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.

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 

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

As for your host on today’s article, I’m a full-time book editor, author and ghostwriter.

I’ve written, coauthored, or ghostwritten eight books and have edited dozens more. I’m well-versed in self-publishing, and I’ve helped a handful of clients craft proposals for traditional publishing, one of which was picked up at the tail end of 2016.

In other words, I’m in the trenches every working day.

Through this column, I hope you’ll learn what I wish I would have known about editing and editors when I first became serious about writing as a business.

To that end, let’s get to what may be the most pressing topic for a new author seeking to self-publish.

How to find an editor

You could search the Internet for “editor,” “book editor,” or “Help, I need an editor ASAP,” but you will be overwhelmed with choices.

Even that last search phrase has more than 200,000 hits, and most of those seem to be video editors. So how are you supposed to find the right editor for your book?

Try each of these steps until you find one that nets you at least a few good leads.

1. Seek referrals from other writers

The best advertising for an editor is a satisfied client.

Talk with your fellow writers, whether online or in real life, and ask who they recommend.

However, you may encounter a Catch-22: better editors’ schedules may be packed, and you may not want to wait a few months for them even to begin working on your book.

That’s when you proceed to Step 2.

2. Seek referrals from that referral

If your writer friend has provided a glowing review of his or her editor, but that editor doesn’t have room for you in their schedule (or they don’t provide the specific kind of editing you need), kindly and quickly ask that editor for a referral to another editor.

Most experienced editors have professional connections they’ll be more than happy to leverage in order to help a writer.

But what if you don’t have any writer friends who’ve used an editor?

3. Check pre-vetted lists

Instead of searching the entire Internet for an editor, consider these sites that have already compiled lists of qualified, capable editors:

• Self-Publishing School Recommended Book Production Partners: You do need to be a customer of theirs to access this list. But these are some of the best around.
• “Need a Good Book Editor? Top Recommendations”: As an editor herself, and after being asked far too often for editorial recommendations, author K. M. Weiland created this list based on writing experts whose opinions she trusts.
• The Editorial Freelancers Association: In addition to searching its directory, you may also submit your editing need for free, but be warned: you might receive dozens or even hundreds of replies.

Whether you use these sites or other compilations, be sure to read up on how a list was curated.

Did the editor have to pay to be listed? (The EFA requires a yearly subscription.) Did someone else have to vouch for their work in order to be added? (Other writers vouched for editors on K. M. Weiland’s list.) Could they simply add themselves? (Fiverr, Upwork, etc.)

Always conduct due diligence.

4. Utilise Social Media

Social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook offer invaluable resources for you when seeking an editor. Within these platforms, there are numerous groups and communities dedicated to writing, editing, and publishing.

You can join these groups to network with fellow authors and editors, share experiences, ask for recommendations, and even find editors directly advertising their services.

By engaging with these online communities, writers can tap into a vast pool of editorial talent and connect with professionals who can help refine their work to its fullest potential.

5. Professional Organizations

Professional organizations such as the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) serve as invaluable resources for you when seeking an editor.

These organizations typically have directories or databases of experienced editors available for hire, along with resources and guidelines to help writers navigate the editing process effectively.

By joining such organizations, you can gain access to a network of reputable professionals who can provide expert editorial services tailored to your specific needs.

Additionally, these organizations often offer workshops, conferences, and other events where you can further develop their skills and connections within the editing community.

6. Writer’s Conferences 

Writer’s conferences, such as the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference, offer fertile ground when seeking editors.

These events attract a diverse array of literary professionals, including editors from publishing houses, literary magazines, and freelance backgrounds. When attending these conferences, you can seize the opportunity to network with editors during panel discussions, workshops, and networking events.

Many editors participate as speakers or panelists, providing valuable insights into the editing process and offering opportunities for one-on-one interactions.

By engaging with editors at writer’s conferences, you will be able to forge meaningful connections, pitch work, and potentially secure editorial partnerships to enhance the quality of your writing projects.

7. Local Writing Groups

Local writing groups serve as excellent resources for writers in search of editors.

These groups often consist of passionate writers who are eager to support one another in their writing endeavors. Within these communities, writers can often find members who have experience working with editors or can provide recommendations based on their own experiences.

Additionally, writing groups may host events or workshops focused on the editing process, where writers can learn more about finding and working with editors effectively.

By participating in local writing groups, writers not only gain access to potential editors but also foster connections with fellow writers who can offer valuable insights and support throughout the editing journey.

8. Literary Magazines and Journals

Literary magazines and journals are valuable resources for writers seeking editors to refine their work. Many of these publications offer editing services or can connect writers with experienced editors in their network.

For instance, “The Paris Review” provides editorial services for writers looking to polish their manuscripts before submission. Similarly, “Granta” offers manuscript consultations where writers can receive feedback and guidance from experienced editors.

These opportunities not only help writers improve their work but also provide valuable networking connections within the literary community.

Additionally, some literary magazines like “Poets & Writers” maintain directories of editors, making it easier for writers to find the right editorial support for their projects. By engaging with literary magazines, writers can access a wealth of editorial expertise to elevate their writing to the next level.

9. University Writing Centers

University writing centers provide great opportunities for writers when seeking editing assistance. These centers typically employ trained writing tutors who can provide feedback on drafts, assist with grammar and style, and offer guidance on the editing process.

For example, the writing center at Harvard University offers one-on-one consultations where writers can receive personalized feedback on their writing projects. Similarly, the University of California, Berkeley’s writing center provides online resources and workshops to support writers at all stages of the writing process.

By utilizing university writing centers, writers can access expert editorial support and improve their writing skills in a collaborative and supportive environment.

10. Online Forums and Communities 

Online forums and communities, such as Reddit’s r/writing, serve as vibrant hubs for writers seeking editors. These platforms provide spaces for writers to connect with editors, exchange feedback, and share resources.

For instance, the subreddit r/HireAnEditor offers a platform for writers to post job listings and connect with freelance editors for various projects.

Additionally, forums like Absolute Write and WritingForums.org host sections dedicated to editor recommendations and services.

By engaging with online writing communities, writers can tap into a diverse pool of editorial talent, receive valuable feedback on their work, and establish professional relationships that enhance the quality of their writing projects.

11. Self Publishing Platforms

Self-publishing platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark are other viable avenues for writers seeking editing services.

These platforms often offer editing packages or connect writers with professional editors who specialize in their genre.

For example, KDP’s Author Services provides editing options ranging from basic proofreading to comprehensive editing services. Similarly, IngramSpark offers access to Ingram’s network of professional editors who can assist writers with refining their manuscripts.

By utilizing self-publishing platforms, writers can access affordable and reliable editing services to ensure their work is polished and ready for publication.

How to vet an editor

After discovering a handful of editors who seem like a good fit, you’ll want to spend more time ensuring that they’re the right person for you and your book.

After all, you’ll be closely working with them on something that’s likely very close to you.

By investing time up front to find the best candidate, you may just succeed in landing a great editor on your first try, saving you the hassle of further back-and-forth emails with more editors.

Vetting an editor can be as simple as two steps, though each of these steps could require a fair amount of work on your part.

1. Do your research

Before contacting an editor, comb through your prospective editor’s website.

Carefully read about the kinds of editing they offer. Browse through the books they’ve edited. Read their endorsements.

If you’re really intent on learning about what it’s like to work with that particular editor, consider reaching out to one of that editor’s clients. Find the editor on social media to see what he or she is like apart from their writing work. Conduct a search with just the editor’s name to see what the rest of the web may say about them.

2. Ask specific questions

Don’t waste your time (or theirs) to discover information that’s already online.

Do as much homework as you can before contacting an editor by email or phone. However, you will undoubtedly have specific questions that can only be answered by contacting your prospective editor.

Here’s a list to help you think through what you ought to know about your editor before contracting to work with him or her:

• What types of editing do you offer?
• How much do you charge?
• How long have you been editing?
• Can you put me in touch with other clients you’ve worked with?
• What experience do you have in [insert your genre]?
• What’s your process in working with writers?
• What software do you use to edit?
• Will you send me a contract before work commences?
• Can we schedule a face-to-face meeting [or Zoom] prior to beginning work together?
• How often (and how) will you be in contact with me during the editing process?
• Do you offer a sample edit?
• When is payment due?
• What are my options for payment?
• Will you be nice to me?

For more questions for your editor, check out this article. Despite what they may do to your manuscript, most editors I know actually are nice people.

They love to read as much as you do, and their goal for your book is the same as your goal for your book: to make it the best it can be with the time and resources allowed to them.

Finding the right editor for your book can be challenging, but if you approach it from a professional mindset and follow the suggestions in this article, you should be able to find someone who can make your book shine.

May your search for an editor be short and successful.

Have you worked with an editor before? Share your experiences in the comments below.

These authors aren’t who you think they are.

Well, on paper at least. These authors, and many more, choose to write under a pseudonym, also called a pen name, meaning the names printed on their books are not the names they were born with. 

Some people might think it’s strange to put a different name on their books, but there is a rich literary history of writers publishing under a name pseudonym. While motivations may have changed throughout history, there are many reasons an author today might choose to publish their work under a pen name even after they’ve become well-established in the industry under a different name. 

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons a writer might choose to write under a pen name so you can decide if it’s right for you. 

1. Use a Pseudonym to Explore Different Genres

Branching out and exploring other genres is a great reason to write under a pseudonym. 

Authors who start out or make it big in one genre might want to experiment in another. But the marketing techniques and audiences are often different from one genre to another. 

Romance readers might be drawn to bright, cheerful color palettes, while horror readers know to look for dark shades and sinister taglines. To keep things simple and separate, a writer who began in romance might choose to use a pen name if they want to try writing horror. 

When J.K Rowling wanted to break away from the world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts and explore a new genre, she wrote under the name Robert Galbraith. 

J.D. Robb is a bestselling crime and thriller writer…who also happens to be bestselling author Nora Roberts. Though Nora Roberts was already a pen name, she began writing under J.D. Robb to break into the suspense genre and went on to write dozens of books in a futuristic police procedural series. 

Beyond marketing, a writer who is well-established in one genre might have a hard time convincing their fans they will be able to create compelling stories in a new genre…so, they might want to create a pen name to break away from the reputation they’ve already established. 

2. Use a Pseudonym for Gender Neutrality

Authors may use pseudonyms to write under a gender-neutral or opposite gender name to avoid bias or discrimination based on their real gender…because sadly, it still exists (particularly in certain genres). A pseudonym can help boundary pushing authors reach a wider audience or challenge gender stereotypes.

This is the reason Joanne Kathleen Rowling chose to publish as J.K. Rowling, which is technically a pen name. Her publisher suggested she use her initials to avoid any bias that may have been shown toward her as a woman writing in the primarily male-driven fantasy genre. 

This technique goes both ways and Wade Rouse, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and internationally bestselling author of 13 books, writes his books under the name Viola Shipman. He uses the name and his stories to honor the women, and the voices, that raised him. 

In the 2010s, 97% of bestsellers in the Spy/Politics genre were men. If you’re a woman who wants to break into this genre and worried you might not be taken seriously in such a male-dominated genre, you might consider using a pen name. 

If you don’t want your readers to know your gender, identify under a different gender than your birth name, or just don’t want to be a stereotype within a genre due to your gender, you could consider using a pen name. 

3. Use a Pseudonym for Privacy and Anonymity 

Using a pseudonym allows authors to maintain their privacy and protect their personal identity. This can be especially important for individuals who want to separate their writing career from their personal life, change careers, or who wish to discuss sensitive or controversial topics without fear of personal repercussions.

If you’ve established yourself in one career, especially one that practices another type of writing or is fairly public, a pen name can help you keep both careers separate and achieve a level of professionalism in both. For instance, if you’re a reporter with a well-established career and you want to break into fiction writing, you might consider using a pseudonym for your fiction work. 

If you want to write a memoir and you’re worried about revealing facts or information about your family, you might wish to protect their identities and your own by writing under a pen name. 

4 More Reasons to Use a Pseudonym 

You might also choose to write under a pen name of pseudonym if:

• Your name is common or already used by another author
• Your name is too similar to an already famous author 
• Your name is difficult to pronounce or spell 
• Your name doesn’t fit your genre (Sarah Loveless might be a great romance writer name but probably not a great fit for a horror writer. In this case, Sarah might choose to write under a pen name) 

How to Choose a Pseudonym/Pen Name 

There is no right or wrong way to choose a pen name but it’s a good idea to choose one that means something to you, that you like, and you won’t mind seeing and being called if you’re successful! 

In the case of Wade Rouse, A.K.A. Viola Shipman, he chose his grandmother’s name as his pen name because her heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction. 

While the right name should feel right to you, here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing your pseudonym. 

• Check for availability (websites, social channels, etc)
• Choose one that fits your genre (look at other author names)
• Make sure it’s easy to spell and say 
• Make sure it won’t be confused with another name 
• Consider how old (or young!) the name makes you sound 
• Use a pen name generator (you can find these online just by Googling) 

Should You Use a Pseudonym?

While these are all reasons why you might choose to use a pen name, the real question is; should you? In the early 1900s, it was fairly easy to disguise your identity by writing under a pseudonym…today, it’s a lot harder. Even when writers choose to write under a pen name, it’s fairly easy to find their true identity. 

So, if you’re choosing to use a pen name, you should consider how strict you’re going to be about keeping your real identity a secret. 

If you’re choosing a pen name due to branding and marketing, then it’s not a big deal if your double life is revealed. If you’re trying to stay anonymous, you’re going to have to be a lot more careful. 

Choosing to write under your real name or use a pseudonym is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. The choice will follow you for your entire career and is a hard choice to undo once you start publishing. Consider your reasons, your audience, and the type of career you’d like to have and then…get writing!

FREE RESOURCE

Nonfiction Outline Template

Ready to write? Get the parts of your story RIGHT and finish your book FASTER with this pre-formatted, easy to use, fill-in-the-black template!

Whether you want to put more books into the hands of readers or offer writing services, great testimonials can be a positive influence on your goals. 

While you’ve likely heard of endorsements, and maybe even have some, testimonials are a bit different.

In this article, we’ll talk about the different facets of testimonials for writers. If you’re ready for a career boost, read on!

What Are Testimonials for Writers?

Testimonials for writers are a third-party review of you and your work. While they’re often shared through a written statement, testimonials can take various forms such as:

• Short video statements 
• Quotes posted on website
• Social media posts 
• Interviews

How Testimonials Help Writers

Whether you ask clients to write up a brief endorsement, share about their experience on social media, or engage in an interview, testimonials are foundational for building credibility. 

If testimonials for writers are such a crucial factor, how do they actually contribute to your ongoing success? There are many ways testimonials help, but below are the top three reasons you should start collecting them today.

Personalize Your Audience

Consider the following situation: You launched your book a year ago and have some traction. You wish you had more reviews, but you’re happy with your growing platform and newfound traffic to your author website. 

What if when potential readers come to your site, testimonials greeted them on your home page? As soon as your site loads, they see real readers who love your book and want to share how much they enjoyed it. In this way, testimonials personalize your audience.

Create Authentic Hype

With so many marketing resources today, almost anyone can create a good deal of buzz around their product or service. However, testimonials for writers take this buzz to an authentic level. Yes, people have used the word authentic so much that it’s a buzz word all on it’s own, but this is because individuals appreciate authentic reviews. 

The more testimonials you have from readers with names and lives, the more authentic your hype will be. What usually makes you want to purchase a new book more: The author tweeting how awesome their book is, or a reader telling you they couldn’t put it down?

Provide Resources

Particularly if you offer paid services such as editing or marketing, potential clients want to know you’ve been vetted and are worth the price point. Testimonials, for writers in particular, are a helpful way to provide the credibility future clients need.

If individuals can see a list of clients you’ve helped, look them up, and perhaps even reach out to them for a referral, they will feel much safer hiring you.

How To Get Testimonials

If testimonials for writers are this important, the next question to answer is how to get them. Your first testimonials will likely be the most difficult, but don’t worry. With a few well-crafted sentences you’ll be well on your way. 

Offer the possibility to current clients 

Many clients are focused on their project and getting it done well. Leaving testimonials for writers is simply not top of mind. When I’ve asked for testimonials, I’ve found offering the possibility to a client is all they need to write a review. Most clients are happy to help but don’t realize how much power their few sentences wield. 

Ask for testimonials from previous clients 

If you have worked for clients in the past but didn’t realize the value in testimonials for writers, a simple email can help you. Write up a brief template thanking the client for working with you. Ask them to write a sentence or two of review if they enjoyed the collaboration and are comfortable. 

Write a draft to send to clients 

If you work with bigger name clients who may not have time to craft their own testimonial, you can treat testimonials similarly to blurbs. Write a sentence or two describing how you imagine the client felt about their experience working with you. 

Then follow a few steps: Email them asking for a testimonial. Include that you wrote an outline to make it easier for them. Allow them to edit as they see fit.

Tip: You can legitimize testimonials by including first and last names if possible, or first name and last initial. Asking for clients to include where they work or what they are known for is also a helpful way to add detail that builds rapport. 

Examples from Real Writer Websites

What about writers who have done this well? Let’s start with the bestselling author of Atomic Habits, James Clear. When you visit the book page on his website you immediately see a sentence or two of testimonials from other professionals.

Clear highlights Mark Manson’s testimonial, another bestselling author. He also includes one from Arianna Huffington, Founder of Huffington Post and Thrive Global. 

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic has inspired creatives in innumerable ways. Despite the massive success of her book, she too includes a testimonial on her book page. 

If you’re not a bestselling author yet or offer services, testimonials are still tremendously helpful in your success. The freelancer behind Hear Ye Writing includes numerous testimonials on her website.  

Testimonials For Writers: Parting Tips 

While there is no right or wrong way to include testimonials, there are a few steps you can take to help them stand out. Testimonials that include the following will help legitimate both your testimonials and your product or service: 

• First and last name of client
• The client’s credibility 
• Where they work 

Consider the following testimonial examples: 

Example one: “I loved working with Jane Smith. Her turnaround time was impeccable and her quality was just what I was looking for.” 

Example two: “I loved working with Jane. Her turnaround time was impeccable and her quality was just what I was looking for.” —John Smith, CEO of Fake Business Name and author of Book Title

Do you see how adding these three small factors levels up the testimonial? Always be sure to ask clients if they are comfortable for you to include their name and credentials prior to posting. 

Additionally, if you write a template testimonial for past clients, receive the okay before publishing it live on your website. 

For Those Starting From Scratch 

If you’re just getting started and haven’t worked with clients before, there is still a place for you. Testimonials for writers can apply to unpaid coaching services, feedback, beta reading, and more. When posting these type of testimonials, be clear about what you offered. 

For instance, if someone from your writing community asks you to beta read their book, consider asking for a testimonial. Use the template below to inspire your request: 

“I’m a new writer and asked [your name] to beta read my book. He was more than happy to provide great feedback. I’m thankful for his insight on my manuscript!”  

It can feel intimidating to start out, but take your first step boldly. The first request is usually the most difficult. It only gets easier! 

As progressive as our society seems, widespread systemic racism persists, which is why we want to shine a light on ways we can support underrepresented perspectives and stories in our industry. Whether it’s adding a new TBR to your book club list, discovering organizations to join, or finding authors to promote online, we hope this article can be a jumping off point.

The Importance of Celebrating Black Authors

The voices of Black storytellers have long been marginalized, especially when it comes to mainstream media and publishing outlets. Less than 15% of books published each year are from BIPOC authors, and an even smaller percentage of Black authors contribute to this statistic.

In addition to better supporting the author community and increasing our empathy and perspective, here are two more reasons celebrating Black authors is important.

1. It expands our worldview and enhances our understanding

By diversifying our literature we expose our minds and hearts to stories and experiences that we may never come across otherwise. Reading widely and seeking underrepresented voices allows us to engage with different worldviews and histories, adding depth and richness to our lives.

For non-Black readers, learning about what it means to be Black from Black authors is especially important for beginning to do the work of breaking down stereotypes, biases, and inequality. 

2. It educates us on the larger story outside of our lived experience 

People who are not Black may only be somewhat aware of what it means to be Black from news coverage of protests and rallies. However, the Black experience is so much deeper and wider, which is why reading books written by Black authors is so critical to being informed and aware.

8 Black Authors to Add to Your TBR List

From non-fiction and fiction literature you’ll discover themes of joy, entertainment, relief, culture, and escapism, and much more.  Here are some suggestions to get you started.

James Baldwin 

James Baldwin was an iconic American author who turned his personal battles into best-elling literature, becoming one the most celebrated authors in the world. Baldwin wrote stories about his life experiences, which included growing up during the Great Depression, being the eldest of nine children, his complex relationship with his step-father, and an identity crisis. 

Book recommendations:

• Another Country (1962)
• The Fire Next Time (1963)
• Nothing Personal (1964) 

Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma and raised by a single mother who worked a variety of jobs to make ends meet. Ellison began writing The Invisible Man, which focused on a Black civil rights worker who became alienated due to the racism he faced when moving to New York.  It won the National Book Award a year after being published and was an international bestseller.

Ellison’s novel still remains a key literature reference to help people understand marginalized groups in American society. 

Book recommendation:

• The Invisible Man (1952)

Maya Angelou

Poet, author, and activist Maya Angelou was a pioneer for change for Black women in America. Inspired by Langston Hughes and Paul Lawerence Dunbar, Angelou used her words to talk about the strength of Black women and the need for social justice. Publishing seven autobiographies over her career, Angelou often spoke on her personal tales of trauma, racism, and finding strength within. 

Angelou was recognised by many organizations nationally and internationally for her creative contributions to literature and received various awards and honorary degrees in her lifetime. 

Book recommendation:

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)

W.E.B Du Bois 

Sociologist, activist, and author W.E.B Du Bois was one of the most well-known and influential authors in the 20th century. As someone who grew up as part of the Black elite, he didn’t notice the issues of racial injustice until he attended university in Tennessee. His experience there inspired his work to put an end to racism. 

Book recommendation:

• The Souls of Black Folk (1903)

Alex Haley 

Focusing on telling the struggles of African Americans and their experiences throughout time, Alex Haley broke into the industry with a job at a well-known magazine company. He produced a series of interviews with prominent African Americans, which allowed him to meet Malcolm X and write his story. 

Haley’s bestselling novel Roots depicts his ancestors’ journey to freedom from slavery. His novel became a global sensation when it was turned into a television series. 

Book recommendations:

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965)
• Roots (1976)

Zora Neale Hurston 

During the Harlem Renaissance in 1925, Zora Neale Hurston made her way to New York where she would become a prominent Black female writer. Her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, focused on the traditions and culture of African Americans through poetry. 

Book recommendation:

• Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)

Toni Morrison 

Storytelling through folktales and literature was a big part of Toni Morrison’s childhood and, after teaching at Texas Southern University, she became a fiction editor and author.

Morrison’s first book, The Bluest Eye, told the tale of a young Black girl longing to have blue eyes. Her stories center around the Black American experience in an unjust society. 

Book recommendation:

• The Bluest Eye (1970)

Shonda Rhimes

Famously known for her creative production of Grey’s Anatomy and Princess Diaries 2, Rhimes has released her fair share of books over the years, including her powerful memoir Years of Yes and bestselling novel, Queen Charlotte.

Rhimes is notable for her television screenwriting but her books have a central theme of uplifting the Black community and shining light on stories that often fade into the background. 

Book recommendations:

• Years of Yes (2015)
• Queen Charlotte (2023)

Organizations and Grants Supporting and Celebrating Black Authors

There’s an array of organizations and grants that work to support upcoming Black authors in the writing and publishing industry. It’s an opportunity for new talent to explore their options and receive guidance along the way! 

BWOC Literary Support Program

The BWOC’s support program offers stipends for writers to be used in contests, retreats, fellowships and writing supply expenses. Applications are ongoing and will be reviewed every three weeks. Applicants must be US-based. Find details and guidelines here.

The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Award

This award is an annual grant of $2,000 for an upcoming writer of color. By writing a powerful crime fiction piece, applicants can win an opportunity to enhance their literary skills and develop their careers. Find more information by visiting their website.

Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers 

GrubStreet’s Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers provides professional support to two Black writers each year by giving them the chance to work with instructors and teach classes. The fellowship gives a compensation of $25,000, an artistic mentorship and access to their writer’s community. Learn more and read the guidelines here. 

Earnest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

For Black writers based in the US, this is an amazing chance to accomplish professional development and put them ahead in the industry. This grant is designed to help minority ethnic groups level in their creative field once they submit a piece of work to the organization. You can find more information by visiting their website here. 

Sustainable Arts Foundation

The Sustainable Arts Foundation offers $5,000 to writers with children. Fifty percent of all applicants who are awarded the grants are Black writers and the grant focuses on young adult fiction stories, illustrated children’s books, creative nonfiction, graphic novels, and poetry. All requirements are stated on their website here. 

Summary | Celebrating Black Authors

Literature by Black authors tackles the complex issues faced by the community and helps to spread awareness on what’s happening in the world around us. There’s still a long way to go when it comes to elevating the Black experience but by purchasing and reading books written by Black authors and supporting programs that give aid and guidance to emerging talent, we can play a part in bringing about change. 

If you prefer writing outlines and drafts by hand, you may have experienced a writer’s callus before. Also known as nerd bump or writer’s bump, these calluses are caused by repeated use of a writing utensil.

Disclaimer: This is a writing blog and we do not offer professional medical advice. If you’re dealing with writer’s callus or some other condition please consult your doctor for the best course of treatment.

What is a Writer’s Callus?

According to Healthline, “writer’s callus is an area of accumulated dead skin cells that form as a result of repeated friction against your finger.” If you primarily type rather than use a pen or pencil, this type of callus may not be a problem. However, if you do find yourself writing longform for stretches of time, then this is something to watch for! 

Think of a writer’s callus as similar to a blister forming on your foot after wearing new shoes for a while. Your skin isn’t used to the friction and as a protection measure, your body forms a blister. A writer’s callus forms on your hand for the same reason—your body is protecting that part of your hand from damage by forming a bump.

Where Can Writer’s Calluses Occur?

Musicians who play stringed instruments often experience calluses on their hands. Guitarists and violinists frequently build calluses where their fingers press against the strings.

If you engage in strength training, you can probably feel the calluses on the soft skin on the underside of your knuckles where you regularly grip your weights. 

A writer’s callus can occur on your hand wherever your writing utensil rubs repeatedly. Where the callus appears depends on how you hold your writing utensil. Some people hold their pen or pencil between their index and middle finger while others rest it against their ring finger.

How to Prevent a Writer’s Callus

There are many ways you can work to prevent a writer’s callus before it starts. Here are a few common suggestions to try.

Wear Gloves While Writing

Lightweight cotton gloves add a layer between your pen and your hand, reducing the friction created from writing. People often wear gloves while raking leaves or lifting weights for this reason, so why not try it for writing as well?

Take Short Breaks

Short breaks are helpful for many reasons, and one reason is it gives your hands a break. While it’s easy to get into the zone and not want to break the spell, it’s a good idea to take regular breaks to move around, stretch, refill your drink, and then get back to work. 

Treat Writing Like a Job

If you don’t yet write full time, try to treat it as if you do. Think about how a day job works—you have regular breaks scheduled throughout the shift, a lunch break, and a quitting time. There’s space between working and not working. There are two full days off each week. Having a schedule for writing (with planned breaks and time off) can also help in preventing calluses from forming.  

Set Aside Your Favorite Pen

Drastic, I know. Most of us have a favorite writing utensil. Whether it’s a pen we think makes our handwriting look better, or a type of ink that doesn’t smear (I’m talking to you, lefties!), writers are notorious for keeping favorites close. However, switching up the type of pen you’re using to write throughout the day can actually help slow or prevent the form of calluses.  Just something to consider.

Mix it Up

If you’re on deadline or have high daily word count goals, then it may be prudent to plan for many writing methods. For example, plan to write freehand for your first block of writing, use speak-to-text software for your second block, typing into a computer for your third block, etc.

I Have a Writer’s Callus, Now What?

Once you have a callus, there are a few things you can do to treat it according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

• Soak in warm water 
• File with a pumice stone
• Moisturize

Keep in mind that your callus has formed because your body is trying to protect the skin underneath it from the pressure of your pen. If you are going to continue writing by hand then you may want to keep the callus until you’re ready to take a longer break. 

I say, if you have a writer’s callus then wear it as a badge of honor! It shows that you’re dedicated to your craft.

Commitment to a dream is often the difference between seeing that dream come to fruition, or watching that dream remain dormant. If it takes a few calluses to push your dream into reality, it’s well worth it.

Happy writing, and don’t forget to change up your routine every now and then!

If you dream of working as an audiobook narrator you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll cover the equipment you need to do the job and review five key skills to develop as you begin your journey. Lastly, you’ll find options for finding your first audiobook narrator job. Let’s get going! 

Equipment Needed

When deciding to become an audiobook narrator it’s crucial to determine if you want to work as a freelancer or for an audiobook publisher. If you work for a publisher, they should provide much of the equipment necessary. All you need to be responsible for is being prepared to narrate. 

If you decide to work as a narrator as an independent contractor, then creating an industry standard recording room is crucial to ensure quality. Here are a few of the basics:

• Microphone and laptop
• Sound booth and workstation
• Stand for the device or pages from which you will be reading

When creating your sound booth make sure that outside noise such as traffic cannot be heard in your recordings. For more in-depth information, read the article, how to record an audiobook on your specific budget. 

Audiobook Narrator: 5 Skills Needed

Now that you know some of the equipment you will need, it’s time to discuss the soft skills that help set you apart from other audiobook narrators. 

Public Speaking

Public speaking is often viewed as a “public” career—after all, it is in the name. However, public speaking is an immeasurably helpful training ground for the private career of audiobook narration. 

The more opportunity you have to speak in public, the better you will be able to articulate your words under pressure. 

Voice, Tone, Inflection

Just as the speaking voice, chosen tone, and the various inflections you choose impact how others perceive you in conversation, the same is true for audiobook narration. 

Imagine reading a thriller in a happy, comedic tone. Your voice would not reflect the content you are reading. Mastering these three aspects is crucial to lasting success as an audiobook narrator. 

Acting Classes 

With the idea of inflection in mind, think back to the last time you heard someone read aloud. Did they impersonate the characters they read with their tone? If they were reading a narrative, did they speak softly in appropriate parts and raise their voice in others? 

As much as acting is about gestures and facial expression, much of the subtext in our favorite movies comes from tone. Consider the following dialogue: 

“I would love to take you on a date tomorrow evening.”
“Would you?”
“Well yes, of course.” 

These three lines could be read as a joke, sarcasm, or genuine. Audiobook narration is acting without facial expression. 

Self-Awareness

I took a speech class in college and the feedback I received most was to slow down my speeches. I talked too fast and although people enjoyed my content, they struggled to understand me because of my pacing. 

Self-awareness is a valuable asset, particularly for audiobook narrators. If you are aware you are speaking too fast, too slow, or not adding enough inflection then you can make the necessary changes. 

Research Skills 

Have you ever been reading and stumbled across an unfamiliar word? This is an audiobook narrator’s nightmare. Honing your research skills can help you proactively avoid these issues. When choosing to become an audiobook narrator, invest in educating yourself on a myriad of topics, particularly concerning the genre you would like to record. 

Even if you plan to be an audiobook narrator for sports memoirs, familiarizing yourself with a variety of topics will help your recording process run smoothly. You never know what illustrations or examples a writer may use!

Platforms to Find Narration Jobs

Now comes the fun part—finding your first audiobook narrator job. There are many ways to land your first job, paid or unpaid, and every session you book helps equip you for your future as well.

Reading for Children

Volunteering to read at a school, local library, or even if you babysit young children, all act as a platform to find jobs. Libraries can be a particularly helpful place to practice reading due to the type of people who come in: 

• Aspiring writers
• Published authors
• Readers

You never know who you may meet and network with.

Reading for the Visually Impaired 

Reading for the visually impaired or blind is a great way to help your community while at the same time gaining invaluable practice for your dream job. When reading for those visually impaired, how you use your inflection and tone will dramatically influence how they experience the story. 

Search for Online Writing Groups 

For your first paid job, you may want to start by researching online writing communities. Facebook, Twitter, and Medium are a few places to start your search. If you have your own recording equipment, you can offer your services to these writing groups. 

Offer Your Services to a Self-Publishing Company

If you hope to bring in more steady work as an audiobook narrator, you might want to consider reaching out to self-publishing companies and querying your services to them. When querying, be sure you have an updated website for future clients to contact you, or at the very least, a Facebook page describing your services. 

Take Advantage of Online Job Sites

Open to your favorite job site and type in the keyword audiobook or audiobook narrator. Sometimes landing your first job is all it takes to start you on the path to booking yourself on a regular basis. If a job site helps you in this journey, all the better! 

Next Step: Spend More Time on Your Phone (really!)

Now that you have concrete steps to improve your speaking voice and you know places to look for jobs, it’s time to practice. 

If you have a smartphone, open your recording app and begin reading one of your favorite stories. After you read for several minutes (enough time to get comfortable), play your audio and review it. 

Take notes on what you did well and areas you could improve. Create your own constructive criticism by asking the following questions: 

• Was my voice monotonous or did I use inflection? 
• What speed did I speak? Too fast, too slow, or just right?
• Did I stumble over anything? 

During your practice sessions, don’t worry if you hear background noise. The purpose is to pay attention to your strengths and weaknesses. The more you listen to your audiobook narration practice sessions, the more self-awareness you instill. 

It may feel like a waste of time to read into your phone (or whatever recording device you have), but even just a few minutes of practice in a stress-free environment can draw your attention to nuances you may have otherwise missed. 

The key is consistency over time. Rather than cram three hours of reading in over the weekend, try to practice for five or ten minutes a day. Track your progress, and let us know when you book your first audiobook narrator job!