauna and have access to fully-equipped kitchens, meditation sessions, as well as a car, a rowing boat and bicycles. The program also encourages participants to (voluntarily) take a break from their cellphones and have them stored in the office—less talking, more writing!

Costs vary based on the residency in question, and financial support is available to help those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend. There’s no application fee, but you must be at least 23 years old to apply.

29. La Napoule Art Foundation (France)

The La Napoule Art Foundation hosts several different residency programs each year at the Château de La Napoule, located just outside Cannes, France. It’s open to both emerging and established interdisciplinary artists, and attendees are housed in private rooms in the recently renovated Villa Marguerite, each with a sea or garden view and a private bathroom. Breakfast and many weekday evening meals are provided and often held in the Château’s gothic dining room—plus, a $1,000 stipend is provided for all other needs.

Application fees vary based on the specific residency you choose, but are around $30.

30. Red Gate Residency (China)

The Red Gate community is so engaged and I formed lifelong friendships with some of the fellow residents and the other artists living in Feijiacun. It is an excellent introduction to the art community in Beijing. Red Gate Gallery is doing vital and honorable work in China connecting Chinese and international artists together and supporting the art industry. A highly recommended and very unique experience. —Tiyan Baker, photographer

Live and work in Beijing, China with the Red Gate Residency, which provides residencies year-round between one and six months. Red Gate will help you get involved in the local art scene and cover your airport pickup, local phone line and a welcome dinner. However, participants are expected to pay their own living expenses during the program or seek funding and grants from artist organizations in their home country.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and no application fee is required.

31. Studio Faire (France)

Studio Faire is a creative salve, a haven where residents are gifted space and time and beautiful surroundings in which to let their craft flourish.… Ultimately, Studio Faire gave me the opportunity to step away from the demands of my day-to-day life and wholly focus on editing my book. An epiphany or two struck me while I worked there—it must be all the good creative vibes seeping out of the walls from past residents. —Krystal Sutherland, writer

Studio Faire is based in an 1830s mansion house, in a small town in South West France. It provides residencies for up to three writers and artists at a time. Rooms are spacious and mature gardens offer private, shaded space for work and play. Residencies are self-directed and self-catering, and run from March to the end of October, lasting from two to four weeks.

Studio Faire offers its residents a change of pace and the space to explore new ideas, create a new body of work or develop an existing project.

Fees vary based on length of stay, with a two-week residency costing 1300 Euros. Applications are accepted year-round, with deadlines falling at least three months before the date you’d like to start your residency. No application fee.

32. 360 Xochi Quetzal (Mexico)

My time in Chapala was pivotal for me as a writer. You can’t understand the effect Chapala has until you arrive. Its splashes of color, rhythms and scenic beauty will inspire you. Scribbling away at Café Paris, locals ambling by, a cool glass of beer sweating on the table…. I felt like Hemingway. This residency gave all that to me and more. It is a gift I continue to cherish; a feeling I look back on when in need of encouragement, inspiration, and motivation. —Sean Hammer, writer and painter

The 360 Xochi Quetzal Artist and Writer’s Residency Program (pronounced So-chi Ket-zal) is located on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico and where residents will be inspired by the natural beauty, history and culture of this special part of central Mexico.

This residency offers four live/work spaces for one to six months to two (maybe three) writers who need an opportunity to finish a manuscript, prepare for a show, collect their thoughts, or plan new work. Residents are responsible for travel to and from Mexico as well as daily meals, though food is inexpensive in Mexico and typically costs about $20 USD per week.

Costs for lodging vary based on what you choose, and applications (no fee!) are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.

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

Photo via Olga Danylenko/ Shutterstock 

If you have travel stories to tell, it’s time to stop dreaming and start finding travel writing jobs!

Lots of markets are willing to pay for your stories about destinations, tips and your experiences on the road.   

Get paid to write about travel

Don’t think travel writing is limited to travel-specific magazines or travel websites. Plenty of local and regional publications are actively looking for travel stories, even for destinations right in your own backyard.

Some writers envision travel writing jobs as sharing tales of globetrotting and exploring the ancient artifacts of Greece, or wandering Machu Picchu. But that’s only a small part of travel writing.

Publications are often even more eager to snap up stories about the mountain trails an hour away that make for easy weekend adventures or the nearby metropolitan city that has a new art exhibit and great restaurant scene.

Publications that offer freelance travel writing jobs

While full-time travel writer jobs can be hard to come by, it’s more common for freelancers to sell travel writing to magazines and other outlets. To get you started, we compiled 36 paying international and domestic travel markets. Click on each title to access submission guidelines or editorial contacts.

So let’s get to it! Here are dozens of publications that provide opportunities for travel writing jobs:

1. Matador Network

Matador Travel seeks original writing, photo and video contributions “that speak to the adventures, cultures, and identities of people around the world.” It encourages  creators to join their Matador Creators Community to find the latest journalist opportunities. 

While the website does not list a specific payment, Who Pays Writers reports payments ranging from $0.03 to $0.20 per word.

2. ROVA

Want to share your thrilling stories of life on the open road? The site often looks for stories featuring road trips, RVs and adventure. Most of their readers travel the roads of North America and want insightful stories about the continent.  

Submit an article or photo essay and earn $200 upon acceptance at the ROVA Magazine website. 

3. Outpost Magazine

Outpost Magazine looks for submissions about travel, adventure and culture. It is looking for longform travel stories, travel guides, and stunning photography from writers anywhere in the world. The publication is Canadian and it has a “Canadian slant.”

Online stories typically range from 800 to 1,500 words, 2,000 to 4,000 for print and features can be up to about 5,000 words; pay varies.

4. Wanderlust

Wanderlust, a British travel magazine, publishes destination features up to 2,200 words, along with shorter dispatches, travel guides, round-up features and more.  Pay is typically £220 (about $275) per 1,000 words, but rates vary.

5. Travel + Leisure Magazine

While Travel + Leisure Magazine doesn’t have specific submission guidelines online, Freedom with Writing says this magazine is written 95 percent by freelancers on assignment and pays up to $1 a word. Submit your pitches to submissions@travelandleisure.com.

6. Arizona Highways Magazine

Arizona travelers rely on this magazine for destination-based ideas, and the publication also encourages travelers to come to Arizona. Check its guidelines to see when queries (typically on specific locations) are accepted. This period is often in March. Pay varies.

7. Canadian Geographic Magazine

Write about Canada’s people, frontiers, places and issues in Canadian Geographic Magazine, which comes out six times a year. There are no formal guidelines to follow, but you might want to familiarize yourself with their content and tone to get an idea of what they’re looking for.

It buys about 30 features a year and pay varies.

8. Escapees Magazine

RV travelers with stories to tell and wisdom to share might consider submitting to Escapees Magazine, which specializes in RV lifestyle. The publication only accepts fully written articles on spec.

They pay $100 to $200 for feature submissions and $50 to $100 for short fillers.

9. KANSAS! Magazine

Celebrate the wonders of Kansas with KANSAS! Magazine offered by Kansas Tourism and partner organizations. Pitch a 400- to 800-word nonfiction story that has the potential for interesting photography and reflects the state positively. 

Most readers are locals over the age of 50. Payment varies.

10. Los Angeles Times Travel

The travel section of the Los Angeles Times looks for pieces with a strong visual component. Trips must be taken in the previous two years and writers must follow specific ethical guidelines, including not receiving comped travel.

Print stories vary from $200 to $750; online-only stories generally pay $500; Weekend Escapes pay $200, plus additional money for original photos.

11. Wildsam Magazine

Wildsam Magazine is for RV enthusiasts wants travel stories covering all aspects of the RV lifestyle, including travel destinations, activities and events and more.

It can pay up to $900 for technical manuscripts with photos, and less for shorter pieces.

12. Oregon Coast Magazine

Write about Oregon’s stunning coastal region and tell stories about everything from day-long driving tours to restaurant features and historical sites in Oregon Coast Magazine.

Payment ranges from $100 to $650 depending on story type and word count.

13. Pathfinders Travel

A travel magazine for people for color, Pathfinders Travel looks for fresh ideas and stories about travel and the travel industry. 

Stories typically pay $150.

14. Road and Travel

Road and Travel specializes in automotive, travel and personal safety articles, including articles that appeal to female business travelers. Travel articles should relate to hotels and resorts, spas, airlines and airline rules, bed & breakfasts, destination reviews, places to go and things to do and much more.

The magazine pays up to $100 per article.

15. Sunset Magazine

Sunset Magazine focuses on 13 Western states and wants “take action” travel ideas as well as destinations that offer a variety of experiences and “soft adventures.”

Pay varies.

16. World Nomads

World Nomads looks for travel articles that fall under these categories: love, fear, discovery, connection and transformation. Pitch a personal, authentic story about a life-changing journey or experience.

They pay 50 cents per word for stories between 600 to 800 words. Payment is made after publication.

17. Airways Magazine

Airways Magazine seeks business, travel, technology and personality articles, among other topics.

Rates range from $150 to $700 depending on the topic, length and treatment of an article.

18. WestJet Magazine

WestJet’s Canadian lifestyle-travel publication wants stories ranging from insider tips and service-oriented advice to local cuisine and features.

Payment varies.

19. AAA Insider Magazines

The American Automobile Association publishes several magazines, focusing on auto travel.

Payment varies.

20. Backpacker

Backpacker Magazine covers North American destinations. Pitches must cover foot-based travel, wilderness or backcountry experiences and advice.

A feature story’s word count varies from 1,500 to 5,000 words, although there are shorter assignments available from 100 to 1,200 words. They accept pitches via email and require a signed contract which specifies the payment amount and payment terms. 

Pay varies, but Who Pays Writers reports rates up to 50 cents per word.

21. New Mexico Magazine

Showcase New Mexico’s rich environment and culture through New Mexico Magazine, a publication of the New Mexico Tourism Department. One-third of readers live in the state and the out-of-state readers typically visit twice a year or so. The magazine looks for a lively editorial mix, with articles that show readers things they can do in New Mexico.

Pay is typically 35 to 40 cents per word.

22. Texas Highways

Texas’ official travel magazine reaches 500,000 readers in 54 countries each month. It is looking for pieces featuring “scenery, history, small towns, and out-of-the-way places.”

Pays 50 cents per word.

23. International Living Magazine

International Living Magazine and website is a comprehensive resource that helps readers find their dream retirement overseas. It wants stories from expats and anyone who can inform their readers about ways to stretch their dollars and simplify their lives.

Pay is up to $150 for website stories; print stories pay $225 for 900 words and $350 for 1,600 words, plus $50 per photo; 600-word daily postcards pay $100.

24. New Worlder

New Worlder Magazine isn’t interested in a taco that has the most buzz—but it definitely wants to know why it has the most buzz. Pitch stories with strong angles about travel, food, culture and people for an American and Latin American audience.

While pay is confirmed, no specific rates are provided in the guidelines.

25. Odyssa Magazine

Freelance submissions are accepted each quarterly issue of Odyssa Magazine, though editors are particularly looking for travel pieces in the form of a guide, personal travel experience or reflection of how travel affects our thoughts and who we are.

Pay is $30 per article up to 1,500 words.

26. HitTheRoad

To get the green light, write and pitch a story to HitTheRoad about the adventures, cultures and amazing experiences of road trips in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Emphasis is put on experiences in rented campervans and motorhomes, but a journey on the open road is what matters most. 

Standard payment is a link to your site and $50 depending on article type and length.

27. Cruising World

Cruising World welcomes author inquiries and unsolicited manuscripts at all times, but make sure to include photos with your submission. Feature-length articles shouldn’t exceed 2,000 words, and non-features (technical articles and general interest) are capped at 1,200 words.

Payment varies depending on the type of article: $25 to $200 for short, newsworthy items and $300 to $1,000 for technical and feature articles.

28. Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is an award-winning website that gives travelers the tools they need to plan their next trip such as in-depth information on destinations, things to do and travel advice. They are looking for freelance contributors who want to write digital content, travel news and guidebooks.

Rates vary, but Who Pays Writers reports a rate of 30 cents per word.

29. Transitions Abroad Magazine

Transitions Abroad Magazine is for people who live abroad is looking for a variety of pieces about working, living and studying abroad, as well as cultural and culinary travel. Heads up: They’re currently primarily seeking stories about online learning to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).

Pay is typically $75 to $150 for a 1,250-word article for the web.

30. GoNOMAD

Write travel articles about destinations, activities and experiences for GoNOMAD, but take note that this website seeks pieces that meet its style and focus.

If you want to write for GoNOMAD, note, “No glossy magazine fluff, no standard guidebook descriptions, no promotional hype.” Articles are typically 1,200 to 2,000 words, and a detailed list of locations and topics the publication is seeking is available in its guidelines.

Pay is $25 per article.

31. DesertUSA Magazine

Desert lovers can write all about the North American desert in DesertUSA Magazine, which targets those who love the natural and cultural history of the region. Wildlife, adventure, history, desert lore, and travel stories are in demand.

Articles with photos receive payment of $50.

Write your own travel book

An alternative to finding travel writing jobs is to simply go ahead and publish your own travel book. If you have written over 10,000 words for a certain travel journey or advice, you could easily turn that into a whole book to sell.

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

Photo via natalia_maroz/ Shutterstock 

Some legitimate contests charge small entry fees, but often a fee can be a red flag for a scam, so those might be the ones you want to stay away from. 

Besides, there are plenty of free writing contests that encourage and inspire boundless creativity with real cash prizes and career-advancing opportunities! Since it can be hard for a writer to know where to find them, we did the legwork for you.

We found 40 reputable, well-reviewed, free writing contests for poets, fiction writers, essayists and more

With thousands of dollars in cash prizes and numerous opportunities to secure a publishing contract, you’re sure to find the right free writing contest for your work.

If you don’t mind paying a little money to enter, our friends over at Smart Blogger have rounded up some great writing contests that have small entry fees. And if you’re still hungry for more opportunities, we also have posts on writers grants and writing fellowships.

Fiction and nonfiction writing contests this year

Ready to share your novel or personal essay with the world? Whether you’re a newbie or more established writer, you’re likely eligible for a few of these contests.

Here are some fiction and nonfiction writing contests worth considering.

1. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest

Whatever your feelings about L. Ron Hubbard’s work and philosophy, the prizes for this regular contest are nothing to sneeze at. Every three months, winners earn $1,000, $750 and $500, plus an additional annual grand prize of $5,000.

Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy, and new and amateur writers are welcome to apply.

Deadlines: Quarterly on March 31, June 30 and September 30

Website: Writers of the Future

2. Inkitt

This boutique publishing firm offers cash prizes and promotional packages to winning authors. Submit a novel of 10,000 words or more in any fiction genre (no fanfic or poetry).

Inkitt’s writing contest runs monthly and gives authors the chance to win cash prizes up to $300, exclusive book badges and promotional packages while showcasing their books to Inkitt’s audience of more than 3 million users. Winners are determined by Inkitt’s unique algorithm based on overall reader engagement.

Deadline: See individual contest pages

Website: Inkitt

Disclosure: Inkitt is an advertising partner of The Write Life. We hold our advertisers to high standards and vetted this contest just like others on this list. 

3. Drue Heinz Literature Prize

You can win $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press with this prize, awarded for a collection of short fiction.

You may submit an unpublished manuscript of short stories, two or more novellas or a combination of novellas and short stories. Your total word count should be between 150 and 300 typed pages. You must also have already published a novel or book-length work of fiction “with a reputable publisher,” or no fewer than three short stories or novellas in nationally-recognized journals.

Deadline: Annual submissions must be postmarked between May 1 through June 30

Website: University of Pittsburgh Press

4. Young Lions Fiction Award

This $10,000 award recognizes “young authors,” which the rules define as any author aged 35 or younger. Submit any novel or collection of short stories published or scheduled to be published in the calendar year. Works must be written for adults; children’s or YA pieces are ineligible.

Deadline: Submission information is available on the award website

Website: New York Public Library

5. Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prizes

One of the best-loved small presses in the creative writing world, Graywolf Press hosts a variety of contests for both established and up-and-coming writers. Graywolf also offers smaller fiction and nonfiction prizes, with genres rotating by year; 2020 was a nonfiction year, so fiction was up in 2021, then back to nonfiction in 2022, and so on. These awards include a sizable advance—$12,000 in previous years—as well as publication with Graywolf.

Deadline: Contest is held annually with rotating genres

Website: Graywolf Press

6. The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans

Hosted by the prestigious Iowa Review, the Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award is offered to U.S. military veterans and active-duty members writing in any genre about any subject. Manuscripts of up to 20 pages will be accepted, and the first-prize winner will receive $1,000 and publication in the Review. A second place prize of $750 is also available, as well as three runner-up prizes of $500 each.

Deadline: Biennially

Website: The Iowa Review

7. Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

For 15 years, this contest has provided visibility for emerging African American fiction writers and enables them to focus on their writing by awarding a $15,000 cash prize. Eligible authors should submit a work of fiction, such as a novel or short story collection, published in the calendar year. (Galleys for publication within the year are also accepted.)

Deadline: Annually. The entry window closes on December 31

Website: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

8. PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

Honoring the best work of fiction published by an American author in a single calendar year, this award has been given to the likes of John Updike, Philip Roth and Ann Patchett. Novels, novellas and collections of short stories are all eligible.

The winner receives a hefty cash prize—up to $15,000 in the past—and an invitation to read at the award ceremony in Washington, D.C. Plus, there are no submission fees or application forms to deal with; just send a PDF of each book (as many as you’d like) to awards@penfaulkner.org.

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from July 1 to September 30

Website: Pen/Faulkner

9. PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

This contest requires you to have already published a short story in a literary magazine or journal or cultural website. But if you’ve made your debut (but gone no further), you may be eligible for the generous cash prize of $2,000, which is annually awarded to 12 emerging writers, whose works are then published together in an anthology.

Short stories of up to 12,000 words are eligible and must be published in the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is given. Additionally, keep this in mind: Submissions are only eligible if submitted by an editor. Authors may not submit their own work.

Deadline: Submissions close November 1

Website: PEN America

10. Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Fiction and nonfiction writers who have recently published a book that “contribute[s] to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity” are eligible for this award, which offers $10,000 cash as well as media and publicity opportunities. Plus, winners receive their prize at a ceremony in Cleveland.

Submissions must be published in the prior year (so books published last year are eligible for the award this year).

Deadline: Annual submission window is September 1 through December 31

Website: Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

11. Marfield Prize (aka National Award for Arts Writing)

Presented by the Arts Club of Washington, this award seeks to honor nonfiction books that deal with the “visual, literary, media, or performing arts.” The prize is $10,000 and may be awarded to works of criticism, art history, memoirs and biographies, and essays.

Deadline: Annually in the last quarter of the year. The submission window in 2023 is October 15

Website: The Marfield Prize

12. W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction

If you’re a war buff, this competition is for you. It awards $5,000—and a 24-karat-gold-framed citation of achievement—to the best piece of fiction set during a period when the U.S. was at war (war may either be the main plot of the piece or simply provide the setting). Submissions may be adult or YA novels.

Deadline: Annually on December 31

Website: American Library Association

13. Friends of American Writers Chicago Awards

FAW presents two annual awards: an Adult Literature Award for literary fiction or nonfiction, and a Young People’s Literature Award for a children’s/YA book.

Authors must reside in the state of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin—or they must set their book in one of those locations. Prize amounts vary from year to year, but you don’t have to bother with an application and all winners are celebrated at the organization’s May luncheon.

Deadline: Annually in December

Website: Friends of American Writers Chicago

14. Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Contest

Hektoen International, an online journal dedicated to medical humanities, offers two prizes annually for essays of no more than 1,500 words: $5,000 is awarded to the winner and $2,500 to the first runner-up. Eligible topics are broad so long as they have a relation to medicine, and many include art, history, literature, education and more.

Deadline: Annually; September 15 is usually the deadline

Website: Hektoen International

15. Biopage Storytelling Writing Contest

There’s no denying it: social media is a huge part of our modern-day lives. It’s easy to get used to limiting our communications to 280-character and emoji-strewn snippets, which is why this marketing firm is hosting an essay writing contest to “remind people of the benefits of writing.”

Essays of up to 5,000 characters (roughly 1,000 words) will be accepted, and right now they’re looking for stories of COVID-19 quarantine life. The grand prize winner will receive $300, and five runners-up will be awarded $100 each.

The contest is free to enter, but you’ll need to register for a Biopage account to be eligible.

Deadline: The contest ends January 31 each year

Website: Biopage

16. St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

Writers 18 and older who have never had a novel published (in any genre) are eligible for this prize, awarded to an original book-length manuscript where “murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story.” The winner receives a publication contract with Minotaur Books and an advance of $10,000 against future royalties.

Deadline: December 17 each year 

Website: Edgar Awards

17. ServiceScape Short Story Award

ServiceScape, a platform matching freelance writers, editors and graphic designers with clients (i.e. a great place to look for paid writing work!) offers a yearly Short Story Award of $1,000 to a winning fiction or nonfiction work of 5,000 words or fewer. The winner will also have their story featured on the ServiceScape blog, which sees thousands of readers each month.

Deadline: November 29 each year

Website: ServiceScape

18. Stowe Prize

This biennial prize of $10,000 honors an American author whose adult fiction or nonfiction work has had an impact on a critical social justice issue (as did Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin). The book must be written by a U.S. author and have been published in the United States during the previous three calendar years.

Deadline: Contact the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for this year’s deadline.

Website: Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

19. The Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction essays of no more than 5,000 words on any subject are eligible for consideration for this award, whose winner receives $250 and publication in Lunch Ticket, the literary and art journal produced by the MFA community of Antioch University Los Angeles.

Works must not have been published elsewhere. Award winners are required to submit a 100-word biography, recent photo and a short note thanking the Woods family for their generosity and support.

Deadlines: Biannual reading periods are in February for the Summer/Fall issue and in August for the Winter/Spring issue

Website: Lunch Ticket

20. The 2023 Brandon Langhjelm Memorial Essay Contest

Each year, this Canadian organization offers three prizes, ranging from $500 to $1,500, to the essay with the most thoughtful, well-reasoned arguments around a specific human-rights theme. (For example, 2022’s prompt was, “Canadian governments are making Digital ID technologies a precondition of access to essential services and goods. What can Canadians do to protect their Charter rights and freedoms against the dangers of these technologies?”)

The contest is open to Canadian college and university students, and essays should be 2,500 words or less in length.

Deadline: November 5

Website: Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms

21. Write the World

For young writers ages 13-18, these cool contests also serve as mini workshops. Recognizing that “a first draft is never perfect,” submissions actually receive peer review by authors, writing teachers and other experts and writers are given the chance to revise their pieces based on this feedback before submitting them for final prize consideration.

Contests vary each month, but there’s a $100 prize for the winner and $50 for the runner-up (plus $50 for the best peer-reviewer). All three are featured on Write the World’s blog alongside comments from a guest judge. And since each month’s prompt is from a different genre, developing writers get a chance to test out different styles.

Deadline: Monthly

Website: Write the World

22. Prose.

Stuck with writer’s block and looking for a way to jumpstart your escape? Prose offers weekly challenges meant to spark your creativity; many are just for fun, but look for the weekly numbered challenges posted by Prose (rather than community members or sponsors) for a chance to win money.

Prizes are typically between $100 to $200 and word counts are low—some as low as under 150, some as high as 500. So even if all you get from the prompt is a chance to flex your brain, it’s not a bad deal.

Deadline: Weekly and monthly

Website: Prose.

23. The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

First-generation immigrants have a chance to win $10,000 and publication by Restless Books for telling their stories (real or imagined). The contest alternates annually between fiction (novel or short story collection) and nonfiction (memoir, essay collection, narrative nonfiction).

Deadline: Submission window is usually between December and March

Website: Restless Books

24. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The U.S. Institute of Peace and the American Foreign Service Association sponsor this annual high school essay contest, where the winner receives a $2,500 cash prize, an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a full-tuition paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university. Essays should be between 1,000 and 1,250 words and have to answer all aspects of the prompt as well as demonstrate an understanding of the Foreign Service.

Runners-up get a pretty sweet deal too, a $1,250 cash prize and a full scholarship to participate in the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Deadline: April each year

Website: American Foreign Service Association

25. Science-me a Story

Born in 2018, the Society of Spanish Researchers invites talented and original writers to write a 100-word blurb for a hypothetical novel. This might sound really easy, but your blurb has to quickly hook readers and make them want to read more. Open to anyone over 18 anywhere in the world, your real or fictional short story for this competition must be either in English or Spanish and “conceived from the objective of scientific dissemination to primary school” to qualify for the cash prizes: £150, £100 and £50. 

Deadline: April each year

Website: Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom

26. VCU Cabell First Novelist Award

Virginia Commonwealth University sponsors this award that honors an outstanding debut novel published in the preceding calendar year. While you may have published previous books in a different form, the submission must be your first published book marketed as a novel.

The award is a $5,000 cash prize, and the winning author must agree to attend the award event, usually scheduled for November.

Deadline: Annually; the submission window runs from July 1 through December 30

Website: Virginia Commonwealth University

27. Daisy Utemorrah Award

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is for an unpublished manuscript of junior or YA fiction written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples currently living in Australia. Generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and the State Government of Western Australia, the winner of the award receives $15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books.

Deadline: Submission window usually opens at the beginning of each year

Website: Magabala Books

28. Short Fiction Prize

If you’re an undergrad at a college in the U.S. or Canada, this writing competition is for you. (Traditionally, this contest has encouraged applicants with an Asian background, but anyone is invited to apply.) Submissions should be no more than 7,500 words.

One winner will get a $1,000 prize as well as a scholarship to the next Southampton Writers Conference.

Deadline: Submission window is usually between March 1- July 14

Website: Stony Brook University | Lichtenstein Center

29. Bacopa Literary Review Contest

The Bacopa Literary Review is an international journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. Each year, it opens submissions for pieces in four genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and prose poetry. Find detailed guidelines for each genre on its website. First place gets $300, and the second prize in each of the four genres gets $100.

Deadline: May 30 each year

Website: Writers Alliance of Gainesville

30. Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest

As long as you stick to the guidelines, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s annual contest welcomes your 5,000- to 6,000-word (previously unpublished) creative story. But before you send it off, make sure your story is polished and formatted! Plus, the prizes aren’t too shabby—winning stories will be edited and published, authors will receive royalties, and the top story will even get to give the anthology its title. 

Deadlines: September 1 each year

Website: Insecure Writer’s Support Group

31. New Voices Award

Presented by Lee & Low Books, an award-winning children’s book publisher, this award is given for a previously unpublished children’s picture book manuscript of no more than 1,500 words written by a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writers who’s a resident of the U.S.

The winner receives $2,000 cash and a standard publication contract, and an additional Honor Award winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000. You may submit up to two manuscripts.

Deadline: Watch the website for details. 

Website: Lee & Low Books

32. St. Francis College Literary Prize

Since 2009, this biennial literary award has honored mid-career writers who have recently published their third, fourth or fifth work of fiction. The winner receives $50,000 and may be invited to the St. Francis College campus in Brooklyn, New York, to deliver a talk about their work or teach a mini fiction workshop to St. Francis students.

Deadline: Biennially. The contest was not offered the last three years due to the pandemic and limited campus access

Website: St. Francis College

33. Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition

The Future Scholar Foundation is a nonprofit organization started and run by high school students in Redmond, WA. Their mission is to empower young students to develop their self-expression skills through monthly short story competitions. Their efforts have been recognized by the Seattle Times and Northwest Asian Weekly, and their short story competitions have received hundreds of submissions from over 15 US states and five countries.

Deadline: Monthly on the 28th

Website: Future Scholar Foundation

Free poetry contests to enter

Curious about opportunities for poets? Your stanzas—rhyming or not—could be worth a fair amount of money in these poetry competitions.

Check out these poetry writing contests.

34. Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest

This contest is open to Black writers who are over the age of 18 and residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin.  It’s hosted by Strive Publishing and Free Spirit Publishing and seeks to fill the need for Black representation in children’s and young adult books. Original board and picture books for children aged 0-4 and picture books for ages 4-8 are eligible, provided they feature contemporary, realistic Black characters and culture and focus on character development, self esteem, community and other aspects of positive childhood development.

Three prizes, ranging from $250 to $1,000, will be awarded, and the first-place winner will be “seriously considered” for publication, though it’s not guaranteed.

Deadline: Usually late July, each year

Website: Free Spirit Publishing 

35. James Laughlin Award

If you’re already a published poet, this is the award for you; it’s given for a second book of poetry due to come out in the forthcoming year. The winner receives $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid week-long residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. In addition, copies of the winning book are distributed to 1,000 members of the Academy of American Poets.

Deadline: Annual submission window is January 1 through May 15

Website: Academy of American Poets

36. African Poetry Book Fund Prizes

The APBF awards three prizes annually for African Poetry. The Luschei Prize for African Poetry gives $1,000 for a book of original African poetry published in the prior year.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets gives $1,000 and a publication contract for a book-length collection of poetry by an as-yet-unpublished African author.

The Brunel International African Poetry Prize is a new prize that grants £3,000 to a poet who was born in Africa, or has African parents, who has not yet had a full-length book of poetry published. (U.S. citizens qualify.) To submit, you’ll need 10 poems.

Deadlines: See individual prize pages or details

Website: African Poetry Book Fund

37. Tufts Poetry Awards

Claremont Graduate University presents two awards each year to poets they deem to be “outstanding.” The Kate Tufts Poetry Award grants $10,000 for a published first book of poetry that shows promise.

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award grants a mammoth $100,000 for a published book of poetry by an established or mid-career poet.

Deadline: Submission window is July 1 to June 30 each year

Website: Claremont Graduate University

38. Graywolf Press Walt Whitman Award 

The Walt Whitman Award is a $5,000 prize awarded, along with publication, to an American poet with a winning first book manuscript. He or she also receives an all-expenses-paid six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy.

Graywolf Press is also one of the publishers of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, “a first book award dedicated to the discovery of exceptional manuscripts by Black poets.” Winners receive $1,000 and Graywolf publishes every third winner of the prize.

Deadline: July 1 to September 1 each year

Website: Poets

39. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Now in its 23rd year, this humor contest wants your best published or unpublished work for a grand prize of $2,000; runners-up are awarded $500 and 10 honorable mentions will receive $100 each. Writers of all ages from eligible countries can submit an original, humorous poem with 250 lines or less, and it must be in English.

Deadline: April 1, each year (and no, this isn’t an April Fools joke)

Website: Winning Writers

40. The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

This writing competition is looking for the best piece of unpublished, themed writing. For example, one year, the theme was “Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization.” Submissions may be prose, poetry or non-academic essays. Maximum word count is 2,500, and this is open to all nationalities and to anyone 18 or older. The winner gets a £10,000 cash prize, second place gets £3,000 and third place gets £2,000.

Deadline: Applications open at the beginning of each year. Follow the Alpine Fellowship on Instagram for updates

Website: The Alpine Fellowship

Where to find more legitimate, free writing contests

Looking for more opportunities to submit your work? Here are a few great sites to keep an eye on for writing contests.

Winning Writers

A number of the contests found on our list came highly recommended by this site, which compiles some of the best free literary contests out there. Along with a wide range of recommended contests for writers of all stripes, Winning Writers also lists some contests and services to avoid, which is just as useful!

They also offer a handful of contests themselves, including the North Street Book Prize.

Poets & Writers

Another fantastic source for legitimate writing contests we consulted when compiling this list, Poets & Writers vets competitions, contests, awards and grants to make sure they’re following legitimate practices and policies. It’s worth checking out regularly as it features both annual and one-time contests.

This listing contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life—and we thank you for that!

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 Viktoriia Hnatiuk / Shutterstock