Do you need some writing inspiration? Contests are a great way to spark your creativity, and you may even win a prize! This season we are awarding over $1550.00 in cash prizes and the top winner will receive Reedsy’s master course, How to Write a Novel ($1249.00 value). Get your best work together and consider entering the WOW! quarterly flash fiction contest with guest judge Tom Bromley, author, editor, and Reedsy creative writing instructor. The Summer Contest is open to all genres of fiction between 250 - 750 words. Only 400 stories are accepted, so enter early to ensure your spot in the contest. Deadline: August 31, 2024. MORE >>

WOW! is proud to introduce our newest essay contest! The mission of the essay contest is to inspire creative nonfiction and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. Your story must be true, but the way you tell it is your chance to get creative. We are open to all styles of essay—from personal essay to lyric essay to hybrid essay, and beyond! Word Count: 200 – 1,000 words. Only 300 essays are accepted, so enter early to ensure your spot in the contest. 1st Place: $500. Deadline: July 31, 2024. MORE >>

Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer’s career. That’s why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. Visit the classroom page and check out our current workshops: creative nonfiction, personal essay, memoir, young adult, narrative structures, freelance editing, cozy mystery writing, screenwriting, playwriting, poetry, travel writing, true crime writing, and more. MORE >>

WOW interviews Tom Bromley about his work as commissioning editor and ghostwriter, publishing trends, and his incredible novel writing course, How to Write a Novel. MORE >>

Author Julie Shackman shares her story of how she managed to achieve her dream of becoming a feel-good romance author, despite collecting hundreds of rejections—and how you can do it, too.  MORE >>

Jenna. Reese. Oprah. In their daydreams, authors imagine their book being announced as the selection for one of these high-profile book clubs that reach millions of readers. What if you aren’t on the radar for these ladies or another celeb/influencer-led book club? If you’ve been wondering how to include the book club circuit as an effective way of reaching out to potential readers, below are some helpful experiences from authors, publishers and book club moderators. MORE >>

WOW! chats with Celeste Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Bardsy, a membership program for writers. With Bardsy, they offer writing groups, live coaching, and courses built upon Celeste and Adam’s personal experience and firsthand knowledge of what works to help their members become more successful in their writing careers. Interview by Nicole Pyles. MORE >>

True crime is a nonfiction genre of popular media that concerns real-life crimes. A work can focus on either a single case, such as a disappearance, murder, or sexual assault, or the collective acts of a single criminal, such as a serial killer. This genre places emphasis on a timeline of events and presentation of facts. Renee Roberson shares some tips for writing and researching true crime, as well as true crime markets to submit your stories. MORE >>

WOW! chats with Dr. Megan Pillow about her forthcoming book she co-authored with Dr. Roxane Gay, Do the Work: A Guide to Understanding Power and Creating Change, Meg’s free year-long intensive writing workshop called Craft Year, her work co-editing the newsletter The Audacity, and more. Interview by Ann Kathryn Kelly. MORE >>

Do you pore over essays and articles that cover the health field? Do you have a chronic illness yourself or are you a caregiver for someone who does? If so, consider becoming a health writer. You’ll have the opportunity to help countless people by providing what may be life-saving information, for their physical as well as emotional wellbeing. By Ashley Harris. MORE >>

Vinspire Publishing is a family-friendly publisher of historical fiction, historical romance, and more. Angela Mackintosh interviews founding editor Dawn Carrington about what the press is looking for, current calls, and tips for writing historical fiction. MORE >>

As a marginalized person or someone with a certain area of expertise, have you ever wanted to help screenwriters and authors with their manuscripts or screenplays? Then sensitivity reading may be the perfect freelance job for you. By Lara Ameen. MORE >>

Have you ever wished for a book do-over? An opportunity to relaunch your book with a bigger launch team, better marketing plans, and maybe even a new book cover? Dr. Angela Yarber reflects on her initial book launch for Queering the American Dream and the health challenges she faced. Two years later, she shares what she’s doing now to breathe new life into her book and make her marketing a success. MORE >>

Every author has played the game: Who Will Star in the Movie Version of my Book? It’s thrilling to imagine actors we know only from the red carpet bringing life to the world we created on the big screen—or the little screen—or the streaming screen. But there’s one question...how? By Jodi M. Webb. MORE >>

Gold Man Review is a West Coast literary journal that publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from writers in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Nicole Pyles chats with founder and editor-in-chief Heather Cuthbertson about the journal’s behind-the-scenes process and what they are looking for in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry submissions. MORE >>

Are you drawn to articles discussing perfect gifts to buy for your special someone? Or do you love recommending products to family and friends that you are confident will improve their lives somehow? If that sounds familiar, consider becoming a commerce writer. These writers produce articles about shopping guides, deals to consider, and must-have products for a unique need. By Nicole Pyles. MORE >>

Do you like a protagonist you can root for? Or see yourself in? Or wonder about even months later? A juicy conflict or two? Vivid imagery? Intriguing settings? Me, too. Think I’m describing your favorite binge-worthy streaming show or an award-nominated big-screen movie? Nope. It’s all there in narrative poetry, my friend. By Melanie Faith MORE >>

Reaching new readers has always been the goal of marketing for authors. But where do you put in your efforts? Nicole Pyles talked to Penny C. Sansevieri, founder of Author Marketing Experts, about the changes in marketing, important tips that authors need to know, and more. MORE >>

Purple Ink Press is a new and exciting publication on the scene. Today, we are speaking with Yael Valencia Aldana, founding editor and the dreamer who brought it to life. Purple Ink Press aims to publish unusual projects from in-between spaces. Interview by Christy O'Callaghan. MORE >>

Every writer has a special way of developing their characters, revealing the setting, and understanding what is to come from a story. Whatever method you personally use, you will be fascinated by Anna Quinn’s way of channeling her dreams, visions, and other meditative techniques to create Angeline, a novel whose title character is unwillingly sent to a radical convent where she confronts her tragic past. It asks the deep question, follow your heart or follow the rules? MORE >>

When I think of innovative creative nonfiction forms, Nicole Breit springs to mind, both as a writer and teacher. I relish the creative sparks I get from her imaginative writing prompts and enjoy her warm, personable teaching style. Angela Mackintosh chats with Nicole Breit about the craft of writing creative nonfiction, targeting markets for your work, her Spark Your Story programs, and more. MORE >>

Ink Sweat & Tears, a UK-based webzine, has Filmpoem and Word & Image submission slots for exploring a poetic image’s more contemporary forms. They also accept the more common genres of prose, written poetry, and reviews. Rosie MacLeod chats with publisher Kate Birch about the journal and what the editors are looking for in submissions. MORE >>

A combination of sources is the best way to go. Secondary sources can give you breadth and depth. Primary sources reveal a firsthand take on your chosen topic. Sue Bradford Edwards shows writers how to use primary sources in both their nonfiction and fiction manuscripts. MORE >>

Kelly Sgroi interviews her own agent Fiona Smith from Beyond Words Literary Agency. They chat about what types of manuscripts Fiona looks for to represent and some insight into securing a literary agent. This is an interview you won’t want to miss for both its inspiration and information, especially if you’re currently querying agents. MORE >>

Picture the funnel as an upside-down triangle that we pour potential readers into hoping that some will eventually come out the bottom as actual readers! A simple idea, but who do you pour into your funnel, and how do you successfully move them through the funnel, transforming them into buyers? Jodi M. Webb shows you how! MORE >>

Jodi M. Webb gathers advice from authors about marketing strategies from BookTok to podcasts, from where to start your marketing journey to choosing the methods that work best for you. Advice from Nicole Pyles, Michelle Gogovac, Lila Dubois, Rebecca Forster, Gayle Leeson, and Kimberly King. MORE >>

Dedicated to short, bite-size fiction and poetry in the fantasy genre, Indie Bites enables indie authors to share each other’s work with their fan bases. This approach of collaborative indie marketing gives the stories’ outreach some teeth and helps the magazine in its core aim: to simply get our authors’ stories read. Join WOW columnist Rosie MacLeod as she interviws co-editors Josie Jaffrey and Adie Hart. MORE >>

Jennifer D. Lyle, author of Swarm, is joining the ranks of J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan, and James Dashner. If you love young adult novels, you will fall in love with Shur and her brothers and friends as they survive an attack from butterfly-like creatures that “swarm” the world, looking for prey. Jennifer writes refreshing realistic characters in this world she has created. She will be one to watch. MORE >>

In this month’s column, we double down on fun as we sit down with Editor Diane Gottlieb to discuss Emerge Literary Journal and ELJ Editions, an exciting small press dedicated to elevating emerging writers for more than ten years. Diane also edited the anthology, Awakenings: Stories of Body & Consciousness for ELJ Editions. MORE >>

How do you know when it's the right time to self-publish your book? Today, we address this complicated question with Sarah Kolb-Williams, lead editor of Spoonbridge Press. This publishing services company helps new and growing authors navigate the world of self-publishing. With fifteen years of editorial experience and a passion for helping independent authors thrive, Sarah delights in unlocking the fullest potential of every client’s manuscript. Along with project manager Britt Peterson, she supports authors through the intimidating process of self-publishing a book while giving them full creative and financial control over their publishing journeys. MORE >>

In this conversation, Cathleen Miller and Kate Evans, longtime friends and former colleagues at San Jose State University, talk about how they supported each other in writing their most recent books while living thousands of miles apart. MORE >>

Today we welcome author Candi Sary, the author of the newly released and celebrated novel, Magdalena (Regal House Publishing, 2023), which earned a Chanticleer International Book Award (CIBA). Join Ashley Harris as she chats with Candi about her latest novel, persistence, magic, ghosts, and the character that disrupted her plans. MORE >>

In this month’s “On Submission” column, Rosie MacLeod interviews Laura Black, founding editor of Fictive Dream. The journal publishes short stories between 500 and 2,500 words. Find out what they’re looking for below, their behind-the-scenes submission process, and a fun flash fiction event they host every year. MORE >>

In the realm of creativity, the blank page can be both an alluring canvas and a daunting void. I know this struggle all too well. My own writing journey began in April 2021, and since then, I’ve embarked on a whirlwind adventure, penning three books in less than two years. The key to this feat? My unwavering habit of daily writing. By Smita Das Jain. MORE >>

Author Claudine Wolk shares three things she wish she knew before writing her first book: Give yourself a full year after you write your book to properly publish and market your book. Use your own name as a website name and learn as much as you can as soon as you can about book marketing so that you can use the time that you set aside—the year before you publish—to methodically execute your book marketing plan. MORE >>

When I'm in need of inspiration, I often look to author Sarah Freligh. I crave the exacting nature of her work, especially the way she can evoke a time, a place, or a mood with a minimum of fuss. Her stories of women and girls are drawn with a poetic precision that cuts like a knife. Join Myna Chang as she interviews Sarah about writing flash prose, prose poetry, crafting powerful metaphors, and the art of writing short. MORE >>

How do you find time to write a novel? Does the sheer number of words seem overwhelming or is it putting you off even getting started? Author Louise Tondeur spent the last few years researching the organizational tips and techniques that are most translatable to the writing life, some of which she'll share with you here. MORE >>

The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH) is home to eMerge Magazine, with four issues published annually. eMerge publishes work from past WCDH residents, but is equally open to submissions from writers and poets who have not stayed at the Colony. WOW recently chatted with Managing Editor, Joy Clark.  MORE >>

Choosing the optimum POV for your fiction is a critical narrative decision. Before you do, consider the pros and cons of various options. MORE >>

Whether you have published a book or want to build your audience platform, there are many opportunities to promote yourself. From asking for reviews to being a guest on a podcast to introducing yourself to a journalist, you can increase your potential readership each time you put yourself out there. As a PR consultant, I’m crafting pitches constantly. Recently, I discovered that crafting a pitch is like writing a story. Here’s how. MORE >>

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Hannah Andrade with Bradford Literary Agency, has made her final decisions. Read the winning stories of the 750 words or less Winter 2024 Flash Fiction Competition. MORE >>